Dedicated to Nippy

1985 - poolside

1985

Whitney groaned as she sat up hearing the music from Janet's record player. She rubbed her eyes and spotting Janet dancing, putting on a show right in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Janet who over the last few days was more than aware Whitney was not under any circumstances a morning person.

"Whitney? You're up. Dance with me," Janet smiled. She rushed to Whitney's side and tried pulling her out of bed. Whitney rolled her eyes and stood up with the short girl who couldn't seem to stay still.

"Come on, Whitney dance," she begged.

Whitney rolled her eyes and went into Janet's bathroom to freshen up for the day. She looked in the mirror to see her hair was a complete train wreck and needed a lot more than TLC. Whitney ran the shower and prepped to brush her teeth. She took her purple toothbrush from the travel case and squeezed the Crest on it. She brushed thoroughly before rising her mouth. She stripped and stepped into the warm shower. She sighed and stood directly under the showerhead allowing the water to wash away her sleepiness.

"Whitney?!" Janet called as she came into the bathroom, "Put on your bathing suit when you come out. I'm going out back to the pool."

"It's the morning. I didn't even eat breakfast yet."

"Whit, it's 12:30... you slept all morning."

"Oh... well I'll be out there."

"Okay," Janet sang as she left the bathroom again.

Whitney used her purple loofah to lather the coconut and pineapple body wash into smooth skin and quickly rinsed off to catch up with Janet. Whitney searched in her suitcase and pulled out a white bikini. She dried off with her towel and put on the bikini. She didn't bother to do anything with her hair and grabbed her beach towel to put around her until she got downstairs. She left Janet's room and traveled to the back where the pool was located. Whitney smiled seeing Michael and Janet splashing around.

"Hey Whitney, hurry up in getting in here so we can dunk Michael. He's been trying to drown me for five minutes now."

Whitney laughed and put her towel down on a chair and eased into the pool. The water wasn't cold but it also wasn't warm so she had to take a second to get used to it. Janet suddenly swan behind Whitney and used her as a shield from Michael.

"Whitney don't let him get me!" She laughed.

Whitney went to respond until a huge splash of water smacked her right in her face. She gaped, staring at Michael who had been cackling uncontrollably at her.

"Oh let's get his ass," She said quietly to Janet. "You grab his legs and I'll jump on his back to take him down."

Janet nodded and she quietly went underwater to grab Michael's feet. He was too busy laughing to realize what was going on. Whitney quietly swam behind him waiting for Janet to grab his legs.

"Aye, what the hell?!" He yelled.

Whitney jumped on his back causing the both of them to fall underwater into the pool Whitney swam up and joined Janet's laughing and high-fived her for the team effort.

They laughed harder at the smug look Michael had on his face when he came up from underneath the water.

"Damn Michael, how you let us get you like that?" Whitney laughed.

"Oh shut up. I let you two do that. I knew it was coming."

"You did not!" Janet called him out, "We got your ass. You just don't want to admit it."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm getting out," Michael groaned as he climbed out of the pool and dried his hair with Janet's towel.

"Aye, don't dry your greasy ass hair with my towel, gimme that."

Janet got out of the pool and snatched her towel from Michael. He laughed as he grabbed her by her thighs and threw her over his shoulder.

"Michael?! What the hell? Put me down!"

"Okay," he shrugged and dropped her into the pool. Janet screamed as she fell into the water. She scowled as she came up for air.

"I'm sorry Jan, you walked right into that one," Whitney giggled.

"Don't laugh that'll just encourage him!" Janet rolled her eyes causing Michael and Whitney to laugh harder.

"Hey Whitney, the phone's for you," Janet called as she held the house phone in her hand. Whitney raised a brow wondering who could've called the Jackson residence looking for her.

"Hello?"

"Whitney Elizabeth Houston, you will home on right now because you have to start rehearsing for your tour that is in two months."

"A tour? When did we establish a tour? Ma, I don't remember saying I was going on tour."

"Clive and I talked it over and we think it'd be good for you. It's not even really a tour only thirty shows. Think of it as something to really get your career off the ground. You want to be successful right?"

"Oh don't do that. Do not tell me forcing me to tour will bring me success. I don't want to do it. End of discussion."

"Whitney... I can and will have you dropped from the label. You will do this tour."

Whitney stood stunned, she couldn't believe her mother had threatened her with her own career, "...fine. I'll be back tomorrow to start rehearsal."

"What happened?" Janet worried as she watched Whitney slam the phone on the receiver.

"I'm going on tour..."

"Really? That's.. it's not bad. Just... so soon? You're still new in the industry."

"I know... I have to go home to rehearse. This will be my last night here."

"Really? No, you can't leave. You can't leave me with my brothers and Latoya."

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll come see you as soon as the tour is over."

Janet grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled down her number, "Call me every night you can. I'm gonna miss you."

Whitney sighed and took the short girl in her arms, "I'll miss you too."