Human Nature

Chapter 36

August 20th, 1992

One of the things Mariah loved most about touring was the little amount of downtime Michael had. They were back in the UK for a week before going to Austria and back to Germany, where they would be spending Michael's birthday. He had a concert later that day, but they had slept in for once.

Mariah had found Michael's camcorder and was having a mock interview with him in the bed. He was just gotten dressed, while she was still in her nightgown.

"Michael, what do you want for your birthday?"

He bugged his eyes out into the camera and laughed. "World peace. L.O.V.E."

"Okay, but something I can buy legally?"

He stopped buttoning his shirt. "Is world peace illegal?"

"No, but weed is."

He took the camcorder and turned it on her. "This is Mariah everyone."

She pulled the blanket over her head. "No, I'm not decent."

He pulled the cover off of her laughing. "No, I want you to explain yourself."

She looked into the lens with her most solemn face. "There will be no peace until weed is legal. I'm running for president, Carey 2005."

He turned the camera on himself. "Don't vote for her."

She snatched it from him and turned it off. "Seriously, what do you want for your birthday?"

"Nothing." He replied, leaning on her shoulder. "I'd rather just stay in bed with you."

"Well you're not." She said.

Last year, Mariah and Michael didn't even talk for his birthday because he had cloistered himself in the studio. She wanted to do something nice for him for once.

"Are you coming with me or are you staying here?" He asked, changing the subject.

She glanced at the pillows and then at her shoes at the door. "I guess I'll come with you."

She got up, brushed her hair into a ponytail and got in the shower, allowing the warm jets of water to engulf her. Showering was a stress reliever for her, and with Michael's grueling tour schedule; she need it. She could faintly hear Michael's voice on the other side of the door, but she didn't rush herself.

She was drying her hair with a towel when she came back into the room. "Did you call that Chandler kid?"

"Jordie? Yeah, I called him when you got in the shower."

Michael had been keeping regular contact with the family that had given them the free rental car in order to uphold his end of the deal. She still didn't trust them so she tried to be in the room when Michael talked to him.

"That's nice." She muttered.

She threw on a plaid crop top and high waist jeans, the tension in the room heightened. She wasn't going to pick a fight over it, but she'd be glad when they were out of their lives.

He raised an eyebrow. "You ready?"

"Let's go."

They arrived at Wembley Stadium for a sound check, rushing in to stop the fans from mobbing them and Mariah had an idea. 

She pulled on his shirt. "Why haven't you introduced me to your people? Like your makeup artist?"

"Karen?" He furrowed his eyebrows at her.

Mariah nodded. "Is that her name?"

"Come on." He led her to the back where a blond haired woman was setting up.