Rock With You: A Love Story

cloudless

Melbourne, Australia
November 19, 1987
Belle's POV
8:38am

Michael and I decided to take our last free day to ourselves, before we head back on the tour grind. Tomorrow we fly to Sydney for 2 stadium shows, and they're predicted to be huge.
We discussed it late last night, and decided to spontaneously head out early today to visit the Queen Victoria Market. It's supposed to have a beautiful, chilled atmosphere; but who knows how long that will last with Michael by my side.

I step out of the bathroom after a relaxing steaming shower; one towel around my body, one in a turban around my hair. My bare feet sink into the silky carpet floors. I look up to see Michael twisting his curls carefully, laying them out to frame his face. His face is so focused on his reflection, he almost looks frustrated at his hairs difficult nature.
"You okay?" I chuckle at him while placing my hairbrush onto the bed to release my curls from the towel wrapped around my head.
"Hm." He hums in response, clearly focused. A break of silence occurs while I try to tame my damp curls, only to be broken with Michael's groans. He huffs with frustration and surrender as he flops back onto the bed like a fish.
"What's up, babe." I perch on the edge of the bed, smiling down at Michael's face as he looks up at me, brows furrowed.
"My hair." He runs his fingers through his gelled strands of hair streaking down his forehead in all different wild curly forms.
"What's wrong with it? It looks the same as always!" I giggle at his dramatic tendencies
"Don't say that!" He laughs through his words, his voice sounding slightly more Southern than usual. Which I love. He points his slender finger at my face as if to scold me for my words.
"I take it back!" I put my hands up in surrender, a goofy smile painted across both of our faces.
"Good. Now, help!" Michael whines as he sits up beside me. I stand up at attempt to create a style in his hair he might settle with, which is very far-fetched if you ask me. You'll never meet a man more particular about his locks.
"Why don't you... do this?" I say hopefully while holding his hair back into a low ponytail, pulling out less pieces around his face than he had before.
"Let me see." He places his fingers where mine were as he walks back in front of the mirror. I sit patiently awaiting his response. He turns his head to see all the angles, pulling out a few extra pieces, the pieces that caused his distress... "I guess this will do, thanks baby." He said reluctantly as I flash him a sweet smile.
I quickly slap on some concealer, mascara, peachy lipgloss and powder before tying my crazy hair up into a messy, frizzy ponytail. I slide into a raspberry coloured shirt with quarter length sleeves, with a sleeveless denim jacket over it. I put on my usual light-blue wash boyfriend style jeans and some white Reebok classics, ready to head out the door.
Michael holds open the suite door, while I speedily grab one of my backpacks (Michael and I had a shopping spree!). "Sorry, sorry." I mutter as I pace out of the door, not wanting to keep him waiting any longer.
"I love your outfit today, B." Michael glances at my clothes after he locks up.
"Thank you, Mike." I say, taking his hand in mine. "I'm loving this too." I look him up and down admiring his outfit choice.
He's wearing a red letterman jacket with black leather sleeves and a cotton white collar, his curls dropping down the back. Beneath he has black skinny jeans above his usual black loafers.
"It's nothing unusual." He says shyly, so quietly I can barely hear him.
"Admit it, you're hot." I take advantage of his shy state, his cheeks blushing as he struggles to hold back and embarrassed grin.
"Hot?" He chuckles, looking down at the ground while awkwardly shifting his weight side to side.
"Smoking hot." I respond with a humorous grin.
"Shut up." He throws his arm around my shoulder so I can no longer see his now cranberry-coloured face.
We giggle and chat all the way down the corridor, down the elevator, and into the limo as we drive off towards the market.

"Queen Victoria, eh? Only seen that in the movies!" Ben shouts, his eyes fixed on the wing mirror as he slides his hands down the steering wheel.
"Yeah, you going in?" Michael replies, raising his eyebrows in a friendly manner, while sitting forward on his seat with his elbows on his knees.
"We get a break?" Simon gasps sarcastically.
Michael shakes his head at me with a little laugh as if to say 'They're so ridiculous, I'm sorry'.
"I heard they have churros." I shout towards Ben, knowing his obsession with them.
"What?" He shouts with a huge grin, "We are so going in." He slaps Simon's shoulder playfully, his eyes still on the road.
The chunky grey phone in the middle of the limo, between ice buckets, rings obnoxiously.
"I'll get it!" Michael jumps forward excitedly, "Hi?.... Oh hi! We're just on our way this huge market, it's beautiful in the photos... Yes! ... Sure... You too! Bye!" Michael waves his hands about as he speaks before passing the phone to me. "It's you're mom".
I smile and stretch the elastic curly wire towards me. "Mom? Hi!".
I catch up with my mom and Lexi back at home, while Michael plays with my hair and listens in, occasionally giggling with us as if part of the conversation.
"Okay, Bye!" I smile down the phone to my beloved family.
"Bye!" Michael shouts as I hang up and snap back into the beautiful reality of the streets of sunny Melbourne.

Michael and I chat and laugh at the back as Ben and Simon continue their unintentional comedic act.

Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it. The atmosphere is already so exciting and joyous, I can't wait. Everyone is completely content and there's nothing that can ruin this cloudless day.