Another evening, another concert. The band set everything up that afternoon and rehearsed a bit before the show. I stayed backstage the whole time. No offense, but I was rather bored. They sounded great out there though. Loud. Electrifying.

About an hour later, Mike came up to me again. "Hey," he said sitting on a couch next to me. "Sorry about a few days ago. I know I can come on a bit strong."

"Apology accepted."

"Look. I wanna get to know you more, you seem pretty chill." Chill? I mentally shuddered. "Do you want to come to the lounge room with me? A little more privacy?" What was this crab cake trying to pull? I wasn't all that comfortable being alone with him like that.

"I'd really rather stay here and wait for my friends..." I politely rejected.

"They're AC-freaking-DC, they won't be finished for another hour," Mike laughed. I smiled in return but it wasn't too genuine. "Come on..." he urged taking my hand in his. I wanted to say no. I wanted to say no so bad. But I didn't want to be rude. Who the hell cares about that? Reject his arse!

"I-I guess..." We stood up and he took me to a back room. Way way back. He let me in first then closed the door behind us. The music was just about completely drowned out. And to my uttermost horror, there was a bed back there. Couches, a vanity mirror, and a mini fridge. And a big bed, right smack in the middle. Mike walked by me and lay on the bed. I stood there, not at all enjoying myself.

"Come on," he called making room on the bed for me. I slowly walked over and sat up on the bed but he pulled me down to lay next to him. One arm snaked around my waist and I got real nervous. I really wished I said no, and I wished I wasn't such a damn pushover sometimes. "So. What do you want to do with your life?" he asked as he got comfortable.

"I actually want to be an author."

"Oh. That sounds-okay, that sounds kind of boring to me,"he laughed. You're boring to me. "I'm not that fond of writing to be honest. Always hated English class."

"I really liked it." So there.

"Well that's cool. I always wanted to be a baseball player. Ended up a roadie."

"At least it's AC/DC and not One Direction."

"Is that a band?" Oh crap. I forgot they weren't a band yet.

"Oh yeah, not too popular though," I said. Nice cover, he has no idea.

"Hmm. So. Where you staying tonight?"

"A hotel with the band. Same as always."

"Really."

"Yeah."

"Don't you ever get lonely there?"

"No, I share a room."

"Oh, with who?" Gee, should I tell him? Yes, then he'll know to leave you alone.

"Angus."

"Oh. I heard he wasn't all that nice."

"Well that's a lie, he's the sweetest person I know. You shouldn't screw around with him, but he's great."

"Hm. Well you can always stay with me. I usually go to a motel nearby. We could talk. Hang out."

"It's okay, Angus is my friend. I don't mind staying with him."

"Come on, isn't he a lot older than you? Don't you want to be around someone your age?"

"Not really."

"What's he got that I ain't got?" Uh, manners?

"It has nothing to do with that," I said. I didn't know where he was getting at, but if it was anything like he tried before, he'd get hell coming to him.

"Come on. Try it out for one night. Just one. If you don't enjoy yourself you can keep staying with-your older friend." No. No, I don't want a sleepover. "Please?"

"Maybe," I sighed.

"I can live with that," Mike said. "Until then, what do you wanna do now?" he asked suggestively. Oh gross.

"I should probably go check on the boys." Mike tightened his hold on my waist.

"They're fine," he said, probably annoyed at my trying to escape. "They have a whole two hour gig soon, we have all the time in the world."

"Can I at least go to the bathroom?" I asked.

"I guess." He let me go and stayed on the bed while I left the lounge room. I closed the door and right before it clicked I heard him shout, "There's a bathroom in here!" I speed walked (spedwalked?) away from that room until I saw someone I recognized.

"Hey Hannah, you seem to be in a hurry," Cliff said standing by a table. The boys were done rehearsing and came back to rest for a bit.

"Well, sorta," I smiled.

"What's wrong?" Should I tell him?

"How do you let someone down, you know, tell him you don't like him?" Cliff's eyes widened.

"What...do you mean?"

"Nothing, just curious."

"Oh. Well you should be straightforward. No leading him on crap, just come right out and tell him."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"No problem. And if he ever makes you uncomfortable, get away from him as soon as possible." Okay. I nodded my head and left.

Cliff smiled as he watched Hannah go off somewhere else backstage. The smile quickly faltered and he turned around to face the table. What did she mean by that question? Who doesn't she like? It couldn't be...couldn't be Angus could it? He's the only one he could think of. Did she really not like him? What happened to all that love they shared, that connection they had? The Christmas of 1980, he had seen the way they acted around each other, there was more than they let show. Especially Angus.

He debated whether or not he should tell Angus what he heard. If it's true, if Hannah didn't like him, he had a right to know. Of course, Hannah then would have to be the one to tell him. Maybe he shouldn't say anything at all. Afterall, it's possible she wasn't talking about him. Or even herself. But there was no other explanation. Maybe Malcolm ought to know, he'd know what to do...

I found my way to the front of the stage and gazed around the empty room. Thousands of seats surrounded me and the stage stood like a promontory among them. My footsteps echoed throughout and the lights illuminated my face. "You ever been on stage?" Malcolm asked behind me.

"I took some Expressive Movement class in high school, went up on stage sometimes."

"Is that like, dance?"

"There's a dance unit, but mostly just different types of stage movements."

"Angus sure as hell knows some stage movements," Malcolm laughed.

"Yeah, he'd do a good job," I laughed with him.

"You like being on stage? Or you get nervous?"

"I get nervous, yeah. But it's cool to be up there. Just not something I'd want to pursue."

"I hear ya'."

"Come on, I have one more piece to give him!" someone shouted backstage. Phil came out laughing.

"Just give it to him, tell him it's free!"

"I don't think he'd appreciate that!" Phil laughed again and went to his drum set.

"Hey Mal, hey kiddo."

"Hey Philly, ya' callin' for shots?"

"Don't look at me, Sam's been handin' 'em out all day."

"Shady fellow that one."

"You're tellin' me."

"Well," Malcolm sighed. "Another show, another rumble. You think we'll get paid this time?" he laughed.

"We better, else I'm quittin'."

"Fans wouldn't like that Ruddy."

"Push Ang out to the crowds, they can tear him apart."

"If they can catch him."

"Yeah," Phil laughed. Malcolm stood there a while with his cigarette.

"Guess we'd better get ready then. Come on Hannah." He led me backstage and I was scared I'd run into Mike again. I didn't want him to make me unsafe, besides, Cliff told me to get away fast. I never left Malcolm's side.

"Okay, let's do one last sound check before they let us out." It was 7:45 pm. The concert would start in fifteen minutes. During that time I would be alone and vulnerable to Mike. That was not my cup of tea.

"You doin' okay Hannah?" Angus asked putting his tie on. I had to admit. He looked rather adorable. In the most professional way of course.

"'M fine," I answered. He smiled at me, then continued with his outfit. I wasn't fine. I wanted to go back to the hotel so Mike wouldn't find me and bother me. I'll admit again, I was a little scared to confront him, nor was I ready at that moment. But I didn't want Angus to worry about me. "Jus' a little tired."

"Tired? It's not even eight yet." I shrugged. "You feel okay?" I shrugged again. Angus put his hand to my forehead then to my cheek. His thumb gently brushed over my skin, and I shivered. "You don't feel warm. Then again, I ain't no doctor."

"What's up?" Cliff asked coming over.

"Not sure, Hannah doesn't know what's up."

"You okay?"

"'M just tired, really."

"She seems fine Ang."Angus opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. He looked at me with concern.

"Hey Ang! Come on then, we gotta go!" Malcolm shouted.

"A minute more Mal!" Angus shouted back. He turned to me and leaned in a bit closer.

"You gonna be okay for two hours?" I shrugged a third time. He sighed.

"We don't have any minutes," Malcolm said walking up.

"Hannah's sick."

"She is?" Malcolm came up to me close like Angus did. "You holdin' up love?" I nodded.

"Alright, well if we're gonna do something we should do it now," Cliff said.

"What are we supposed to do?" Angus asked. "I'd take her back to the hotel but there's no time."

"Guys! Five minutes!" Phil yelled.

"Can Mick take her back?"

"Is he around?" Malcolm asked.

"I don't know, Mick! Hey McKinney!" Angus called. A man showed up.

"Yeah."

"Would you mind taking Hannah back to the hotel?"

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Nothin', just take her back, then come back here."

"Yeah, sure thing." I sat on a chair to tie my stubborn shoelace as Angus told Mick the directions and room. He gave him the key and put his guitar on.

While I was tying a second knot, as the band took their places on stage, someone kissed me on the cheek before running out to join the band. I stood up and walked out with the roadie.

Angus took no time in returning to his regular clothes after the show. Normally he wouldn't hurry so much, but his friend wasn't up to snuff. He should make sure she was okay.

Back at the hotel, Angus got another key and found his room. No one was up and about so he checked the bedroom. Hannah was asleep. He sighed in relief and came up to her. Hopefully she'd feel better in the morning.

Cliff sat in his hotel room drinking Scotch and eyeing his window. It had begun snowing a bit and he needed a drink to warm up. Hannah had seemed a bit sick before the concert that night. Not just physically sick like Angus thought she might be, but anxious. Looked like something or someone was bothering her. So she did have a dilemma, even if he didn't know what it was. She seemed fine until that evening...Nothing else came to mind, only something that might have happened between her and Angus. He hoped to God he was wrong.