1998;

Stevie is nervous. Her first performance with Lindsey's band is tonight. Earlier in the day she was driven to tears, now she was just incredibly silent. Salem, his band that was becoming quite well known in the area, was being introduced and she was literally shaking in his arms.

"You're going to do great, angel" he said, rubbing her shoulders. She managed a small smile but he could see the fear in her eyes. "You've sung before"

"You guys are the real deal though. You've played on the radio!"

He chuckles. "College radio doesn't exactly put us in the same league as The Eagles or The Cure, Stevie."

"I guess" she says. She hears the crowd roar and she's hurried onto the stage with three other guys and Lindsey. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek then let her sleep centerstage.

'Ready?' He mouths and she nods. He begins to play and as the music begins, she feels herself loosen up. She steps up to the mic in her black chiffon get up and high chunky boots, taking a deep breath.

From the cradle bars
Comes a beckoning voice
It sends you spinning
You have no choice

She taps her foot, biting her lip as the music picks up and it is sent through her with much more intensity. The tambourine electrified her mind and she was suddenly transformed, she was someone else entirely.

You hear laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice

You hear laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice

She swishes her flowing chiffon sleeves around, mystifying her audience, their eyes wide, like with the wonder of a child.

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound

Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound

She dances away from the mic, feeling the music. Lindsey watched her float about the stage, thankfully knowing his parts by heart.

And don't forget
When your elders forget
To say their prayers
Take them by the legs
And throw them down the stairs

Dancing in a dark, witchy fashion, she was wowing the crowd and everyone could feel her energy. She was a woman not controlled by earthly forces; she was unstoppable, captivating and infinite.

When you think
Your toys have gone beserk
It's an illusion
You cannot shirk

You hear laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound

Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound

Her wails filled the room and she was truly in her own world. Her eyes sparkled in the darkness and the fire behind them was like nothing anyone had ever seen.

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced

Dance
Dance
Dance
Dance

The music continued and she spun like a whirling dervish. Her 'wings' flew around her. She was an enchantress. When the guitars and drums finally stopped, the crowd erupted with whoops and applause. She couldn't believe it! She leaned into the mic and whispered a soft thank you. The band was given a couple minutes to regroup so she took a moment to grab a sip of water from her styrofoam cup before they began the next song. Lindsey was far from focused, still staring at his girlfriend in awe. He was punched in the arm by a band mate and made to start singing. He came in a little late, and Stevie gave him a crooked smirk before coming in on her harmony.

The set flew by and Lindsey hurriedly put his guitar in the back of their station wagon, given to him by his mother. He was being quite rough with their instruments by the sounds of it, tambourines crashing behind her as she sat in the front seat of the car.

"What's the rush?" She shouts out the window, the radio loud when he started the ignition.

"I want to get home"

"It will still be standing when we get there" she jokes.

"I want to escape small talk" he says. "These guys like to hang out and talk afterward or go to the bar and I'm not into it"

"Why not? You like to shoot the shit and enjoy a beer from time to time."

He smiled. "We have plans, babe"

"I don't remember you saying anything about that" she says. He gets into the car, slamming the door and backing out of the parking space before even getting his seat belt on. "Slow down"

"No time"

"What plans, Lindsey?" She asks. He brakes for a red light, leaning over and kissing her passionately. A car behind them honks, signaling them to go as they had been sitting at the green light a little too long. She giggled when he pulled away.

"You were so fucking...sexy, mesmerizing, amazing...wow, Stevie!"

"Thank you"

"I could barely make it through the rest of our songs. I can't wait to get you home and make sweet, sweet love to you"

"Baby, there is nothing that I'd rather do" she replies.

He picks up speed, their old car having trouble climbing the hill to their apartment. He throws the car into park and it screeches through the gears. He opens her car door for her and scoops her up, carrying her over the threshold into the home they now shared.

"I love you so much" he says, kissing her as he puts her down and presses her back into the door.

"I love you too" She deepens his kiss, untucking his shirt and pulling it over his head. She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. "I need you. You have lit such a fire that it might burn us both up"

"How can you be so eloquent and poetic when all I can think of is how bad I wanna fuck you?" She giggles against his skin, kissing his chest. "It's practically caveman speak"

"You Tarzan, me Jane. Take me to bed, my wild man" she says. He kisses her a final time then grunts, throwing her over his shoulder and kicking the bedroom door open. She loves how goofy he can be. He lays her down on the bed and pulls off her skirt, taking her panties off with it. He stops, staring at her lower region a moment. "What?"

"A heart" he says, completely taken aback, but in a good way.

"I, uh, read in Cosmo that it's fun to change it up a little. I was at the salon and they asked me what I wanted."

"And you told them a heart?"

"Is it weird?" she asked, suddenly feeling self conscious.

"No, baby. God, you're so adorable...I can't get enough of you" he says, pulling off her top and smashing into her lips with his. He climbed on top of her, just staring into her big brown eyes.

Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound

And Spellbound he was.