Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Was that Annie?” he asked, grabbing Brian on the arm.  He already knew the answer but he was almost afraid to hear it.

“You stupid asshole!  Of all the nights to start being sociable , you had to pick tonight!”

Michael ignored Brian’s comment and rushed out into the hallway.

“Annie!”  He took two more strides and called her name again.

She stopped dead and lowered her head.  The sound of his voice turned her legs to cement.  Even if she had wanted to run, her body wasn’t cooperating.

“Are you leaving without saying hello?” he asked, inching his way closer.

Annie slowly turned to face him but didn’t dare hold his gaze.  “You looked busy and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“I wasn’t busy with that girl, if that’s what you were thinking.”

Annie forced a smile.  “You don’t owe me an explanation.  It’s none of my business.”

“Maybe not, but I still wanted you to know that.”

For a  few painful moments they stared at one another and shifted in place.  The urge to reach out and pull her against him tore at his heart strings.  She looked so damned good, almost untouchable, like a piece of candy held just beyond his reach.  He tired to read her face but found himself staring at her mouth instead.  He stood empty, helplessly lost, not one word connecting his brain with his tongue.

“Wow, you look…fantastic,” he finally managed.

“Thanks,” she smiled.  “Clean and sober.”

“And you had your foot fixed.”

“Yes, I did,” she nodded.

So many emotions flooded Annie’s body.  She felt weak.  One part of her wanted to run, another part wanted to throw herself at him and fall shamelessly into his arms.  Her insides quivered like jelly.  Time had not erased her feelings for him and Annie had been stupid to think otherwise.  She leaned against the wall and tried desperately to hold her tears at bay.

“Were you here for the show?” he asked, fidgeting like a school boy.

“Yes,” she smiled weakly.  “Brian left tickets at the box office for me and a friend.”

“Oh, so you’re here with someone?” he questioned, suddenly feeling the need to search the hall behind her.

“A girl friend,” she quickly added.

He smiled and nodded, obviously relieved.  “Annie, I really think we need to talk and clearly this isn’t the place.  Would you like to go for a ride or something?”  If his heart beat any harder in his chest he was afraid she might hear it.

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea,” she answered softly, glancing at her feet.

He smiled broadly.  “Good.  Let me go tell Brian we’re leaving and I’ll be right back.”

Brian hadn’t drifted far.  He had managed to stay close to the door in an effort to watch the developments between Michael and Annie in the hallway.  A satisfied smile crept across his face when he saw Michael approaching.

“I’m not even going to ask why you felt the need to drag her down here to see me,” Michael said with mock disgust.  “All I can say is, thanks.”  The smirk he’d been hiding suddenly appeared and the two exchanged a knowing nod of approval.

“No thanks needed, man,” Brian answered and slapped Michael on the back, satisfied his plan had worked.  The rest of it was up to Michael.

“We’re leaving to go talk,” Michael said nervously.  “So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good.  I think you both need to…talk,” Brian smiled.  “Oh, and Mike, your second chance is staring you in the face.  Please don’t screw it up, okay?  Because without her, frankly, you’re not much fun to be around.”

“Yeah, yeah, go to hell,” Michael grinned and turned back toward Annie, almost afraid she might have disappeared in his absence but she hadn’t.  Leaning against the wall with breathless beauty, she waited for him, a shy smile lighting up her face.

“Are you ready?” he asked her.

She nodded, blinking out a tear.

“Annie, don’t cry.  It will be okay,” he sighed reaching to wipe her cheek.

“I’m fine.  Just nervous.”

“Me too,” he smiled.  “More than you could imagine.”

“Then, lets go before I change my mind,” she sighed.

“I have a car out back,” he instructed, as he reached for her hand.  It was an unconscious gesture, done without much thought, but it stopped Annie in place.  It felt like old times, when life seemed so much simpler.  That same relaxed connection between them lingered, even after the passage of so many months.  Yet, it wasn’t the old days, and emotionally she felt older and wiser for having lived through the worst of times and somehow surviving it.  She wasn’t the same person as she was back then.  So, how could it feel this easy to slip back into sync with him, she thought.  Her eyes shifted up to his when she felt him drop her hand.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean anything by that,” he said.  “It felt like the natural thing to do.”