Cassie climbed up the stairs, hoisting her equipment along. The lifts had broken down and she was quite hungry as it was nearly seven in the evening, but today she felt ten times lighter than usual she felt she could have even climbed up the highest floor!

Cassie had to bite her lower lip to stop the smile from taking over her face. The photography session with the three best friends went much smoother and better than she had imagined.

She was sceptical at first, not having done any for teenagers and young adults since forever. She didn't trust herself to do it, she didn't trust her ability to control her emotions when it came to anything touching the subject.

By some miracle Cassie decided, and managed, to drag herself to face it. It was a small personal achievement – her beginning to capture the friendship between people in her photographs – but it was a start, and she felt really good about herself that she had done it.

Finally, her first step. It was the perfect birthday present she had given to herself.

Admittedly, Cassie felt a little sad that Yvonne couldn't come by her house to have a bit of cake; her friend had to attend a close relative's wedding.

Meanwhile, Michael cancelled the photography schedule with her as well. He had to leave the ranch for a full whole week for a recording studio elsewhere and then be present at court for some mundane lawsuit regarding song rights.

As Cassie neared her apartment, she spotted a flat box leaning against the wall next to her door. She raised her eyebrows, instantly puzzled.

She placed her photography equipment aside and with both hands (as the box had quite a bit of weight) picked it up to examine it. Her name and address were written on one side of the box.

I hadn't ordered anything ... she thought, frowning. Was it a prank one of the neighbourhood kids were playing? She heard that a woman who lived a floor above her received a package of life-like rubber snakes a few days ago.

Cassie shook the box and heard the sound of a thick, solid item hitting its sides. Certainly not rubber reptiles.

She brought the box into her apartment, wondering who sent it. It wasn't really difficult; she didn't have a wide social circle. Yvonne? Her parents? (There was a swooping sensation in the depths of her stomach at the next possible individual.) Michael?

Queen came to circle Cassie's legs, meowing affectionately as she did so.

"Alright, Queebee," Cassie cooed. "I'm gonna heat up your dinner ..."

Cassie placed the box on her kitchen counter and went about feeding her pets. She stuffed a cream biscuit into her own mouth before beginning to slit the box's cellophane tape off.

Inside the box was a rectangularly-shaped something wrapped in present paper. There was a card. Cassie opened it:

I'm sure my photographer will like this.
I've already bought it a month ago, just in case.
Happy Birthday!

Love,
Michael.

Cassie nearly choked on her biscuit. Her heart hammered in her chest. There were only three sentences in the card but it was already lot to take in. It was from Michael. He bought it ... a month ago?

Unable to take any more suspense, Cassie's fingers worked quickly but carefully to remove the present paper. Revealed underneath was the section of a familiar black-and-white background and the cursive alphabets "Spir".

Cassie's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be ... but it couldn't be anything else either!

She proceeded to tear the remaining paper away. She drew in a gasp.

Right on her kitchen counter was the book she had wanted: Spirit Behind Perception by Adam Harman.

Cassie let her fingers touch the book's cover, her face slowly breaking into a huge, bright smile. She read the card again. A month ago ...Had Michael bought the book right off the shelves that night after all? When she wasn't looking?

Warmth filled her insides at the thought.

* * *

Cassie poked at the piece of strawberry cake with her fork.

The next moment, she stood up abruptly, almost knocking over the lighted candles she had placed on the coffee table as decorations. She was halfway towards the telephone when she realised she couldn't possibly have the recording studio's phone number.

What was I thinking? Her hand fell back to her side dully.

Cassie sighed. She didn't want to sound like an over-eager girl who was thrilled beyond measure because of a book anyway ... It wouldn't be right; she did like him but Michael wasn't the centre of her life, and she wasn't his either. 

Know your boundaries, Cassie reminded herself. She turned away and decided to sensibly finish her cake when the phone rang. She fumbled for the receiver, her mind's wheels spinning at maximum speed.

What should I say to him ...?! Okay, calm down. Breathe, you need to breath ... Cassie swallowed. She would thank him, ask him about his day ... Yes, that would be it –

"Happy Birthday to my bestest friend! I haven't forgotten about you, you know."

Hearing Yvonne's voice, Cassie felt so relieved.

Yet a little disappointed.

She quickly snapped herself out of it.

"Hey," said Cassie warmly. "Thanks. Why are you whispering, though?" she asked, noticing Yvonne's lowered voice. "Where are you?"

Yvonne groaned. "The wedding. I'm suffering from anxiety right now. Everyone's popping babies and asking why I'm not married yet. Even Skylar – you know, my cousin who announced she would be travelling around the world with her hubby without kids – she's four months pregnant. "

Cassie laughed quietly. She knew Yvonne tended to worry easily. It was a wonder she had never gotten obese from the cake she ate during each of her stressed-out episodes.

Yvonne continued, "I'm pretending to make a call to my colleague. God, I don't know what to say to the Mother Club members ..."

"You can always talk to me," said Cassie kindly.

"Thanks," replied Yvonne warmly."Well, but enough about me and my complains ... What about you? Got any presents?"

"Me? Oh, er ... I got a book as a present." It was the first thing Cassie thought of. "From a friend."

Yvonne cleared her throat disapprovingly. "Who dares take my place as your best friend?" she demanded. "Just kidding," she laughed. "Someone from the animal rescue?"

"Nope."

"Queenie-boo or Tubbler?"

"No!" Cassie giggled. "Them being in my life every single day is already a gift."

"Hmm ... Michael Jackson."

"Yes. No. N-No, I mean, yes – but how did you –"

"I'm an expert at guessing things. So ... did he hide a confession letter in the book?" asked Yvonne enthusiastically.

"No!" said Cassie. "Didn't you hear: 'from a friend'?"

Cassie could picture Yvonne making an airy "details-details" gesture at her lame supporting sentence. 

"Oh, stop deceiving yourself," Yvonne answered matter-of-factly.

"Oh, shut up, Romance Geek."

* * *

Cassie propped her head up on her elbow. One by one she flipped the pages of Spirit Behind Perception. She looked at the photographs by the candlelight, but at the moment she couldn't focus on whatever raw emotion Harman's pictures had wished to convey.

Cassie took a deep breath to ground herself. She covered her face with her hands.

Him.

Michael.

What had become from a client to a friend and now, this?

When Cassie's mother called her this morning, Cassie could have easily gushed over Michael. She could have acted in disbelief at having the chance to be the personal photographer of talented, legendary Michael Jackson – it was an interesting experience to share with one's family.

But she couldn't.

Even if she casted aside the many feelings which clinged onto him, it felt utterly strange and almost funny to constantly think of Michael as a record-breaking legend who sold out stadiums across the world.

The Michael she talked to was just ... Michael?

Cassie thought of how she had scheduled her first photography session with the group of friends. If it weren't for Michael, she wondered if her state of mind– the one where she would even broke down upon seeing a carousel – would ever change.

She loved his company, his smile ... and the way he simply understood. It hadn't had anything to do with music or his career.

Queen settled onto the couch behind Cassie, who had earlier plopped herself down on a cushion in front of the coffee table. Cassie leaned back and let Queen's soft fur brushed her face.

"What do you think, Bee?" Cassie asked the cat.

Does he give good massages? Queen's round, green eyes seemed to be saying. I want good massages. The caramel-blonde-haired human gives good massages.

"Oh, you're thinking about Tyler?" Cassie was slightly caught off guard. She regained herself within a second. Patting Queen's head, she said gently, "But I left him, Queen."

Shame, Queen stretched and yawned. He gives good massages.

But whatever Queen was really thinking, whether it was the new homecooked diet she had or the grooming sessions she received, it triggered another flood of thoughts in Cassie's head. The past experience hit her.

Normalcy was what Tyler gave her. As his girlfriend, for once she felt she gained acceptance into society. Tyler had his own quirks, but people automatically liked him. Even Cassie's father hadn't had much to criticize about Tyler.

Cassie was angry at the words Tyler shot at her, about her being an oddball. She could have killed him with her glare, but on the whole, Tyler was actually a good person.

If she couldn't work it out with him, how could she ever begin to think that anything good would come out from her and Michael?

A tiny beat of her heart whispered:They're two different people. You could never say to Tyler what you've said to Michael.

It was true that she felt comfortable being herself around Michael; it wasn't about low self-esteem or looks or whatever inferiority complex.

But there were too many uncertain factors when it came to Michael.

He would always be Michael Jackson, the famous pop star, no matter how normal she viewed him as. He would be busy, he would be breaking more records, he would be earning much more money than she would in her lifetime, ultimately he would continue his mission to heal the world and through these major events, he would be caring for his children.

The conclusion was almost insultingly simple.

What on earth had she been hoping for?

- - -

A/N: This is complicated. :'( At the very least, Michael did the right thing, remembering her birthday. It's important for guys to remember these dates. :3

Oh, I realised that I started writing Capture Our Moments before completing my IGCSEs, now I'm starting college. Wow ... I can't believe this story would be with me through college. This just makes me emotional. :')

Okie, regarding the next chapter ... Get a good seat, y'all. To secure your entitlement to unlimited drinks and popcorn in Chapter 17 (you'll definitely need popcorn for that upcoming chapter, I swear), kindly vote or review this chapter. ♥