Don't Walk Away (A Michael Jackson Love Story)

Chapter 12: Paul

Michael was rushing around when I opened my eyes the next morning. "I need to get to the studio," he explained hastily. "Paul's only here for a couple days. I have to finish this song."

"Paul?" I pulled on a pair of jeans.

Mike passed me a shirt. "Paul McCartney," he supplied. "We're recording two songs together."

"I love his music," I mused, putting on the shirt. He yanked me out of bed. "Well congratulations, now you can meet him."

At this point, I was used to meeting random celebrities. The fact that I was meeting a Beatle really wasn't any different.

We rushed into the waiting elevator. "I hope he's been doing okay without John," I sighed. Michael smiled at me softly. "You should ask him," he replied. "He loves talking about John." There was a pause for a moment.

"Poor John." I looked at Mike. He shook his head sadly. "Yeah. There's crazy people out there."

We stepped into our limo. It seemed as if there was always one waiting for us. Michael started to rub my thigh. "Sorry we couldn't get breakfast first," he apologized.

I stared at his hand on my leg. I was not prepared to fool around in the limo today. "S'okay," I mumbled. I bit my lip. Mike pulled his hand away, finally noticing what he was doing. He instead entangled his fingers with mine.

I watched as we pulled up in front of the studio. "Mr. Jackson, Mr. McCartney is already inside," the chauffeur announced. Michael thanked him. We walked into the building hand in hand.

Paul was sitting in a chair, reading some papers. He glanced up at us. "Michael!" he exclaimed. He stood up to shake Mike's hand.

Paul turned to me. "You must be Lily. I was told you were coming. Nice to meet you." He smiled warmly and shook my hand. Leaning past me, he looked at Michael. "You really hit the jackpot with this one," he observed.

Michael blushed. "Yep. Definitely." He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in tight. "How about we get into the booth and start something?"

"You got the lyrics?"

"Yep." Mike led the way into the recording room. He put on his headphones.

Paul winked at me on his way into the booth. Michael saw it. "Paul!" he yelled. "Get in here and stop hitting with my girl!"

Paul chuckled. "I'm just getting his energy up for the song," he whispered to me. He kissed my hand to further frustrate him. He then closed the booth door and put on his own headset.

Mike rolled his eyes. "Flirt," he muttered. As soon as the track started, he was in that creative zone. "Every night she walks right in my dreams, since I met her from the start," he sang, "I'm so proud I am the only one, who is special in her heart...the girl is mine...the doggone girl is mine."

"I don't understand the way you think, saying that she's yours, not mine. Sending roses and your silly dreams, it's really just a waste of time...because she's mine, the doggone girl is mine," Paul retaliated.

"I love you more than he!" he continued after a few more lines.

"But I love you endlessly!" Michael belted out, locking eyes with me. My heart fluttered. Paul did the right thing when he said he was trying to get Michael's energy up.

"So come and go with me, to one town," they harmonized. "But we both cannot have her, so it's one or the other, and one day you'll discover, that she's my girl forever and ever!"

They signaled for me to stop the track. I pressed the pause button. "What's wrong, guys?" I spoke into the mic.

"We don't have the lyrics for the next part yet," Paul responded.

Mike turned to him. "I just realized I never told you, I love how Girlfriend turned out on the last album." He started singing again. "Girlfriend, I'm gonna tell your boyfriend..."

Paul stepped out of the booth. "I have to go to lunch. Sorry to rush out so soon, but it's an important event. Are you gonna be here later this evening?"

"It depends on how the rest of the day plays out. I'll get back to you on that." Michael patted him on the back. "It was great seeing you, Paul. Have a nice lunch."

He walked his friend out to his car and walked back to me. "There's something so sexy about you in the studio," he murmured. "I could say the same about you," I laughed.

He played with my tank top strap. "We are not going to do anything in this booth, Michael," I said firmly, though I was smiling like an idiot. He had that effect on me.

"Okay, then we'll go out for lunch with my sisters." He pulled me back into the street.