Chapter 6

A knock on the door was heard in Bella's house.

"Ugh, what the…" Bella tiredly got up and went to the door. She opened it, revealing a beat up Michael.

"Michael!" She gasped. "What on earth happened to you?"

"Those guys got to me…I'm fine…"

"Sure, that's why you have bloodstains on your shirt and bruises all around your arms," she sarcastically responded.

He showed a weak smile. "I guess I'm not fine…"

"Oh…Michael, get inside." She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, closing the door. She placed him on the couch. "I'll be right back."

Bella rushed in the kitchen, turning on the sink to warm water while she got out a big bowl and a washcloth. She filled up the bowl with the warm water and put the washcloth in. She turned off the sink and carefully rushed back in the living room.

She placed the bowl down and squeezed some of the excess water out of the cloth, now placing it on one of Michael's big bruises on his arm.

"Ugh…I hate those guys…Must they hurt everyone?"

He chuckled. "Unfortunately, yes."

She wanted to cry right now. His voice was awfully low and quiet and not himself. He seemed so vulnerable.

Michael noticed her eyes getting glassy. "Hey – no crying," he whispered to her. "I'll be okay. Honest." He kissed her forehead.

A single tear fell out of her eye anyway. "Okay…I need to wash your shirt though…please tell me those bloodstains are just scratches and nothing too big."

Michael smiled. "They're just scratches. But can I just please wash it when I get home…?"

"No, I need to treat those scratches…"

"I'll just put a band-aid over them."

"Michael…"

He sighed. He was very insecure about showing his chest to anybody, where his Vitiligo shows the most.

"I know you're insecure about your skin disease…but I promise I won't say anything about it."

He stared at her, looking deep in her eyes to see if she was telling the truth. He gulped and sighed. He grabbed the ends of his shirt and pulled it off of him, handing it to Bella.

"Good. I'll put this in the washer after I'm done treating those cuts, okay?"

He nodded.

She placed the washcloth back in the lukewarm water and started treated a cut near his stomach. She couldn't help but notice that he had some abs showing. They weren't that noticeable, but up close you could see them. She then moved up to a cut on his chest. His shoulders were so broad as well his chest a little bit. She wanted to lay her head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. To her, that may be the best lullaby of all time right now.

She moved to a cut near his ribcage and saw a vitiligo spot beside it. It certainly was turning white.

She felt his chest move up and down and he let out a sigh. She knew he was feeling uncomfortable looking at it. She focused back on the cuts now. She finished cleaning them up and got up to put the shirt in the washer. She came back in the room, sitting next to him.

"You feel a bit better now?"

"Yes and no."

She rolled her eyes. "Your shirt will be ready in ten minutes, god."

Michael grinned. His eyes tried to resist it, but they moved down to look at her body. She was wearing a babydoll nightgown with the color of light fuchsia. It was low-cut and it came up about three inches above her knees. The material of it was thin but silky as well. It also complimented her figure very nicely. He didn't know whether or not he should regret placing his eyes for even a second on her bosom. He quickly moved his eyes down, only to see her smooth legs.

She noticed this and tried awfully hard not to blush furiously. "Um, do you want me to change…? Is this too much for you?"

He shook his head. "No! Um…n-no. It's fine. I just never…um…" he trailed off, not knowing what he wanted to say.

She wanted to giggle, but instead held it back. She put a lock of hair behind her ear. It was really quiet for a couple minutes. The only thing that they could hear was the AC running and the washer. Occasionally they were checking each other out, but that was really it.

But now Michael had had it. He kissed her fiercely on the lips with one hand around her neck and the other around her waist. Bella placed her hands on his shoulders and took in the fiery kiss. It was so passionate and tender at the same time.

His lips were awfully soft and plump as well. He must put on a lot of chapstick to make them that soft. She sighed into the kiss with satisfaction and scooted closer to make the kiss deeper. She could taste him and he was delicious. He tasted of cream and cheesecake with strawberries.

She ever so softly moaned through her throat and she could feel him smiling into the kiss.

Before she knew it, both his hands were on her thighs and she was sitting on his lap while her arms were wrapped around his neck.

XX

Bella's eyes fluttered open as the first thing she met with was the harsh rays of the morning sunlight. She groaned as she quickly closed them back, turning away from the sunlight, hoping to see darkness on the other side.

Fortunately there was no sunlight on that side, but she was also met with a certain warmness.

She opened her eyes again and she saw Michael right next to her, with eyes half-open and smiling softly at her.

She was at first surprised but then she smiled back. "Hi Michael…"

"Hey…you sleep well?"

"I guess…but I don't remember falling asleep."

Michael chuckled silently. "Well, we had an intense make-out session, and then eventually you fell asleep. I carried you here to your bedroom and figured I may as well sleep here too…I hope you don't mind."

"No…not at all," she replied, stroking his smooth, still bare chest.

He sighed with comfort and closed his eyes, taking it in. He loved her baby-soft hands and how they felt so good against his skin.

Bella smiled at him and gave him a soft kiss on his neck before laying her head on his shoulders, yearning to be in his arms. He soon got the message and wrapped them around her arms, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

She wanted to be in this position for as long as she could before having to get ready for school.

XX

Even though she had begged and begged him to stay at home because he was slightly recovering from his cuts and bruises, he said no. They did stop by at his house so he could put on a different outfit.

They walked to school together, hand in hand, and walking past a few students. But by now, everyone already knew that they were going out. Most people didn't care, some people thought it was cute, and few people thought it was sort of weird.

But nevertheless, they were inseparable.

After math class, Michael stopped by her locker right after she dropped off her stuff.

"Are we skipping lunch again?" she jokingly asked, even if she knew the answer.

"Definitely. It's fish sticks day and you know I'm a vegetarian and I know how you hate fish."

"Ugh, they're disgusting," she remarked, walking down the hall with Michael.

He chuckled. "Hey, the choir room is empty this period, right?"

"It sure is. Why?"

"I wanna hear you sing," he replied with a huge grin on his face.

Bella groaned. She really didn't let anybody else hear her sing except her mom and sometimes her best friend, Robin.

"Come on…I'll sing something to you in return."

She sighed. "Fine, I'll sing. But you have to promise you'll sing for me after, okay?"

"I absolutely promise."

They got into the choir room where fortunately, the teacher was off having lunch, and Bella sat down on the piano chair, getting ready to play. Michael grabbed a chair and sat down next to her, making sure to hear her.

She took a couple seconds on what to play and immediately she did think of one, so she started playing 'Imagine' by John Lennon. She played the beginning flawlessly and then she began to sing.

He listened carefully and with awe as she sang every note perfectly. She hit all the alto notes and the soprano notes very well. She was also a master at playing the piano. It seemed like she had been singing this song for all time.

She finished up the song and as she looked at him, she giggled from his look of awe.

"Wow. That was really good. Have you been singing all your life or something?" he asked.

"Well, sort of. See, when my mom was in the hospital, she'd call me and request me for a song to sing to her whenever I'd visit her. She always wished for the world to become as one, so 'Imagine' was her most requested. Unfortunately, that wish hadn't come true…yet, I hope."

"Yeah…when I get out of high school, I hope to help some part of the world to start off, you know…I'd like to give millions of money to charity and help them."

She smiled at him, thinking that was very touching. "Well, I'll help."

"Really?"

"Of course. I'd like to fulfill my mom's wish and of course many others wish to heal the world."

"Yeah…"

"Well, now it's your turn," she brought up, not forgetting his promise. "Which song would you like to sing?"

"Hm…do you know how to play the piano in the style of Charlie Chaplin's 'Smile'?"

"Oh my gosh, I love that song! Of course I do. Let me know when you're ready."

"Anytime I'm ready."

"Okay…" she cracked her fingers a little bit to stretch them out and started playing the song.

And then he started singing.

She almost stopped playing when he started, but she didn't. His voice was simply the most wonderful thing she had heard in her entire life.

His singing voice – she couldn't explain it. It was simply…she didn't know. It was beyond words. In fact, it was so beyond words, that she started crying. She felt his thumb wipe one tear away and then caress her cheek, but he didn't stop singing.

He seemed to sing with such passion and emotion. He seemed to really capture the song's real meaning behind it.

As he sang the last few verses, he sang with much more emotion, and he actually made her stop the piano and he sang acapella.

He held her hands and looked deep in her eyes, giving her a tender kiss, also wiping the stray tears away from her face as he sang the last line of the song,

'You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you just…
Smile.'

XX

It was just yesterday, June 25th, 2010, that it has been exactly one year that Michael Joseph Jackson had died. I spent all day yesterday watching tribute videos and concerts. Nothing could stop the tears...especially when watching "This Is It". Michael Jackson, I simply cannot stop loving you. You were such a beautiful person with outstanding talent. You shared your gift with us and for that, we are very thankful. I miss you so much, Michael. Us fans all miss you. We love you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for being here on this Earth. Rest in peace.

With the love, with the love...L.O.V.E. With all my heart, I love you.