A Twist For Pop

Chapter 5 - Studio Date

Chapter 5 – Studio DateI wake up completely disorientated. Where on earth am I? I look around the room then I realise I'm in Michael's room, except there's no Michael around. I hurry back into my room and close the door before slipping out of the dress and placing it back on the mannequin. I then change my underwear and slide on a pair of skinny black jeans and a light pink halter neck shirt, I quickly comb through my hair thankful that some of the waves have stayed intact then I wash my face and make my way into the living room but am knocked backwards when Michael walks into me sending our phones, files and paper everywhere. 'Sorry' we say in unison dropping to our knees to pick up the fallen objects 'what's this' I ask holding up a piece of paper 'it's just tour notes' Michael groans, 'I guess you don't like touring?' I hand him the paper 'not really it's just so stressful. But this one's to raise money for the Heal the World foundation so I don't mind as much' he takes the paper from me and stands 'actually I was just about to go to rehearsals, would you like to come with me?' he helps me to my feet. 'I'd love to' I enthuse excitedly.'Great, I'll just be a sec I need to grab a folder for these' Michael lifts the stack of papers then rushes off into one of the other rooms only to return minutes later carrying a large ring binder with the notes already inside. We then walk outside towards the limousine. I settle into the plush leather seats then a noise distracts me, I look through the window and see hundreds of people crowding at the gates 'what the' I exclaim 'they're fans' Michael says simply as the limo begins to move. As we near the gate Michael lowers the window and leans his arm out to wave at the fans who are being sent into a frenzy, the gates open and Michael pulls his arm back inside the car and closes the window as we drive through the gates and past the fans, who are now jumping on the car and are trying to run after us. 'Do you have that everyday' I turn my head to look out of the back window 'yes, no matter what time of day there's always a group of people there' Michael says in awe as he too looks out of the back window at his fans. 'Doesn't it annoy you that you never have any peace and quiet? I mean look at us right now, you've got a tour to plan and yet you've allowed a total stranger into your home' I mention.Michael stares straight into my eyes 'you, are different... these girls' he motions towards the screaming, crying women behind us 'are obsessive fans. They think of their celebrity as a god, they absolutely worship and will do anything for them hoping they will be noticed and will be their future wife. I've had so many people sending me fan mail wanting me to do things for them and a lot of the time it's scary the things these girls write some of them only young. For instance one woman sent me a gun and said that she was going to kill herself and her child and that I should kill myself too just so that I could be with her... I love my fans, don't get me wrong but I just wish they treated me as a friend not a hero. Throughout the entire time I've been with you I've never once heard you say, I'm your biggest fan or anything like that and it's refreshing. I really don't mind the media around me or my fans as long as they get their stories right and don't idolise me' he looks at his fingers and I stare back at him, his confession disarms me. I never expected him to be so deep.'Wow... is now a bad time to tell you I have every album you've ever made and every news article ever written about you in a ring binder under my bed' I smirk to which he rolls his eyes but he can't keep the smile off his face. 'Ok looks like I've got another obsessive fan on my hands' he jokes. 'And I've got the guitar Slash used to record black or white and it has both of your autographs on it in a glass case' I grin to which Michael chuckles 'I always wondered who won it.'It isn't long before we arrive at the dance studio for the rehearsals. Our driver, Garry helps each of us out in turn then I quickly follow Michael into the enormous building and into one of the studios where a large group of people are stretching and practising dance moves. I lean against the wall as Michael begins talking to the dancers; they're hanging off his every word. From a first glance one wouldn't think of Michael as a dancer but as soon as he hears music he explodes into complex dance routines that very few people can mimic and it is truly incredible to watch.For hours I watch as Michael and the dancers run through the steps to each song in the tour; by this point most of the dancers are worn out and sat on the floor resting but Michael still powers on running through the same dance step hundreds of times until he feels that it's perfect, his eyes never leaving the mirrored wall in front of him. He's constantly checking that all of his lines are perfect and that each movement flows into the next. 'Michael why don't you take a break' I shout to him as I turn the music on the stereo down; this breaks his concentration and he makes his way over to me and sits cross legged on the floor. 'How's it going?' I ask 'it's going great but I think I've pulled a muscle or something' Michael answers rolling his shoulder backwards and forwards in obvious discomfort 'want me to take a look?' I ask to which he nods his head. I move to sit behind him and tenderly massage his shoulders. Wow he's so tense.Michael's head droops forward in relaxation, as I rub I can feel the tension ebbing away and his shoulders loosening. Once all the tension is gone I stop massaging and move to sit back in front of him 'thank you I feel so much better, where did you learn that?' Michael rolls his shoulders once again, but this time a lot easier than it had been previously 'I'm a trained masseuse and beautician' I shrug and Michael opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted 'Mike we're ready to go over Beat It' the young man stands close to us 'no rest for the wicked' I whisper causing Michael to chuckle as he rises gracefully to his feet and joins the rest of the dancers to continue rehearsals.