Chapter 1: Give In To Me

"Love is a feeling, give it when I want it, 'cause I'm on fire, quench my desire, give it when I want it, talk to me woman, give in to me, give in to me..."

(A/N: I don't own Michael Jackson's 'Bad' album, Michael's team, Michael Jackson himself, just the writing process and contents of this story besides what's listed before.)

It was a quite stormy and dark night and the date is August 14th, 1987. Mom was out getting food to put on the table for me, my 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Life has been getting more and more rough ever since the divorce. Dad was always the stable one while mom was in and out of a job. I had just enough luck to be able to obtain my first 1 a few years back, but unfortunately lost it as fast as I had gotten it. I was constantly late and wasn't really focused as I should've been, even though it was probably the easiest job ever, I messed up and decided to quit. I admit I couldn't keep up and balance both work and my hectic lifestyle. As for my siblings, they're much too young to understand the hardships and weight that mom and I have to carry.

It was raining pretty hard, I was hoping the power wasn't going to go out this time. I was actually attempting to get work done, making a platform for myself, a resume. Job searching was dire, especially at this moment, when I know that we all have to go back to school. My mom just didn't have the money to buy us all new outfits and the necessary supplies either. She would always apologize for it, claiming that she was a terrible mother, that it was her fault that dad and her got a divorce, when really it wasn't. Dad was great when he wanted to be, and did show that he cared and loved us. But there were also times where he was the complete opposite. He reached a point, to where he just felt like didn't love my mother as much anymore and he left. It was so quick but I still think about it all of the time. I don't hate him, I can't hate him, but I'm just fine without him in our lives, even if it was better with him in it.

I lifted my pencil to my mouth and began chewing away at the eraser end, thinking. 'Am I really going to get this job? It'd be so wonderful if I did, maybe even before school..." I had flashbacks of myself, entering my 3rd year in college with the same clothes as last year. I know it shouldn't matter, but it does. Especially being a 26-year-old woman that I am, it's shocking that I can't provide for myself. But people only judge you based on the outside, no one knows my life at home, how much we have to struggle to do everything. Yeah, I have a few friends but they don't really know me, the real Victoria...so, do I even consider them 'friends'? Tough question... with no answer.

I glanced over at the clock that was resting on my counter, which read "9:23PM". 'Damn, where is mom? She's been out for a while now...' My eyebrows furrowed. I placed my arms at the edge of my table, gaining enough energy to push myself back on the chair and come to a stand. Raising my hands over my head, I did a good well needed stretch before looking down at my "resume".

Victoria M. Sossan Age: 26 DOB: November 12, 1961

And then a huge empty space below that. The job was for a book store that recently opened up a few blocks down. It's perfect walking distance if I didn't feel like driving and how easy can a book store be? But since it's a new store, lots of people are applying there all the time, I thought maybe if I made a professional resume, I would have a better chance of getting hired. Victoria: 1 the public: 0.

Suddenly, an abrupt thump was heard and my door flew open. "Victowia! I'm hungwy...where is mommy?" My 5-year-old brother Oscar was quite the complainer. "Yeah, I was going to call her right now, okay? What happened to the food I left you in the fridge, huh?" I walked out to him, like reflex he outstretched his arms towards me, wanting me to hold him. I gently picked him up and sat him on my arm, leaving my room and going to the kitchen. "I don't know...I don't like it..." He cried. "Oscar, you don t have to like it. It's food and you need to it. I'm going to call mom now and see where she's at. Tell Riley to heat up your food and eat all of it okay?" Setting him down, he nodded and left running. "Riley! Victowia said to..." His voice faded away. I let out a huge sigh and took my phone out my pocket to call mom.

"Hello mom? Where are you?"

"Honey? Hey...I... store... believe this!...Us a copy...but I think...better for you instead...!"

"Wait what? The phone is like, glitching or something. I can't make out what you're saying."

"Mom?" "Call...back! Home...!"

Bzzzzz...

She had hung up on me. I was so confused as to what she was saying, I was trying my best to make it out. I closed my phone and looked out the window to find that it was still raining pretty bad. "Riley! Did you heat up Oscar's food like I asked?" Walking out the kitchen, I entered the living room, to find Oscar has, surprisingly fallen asleep on the floor and so was Riley. I guess he wasn't all that hungry. Told you he was a complainer...I turned off the light and reached over to the couch to put a blanket over the both of them, smiling to myself. They both looked at peace. Makes me wish I was a child again.

I was peeking through the blinds in the kitchen and finally, I saw mom's car pull up in the driveway, almost an hour after she had left just to get groceries. Holding her umbrella in one hand and 2 sheets of paper and keys in the other, she approached the door before giving it a hard knock. I quickly unlocked the door, twisted the doorknob and let her inside, along with all the water. I was waiting to see what she had to say, since our original conversation was cut short. Literally.

"Honey guess what!?" Was the first thing she said as she hurried herself in, dripping wet from the rain. Not even a hello. I laughed at that. "What?!" She rushed to put her stuff on the table, and continued. "Okay, you know that famous singer, Michael Jackson?" "Yeah?" "Okay well, apparently, he's coming out with next album 'Bad' is what he calls it, but it's coming out very soon." "Okay...?" I crossed my arms, waiting for the big news. "Okay well, if you look here," she turned around to the counter and retrieve the paper she was holding before she came in the house, it was now all wrinkled and wet from the rain. She faced me again before pointing at a random spot on the page. "Look!" Grinning, she flipped it over and read, "'Want to have a chance to tour with Michael Jackson? Yes, MICHAEL JACKSON! Well you just might! Seeking background singers and dancers needed! Stock room organizer needed! Backup make-up/touch-up artist needed*! Requirements: Must be age 19-45, must have skills in make-up/design*, must be able to handle long hours/have a flexible schedule.'" "Again, I repeat...okay? What are you trying to get at?" I was confused "That I apply and have a 1 and 1 billion chance to tour with Michael Jackson? C'mon now, he's like the biggest star right now. I'm not even going to bother with that." I gave a little laugh, not because it was funny, just in the randomness and how much she really thought I'd be hired let alone accept this ridiculous offer. I did notice that her smile seemed to fade with every word that came out my mouth. "Honey you never know...I bought this home with hope that you'd at least try, you never know." She repeated herself, pleading. "Okay I try, then say, by some strike of luck, I get the offer. What about you guys? It's bad enough as it is now, and if I'm hired? It'll just be you guys, here. I'll have to tour with those guys, that means I won't be here, with you all. How will you manage?" It was silent for a while. "Hello?" I looked at her deep in the eyes, which were starting to well slightly up for some reason. "Mom are you cr-" "Victoria, I'm not going to force you, cause that's not how I am, but I just...strongly suggest you to try this out. Yeah, it's a 1 in 1 billion chance but you. Never. Know. And even if you don't make it, yes, they'll be other job opportunities for you, for us. But I feel like you'll get your big break with this one. As for us, we'll manage, just like we're doing now." I averted my eyes from her and began looking blankly into space, thinking for a bit. It'd be nice to work along Michael and everyone who's a part of him, after all he is so huge in this lifetime and his music is really great, it's what I grew up with. But I just really thought there was no point, considering who he was.

"Okay." "Okay what?" "Okay I'll think about it." I placed my hands on my hips, letting out a huge sigh. I was confused as to why she was so focused on me trying to get that job offer. "Okay." " . Okay..." She placed the papers back on the table and called me over to help with the groceries. I nodded and said I'll be right out. Once she left my sight, I immediately took 1 of the 2 papers, folded it and placed it in my pocket, rushing out the front door to follow, shortly after. ..

...

"Want to have a chance to tour with Michael Jackson? Yes, MICHAEL JACKSON! Well you just might!"