tabloid junkie (Michael Jackson)

1991 | April 1ˢᵗ ─ 11:00 ᵃᵐ

Michael's POV, A Forest Tale

23 years ago

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"Rowe, are you sure we won't get caught?"

I tried to catch up with my tall brother, but I kept slipping on wet rocks, I was pretty much the clumsiest of the Jackson family.

Though tripping over stupid rocks didn't stop me from wondering what was in the long box Rowan was holding, he'd been carrying it since we snuck out the back door of the Solitary House.

"I'm sure. Now hurry up, Michael, before Dad sees us." Rowan scrambled up the hill, until we finally reached the forest.

My Dad loved to hunt, but he never took me or Jermaine with him. Only Rowan, and I have to admit, I was always jealous of that.

My brother hid behind a huge green shrub, putting the wide case on the ground. I eagerly sat in front of the thing. Both of us on either side of it.

"Before I open this, you do know what'll happen if Dad finds out you went hunting without permission?" Rowan asked me, nodding slowly.

"Of course," I responded instantly, rubbing my palms together persistently. "He'll tan my hide." The mere thought of that made me shake with fear but I was too anxious for this. "Now open it, Rowe."

Rowan sighed, lifting the clasp and unlocking the case.

What he pulled out was not a toy, not something I should be eager to know about.

Dad's favorite hunting rifle.

"ROWE!" I jumped back as if the gun had scared me, and yes, it did.

Rowan chuckled. "Relax, Michael, it's not loaded. Yet."

"If Dad finds out you have that, he'll tan you too!" I freaked.

Rowan shrugged. "No, he won't."

And at the moment, I was reminded that Dad would never lay a hand on Rowan. He was Dad's favorite son, the golden child. The special one.

I was determined to prove myself. "Okay, come on, let's hunt." I said suddenly, standing and dusting off my wet forest hands. "When I come home with a good deer, Dad won't mind me hunting at all, and I won't even have to wait till 16." I smiled like a Cheshire cat. "So, let's go, Rowe."

"Alright. But keep your mouth shut." Rowan told me, moving further into the woods, and I shadowed his movements. "One twig snap or word and the animal's will run, you got that?"

I nodded. "I got it."

Rowan smiled softly at me, heading forward, deeper into the woods.

I wasn't surprised at how much the wet, soggy green forest didn't affect me. It was always cold here, so I'd grown used to the bumps on my arms.

"Shh. Michael, here!" Rowan's hand latched on my arm and yanked me behind the large trunk of a huge tree. "You hear that?"

I listened. And yes, I did hear it.

The soft pad of footsteps.

"Come on." Rowan and I came from our hiding spot and walked slowly. There it was, the deer.

Soft brown looking skin, and the deer looked around.

It broke into a run.

"Run, Rowe, it's leaving!" I tore forward, only stopping to look back at my brother.

"I'm coming!" Rowan started forward, only to have his sneaker foot caught on a long vine. He was slammed backward onto a rock.

"Rowan!" I shouted in worry, racing back to my brother. Blood licked his forehead and his eyes were halfway closed. "Are you okay?"

"I feel..." Rowan half-whispered, his eyes fluttering. "Michael, get Dad."

"But-"

"Michael, get Dad. I can't feel anything."

I looked back toward the opening, the deer was standing there, looking back at us. 

"The deer." I whispered, realizing this was my only chance.

I got to my feet and looked down at Rowan, grabbed the gun from his side and flashed him a reassuring smile. "You're going to be okay, Rowe. Just sit here, and I'll be back with the deer."

With that, I raced into the opening, causing the deer to run again. I darted forward, on the animal's tail. Then I lost it in a thick mass of trees.

I sighed of disappointment, stamping my feet. "Daggonit!" I shouted angrily, stricking my foot against a rock with anger.

Rock, I remembered my brother, and how long he'd been in the forest bleeding.

"Rowan." I whispered with fear.

Present Day

"Michael, Michael--hello? Earth to Michael."

I snapped back into reality, blinking a few times, realizing Diana had been calling me. She had been lying beside me on the bed, I thought she was asleep. "Oh, sorry." I flashed her a smile that was fake.

"It's like you were sleeping with your eyes open." She giggled, a short sound that made my heart flutter. Diana sighed, her cheery expression fading away, she rolling on her side until she was in the fold of my arm. "What were you thinking about?" She asked in a softer voice.

"Nothing." I tried to get myself from this situation.

She gave me a look. "I won't push you, because I know you're probably not ready, but I know it's something. Don't lie to me." Diana said, ready to turn her head.

"It's something." I said, instantly. Turning her head back toward me by her chin."And I am ready to tell you, actually."

And I had told her everything, every detail, every word. I'm pretty sure she was bored of the story I'd told her but it was worth it. Especially the ending.

I'd run back to Rowan, only to find Dad holding him in his arms, just as the light in my brothers eyes went out.

When my father looked at me, and the gun in my hands, it's like he knew exactly what had happened and he spat out the words I could never every forget: 

"Get the hell out of my sight."