Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Well, I can’t stay and I’m certainly not going to show my face upstairs after what just happened.”

“Annie, let it go for now, and we’ll discuss it later.”

Annie’s eyes burned with fury.  “They were all laughing at me!”

He jerked her body closer to him.  “They were laughing at me , not you!  It was their idea of payback for me being such an ass for most of the tour.  It had nothing to do with you!  Most of them don't even know who you are!”

She wiped the tears from her cheeks.  “This is a nightmare.”

“Only if you let it become one,” he replied.

They stood in silence.  Finally, he reached out to stroke the back of her neck.

Annie pulled away sharply.  “Don’t touch me!  You know the history I have with bullshit like this.  I won’t go down this road again - not with you.”

“Hey, Mike, we gotta head upstairs,” Brian yelled down the hall at them.

“I’ll be right there,” he answered Brian.  Then he turned back to Annie.  “I understand why you’re upset,” he spoke softly.  “But, I can’t change what happened.”  He studied her face thoughtfully.  “Listen, come with me and we’ll only stay for the photographs.  After that, we can go back to the hotel and talk this through properly.”

He started down the hall and paused when he realized she wasn’t following him.

“And if I refuse to go with you?” Annie asked.

A pained expression washed over Michael's face.  “Annie, please.  I can't deal with this now.  This is out of my control.  I have to go upstairs.  Can we talk about this later?”

“I’m perfectly capable of calling for a cab.  I don’t need you to take me back to the hotel.”

“Stop it!  You’re not leaving here without me.  Let’s get this press shit out of the way and then you can yell and scream at me all you want.”

He reached for her wrist and attempted to pull her down the hall.  She jerked him back hard and slapped his face.  “Fuck you.”

He touched his face and rubbed at the stinging skin.  “Annie, I love you.  Now stop acting like a…”

“Like a what?  A jealous bitch?”

“Those are your words, not mine.”

Her eyes burned into him.

“If you leave now, it will look like you’re running away because you can’t handle the heat.  If you stay, it will prove that you’re better than them and bullshit like this doesn’t bother you,” he said.

“That would be a lie.”

“But they don’t know that.”

Annie shifted her weight nervously.  She wished she had gone home instead of staying for the second concert.  Barbara was right, she thought.  She didn’t have the stomach for this.  So, why prolong the agony?  As soon as the party was over, she would head back to the Vineyard.

“Annie, please come upstairs with me.  I don’t want to go without you,” he pleaded.

In silence, she began to head down the hall.  Michael quickly fell into step beside her.  He reached out and took her by the hand.  She accepted it, but not out of affection.  She needed it to hold her up.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Annie made no attempt to reply.  Before they reached the door to the party, she wiped her cheeks dry and took a deep breath before entering.

The private party took place inside the FleetCenter VIP lounge.  Several buffet tables were set up around the room displaying everything from pasta to roast beef and lobster tail.  Michael and Annie were the last to arrive.  He quickly grabbed a plate to fill with food.

“Let’s eat before the press gets in here.  After that, there won’t be time.”

“I couldn’t possibly eat anything now,” she replied.

“Annie, you haven’t eaten since six o’clock and it’s midnight now.  You really should eat something.”

Michael rolled his eyes and continued filling his plate.  “Here.  Eat this,” he suggested, handing her a slice of turkey breast.

The band had less than ten minutes to eat before the press filled the room.  After that, all hell broke loose with camera flashes and noise.  The band posed for an official group photograph.  Then they had a second picture taken that included all the wives.  Annie stood awkwardly on the sidelines until Michael came and dragged her into the shot.

“You’re one of the family now, Annie, and this photograph makes it official,” Brian affirmed with a huge smile.

When the photo session was completed, the interviews began in earnest.  Then the management got involved, discussing the outcome of the tour and the future business contracts.  A few hours later, Annie was ready to head back to the hotel and then home.

“Can we leave now?” she asked Michael.

“Yeah, sure,” he replied.

Thirty minutes later, they were back inside the hotel room.  Annie quickly went about the task of packing her things into her backpack.

“What are you doing?” Michael asked, removing his coat and laying it over the back of a nearby chair.