Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story (27 page)

While in the rehab facility, Annie also contacted the orthopedic surgeon, a referral to whom Michael had given Annie.  Within a week of her appointment she was scheduled for surgery that would rid her of the constant pain she was suffering.

After the surgery she began twelve weeks of grueling physical therapy.  Now she walked with a limp so slight only her doctor could detect it.  More importantly, her pain was almost non-existent. It would still take one more corrective surgery to erase the scarring but the worst of it was behind her.

Sobriety had cleaned Annie’s head and paved the way for a rejuvenated musical career.  After one of her weekend gigs at Club Tango on Martha’s Vineyard, the two founding members of the female rock ‘n’ roll group, Lace, solicited her talents to join their group. 

Lace, being a top-notch act reminiscent of the 70’s female band, Heart, headlined most gigs they played.  They did small concert tours and played to sold-out clubs in every city they visited.  Due to a heart condition, the female lead singer was being forced to take an extended leave of absence from the band.  Rather than put the band into early retirement, they chose to scout out a temporary replacement.  After listening to Annie’s performance, they decided she would fit their style and sound perfectly.

“Would you like me to come by and audition?” Annie asked the two members of Lace.

“You just did,” they replied.

A few days later, Annie sat in a crowded boardroom while she signed the necessary contract with her newly hired agent and legal counsel at her side.  Her performances with Lace wouldn’t take place for many months due to a lengthy rehearsal process.  Plus, Annie had to schedule her last surgery around all of this, making an official start date almost impossible to arrange.  In the mean time, Annie basked in the glory of finally being noticed for her talents - without the help of Michael or the influence of her past connection to Thrust’s battle of the band contest.

Odd thing was, the first person she thought of to share her great news with, was the one person she was no longer connected to: Michael…the love of her life and the reason she was still breathing - literally and figuratively. The mere thought of him still made her tremble.  At first, it was her anger that kept her from contacting him, then it became more about pride.

She saw them meeting someday down the road but the visual she had was far different then the way it would be on Friday at the FleetCenter.  She wanted it to be backstage after one of her upcoming Lace concerts, after she was successful and had something to show for herself.  Had she thought about him during the last six months?  Of course she had.  Not a day went by that thoughts of him hadn’t danced in her head and, at night, he still haunted her dreams.

Throughout the entire process of signing with Lace, Annie made sure not to mention her past involvement with Michael or his band.  Not that it would have mattered, but she didn’t want it to, either.  He was part of her past and she rarely shared it with anyone.  She could clearly remember the day she revealed her secret to her physical therapist when a Thrust classic anthem suddenly blasted out of the gym’s sound system.

“I used to live with that guy,” she had blurted matter-of-factly, when the song’s lengthy guitar solo kicked into high gear.

“Seriously?” the star-struck woman asked.

“Yes, but it feels like it was in another life.”

Now, it was at Brian’s personal request that Michael was brought back into her life.  Perhaps it was destiny prevailing; then again, maybe not.  She wondered if Brian knew of her signing with Lace.  More importantly, did Michael?

She dressed in faded blue jeans, tight white half shirt and a jean jacket, with black  cowboy boots.  She wanted to keep it simple and understated, as if she hadn’t spent to much time toiling over what to wear - even though she had.

As promised, tickets for the show waited for Annie and her friend at the box office.  The seats were half a dozen rows back and off to the left side, which Annie was grateful for.  That way, she wouldn’t be in Michael’s direct line of view.

Two songs into the concert and Annie knew exactly why Brian was so concerned with Michael’s recent performances.  He seemed distant and detached, as he hammered away at his guitars.  Physically, he seemed leaner than she remembered, but his hair and eyes remained the same.  Even on a bad night, Michael cut an impressive image on stage.  His raw, earthy swagger still brought every woman in the arena to her knees.  And the ‘fuck all’ attitude was apparent in every solo he attacked his way through.  This clearly wasn’t the man she knew or the standard of playing she knew he was capable.  But the crowd still loved it, roaring their appreciation as the final encore was completed and the house lights illuminated the arena.

“So, I guess you’ll be headed backstage now?” Annie’s friend asked, collecting her overnight bag from beneath her seat.

“I thought you were coming with me?”

“Nope.  As much as you know I’d love to meet any one of them, I believe this is your party - not mine.”

“But I can’t walk back there by myself,” Annie protested.

“You’ve faced bigger obstacles in the past than this one, Annie.  This should be a walk in the park compared to what you’ve been through.  So, go on.  Face your last demon and be done with it.  You’ll either fall back in love or you’ll both have closure.”

“This is much harder than I thought it would be,” Annie sighed.

“Do it.  And remember what I said, if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” her friend urged, shoving her in the direction of the back stage hallway.  “If I don’t see you back at the hotel tonight, I’ll know why.”  Her friend giggled and disappeared into the sea of departing fans.

Annie dug deep into the pocket of her jeans, pulled out the back stage pass, and hung it nervously around her neck.  Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the side door, as if someone were escorting her to the gas chamber.  A burly guard filled the doorframe and asked to see her pass.

“You’re here to see  Mike, aren’t you?” the guard asked in a low growl.

“How’d you know that?”

“I never forget a face,” he smiled down at her.  “He’s out back in the press room.  You remember how to get there, right?”

“Yes.”

“Have fun,” he replied, stepping aside to let her pass.

The hallway was already brimming with people waiting to enter the press room when Annie arrived.  Fifteen agonizing minutes passed while she waited in line to enter and more than once she thought of turning tail and running the other way.  Finally, Brian noticed her standing in the doorway and pulled her inside.

“Jesus!  I thought you weren’t coming,” he said, hugging her tightly, then releasing his grip to take a look at her.  “Man, you look great!”

“Is he here?” she asked, realizing instantly how stupid her question sounded.

Annie’s eyes darted quickly around the room, surveying everyone there.  She and Brian noticed Michael at the same time, flirting shamelessly with a beautiful blonde across the room.  Quick as lightening, Annie turned to leave.  Brian grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, putting her back to Michael.

“I thought you said he wasn’t seeing anyone?” Annie spit at Brian through clenched teeth.

“Trust me, he’s not,” Brian replied, bending down to look Annie in the eye.  “That isn’t what it appears to be, okay?  So, take a deep breath and pull yourself together.”

“You have no idea how hard it was for me to come here tonight,” she shouted, angry at herself for falling apart.  “And now I feel like you’ve wasted my time.  He’s obviously moved on and he’s happy.  There’s nothing more I can do for him.”

“That woman isn’t his girlfriend, Annie.  She’s the daughter of someone in management.”

Annie gave Brian a hard shove.  “Brian, I’ve heard every excuse in the book and the bimbo is always a relative of someone or the daughter of someone else!  How stupid do you think I am?  I don’t give a shit who the girl is!  It doesn’t matter.”  She pushed Brian aside.  “Tell Michael I wish him and his latest bimbo all the best.”

“Annie, come on!  Don’t leave now,” Brian yelled after her.

Across the room, Michael suddenly noticed Brian in the midst of what appeared to be an argument.  It wasn’t until the woman turned to leave that he caught a glimpse of her face. The recognition was instantaneous. Her long golden hair and delicate facial features were unmistakable.  It was Annie.  Feeling his heart fill with emotion, he began to plow his way through the crowd toward Brian.

“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.”

Annie had no reply and stepped through the back door of the FleetCenter with Michael right behind her.  They walked to the curb and within seconds a long, sleek limousine pulled up in front of them.  Annie’s jaw dropped.

“I thought
your
car was parked back here,” she said as the driver approached them.

“Hey, Paul.  How’s it going?” Michael asked, obviously knowing the driver.

“Can’t complain, Mike,” he remarked, opening the door for Annie and holding her hand as she slid into the darkened back seat.  Then he directed Michael inside and ran to the drivers seat.  “Where can I take you tonight?” he asked, the glass divider panel between the seats sliding down.

“Back to the Ritz, I guess,” Michael answered.

“Good enough.”  Then the glass partition drifted back up and sealed them off in the darkness.