• Love On Set || Michael Jackson •

Chapter 3 || A Helping Hand, or Two

"Can you tell us the story again? I feel like I'm about to witness history unfold here!" Bonnie smiled up at Angelina, her pearly white teeth sparkling, as she carelessly sprawled out on the plush bed. In the process, Theodore was kicked in the rib by accident.

"Watch it, mane!" he groaned. "Walk it off," Bonnie rolled her gray eyes. Angelina laughed at her best friends' antics as she folded the rest of her clothing and placed the items into her suitcase, which was piling higher by the minute. "I already told you guys the full story immediately after dinner happened!"

Angelina was granted permission to have her best friends, Bonnie Meng and Theodore Grant, over for the remainder of Friday night. Her parents didn't put up much resistance to allow her to have company over, considering her assumed eventual departure.

Although the young woman was still contemplating whether or not she wanted to take up her Aunt's offer to travel to New York and stay there for the summer, Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly knew their daughter too well; she would say yes sooner or later. Preferably sooner. Time waits for no one.

"I especially like the part where you almost choked on your drink when Michael Jackson came into the picture," Bonnie smirked. She then propped herself up on her jean-clad knees, her chocolate brown bob moving around effortlessly, and scuttled over to an MJ poster right above the bed. She arched her back and began to imitate a high-pitched, fangirling Angelina, caressing the poster in a lewd manner. The three shared a wild laugh, Theodore's baritone voice sounding like subtle thunder on a rainy night compared to the girls' hyena-ish squeals. "I do not sound like that Bon!" Angelina giggled as she smacked her friend with a pillow. Theodore laid back on the bed, hands resting behind his head of voluminous black curls, an amused grin on his face as he shook his head at the foolishness he was witnessing.

"My favorite part was when you left em all on a cliffhanger. I'm not sure, that was genius." He said casually. Bonnie nodded in agreement. "That's because I'm not sure!" Angelina argued with a dimpled smile. "That's not quite the impression I'm getting here with this suitcase," Bonnie joked before she grabbed a shirt to fold.

"Yeah, explain to me why you're trying to hide this from your family. August tried to come in and you locked my little buddy out," Theodore frowned. "I...." Angelina sighed. "I don't know Theo. It probably sounds silly, but I was sorta overwhelmed y'know? I haven't laid eyes on my Aunt, in person, since I was 12 years old! That was a surprise in itself. And now she's offering to fly me out to New York! To work on The Wiz with her!! In. three. days.  I needed some time to think after that dinner, and then I had to call you both, naturally," Angelina explained.

The whole ordeal had been a lot for the young lady, to say the least. In that instance when Aunt Joyce offered what felt like the opportunity of a lifetime to a girl with aspirations of being a world-class singer/performer, Angelina had a moment of reflection. In reality, the moment was brief, but to her, it felt like she saw a preview of the rest of her life. She saw herself, a mere 5 years from now, belting her heart out in front of millions of adoring fans, being an idol to young black girls like herself, strutting on the red carpet wearing designer gowns to kill for, and providing her parents and siblings with luxuries like tasteful mansions and island retreats. However, the most important thing she saw as her life flashed before her eyes was itty bitty Angelina Elise Donnelly, that little 3-year-old girl who'd prance around the house in princess gowns and her mother's heels, coming up with melodies and jingles at random. She had a moment to view herself through her own eyes. It was wonderful. She wanted that life. Not just because of the material possessions or fame that'd come with it, but because she wanted to make her inner child proud of the woman she was growing into. That was the true reason.

Bonnie and Theodore shared a sympathetic look. His mocha eyes locked with her smokey ones. Angelina seemed to be lost in thought, standing in silence while she absent-mindedly fluffed out her afro with a pick she grabbed from her nightstand.