Saving Michael Jackson

James Safechuck

"Hello?"

The voice slipped into my dream like an annoying fly you couldn't swat away. Thin, small.
Way too cheerful for this early in the morning.

I pulled the blanket higher over my shoulder and turned to the other side of the bed, hoping whoever it was would magically disappear if I ignored them long enough.

Everything has been insane. Germany, a concert, a hotel.
And somehow... Michael Jackson.

Honestly, a part of me still expected to wake up and find my annoying cousin from Texas standing over me, laughing because she had somehow pulled off the weirdest prank in history.
Or maybe that kid who stole my ice cream five years ago.
Anything but this.

"Hello?"

I groaned softly and opened my eyes.

A little boy stood beside the bed.
Big green eyes, A baseball cap. Small hands wrapped awkwardly behind his back like he had been standing there for a while, waiting for me to wake up.
For a second, I just blinked at him.

"...Hello?" I rubbed my eyes and slowly pushed myself up against the pillows.

He tilted his head.
"Are you Michael's girlfriend?"

I burst out laughing. The kind of laugh that escapes before you can stop it.

"What?" I wiped my eyes. "No, I'm not Michael's—"
Then I stopped. My stomach dropped.

My sleepy brain suddenly woke up. I looked at him again. The face. The name slowly creeping back into my memory. Oh, God. No way.

"Motherfu—"
I covered my mouth so fast it almost hurt.

The little boy blinked at me in confusion.
"My mom is outside," he said quietly. "Should I call her?"

I pointed at him without thinking.
"Oh, you little—"

"James!"
The door opened before I could finish.

Michael walked in, curls slightly messy, looking far too awake for someone who had gone to bed late.

"What are you doin' here?" he asked, smiling softly. "Where's your mother?"

"She's outside," the boy said, then pointed at me.
"Is this your girlfriend?"

Michael let out a quiet giggle.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "This is Cindy."
He looked between us. "Cindy, this is James."

James held out his hand politely.
I stared at it.
My brain completely froze.
Shake his hand... Don't shake his hand... Why did this suddenly feel like some weird historical moment I wasn't emotionally prepared for?

"...I'm gonna use the bathroom," I said instead, forcing a smile.

Michael looked confused.
"You okay?"

"Yep," I lied quickly.

I practically escaped into the bathroom. The second the door shut behind me, I locked it. Click.
Silence.

I stared at myself in the mirror.
"What is even happening?" I whispered.

I splashed cold water on my face. I had to think.
Forget everything else for a second. Forget Germany. Forget the concert. Forget time travel.
Mom...
My mom was alive. She was here. Somewhere in this year.
She didn't know me yet. She probably had no idea I even existed in the future, but I didn't care.
I had to see her.
I had to see someone familiar before I lost my mind completely.

I took a deep breath before unlocking the door.
When I stepped out, James was jumping on Michael's bed while chewing gum like he had consumed way too much sugar. Michael sat nearby, fixing his shoes.