Oh, no. She was not running from me this time.

I’d barely spotted Michelle in the crowd before she turned to run. Thankfully, I knew exactly where she was going because it was the same place I’d been hiding out earlier that evening.

It was time for the two of us to talk.

Something was going on between the two of us. We’d both fought against it in our own ways. No longer. I was going to put everything out there, and Michelle was going to listen. And when I was done, we were going to make some serious decisions.

Together.

“Where are you going?” Matt hollered as I started to move off the stage. At some point, he and Jenny had come together. I looked down to see their fingers intertwined. It shouldn't have surprised me. I'd watched as the two of them got cozier with one another ever since that secret meeting that determined Jenny was an official member of the band.

“Everyone else seems to have found their happily ever after.” I waved my hand at everyone on stage. It was like a weird dating show where everyone paired off. “It’s time to go get mine before it’s too late.”

Matt gave me a lopsided smile before he turned back to Jenny. He dipped her backward and kissed her in front of the whole audience. Everyone continued cheering, but I had bigger things on my mind.

A few hands slapped my back as I rushed through the crowd, but I didn’t stop to acknowledge any of them. I went straight to the back door and walked out into the night. The space was considerably more peaceful than inside The Imperial, especially when the door closed and blocked the sounds that were coming from inside.

Michelle was sitting in one of the plastic chairs, her gaze on me.

“Michelle.”

How many times had I addressed her by her first name and nothing else? It was far from an adoring pet name but felt so profoundly ours.

“Rainier,” she answered, but stayed in her seat. I took the opportunity to sit down across from her.

Michelle wore a grey tee with Rainier and the Go-Aways painted on it along with a giant raincloud.

"Nice shirt."

“I thought it was appropriate since I essentially did a tribute show.”

“If you were trying to get my attention, it worked. I just don’t understand why you ran and hid afterward.”

Her body sagged and her gaze was fixed on the ashtray.

“Because I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Even when I thought I hated you, you gave me butterflies. I don’t feel the need to change you like I have with other guys. I want you just the way you are.” She stopped and looked at me. “I like you, and you’re leaving soon. And I don’t even know when. I’m not sure what I was hoping to accomplish tonight.”

Michelle stood up like she was ready to bolt again, but I got to her before she could and pulled her close. She didn’t fight it, but wrapped her arms around my waist, clutching the fabric of my shirt. I turned my head to sniff her hair, which despite the smokiness of the bar and the reek of sweat that permeated everything inside, still smelled fantastic.

“I like you too, you know.”

“Obviously,” she answered in true Michelle form, and even managed a small laugh. “But it’s not enough. We both know that. Part of me wishes you were already gone so I could move on. It’s just not going to happen as long as you’re here.”

“What about that other part of you?” I asked. “Is there somewhere in there that wants me to stay?”

She pulled away and looked at me through narrowed eyes that still glistened with unshed tears. “Of course, you idiot. I thought it was pretty freaking clear.”

“So, if I were to say I planned to stay in River Valley for the fall semester to see what happens with the band, what would that part of Michelle say?” I held my breath as she continued to stare at me, so I continued. “I was able to switch to online classes for the semester.”

I had finished signing up for my classes after my conversation with Matt the week before. It wasn’t only the band, and it wasn’t only Michelle. I found I wanted to explore what both of those paths led to. I didn’t have to give up my schooling to do so.

“You’re not leaving?” Michelle asked. I shook my head. “But the show in there was such a disaster. There’s no way you can recover from that.”

“That's a very real possibility. But even if the band is done for, it’s still worth it.”

“It is?”

“Michelle, you can be exasperating, but you are worth every moment. You're perfect for me.”

It must have been the right thing to say because the tears were back. I knew they were happy this time because she pulled me in for a kiss. It was everything I remembered.

Joy. Passion… Lights?

We pulled apart at the sudden brightness that hit us. Matt's head was popping out of the back door. “Sorry, dude. They told me to give you another minute, but I couldn’t wait.”

He walked out, hand-in-hand with Jenny, who was followed by Carter and Avery. So much for our romantic moment. The four of them stood staring at us, Avery with a big smile on her face.

“Okay, well if you’re going to interrupt us, you might as well spit it out.”

Matt had the decency to looked embarrassed. “So Norm came up on stage after whatever just happened in there. I thought he was going to tell us to leave and never come back, but he said people loved all the excitement. He asked us to come back next week, as long as we promise to focus on the music.”

It was great news. We spent a few minutes talking about what we were going to do for our next show, speculating who would be the opener since Michelle wouldn’t be making a repeat performance. We were all talking excitedly until Matt blurted out, “I guess Michelle knows you're staying?”

Conversation stopped as everyone watched her reaction.

“What?” Michelle gasped from beside me, giving me a playful punch. “Rainier, why didn’t you tell me?”

The look on Matt’s face was perfect. “I assumed you told her when we caught you back here and the talk about playing next week.”

“Relax, she’s messing with you. But that reminds me. You did interrupt us. Maybe you should go figure out the details with Norm and let us finish what we started.”

Carter whistled which resulted in Avery pushing him inside. Matt followed sheepishly behind the two of them, leaving Jenny to follow up the pack. She turned and smiled at us before following the rest of the crew inside.

“Finish what we started, huh?” Michelle’s voice rang out in the silence bringing my attention back to her.

“You got a problem with that?”

“Absolutely not,” she answered, pulling me in for a kiss.