Part Of His World {MJ}

13

Day Three~

Jewel's POV:

The old woman on her porch waved frantically with a huge smile.

Michael smiled. "Good morning, Ms. Daphne."

I followed him down her path and up her porch. Bruno rubbed his head against the woman's leg as she sat in a rocking thing.

"That's my favorite dog in the neighborhood. He's so sweet!" She said.

Michael chuckled. "He can be."

She glanced at Michael and then back at me. "Michael, she doesn't look like Jessie."

He frowned. "Jessie and I split up." He said. "This is Jewel."

Ms. Daphne smiled. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Julia." She said with a smile.

I shook my head. "No, it's just Jewel." I said.

"Like Jewelry." Michael added.

"Thats a beautiful name." She said.

She turned to Michael. "I see it didn't take you long to find a new woman." She said.

His face turns slightly red. "Oh, we aren't together. We only just met."

"Well where did you two meet?" She asked.

Michael glanced at me. "On the beach."

She wiggled her eyebrows. "One of the most romantic places."

"Oh my gosh." Michael said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh, come on now Michael. Only lovebirds walk down the street swinging their interlocked hands like that at ten in the morning." Ms. Daphne said.

"We aren't together." Michael said again.

She raised a brow at him. "Not yet at least."

She turned to me. "Does he like you?" She asked.

How was I supposed to answer?

~

"So you like me?"

Yeah, I like you."

I smiled. "I like you too."

~

"I guess so." I said.

She smirked at Michael. He was growing more nervous.

"As a friend. Yes, I like her as a friend." He said.

My heart sunk.

Ms. Daphne rolled her eyes. "Excuse my French, but cut the bullshit! You two definitely like each other." She said. "I want you two to look at each other."

Michael raised a brow. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

Michael sighed and turned toward me. I did the same.

We looked each other in the eye. It was intense and calming at the same time. His deep brown eyes made me nervous, but they were the most comforting things I'd ever let myself get lost in.

A small smile creeped across his face. I had a feeling he was thinking the same about me.

"Just look at how you two look at each other!" She exclaimed. "I think Jewel and Michael are a better couple than Jessie and Michael. But that's just my opinion."

Michael stared down at the ground. I could tell he was growing more and more uncomfortable.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Daphne." I said.

She nodded toward me. "And same to you."

"Yeah, we'd better get going. It's hot today. Wouldn't want to overheat." Michael said.

"I have iced tea if you want some." She offered.

He shook his head. "No, it's alright. Thank you." He said.

"Well I'll see you two lovebirds around!" She said with a laugh.

He forced a smile before turning and starting down her path again.

His demeanor was slightly agitated. I didn't blame him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked once we were down the street from Ms. Daphne's house.

He shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said. "She's a sweet old woman, but that was really uncomfortable."

"It was for me too." I said.

Michael sighed. "I'm sorry about that. I forgot that every time she's sees me with a girl, she thinks I like them."

"So you don't like me?" I asked.

"I never said that." He said. "I like you as a friend."

That wasn't the answer I wanted.

"Is that good thing?"

"Of course it is." He said.

Not for what I'm trying to do, it's not.

Michael's POV:

Ms. Daphne meant well, but I was very frustrated with her.

She knew that Jessie and I were together for a long time, and how hurt I was when she left me.

I wasn't ashamed to admit I was vulnerable. I'm human. It's normal.

Vulnerability was dangerous for me. I was trying to get over Jessie while I had this strange girl around me all the time.

Since Ms. Daphne mentioned it, it made me start thinking.

I looked over at Jewel. He hair flowed behind her as we walked down the block. She looked content. Her lips were curved into a small smile, and her eyes sparkled with wonder as she looking around.

Her eyes. The way she looked at me. When Ms. Daphne forced me to look into them, it was unlike anything I ever felt before.

Was it pure coincidence or fate that I found this woman on the beach when I did? Just two days after Jessie left me, this happy, positive, beautiful girl just stepped into my life.

I'd only known her for three days, and I liked her a lot. But in what way?

That was what I was beginning to question.

Stop it, Mike. You're just hurt and thinking with your heart. This is stupid.

She looked over at me and smiled. "Thanks for taking me with you." She said. "I know I'm weird, strange, and I don't know a lot, but you're really nice and sweet to me. I don't think just anyone would do what you're doing for me."

I smiled back at her. "Of course." I said. "And like I said before, I don't mind that you're a little- actually very strange. I like that you're different. You make my life just a little more interesting."

"Your life seems amazing. How could it not already be incredibly interesting? You guys have eggs, coffee and showers!" She said.

I laughed. "Just by seeing the way you react to everything that's normal to me makes me realize how much I, and other people take it for granted."

"Is it good that I make you do that?"

"Yeah, it is. It'll make me appreciate it more." I said. "And I like how happy they seem to make you, so that's a positive too."

"Well I'm glad I brought you some positivity." I said.

I squeezed her hand tighter. "So am I."