Chapter 38

I'm completely speechless. Claire is a psycho. There's no other explanation.

Why else would she have hundreds, no exaggeration, hundreds of pictures of my boyfriend?

Keyword: my!

Not hers! Not her anything!

I take a deep breath as Jess and Sam walk in the room.

Jess gasps, speaking first. "Holy shit. Talk about jealous."

"Why would she do this? Where even is she?" Sam wonders.

"You're boyfriend is hot and all, Bells," Jess says and I shoot a glare at her. "But you know me. I can't keep just one man all the time. That's boring. You gotta shake it up."

I nod my head. "Yes, I know you Jess."

"And we love and accept your little hoe ass anyway," Sam interjects.

Jess rolls her eyes to the ceiling and then turns back to me. "So, what are we going to do about this?"

"We have to find her. While all this is extremely disturbing, I'm worried about Claire you guys. Really worried."

We stand in silence for a few minutes while I examine the pictures.

What happened to Claire? Why did she all of a sudden become detached?

We each took turns trying to reach her, but no luck.

I have to call Michael.

I dig in my purse for my phone and dial his number.

It keeps ringing, and with every ring my fear rises and heartbeat quickens.

What if I'm too late? What if she already got to Michael, just like Diana did? Dear god..

"Hello?"

"Baby!" I sigh of sweet relief. "Oh my god! Are you okay? You're okay right?"

"I'm fine Bella, what's going on?" Michael's voice sounds perplexed.

"Why didn't you answer me earlier?" I snap. "You scared the hell out of me!"

"I'm sorry babe, damn I was in the shower. You're acting so moody like you're pregnant or something," Michael chuckles.

"I'm not preg- wait," I gasp, "did you use a condom last night?" I say in a hushed tone, not wanting the girls to pick up on the conversation.

"Uhh..." He trails off.

"Yes or no? You know what-okay. That's not the reason I called you," I take a deep breath and proceed to tell him what we found in Claire's apartment.

"Wow. That's shocking," He says finally.

I roll my eyes. "Do you have to be so hot? You're to blame for this," I say.

Michael laughs into the phone. "Baby, just come back home. You could've joined me in the shower."

"Are you not freaked out at all that a woman has pictures all over her apartment of you? And these are not publicly released photos! I have no idea where she got them from! W-what if she took them herself? What if she's stalking you!?" I exclaim in one breath.

"Bella, breathe. Please. Everything will be okay. I promise. Now come home. If Claire really wants to talk to you girls, then she'll let you in. Okay? You can't chase a person that doesn't want to be caught." Michael assures.

I close my eyes for a few moments. "Okay. I'm coming home. And you promised."

"Of course baby, and hurry up. I'll keep you warm."

"Okay. I love you." I blow him a kiss through the phone.

"I love-wait. Say that again," Michael says.

"I love you?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Say it. Don't ask it," he replies.

"I love you." I say softly.

And it scares the hell out of me because it's true. It's the most truthful words that have ever passed through my lips.

How would have thought that I would be in love with Michael Jackson?

Mark who?

"Damn, that sounds so good. I love you too."

I giggle into the phone as Jess and Sam tease me.

"You want me to come get you?" He asks.

"That's okay. Jess can give me a ride."

We say our goodbyes and hang up.

"Man Bella, you two make me sick but you're adorable at the same time." Jess jests.

I snort. "Jealous?"

"Yeah, that you get to fuck him," She replies.

I whip around to scold her. "Jess!"

"What? He's hot! By the way, when will that happen?" She puts her hands on her lips, walking slowly toward me.

My cheeks burn slightly as I turn away.

Sammi is next to let out a squeal. "No fucking way! It happened and you didn't tell us?!"

"It was last night," I defend quietly. "I was getting around to telling you."

"Yeah, right after you fucked a few more times?" Jess laughs. "How was it?"

We all start walking to the front door which I found, shockingly, is locked.

She frowns. "Sammi, I thought you said that the door was open?"

"It was." She assures, jiggling the handle that wouldn't budge.

What could have closed it?

Jess hip-bumps us both out of the way and pulls out a bobby pin from her hair. She crouches down and slides it into the lock, and a few seconds later we hear it click open.

"We're out," Jess takes a bow and then puts the pin back in her hair.

"That was beyond creepy. But let's just get out of here."

Sam quickly walks out of the room and down the hallway and we follow her.

Sliding into the elevator, I click on the ground floor button.

"This is such a bumpy ride," Jess comments, unsatisfied, as she holds onto the back railing. "Normally it's smoother and faster."

I shrug as the elevator finally stops and opens, letting us out.

"You know, you still haven't told us how it was." Sam says.

I scrunch up my face. "How what was?"

"Sex!" Jess hollers. "Fucking! Making love! Fornication! Intercourse! Shagging-"

"Shut up! Are you crazy? What are you screaming for?" I hiss at her as people in the lobby glance at us.

"Just wanted to make sure you got the point," She winks before skipping to her car.

"Just get me home," I plead as I climb into the passenger's seat.

"Tell us about last night and I will sugar."

Jess blows me a kiss as I flick my chin up at her.

And for the rest of the night, they giggled, listened and teased while hearing my beautiful experience with Michael.

It's one of those things that can't be accurately described with just words.

Pulling up to Neverland and through the gate, Michael was already waiting for me, sitting on the edge of the fountain.

I leap out of the car and run into his arms. He holds my waist tightly and kisses the top of my head.

When he holds me, it's a perfect fit.

I realized that things will be okay. I'll go on tour with the man I'm in love with, and if Claire ever reaches out then everything will be back to normal.

But things aren't always what they seem.

--

Chapter 38

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~Joy ✌🏼️