It's so funny how all our lives, Michael and my careers have intertwined. It's like the industry set things up for us to always be compared to each other. Funny enough both of us were on tours for our albums. Michael on his "Bad" tour and myself on tour for my album titled "Together"

We ended our shows in the same city, LA. And for his final show, Michael invited me to perform our duet together. He had been having his background singer sing in place of me. I accepted the offer almost immediately. The night of the show I had pre-show jitters down to my toes.

I shake my body out backstage as Michael runs up to hug me. "Hey!" He smiles. "You ready? It's almost time." He says while, his makeup artist, Karen Faye, fixes his hair quickly.

I nod, rotating my neck to stretch. "I never get nervous to perform but I have the shakes." I chuckle, shaking out my nerves again.

As I'm being prepped by a stagehand with my microphone and earpiece, I hear the instrumental to I Just Can't Stop Loving You, begin to play. I rush over to the spot I was assigned while Michael sang his part before I revealed myself onstage to the sea of screaming fans.

I smiled as I sang, giving light waves to a few people in the audience. There was so much energy out there for us. I didn't feel out of place, I wasn't afraid, or anything. I felt home.

Our performance blew the entire stadium away, this was our first time onstage together and our chemistry truly made this performance one of our best. He and I were so in sync with each other and how we moved around each other, you would have thought we rehearsed this for days. But we didn't, I was simply a guest in his home, on his stage. We just worked.

At the end of the show, Michael introduced his band, his background singers and held his hand out for me to come back onstage for a final goodbye to the crowd. "One of the greatest most talented performers, Tia!" He yells into the mic. I grabbed his hand and took a humble bow.

He started dancing around with me as his title track "Bad" played to close the show. We laughed as we did a quick hand dance before bowing once more and walked offstage hand in hand.

"Did you feel that??" Michael says excitedly. "Seriously Tia! That was an amazing show. They loved us out there!"

"It was insane Mike, thanks for asking me to come!" I hug him tightly.

"Of course! Thank you for coming. My manager is treating everyone to a dinner tonight to celebrate a successful tour. You should come! Security guards will be there I promise." He jokes.

"Ok, I'll be there." I wave off.

***

The restaurant was quiet with only our large party inside. I listened as the crew laughed at all the memories of the tour throughout the year and Michael quietly chuckled along. He really didn't say too much, he would listen and only respond when he was addressed. I smiled listening as well.

"So.. Michael, Tia..." Frank DiLeo starts with a smirk. "Have you guys thought about a joint album?"

Michael and I both frown, "huh?" I reply.

"A joint album?" Michael adds.

"Yeah! I mean, did you see yourselves on stage? The two of you are great on your own but the dynamic you have together? Incredible. Those fans will have that memory forever." Frank continued. "Its something about how connected you two were onstage. Every move was perfectly aligned like you had rehearsed it. That kind of chemistry doesn't just develop. You just have it!"

"And you guys look like you genuinely enjoy working together. I think a joint album would be a great idea" my manager, Adnis chimes in.

"I never thought about it really, but we do work pretty well together and the fans love to see us together. What do you think?" Michael asks me.

I pause for a moment. I never want to be tied to another artist, as much as I loved working with Michael, I didn't want to be tied into working with one artist and be known for that. "Let me think on it for a while?" I hesitate.

Frank and Adnis nod, "fair enough" Frank says.

The rest of the night, I listened to the tour crew chuckle and talk, while we ate. By the end of the night I was stuffed with salmon, potatoes, asparagus and tiramisu.

***
Next morning

"Adnis, I don't know. I do enjoy working with Mike but I've made it this far without tying my name to another person.." I say pacing my home office.

Adnis, runs his hand through his dark hair, "Perché Tia. I think this is a wonderful career move for you." His Italian accent coming out a little heavier.

I chuckle, "I know you're annoyed with me because of your accent."

He smirks, placing his chin in his hand. "You always press my buttons Tia." He chuckles walking off. He turns back and points to me "You are a child star, your name holds its own weight. We can see that just by how people react to you. You and Michael are the only ones I have ever seen grown men faint over."

I laugh, "this is true.." I place my hand on my hip, glancing at one of my gold plaques on the wall. The fans wanted another collaboration from Mike and I. They wanted something upbeat for us to dance together and give me a chance to show that I could hold a candle to Mike when it came to moves as well as vocals.

"I see the wheels turning." Adnis smirks, "what's on your mind?"

I sigh, "Let's do it. A joint album would be great. We both dropped our solos and finished our tours so this will be the perfect time to record while we're not busy. Let's do it." I repeat