They headed to the bookstore next.

Cassie acted as though nothing had been exchanged between Michael and herself in the toy store. And perhaps sensing Cassie's awkward pretence, Michael did the same.

The possible reality of anything more than friends between them made Cassie's heart leap – but it also made the rest of her recoil in terror. Yes, she had been cherishing a small hope, but ... but it just wasn't right, wasn't it? 

In the bookstore, Michael accompanied Prince and Paris to the children's section. Cassie took the opposite direction towards the shelves designated for the month's latests. Without planning to, she separated herself from them. It felt more right - if there was ever such a word. She thought she felt Michael's eyes on her as she left.

Later on, having found nothing intriguing, Cassie made her way towards the photography section. It was hidden from view  by the rest of the taller, more prominent shelves. She often found new perspectives on photography from these books. Standing in front of the shelf, she sighed longingly at one of the books. It was the last copy of itself in the bookstore.

Spirit Behind Perception
by Adam Harman

Although the cover was in black-and-white, it expressed something abstract, spiritual and soulful. The branches of a majestic tree stretched to the upper corners of the front cover. In the distant landscape, a fox sat gracefully, giving the impression that she was observing the reader inquisitively from afar.

Cassie stared at Spirit Behind Perception mournfully. Adam Harman's photographs were of subtle human emotions, animals and nature. The book was a compilation of absolute perfection to her ...

She was dying to have Adam Harman's book – it would be an outright lie if she told anyone otherwise – yet the price of it was a three-digit number. Cassie could afford it, but it felt irrational to spend a big portion of her earnings on a single book ...

"What have you got there, Cassie?" Michael asked in interest, walking towards her with an enormous stack of books in his hands. He had came to find her.

"Michael, look at this," said Cassie, pointing at Spirit Behind Perception excitedly as he placed his books aside.

Michael took the thick photography book off its shelf. He mouthed the title as he examined the front and back cover.

"Why does it have to be so expensive?" Cassie groaned, more to herself than to Michael.

"This looks like a good book," he said, "I'll buy it for you."

And he casually topped Spirit Behind Perception on his own pile of books.

"What?" Cassie blurted. She was merely complaining, not expecting him to actually –? This was outrageous. The price was the main contributing factor as to why this genius of a photography book wasn't purchased since its arrival four months ago.

"It's too pricey, Michael," said Cassie. "I'll find it at a book sale or something. No, I can't exploit you like this ..."

Cassie removed the book from Michael's stack and placed it carefully back on the shelf.

"How about seeing it as a gift?" Michael suggested. "See it as a present. For the past few months?"

There it was. His besotting smile again.

A present ... for her?

"No ... it's too expensive. It's okay, Michael. It's fine, you don't need to give me anything."

* * *

Stupid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

People have a funny way with themselves; Cassie now felt disappointed because Michael didn't insist on buying the book. Why do men tend to take a lady's negative answer literally? In most cases, "No" means "Yes" - buy the book, you idiot!

God, she had just called Michael ... an idiot in her head.

I'm the real idiot here.

His eyes "soft, tender and deep"? What kind of stupid deduction was that? Michael's eyes were mesmerizing by default ... and it was the trick of the light. Yes, the damn warm, yellow light of the toy store. But she, Cassie, just had to interpret it as something else, hadn't she?

And being the generous person he is, Michael probably gave loads of people gifts. Cassie chose to answer "No" to his offer ... What had she expected him to do next? Spend thirty minutes convincing her to accept the book? Rush to the counter, pay for it and forcefully stuff it into her hands?

Such a scene was beyond logic that it wasn't even laughable.

How stupid could she get?

Quit being self-centred. He's just not into you.

Cassie's eyes skimmed the interior of the car (they were now heading back to the ranch) and her attention fell upon something glittering: it was a card in the box of fan gifts. She leaned towards the direction of the box, intrigued.

"I have a room at Neverland to put all of this," Michael said, indicating the gifts. "You can see them. Here."

He passed the box across the seats between them, where Prince and Paris were slumping and nodding off.

Cassie handled the items in the box carefully. There were little plushies, artificial flowers, and handwritten letters. She took out the glittering card and read it under the lights streaming from the lamp posts through the car's tinted window:

Michael, thank you for being my source of inspiration and strength every single day. I love you so, so much and know that I'll support you forever.

Lots of love,
Lauren.

There was also a photo attached with a caption underneath:

On my left is my brother, Dan. And that's me carrying our baby sister Maylin - a new fan in the family!

"That's so sweet. I love them just as much," said Michael, who had also been reading the card.

Cassie smiled. The message was short and simple, but its personal and genuine tone touched her as well.

"I feel so honoured to be able to make people happy," said Michael, his voice gentle. "I admit, it's scary when things get out of hand. People fighting tooth and nail to touch you ... Getting shoved to the ground by a crowd and almost stepped over ... I have to admit, it's scary. Especially women, they tend to forget how dangerous their long nails can be ..."

"But seeing people –when I see them, and a smile spreads across their faces, or when I visit hospitals ... Oh, it's magic. I love it, and that's one of the best things of being who I am ..."

As he spoke, Michael seemed to have taken the opportunity to slip a paper discreetly out from the box.

"What's that?" Cassie asked.

"Nothing," Michael said distractedly. He seemed to be trying to fold the paper without damaging it. 

In one swift motion, Cassie seized the paper out from his slackened hand.

A word equation was written in bold capital letters on the paper, with the adjective "SEXY" being repeated numerous times before finally equating to "MICHAEL JACKSON".

Even in the dim light Cassie could see Michael flushing scarlet as he snatched back the paper. He jokily threatened without words that he would send a similar letter to her. Cassie muffled her laugh and they communicated mutely with further wild gesticulations so as not to wake the children.

Their animated conversation broke off when Paris stirred and stretched her body into a more comfortable position. In her sleepy state she leaned onto Cassie's arm.

Michael sighed and gave a small,embarrassed smile. "Sorry," he whispered, and was about to nudge Paris back to her own seating space when Cassie shook her head gently, implying that she didn't mind it.

They exchanged a friendly glance and Cassie averted her eyes to look out of the car window. The bright city lights of shops and advertisement boards flicked past in a blur.

Perhaps slamming her face onto the transparent glass would smack some sense back into place, Cassie thought wildly ... She was seized by a sudden urge to laugh and cry.

The warmth of little Paris's cheek on her arm reminded of the polite distance that should be kept. It wasn't a matter of her own feelings – Michael had a family of his own. His children. She was an outsider, and should remain so. Anything more and it would be despicable of her for having intruded into his settled life.

- - - 

A/N: By now, you guys probably noticed that the story chapters are titled after either Cassie's or Michael's dialogue, so a little sneak peek since I'm kinda slow on updates ... Chapter 14 will be titled "A Little Late-Night Fun Once-in-a-While".

I'll leave y'all guessing who said that. :3 You know, with those words in Chapter 14's title, I have to give you guys a warning. I have to.

What if I told you ... Chapter 14 is not sexual at all? xD