A/N: Chapter Two is here! It's a little short, but it is important in moving the story along. And I updated two stories in one day, which I'm pleased about. Anyways, thanks for reading- and reviewing if you have the time. I hope you like where this story is headed. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

John was wrapping up the mic chords after his gig one night when Tom Branson, his drummer, came up to him with a phone in his hand. "John, you have to watch this!" he exclaimed, shoving the phone towards his mate.

"What is it?" John asked, confused.

"Some girl watched us perform and wrote a song for you. She's really good!"

John was surprised. He knew he had poured his heart into the lyrics of a few of the songs, but he didn't realize it would have an impact on his audience. Of course, he was glad it had, but he was still surprised.

And he was even more surprised when he watched the video. This woman, Anna Smith he noted looking at her screen name, sounded incredible. The song was about how much his song had been relatable to her, and it sounded like she was also attracted to him because of it. He hadn't been with a woman in a really long time, so he couldn't lie and pretend like the prospect of Anna liking him didn't intrigue him a bit. Plus, he had to admit that he was attracted to her for taking such a bold step, and whether it was simply about just connecting through music or there was something more to it, he would be glad to have someone to talk to.

He found Anna's Instagram account and sent her a message, thanking her for coming to the show and expressing how much he loved her song. He said he would love to talk with her more about music if she wanted to, and he hoped they could maybe meet again one day. He knew it might be a long shot, but he had to take the chance. If he didn't, he would never get to know this wonderful woman who he had obviously impacted with his music in some way. But he hoped he would. Now he just had to wait for a response.

For her part, Anna was surprised when she got the message. It had been two weeks and she had kinda forgotten about it, not about John's music or how it made her feel but about the fact she had posted that video. Being so vulnerable like that on the Internet made her nervous, and so she had tried to put it in the back of her mind and act like she had never even posted it.

But she had. And he had seen it. And she didn't know how to feel about that.

She eventually worked up the courage to respond. She told him that his music had spoken to her, particularly the line about the realization that life isn't forever. It was exactly how she felt when her dad passed away when she was a teenager, and she still missed him every day. His music had helped her heart heal just a tiny bit, and she was sure that was due to a combination of both the words and the person singing them.

She almost erased the message when she realized how flirtatious that last bit had sounded, but she didn't. She was unsure what about this man made her so bold, but she had to admit she kinda loved it. She hit send and felt free.

Anna was flirting with him. And he knew he had to take the bait. He couldn't miss this opportunity to connect with her.

He responded back to her, explaining that his lyrics had been about losing his mother and admitting that writing the song had been rather therapeutic for him. Then, it was his turn to get bold. He told her he was going to visit a friend in the English countryside next week and that, judging by her lovely Yorkshire accent, he figured she might not be too far away and wondered if they could meet up.

When she responded saying that she was actually permanently based in London, his heart sank for a moment before he read the rest of the message. Anna revealed that she grew up in York and knows a few good places to get together and eat in the neighboring town of Ripon, which is close to where he'd be staying.

Eventually, they agreed to meet at one of the pubs in Ripon on Saturday, so that Anna could get away from work on a weekend jaunt to the countryside. Things were definitely underway for the two of them, and John couldn't wait to meet her.

The day had come for Anna to travel to Ripon and meet John for the first time. She was a bit nervous, but she also felt that their shared love of music might help them connect easier without too much awkwardness. She got to the pub first and found them a table in a quiet corner where they could talk to one another while still enjoying the general ambiance of the scene.

When John walked in, his eyes found Anna's immediately. He walked over to her as she got out of her chair to greet him in a hug. He was a bit surprised as he wasn't a touchy-feely person, but he had to admit that Anna's hug was warm and welcoming.

"It's nice to meet you," John said as they took their seats across from one another at the table.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Anna said, echoing the sentiment. She was glad to finally get to talk in-person to the man whose music had touched her heart in such a special way.

"I was surprised to hear how much my music touched your heart, but I was so glad it did," John said, immediately jumping to the point of conversation they were there to talk about.

"Your voice had so much soul; it was like you were singing right to me," Anna said, reaching across the table to brush her hand over John's. She wasn't sure if she was being too forward, but she honestly didn't care. She wanted him to be able to feel his impact. She got the sense already that he could be a little self-deprecating, and she wanted him to know that he mattered.

"I'm glad," John said, brushing his thumb along her hand before they broke apart to pick up their menus. Once they had ordered, they began talking more about music: the kinds of songs they liked, who their favorite artists were, the kinds of things they liked to write music about.

The conversation flowed on for several hours as they talked. Eventually, the conversation became about using music as an escape. Anna revealed how certain songs had helped her cope with her father's passing and John noted a few that helped him get through struggles in the past as well.

"I think that's part of what makes music so special," Anna said, "the capacity it has to make you feel. To feel seen, heard, understood, free. Free to share your troubles, to split your heart open before the world, to reconcile your struggles, to express your longing, to share your joy. Whatever it is, you feel free. And that is truly remarkable."

"Yeah, it is," John said in a whispered tone, unable to say much more for fear he would choke up in front of Anna. She was right. He had never been able to put it into words before, why music made him feel safe the way it did, but Anna had just perfectly described it. Music gave him the freedom to heal. It allowed him to come to grips with heartache in all its various forms and to express his wants and desires in a safe way. It was sacred yet somehow shareable. And that was where the magic of live performance lay: in the ability to be yourself and freely feel however you needed to feel in that moment while also being with others who are all connecting to a piece of music in their own way.

After a moment, John collected himself and was able to open up to Anna once more. "When my mum died, it was like everything I had ever cared about didn't really matter. Music was the only thing that mattered. I knew I couldn't do music full-time, at least starting out, but I wanted to. And eventually, I got there. And now, every time I write a song or perform something, it's like she's there watching over me and saying how proud she is of her little boy."

"Wow," Anna said, lightly dabbing at the corner of her eye with her finger after hearing his words. "Sometimes I wish my job had to do with music," she confessed after a moment.

"Well, what is your job?" John asked, realizing they had jumped right into this evening without addressing some of the typical 'get-to-know-you' questions.

"I work in corporate for Downton Industries, a big estate planning firm. I mean how pathetic is that?" she asked rhetorically, belittling herself somewhat. "I'm 31, and all I do is answer calls and make spreadsheets."

"Anna, you're not pathetic," John assured her, "You could never be pathetic, not to me."

"Even though you have a job you're passionate about, and I just sit behind a desk all day?"

"Yes even then," John assured her, "Sometimes in this thing called life we have to do things we don't want to do; that's pretty normal. But the thing about you, Anna, is you know what you want. You know what drives you and what you enjoy and what you don't. You're bold. Heck, you were bold enough to make a video for me, weren't you?"

"That was really a one-time thing," Anna said, blushing a little at his compliment.

"But it doesn't have to be," John insisted. "Anna, you're phenomenal. And you deserve to pursue this passion that you're so phenomenal at. You could make more YouTube videos. You could even make an independent record if you wanted. What's stopping you?"

Anna had to admit that she couldn't really answer that question. The only thing that was stopping her was her own insecurities. John was encouraging her to go after her dreams, and she couldn't be more grateful. "Well maybe I will," she said with a smile. "Thanks for the confidence boost, John. I promise I wasn't fishing for compliments when I brought it up, but I appreciate them anyway. Mostly because they came from you, and I can tell you meant them."

"Oh, I certainly do," John said assuredly. "Anna, you have potential. You have raw talent. And you have vision. That's all you need right there."

"Now why do you sound like you're somebody's agent?" she teased.

John chuckled, realizing she was right. It did sound a little cliche even though he meant it wholeheartedly. "Because I believe in you," John said sincerely before matching her slightly more playful tone, "and isn't that what good agents do? Believe in people?"

"They certainly do," Anna agreed. "Well, John Bates, I hope this means I can count on you to field my new musical ideas?" she asked.

"Of course," John assured her. "It'd be my pleasure."

"You might not be saying that when I call you at 3am to listen to my demo," Anna teased.

"Nah, that's alright. I'm a bit of an insomniac anyways," John joked.

"Then I'll call you when I have my next idea for a song?"

"And I'll answer right away," John confirmed. He couldn't wait to start sharing in Anna's musical endeavors. Her passion brought out something in him that he couldn't quite describe. All he knew was that he loved this feeling more than anything, and he was sure he never wanted it to go away.