Will You Be There

Chapter 7

Christina's p.o.v.

I sat quietly in my seat next to Michael as he stared blankly out at the massive clouds passing us by. I looked out the window past him to notice that the sun was preparing to set. "What time will we make it to L.A.?" He looked up at me from him trance, "I was told some time around 3 A.M." "Oh. Okay." I began to fiddle with my fingers as he adjusted in his seat. He turned slightly to face me with a soft smile, "So Christina?" I looked up with a questioning look, "yes?" "Tell me about yourself," he leaned his chin onto his fist as if he were supper interested in what i would say. I giggled at his stance, "what about me? What do you wanna know?" He looked up like he was in deep thought, "hmmm everything." "Ohhh ok, well see about that." He giggled a little as i turned to face him better as well. "Well my full name is Christina Marie Cortez, i was born in Sacramento California. I lost my father at a young age, he was my best friend....." Michael comforted me by grabbing my hand and holding it ever so tenderly, i gave a smile of gratitude. "I was the oldest of my family, a younger sister and twin brothers, and my mom remarried about five months after my father had passed away. I remember being so mad at her, like she didn't love my father anymore just cause he was gone. It felt like she didn't care and was out seeing other people in no time." I felt my hand tense up around Michaels as i talked about her. "My stepdad was horrible! If satan was present in human form it'd be him. My mom would work all the time leaving me to protect my siblings from him, he'd get mad at my brothers for almost nothing and go to beat the living day-lights outta them and i would take the heat instead. I cant tell you how many times i intervened a beating purposed for one of them." I chocked on the last words bringing up my harsh past. I tried smiling letting out some small tears, "but im better now, he cant hurt any of us anymore." He was still holding my hand, "that's horrible Christina. Why do people have to harm children? They're truly gifts from above." He hugged me, "im so so sorry..." I relaxed in his embrace, he was really comforting. I sat up wiping away the remaining tears, "what about you?" His eyes saddened slightly, "pretty much the same. My father pushed us to be the best we could be; hours and hours of practices, getting yelled at for just about everything, and o so often beatings. I wouldn't have made it though without my mother. She was the one i confided everything in, shes perfection to me." "She sounds wonderful." He sighed quite heavily. "Whats the matter Michael?" He let go of my hand and covered his face, he was quiet for a moment,"I'm terribly afraid of whats going to become of me. Ive tried to not let this get to me and i want to thank you for all that you've done you truly are a sweet and wonderful person. I fear people will believe yet another false story about me......my fans.... If they believe this im done for. They're all i have left." Tears begin falling down his dashing face. I pulled him into the warmest and nicest hug i could manage. He wrapped his arms around me and continued to sob into my shoulder. I whispered into his ear, "shhh its okay, if nobody else believes, you know the truth and i know the truth and thats all that should matter." He sniffled letting go, "Thank you, i just cant take all of this." "Michael? Would you like me to stick around through this thing? It sounds like you could use a friend." He smiled, "that would be nice... But i dont want you to waist your time on me." He gave a pained look. "Michael dont worry!" I giggled at his concern, "ill be at the D.A.s office and the courthouse a lot anyways, it wouldn't be a problem." He smiled largely, "alright, if you say so." We talked the entire flight about everything under the sun. He'd make a goofy face and id laugh really hard and he'd laugh at my laugh and then next thing you know wer'e both grabbing our stomachs from laughing so much. He told me about his other brothers and sisters and all the things they did back in the day. We talked about our horrid adolescence years and about our first experiences as young adults. I found out Michael and i actually had a lot in common personality wise, it truly felt like we've been good friends since childhood. While we talked i couldn't help but feel at ease and relaxed. He was a very easy person to talk to unlike what you'd think about a celebrity of his status.