Human Nature

Chapter 3

May 18th, 1990

Mariah hurried up the stairs of the subway. She was supposed to meet Michael at three, but it was nearly three thirty. She hoped he hadn't left, but if he had she couldn't blame him. She had decided to take a early nap and woke up late. She entered the studio and saw Michael. He looked annoyed and that made her feel worse.

"You're late." He said as she approached.

Mariah nodded. "I know, I'm really sorry Michael. My neighbors were fighting and then the cops got called at like 4 in the morning, then I took a nap and-"

He started laughing and Mariah tilted her head. "What's funny?"

"I'm just messing with you, I just got here about ten minutes ago myself. Last minute business call." He grinned at her cheekily.

Mariah crossed her arms. "That was not funny. I thought you were actually mad."

I'm gonna get him back for that.

"Lighten up, Mimi." He said.

"Mimi?"

"Yeah, I think that's what I'll call you from now on. Mimi."

Mariah nodded. "Mimi."

"So let's get started. First of all, do you have any songs that are more...upbeat?" He asked as he stood up and stretched.

Mariah frowned. "Like dancing music?"

"Exactly. I think it would be best for me to teach you with your own music. Actually, show me what you can do already."

Mariah closed her eyes for a second. "I guess I'll sing Someday, that's the closest thing I have to dance music."

She started with the chorus in an attempt to remember the beat, walking in circles. She was trying to avoid looking at Michael. Occasionally she would sway her hips in tune with the beat in her head, while Michael nodded his head. He was tapping his foot, keeping time with her singing. She hit the B6 at the end of the song and turned back to Michael who was wearing a grimace on his face.

"What? What is it? Do I sound bad? Oh my God-"

"Mimi!" He chuckled a few times. "Your voice is fine. Just as beautiful as it is on the radio."

"Then why are you making that face?" She covered her face with her hands.

Mariah couldn't help but be nervous.  She already had horrible stage fright and the look on Michael's face wasn't helping at all. 

May 18th, 1990

Michael watched as the color drained from Mariah's face.

"I was just looking at you dance, if you can call it that." Michael said.

Mariah put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me."

Michael smirked. "Walking around in circles isn't dancing. Sorry Mimi."

Michael shook out his leg. "Sing the song again."

"Maybe now you just can't conceive 

That there'll ever come a time..."

Michael closed his eyes, imagining the rhythm from her voice. He felt the music flow throw him, feeling it in his soul and before he knew it he was in the zone. He no longer heard Mariah's voice, only the beat he was imagining in his head. He slid up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing himself back to reality.

"And you're thinking
That you might be coming back-"

Mariah tensed up in his arms and he leaned down to her ear. "Are you scared?"

"Yes," she breathed.

He let her go. "Don't be. Dance lesson is over."

"I didn't learn anything!"

Michael smiled. "You don't need to. Your voice is so powerful you can just stand there and people will pay attention."

Mariah glared at him. "So why did you say you were going to teach me to dance?"

"I just wanted to see you again before I left." Michael lowered his eyes.

His shyness was starting to overtake him again.

She batted her eyelashes. "All you had to do was ask dahling." 

"You purred when you said that." Michael said.

Mariah giggled. "Call me Catwoman."

Michael raised an eyebrow as a bit of his cheekiness showed through."You gonna wear a catsuit like Catwoman?"

Mariah put her hands on her hips. "Are you flirting with me, Mr. Jackson?"

Michael stepped closer to her. "Do you like it?"

"I don't know yet."

"Then yes."

Mariah smirked as she walked to the back of the room to get her purse. She skipped back to him and grinned.

"You hungry?" He asked.

Mariah nodded. "I haven't eaten since yesterday."

"You were in a hurry or...?"

Mariah shrugged. "I was in a hurry, but there's no food there anyway. I have to go shopping. Where did you wanna go?"

"Let's go back to my hotel room and order Chinese." Michael offered.

Mariah put her hand over her chest. "Back to your hotel room? Michael I knew you were a player, but you're moving so fast."

"Girl, you hungry or what?"

Mariah fell on the floor laughing and Michael couldn't help but laugh too.  He pulled her off the ground while laughing. He had to hold her up until the laughter subsided. 

"So you  said Chinese?"

Michael waved an arm. "Right this way, my lady."

Mariah linked arms with his and they walked to the back parking lot to his car.

May 18th, 1990

Mariah slid into the passenger's side of the car and Michael sat in the driver's side. They didn't speak, only looking at one another before laughing again.

Mariah couldn't help but stare at him. He was wearing a red button down shirt and black slacks. A black hat tied the look together. She was glad that his outrageous outfits were a stage thing, but if one were to let the press tell it, he was a freak. They had a long conversation the night before about the media and he warned her that the fake stories were coming. It was inevitable.

"What?" He asked.

Mariah covered her mouth. "You're so...normal."

He winked. "Well, I'm happy to show the world I'm not a freak one person at a time."

"You know one night can change that." Mariah gave him one of her "sweet smiles", teeth bared and all.

Michael shook his head. "You nasty, Mimi. "

"Mike-"

"Mr. Jackson if ya nasty."

Mariah fell back on the seat laughing. "Just drive!"

Michael pulled the car out of the parking lot. "Whatever you say, Mimi."