Saturdays in a Rocket Summer

I was standing off to the side of the stage, watching Mike as he pounded on his drums, the anticipation building up inside of me as I prepared to greet him for the first time in over a year.

I pushed a piece of hair that had gotten away from the tight bun that it was pulled back in, the formality matching the rest of my dress blues since I hadn't bothered to change out of them. I was still standing by the stage as the band's crew set it up so I could speak into a microphone that would connect with Mike's in-ear monitors and with the speakers. I looked at them and waited for them to give me the okay. Casey nodded to me, letting me know I could speak into the microphone as the song ended,

"Mikey?" My voice came through the speakers and I heard my voice for the first time in a while.

I hadn't recognized the smoothness of it, the way it flowed through the speakers. Mike was about to hit one of the cymbals when he looked at me, his jaw dropping and the wooden stick flying from his hand, hitting the back of Tony's head.

He stood up, dropping his other stick and running to me. I dropped the microphone, tears coming to my eyes as he lifted me into the air in a passionate hug. He kissed my lips, the cool metal of his lip ring pressing against my lipsticked lips. I chuckled as he let me slide, slowly through his arms till I was standing in front of him. I looked up at him, my arms still sitting around his neck loosely,

"I've missed you so much." Tears had started to fall down my cheeks as he stared at me,

"I missed you too Boo." He gave me that stupid nickname three years ago when we first met. Mike hugged me tightly, burying his nose into my neck. He separated from me, looking deeply into my eyes before taking me into a deep dip and kissing my lips more passionately than before.

I put my hands behind his head and kissed him back, feeling his tongue as it flashed across my lips.

This wasn't normally the place where I would make out with him but I hadn't seen him in over a year and I was yearning for his taste again. I closed my mouth as he swung me back so that I was standing. He separated from me again, looking me over,

"How've you been?" He wiped away the tear that was rolling down my cheek with his thumb,

"Saving your ass." He chuckled at me and kissed my lips again, cupping my cheeks in his hands, "Oh God I've been dieing everyday, thinking I might never get to see you again." He lifted my face with his hands so I was looking him in the eyes,

"Don't think like that. You know you're too good to get got." It was like he ahd completely forgotten about the concert and was focused directly in my eyes. He let go of my face and I smiled, nuzzling my nose into his chest.

I took in the scent of cigarettes and sweat that I missed so dearly as he kissed my head. I tightened my arms around his waist as he tightened his arms around my shoulders, "I can't wait to get you out of these clothes and back to the way I remember you." I chuckled again as Mike kissed my nose, "I love you so much Annamarie."

"I love you more Michael." I kept my arms around his waist as he held my shoulders,

"ANNA!" Next thing I knew Tony had us both on the ground and was hugging me tightly, "I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" I laughed and hugged Tony back,

"I missed you too Tony!" Tony had always been my best friend. He and I had been friends since what felt like forever and that didn't change as we grew up. When I didn't have anywhere to go Tony let me live with him and his girlfriend Stephanie in their small, Pacific Beach, apartment and even afterward he had given me direction in joining the navy,

"Hey Vic! Look who's home!" Jaime teased me as he helped me and Tony both stand up from where we were laying on the ground, "Welcome home Annamarie." Jaime took my hand and pulled me so I was standing, hugging me tightly before letting me go and making way for Vic to come greet me.

It was strange seeing him again. Even back when I lived with him and Mike he and I had never really socialized all that much. I mean sure we had our morning hellos and such over breakfast lunch and dinner but there was nothing more between us than that.

Vic walked, awkwardly up to me and gave me a soft hug. It was definitely more than I had expected from him but not much less than one would think o get from their boyfriend's big brother.

It was strange. The one everyone expected me to be close to was the one I was farthest from in the world,

"How was that big tugboat?" Vic spoke softly, using the nickname he had given to the ship I always seemed to get stuck with,

"It was definitely fun. And as much as I miss my navy buddies I'm glad to be back home with my real friends.

A smile crept its way onto my face as Mike caught my eye again, he was staring at me with a huge stupid grin on his face,

"What're you looking at Mikey?" I sauntered over to him and placed my arms on his shoulders. Mike looked back down at me and smiled broadly,

"My beautiful girlfriend." I chuckled as Mike kissed my lips again, "Who I love more than anything in the whole world." I giggled and kissed him back.

Welcome home Anna.