Sierra's POV (We'll get back to Michael's soon, its just that Sierra is leaving.)

I pull up to his huge house and wait for the gates to open. I have this whole day planned. And now, Janet is included. She just doesn't know yet. Michael has told me how he would love to have a water balloon fight. So I came packed with water balloons already filled.

The gates open and I park in the driveway. The first one out the door is Janet. She runs to me crying. What's wrong?

She hugs me so tight.

"Sierra! I heard you were leaving forever! "

I kneel down and say, "Not forever. It'll only feel that way, but I promise I'll be back. In the meantime, you know my friends Scot and Shanone? "

She nods her head.

"Well, they will be here with Michael and you for me. Then I'll come back and never leave again. "

She slowly nods. "OK..."

I wipe her tears and change the subject, "Look what I got!"

I lead her to the car. Her eyes widen.

"Water-"

"Shhh!"

She nods. I say, "We're going to surprise attack Mikey. Where is he?"

"Out back. He knew you were coming. He's so sad so he didn't want you to find him."

I wink at her. "Thanks for telling. Here. Grab some. Wait for my first throw, then you just go crazy."

She giggles and nods. I hand her an arm full of balloons. I pick up the big bucket and Janet and I sneak around back.

Michael is laying in an chair underneath a tree, his eyes closed. I slowly sneak over toward him. I see his brothers in the yard messing around. Oh, please don't ruin the surprise!

I slowly place the bucket down and look at Janet. She's smiling so big. I'm happy that I'm able to make her smile like that before I leave.

I look out into the yard and see his brother, Jermaine pointing at me and getting his other brothers attention.

I have to do this now! I throw the balloon just as Jermaine yells,

"Michael!"

Michael opens his eyes, only to see a blue balloon inches from him. It hits his chest. I begin to laugh hysterically. He looks at me and smiles. He begins to run to me.

"Throw Janet!"

Janet begins to balloons at him. Michael slips and hits the ground. I can't stop laughing. I glance over to Jermaine and the rest, only to find them jealousy glaring at me. What the hell is their problem?

Since I was distracted, Michael picks me up and carries me on his shoulder. I start laughing.

"Get him, Janet!"

Janet keeps throwing them, now drenching me in water also. Michael puts me down and grabs a water balloon. He throws it at Janet. Janet can't stop laughing. I hold my side. The laughter is hurting my stomach, but I can't stop.

Michael throws one at me. I scream. Michael gently jumps on me. We are face to face. He leans in and pecks my lip.

He does it again and again. Then he french kisses me. As we get into it, we don't notice Janet sneaking up on us. She throws a balloon right on our faces.

"Stop kissing! That's gross!"

I can't help but laugh as Michael springs off of me and runs after Janet. I roll on my side and watch Michael easily catch up to Janet and picks her. She's laughing so hard. I quietly get up so he doesn't see me. I grab two balloons and hide behind a tree.

"Where's Sierra?"

Janet yells, while laughing, "I don't know!"

He puts her on the ground and pins her down.

" I think you do know!"

Janet shakes her head fast and says,

"I don't! "

"Well, let's see what you know after the tickle monster talks to ya!"

Janet already starts to laugh as she says,

"No! Don't tickle me! Sierra!"

Michael begins to tickle her. Tears form from all her laughing.

Michael giggles and says,

"Where is she?"

"I don't know!"

I sneak around Michael to where I'm behind him. I throw a balloon at his back. He turns around.

"Pick on someone your own size!"

I smile at him. He smiles big at me and gets up. Janet says,

"Thank you, Sierra! "

I yell, "Go reload!"

Michael doesn't keep his eyes off of me. I take a step back, he takes a step forward.

"Mikey...."

He smirks at me and says,

"You did this to yourself, Sierra."

I throw the balloon directly at him, only to have him dodge it. I turn and run, but I soon feel his arms wrap around me. He picks me up again.

"Mikey! Put me down!"

He says in a eerie voice, "You brought this on yourself! "

I laugh even harder. "Don't ever talk like that again! "

He giggles. I look up to see where we're going and see the pool coming closer.

"No! Mikey don't throw me!"

He giggles again. He has a tight grip on me so I can't squirm.

"Michael you ass!"

"No one messes with the Water King!"

I scream as he tosses me in the pool. I swim up to the surface and say,

"You're dead meat, Mikey! "

He smiles and turns around to run, but stops in his tracks when he sees his father outside watching them. I get scared and quickly get out of the pool. He looks me up and down. My jeans are drenched and my red shirt is sticking to my torso. My shoes make a squishy noise when I walk.

He shakes his head in disgust and walks back in the house. Michael looks at me surprised.

"I thought we were screwed for sure."

"I was too, but then I remembered my dad talked to him about today."

Janet jogs over and says,

"Jermaine is the one who went and told Joseph about this."

Michael nods. I blurt out,

"What the hell is his problem? What did I do to him?"

I forgot Janet was there. "I'm sorry for my language. "

"I don't mind."

Michael answers my question and says, "Joseph has got them convinced that you are bad for me. They don't even know you're leaving. Only Janet and I do."

After he said that, I could tell he made himself upset again. Janet was looking the same way. This isn't how it's suppose to be. We're suppose to be having fun!

While we walk back towards the house, Katherine opens the door. She looks at me with guilt in her eyes. Why?

"Michael, sweetie, more of your friends are here."

"Thanks mom. You can send them back here."

Scot and Shanone walk through the house like they always do. That's another thing that urks me. They get to walk through the house while I have to walk around the house. It's not a small house either! It's not fair and its humiliating. Michael sees the anger in my eyes.

He knows why. He pulls me close. I look at him and smile. He smiles back.

"Hey, you guys!"

I wave. Michael didn't see me pick up a water balloon before walking over here. Scot or Shanone. Who gets it first?

"Why are you guys drenched?"

I answer before anyone else could,

"We dared each other to jump in the pool. "

Michael gets my drift. I was worried about Janet saying something but she just nods. She understood I had a plan. Gosh I love her.

Scot laughs. He looks over and sees the white bucket. He gets in first. I throw the balloon and it burst all over his chest. Shanone begins laughing. Scot looks at me surprised.

"Sierra!"

I laugh and run. They go over to the bucket and pick up more balloons.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The sky has turned a beautiful orange color. We're all laying on the grass looking at the sky. We're telling Janet some of the crazy stuff we all did together.

"I wish I was there with you guys."

Michael shakes his head, "Don't wish that Janet. It's funny now, but it wasn't then."

We all laugh. I sit up. I have to leave soon. They notice that.

"I hate to say this guys..."

Janet wraps her arms around me. She says,

"Then don't. "

I swallow the lump in my throat. I kiss her forehead. She lets go and looks at her hands. I stand up. So do the others.

"Why can't we see you tomorrow? "

"I'm leaving so early... You guys won't be awake."

Scot says, "I don't think any of us will be able to sleep tonight. "

Scot and Shanone have been my best friends since 5th grade. I introduced them to Michael in 6th grade. Michael was so shy, but warmed up to them. I'm glad he did.

I nod. We walk toward the house. I stop. They all stop and look at me. Shanone asks,

"What's wrong?"

I say, "I have to go around. I'll see you guys up front. "

I start to walk around, but Michael grabs my hand and says,

"Screw them."

He smiles at me. I giggle. We take a deep breath, probably hoping Joseph won't see us. Scot opens the door and we all begin to walk through the house. I haven't been inside for years. I forgot how beautiful the inside is. Everything is going smooth, until I hear LaToya say,

"Mom! It's in the house!"

I clench my jaw. Michael goes to say something, but I pull him along. We go through the front door and stop at my car. This is it. I won't see him for ten years. I need to stay strong.

"I want you all to call me every night. I don't care how you feel, you all call me."

They nod and giggle. I bend down and say to Janet,

"I need you to be strong for Mikey, here. He's not as tough as he looks."

Michael giggles and says, "Hey, I'm tough enough to take on jellyfish! "

We all laugh. I hug everyone. When I hug Michael he holds onto me tightly. I french kiss him.
"Eww!"

They all say in unison.

Michael and I separate and laugh. I hold his hand and say,

"Wait for me."

He nods. I get in my car and back out of the driveway. Tears finally begin to fall as I drive away from my closest friends.