Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Maybe I should come with you?” the guard suggested, blocking Michael’s pathway.

Michael was a good foot shorter than the guard but still he attempted to get in the man’s face.  “No thanks.  I think I can handle it,” he sneered.

“No need to get an attitude, Mike.  I’m just doing my job.”

The guard kept a cautious eye on Michael and Annie until they turned the corner at the end of the hall.  Then a soft tap on his forearm distracted his vigil.

“Could you take our picture with Brian Lofgren? A young blond groupie asked.

The guard scowled and glanced down the hallway again.

“Please? No one will believe we actually met him unless we have some proof,” she insisted, rubbing her ample silicone breasts against his side.

His facial expression weakened.  “Okay, but we gotta make it quick.  I’m not supposed to leave the door unattended.”

As soon as the guard stepped away, two reporters slipped out the door in the hopeful pursuit of a story line.

Michael took Annie down a long concrete corridor, which led into a large cluttered room.  A variety of couches, chairs, tables and several mirrors lined the walls.  Half-eaten food and empty bottles of water and soda cans covered nearly every surface.  The room looked like the aftermath from a New Year’s Eve party.  In the back, Annie noticed another room with shower stalls visible through the open door.  Without asking, she assumed he had taken her to one of their dressing rooms.

Michael took a white towel off a nearby chair and plunked himself down onto a couch.  Annie sat in a chair opposite him and watched as he proceeded to towel dry his face and chest.

“What did you want to talk about?”

Michael tossed the soiled towel to the end of the couch and leaned forward, resting his arms against his knees.  Annie nervously crossed her bare legs.  He studied her movements intently, as if he were seeing it play slow-motion in his mind.  A mischievous grin curled his sensuous lips.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got legs from here to heaven?”

Annie smiled.  “As a matter of fact, Brian just mentioned something about me making a great split-leg sandwich,” she teased.

“He said that to you?”  Michael shook his head in mock disgust.  “The guy is a pig, what can I say.  I apologize for him,” he chuckled.

“Brian is Brian and that's an entirely different conversation for another day.  Right now, I'd rather hear what's on your mind.  So, what did you want to talk about?”

Michael grabbed the legs of her chair and began pulling it toward him.  Annie put both her feet back onto the floor, with her knees pressed tightly together, and held on to the edge of the chair for stability.  When he was satisfied with the closer distance, he let go of the chair and rested his fingers lightly against the tops of Annie’s bare thighs.  She closed her eyes and shook off a shiver that wanted to race through her limbs.

“I’d like to talk about us and about you and Sammy.”

“There is no ‘us’ to talk about,” she quickly answered.

“That’s a load of crap and you know it,” he returned.

The sharpness in his voice took her by surprise.  She leaned in closer and took his hands, cradling them in hers.  She could feel the heat radiating off his smooth fingertips.  Lovingly she stroked at them.  “Then, what would you like to call it?”

He smiled nervously then groaned as if he were in pain.  “I really missed you this week, Annie.  More than I feel comfortable admitting.  And it drove me out of my mind knowing that Sammy was with you and I couldn’t be.”

“So you’re jealous of Sammy?  Is that was this is all about?” she grinned.  She loved seeing his soft vulnerable side.

“Yeah, I suppose I am.”

“Is that why you threatened him?” she asked.

The smile faded from his face.  “He told you about that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s not one of my proudest moments.”  He shook his head in disgust.  “Look, I have to ask you something and I know you don’t owe me an explanation and I certainly don’t have the right to ask you either, but I need to hear your answer.”

“Okay.  Ask me.”

“Are you and Sammy together?”

Annie couldn’t help but smile.  “You want to know if we’re dating?”

“Yeah, whatever you want to call it,” he replied, sitting back against the couch.

“Would it bother you if we were?”

“Yes, and I think we’ve already established that.”

“Why?”

He stared at her quizzically and ran his fingers through his damp hair.  Then he opened his mouth to speak but stopped before the words spilled from his mouth.

Annie shook her head and glanced toward the door.  “If you don’t want to talk then I should get back to the press room before someone notices we’re gone.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?  I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for you to tell me how you feel.  You didn’t seem to have any trouble the other night.”

“That was different,” he replied quickly.

“How so?”