Girlfriend

14. The Birds

After we sat there and basked in the glory of the moment, I took Cathy Jean to see the animals in the backyard. She held my hand the whole way there. Either she likes me or she was afraid of what animals I had in stock. I think she likes me.

I'm still having doubts about how she feels about me because it all just happened so fast. She came to tell me that David kid kissed her and then I told her I liked her. She coincidently felt the same way. Would she even be interested in me if I wasn't Michael Jackson?

The way she's squeezing my hand tells me she needs me as much as I need her. Maybe the fact that we both like each other isn't coincidental. I decided to take the plunge but remember that betrayal is a possibility.

When I look at her petting the tiger I forget about betrayal. She wouldn't do that to me.

"I didn't know you could own a tiger," she said, scratching the animal behind the ear. "And he's so nice."

"My mother said I can have any animal but rats and things like that but I still have some," I told her.

"Rats?" she asked.

"Yeah, but they're friendly. I promise," I assured her.

"My mom hates animals. She wouldn't even take me to the zoo," Cathy Jean said.

"That's sad. Have you ever been to the zoo?"

"Yeah, my dad..." She stopped mid sentence and took her hand away from the tiger. "...my dad would take me."

I wanted to ask about her dad but it's obvious she doesn't like to talk about him. She's depressed enough so there's no need to remind her of her father when it's painful to talk about.

"Want to see the birds?" I offered, attempting to change the subject.

"Sure."

Never in my life have I seen someone so happy to see birds. She handled them so well and looked so peaceful with them.

"I love birds," she sighed.

"Me too."

"They're just so beautiful. It's too bad they're always locked in a cage with their wings clipped," she said, stroking the bird's head.

"I know how it feels though. It's hard being famous," I whispered. "Always confined to your house and unable to do things on your own."

"That's me with the depression," she replied, looking the bird in the eye. "I feel like depression owns me, you know? I can't do anything. Trust me, Michael, if I could smile I would."

"Why is there nothing to smile about?" I felt like that question was safe.

"My dad."

That's all she said. And for some reason I understood.

Over Cathy Jean's shoulder, I saw LaToya hiding behind the bench trying not to interfere with our moment.

"My poor sister," I laughed. "Come here, Toy!"

LaToya smiled and ran toward us. She took a few steps away from Cathy Jean when she saw the bird in her hands.

"It's not that I don't like you, I just don't like animals," LaToya explained. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," Cathy Jean replied.

"Great! You're a dancer right?"

Cathy Jean nodded. "Yes, why?"

"You should join Michael and me one night and go dancing! It's so much fun," LaToya said. "We'll pay and everything."

"That sounds really fun. You guys tell me the next time you go," Cathy Jean said.

"Yay! So, what are you two doing?" LaToya asked, hands on hips.

I looked at Cathy Jean and she just looked back at the bird on her finger. I smiled and turned to my sister.

"We're just hanging out," I finally said, crossing my arms.

"You want some ice cream or some lemonade?" LaToya offered.

"Sure," Cathy Jean said. She put the bird back in the cage and followed LaToya to the patio where lemonade and 3 bowls of ice cream happened to be waiting for us.

"Have a seat!" LaToya insisted.

Cathy Jean sat down and pulled a bowl of ice cream toward her. It was the perfect day for these types of treats. Summer hit us hard today. The sun was shining brighter for some reason.

"Do you two go dancing all the time?" Cathy Jean inquired after taking her first spoonful of ice cream.

"Oh yeah. In New York we would go to Studio 54 a lot," LaToya answered.

"That's so cool. I usually just dance in my mirror at home," Cathy Jean remarked.

"Michael said you're a ballet dancer?" LaToya asked.

"Yeah."

"For how long?"

"I've been dancing for all my life but ballet has been my passion since second or third grade," she explained.

"Wow, that's great! That kind of dance is so beautiful. Is it hard?" LaToya asked.

"It was at first. The really hard part is the toll it takes on your body," Cathy Jean said. "But I love it."

"That's wonderful. Next time you're performing invite us! We'd love to go!" LaToya exclaimed.

Cathy Jean looked over at me and I smiled. When LaToya says she'll go somewhere, she will not miss out. I really want to see Cathy Jean perform too. That way I can get a feel of what this David guy is about. He's trying to compete with me and I won't let him win.

"That ice cream was really good," Cathy Jean said, finishing up the last bit of ice cream in her bowl.

"Oh yeah. That little ice cream parlor around the corner finally started selling cartons. It's the best ice cream I've ever had," LaToya claimed.

"Little Susie's Ice Cream Parlor, right?" I confirmed.

"Oh, Little Susie's. Yeah." Cathy Jean nodded and crossed her arms. She didn't make eye contact with LaToya like she had been.

LaToya looked at me like she had done something wrong but I simply shrugged and acted like I didn't know what happened. I spoke up before LaToya did to make sure she didn't say the wrong thing.

"So you like that place?" I continued the conversation.

"Yeah. It's not too far from my favorite park." She sighed and looked me dead in the eye. "My dad used to take me."

A/N: Hello guys! Sorry this is a little uneventful. Is it just me or is Cathy Jean a little depressing lol. School's almost out so updates will hopefully be more frequent...more soon!!!