With Michael

Chapter 71 - Date Night

2nd of September, 2008
Brooklyn and Janet are 42, Michael is 50

Janet: "Rise and shine, Jan!" Brooke chirped.

I groaned, throwing a pillow at her.

"Oh, come on, we gotta go shopping. You have a date tonight!"

"A date?" I asked.

"Yeah, I told you I was gonna set you up. And it's a double date with Michael and I." she answered.

"Brooke, I don't want to go on a date."

"You have to. He came all the way from across the world."

I lifted myself up, looking at her. "Who is he?"

"You'll find out tonight."

"Fine. But only because you're joining," I sighed. "And I already went shopping yesterday with Katie."

"That's unfair." my best friend scoffed.

"Can I go back to sleep, please?" I yawned.

"Fine." she left the bedroom.

I had to admit, I was a bit excited, and curious about who's this mystery date.

~

Michael: Brooke walked into my office and took a seat on one of the chairs.

"So what's this all about?" she asked.

I pushed the pile of papers Frank gave me earlier this morning towards her.

"Read the first paragraph out loud." I said.

She looked at me skeptically before taking the contract.

"AEG Live and Sony Entertainment present: Michael Jackson's 'This Is It'."

Her eyes filled with confusion, and she fell silent.

"Babe?" I called.

"You're going on tour?" she whispered.

"Yes," I smiled. "And you and the kids are joining me. You'll be my choreographer if you sign these."

I was so happy when Frank said she could be the lead choreographer.

"Michael, this is... Where is this all coming from? I thought you were on a break. We agreed you won't go back so soon."

"I just felt like I wanna do something, you know? I don't plan on doing another album, and I gotta give my fans something. This is the final curtain call, I swear." I told her.

"Okay, I get it, but Mike... You gotta remember that you aren't what you were ten years ago."

"People have to stop saying that."

"But it's true, honey," she put down the contract. "You haven't performed since your 30th anniversary show. Not to mention you lost weight."

I knew what she was talking about. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I was not as young as I used to be. And I did lose weight. A lot of it. But it didn't mean I couldn't perform.

"If I promise to gain some back, would you do it?"

"Maybe, if I know a little bit more about this tour..." she squinted her eyes at me.

"It's a single location tour. I'm thinking of maybe doing it in London. There will be ten shows, and ten shows only."

"Fine, I'll do it. When do we start?"

"We're announcing it in March, and rehearsals start right after. But you'll have to help me pick dancers, too." I said, trying to keep the smile off my face.