She decided to ignore Jake and his actions for the rest of the night. Instead, she focused on the music that was playing because the music was her only solace and always cleared her mind when she needed it the most. It was her one constant the lover, the one that was always there and never faltered. For the rest of the night, she talked and laughed with her friends and by the end of the evening her mood had improved. When she was getting ready to leave, she was making her rounds and saying goodbye to everyone she noticed that Jake and Stella had disappeared.

Hey Micah, where did Jake and Stella disappear to?” asked Annie.

            “They left a band ago, and he didn’t seem to happy,” responded Micah. Micah was tall with long dark hair and had eyes the color of emeralds.

            “Oh, well okay then. Can you tell them I said it was nice to see them?”

            “Sure thing, Annie. Is everything okay with you and Jake?”

            “As far as I know, why do you ask?”

            “I don’t know. He didn’t seem too happy to see you hanging around Markus.”

            “He has a girlfriend, Micah. What I do shouldn’t matter to him.”

            “I realize that, but he has always had a certain something for you. He just doesn’t want to see you hurt, Annie, you do know that right?”

            “I know, and I appreciate his concern, but I can handle myself.”

            “Okay, well you be safe going home and I will see you next weekend for our show, right?” 

“You know it, Micah.”

They embraced. She said the rest of her goodbyes and was walking to her car when she spotted Markus leaning up against it.

Hey, what are you up too?” she asked.

            “Nothing really, I just wanted to know if you were interested in getting a bite to eat.”

            “Sure, why not?”

            “Okay, great, just let me help the guys unload the truck, and I will give you a call and we can meet somewhere.”

            “Okay, that sounds good.”

            An hour later her phone rings.

Hey sweetie, are you still up for that bite to eat?”

            “Yeah, where do you want to meet?”

            “You know that twenty-four-hour diner on A1A?”

            “Yes.”

            “Are you up to meeting there?”

            “Sure. I can be there in 15 minutes.”

            “Okay great! Let’s meet there then.”

            “Okay see you in a few minutes.”

            When Annie arrived at the diner, Markus was waiting for her. She got out of the car, and he came to meet her. They embraced. He held her hand as they walked into the diner. All the while they both were smiling from ear to ear. They sat in a booth across from each other, and they both went a little shy on each other. They just sat there smiling at each other and not saying a word. The waitress appeared.

Good morning, what may I get the two of you?” she asked. Her name was Casey. She was a woman of about 45 with long red hair that was pulled back in a ponytail.

            “Good Morning, can I get the omelet with mushrooms and rye toast?” asked Annie.

            “Would you like hash browns, grits or potatoes with that and what would you like to drink, sweetie?”

Hash browns would be great and a glass of orange juice, please.”

            “Sure thing, sugar, and what would you like, honey?”

            “Can I get the western omelet with white toast and a glass of orange juice?” asked Markus.

“Sure thing, sweetie that will be all coming right up.” And with that Casey disappeared leaving the two of them to sit there in silence again.

            After about twenty minutes, Casey was back with a tray of food in her hand.

You two seem awfully quiet. Is this your first date?”

            They both laughed.

No, not we are just friends catching a bite to eat after a show,” said Markus.

            “Well, not that it is any of my business, but the two of you would make a cute couple,” she said, smiling.

            Annie and Markus’s faces went beat red.

Thank you,” they said in unison.