Chapter 4: Gone Too Soon…Or Was He?

Nadine POV

The weekend had come to an end, it was Monday, and it was back to the usual routine. Saturday night was amazing but I was still in disbelief. Had I really kissed Michael? Did he kiss me? I don't remember what came over me at that moment. It just felt like I was on a date with him and the usual good night kiss. An amazing good night kiss, like I felt something stir within my soul I haven't felt in a long time. But now Michael was gone. Although he had left Atlanta, he hadn't left my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about him, and I had to catch myself. I didn't want to sound like those girls who were obsessed with him. I just wasn't that type.

I got out of bed when my alarm went off at seven to brush my teeth and wash my face. I got dressed in a loose fitting blue v-neck shirt and black pants, which was part of my usual dance class attire. I figured that I would stop by a coffee shop on the way to the studio; I didn't feel like making anything at home. Before I could leave home, Roxy called on my cell phone.

"Nadine!"

"Hey Roxy," I said.

"How are you?" she asked.

"I'm okay," I said, "Is everything okay with you?"

"Yeah, why?" she asked.

"The emergency call you had the other night--," I said.

"Oh, that," Roxy said, "I was on call this weekend at the hospital. I was hoping no one would need me that particular night."

"Ah," I said. I sometimes forgot that she worked as a nurse downtown.

"But everything is okay," she said.

"Good to know," I said.

"So," Roxy said, "You and Michael…"

"We talked," I said, "Made small conversation, walked me to my apartment, hugged me goodbye."

"No kiss?" Roxy asked.

"No," I lied. Who said I had to tell my best friend everything?

"Darn," she said, "I would have kissed him. He had nice lips."

Yeah, and they felt nice too, I thought.

"Anyway, I'm heading off to work," I said, "I'll call you when I get home."

"Alright," Roxy said, "Talk to you later. Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone as I grabbed my keys and dance bag, and headed off to the studio. On the way, I made sure I prepared myself for the next set of questions from my students, which no doubt I'm sure they had plenty ready for me.

Roxy POV

I had kind of set-up that phone call the other night. In fact, I had someone from work arrange to call me at an estimated time so I could leave Nadine with Michael. I mean, she did win after all, and judging by the way he was looking at her, I saw that there was interest. Why ruin that chance by being there? It helped that I worked at a hospital and Nadine understood those times when I would be on call. I called Nadine just then to be nosy, yes, hoping that my thoughts on how the night would have happened did happen. I was surprised though when she told me they just talked, nothing more. Unless she was withholding information from me, but Nadine has always been pretty honest about things like that. She wouldn't keep things from me, at least I don't think that she would.

Michael POV

Back home at the Neverland Ranch and I was pretty bummed out. Just two days ago I met and kissed a wonderful woman and I had to leave her like that so soon. I was sitting by a water fountain outside replaying that night at her doorstep. Nadine's kiss was something magical, it left me speechless. Speechless…it was like as if we both wanted something more. What I wanted was to go back to her right now. There was still something about her that she was holding close to her heart, and I wanted to be there. I wanted to be in her heart, and love her. One of my housekeepers, Ana, walked outside during my thought and touched my shoulder so I could come back to reality.

"Mr. Jackson?" Ana asked.

"Michael," I corrected her.

"Your sister Janet is in the living room," she said.

"Thank you," I said with a smile. Janet always liked to give me surprise visits, and with how I was feeling I needed someone to talk to. I walked with Ana back to the house, and there was my sister sitting in one of the chairs waiting for me. She got up from the chair to hug and kiss me. It was always so good to see my baby sister. Janet sat back down as a sat in another chair across from her.

"How was the concert?" she asked.

"I love to perform, you know that," I said, "Atlanta has good fans."

"Okay, let me rephrase," she said, "How was after the concert?"

I smiled and let out a chuckle.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Janet said, "The girl?"

"Her name is Nadine, she's twenty-four and teaches dance," I said.

"And?" she asked.

"And…I kissed her," I said, blushing.

"On the cheek though," Janet said.

I was silent. Janet's eyes widened.

"You kissed her!" she said.

"It just happened," I said, "It felt right."

"So let me guess, you've gone crazy for her," Janet said.

"She's different," I said, "She's not like the other women I've seen or met."

"What are you going to do about it?" Janet asked.

I got up from the chair and stood there, my hands at my sides. I looked out the window and was thinking of where I was in life. I was done touring, I hadn't planned on doing another album for a while, and I hadn't really taken a vacation in a long time to just enjoy the simple things in life. When I was done thinking, I turned back to Janet.

"I think it's time for a vacation…"

Nadine POV

I was so excited about all of my students, they were doing so well! We were getting ready for the talent show, tapping to different genres such as pop and swing. At this point I had been staying later to help them out, since the talent show was in three weeks. I wanted not only for their parents to be proud of them, but I wanted my students to be proud of their hard work. Either way, I was already proud of being their teacher. The one thing I knew made me happy was to teach kids dance and put it to good use.

It was now six in the evening, and by then most of the class had left except for Jacob and myself. Jacob was one of my star pupils, and sometimes I saw a lot of myself in him through his enthusiasm and perseverance. I was watching him do a routine through the mirror, studying his feet, until he spun and winced. He had definitely put in his time for today.

"Ouch," Jacob said, rubbing his foot.

"Ah, the universal sign that that's enough for today," I said, helping him sit down.

"But I want to be perfect," he said.

"What's good about being perfect if you hurt yourself to where you can't dance?" I asked.

Jacob was quiet. At that time his father parked his car out front.

"It's getting late," I said, "Put some ice on that foot and stay off it for a couple of days."

"But I got to dance," Jacob said.

"And you will, in two days," I said with a smile.

I helped Jacob gather his belongings and walked with him outside. I explained to his father about Jacob's sprain and to make sure he stayed off his foot for a couple of days. They waved goodbye and pulled away. I turned back to grab my belongings and to make sure everything was off before heading home myself. It was a good thing that the loft was near the studio at this time of evening. The sun was setting, and the air was getting cooler. I just wanted to get home, eat, shower, and relax. I know I said I would call Roxy by then, but she just would have to understand. I just wanted some quiet time.

Michael POV

After my talk with Janet I got on the phone with Norman and told him that I was going to take a month off, and to only call me if there was an emergency. Norman complied and asked where I was going if anyone asked, and I simply told him to make up something. I didn't want anyone to know where I was going. I looked to get a ticket to Atlanta, and found that there was a flight that was leaving in three hours. Luckily, I was able to book that flight and started packing. I was excited. I was going to see her again…see Nadine again, even if it was only for a month. Certainly better than one night. I felt I would worry about hotel accommodations when I got there.

Norman picked me up and took me to the airport, and it was made clear that no one would know where I was and that to only contact me for emergencies. With an escort from security I got on the plane, and as it took off my mind kept wandering what to do or say when I would see Nadine's face. It would be another three hours before I landed, and by then I had disguised myself with a hat, jacket, and shades. I got into the first available taxi outside, and with good luck of a memory I had the driver go to Nadine's loft. I just hoped that she was still awake.

The driver stopped in front of her loft, I paid the meter as I got out and the driver sped away. I don't think he realized who I was underneath the disguise, which was good because I wanted to be low-key while I was here. I walked up the steps and found myself at her door, and since I saw a light was still on, I took it that Nadine was still awake. I rung the door bell, more like a door buzzer, the door opened, and there she was…

Nadine POV

"Yes?" I asked. I opened the door to find this man dressed in a jacket, hat, and shades. His appearance startled me, especially at this time of night.

"Surprise," the man said, taking off his shades. I couldn't believe it.

"Michael?" I said.

"Hi," he said, smiling.

"You're back," I said, "How come?"

"I had to," Michael said, "I left too soon."

"I understood that you had to," I said.

"That, and…I felt we left things a bit open," he said.

"Uh," I said. I agreed with him, though. One embrace and passionate kiss and then goodbye? It just wasn't right.

"May I come in?" Michael asked, smiling.

"Oh," I said looking away really fast, "How rude of me. Please."

Michael walked in and I followed, closing the door behind me, locking it. He placed his suitcase by the door as he took off his coat and hat and laid them across one of my chairs before continuing to look around. As I watched him I was so happy inside, because he actually came back to see me, me! He was looking at some of my awards hanging on the wall before moving to the mantle, where I kept my family pictures. My family consisted of my mother and my younger brother. I noticed he was looking at a picture of me and my brother when we were younger.

"Who is the boy with you in this one?" He asked.

"Ah, that's my brother," I said.

"Older or younger?" He asked.

"Younger," I said, "He's twenty-two. He's a huge fan."

Michael smiled and let out a laugh. He then looked at a picture of my mother and my stepfather, who was no longer alive.

"Your parents," Michael said.

"My mother and stepfather," I said, "My brother's father."

"What about your father?" Michael asked.

"Um," I said, looking around. The story of my father was one I never liked to talk about, and didn't want to talk about it.

"Sorry," Michael said, noticing my discomfort.

"It's okay," I said, "Maybe later."

Michael looked back at my awards, and he was looking more at my name, studying my first name.

"How come you have people say your last name instead of your first?" He asked.

"People always have trouble saying it," I said, "They want to pronounce it Ka-leer, when it's--"

"Ka-lare-reh," Michael finished.

"Right," I said, surprised. He was the first to say my name right.

"Anyway, I should get some sleep," Michael said.

"Oh right," I said, "Jet lag."

I showed Michael the guest room, which I maintained in case I had, well, guests. I helped Michael get his suitcase in the room and offered if he needed anything before he went to sleep. He said he would be fine if he could kiss me goodnight. I smiled at his request and granted it, because I too was hoping I would get to touch those lips again. Michael smiled at me as he went to close the door. I walked to my room, still up on Cloud Nine, and laid down in my bed. When I finally came back down, I started feeling scared…