I hold my head in frustration.
"This isn't fair! I worked so hard!" I cry out loud. I feel someone sit down next to me on the bed. It's probably David.
"Leave me alone!" I yell.
"No,Michael!"
"Dunk?" I feel her arms slide around my shoulders as I lay my head on hers.
"I'm sorry you didn't get as many awards as you thought Michael," She says comfortingly. "It's such a great album!"
"Yeah well some people don't think so," I mumble in reply. It's not fair. I worked so hard on this album, and this is what I get? One Grammy?
'It didn't even win Record of the Year! This definitely can't happen again Dunk." I get up and pace back and forth in my room. Well, hotel room actually. After the Grammys Joe hounded all over me saying things like,
"I told you you'd never go anywhere in life, "
"You should've stuck with your brothers,"
"You're going to be a total wash-out!"
I couldn't stand hearing his voice, and some of my brothers weren't exactly supportive either. Jermaine seemed a little too happy when I only received 1 award. Instead of hearing more humiliating insults from my own family, I took a separate limo and checked in to a hotel alone with a couple of bodyguard.
"Recording this album was just a waste of time." I say after a few minutes.
"Michael, this is just a small setback. You've had so many others and you were able to get through! Think of the positives that came out of the album! You had so much more fun working in this one than working for Motown! And your fans absolutely adore it! Can't you hear them right now, singing Off the Wall right outside your window?"
I raise an eyebrow. I get up and walk over to the window and push back the curtains.
"I wanna rock with you! All night..." The fans outside are waving their hands slowly back and forth, singing with pure joy. Wow, I guess I was too busy wallowing in my own issues that I didn't even notice! I smile and open the window and stick my head through.
"I love you!" I say to them as they start to scream. My fans are truly amazing. Their constant love and support... I stand up and close the window shut and look at Janet.
"Dunk, this only proves that I have to do better. I WILL do better!" Janet starts to talk back when someone at the door knocks.
"Mr.Jackson?"
"Yes?"
"You've got a phone call from Mr.Jones on line one." Aw man, I hope he's not going to talk about the Grammys. I wanna get over that!
"Alright, thanks."
"What does Quincy want with you?" Janet asks. I shrug as stride into the next room. I pick up the phone and hit line 1.
"Michael?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Listen uh-"
"Quince if this is about the awards show-"
"No no, it's not. This is about..well.."
"What is it Quincy?"
"Your father called."
I feel my stomach turn over.
"Oh yeah? And what did he have to say?" I ask icily.
"He says that he's planning a tour with you and your brothers."
"Oh?"
"Yes, and well since you're still in Jackson 5-"
"I already told you I want out!"
"Yes but you haven't made it official with the world yet, Michael. And you can't simply have a Jackson 5 tour without a fifth member!"
"Tell Randy to do it."
"Michael." Quincy's voice becomes stern. I sigh and pick up the headset and walk over to the couch. Janet comes over and sits beside me, folding her arms.
"You want out of the group, but your father-"
"Don't call him my father."
"Joe is already pulling all the strings for the show, it's too late! In a year or so they'll be touring again with all of your fans expecting YOU to be there!"
Too late? How is it already too late? Unless..
"Quincy, who exactly is Joe collaborating with for this tour?"
"Don King, but-"
"Don King?!" I stand up fast. Janet gives me an odd look at the sound of his name."Don't tell me Dad's working with that man!" She exclaims. I shake my head and turn around.
"That man is a cheat! You've heard all those stories about him! All of which are true!" I say angrily.
"I know Michael but what am I supposed to do?"
I feel my blood boil slightly. I need to get away from all of this. But I can't. Thanks to Joe.
"Who's sponsoring the tour?" I ask, my mouth dry. I need water.
"Some man, I'm assuming, that works for a label called R.Voice Records."
I rock my brain back and forth, trying to jog my memory. R.Voice Records?
"I don't recall that I've even heard of that label."
"Apparently this is where most artists that are always on the Billboard are signed to.Look Mike, just do the tour."
"Alright fine I'll do it, but this will be the last performance of the Jackson 5. I'm done with the family business. I WILL prove Joe and my brothers wrong, I'll make it and I'll make it big!"
"I believe you Michael, good night."
I hang up the phone and throw it onto the floor. Janet gets up slowly and looks at me with a worried look.
"You're tired. I'll come back tomorrow and we can talk about whatever the hell just happened on the phone, okay?" I purse my lips and pull her in for a tight hug.
"You're truly are my favorite sister Dunk. I love you."
"Love you too, Michael."
She pulls out of my arms and walks away. "Night!" She calls out. I don't reply.When I hear the door shut I head back into the bedroom, suddenly very tired. I change clothes quickly and lay down on the bed, shutting my eyes. I could still hear my fans singing softly, but this time it's one of my old songs I'll Be There. I yawn and switch sides. I have to do better, I think to myself. My fans deserve it! As I painfully and slowly start to drift off to sleep, my mind wanders over to a few curious thoughts; what on earth is the R.Voice Records? Who runs it? Why haven't I heard of it before? I wonder how the girl at the diner is doing? I frown at the last thought. She hasn't come across my mind in awhile. And I've only met her once.
...so why do I have this sudden urge to see her again?
