Michael's P.O.V

Another day, another show. Last night's concert was another success, well in my crew's opinion anyway, I knew I could have performed better myself.

I groaned and rubbed my face in my hands, I was exhausted. Sometimes I wished I could just press pause on the world, maybe then I could be someone else.

Don't get me wrong, I love to perform. It's my life, it's what I do, where I can actually be myself. That's the best part of my whole existence. It's the day to day that wears me down.

And since my last guests of honour two days ago, I had been constantly on edge, nothing was going right. At first I couldn't put my finger on it, there was this constant nagging in the back of my mind, but then I realised.

It was her.

Never had I seen a more beautiful girl in my life, she was so confident yet shy at the same time. She had an air of importance in her walk and her talk, but she looked so pure and the way she was worrying about that little girl, it was obvious she had a kind heart, she really cared for those kids,

I wondered if there was anyone who cared for her. Hell, what was I thinking? I didn't have time for these distractions but then I really wasn't in any state to put on a show either.

My team must have picked up on my behaviour because they asked me to take a break. I wasn't at all on form that day. They told me I was dehydrated, but I knew that wasn't what was wrong.

I sat in my trailer alone so I could rest, they had begrudgingly called off the concert for that night. Health reasons they told the fans. They understood but I was devastated to let them down like that, they must have fought with their lives for those tickets. It would take place a few days later, setting my whole tour back.

I couldn't think about that now though.

I glanced towards my dresser and saw the clothes I had on the day I met Maria and I immediately remembered that she had given me her card. Why had I made up an excuse just to get this pretty young thing's number? She would have given it to me either way.

Or not, that girl was mysterious, I couldn't work her out at all. I pulled the card out of my slacks and there were the numbers I had to call. I flipped it over and smiled. A picture of her perfect face, right next to the name Miss Maria Rose.

I held my breath as I punched in the numbers on the phone in my trailer. It rang for what seemed like forever.

"Hi, you have reached Maria. Sorry I can't take your call right now. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can"

I wasn't prepared for this but I managed to say something at least

"H-hello Maria, it's Mr J- err Michael, speaking. I was just calling to ask if I could make my visit for tomorro-"
"Who the hell is this?! What do you want?"

A fuming deep voice blasted through the phone, catching me off guard.

"Exc-cuse me?" Was this Maria's boyfriend on the phone?
"Stay the hell away from her you hear? The girl is mine! I AM NOBODY'S GIRL CRAIG GIVE ME THE DAMN-"

And just like that, the line dropped. My head was thumping, I had to get to her, her voice was so panicked, I had the most insane urge to protect her, to get her away from there. I grabbed her card and my jacket then slipped out.

I had never been so distressed by a phone call before.

*
Maria's P.O.V

The worst day of the week. My day off.

Those days dragged and dragged, with nothing to do but paperwork and once that was done, I had to keep myself busy.

I guess that's what got me into my writing, those undisturbed hours just perfect to let my thoughts flow onto the pages of my notebooks. I sighed thoughtfully as I reread my finished poem.

Urgh, another one about him. He was perfect inspiration to keep my mind occupied but it was rather unlike my other works.

I had thought about studying English once upon a time but in the real world, there was no career in it. So I went for my other passion instead. I wouldn't change a thing now.

My perfect reverie was interrupted by an urgent knock at the door.
My heart jumped. What if Michael had found my address and had come here? But he was on tour right now, there was no way he would have the time. He had probably forgotten about me already.

Finally composed I answered the door.

It wasn't him. It was Craig, my ex. What the heck was he doing here again?

"Maria! Oh my Maria I just had to come and see you! Please can we talk, just for a while, I miss you"
"Craig, what the hell? I'm not your Maria anymore, why can't you understand that? Five minutes and then you can get out of here, this better be worth my valuable time"

Why was I such a doormat? I didn't want him anywhere near me.

He stumbled into my apartment and sat on my sofa.

Make yourself at home why don't you I thought.

I sat as far on the other side of the sofa as possible and he started up:

"Listen, Maria. I miss you everyday, I can't stop thinking about you, I need you back in my life or I know that I'm not gonna make it through. I'm in such a bad way Maria, I have to have you back I can't live without y-"

The guilt trip was cut off by my phone ringing. I went to answer it but Craig grabbed my hand.
"Listen to me. Whoever is on that phone doesn't need you like I do"

"H-hello Maria, it's Mr J- err Michael, speaking."

My heart froze as I heard his voice. I couldn't believe he was calling me! I wrenched my hand out of Craig's grasp.

"I was just calling to ask if I could make my visit for tomorro-"
Craig had grabbed the phone and was shouting down it. I couldn't breathe, what was he saying, why was Craig even here again?
"The girl is mine!"

That was it, I was not going to let Craig talk to Michael like that:

"I AM NOBODY'S GIRL CRAIG GIVE ME THE DAMN PHONE!"

Craig hurled my mobile across the room and grabbed my shoulders shaking me to the core.
"You are my girl Maria, you just have to realise that nobody is going to have you but me. Nobody wants you except me. You will NEVER be with anyone else, do you understand what I'm saying girl? Nobody else!"

My head span as his words cut through me, then everything went dark.

*