The charity of love

Invitation

2nd November 1982

"You've been invited to Michael's album release" Quincy walked into my studio as I was finishing up my charity song.

"Coo" i reply, unbothered.
Quincy sighed "what is up with you? You've been like this for months!"
I shrugged playing the song seeing if it needed to be tampered with any more.
My voice booms through the speakers making me turn it down a little "I'm just focusing on my song, I want it perfect"

"Michael said you didn't call him when he gave you his number, he was waiting for your call, he said it never came so he gave up waiting" Quincy said softly.

"Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa
A song of hope where there's no hope tonight, ooh" I tap my foot and bob my head to my own song "I love it!" I say to myself

"Marnie!?" Quincy said snapping me from my 'gaze' I looked at his waiting for him to talk.
"Well?" He said raising a sceptical brow at me. I laughed and shrugged "what do you want me to say Quincy? What do you want me to do?" I asked him feeling a little stressed.

"Just ring him, you're 24 years old now, your birthday was literally last month. And you're still acting like you're 15. He's not gonna hurt you, michael is a gentle soul who only wants to give out love not hurt and pain"

That's right, my birthday was last month.. I turned 24. Michael's  birthday was like 2 months ago. I didn't wish him a happy birthday. But he left me a birthday card at the studio.
That really did make me feel bad when he did that, I didn't wish him a happy birthday but he still left a card for me.

It was sweet on him.

"Why's everything always about Michael Jackson?" I groaned "why not Jackie or some shit?"

"Girl, you're definitely on your period. Do something about it, you got michael thinking there's something wrong with him when you don't even wanna try being his friend or getting to know the real him. He thinks the media have scared you off of him, he's lonely as it is Marnie. Don't make him feel any worse" he shook his head.

I sighed frustratedly, "fine. I'll call him" I get up to go to the phone but Quincy stopped me.

Quincy smiled widely "no need, he'll be here in a hour or so for one of his last studio sessions before the release of his album"
I nodded seriously unbothered by Michael's presence within an hour.

1 HOUR LATER

"Quincy, I was thinking—" I said walking into room 223, the room he said he was gonna be in all day.. I stopped talking once I saw Michael, he flashed a surprised look at me and smiled softly.
"I can see you're busy, I'll come back later" I say slightly panicked seeing him here. I forgot he was showing up.

He was dressed in a black and white leather jacket.. with black slacks. With his usual rhinestone socks and shiny black shoes.
He took his sun glasses off and smiled at me "you can stay and talk to Quincy If you'd like? I'm off to grab a drink anyways" he said softly standing up.
He walked up to me as I was still stood in the door way.
"Excuse me" he said softly as he placed his hand on my waist to squeeze by me. I moved for him and he walked off.

Quincy sits there laughing his head off and shaking his head at us making me frown "what?" I asked raising my eyebrow.
"Marnie, you both act like you're ex lovers. Get over yourselves and talk to each other properly. I knew you were both shy but come onnn. This is actually a joke"
He pointed to the door "you both walk on egg shells around each other.. go to the drink room and talk to him" he ordered "but Quincy I-"

"Go" he said and turned around to face the music deck.

I walked out closing the door behind me. Twat.

I walked to the drink room trying to compose myself and figure out what I'm about to say to Michael.

Michael Jackson.

Just bare that in mind.

I open the door to see him sat on a chair drinking his drink.
He's mumbling something to himself which is most probably why he hasn't heard me come in.
I decide against calling his name and just walking straight to the drink machine. I grab my usual flask and put it under the dispenser, I press 'Cadbury's hot choc' on the machine and it makes a noise indicating to me that the hot chocolate is being prepared.

"Hey," I hear from behind me. I turn to see Michael looking up at me with glistening eyes "you don't hate me... or anything, do you?" He asked unsurely, with a raised eyebrow. Ugh! Those perfect eyebrows.

I lower my eyebrows and shake my head "no why?"

He shrugged and took a sip from his drink "I kinda figured since I gave you my number and told you to call me, but you never did. I tried my best reaching out to you. But whatever I did wasn't good enough"

"I've been busy" i say quickly, as my automatic response.
He nods "I understand"

I smiled softly at him "thanks for my birthday card by the way. That was so sweet of you"
He looked down and blushed "i try to be a sweet person, sometimes.. I think people just take that part of me for granted and use me to their advantage"

I felt really bad when he said that "I'm sorry— i didn't mean to make you feel like that"
He shook his head immediately "no I wasn't hinting that at you— I'm just having a few problems outside of work" he sighed.
"Oh," I nodded "I'm sorry to hear that?" I say if it's almost a question

"Yeah..." he dragged on. He then looked up at me with hopeful eyes "on the brighter side, I've got a album release party at the end of this month, I don't know if you got my invitation Quincy was supposed to tell you about it," he said softly then put his drink on the table and straightened up his composure clearing his throat "but you're more than welcome to come along, if you do, I'll even let you have first listening to it- above anyone. Even my siblings"

"..Michael" I giggled softly making him smile widely

Michael's PoV

I smiled widely at her. Her laugh is the most beautiful thing ever. She is the most beautiful woman that I've ever seen.
"What do you say?" I asked softly looking her up and down discreetly
"Is this your way of bribing me with first dibs on listening to your album?" She smirked at me which resulted in me biting my lip.

"Maybe," I said flirtatiously eyeing her up "I have a load more stuff to offer to you too, on the night of the release party. If you're willing"

She blushed and looked down shyly "I'll think about it"

"How about you give me your number? And I can ring you closer to the date and ask you for your answer..." I said suggestively. I wasn't gonna ask her for her answer, I knew she'd come anyways. I just used the invitation as a excuse to get her number and call her and just chat with her normally.

She's a beautiful woman, and I'd love to get to know her more.

"Sure," she smiled after moments of silence. She wrote her number down and handed it to me "here" she said softly

"Thank you" I smile at her widely "this won't be going to waste" I say holding up the piece of paper she just gave me making her giggle loudly. Which made me smile proudly.

I may already be falling for her.