Leo Rose started to pluck his guitar, and sang.
There wasn't much to it than that. Part of the reason I had grown to love his music so much was the energy and passion that had so openly prevalent. It felt like he meant every single word. Here? He may as well been reading a script.
The music was okay, I supposed.
The concert went on. He launched into his final song for the night. Just like last time, he started to scan over the crowd as he sang, just being part of the act.
"The her I've been searching for has...Ha..." Leo stammered in his song, again freezing. This wasn't part of the show.
He saw me. Again, we exchanged glances, and he hadn't forgotten me. His face didn't say anger, but instead said surprise, with a bit of wistfulness.
The music stopped completely. He looked around, shot me a glance, and then looked to his band, and told them to finish the song, him running through the rest of the lyrics.
I had him. I turned toward the exit and made my way to where he would be heading from the stage to his dressing room. There were already people lined up to get a look at him, a photo, and anything else that would potentially make for a million dollar tabloid article. Security was there, trying to keep the crowd under control.
The song was ending, and he was doing his farewells. I didn't think he'd be much in the mood for extended encores. I stepped forward, and a security guard countered. "Miss, you're not allowed back here."
"Leo Rose will want to see me."
"Sure he will. He wants to see everyone."
As he crossed his arms and was about to push me back, Leo Rose walked behind him. "Let her through, Sal."
>
Sal raised an eyebrow, and let me through. There were a series of flashes at my back as I stepped under the barrier rope and stepped towards Leo. Leo looked bewildered, and gestured for me to follow him. To his dressing room, through the door, and swiftly closed it behind us.
"What the hell are you doing here, Haley?"
The words were hostile, the tone wasn't. "I had to see you again."
"Well I'm here. What is it." His tone was more flat, like he didn't know what he wanted to hear from me.
"I'm pregnant."
He took a deep breath.
"Yes, you're the father. I haven't exactly been in the mood since our encounter. You're the only one who I've ever been with, Leo."
"Why are you here then? You do know you're supposed to go through lawyers if you're trying to hit me up for child support, right?"
"I don't want child support," I said, immediately.
"Hrm?'
"I don't want money from you, Leo."
"I know you're young, you know children are expensive right?"
"Not just money, anyway."
"Not just money?" His eyebrow was raised.
"I want you, Leo."
He was silent. He paced away from me. "You're young. You're a teenager. I'm almost twice your age. God, yes, I'm so fucking attracted to you, but I don't see how it can work."
"Whatever happened to those songs you wrote? About finding that one in billions who was right for you, how you thought you'd be so surprised when you finally found her?"