Unconditionally

13- Scams and Alcohol

Vanessa

I fall back at the horror I had just saw. Please oh please God tell me I didnt-. I couldn't have. I'm not a killer. I tuck my knees to my chest and rock back and forth. In shock. I look at Michael as he comes to me and places his hands on my knees. "Hey, look at me, Vanessa this wasn't your fault."

"Like hell it wasn't! Michael she could be dead!" I lean into his chest and cry. He pulls out his phone and calls someone. "Jer, something happened."

"I know Mike, I'm at the bottom of Mom." Jermaine says on the other line. Michael looks over and waves to Jermaine. He then picks me up bridal style stepping down the tree. "Michael." I felt shivers down my spine. I was in denial.

"It's okay princess. Jermaine will take care of you." He says handing me to his brother. "What do we do bro?" Jermaine asks.

Michael takes a breath. "I'm going to call the ambulance, you go and take Vanessa far from here okay?"

Jermaine nods. Michael comes over to me and kisses my forehead. "It will be okay Princess you're with the Jackson's." Michael lets go of my hand. "Michael! Don't leave!!" I cry.

Jermaine runs away to his car and places me into the passenger seat. "You're not hurt are you girl?"

I shake my head. "I want Michael." I whine. "Will you stop whining Nessa?! We have a death to worry about!" He yells. I shut up as he climbs into the drivers seat. "I'm sorry, Michael is handling it."

"Where are you taking me?" I ask looking out the window. "Our Dads. You'll be safe there."

THEIR DADS?? IS HE INSANE?

"Um no."

"Why?"

"Why?! Jermaine I didn't want to meet Michaels Dad like this!"

"Y'all aren't even dating are you?"

"Well were not official.."

Jermaine sighs. "Well sorry babe but you don't have a choice." he says driving away from the potential crime scene.

I try to open the door but I hear Jermaine locking it. "Oh so you're kidnapping me now?"

Jermaine rolls his eyes. "What kind of guy do you take me for shortcake?"

"Shortcake?"

"Yeah that's my nickname for you." He smiles.

"No, my name is princess."

"That's a classic." Jer smiles. "What's wrong with Princess?" I ask. "Nothing." He says. "It just sounds like something Michael would give you."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm sure at this point, you're pretty aware Michael is a gentlemen."

I blush. "How would you know?"

"Because he took you to meet our Mom, he hasn't brought anyone to see our Mom, since Janet was old enough to walk."

I rub my lip. "

"She's a special lady." I say.

"Michael talks to her a lot, about songs, girls, and his life after he got over his depression."

"Back. up. Michael had depression?"

Jermaine nods and turns the steering wheel. "Since our father was an alcoholic and an abuser of us. Michael had no one he really felt comfortable talking to. Katherine was the only one."

"I see." I say. "He has told me things about your father though." I add.

Jermaines eyebrows raise. "Wow, didn't think the little guy had it in him. You must be pretty special."

Me?

"What about Tati?"

"They were just sex buddies babe. Nothing more. Didn't even tell her what his favorite color was."

I nod. "Were here." He says pulling up to a small cottage house.

He gets out and opens the door for me. "I see another gentlemen huh?"

"runs in the family." Jermaine smiles.

We walk up to the door and Jermaine helps me inside. I was hit by an immediate smell of alcohol, smelled like shit. Why would I be safe here?

"DAD!" Jermaine yells through the house. He calls a few more times until an older man comes stumbling into the livingroom with a whiskey bottle in hand. I really was craving a drink right now. But I can't let my addiction get the best of me.

"W-what the h-hell are you doing here?" He pants drinking from the bottle. "I'm glad I came, what the hell did you do to yourself this time?"

Joe Jackson, the father of my lover is drunk as hell. He smelled awful. His hair was a mess and had no shirt on. "We had an accident." I squeak.

"Wow, Jermainey do I have another grandchild on the way?" Joe asks delusional.

"DAD! This is Vanessa Lawrence, MICHAELS girlfriend. I'm still with Stacey."

"Oh! Nice to meet you Nessa. Glad to see my son is gladly settling down."

"Were still in high school sir." I squeak. He nods setting down the whiskey.

"Why are you both here? Shouldn't Michael be here?" He asks.

Jermaine nods. "We have a problem pops."

"Oh?"

"It's about Tatiana."

"I thought the bitch died. Or slept with 100 men."

"Try 1000." I whisper.
Jermaine nudges me.

"Well she fell out of a tree."
Jermaine says with no emotion.

"And?"

"I'm afraid she may be dead."

"So where's
Michael?" Joe asks.

"Cleaning up the scene." I say.

Joe sighs and throws the bottle of whiskey across the room as it shatters at the wall.

"I KNEW YOU WOULD DO THIS TO ME ONE DAY!" Joe howls.

"Dad what are you talking about?" Jermaine asks.

"Don't you see it Jermaine!! Tatiana wouldn't kill herself by falling out of the tree! She wants Michael to be responsible for her "death" and rot in jail."

I gasp as I feel all the color drain from my face.

And then.

There was a knock on the door....:

TO BE CONTINUED......