Code ᯓ ❥ Michael Jackson

7

-- 7 --

Tonight was Michael and Isis' date. He was feeling optimistic as he waited for them to meet him at a small dinner table in his purple orchid garden. He hoped that Isis would discover they have romantic feelings for him. He smiled widely when he saw Isis step inside in a purple spaghetti strap dress. Isis quietly took a seat and gave Michael a glance, taking notice of him dressed in his favorite outfit combination-a red button up shirt and black trousers.

"Good evening." Isis said, timidly. "So, what does Brooke think of you going on a date with someone else?"

"What a great way to start a date." Michael laughed. "Good evening to you, too. Brooke doesn't mind. We were seeing each other for only a few days. We were casual. Nothing serious. I'd go to her house or she'd come to mine and we'd just talk. No physical intimacy."

Isis furrowed their eyebrows, perplexed. "Why no physical intimacy? Tabloids claim you're asexual, but I highly doubt that's true."

"I am far from being asexual, Isis." Michael laughed. "I'm a very intimate man. I like to..." He trailed off before taking a hold of their hand and brushing his thumb against the back of it. He glanced at them to see their reaction. "...touch."

Isis looked at their hand resting in Michael's. The warmth of his soft hand seemingly spread over their body. Isis was surprised at how relaxed they felt.

"How did you know I wasn't going to freak out?"

"Well, I didn't. I just took a chance. I'm special to you, so I figured it may not upset you. I may be your safe haven although I'm sure you'll say I have a God complex for suggesting that." He laughed.

"No, I think you're right. I just don't understand why you out of all people. You are one of the most influential figures in history. You changed history. Your legacy is in everything: music, fashion, film. You are everything and everywhere."

"That doesn't mean I can't be special to you. And that's not all that I am. Underneath that, I'm just a man. A man who wants to understand you. I want to know what created the person you are today. Tell me about you."

"Okay, like what?"

"We started with my childhood, so we could do that with you. What does yours look like?"

"That's intrusive."

Michael sighed. How could Isis find out if they had feelings for him if they remained so resistant?

Isis noticed the disappointment on his face. They looked down and mumbled, "Sorry."

"No, don't be. It's alright. Let's talk about your writing instead. What inspired you to become a writer?"

"Well, like I said before, everything is tied to my abduction. Writing stories was an escape from the memories about it. They're different worlds I could live in when I couldn't stand to live in this one. I never published them, but I do have them boxed up. I wrote a lot of mystery."

"Really? What draws you to that genre?"

"I like creating puzzles for people to solve. I do it to myself too, but not for the same reason. I don't like when people try to figure me out. I guess you could say it's a paradox."