One (A Michael Jackson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 34

I stayed with my sister over the turn of the new year and we celebrated a late christmas. For Sage, I gifted a small trinket from Neverland. It was a marble elephant that could fit in your palm. Down the leg was Michael's signature. We watched the ball drop on the tv from New York and two weeks later, it was back to the show. One last time.

I was sitting in my hotel room when the invitation came. With a knock at the door, a paper slipped under the crack. It was a thick card stock paper with an invitation to a party put on by Michael's management team. There was a good two hours before it would begin so I took my time getting ready.

When the hour arrived, I hailed a cab to take me to the Chinese Theater. Just up the stairs to the right of it was where the room we had rented was located. I made my way up the staircase after paying the cab driver and pushed open the glass door. Inside, the music washed over me, submerging me into another realm. The lights were dim with splashes of color and bodies moved within.

Producers, crew, dancers, all took to the floor, celebrating the coming of one last set of shows. At the center of the party was Bubbles the chimp, causing a riot of smiles and laughter. I scanned the crowd for Michael but he was nowhere to be found. Instead, my eyes landed on Katherine Jackson sitting in one of the chairs that wrapped around the edge of the room. Two of her daughters, Janet, and Rebbie, were sitting beside her. They were all watching something in the corner that I couldn't see from my vantage point.

I grabbed a drink from the tray of one of the servers and joined them on the chairs. Katherine smiled and greeted me as I neared and introduced me to her two daughters. She then nodded towards the center of their attention. On the outer edge of the room was a child too shy to step out on the dance floor in front of everyone, so Michael formed their own secluded dance circle composed of his own dancers and himself. In that company, the child was ecstatic. Nothing in that moment could keep him from dancing. Michael cheered as the child moved, sometimes mimicking Michael's moves.

"You raised him right." I whispered, nudging Katherine's arm. She smiled and nodded a thanks as the four of us watched them dance.

The dance floor grew scarce as the night continued. People were too tired now to dance so the gatherings filled the perimeter. Groups of friends and coworkers sitting around tables and talking over a drink. Michael was making his rounds from table to table, making sure to thank everyone for coming and for being a part of his vision. Each speech was a bid farewell that tugged at my heart. I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

The music softened with the atmosphere, slowing down to let people relax a moment and breath. I was speaking with Janet when Michael approached. It was my turn to say goodbye. This would be one of our last moments in such a close setting, this was a fleeting finale to this grand adventure. His eyes met mine and a slight grin flashed on his lips. He extended his arm with an open palm. "May I have this dance?" he asked. I looked to Janet, unable to quite comprehend what he had asked. I didn't think I had heard correctly until she was shoving me out of my chair. I took his hand gently and he led me to the center of the floor.

A multitude of eyes glued onto us, speculating about this pairing. I looked around nervously at all who watched, but my attention snapped back to Michael as his hands found my hips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we began to sway with the beat. His eyes met mine and our surroundings seemed to dissolve. I had never danced with someone like this. Being so close, having someone stare into your eyes. It was intrusive. My mind would panic and I would bolt before the dance even begun, but Michael's eyes were welcoming. He used to be the same way back when we first met; unable to hold my gaze for more than a few seconds, but together we had shared the deepest parts of our souls.

I could have stayed locked with his soul for all eternity, looking into his eyes I could learn more than his words could ever give me, but to my despair, the song began to fade. With it, the constant rhythm of our swaying slowed to a stop. Michael tucked a strand of hair that had fallen over my eyes behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my jaw. Before I could think, his lips pressed to mine. It was a mere few seconds that seemed an eternity before he pulled away. I couldn't find the strength to open my eyes. "I had to do it... at least once." he whispered, and then he was gone, leaving me with only a phantom's touch of what was once there.