Adam's POV

Last night, Tatiana and I danced almost all night. I think she really likes me. Afterwards, I stole some grey sweat pants and a white long sleeve shirt. I have them on.

Right now, I'm waiting in front of McDonald's. I have all my stuff in my bag. I don't trust anyone. I also don't trust any hiding place. It's difficult to understand.

Frank pulls up and I get in. I look in the back and ask,

"Where's Michael? "

Frank says, "He didn't want to make a scene. "

I nod. On the way to Michael's place, Frank says,

"Listen Adam, Michael is really fond of you. He thinks you're different. "

I'm a bit confused. I decided to be straight forward with my question.

"Is he gay? "

Frank laughs and says, "No. I guess I chose the wrong words. What I mean is, he thinks you could be a potential friend. He kept on and on about how he loved your enthusiasm and how he was so happy you found what Jonathan said funny. "

"Jonathan? "

Frank nods and says, "Yeah. Jonathan Moffett. "

Frank makes a left turn and continues,

"He also said that he couldn't believe he kicked you in the chest. Gosh, I wish I was there to see that. "

I laugh and say, "I have a bruise. "

Frank pulls up to a huge house and before I can admire it, he says,

"Really? Let me see. "

I turn towards him and lift my shirt up to my chest. I say,

"It's gonna be there for a while. "

Frank says, "You might want to ice it. "

I turn my head out towards the house and see Michael staring at us. I immediately get out of the car and say,

"Michael, I was just showing him the bruise you left me. "

Frank, who is also surprised and embarrassed, says,

"Don't go making assumptions, Mike. "

Michael laughs and raises his hands near his chest, as if a cop told him to freeze, and says,

"I haven't said a word. "

I shake my head and laugh. I close the car door and look up at the house. I say,

"This is amazing. I've never seen such a big house. "

Michael smiles and says,

"I'm glad you like it. Oh, " he stops me from walking, "My family is here and they can get very personal and watch out for my dad. He's already upset with me. "

I don't ask why. Not my place to. Well, at least not now. We head inside and he whispers to me,

"They'd think it'd be rude if I don't introduce you. I apologize in advance. "

I chuckle and say, "Come on, Michael. They can't be that bad. "

He leads me into the living room. The TV is on. A older woman and man is sitting on the main sofa. The doorway, where Michael and I entered is next to the TV, so we are facing them all.

I immediately recognize Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie. I use to see their faces on magazines as the Jackson 5.

There's two other females, but I don't know who they are. They are both very pretty, but I can't keep my eyes off the one who looks to be in her twenties. Everyone turns their attention to us. Michael says,

"Everyone, this is Adam, my new dancer. "

Michael looks at me and says, pointing at each person he introduces, "Adam, this is my mother, Katherine, my father, Joseph, my brothers, Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, Jackie, and Tito, and my sisters, Rebbie and Janet. LaToya isn't here. "

So her name is Janet. I say,

"It's nice to meet you all. "

Michael says, "Alright, we have to go practice. "

Before he can pull me away, his father Joseph says,

"Wait a minute, Michael. Let the boy talk to us. Sit down, Adam. "

He points at a recliner I'm front of me.

Let me explain the set up of the living room. The TV is next to the door, where Michael and I were. In front of the TV, maybe three feet away, is an coffee table. Then, there's the sofa in front of the coffee table, which is where Katherine and Joseph are sitting.

Behind the sofa is a pool table. That's where Jermaine, Randy and Marlon are. That's unique to have a pool table in the living room. I like that.

Anyway, on the right of Joseph (my right) is a recliner that matches the sofa. Jackie is sitting there. Tito is sitting next to Joseph. Katherine is on the left of him. (My left.) Janet is sitting next to her and on her left is another recliner, that matches the sofa, next to her.

Rebbie is at the book case behind Jackie.

I sit in the recliner. Michael, with no other seats left, sits on the armrest of my seat. Katherine smiles and asks,

"How are you, Adam? "

I smile back and say, "I'm good. How are you? "

Before she can answer, Joseph butts in. He asks,

"So, how's the rehearsing for this tour going? "

I hear Michael sigh. The way Joseph asked that question made me feel like it was more for Michael than me. I say,

"It's, uh, it's going good. Your son is very creative. "

Joseph says, a bit angry, "Yeah? Well, explain to me why he can't let his brothers join in the creativity?! "

"I..uh- "

Michael interrupts, "Joseph, this is my time! I told you I need to be solo! "

He stands up and pulls me up. He says,

"Now, we need to practice. Excuse us! "

He grabs my arm and drags me out of the living room and down the hall. We go upstairs and into a bedroom. It's pretty big. He closes the door behind me and locks it.

Well, this is awkward. He sighs and leans against the door. I look around the room. I ask,

"Is this your room? "

He laughs. I look at him, smile and ask,

"What? "

He says, "I yell at my father, and the first thing you ask me about is this room. "

I say, "Well, I didn't want to intrude. That's a family matter, right? "

He nods. I say, "See. I don't want to be nosy. "

He says, "No one has ever said that before. Everyone wants to know about my family problems, even if they don't know me. "

I say, "Well, I'm not like everyone. "

He stares at me, then says,

"May I ask you something? It's personal. "

I say, "Go ahead. "

He hesitates, then says, "Never mind. It's not my place. "

Before I could say anything, he says,

"We should practice. "

Three Hours Later

Michael and I are in the backyard cooling off. We talked about my part in the tour for the first hour. I had more to do than I thought. Then we stretched and danced for the next two hours.

I take a gulp of the water Michael gave me. I say,

"Water never tasted so good. "

He laughs. I then remember what I asked him yesterday before Tatiana asked me to join them. I look at Michael and say,

"So, yesterday, in the parking lot, we were talking about women, " he nods, "and I asked you what your type was. You never answered. "

He smiles and says, "There was a reason. "

I say, "I know. But, are you going to answer now? "

He blushes from embarrassment and says,

"Oh..I don't know. "

I laugh and ask, "Do you have a crush already? "

Michael laughs and says, "Well..yeah. "

I take a sip of water and ask,

"Who is she? "

"Whitney Houston. "

I say, "Oh yeah. She is a hottie. Are you going to ask her out? "

Michael says, "Adam, I can't just ask her out. "

I look at him confused and ask,

"Why not? "

He pauses then says, "Well...I don't know. "

We laugh. I stand up and look at the pink sky. Michael stands. He asks,

"So..Adam? "

I look at him and answer, "Yeah? "

"The flight from here to Japan is 11 hours...and um, I usually don't talk to anyone during the flight..."

I look at Michael and ask,

"Would you like me to sit with you? "

He smiles big and nods. I laugh and say,

"You got it, buddy. "

There was a sparkle in his eyes. As if me calling him buddy was the best thing in the world.

I wonder how desperate he is for a friend.