Stay the Night

Chapter 59

July 27th, 2004

Mariah and Michael paused, noticing that Karrin and her friends had all ran out of the theater.

"Where they go?" Mariah asked, gesturing towards their seats.

Rachel snickered. "Y'all done hurt the girl's feelings. Y'all ain't shit," 

"Should I go talk to her?" Michael asked, focusing his question to Mariah.

Mariah shrugged. "That ain't got nothing to do with me,"

He leaned into her. "You know what I mean,"

Mariah feigned ignorance. "I don't,"

"So, you still haven't made up your mind?" He questioned. "We can put an end to this right now,"

"Go get your girl," Mariah ordered. "We'll talk about this later,"

He paused, trying to gauge Mariah's demeanor. The one thing he hated most about their present state was the fact that he never could tell what Mariah was thinking or how she actually felt about things. He was always second-guessing whether or not she was actually trying to mend their relationship. 

"Why won't you just let me make everything up to you?" He asked.

Mariah leaned forward so that their noses touched. "You don't have enough time on this earth. Now, go get your girl,"

He kissed her on the lips before hopping off the stage and walking out of the theater. 

Michael spotted Karrin and her friends standing a little further down the hall. He cautiously approached the three women and rested a hand on the small of Karrin's back.

"Hey," He started, noting her friends' disapproving glares. "Why'd you run out?"

Karrin, red-eyed, took a deep breath. "I don't like how you guys are touching each other on that stage. It's making me uncomfortable,"

We weren't that touchy, were we?

He rubbed her back gently. "We're just performing. I'm getting a feel for the music. Besides, we have to look like we're together,"

"It's just disrespectful," Karrin sniffled. "We never danced like that on stage when y'all were together,"

He bugged his eyes out. "Are you forgetting something? I definitely slapped you on the ass, and you were pole dancing. Mariah was there, and she didn't say a word about that. Come on now, be fair,"

"She ain't gotta be fair," Amber interjected. "She said she don't like it,"

And who are you?

He turned to Karrin. "Are you coming back inside or not?"

Karrin sighed and grabbed his hand. "Fine, but can you tone it down a little bit?"

"I'll try," He replied, leading her back towards the auditorium. 

He could hear her friends following behind, and he could sense their disapproval. 

Once they re-entered the theater, he could see Mariah and Rachel talking on stage with Kenny and LaValle.

Mariah lit up when she saw him. "Hey, Michael, what do you think about us getting a bed onstage?"

Karrin turned to him, her eyes sending daggers.

"I think that sounds good," He smiled, keeping a tight grip on Karrin's hand. "Which songs did you want to use it for?"

"Bliss and Break of Dawn," Mariah said. "Maybe Subtle Invitation?"

Michael nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good. What about Lady in My Life?"