Exposed || MJ/Prince

Exposed || Chapter 38

Author's Note: amoniquebee vickiwaitingx dwritingprojects ToniJones232 CourageFlavored LunaMoonglade indiii_bindiii LesaG777 Michael's onstage  "reunion" with Brenda starts at (5:34) in the uploaded performance video. Enjoy! ;)

===

1984 - "Victory" Tour

Brenda

At first, I snuck onto the stage while no one suspected anything. I kept this low profile throughout the day and wouldn't even tell Michael that I wanted to see another concert.

"Shake Your Body Down To The Ground" had been one of my favorites. Michael always knew. Hitting that  stage right now  would've floored him in the best way.

As soon as the light turned down, I sandwiched between Marlon and Michael, with my back facing him.

At this point, Mike and his brothers could only see the back of my curly hair.  For all he knew, some obsessed fan could've hijacked the performance.

When David Williams offered his signature guitar solo, I turned my hips with the music.

This sly grin even crept onto my face throughout every dancing angle. I just  couldn't wait to see certainly priceless Michael's reaction.

"Shuffle it!" I shouted in time with the rhythms before Michael could catch up. No one in that perfectly choreographed line even fumbled. As if I was meant to be there or something.

"Go head, girl." We all dipped and shuffled onstage, but Michael snuck behind me and held the microphone close to his now salted lips.

Michael's words didn't even fall out of place with the groove thumping around all of us.

Our last hoorah. I thought to myself.

__

I didn't care when Michael hugged me with all his sweat after the concert. Even his brothers still dropped jaws over my presence before leaving out.

"I can't believe you did that! Thank goodness you didn't fall out of place. You know exactly  how I feel about show changes." Michael laughed after sitting on the couch down with me. 

"I wanted to surprise you guys." I winked at Michael. His grin never faded, but that stunning  engagement ring from Prince  continued sparkling on my hand.

"That was amazing." Michael smiled once more. I grinned back awkwardly before staring at the ring again.

"Thanks." As I've said, Michael's brothers already left the dressing room to offer us privacy. I completely understood why at this point.

I hadn't seen Mike in person since Prince changed my life at the nightclub in New York.

"So, how's the wedding coming along? I heard about you two working with Patrice." Michael leaned back as if the words didn't even bother him.

"We're still in the early stages for my gown and Prince's suit. Patrice and her employees have  spoiled us with ideas so far." I beamed while remembering all the possible designs.

"Regardless, I'm sure you two will look wonderful." Michael lowered his voice. I couldn't even hear fury within his tone anymore. Just sadness.

"Thanks, Mike." I nodded, praying that my heart would just stop thumping in front of him. I've never felt this anxious in my life.

"No problem." Michael grinned one last time. I couldn't even face him with another smile of my own.

"Yeah. Thanks for the show." Fed up with this haunting and suffocated awkwardness, I stood up from the couch and began to walk out of that dressing room.

Seconds later, we both fell into one more round of awkward silence. Of course, I didn't know what to think. 

"Baby?" Michael finally trembled one nickname for me and everything stopped.

"What?" I glanced over my shoulder and narrowed both eyes, puzzled and agitated.

"Why him?" Michael couldn't even look at me now and nearly whispered the question.

"I don't need to play the friend card while mentioning Prince  during interviews. He's not jealous of other men and I'm definitely not competing with his career for attention. Regardless of his past, I have a ring now. Not Vanity. Not Susan. Not even Shelia. I'm number one." I rolled my eyes without hesitation and  turned on one boot heel to face Michael again.

"Avoiding the public doesn't mean I don't love you." Michael shook his head.

"Whatever. Just please don't expect a wedding invitation." I scoffed, flipping the bird to my ex.

Michael wouldn't even talk to me again. I slammed that  wooden dressing room  door slammed shut immediately afterwards.

__

The Penthouse, California

Brenda Michelle,

I'm so sorry.

Last  probably triggered one of
the worst arguments we've ever had. I never even realized how you terrible felt about me ignoring our real relationship.

I just wanted to protect one of the only parts of privacy left in my life. If everyone knew the truth  about us, the press would never leave us alone.

Baby Girl, as much as I want to show off and tell the whole world that you're mine, it's impossible.

You've been part of show business for years, but my fame is unlike anything ever seen before.

People question everything about me. I know you've seen the headlines.

I don't want the press to bother you at all. They're vultures who look for the biggest story. No regard for privacy whatsoever.

Just understand that I can't risk anything. Especially right now in my career.

You still mean the world to me. You're my baby. My best friend. My Queen. Always.

I just didn't want to lose you. Even now, I can't lose you again. 

Please come back to me, Beautiful. Please don't marry him. I'm begging you.

My heart only beats for you, now and forever.

Love,

-Michael

Prince would finally kick off his "Purple Rain" tour in the morning and we needed to see each other beforehand.

I wiggled out of his adorable hug for my waist as he slept. His light  snore always stirred me awake.

I scooted in these ruffled blankets  towards the nightstand and stared down without my glasses to find to find my trash can.

Without shame, I'd quietly rip up Michael's letter.

And still marry Prince.