Human Nature

Chapter 27

January 24th, 1992

Michael pulled out Mariah's chair for her and sat across from her with a smile. He had decided to rent out a restaurant for the two of them for a few hours since they rarely went out.

"So, what did Tommy say about the single?" He asked.

Mariah rolled her eyes. "He's pulling it so we can boost the album sales."

"I don't see what the problem is, your albums kinda have this burn and build affect to them. Your debut album got released in June of '90 and didn't go number one until March of '91. I guess he figured you'd sell more since you had such a huge debut." He shrugged.

"I guess that's what he thinks." She looked down at the menu. "What are you going to order?"

"I don't know. They don't have fried chicken and hot sauce as an option."

She laughed. "You are so country."

He looked over his menu, crossing his eyes. "So?"

"I think it's cute." She giggled.

"You always say that." He said.

Mariah shrugged. "I can't help that you make everything look adorable."

"You make me sound like a puppy."

She covered her face with the menu and he went back to mulling over the menu. He finally decided on salmon and a glass of wine.

The waitress came over a few minutes later. "Are you two ready to order?"

He let Mariah go first.

"I'll have the salmon and white wine." She said.

He chuckled. "I guess great minds think alike, I'll have the same."

The waitress took their menus and he noticed Mariah was playing with the ring he had given her.

"Is it too tight?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, it's perfect. Except I still don't know what it means."

He knew this conversation was coming.

"It means 'I love you.'" He explained.

She looked at him with innocent eyes. "How much?"

Michael nodded. "I know what you're getting at, Mimi. It'll happen when the time is right, I promise."

She looked out of the window and back at him. "I'm sorry, I'm just...I just want to settle down."

"I know and so do I. When the time is right." He reiterated.

She smiled. "So do you think you're almost done with the short film?"

"Oh yeah, I'm loving how it's coming together too."

"I like that you're showing how Egyptians actually looked."

They continued to discuss the short film while they waited for their food and Michael was glad to see that Mariah had no intentions of pressing the conversation he was dreading. He didn't want to discuss marriage with her yet, because he knew he was going to hurt her.

February 11th, 1992

"How can you possibly be wearing that?"

Mariah swore she was about to have a heat stroke while Michael walked beside her in a thick varsity jacket over his long sleeved shirt. She rolled her eyes when she realized he couldn't even hear her, he was waving to all the fans. She could feel the love for Michael all around and she thought it was beautiful.