Book 5- 1969 (Michael Jackson)

Chapter 15- The New Kids

                NOTE: THIS is where the story will begin to really pick up! I hope this chapter satisfies you guys. I've been aching to get to this point since last July! 

                Chapter 15- The New Kids

                Date: Tuesday, September 2, 1969

                Time: 7:05AM

                MICHAEL'S POV

A look of uncertainty spread across not only my face, but also Kayla's. We eyed each other our brows furrowed and frown lines forming between our eyes. No-one knew just how today would turn out, for we had never experienced something such as this before.

I held on to the strap of a brand-new duffel bag. "Are you sure this'll be fun?" I questioned Joseph. "It seems frightening. I've never been around these people."

"That shouldn't bother you two. You've both gone up in front of thousands of people before, singing and dancing and playing your instruments. The only difference between a concert and school is that you have to actually socialize, which shouldn't be a problem for you."

Kayla voiced her thoughts. "Now I'm concerned..."

"I thought you overcame your shyness. Guess my assumptions were wrong yet again, hmm?" he crossed his arms.

"Just with others."

"You seem to be perfectly fine with Michael. Why is that so?"

"He's nice."

I felt as though I just had to come in to the conversation. "Yeah, Joseph, I'm nice." A little smirk appeared amidst my worried demeanor.

He took an extensive pause before finally giving up. "Fine... fine. Never mind that I even asked. Just get to the bus stop without getting hurt. nd Kayla, I'm pretty sure a backpack would do you good at school." He glanced at the printed bag.

"Oh, my bad. Yes, Joseph, I'm getting it." She hurried to the closet and back, the backpack impeding her speed. She turned in my direction and resumed her place beside me, wistfully sighing in the process. "I wish we were going back to Garnett. I s'pose that we can't have everything, though."

"Yeah." I dug the hand that wasn't holding my duffel into my pocket. "Guess we better get going."

Reluctantly, Kayla went ahead and opened up the door for me. "Ladies first?" she dryly joked. Her usual grin was replaced with an attempted smile, but it appeared more so like a grimace.

I took this moment to take advantage of what she said. "Then why are you opening the door for me?" I went ahead and held the door open, my playful smirk beginning to emerge. I was by no means happy, but at least my mind was starting to drift away from Garnett for at least a moment.

After Kayla strolled through, I followed behind and closed the door tightly. With my own key to the hotel room, I locked the door and shoved it in the deep pockets of my plaid shorts. The group and I had been living in hotel room after hotel room for about a month, and this process had become customary.

It was almost a depressing way to be living. You could never grow accustomed to one place. Instead, you had to constantly move, move, move, and nothing ever looked familiar, except for the tiny fridge and sometimes a desk in front of the bed. Plus, sleeping next to Joseph was not a fun activity.

He squirmed around all night long! 

We took the back exit because it was only a couple rooms over. Once we were exposed to the surprisingly crisp outside air, we set out for the bus stop, which was only a couple hundred feet away. In fact, with the traffic being unusually sparse, we could see a close-knit conglomeration of kids awaiting their ride to school.