Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“I really missed you,” she sighed  “I’m glad you came.”

“Want to go for a ride?” he asked.

She smiled and nodded.

They ended up at the band apartment, curled comfortably on the couch in the living room.

“Are you still nervous about touring with Lace?” Michael asked.

“Yes.  I don’t suppose you’d have any words of advice for me?”

Michael nodded.  “Sure.  Best advice I can give is: never let the fans get too close.  Keep your offstage life as separate and private as possible.  The more the fans know about you the more they think they own you.”  He stretched his legs and set them on the coffee table.  “And never trust anyone out of the circle.”

“The circle?” she asked, confused.

“Actually, the circle consists of several different rings.  The center of it is you.  In the ring closest to the center are the people you can trust the most.  That would be me,  your band members, and maybe their immediate families.  The bigger the rings get, the less you confide in them.  Soon enough you’ll figure out where the boundaries are.”

“How?”

“You’ll know the first time you see something in print that you thought was said in confidence.  That is when you’ll know you stepped outside the circle.  It’s a hard lesson I learned a long time ago.  That’s why Thrust hates outsiders.  We’ve been burned too many times.”

“I’ve got so much to learn,” Annie sighed.

“If you want to learn, I’ll teach you everything I know.”

“Hmmm, I like the sound of that,” she giggled.

“I thought you might,” he said, his grin turning serious.  “I don’t want to downplay the obvious perks that come along with being in this business, Annie.  But, I won’t sugar-coat the drawbacks either.  I’m thankful every day that I’m still able to do what I love best and for the fans that continue to buy our records and go to our shows.  It’s for that reason alone that I allow them to get close to me at all.  I guess you could call it a love-hate relationship.”

Annie listened carefully to his words of wisdom and knew she had much to learn.  He was wise beyond his years and had managed to pack two lifetimes into his thirty-eight years.  It was hard not to stand in awe of what he had accomplished.  She felt so uneducated to the wicked ways of the world when she was with him.

“Too many people will fuck you over and not feel an ounce of guilt after they do it.  Management will sell your soul to make a buck off your name.  To them, you’re nothing but a name or a face.  They’re always looking to get something from you.  The fans would claw the skin off your body just to take home a scrap of your clothing as a souvenir or sell it online.  If you’re not careful, you will lose yourself in the process.”

“Wow, you’re really making me rethink signing with Lace.”

“I’m not trying to scare you.  But, maybe now you can understand why I’m so guarded and second-guessing anyone new I meet, wondering what they really want from me.”

They continued to talk until they both fell asleep.  Michael woke first and realized he was still fully dressed, with Annie sleeping contentedly on his chest.  He couldn’t help but smile as he stroked her tangled hair.  Slowly, she began to stir on top of him and her eyes opened.  Her clear blue eyes danced with life.

“Good morning,” he whispered.

“Hi,” she replied, sitting up on the couch.  “I don’t remember falling asleep.”

Michael laughed.  “You were snoring!”

“I was not!”

Annie moved about the apartment and grinned.  “How many houses and apartments do you actually own?”

“I don’t own this one, Annie; which is why I’ve never mentioned it.  The band owns it together.”

“I guess that explains the décor.”

“Why?  You don’t like it?” he laughed.

“Not exactly.”

“I’ll be sure to tell the decorator,” he joked, walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator.  “Are you hungry?”

Annie’s eyes were still busy scanning the walls and rooms, when she spotted a wall clock.  “Holy shit!  Is that the correct time?”

“Yeah, I suppose it is,” he answered.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late for practice,” she complained, trying to find her discarded shoes.

Thirty minutes later and after a quick stop at Starbuck’s for coffee and a muffin, they arrived back at the warehouse.

“Would you like to come in and watch?” she asked, jumping out of the limousine.

“Will it make you feel awkward?”

“I don't know, but I suppose we might as well get this reunion over with, right?”

They walked into the building, holding hands and sipping hot coffee.  Annie still had on the clothes from the previous night.  Taylor immediately took notice.

“Did you get lost last night?” she teased, giving Annie a quick head-to-toe glance.