Time Waits for No One

Chapter 11, Part 2: Roll

Under the bright lights of the Skate Key, Jacqueline felt like she was floating. It could have been the wheels gliding beneath her feet, the vodka tingling through her barely legal bloodstream, or the excitement of her birthday surprise, but as Jacqueline rounded the bend of the large rink, she felt as free and happy as a lark. For all she cared, it could have been Parliament Mothership literally lifting her in orbit as she slid across the wood to "Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)"

"La la la la la, Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo owwwwww!" the guest of honor and her girls sang, clapping and grooving their hips into the iconic refrain of the P-Funk classic.

The big reveal was nothing short of an Uptown spectacle, with Jimmy and the rest of the crew committing to not spilling a single detail, truly surprising Jacqueline when she arrived to find a large group of loved ones waiting outside of Skate Key, which set aside their usual operations in honor of her. After a tear or two and cramped hugs in the back of the stretch limousine, Jimmy finally coaxed his sister out of the vehicle for the second surprise.

The second surprise was for the people, Jacqueline's friends from school, a few from her hair classes, and cousins she liked enough to spend time with outside of the family reunion. Though never bound to any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements, formally or informally, Jacqueline had kept the details of her summer close to her chest. Some people didn't know because she hadn't seen them since school ended or since her lowkey meetings with Michael Jackson began, some people she just felt it wasn't their business, but either way there were very few people in the crowd who weren't shocked when they saw Michael step out of the limo afro first and came to Jacqueline's side, flanking her alongside Jimmy.

She could barely hear Michael asking her if she liked her surprise over the raucous reaction of the crowd, some screaming, some exclaiming their disbelief, and some clamoring about it not actually being him (not unlike when Jacqueline first sighted him in person at Studio 54). As Jacqueline blushed at all the eyes on her group, the only person who didn't seem at all fazed was Michael, who went into his reflexive wave and smile as Bill took his place alongside some extra security detail.

"I can't believe you kept this a secret from me!" Jacqueline said to Michael, rosy hues filling her cheeks.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't do birthdays." Michael replied with a wink and a smirk.

"We rolled out everything but the red carpet for you, Princess." Jimmy said, putting his arm around his sister, smiling with pride that his birthday surprise went to plan, happy to see everyone in attendance for his baby sister. "I want you to have some fun tonight and don't worry about nothin'. Just celebrate and enjoy your birthday, you deserve it."

And with a kiss on the cheek from her brother and a squeeze of the hand from Michael, she was off, running to her friends to give greetings, hugs, and kisses, and receive all the last drags of her birthday attention. She was swept up in an embrace from a close friend when Bill whisked Michael in, stopping to greet and hug a starstruck guest or two, headed straight for the DJ booth to take refuge alongside Jimmy.

"Girl when were you gonna tell us you were related to the Jacksons?" a friend from high school, Michelle, asked as Jacqueline laced up her skates inside.

"I wouldn't say that." Jacqueline said. "W-"

"She wouldn't say that because that ain't her family. Michael is her man!" Donny from the bookstore chimed in, sitting next to her lacing up.

"I wouldn't say that either! Don't go starting no rumours!" Jacqueline chided, cutting him an eye, suddenly realizing that she had to be careful and discerning abou how she discussed her famous crush.