Jaycee's Diamond

Chapter Two: Settling for One

January 2nd, 1986

"This is so great!" Jaycee's mother exclaimed. Her sobs of joy mixed with everyone else's in the room as the doctor smiled proudly.

"I can't believe it's gone! You did it, Jace! You beat cancer, you dork!" Steven yelled, bending down to kiss her face as she groaned is disgust.

"Ew, Steven stop!" she laughed, pushing him away as she rose from the hospital bed.

"Honey, this is so amazing!" Her father shouted, his bright eyes sparkling with glee as he lifted her up.

After her feet met the ground again, she grabbed D and pulled her into a tight hug as she, too, cried with happiness.

September 14th, 1987

"Get up, get up, get your ass up right now!"

Jaycee grumbled as her friend shook her about until her eyes finally opened.

"What is it, D?"

"I'm going to Japan and you're coming with me."

She sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "What? Why?"

"I won concert tickets on the morning radio show. Now get up and get packed!"

"To see who? Who's concert?"

Dawn opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again as the excitement took over.

"Tell me, D!"

"Okay, okay...Well, we wanted to see the Jacksons so bad before...But, instead of all of them, can you settle for one?"

"Jermaine?" she asked, her eyes widening with excitement as she clutched her friend's arm.

"No, stupid...Michael! Michael Jackson!"

Her mother was hesitant to let her go, though she knew she had nothing to worry about anymore. The cancer was gone and she was healthy, so there was no need to stress. Maybe just the protectiveness of motherhood kicked in, but she still wished her the best as she set off.

The plane ride consisted of eating and sleeping as the nervousness surrounded them. They would be in a foreign place with no one but each other and though it would be stressful, the excitement would overpower it. As the plane landed, the dazed friends gaped out the window, mouths open wide as the genuine amazingness of Japan came into view.

"Oh, my God!" they yelped in unison, causing confused faces around them as they leapt up from their seats.

When the doors opened, they were out first, pushing everyone else aside rudely. The streams of lights and traditionally colored buildings stood all around and the cultural people that resided talked about in Japanese. There were crowds as wide as the ocean and it was obvious why they grouped together. Dawn and Jaycee walked ahead until a humongous stadium came into view, sending shakes through their knees as they entered. The endless walk to the front row should've been tiring for Jaycee, but being cancer-free, she continued to be fired with energy and ready for more.

As they waited, she scoped the venue, her eyes fascinated with how many people were there. As far out as the eye could reach, there were people. Spurting and leaping, they looked like ants as she strained against the lights. D held her hand tight as their smiles hurt their cheeks when the stage sounded. Finally, after what seemed like hours of a wait, music started. It began a dull hum, brightening and building with vigor until it reached a steady pace to their ears. The smoke shielded everything on the stage and when it cleared, her mouth fell open. D's scream pierced her eardrums, but the monstrous roar of the surrounding fans tore them to pieces. He stood still, alongside other dancers who froze as well. Girls fell to the ground around her and she looked down in concern when she realized they fainted. Out of instinct, she crouched to aid them before D ripped her up. "Jace, it's okay! It's what happens at these kind of concerts! The medical people will come help them!" she screamed over the commotion. Before Jaycee even returned her gaze to the stage, she waited for the medical team as the fear began to bubble in her stomach for these girls. The recurring sense of uneasiness in her belly made her panic even more and she caught D's arm in her hands tight. "Jace...Jaycee, everything's okay! You're fine! You're just nervous! C'mon! Look! Look!" she shouted, grabbing her shoulders to face her towards the stage. The music sounded fully in her ears, now and she looked up with awe, meeting a phenomenal spirit. There he stood, only one out of the many she wished to see, but he was still one. She had never paid much attention to Michael, as before her eyes were phased by Jermaine. But, as he graced the floor, his feet defying all laws of gravity, she couldn't help but scream out along with her best friend. Finally letting go and enjoying the experience she had always dreamed of, she slicked her wild hair back into a smooth bun, holding it back as she jumped around madly.