Unconditionally

12-Katherine

Vanessa

Michael touches the tree bark and smiles gently.

His mom? No way.

I know he didn't mean it physically because I know for a fact Michael isn't half tree.

"She's beautiful." I say admiring Katherine's yellow, read, and green sparkly leaves.

Michael holds out his hand as I take it and get pulled in front of Michael.

"I only show a few people her. Many people don't deserve to see her." He chuckles sadly.

"What happened?"

Michael takes a deep breath.

"Well. She died when I was 13."

I nod along with his story.
Apparently she died because of his father.....

"He was abusive?" I ask.

He nods.

"when I became a part of the Jackson 5. It was because of my mother. She said I had talent."

He runs his hand along her trunk. "She wasn't wrong."

I bite my lip sadly. Tasting my vanilla cinnamon  lip gloss.

I never knew he had a soft side.
Yet again I never knew he could pay attention to someone like me for more than 5 minutes.

I take his hand. "Did she meet Tatiana?"

His nose crinkles as he chuckles a little.

"Tati and I aren't close. Yes we're sex buddies but that's it."

Suddenly a tree branch falls off and his Michael in the head.

He falls to the ground as I hold back a laugh.

"Sorry Mom. I forgot you don't like that word."

I give Michael my hand as I pull him up.

He wraps his arm around my waist as he pushes my hand against the trunk.

I feel the light smooth bark of Katherine. I admire her brown and white trunk as I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Why me?" I ask.

He looks down to me and bites his lip.

"Because you're special Valerie."0
I raise an eyebrow up at him.

"You really said my name wrong?" I ask irritated

He smiles and kisses my forehead
"I just do it to annoy you."

I roll my eyes.

"I'm glad you showed me her."

He smiles. "Me too. I sit in her a lot to write some music."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Wanna climb?" He says holding out his hand.

I laugh. "Are you sure it's safe?"

"Yeah. My mom won't let anything happen to me."

He takes my hand and guides me up into Katherine.

I step on her branches like they're steps as Michael guides me to the top.

"M-Michael." I stutter.

He laughs and looks down at me.
"What's wrong princess?"

"I-I'm afraid of heights."

He bites his lip and steps down to me wrapping his arm around my waist hoisting me up to the top.

"Ahh! I'm gunna die!" I scream.