𝕷і𝗍𝗍ᥣᥱ 𝕭ᥙ𝗍𝗍ᥱr𝖿ᥣᥡ

Chapter 1: 𝕸᥆᥎іᥒg 𝕴ᥒ

"Everyone gets their start from somewhere. This is my story"

                                             -Sunjai Parker

{Hayvenhurst}
Encino, California
May 18, 1979

Michael picked up a large bin from the back seat of Sunjai's car. Right now he couldn't be happier. "This is going to be so fun!" Michael exclaimed.

"I know!" Sunjai shared his enthusiasm. "It's nice of your parents to let me stay here."

"You know my mother loves you. And Joseph likes you and he doesn't like anyone. I'm surprised he didn't give me a hard time about it."

"What can I say I'm charming?" She exaggerated her smile. Then placing a duffle bag on her shoulders. She closed her car door locking it.

"I can't even be annoyed because it's true." They walked to the front door. "Being on the road won't be so bad now."

Sunjai finished her junior year at Pepperdine University two weeks ago. She was ecstatic that summer break was finally here. Her father has to relocate to New York to work on an upcoming project. Pulling his daughter out of school before senior year didn't make sense. After many conversations between her father and Michael's parents, they agreed to let Sunjai stay at Hayvenhurst to finish school. Now she just needed to get her things into her room.

Sunjai voiceover: Moving in was pretty surreal for me. I was over there all the time anyway so I practically lived. I never knew how moving in would change my life.

As the two went inside the estate Sunjai's father was coming down the stairs. "It's this the last of your things sweetie?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah, Dad Michael got the last bin and I got my duffle bag," Sunjai answered.

"Good, I'll take that for you." He took the duffle bag from her. "Everything is in your room now."

"Thanks, Dad"

"I'll take this to your room." Michael walked past the two going upstairs.

"Sunjai I need to talk to you for a minute." Shawn pulled her over to a secluded corner. "Remember what we talked about."

"Dad" She knew exactly where he was going with this. "You promised you weren't going to do this."

"I don't want you to get distracted by all of this." He gestured towards the elaborate home.

"Is this about Michael?"

"The Jacksons are a nice family but their lives are different from ours. Don't let their lifestyle of being celebrities blind you. I want you to focus on your studies and work." He knew how close his daughter was with Michael. He was a nice young man but he came from the limelight. Shawn knew how the music industry could change the person you love. He didn't want her to experience the same heartache.

"Dad I just got out of school for summer vacation and I didn't quit my job." He gave her a knowing look and she sighed. "I promise when school starts I won't get distracted."

"Good" He pulled her into a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much. I hate the thought of leaving you."

"I'll miss you too" She hugged him back.

"Remember every Sunday we're doing our call."

"I know"

He checked his watch to look at the time. "I need to head to the airport. I love you so much."

"I love you too." She was sad that she wasn't going to see her father for a long time. They were close so this was something new for the both of them. "Please don't work yourself too hard."

"I promise I won't " He kissed her cheek. He made his way to the door. "I'll call you when I land sweetheart." He waved one more time.

"Bye Daddy" She waved back as he left. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright Sunjai?" Katherine asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Jackson," Sunjai answered. "It's going to be a little weird being separated from my dad."

"I know it's going to be difficult honey. You can call him anytime you want."

"Thank you"

"Would you like some lunch? I know you must be hungry."

"Yes," She smiled. "Thank you" She headed upstairs while Katherine went to the kitchen. As she came upstairs she ran into Janet.

"I can't believe you're staying with us!"
Janet squealed. "It's like having another sister who isn't annoying."

"Your sisters are cool Janet."

"They're not." She disagreed. Janet looked up to Sunjai as another big sister. Sunjai didn't mind because she didn't have any siblings of her own. It felt nice to have Janet ask her for advice about certain things. "We'll be able to talk about things that I can't with my brothers." She whispered.

"I got you Jan" She winked at her. The two entered Sunjai's bedroom where Michael placed down the last box.

"You have a lot of stuff girl," Michael told her. "All the clothes you have can fill a whole store."

"And I need all of my clothes thank you." She rolled her eyes taking her clothes out of the boxes. "I need to look good so I can get a boyfriend."

"Oww, boys!" Janet chimed.

"You're too young to be talking about boys." Michael raised an eyebrow at Janet.

"Leave her be Michael she's thirteen. You remember when we were thirteen." Sunjai said.

"That's the reason why I'm worried."

"She'll be okay." She giggled. "She's in good hands with you guys." She put her clothes on the hanger placing them in the closet.

"We'll deal with that when we get to it. That means no boys Jan." Janet rolled her eyes at him leaving the room. He sat on the bed. "I'm happy that you didn't have to move."

Sunjai sat down next to him. "Me too. I didn't wanna leave I love it here. Dad wanted me to finish school. It's going to be weird not having him around."

"I know how close you two are. It's going to be okay." He encouraged.

"I know this is a new chapter and I'm excited to see where it takes me." This was a new experience for her. Even though she's living at Hayvenhurst she felt a little lonely since her father was gone.

"And I'll be with you too."

"I know" She pulled him into a hug. "Best friends for life."

"Of course" He returned the hug before pulling back. "I know Mother's making lunch downstairs. Let's go eat and then we can finish unpacking."

"Sounds good to me because I'm hungry." She hopped off the bed.

"You're always hungry."

She smacked his arm playfully. "Shut up." He laughed as the two headed back downstairs.