Bad Attraction | Chris Motionless x Michael Jackson

CHAPTER 7

With an enormous lump in his throat and his fingers hovering over the phone's keypad, Michael still paused. He had sworn to himself that he couldn't call, that he wouldn't call, and yet here he was, about to anyway.

The truth was, he didn't want to talk to his boyfriend today. He felt drained, his entire body aching, the knuckles on his right hand even more, and wanted some comfort. Not to be the one providing it, just receiving and basking in it for a little while. Or at least until he had to step out of the booth.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Michael took his decision and rapidly dialed the number, in case doing it slowly would make him overthink and change his mind.

His sister picked up on the second dial. "Yeah?" She answered, and Michael had to breathe deeply through his nose to keep any tears from falling.

"Hey Rebbie, it's me." Was all he managed to choke out before he pinched his lips together, trying to regain his composure.

"Michael? How are you? Finally, you're calling back. We've been texting you for days and you never answered, we were starting to get worried. Dad and Janet even said-"

"I know. I'm sorry. Please tell everyone not to worry about me. I'm fine."

"Right. It's okay, it happens. This is your new number? I'll give it to mom-"

Wincing, Michael was reminded one of the reasons why he shouldn't have called them. "Don't. It's, um, the phone of a strangers. It's not mine, I'm giving it back to them just after." He lied.

His sister laughed. "Alright, got it. Do you want to speak to Marlon? He's somewhere in the house with Jermaine."

"No, no." Michael said. His brother would definitely know something was off but, contrary to Rebbie who'd think it better to not press but wait for Michael to speak, his brother would keep on nagging until the communication would have to be cut. "Thanks. Just tell him I've called, and that I'm fine."

"Alright. He'll be more relieved to hear it directly from you, anyway, next Sunday -- our old Hayvenhurst home. You're coming over, right? Mom's cooking a huge dinner and your favorite dishes. We'll have lots of fun together as a family."

"I'm not a baby anymore, you know."

"You'll still always be my baby brother. So, next Sunday?" She asked, before adding when he didn't answer immediately, "Everyone'll be happy to see you. You haven't given us any sign of life for, like, a month. We were really starting to get worried, you know," his sister's voice turned down, "that something happened to you."

"I know. I'm sorry, should've called before. I'll try to call you more often than that. But, Rebbie, I won't be able to come, Sunday. I'm... I'm not home, as of now."

"You mean..."

"Yeah." He breathed out, feeling the tip of his ears warm up. "I think it'll last a couple of months. It's all fine."

"A couple of months?" His sister repeated, her voice turning higher. "Are you involved in something with that damn boyfriend of yours?"

"I told you, it's fine. I'm fine." No. No, he wasn't fine. But his sister didn't know where he was, exactly, and it was useless to worry her even more when there was nothing she, or Marlon or anyone could do for him. Besides, "I'm managing just fine on my own."

"Answer me. Are you avoiding us? Are you out of state? Michael you're not... you're not going with Alexi to his drugs things, right?"

"No." This, at least, he could answer without lying. He glanced another time at the clock. Two minutes left. Damn it. "I'm not. Like I said, don't worry. And don't tell Marlon."