Real Love (Book I)

Chapter 5

Coming Home

| 8 months later... February 30th, 1992 |

*Cassidy P.O.V*

These past few months have been pretty hectic I mean, with Aaliyah going to jail and all. I still don't understand what possesed that girl to hit John upside the head like that. I know he was trying to attack but... I don't know, just doesn't sound like anything Liyah would do. It's so out of her character. Hmm.

Well, today is the day Liyah gets out. I'm on my way to the jailhouse right now to pick her up and I'm so excited! The minute her family found out her release date, they started planning her "Welcome Home" party. Everyone has really been missing her and even though it was only 8 months, it felt like an eternity.

I'm finally there. I park my car and hop out. I make my way into the building and go to the front desk.

"Excuse me, sir?", I say to the man.

"Yes?", he responds without looking up from the notepad he's writing on.

"I'm here to pick up Aaliyah Haughton", I say as he finally looks up at me.

"Oh, she's been waiting. I'll go get her for you ma'am", he said.

He walked away into this back room and then returned with Liyah by his side.

"Cassidy!", she squealed.

"Liyah! Omg, I missed you girl", I said as I hugged her, "we have so much to catch up on".

"I bet, but umm, can we catch up outside of this place?", she asks giggling.

"Sure", I laugh.

We walk to the car and get in.

"So, how was it in there?", I ask.

"It was-- I just don't ever wanna go back. Too many weirdos in there and with me being famous, I was constantly being asked a billion questions", she said while putting her seatbelt on.

The ride to her house was pretty quiet. Something about her seemed different. We pulled into her drive way. Everyone was in the house but she can't tell since the scattered all the cars out along the street.

"Man, somebody must be having a party. Ain't ever seen this many cars around here", she said as she stepped out the car.

Good, she's completely clueless.

"Might be right. It is Friday", I said.

We walked up to the door and she unlocked it. As soon as she stepped in...

"SURPRISE!!", everyone yells.

I could tell Liyah was kinda startled...she almost lost balance.

____________________________________________________________________

*Aaliyah P.O.V*

Wow. Seriously wasn't expecting this. Honestly I'm not ready to see everyone yet...I just wanted some time to relax so I can get my mind right. Jail ain't no joke. Well, I better put on this fake smile and get over it.

"Oh my gosh, it's so nice to see ya'll! I was definitely not expecting this", I said with a huge smile.

"Good otherwise that would've just spoiled the surprise", Diana said as she walked over to me with open arms, "Welcome home darling".

I hugged her and stepped back. "It's great to be home. I missed all of you so much", I said.

As the party went on, everyone was just standing around talking and I was sitting in a corner with some of my cousins.

"What was jail like? Was it like in the movies? Or did you get special treatment because your famous?", asked Eric, my little cousin.

"The food was bad, there was some real odd people in there, and they could care less about me being famous. I was treated just like anyone else... I mean, besides the 50,000 questions but I ain't gonna lie, that orange jumpsuit was kinda comfortable", I chuckled.

They all laughed and we continued talking about my jail time.

"So there was this one time where we had to clean the cafeteria and--"

I was interrupted by Diana's loud mouth.

"And what are we chatting about over here?", she asks as she approaches the table.

"I was trying to tell a story", I said slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, she was telling us some funny stories from jail", my other little cousin Jasmine said.

She shot me a look. "Why are you telling these children anything dealing with that? There's nothing funny about jail", she says as she scolds me.

I raise an eyebrow. "These are not children. They're about to be in college and anyways, there's no harm in telling stories. Ain't like I'm saying it's okay to be there", I said.

"They look up to you and it's bad enough you went but to sit here and make it sound fun? What happened to you? You used to be so much smarter than this", she said.

"Oh, so now I'm dumb? It's almost funny how you can sit here and talk like you actually know me when you never really even took the time to know me", I say as I stand up from the table and look back at my cousins, "I'll tell ya'll the rest of the stories another time".

They nod and I walk away. I made my way through the crowd and went out the door. I decide I wanna go to the park so I start to walk. It's a little nature trail type area around here and no one's ever there so that'll be perfect.

I walk a couple miles and then I see the trail and start to follow it while getting lost in my thoughts.

I can't believe Diana had the nerve to talk to me like that. I'm 31 years old; a grown woman. I know what I'm doing. She needs to back up and let me live my life for once. I'm getting tired of her trying to control me.

I continue to walk and mumble to myself while kicking the little pebbles that were scattered along the trail. I'm about to walk over to my favorite spot under a tree where I just sit and rest my mind, but I see someone sitting on the swing nearby.

Oh great. There would be somebody here today. I let out a sigh and just walk to my tree without even acknowledging the person.

For a minute I'm too wrapped up in my thoughts to even notice but...fedora, white socks, and them high water pants. I know that look anywhere.

"Hey", I say as the man turns to face me, "you're Michael Jackson aren't you? Or just some ridiculously crazed fan who happens to look like him?"

"It's me", he says softly and gives a half smile.

I return the smile as I get up and walk up to him. I hold out my hand. "Well, it's very nice to meet you Mr. Jackson", I say as he shakes my hand.

"Nice to meet you too Ms. Haughton", he says.

"Oh, so you know me?", I ask in shock.

"Yes, I do. How couldn't I? You're one of the biggest stars out right now", he says smiling.

"Besides you of course. You're the king man. I'm not even close to being on your level...yet. Give me a few years and you might have yourself a lil competition", I say jokingly.

He giggles. "You might be right. I've seen you move and you're really good, and that voice is amazing", he says.

"Thank you. It's an honor hearing that from you", I say as I walk to a swing that's beside him, "is it okay if I sit here?

"Of course. But I have a question", he says.

"And what would that be?", I ask.

"How come you're so calm meeting me? Like, most girls would faint and cry. But you didn't even ask for an autograph. Why not?", he asks raising an eyebrow.

"I like you Mr. Jackson, but I'm not like most girls", I say with a smirk.