let me love you ~ michael jackson & ariana grande

a new addition to the family

                               April 8th, 1988

Ariana

"Hey, Ariana, have you seen my fedora for smooth criminal?" Michael asks me as I'm changing out of my opening act outfit.

"I thought it was on the hat rack like always."

"That's what I thought too until it wasn't there." He throws his hands to his side, Michael has always been very much of a perfectionist. If things don't exactly go the way he wants them too, he can get very cranky.

"Hey, I'm sure you'll find it. Now go get out there." Michael pecks my lips quickly before exiting out of my dressing room and getting ready to go on stage.

I leave the room as well to get something to eat, I examine the snack table and spot my favourite fruit, strawberries. Instead of getting excited that they had them today, my stomach turns at the sight of them.

I'm suddenly disgusted with the fruit and can't bare to look at it anymore.

I can feel the familiar feeling of everything I consumed today coming back up, I find the nearest bathroom and regurgitate in the toilet. I haven't exactly told Michael that I've gotten any better.

If he knew that I'm still throwing up constantly, he'd be concerned and I don't want him worrying about me.

I exit the bathroom, swinging the door open, Karen stands there with a suspicious look on her face.

"Oh. Hi, Karen. You look-"

"Save it." She sticks her hand in my face. "Follow me." She motions for me to follow her.

I get a tense feeling but do as she says.

She brings me over to a closed off space.

"Ariana, you've been acting strange for the past couple of weeks."

I furrow my eyebrows dumbly. "What do you-"

"You're more moody than usual, you hate the foods that you use to eat right up, and you're always running off to throw up."

My eyes widen, no excuse is good enough to try and get out of this.

"I think I know what's up with you." She examines my face. "When's the last time you got your period?" She crosses her arms.

"My period, what does-....." Now when I think about it, I can't remember the last time I got my period.

Holy shit. I've been so distracted for the past month that I haven't even noticed my menstrual cycle, once it all clicks in, I realize how dumb I am for not noticing sooner. I mean, I had all the symptoms. I guess stress is one hell of a drug.

She notices the troubled look on my face. "Not for a while, huh?"

I shake my head, a quiet breath leaving my lips.

I've wanted nothing more than to bare Michael's children ever since the day we started dating, now that the time may be here, all different kinds of emotions run through me.

"Here." She holds up a box named Clearblue, an image of a pregnancy test is plastered on the front of the package.

I take it out of her hands as we both walk back to the restroom. I open the stall door but feel a tap on my shoulder at the last second, Karen passes me a little styrofoam cup that I can urinate into. I give her a little thanks, I see her lean against the counter as she waits for me to finish.

I lock the stall doors, peeing in the cup. The awkwardness in the air is making me very uncomfortable. After I'm done my business, I flush the toilet and wipe myself.