Slipping Away

Chapter 6

August 25th, 1993

Did he just...?

"You love me?"

He had already fallen asleep so she contented herself by playing in his hair, relishing in their closeness, until she managed to doze off as well.

"Mariah, wake up." Michael was shaking her, and she pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

The rush of cold air that hit her body from him pulling off the covers ended all attempts she had of going back to sleep. Once again, she had jetlag and it was killing her.

"I'm up." She muttered, squinting against the light. "What's up?"

He sat down on the bed and brushed her hair out of her face like he used to do and for a moment, the past three months of Hell they had endured together seemed to disappear from memory. His hand lingered on her cheek, but he pulled away before she could say anything.

"How did you sleep?" He asked quietly.

She shrugged. "Better."

"Better?"

She nodded. "It was hard to sleep without you."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I-um, I'm glad you stayed last night. Thank you."

She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "So what do you have to do today?"

"There's a show tonight, one tomorrow, the 27th, and then on to Singapore." He said. "When are you going back to New York?"

She shrugged. "I don't have to be back for a while. I want to stay with you."

He eased her off of his shoulder. "I don't think-"

Mariah put her finger over his lips. "You know you don't want me to leave, don't push me away."

"We can't do this right now. Too much-"

She glared at him. "Michael, stop it."

"I just don't think-"

She rolled her eyes. "Why are you being so difficult? Last night you said you loved me and now-"

"I said what?"

Mariah paused and looked into Michael's genuinely confused face. "What were you on last night?"

"I took some medicine for my headache." He said.

She shrugged. "Well you said it. Do you?"

"Do I what?"

She shook her head, chiding herself for being foolish. "Nothing. Are you about to leave?"

"Yeah, sound check."

She leaned back on her elbow and shrugged. "Fine, see you later."

Mariah decided to watch TV until it was time to go to Michael's show when the door opened, Michael leaning heavily on Bill. She got up and helped Bill guide Michael to a chair.

"What happened?"

Bill shook his head. "He's too dehydrated to perform."

"I could have performed." Michael protested.

His voice was weak, slightly hoarse though he appeared indignant. 

Mariah raised an eyebrow. "Not sounding like that."

"You can't walk, let alone moonwalk." Bill added before turning to Mariah. "Take care of him. I'm going to go a store really quick."

She nodded. "Of course."