Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“He’s a new man because of you,” Barbara said into Annie’s ear.  “This is the best he’s played in months.”

Brian approached Michael and draped a sweaty arm around his friend’s shoulder.  “Maybe you’d like to introduce the object of your distraction to everyone,” he suggested.

Michael shook his head and smiled.  “I don’t think she’d appreciate that.”

The crowd went crazy in their seats.  Michael glanced toward Annie, where she was nervously shaking her head.  Playfully, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Yes, I’m sorry, ladies.  But Michael is officially off the market again and this looks pretty fucking serious.  Who knows, maybe he’ll make it permanent!”

Michael roared with laughter and ran his guitar pick sexily over the strings.

“Come on, Mike.  Bring her on out,” Brian urged.  “Do it so we can get on with the show!”

Michael’s eyes darted back to Annie.  She had stepped further off into the darkened area behind the curtain, appearing to hide.  He contemplated Brian’s request in his head while the crowd noise grew louder.  Finally, he turned and walked toward Annie, pushing his guitar behind his back.  The audience rose to their feet and began chanting and stomping their feet.

“Come on, Annie.  They won’t bite,” Brian chuckled.

“Sorry, babe,” Michael apologized as he embraced her.  Then he kissed her on the lips.  “Just come out quick and get it over with. You know Brian won’t let this go now until you do.”

Annie shook her head furiously, a look of total terror registering in her eyes.  “I can’t do that!  Are you out of your mind?”

Michael smiled encouragingly, taking her by the hand and gently tugging.  “I’ll be right beside you.”

“My God, you’re crazy!

“I’ve been called worse things than that.”

Michael pulled Annie out until they were beside Brian, center stage.  Annie kept looking back toward the obscurity behind the curtain, ready to bolt for it.  Almost knowing what she was thinking, Michael slid an arm around her waist.  The crowd was so loud she could feel it in her chest.

“All right, all right,” Brian said into the microphone, trying to settle down the masses.  “Now see, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he teased Annie.  Then he glanced at Michael.  “Would you like to introduce her or would you like me to?”

Michael shook his head and ran his hand through his hair.  “You better do it.”

“Okay.  I will.”  Then he leaned toward the fans.  “This is the woman that stole the bastard’s heart.  Frankly, I didn’t think he had a heart but she proved me wrong.”

“What’s her name?” a man yelled from the front row.

Brian chuckled mischievously.  “You want to know her name?”  Another wicked laugh roared from his lean body.  “This is Annie Logan,” he answered.  “Why don’t you give them a wave, Annie.”

She stood like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.  Michael helped her raise her arm and waved it for her.  Then he pressed his mouth to hers.  Without resistance, she melted beneath him.  The crowd screamed their appreciation with loud whistles and cat-calls.

“Okay.  Okay.  Enough of the tonsil hockey!  We’ve got a show to do here!”

Michael escorted Annie backstage.  When he returned, he walked over to Brian and bent into his ear.  “Let’s do my song next,” he whispered.

Brian nodded and gave the hand signal to the rest of the band.  Then he addressed the audience.

“This next song is something new from Thrust.  So new, our management hasn’t even heard it.”  He gave a different hand gesture toward stage left and a dozen orchestra players took their places on risers behind the drum platform, instruments in hand.  As they readied themselves, Brian approached the audience again.  “This is a song that Mike wrote for the girl you just met.  After you hear it, you’ll know how whipped the guy really is!”

And with that comment, he slowly counted off the intro to the song and Michael went into the first guitar solo.

“I didn’t know he wrote you a song,” Barbara stated.

“I didn’t either,” Annie replied, smiling through her tears.  Oddly enough, she recognized the melody, as if she had heard it before.  Halfway through the song, she knew why.  It was the song Michel was working on while she was in the hospital.  The lyrics spoke for themselves.  If there was ever a doubt of Michael’s affection toward her, the song sang volumes.  And now everyone around them knew, too.

Backstage the road crews were scurrying around like angry hornets, trying to recover from Brian and Michael’s surprise addition to the set list.  The lighting technicians were screaming through their headsets, wondering what and where to light and stage directors were yelling commands to anyone within earshot.  Halfway back into the center section of the audience, the sound guys were ranting obscenities at each other.  No one was happy except for Michael and Annie.  When the song faded to an end, the house lights went to black and Michael found Annie.