shout out to my girl Rebecca! woot! :D
had to get that out of the way. im slowing down on my entrees here i know...please forgive me. lots of tests going on at school and im a single mom...try juggling that for 2 years : / lol not that im complaining. my 2 year old son is a huge MJ fan. He learns fast :) Anyway...thanks for ur ideas again Becca! Enjoy!
Two Hearts. One Mind Ch. 6
Janet was pacing by the back door when Michael came out of his room, towel drying his hair.
"Michael, I'm worried about her. She's been gone way too long and there's a storm coming."
Michael looked out the window and winced when lightning hit close by. "I'm gonna go find her."
"Be careful out there, baby. Storms around a big area like this mean more lightning strikes," Katie warned.
"I will mother. I'm taking the golf cart with the plastic cover. I've got to bring her back." Michael ran to the shed and got the golf cart out. He sped through the ranch looking for me. "Please be okay, Lola."
My tears were starting to end finally. I don't know how long I'd been out here, but the storm was almost here. It was beginning to rain. Lightning struck near the tree and I fell out, scraping my arm and cutting my forehead. I was really scared now.
"Damn, and I'm in a field of all places. There's no way I can make it back to the house without getting knocked on my ass," I whispered to myself. Another bolt hit and I jumped and crawled as close to the trunk of the tree as I could.
'What am I gonna do? What if Michael can't hear me yelling for him? Ugh. I have to keep trying.'
My head was starting to hurt, but I had to keep trying. "Michael! Where are you? Janet! Jermaine! Anyone! Please someone, help me..." my voice trailed off and cracked.
'What's the use? I'm gonna be stuck out here until the damn storm passes, if I live that long.' I shivered. The rain had already drenched me from head to toe. I was still angry though. Sad, angry...a few other mixed emotions I wasn't too familiar with. I was shocked and hurt by Joseph's words, but confused too. I didn't understand how someone that cruel could have raised someone like Michael. It didn't make sense to me.
"Lola? Is that you I hear? Where are you?" I heard a voice call.
"Michael? Michael! Yes! I'm over here under the tree!" I called back. I was so relieved to hear his sweet voice.
He pulled up in a golf cart and jumped out of it before it even came to a complete stop. I stood up when I saw him and I ran up to him, jumping into his arms and cried into his shoulder.
Michael wasn't expecting that, so he stumbled back a few feet and then paused before he hugged me tightly. "Lola, are you okay? I was so worried."
"Oh, Michael," I cried. "I was so afraid you wouldn't find me. I'm so sorry I ran out on you like that."
Michael rubbed my back. "Shh, it's okay. I would've run away from Joseph too if it was me. I've done it before many times, actually. You can't let the things he says bother you so much."
"I wish it was that easy, Mike." I pulled away to look at his face. He put his hands on my cheeks and kissed me gently.
"You're hurt," he whispered. I bit my lip. He knew my heart was hurting, but how can I just tell him my son died because of my neglegence? Joseph was right. "Let's get you back home and clean you up. I think I have a first aid kit stored somewhere in the house."
Oh, yeah...I forgot I fell and hit my head. I didn't know I was bleeding. I nodded and he took my hand, leading me to the golf cart and helped me inside. It had some kind of plastic shield around it and he got in and zipped it closed.
"Are you cold? You can lean against me if you want," he offered. I shook my head and pointed at my soaked clothes. Before he could reply, another bolt hit and I slid against him. He chuckled. "I don't like storms either. We'll just protect each other," he said, putting his arm around me tightly.
I layed my head on his shoulder and sighed. Atleast the pain had stopped. Michael worked miracles on my fragile little heart. We got back to the house and Janet pushed me to my room while Michael put away the golf cart. I was changed into my red silk pajamas Janet bought for me.
Katie brought in the first aid kit and sat by me on the bed. I stayed silent while Katie gave Janet instructions. She left after cleaning and taping my head and Janet started brushing my hair.
"So, I noticed your pain was worsened by what my father said to Michael tonight. Are you okay?"
I nodded and bit my lip. I loved Janet like crazy, but I wasn't ready to talk about my past yet. She started to speak more and then stopped when Michael knocked on the door frame. He was in pajamas identical to mine except his were green.
"Mother needs you, Janet," he spoke quietly.
"Okay," she smiled. "Goodnight Lola. Get better soon, okay?" she kissed my head and left.
Michael came in and shut the door behind him. I let out a breath I was holding in for a while. Michael smirked.
"She still trying to get too much information from you? She's so silly. Just ignore her."
"She means well," I whispered.
"So, can I ask why the things Joseph said to you bothered you so much today?"
I paused for a minute and sighed. "I don't know. I feel like...like he doomed us, you know? If we ever did end up together, as unlikely as it sounds, he made his decision that we would fail," he quirked a brow at me and I blushed furiously. "I'm sorry, I know I'm being silly."
"No. I felt the same way, to be honest."
"Really? You've thought about...us?" I blushed even more.
"Yes," Michael came and sat by me on the bed. "Have you? I mean, what's your heart telling you about...us?"
I looked at my hands as they shook. "Of course I've thought about us. I just wasn't sure what to say or how you felt. I'm just one of your fans, afterall. You've probably heard it a million times..."
Michael tilted my chin up and looked into my eyes. "Heard what?"
I took a deep breath and reached into the drawer of my bedside table and pulled out the gift wrapped box. I know I had planned on giving it to him later, but now that the subject was out in the open, I might as well do it now. I handed the box to him and he looked at me confused.
"What's this for?"
"For everything. For giving me a home. For giving me a family...your friendship. For mending my heart," I whispered that last part and he looked up at me. "It isn't much, okay? I owe you so much more, you know. Just open it."
He smiled and opened it slowly. He had the same look on his face that Janet had when she first saw it. He twirled the cross in his fingers and ran his fingertips over the chain.
"A prayer box?" he asked.
"How...how did you know?" I asked in shock.
"I've read about them before. You whisper your prayers into them and they stay locked inside. Only you and God know your prayers...and you take them with you to Heaven," he said, studying the design. "I've always wanted one."
I let out another breath. "So, you like it?"
"I love it. Thank you, Lola. But, you still haven't answered my question. What exactly have I heard a million times?"
I blushed and reached for the cross in his hand. I turned it over gently so he could see the inscription. He read it more than once and ran his finger over it a few times before he looked at me with watery eyes. I bit my lip. I hoped I hadn't crossed the line.
"Michael...I -" I was interrupted when his lips came crashing down on mine.
"Oh, Lola...I - I love you too," he breathed. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him, kissing him again.
"Am I interrupting?" Janet came in. I jerked away and blushed. Michael cleared his throat.
"Maybe. Look at what Lola gave me. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?" he bragged.
"Yes it is. Lola needs her rest now. We spoke with our family doctor. He'll be here to check on her in the morning."
"Ugh," I shivered. "I hate doctors."
Michael chuckled. "Didn't you work for a doctor before?"
"Well yeah, but it's different when they're coming to work on me. No thank you."
Michael laughed and kissed me again. "Thanks again for the gift, sweetheart. I'll see you in the morning."
Janet smiled and left. Michael walked to the door, putting the necklace on and I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his waist tightly.
"I love you, Michael," I whispered. He turned and picked me up, kissing me passionately.
"I love you more," he smirked.
He kissed me one last time before he carried me to my bed and tucked me in and then he left. After he closed my door, I stared at it and sighed. I felt like a teenage girl in a brand new relationship. The lightning snapped me out of my daze and I sank deeper into the covers. There was still a throbbing pain in my heart, but I had gotten used to it now. I stared at the ceiling for a while before finally falling asleep.
Pretty soon, I was back in nightmareland again. I was walking down the same path. This time, I heard Joseph's voice repeating what he'd said to Michael. My voice of reason was gone. I ran faster when I heard my son cry out to me.
I skidded into the clearing when I saw a new setting. I expected to see Brian step over the cliff with my son in his arms, but instead, Michael was standing there. He was holding Will close to his chest and he was softly singing a lullaby to him. Will had his arms tightly around Michael's neck and his eyes were closed.
"Michael?" I whispered and took a step closer to him.
"Stay away," he said angrily.
"Michael...what's wrong?"
He wasn't even looking at me. I walked closer until I saw a girl standing behind him. She had her head buried into his back and she was crying. I heard a laugh and I turned to see Brian slowly moving forward.
"You think you can take my family, pop star? They don't belong to you," he grumbled.
"Stay away. They don't wanna be with you," Michael replied.
"You expect me to walk away when a freak has taken my family?"
Michael winced and I growled. 'How dare you.'
"How dare you!" I looked up in shock. That girl that hid behind Michael, she's...she's me...but how? This must be one of those dreams where you are watching yourself react, but you feel all the pain yourself. "Don't you dare call my Michael a freak! You had your chance and you broke my heart and killed my son!"
Michael winced again and Will faded slowly in his arms. I saw a tear fall from his eye and he embraced me, or that girl that was supposed to be me.
"You choose a freak over me? Pathetic!"
I felt the anger in me build and I watched myself run at Brian and stopping when he pulled out a gun and aimed it at me.
"No!" I yelled. He pointed it at Michael and Michael wouldn't move. "Don't! Michael, run!" He stood still and I tried to stop Brian from shooting. "You already killed my son...I won't let you kill my love!" He pushed me away and Michael growled.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on her, you vial excuse for a human being!" I was shocked to hear Michael speak that way to anyone.
"Michael..." I heard the click of the gun as it was being loaded and I ran in front of Michael just as Brian pulled the trigger. "No!"
The loud crack of the gun was replaced by a loud crack of thunder. I fell out of my bed. The blanket was wadded up in the floor next to me and it was pitch black.
"Oh God," I whispered. I heard the smoke detectors in the house beeping, trying to reset themselves and I heard the random rumbles of thunder and my own heart pounding in my chest. The power must have gone out.
I felt around for the door. I couldn't stand the darkness. I had to get to the living room and find a candle or flashlight or something. I finally found the door and snuck down the hallway. I moved down the wall until I hit something...or someone. When the lightning flashed and lit up the house, I saw sharp teeth and red eyes covered in fur.
"Ah!" I took off running back down the hallway and ran into something else. I saw hands with the next flash and fell to my knees. "When will this nightmare end?"
"Lola, Lola, sweetheart, it's just me. I'm sorry. Did I scare you?"
"Michael...thank God." I felt him help me to my feet and I hugged him tightly. "You know you have freaking monsters in this place?"
He laughed. "Monsters?" He took my hand and we walked back down the hallway. He turned on a flashlight and pointed it at the werewolf manikan. I gasped. "He's not real, silly," he chuckled, knocking on the manikan.
I sighed in relief. "Could've fooled me."
"You had another nightmare, didn't you?" I hesitated and he sighed. "Let's go to the couch and talk."
"Was I that obvious?"
"Obvious enough. I could hear you screaming from my room."
I knew this was it. This was my time to tell all. Every reason for my pain. The reason I met him in the first place. We sat on the couch and he wrapped us up together in a blanket. He layed back and pulled my back against his chest and ran his fingers through my hair.
"You yelled alot this time. I've heard you cry out in your sleep before, but this time was more painful, for both of us. I heard you yell my name, but who is Brian and Will?"
I sighed. "Michael...it's very late," I tried to get out of this.
"Lola, there's something you're not telling me."
"Michael, love..." I sighed. "I don't want you hurting anymore than you already are."
"Already are? Sweetie, I was hurting tremendously until you came along. You kept your faith in me when no one else did. You loved me and you've mended my shattered heart. Now it's my turn to mend yours. Let me help you, babe. I love you too much to see you in pain like this."
I smiled and kissed him lightly. "Okay. Well, Brian is my ex boyfriend and Will is...was my son." Michael flinched when I corrected myself and he listened quietly. I went into every single detail I could remember. From the car accident and Brian's cockyness to the funeral, all leading up to the day we met.
"So, I'm your conscience now?" he chuckled.
"Leave it to you to bring up something less important than the main topic here," I joked.
"Lola, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. I can't believe anyone would be that reckless."
"That's what I always told myself," I whispered.
"So, that's why you got so upset with Joseph," I flinched and he hugged me tightly. "That wasn't your fault, you've got to believe that. This should be destroying Brian from the inside out, not you."
Michael continued to reassure me until I was finally convinced. By the time I finally gave in, the storm was over and I was falling asleep. The next morning, Janet came out and found us fast asleep on the couch. Michael was lying flat on his back and I was tucked under his arm with my face buried into his neck. We had our fingers laced together on his chest and his other arm was wrapped tightly around my waist.
Katie walked in and cooed with Janet. Michael awoke to the sounds of a clicking camera. He grumbled and then saw me sleeping on his chest.
"Please, go away and let her sleep. She had a rough night last night," he whispered. He started to try and roll off the couch and let me sleep a little longer, but then I whimpered and tightened my grip around him. Janet giggled.
"I guess this means she finally opened up to you, Peter. Better not leave her. She needs you."
"Yeah," he paused. "Isn't it amazing when you're betrayed and broken, you can still somehow love someone this much?"
"That's a very unique thing, my son," Katie whispered. "Don't you ever let this girl go. You are each other's life now."
"Don't worry, mother. I'm not going anywhere," he whispered and kissed me lightly on the lips.
Shortly after that, I was awakened by a strange man hovering over me. He was a little too close for comfort and I jumped up and scooted away from him.
"Sorry if I woke you miss. I'm the family doctor. I'd like to get a look at your head, if you don't mind."
I looked at him unsurely. I was still half asleep. I looked around the room and saw Katie walk in. She smiled at me and sat down beside me, placing her hands on my shoulders.
"It's alright Lola, no need to be frightened."
Somehow I was soothed by her presence and I relaxed and let the doctor examine me.
"Where's Michael?" I asked her.
"With Janet. They went to finish their duet in the studio. They will be back soon enough, my child."
"Alright." I waited as the doctor finally finished his examination and he wrapped me back up. "So, tell it to me straight, doc. Am I gonna live?"
The doctor and Katie laughed. "Yes, ma'am. I'm glad to see you didn't lose your sense of humor."
I smiled and shrugged. The doctor left after a while and I decided to go take a walk around the ranch. Katie said she would send Michael to me after he and Janet were done recording. I walked around the park and let my mind wander.
'I wonder what its like to be in the spotlight. I wish I had the guts to sing in front of people like he does.'
I stopped at the merry-go-round. No one was around, so I decided to scan through some of the songs Michael had progammed into it. I found one I remembered back when I was little. A song from a video game called Final Fantasy. The character was a pretty girl who sang this song during the game. She sang it while she searched for her lost lover. I pushed play and sang along with it.
After it stopped, I let the songs go into shuffle mode and I sat and listened to the music. I started thinking back from this morning. I had my eyes closed as I listened to Michael talking on the phone. It sounded like he had invited a bunch of kids from the hospital over to the ranch for the weekend. I started thinking after he said he wanted to show the kids the realistic version of the movie Peter Pan.
An idea shot into my head. Something Michael and the kids would both enjoy, if I could plan it just right. This is going to be exciting.
Shorter chapter I know. I've been trying to write this in a notebook before typing it, but i always end up making changes as i type it. weird huh? lol
