Life As A Pop Star

Chapter 9

May 16th, 1983

Michael

I finished my performance to my most recent song, Billie Jean and to be honest, it wasn't good enough.

I enter my dressing room just in defeat. I wish I could have done better at that.

My mother came up to me and hugged me, "Oh my god, you did so well. I'm so proud of you."

"Yeah, thanks," I stroll over to the couch, moaning. "Damn it."

"What's wrong, Michael?" Jackie asks.

"I failed."

"Failed what?"

I broke down in tears, sobbing, "I failed absolutely everything. I know the world can't see it but I can."

Joseph

"Can Michael and I have a moment please?" I have to talk to Michael. Not as his manager, as his father.

The others went out of the room and that made me have a good chance to talk to him. I sat on the couch next to him and explained, "Mike, you did not fail anything."

"Yes, I did."

"No, you didn't. Listen, I know that you are a perfectionist but you can't say something like that."

Suddenly, he looks at me square in the face, his eyes screaming sudden death and let out, "Why are you saying this? Just to make you seem like the victim? Because I-I, um, I'm scared of you okay."

I sighed at him. This is hard to hear but I have to man up.

"Listen, you don't have to be scared anymore. The stuff I did before has to be left behind us. I'm sorry I acted that way before. I'm sorry that you and the rest probably hate me–"

"I don't hate you, I just don't think I know you correctly."

"I know but the overall thing is don't treat yourself like a failure because you are not." He gave me a faint smile before cracking a huge grin and putting his arms on me. I don't want to resist this so I did the same.

Michael

I hope Joseph meant what he said.