Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“No, I suspect it will only intensify as the years pass,” he replied, speaking around the finger that remained in his mouth.

“Do you see us growing old together?” she asked, with a hopeful tone.

He smiled and lightly kissed her fingers.  “Very old.”

Annie returned his smile as her eyes began to mist with emotion.

“I think we better get going before I have to change my pants,” he chuckled.  “Let me put the necklace on for you,” he suggested, removing it from the box.

With the diamonds safely secured around her neck and on her ears, Annie took a minute to admire them in the bedroom mirror.  Michael came up behind her and slid his arm around her slender waist, resting his chin on top of her shoulder.  He pushed her silken hair off the back of her neck and found a soft spot behind her ear to kiss.

Annie spun around to face him.  “Thank you, so much,” she whispered, cautiously touching the jewels with her fingers.  “I love them.”

“More than me?”

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” she laughed.

They met Brian and his wife in the hallway.  The look on both their faces clearly stated the obvious, that Annie was a total knockout.  Barbara noticed the jewelry dangling around Annie’s neck first.

“Wow!  Looks like someone got extra lucky today,” she squealed.  “I didn't know you had such good taste, Michael.”

Annie blushed and touched her neck again.  “Yes, he is amazing,” she quietly replied.  Michael squeezed her hand and smiled knowingly at her.

“No, you’re amazing, Annie,” Brian stated sincerely, and kissed her on the cheek.  “And God knows, he doesn’t deserve you, but…”

“All right, enough of the sentiments,” Michael interrupted, stepping into the elevator.

In the limousine, Annie sat beside Michael and across from Brian and his wife.  Even though the elongated vehicle had the seating capacity for twelve, it was still cramped with all five band members and their spouses.  One by one, Michael officially introduced Annie to the few remaining wives she hadn’t yet met.  With every second that passed, the reality of the situation overwhelmed her, and caused her to cling tighter to Michael.

“Are you nervous?” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

She nodded.  “Why?  Aren’t you?”

Michael laughed.  “Hardly.  The mystery of this was lost on me a long time ago.  It’s a job.  A job that I love but, none the less, it’s a job.”

His eyes drifted around the car and settled onto Brian, who was lecherously scanning the length of Annie’s exposed legs.  “Hey, watch your eyes, Lofgren!  You might want to keep it above the shoulders,” he warned.

Brian shamelessly grinned and looked over at his wife.  “What can I say?” he shrugged ambivalently, trying to deflect his wife’s angry glare.  “She’s got gorgeous legs.”

“Oh, and mine aren’t?” Barbara snapped back playfully.

“I didn’t say that,” Brian defended, patting his wife’s thigh.

“Yeah, nice try,” she scolded in mock disgust, as she removed his hand from her leg.

The car came to a stop in front of the FleetCenter.  Slowly, the occupants spilled onto the crowded sidewalk, their eyes disappearing behind dark sunglasses.  Camera flashes illuminated the late afternoon sky, almost at the speed of a strobe light.  Annie concealed her face behind Michael’s arm, as he gently tugged her past the squealing fans.  Brian stopped and signed a few quick autographs, while the others moved into the building.  On another night, Michael might have stayed with Brian.  But, judging by the grip Annie had on his hand, he thought it best to get her inside tonight.

Backstage was a beehive of activity, more so than usual.  It was the end of another long tour, which always brought an extra air of celebration to the event.  That feeling was even greater with this tour, since everyone was feeling the need for a lengthy break, especially Michael.  With Annie back by his side, all he wanted to do was drop into obscurity and surround himself with nothing but her.

Much to Brian’s disapproval, Michael passed on the usual meet ‘n’ greet pre-concert party.  He didn’t want to leave Annie alone and it certainly wasn’t the place to bring a girlfriend.  He found his dressing room and began to warm up on a few different guitars while Annie watched.  When it was time to go on stage, Annie took her place behind the curtain with the other wives.

A dozen or more directors chairs were set up discretely, stage right.  The wives quickly filled the first row.  Annie sat on the end beside a heavy velvet curtain and closest to Michael’s array of guitars; all neatly lined up and at the ready.  His guitar technician kept a careful vigil of the instruments.

Suddenly the house lights went black and the volume from the audience rocketed toward a fevered pitch.  The stage director began to bark out orders to a variety of back stage personnel, as Thrust casually took their traditional places on stage.  Michael’s guitar technician handed him the guitar to be used for the first song and stepped away.  As the drums began to beat the heart-stopping intro into their first set of songs, Michael drifted back toward Annie for one last kiss.