Ever Victorious (A Michael Jackson Tale)

Heartless

Michael's P.O.V

I was checking her address for the tenth time since I started driving. I was definitely going the right way.

My head was saying that I was being reckless, why were you necking it down the freeway to a random girl's place who you had only met once before? What if when you got there she was fine and you had interfered in her private affairs? What if she wasn't even there when you arrived? And worst of all, what if they noticed you had disappeared and sent paparazzi after you?

But something else was telling me that Maria was not ok and she needed me. I had to follow my instinct.

A block of apartments came into view and I knew exactly what number she lived at: 777. What a fantastic coincidence, her place being my favourite number, I thought.

I pulled up on the side of the path and dashed to the right block, climbed a mountain of stairs and looked along the corridor for her door.

776's door was locked, 778 was locked. But there in the middle was 777, standing right open. My adrenalin pumped as I stepped inside.

"Maria!" My voice cracked as I called her name into the empty apartment. You could see right through the rooms, there were no walls for anyone to hide behind.

The place was quiet. My heavy breathing from darting up the stairs was the only audible sound.

But then I heard something coming from the closed door I assumed was her bedroom. Like a whimper.

I crept over to the door and burst into the room searching for that damn Craig character. Where the hell was he? Screw him, where was Maria?

"Maria! Where are you?"

I went round the other side of Maria's double bed and saw her, her head was in her hands and she was shaking violently. I reached down to pull her hands from her face "Maria..." she flinched and looked at me, her eyes were terrified, but no less beautiful.

"Hey, hey it's alright, it's me, it's Michael. I'm gonna pick you up now ok? I'm just going to get you off the floor and everything will be ok..."
I put my arms around her small frame and lifted her onto the bed. I checked to see if she was hurt and saw three red marks on her shoulders. What the hell had happened within a mere half an hour it took me to get here?

She looked at me the whole time, her gaze intense, but not speaking. I would have to wait until she was ready. I got up from beside her to get her some water and I suddenly felt her hand on my arm.

"Michael...?" Her voice was tiny and when I looked at her, she seemed like a child.

"What is it Maria? Maria tell me what happened. Please talk to me"

She let go of me and looked at the floor. "I don't remember what happened Michael... I just don't remember. He didn't want me to t-talk to you on the phone... he threw it and he gr-grabbed me and shook me but I don't remember what else... I just woke up in the lounge and he was gone so I opened the door and called for him but then I felt sick so I ran to the b-bathroom and-"

Her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed. It cut me open to see a girl like this. Why didn't I call her sooner? Why had I called her at all?

"Maria I'm so sorry... This is all my fault I shouldn't have called"
"Please don't be sorry! It's not your fault that my ex is a possessive psycho, Michael, it's my fault. And I can't believe you came all the way here... why did you do that? And now you see me like this... a complete mess who can't look after herself. You shouldn't have needed to come here and get involved in my issues... you're Michael Jackson, you should be on tour not standing in my bedroom talking to some pathetic nurse from a kid's hospital!"

"So you think I'm some heartless workaholic who can't make sure some innocent girl who was clearly in need of my help isn't being tortured by some asshole who thinks young beautiful women are just objects they can claim?!"

Silence.

"I'm sorry Maria, I didn't mean-"
"No you're right. That is what I thought. But not entirely. You're not heartless Michael, why else would you be doing what you do?" She was fidgeting with her hands as she spoke but looked straight at me. She meant what she said.

I sighed and went into the kitchen.

"Water?" I turned and she was right next to me, getting glasses out of the cupboard.

"I need something a little stronger than that, don't you think?"
"I'm assuming that you're old enough to drink that" I said as she poured two glasses of wine.

"You know that the drinking laws are much more lenient here than in your country. Let me guess, I look much younger than 21?"

21, I thought. Damn, she looked about 19 at the most. She jumped up and sat on the counter and handed me a glass.

It was only then that I took in what she was wearing. She had on a small, tight fitting white dress, with cutouts near the centre of her stomach. I saw her shift uncomfortably under my gaze and realised I was probably staring a little too intensely.

She put down her glass beside her. "So Michael, why are you here? I mean, aren't you supposed to be preparing for your concert tonight?"
"I called it off for personal reasons" She looked confused but I wasn't going to elaborate on the subject.
"And aren't you supposed to be at work?" I was glad to see her smile at last.
"It's my day off"
"That was rather a flat tone for someone who didn't have any work today"

"That's exactly the problem. I hate my days off, my job needs me, the children need me... urgh who am I kidding? I guess I need them. When you don't have anyone to be with, I guess it's nice to know that you're wanted somewhere".
This took me by surprise, she was really opening up to me, I had only known her a few hours.

"Now who's being the workaholic?" She looked at me and laughed; her eyes lit up and her laughter filled the room.

"I was wrong before Miss Rose, that is the most beautiful sound"
She blushed and looked away at the floor again. This wasn't the first time I had made her blush, I didn't know the effect I had on her.

"Maria, you have to know that you are wanted..." I wasn't sure how to finish my sentence.

Hell, I just had to show her. I closed my eyes and kissed her.

The world fell away from around me and sparks shot through my body. She was the only thing keeping me pinned to the Earth.

*