(A.N.) The 2004 live version of this song is just as fitting for this chapter. The video is below. If the original video doesn't work (at the top of the chapter) - I've put it here as well.

Well, let the story begin :)

♡♡♡

~She calls out to the man on the street, "Sir can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep, is there somewhere you can tell me?"~

Michael | 29/8/1973

"Michael! Hurry up, we need to go!" I was running late - we were on our way to dinner, and we were in the middle of our tour. I was exhausted, and I was not in the mood for dinner either, as much as I know that I'm craving for food. Besides, it's my birthday - and yet I can't celebrate it. I'm a Jehovah's Witness - and I need to respect my religion.

We came to Chicago not too long ago to perform for our fans, but everybody was just bombarding us at every moment, every chance they could take. I know they love us, especially me, but I'm just not in it for now. I don't want to go out there, knowing that will be what I'll face.

"Michael Joseph Jackson! If you don't come out in ten counts, I'm gonna teach you a lesson tonight!" Joseph. He's at it again. I drag myself out of bed, my tired limbs reluctantly moving to comply with Joseph - or else I know I'm in deep trouble - deep shit, actually.

"Coming, Joseph! Inna minute!" I replied, giving in. At least, my brothers are around - I'm not alone with him. I won't be suffering much, at the very least.

♡♡♡

We're walking along the streets of Chicago, away from the fans, away from the paparazzi. We happened to escape from the back door of our hotel - everyone was waiting out the front door and were expecting us to be there. There were a few knowledgable ones though, and we had to silence them some way or another, be it money - be it anything, just nothing... sexual.

So here we are, uninterrupted - for now.

I glance down the homeless people on the street, and they return my eyes with hopeful ones, that I could give some money to them, just to let them live a little longer. Some of them were huddled in their thin lengths of cloth they use as a blanket - just trying to sleep. It... hurts me so much to see this happening.

The skyscrapers of Chicago continued to loom in the horizon, their structures shaping my night sky tonight. It seemed to be so, so peaceful.

Yet, my eyes fall on this beautiful girl, who ran over to me. To me.

She called out to me, "Sir can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep, is there somewhere you can tell me?"

I can only glance at her. Just look. Joseph was already shaking his head, sternly. He seemed embarrassed to be even here at all. My brothers, their faces were emotionless, and I know I'm the only one thinking differently - I'm not supported at all.

I look away from her, thinking about it, but she just stands a distance away from me, although quite near.

I follow my family close behind as we continue walking and head somewhere for dinner, pretending I can't hear her - for the sake of not getting in trouble. I vowed to myself - I will get her, another day, soon, when I have the resources. When I finally have my own say.

"What's your name, sir? I'm Crystal!" She calls out again. This time, I turn back and observe her more carefully. Joseph and my brothers have stopped to look at me, as I stopped to hear her, possibly reply her too.

Her face, that pearl white skin, so delicate, so pure. So innocent - her face shows it all. Her black eyes, dauntless and daring, yet hopeful for someone to take her, take her home...

"I... I'm Michael, Michael Jackson. Michael Joseph Jackson. Crystal - it's nice to meet you!" I did not tell her I would get her - but her face and eyes themselves, they will tell it all. I walk up to her and take out a few coins and notes I had on hand, passing it to her... hoping it will help her get by, even just a little.

And she was younger than me - so visibly younger. My heart went out to her instantly, a girl so young is homeless on the streets... 

Blisters on the soles of her feet... she's trying so hard to walk to me.

Think twice...

I will get her. I will do it when the time comes. She's too good to be here.

I reluctantly wave and walk away, not looking back, catching up to my family. Crystal calls out to me again - but this time I hear her voice breaking. She's crying when she said her "Thank you!" - and her voice just faded away.

"Boy, you sure know what the hell you're doing, are you?!" Joseph slaps me on the face as we walk. I cannot comprehend - I was just... making this girl's day, that just happens to seem of age to be my younger sister!

And yet, I kept quiet. Because, I'll have my own life, once I grow up - it'll all be okay - and I'll take her. I'll take her home.

Yet, I only think of the lines on her face, her beautiful face - they add to her beauty, but they tell me how much she went through. She probably moved so many times, just because she just couldn't fit anywhere.

With those beautiful eyes...

Oh lord, there must be something you can do... please save this girl.

♡♡♡

We decide to try a restaurant down the next block - it was quite empty, so we took a shot. Even if the food wasn't going to be good, we just wanted peace today. All of us. Lucky for us, the shopkeeper was very friendly and was very nice to us, even with our fame, he didn't go crazy like the others.

We sat down and ordered our food, and we sat in silence as we wait. No one spoke a word, some of my brothers had their heads down, avoiding any conversation. Everyone's not happy about me today, and they're not doing anything lest Joseph lash out at us. That's understandable, and I'm not expecting anything.

But I'm going to speak up for her, because she's just so beautiful. So, so beautiful.

"Michael, boy, what got into your head back there?!" Joseph spoke up. He knew what I was going to say...

"I can't just leave her there! She just needed a place to stay! How else... can I help her? If I can't even fulfill her request - just talking to her is the very least I can do! This money of mine, will come back soon enough. I swear on my life!"

"You... you're getting it from me tonight, you hear?" Joseph was literally out of reach today - and nothing can change that. His character is fixed - and nothing can change that too.

I get ready for the suffering I'll endure all over again, as dinner passed by and not a single word was said ever again.

I spend the time thinking about her, memorising her lines, her face. It was divinity in motion - and I could only wonder why she has been thrown into such a living hell. The will to save her only increased with each time this thought raced past.

She's so special. So, so special - she deserves days in paradise.

Author's Note

Hi! I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Against All Odds! It's really been a joy to write this chapter because I could finally write about the homeless and really really give attention to them. I don't stay in America myself, but I'm getting help from friends to understand more about local life - and homelessness is one of the problems I'll address since Another Day In Paradise's story does talk about a homeless woman and normal people like us.

On to the background story of Another Day In Paradise. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, a homeless woman calls out to a man on the street. In this story, the man is a boy, and it's our Michael. She just wants a place to sleep, and she hopes the man can tell her. However, the man continues walking, not looking back, completely ignoring the woman. He sees that the woman has been through a lot, but he just leaves everything as it is - as if he's just pretending all these problems do not exist. He's just in paradise, but so are these homeless people too. 

But Michael is different, and that's why I wrote it this way, to show that he's the one making a change. He is the change.

The big idea out of it all? Think twice before you walk away on someone needing help - homeless, beggars, whatever. Even a little coin makes their day. This is also a wake-up call to all of us should we forget to help society whenever we can, too.

Thank you for reading :) Chapter Two - Sussudio, will not have a girl named Sussudio, of course, xD but this girl is in fact, Crystal. If you do know the story behind Sussudio, you will understand why. There will be a great time skip as well. I will explain more in the next chapter, so stay tuned!