Human Nature

Chapter 5

May 21st, 1990

Michael had returned to Neverland on the 19th, and had finally composed himself enough to have company. He invited Eddie Murphy and Chris Tucker over to talk about Mariah. He felt like he was definitely getting somewhere with her and he liked her a lot; she was sweet, quiet, and humble. She also had a good sense of humor and that was important to him. He might have actually found the one, but he had to get to know her a little bit better before making a move.

"So what's up, Mike? Who was the chick in the car?" Eddie asked.

Chris was opening his beer, one eye focused on the bottle and the other on Michael. Michael smiled to himself as he thought about Mariah.

"You must have got you some in New York." Chris said.

Michael shook his head. "Nah, I just met someone."

Eddie looked at Michael in disbelief. "Somebody who didn't scream, faint, or get pulled off you in 20 seconds by security?" 

Michael shook his head. "A little nervous, but that's probably because she bumped into me on accident."

Eddie and Chris looked at each other and back at Michael.

"So has this girl been under a rock since the 60s or what?"

"She knew who I was. She was a little nervous, but like I said she was pretty cool about meeting me."

Chris put his beer down. "Chamone Mike! What's her name? Where she from? Give us the run down."

"Her name is Mariah, she's twenty, from New York, and she's a new artist signed to Columbia."

Eddie nodded suspiciously. "Wait, that new girl they been playing on the radio? She got that song Seeing Love or something." 

"It's called Vision of Love and yeah, her. I spent a bit of time with her while I was in New York. She's really sweet." Michael said.

Chris narrowed his eyes, mirroring Eddie's expression. "You sure she's not just using you, Mike?"

"I'm sure. She doesn't need to use me, her voice is up there with Whitney's." 

"I always turn the song, I wouldn't know. So she's twenty, from New York. Which part?"

Eddie was from New York, so he knew a bit more than Michael and Chris. "She's from Long Island, but she's living in Hell's Kitchen right now."

Eddie's eyes nearly came out of his head. "She living in Hell's Kitchen? By herself? That girl must be crazy, nope. Don't do it, Mike."

Michael started laughing. "Seriously, she's really sweet. I'll have ya'll meet her sooner or later."

"You gonna bring her to Neverland?" Chris asked.

Michael nodded. "Why not? I really think this is going somewhere."

Michael pulled out his wallet. Mariah let him take a picture of her with his camera before he left, so he was going to show Chris and Eddie to see what they thought. Not that it mattered.

"There's a picture of her." Michael laid the photo on the coffee table.

Chris picked it up and started nodding his head. "That's what you call a PYT! Damn!"

Eddie snatched the photo from Chris.

"Ya'll better not rip it." Michael warned.

Eddie looked at the photo, at Michael, then back to the photo nodding. "You said she biracial, I see a white girl in this picture, Mike."