I Will Always Love You Chapter: 96

Bina POV

I sat with my sister on top of my four poster bed which was always too high for her to get on without the step stool.  My fingers traced the embroidered red roses and green vines on my fluffy cotton comforter as I tried to look casual answering Asha's barrage of questions.

"So...is this an actual date this time?"

"Okay, no. For the fiftieth and final time, let me give you the skinny: we are just gonna kick back. That's all."

"Hmmm...well why are you getting dressed up then?"

"I'm not! He just asked me to. Is that fine with you? Jeez!"

"Girl, you can stop this nonchalant act. Everybody knows that you dig him." I shoved her and told her to shut up.  She smiled at me. Then she leaned in to whisper,

"I'm so glad that you're happy again."

"Thanks," I blushed.

 After she switched up my outfit, changed my shoes, and fixed my hair, she let me have the last few moments to myself. I looked at my reflection in the mirror studying the folds in the floor length mint green skirt; my bangles sparkling in the fading sunlight; my hair tousled up into a jeweled clip. Michael had asked me to dress nicely because he had a special evening planned and I was pretty pleased with myself. I laughed at how hard Asha tried to persuade me into wearing high heels.  Regardless of how fancy it was supposed to be, I was not going to wear uncomfortable shoes.  Not tonight.  Who can have fun with their toes folded into high heels? We settled on a pair of little silver embellished sandals that showed off my new toe rings. I poked my feet out at the mirror and imagined him standing next to me.  I started to wonder if he would like what I was wearing. As I stood there, I felt the breeze from my balcony window kiss my cheek and I got excited all over again about seeing him. I couldn't wait to meet his kind eyes with my own. Asha was right. I was happier. Each time I saw him, I filled with so much joy; and each time he left, I felt as if he took a piece of me with him: like there was this in-severable thread that connected us even throughout the months that we spent apart. The vibe has been so right and with him, I see differently. He's shown me the beauty that surrounds us daily in the flowers; in the sound of laughter; in letting the sun warm our skin.  I couldn't help but lose track of my heart. I smiled to myself about the day that I was singing to his song. I had been on the balcony wishing that he would call on the walkie talkie. When he finally showed himself, I was over the moon. I thought that I would forget him, but my heart had its own plan. I know that I'm still young and it is probably just infatuation, but I keep thinking, maybe my growing feelings are real.

**30 minutes later**

I heard the limo roll up to the back gate, and I began smiling stupidly. I said goodbye to my mom and Asha. They told me that Danita said,

"I'm glad they're finally going out. It's about time."

They told me to have fun and I walked to the back gate. My dad was waiting at the exit and opened the door for me.

Michael was leaning on the car door with a smirk on his face, but immediately straightened up — almost stumbling forward — once he saw my dad follow behind me.

He looked handsome. Big afro, black suit with white piping, black bowtie, black shirt, and those spats. Michael choked out a weak hello and gave me an awkward handshake.

"Uh, okay," I chuckled. Michael didn't respond, and he didn't even look at me. He simply addressed my father with a handshake.

"Hi, Mr. Ravi."

"Michael. Let me talk to you, son." My dad then opened the limo door for me to get in, gave a kiss goodbye to me, then shut the door to continue his conversation with Michael in private. I saw him grab Michael's shoulder, and then walk a considerable distance away. My dad was looking intently at Michael and I knew that look on his face was the lecture look. He was asking questions and I saw Michael answering them and nodding his head to what he was saying. I knew that I wouldn't be able to gain any information, so I plopped back into my seat.

"Mhmm. He's getting the talk," a voice said. I looked up, forgetting that someone else was in the car with me. I saw his eyes looking at me in the rearview mirror. I noted that he had kind eyes and he seemed warm right off the bat whoever he was.

"How do you mean?" I asked him.

"Well, the boy is trying to court his baby girl, and your dad is letting him know that he'd take him out of this world if he tries anything — but, of course, in the kindest way."

"Wait, my dad is threatening him?"

"Ah, don't worry about it! We all get the talk at some point, and later on, we all give it if we have daughters." He winked at me, then turned around in the seat.

"I'm Bill, by the way."

"Bina. Nice to meet you, Bill!" I shook his hand.

"Just a secret between you and me: that boy's nose is wide open. You've got him good." Bill began to crack up laughing. I drew in a sharp breath and then I smiled hard.

"Woo, yeah...he's a good kid though. Real good kid."

"He is." We fell silent for a moment. Though I don't know what Bill was thinking, I was watching Michael through the window. He is a beautiful person, I thought to myself. Bill filled the silence saying,

"Well, y'all are going to have a ball. From what Michael has told me, this night has been planned to perfection!"

"Okay, now you have to tell me what it is!"

"It wouldn't be a surprise, little lady! My lips are sealed."

"Just a little? I promise I'll still act surprised, like this," I gasped and gave him a killer surprised look. He laughed and shook his finger at me saying,

"You're quite convincing, and it's a tempting offer, but I can't break a promise."

"Alright, alright. I won't even try to bribe you with the candy in my closet." Bill chuckled and said,

"That might've worked on Michael, but you'll find out soon enough though. Oh, look. I think the talk is just about finished." I looked out of the window and saw them walking slowly back towards the car. My dad had his arm around Michael's shoulders and they were both smiling, so I assumed everything went well. My dad shook Michael's hand one more time and then walked back to the house. When Michael turned to open the door, I got nervous out of nowhere. I moved to the opposite end of the limousine thinking that putting distance between myself and him would bring down the tension. I didn't want him to notice when he got in, so I tried to distract him.

"So, what did you guys talk about?"

"Oh, not much. Y'know your dad might erase my existence if anything goes wrong. Nothing big. He also said to have fun." He smirked briefly at me before casting his eyes downward and rubbing his palms on his knees.

"Nice." His eyes slowly made their way up to mine and he smiled, and looked away again. I felt my cheeks grow hot, and I knew that I was turning red. I bit my lips to try to calm my smile but it kept popping back up making the muscles in my face ache.

He looked up at me again, but this time with a bit more boldness,

"You look beautiful." He held my gaze and watched me as I combusted on the inside. His grin widened, showing his teeth, and turned into that dazzling smile that I have dreams about. Trying to hold it together, I said,

"Thank you. You look... pulchritudinous!"

"Aw, man." He said, shaking his head and smiling. I could see him swipe his tongue underneath his bottom lip and then bite it. I wanted to tell him that he was beyond the level of pulchritude, but he next said,

"I feel like my compliment is simple compared to yours." He flicked his eyes from the floor back to mine. I felt chills go through me, but I still managed to say,

"You can always try again." He rested his chin on his hand and then looked at me, thinking intently. After a moment, he said,

"You are the most exquisite, fascinating girl I have ever met... and I hope that you will always be in my life." I couldn't respond. I sat awkwardly in my seat, staring at my feet. A small 'thank you' is all I could get out. I felt his eyes on me and I knew that I was amusing him with my shocked reaction.

 Silence fell in the car. Bill briefly broke in asking,

"Would you like some music?"

"Yes please." Michael answered. Bill turned on a station with soothing piano playing and then said,

"I'm gonna give you two some privacy," and he closed the partition between us and him. Michael was looking at me but looked away when I noticed him. We became shy all over again once we lost our audience.

"So, um..." Michael began. "...how's everything? With your family business and stuff."

"It's good. I'm having fun. It's nice to be on a break and be normal every once and again."

"I bet...so...how was the thing with Stevie?"

"Oh, the tour?"

"Yeah."

"It was great. Also very fun. I learned a lot, too." I really felt like I didn't have much to say, and I felt bad for only having short answers.

"Right on..." He said, fading out. I attempted to keep the conversation going by asking,

"So how are things with you and your brothers?"

"They are good."

"And the label switch is going well."

"As far as we know, things will be really good."

"Ok, good —why is this so awkward!" I asked while laughing. It lightened the mood for a moment and Michael confessed,

"I don't know...I'm just a bit nervous."

"Me too."

"Do you mind if I sit —?"

"Uh oh, Michael!" Bill said from the front while opening the partition.

"What is it?"

"Check out the front of the restaurant." We both looked, and there was a swarm of paparazzi waiting there. I had only heard about this kind of life and I experienced a little while on tour with Stevie, but this just seemed like it was on an unprecedented level.

"I think that's for you two." Bill said.

"Do we have a way to get around this?" Michael asked, sounding a bit worried.

"I don't think so."

"Can you try going around back?"

"Sure can." Bill closed the partition again, and Michael sat back in his chair and — almost unnoticeably — shook his head. When we got to the back entrance, there was an even bigger swarm, and this one contained fans as well. Michael said,

"Someone tipped them off," and his face was shocked. In order to turn around, we had to pull in first, and then everyone went wild. Bill opened the partition and said,

"Well, we can either go in, or turn around. It's up to you two." I was still looking at the paparazzi in shock, and preparing myself to have to walk through it. Michael spoke up and said,

"Let's turn around. I don't want to put her through this the first time around."

"Sound good?" Bill asked me, and I just nodded in response. Michael continued to look out of the window, almost glaring as Bill began to pull out. We hit the road again, but less than ten seconds later, paparazzi was behind us. Bill said,

"Uh oh, we've got a fisher!" He stepped on the accelerator, and I fell forward onto Michael's side of the car. Michael grabbed my hand to pull me onto the seat next to him, looking concerned.  His face relaxed when he saw me smiling, and he gripped my hand tighter, protectively pulling me closer to him. I asked him,

"What is a fisher?" He rolled his eyes and said,

"That is our code name for paparazzi that tries to follow us. But don't worry, Bill is going to handle it."

"Hey," Bill started, "I've lost them for now, but I don't think that I could get you guys anywhere without pictures being taken. They're all on the look out for a black Rolls Royce now."

"Gosh, is there anything we can do?" Michael asked sounding very disappointed. We drove a bit longer and then Bill said,

"I've got it! Hold on to your seats, we're in for a ride!"