MJ IMAGINES (World with Applehead) ON GOING

Emergency

Michael's POV

"No, Jermaine you're not playing it right. Can't you read the notes in front of you?" Tito snapped, already losing patience for the third time in five minutes.

Jermaine didn't even flinch. "But this note sounds dull. Let's do it my way," he said, tapping his sheet like he just discovered music itself.

I sighed and cut in, "Really, Jermaine? You think that sounded good?"

He turned to me slowly. "Am I talking to you?"

"No," I said, fanning myself dramatically with my sheet music as I sank to the floor, "but unfortunately, I have ears."

We'd been practicing for hours. HOURS. At this point, even the walls were tired of us.

"Yes, it sounds dull," Tito insisted. "The original was fine, why are we fixing something that's not broken?"

"Geez, I'm just trying to improve it!" Jermaine shot back. "And may I remind you—I'm the leader this week?"

"I don't care," Tito said, setting his guitar down like he was about to throw hands. "You wanna fight?"

"Hold on, hold on—" Marlon jumped in between them, pushing them apart. "Let's keep this civil—"

"Aren't you usually the one who starts fights?" Jackie asked, plopping down beside me.

"I'm off duty," Marlon said. "I'm tired."

"Same," I muttered, chugging my water. "Let them fight. I need entertainment."

"You know if Joseph finds out about this," Jackie added, lowering his voice, "even if we're not involved, we're all getting whooped."

I turned to him. "Aren't you supposed to prevent that? You're the eldest."

He blinked. "I have already seen worst than this way before you were born, I'm done. Go, Michael."

I groaned but stood up anyway, putting my hands on my hips. "Okay, both of you, are we solving this, or are we waiting for Joseph to come home and solve it for us?"

Silence. "...No," Tito and Jermaine muttered in unison.

"Great," I clapped once. "Progress."

"Ohhh, are you guys fighting?" a voice chimed in.

We all turned. Janet stood there, clapping. Smiling. Enjoying this way too much.

"What are you doing here, dunk?" I asked.
She shrugged and casually sat beside Marlon. "I was bored. And I don't feel good, so I came here."

That caught my attention immediately. I walked over and placed my hand on her forehead. "You sick? Where's Mother?"

"I'm fine, Michael," she said, pushing my hand away. "It's just... something down there."

I blinked. "...Down where?"

She waved it off. "It doesn't matter. Continue fighting." ...Okay then.

"Anyway," I turned back to the chaos, "do you all want to get in trouble or—"

"Let's take a vote!" Tito suddenly announced, raising his hand. "Who's in favor of the original track?"

I raised mine. So did Marlon. Tito grinned. "See? Michael agrees with me."

Marlon smacked his shoulder. "I agreed too, genius!"

"And?" Jermaine scoffed. "Since when was Michael the deciding factor?"

I slowly turned my head toward him. "Do you have a problem with me?"

"Psh whatever. Randy?" Jermaine called. "You agree with me, right?"