let me love you ~ michael jackson & ariana grande

hectic all around us

disclaimer: i just wanna say that before we start, the topic of an eating disorder is brought up within this chapter, so if that triggers you, you may want to click off now. continue.
                          

                        September 24th, 1989

Ariana

"Michael, look this way!" "Ariana, we love you!" "Sing something for us, Michael!"

Michael and I push our way through the crowd so we can enter the bookstore. We finally make it inside, the usual crowds gathering outside of the shop.

Michael rented out an entire bookshop for an hour or two to load up on some new reads, it's funny how we have a whole library with thousands and thousands of books yet we've already got tired of our collection. We honestly could have just had someone bring us the selection and order them from home but Michael wanted to try and go out, at least attempting to be somewhat independent even if it means being bombarded by the press and fans.

"You think Dede is giving Janet a hard time?" Michael asks while fiddling with some books.

I shake my head in disagreement. "I doubt it, she absolutely loves Janet." I skim through a couple books, picking out a few while putting others back in their original spot.

"If you face away from the windows and block out the screaming, you kind of feel normal." Michael jokes as he has dozens of novels in his hands.

I laugh and test out his theory. "You know, I almost feel like an average person."

Michael and I finish our shopping up and head to the checkout.

The worker looks very nervous, she scans our items anxiously. I go to pull out my wallet, Michael stopping me rather quickly.

"Michael, I can pay for myself." He objects and before I even have time to argue, our books are already payed for.

"Why do you have to be such a gentleman all the time?" I ask, grabbing my bag of brand new books.

"You know it's how I was raised." He shrugs sheepishly with a bright smile on his face.

"Alright, ready for war, people?" Bill states as we're nearing the doors with the other bodyguards.

"Always." I say, slipping my arm through Michael's.

Bill opens the glass doors and as always, fans and paparazzi are jumping out at us. It becomes jam-packed and Michael and I try to get back to the car fast. We're surrounded by security, supporters hold out stuff for us to sign but it's too dangerous for either of us to just stop walking and start autographing stuff.

I suddenly feel the hit of a couple magazines, I look down to the ground and examine the front of them.
They're all littered with Michael and I's faces on them, I can't make out what the bold headlines say exactly. Since we're in a rush to get back to the car, I pick up the tabloids and slide into safety with Michael.

Bill shuts the door before getting in the front seat. Banging and cheers are heard from all around the vehicle. He pulls out of the parking spot and we start the drive back to Neverland.

I sit the tabloids on my lap and Michael chuckles.

"What?" I quirk an eyebrow. "It can't hurt to know what the media is saying about us, Michael."

"You mean the lies they tell."

"Or that." I start to observe the first cover of the first magazine.