Mr. & Miss JACKSON: The Beginning

Chapter 27: Remember

Michael POV
It's late and I'm up. I was on the phone with Diana and per usual my mood is alway affected when we hang up.

To know Diana, and be loved by her...became my blessing and curse. She's so beautiful but I think now about when I was young and knowing I would have don't anything for her...anything.

I'm in the den just sitting and staring at our old albums. Good ol times. I stare at one picture in particular...remembering a day I'll never forget...

I laugh to myself. Feeling the joy run through my heart. These were tough times and somehow we found some light. My brothers drive me nuts and most time I prefer to not be around them... but truth is I would not trade them. We share a bond, only we can relate to.

I run through more pictures and immediately I smile when I see a photo of Liza and me backstage at my commercial shoot.

I hold the pic in my hand while my arm is on the arm rest. I take my finger feeling the picture. She's so beautiful and I mean more so on the inside. I feel embarrassed looking at this photo with this cheesy smile on my face. She showed up and surprised me that day.

I had been upset all day, I mean just down right furious because I found out that the Mother had been harassed by some guys at a nearby shopping center. They waited until she went in the store and keyed her Mercedes Benz...because she's black and they don't feel she's worthy of it. Of all people...in the entire world, Mother is that one person I will go crazy over. And typical Joseph, it took us hours to get a hold of him.

I gather my thoughts and go up into my bedroom...on the way I could hear LaToya laughing. She's obsessed with the Cosby Show, she auditioned for Lisa Bonet in character but was turned down but I am happy she enjoys watching it still...I
Must say it feels damn good to see black upper class family folk on America's tv.

Jeez willigers...the time. It's after midnight. Earlier, I thought about spending the night with Liza at the condo but I don't like to intrude or make her feel like she owes me something so I just came home after meeting with the label for my next album.

Picking up the phone smiling, it hits me that I have an actual girlfriend and not just some arm candy and late night lovers.

"Wake up sleepyhead" I say through the phone. Get dressed, I'm coming to get you. Be ready in 30 mins"

Feeling spontaneous, I'm gonna do something I've been longing to do...

Putting my jacket on, I run down and ask security to phone a ride.

There's a beat in my head, I want to share it with Liza, but it's not the time. I'll wait...

I arrive and go into the house and Liza is dressed with her shoes and jacket. On the couch sound asleep. I admire her and place my hand on her arm.

I whisper to myself 'some other time, I guess' and she pops up...pretending to be wide awake.

'...no come on, I was just resting.' She yawns And smiles slowly

I place my hand on the back of her head and move her forward so I can kiss her. After we kiss we just sit there with our foreheads together. We get up and we head out...

——————- Hayvenhurst Residence

'Umm MJ-you woke me up to bring me here? For all that I could have just come over to meet you'

'No way. It's too late. I'm not letting you ride alone, even with a driver'

Liza stares. Happy to hear that. In a way she felt shielded...protected.

"Come on" I say helping her out the truck

We walk in through the side and into the studio.

"OMG-MJ, what's this" Liza says covering her mouth

"For you. I know you create best when there is a candle lit."

Liza runs into Michael and gives him the tightest hug. She looks around at all the beautiful candles lit in the studio waiting area. The light are off and it's just serene. Liza instantly begins to hum and remember the words she wrote earlier to Ben

'If you were anybody else, probably wouldn't last a day...baby do you do it so well. You've been so understanding you've been so good...and I'm putting you through more than one ever should and I'm hating myself because you don't want to...admit that it hurts you.

I know that it breaks your heart, when I cry again...over him, instead of ghosting him'

———
Liza snaps out of her thoughts when MJ put his arm around her shoulder. She laughs at how much taller he is than her.

"Let's sing...together." MJ says staring right into her hands, saying something though his eyes

"Sure. What do you wanna sing"

"...This." MJ hands Liza the paper from the chair.

Aliza just stares at it.

"Michael...this is for you."

"I want it to be for us. When Quincy have it to me, I knew then for sure, I would be with you. One way or another"

Liza blushes
"Is that why you always showed up with a certain model on your arm?"

"Aw baby, please. I've apologized for that." The angelic voice is hard to resist
"What...what is it. Stop looking like that" Michael laughs

"You called me 'baby'..."

Michael smiles and looks down while Aliza grabs his hand and hugging him.

"Okay, come on. Let's sing. One day we will remember this when people use it for their wedding song" Liza says putting the headphones on

Michael bites his bottom lip and nods

"Okay, I'll do the engineering. You just focus. I'll come in on this part" he points "and we can just improvise."

"Okay...ready, set...."

AUTHOR NOTES
This chapter was so important. I wanted to highlight the time they are in. Black entertainers were HUGE and breaking records! Also, highlight racism and prejudice. MJ shook the world his entire life as a BLACK entertainer.

The journey is getting cozy.
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Xoxo 💋