One (A Michael Jackson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 12

"What do you say to Mr. Jackson?" Ashley asked Sage as Michael turned to head to his trailer.

"Thank you... sir" the last word trailed behind, lost for a moment to forgetfulness.

"You are very welcome." He smiled, then vanished into the crowd of crew members running to and fro.

Ashley blinked a few times as if waking from a dream. "Did that actually just happen?" she asked, still astonished by the interaction. I just simply nodded in response.

"Come on, let's go get dinner." I suggested and the three of us left the arena. We found a secluded and quiet restaurant down the street from the hotel with balcony seating that enabled us an excellent view of the street where hundreds of tourists wandered below.

"So what's it like, living on tour?" Ashley asked as we were seated at one of the tables by the rail.

"Exhausting to say the least." I began. "We're in a different country every week. Takes a toll on your sleeping schedule. But it's fun too. Nothing will ever compare. The people, the places, the experiences... it's been one never ending adventure with lessons on every corner."

Ashley's lip twitched into a smile as I spoke. "I'm proud of you, you know." she finally said. "Dad is too. Even though he doesn't show it much, he is. And mom... I wish she could see how far you've come."

I took her hand in mine. "I know she can." I assured. Our attention shifted as the waitress approached the table and took our drink orders.

"So..." The topic changed. "Are you seeing anyone?" she asked. Laughter exploded from my lips. I hardly had the time to think, how on earth was I expected to have time enough to date. Ashley was having none of it. "Oh, come on. There's gotta be someone. None of the dancers strike your fancy? I know you've got an eye for dancers." she prodded. My brain turned over the prospect as I contained the giggling. I had never really thought on it, I was too focused on the show. The only dancer I had gotten close to was Michael and I didn't see that relationship turning into anything more than it currently was.

"No." I finally decided. "There's nobody."

Ashley gave in, crossing her arms in disappointment. "If there ever is somebody, promise me you'll tell."

"I promise." She nodded, content in the agreement.

We ordered our food and by the end of the hour, had parted ways. The halls were mostly empty at this time of the night and the way back was quiet, but something stuck like a thorn out of the ordinary. Michael's guard stood at the door of the work out center that had long been closed. Management must have reopened it.

"May I?" I asked as I approached the guard. He answered by opening the door. In the far corner of the room was a small studio, barely the size of the bathrooms in the suites, but large enough to move. Michael was inside, dancing to a rhythm trapped in his head, watching the mirror to correct every detail in the movement. It was fascinating to watch. He evolved into another being when he danced. It consumed him.

His concentration broke when he saw me in the corner of his eye and waved me in to join him. I stepped inside. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" I asked him, knowing he never actually slept this early.

"Shouldn't you?" he countered. I had no answer to that. "I saw this studio on my way to your room the other day. My body told me to dance, so I obeyed." The reasoning was sound enough for me, so I sat on the floor and watched. He paused suddenly, mid motion and looked at me. "Wanna know another secret to this.. the dancing, I mean?"

I hesitated this time, then continued forward with caution. "This isn't about to be another riddle is it?" I questioned, too tired to work out abstract conundrums. He shook his head and I relaxed.

"Not today." Michael promised, then sat cross legged in front of me. "In this world, there is one creator. For the sake of this, we will call the creator by that name... One. All of us go our entire lives searching for One, but never find it. Little do we know, we are looking in the wrong places. The creator made it such that we are all different versions of one single entity. I am you, you are me, and together, we are One.

"Now do you see the truth? You're just another part of me. It's more than a song, it's an understanding. When I dance, it is the dance of creation. I become the stars and the moon. I become the lover and the beloved. I become the victor and the vanquished. I become the master and the slave. I become the singer and the song. I become the knower and the known. I keep on dancing then it is the eternal dance of creation. The creator and the creation merge into one wholeness of joy. I keep on dancing... and dancing... and dancing. Until there is only... the dance."

"We're all One." I tasted the phrase on my lips, engraving it into my mind. Michael grinned and stood once more, losing himself again to the dance of creation.