The stage. That's my home, I was practically raised here. The spotlight, my only friend. The music, my one true love. The cheering, the shouting, and the chanting were my only means of motivation. But, then there she is, standing at five foot six with mahogany skin. Her smile was meek and inviting. Her stature is poised and confident. I will never forget that day I saw her. Even through the assembly of dancers, it was she who stood out the most. She knew what she wanted, I could tell in the way she moved. Every step, every twirl, coagulated with the natural sounds of The Nightingale. I knew somehow on that day, that it was destiny that I came to the performance, just to see her.

"Michael? Michael, baby were you daydreaming again? Dear God I swear I'm always talking to myself" She grouses, throwing her hands up in defeat.

Gravitating my attention onto the pouting beauty, I flash her my infamous smile.

Jesse Rose Edmond, the love of my life as well as the pain in my lower hind. Humorous, corky, defiant, and compassionate. She enjoys watching nature, because she wants mother earth to know that she appreciates it's beauty. She hates to wait, but can speed hours in a bathroom just brushing her teeth alone. She is a perfectionist, always working on improvements. She is the most important thing to me. She is one being, next to my mother, that I just can't live without.

"Michael... Don't look at me like that..." She rolls her eyes, standing up from her spot on the plush, love seat.

I giggle to myself, amused by her fiestyness. She can be such a character.

"Now you are laughing? Michael I am trying to be serious here" She whines, reclaiming her spot.

I nod, holding back the rest of my giggles.

She rolls her eyes again, leaning back into the pillows of the love seat.

Apparently today is the day that an audition for this popular play entitlted, Art Thou A Flower, is being held, and Jesse has been overwriught about it since hearing of it last month. I have repeatedly assure her that there is need for worry. She is a talented dancer, no doubt about it, but she doubts her abilities. Coming from a world where perfect isn't enough, I can sympathize with her, but I always remind her, I am where I am today because I did not let doubt reign over my passion and love for music and the stage. I presume my words aren't sinking in yet.

"Babygirl, look at me" I speak softly.

She slowly turns her gaze on me, her pupils small with insecurity.

"When they tell you that you can't, silently prove them wrong. Do you remember telling me that four years ago?"

She nods, still keeping her gaze on me.

"Four years and now look at me, I took your advice and now I'm preparing for the release of an album that will knock Thriller off the shelves. You can do the same with this audition" I convince, taking her hand in mine.

"But I'm not you Michael. I'm not Michael Jackson... the Moonwalker. I'm Jesse Edmond, the girl who Michael Jackson is dating. I'm a nobody, still trying to find my way" She sighs, her insecurity dragging her deeper and deeper into the pool of doubt.

I hate when she talks like this. It hurts me when she demeans her character. She has more talent and shine than she even recognizes. I wish I was a camera so that I could capture her magnificence and display it to her and the world, so that all could see not only her radiant beauty, but the rarity of her talent.

"Don't measure your talent with a ruler of mine. It's not fair to you. Girl, you have all the passion all the determination of ten thousand Swan Lake dancers, but you also have something that they can't take from you, your confidence in yourself. I believe you can do it, and I know you believe you can do it, so stop undermining your ability. This is yours to own" I smile, pecking her hand softly.

"This is Pablo Sanchez, the famous Philippine protege. He choreographed his first dance recital at age seventeen. He isn't an amateur Michael. I-"

"Jesse Rose, I swear if you don't stop talking like this I am going to bring Bil in here and let him preach to you, since I'm obviously am getting nowhere with you" I threaten, aware of her hatred of Bill's sermons.

Bill Bray is my best friend, my father, my home away from home. He also the head of my security. Because he is the head of my security he is the one that is closest to me, gaining knowledge of everything the outside world is still trying to figure out. And because of this, I always trust talking to him and gaining his wise words in the ways of the world, while on the other hand, he may give great advice, but he is well known for giving long, out drawn sermons, Jesse especially hates them.

She quickly leans off the hand stitched shams and glances at me with wide eyes.

"Michael Joseph, If you call him in here I will leave you in this hotel room by yourself tonight and you can go to that pre album release party by yourself" She threatens, crossing her hands over her chest like a small child.

Once again finding amusement in her feisty nature, I reach for her arms and gently pull them apart.

"Well my dear Jesse, you better make use of this spacious hotel room, because this is your temporary dance studio for the next couple of hours" I smile, standing up from the love seat.

Offering my hand to her, I give her an encouraging smile.

She re-wraps her scarf around her head before accepting my offer with a faulty glare.

"You are such a pain in the ass Michael Joseph, I want you to know that" She grumbles, waiting my next instruction with her hands crossed over her chest.

I shake my head, rolling my eyes playfully. She is such a child at times, I love it.

"Well, you are so cute when you are pouting like this. Now come on, let's put on a groove and show me some magic" I clap my hands together, walking towards the stereo across the room.

She watches me carefully, her demeanor slowly changing as I reach for the key that unlocks the dancer inside of her.

Pressing play, the sound of the famous Russian ballet-Heinali, Sway, Sway fills the room. Slow and elegant as the song poses, slow and elegant as Jesse begins, sticking one foot out while the other waited patiently for instruction. It's as if once the music began, she became a droid, more so a slave the slow rhythms of the piano. Her style of dance is versatile, but her choice is contemporary. Much like me, finding a rhythm and a pace for a song is easy, it comes as natural to her as inhaling,

Watching her in awe, I follow each of her subtle movements with my eyes. The way she glides and spins on the wooden tile, is mesmerizing. The focus and determination in her driven facial expression is apprising. I only wish she knew how much of an honor it would be for anyone to watch her.

As the music dies, she finds peace with floor, face down into a downwards dog. When she finally lifts up into her original standing position, I can see the trance in her eyes disseminate into the atmosphere. Once I'm sure she has reclaimed reality, I clap my hands softly with a small smirk spread on my lips.

"Why are you smiling like that?" She asks, after a moment of gaining her breath.

I slowly approach her, my smirk still plastered onto my face.

"Because my dear Jesse. I told you, you cam do it. If what you just did was practice, I'm sure Mister Sanchez will have no hard time in picking you to be apart of his assemble"

She glances at her bare feet, then back up at me.

"You have a lot of confidence in me Mister Jackson..." She teases, stepping closer.

"Because I know what you are capable of. I know my girl, and you are going to do great things Jesse, I know it"

She smiles widely, displaying her miniature dimples and those beautiful pearly whites of hers.

"Thank you. I love you Michael" She whispers, her lips nearing mine.

I hold my breath, only waiting for her lips to meet mine. When our lips meet, time stops. I forget who I am. I am not Michael Jackson, the entertainer. I am not the record breaking Grammy winner. I am not the lonely, fame imprisoned Michael Jackson. I am Michael, just Michael. This is how I feel when I'm in her presence. And when we kiss, there's an undeniable magic that occurs, it's just unexplainable.

Feeling her release from our kiss, my closed eyes, slowly open, and my breathing returns.

"I love you too Jesse Rose" I whisper, taking her lips captive.

In our three years of friendship and one year of dating, we have never gone farther than kissing. It's not that we are on a purity pledge, it's just that there's many ways we give each other passion, as well as display our affection for one another, intimacy just isn't a priority.

This time I am the first to release the kiss and last to open my eyes.

Staring at each other in silence, the words "I love you" are spoken repeatedly through our eyes, just before the silence is broken by a knock on our suites door.

"You should go get that" She whispers, backing away from our enclosed space.

I nod, blindly walking toward the door.

Upon reaching the door I reach for the knob, only for the door to open on it;s own revealing a hefty, and focused Bill.

"Morning Bill, nice to see you too" I sarcastically remark as he enters the suite.

He turns towards me,sighing heavily.

"Sorry Mike, I'm just making sure everything is okay here. I know it's due to rain soon and I know how you are about storms,,, so i'm just checking" He informs me.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

Bill "Just checking", yeah right.

"Well if there was a storm coming, I have Jesse here. And if what you really want to know is what we are doing, it's practicing for her audition"

By the guilty look on his face, I knew I hit it right on the nail. That's the downfall of my relationship with Bill, he's always in my personal business. Yes he is my bodyguard and needs to know things, but he doesn't need to know every time I urinate. It has been especially worse since I started dating Jesse a year ago. He's always warning me about being careful, since Jesse was originally a fan who I became "too attached to", as Bill puts it. I have to constantly remind him to stay in his place, it does get tiring and most definitely annoying.

"Good. Great. Speaking of, Miss Edmonds, I will have Rafael and Scotty escort you to the audition. So please notify me them when you are ready to depart" He forces a smile.

Jesse returns with a genuine smile of her own, continuing to stretch.

When Bill turns his gaze on me I shake my head in disappointment.

"What now Mike?" He questions, walking towards the door.

"Nothing... I just wished you would be more kind to my girlfriend" I huff.

He glances towards Jess's direction then turns to leave silently.

I just don't understand him. I just hope he will lighten up on Jesse, they are both very important to me. Besides a few "friends", Bill and Jesse are all I have. I need them to get along.

Sighing heavily, I flash Jesse an assuring smile and gesture for her to continue. She hesitates before dropping her concern and returning to her focus.

I pray that she makes the cuts in this audition, she really deserves it....

To Be Continued...