Two days later..

Kriiingg..!! Kriing...!

Camila's eyes lit up in an instant. She's been waiting for this for a little too long now.

"Michael's finally called me!" she thought optimistically.

She jolted from her lounge chair in her living room and made her way to the telephone.

"Hello?" she spoke, her heart beating faster and faster eagerly waiting to hear his voice.

"Hello there, Little Miss Mila."

Camila's emotion faded to realize that it wasn't Michael, but a familiar voice who had rung her.

"Oh, hi Jude," she said, scratching her head and trying to lighten the tone of her voice.

Jude Connors was none other than her best friend since high school; when she was a junior, he was a senior. They met in a gala since their fathers were business partners. Although he had all the good looks, their relationship never went more than best friends; he is like a big brother to her. Besides, he has a girlfriend – Fiona, whom he's very loyal to.

"Hm, what is it? Why are you so mellow? Were you expecting someone else?" he joked.

"No.. I wasn't," Camila snickered. "How are you, by the way? I haven't heard from you for a while."

"Ugh, I know right? It's been ages. I miss you Mils, can I stop by? Please?"

She was stunned at his sudden initiative, but she did need a little company. Plus, Jude was always a mood-booster.

"You're in town?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah, got back from New York just yesterday. I'll be there in a few minutes, ok? I gotta stop by the grocery so I can get some food for us, some dinner maybe? Would you like anything? Chips? Cookies? Or do you want frozen pizza?"

"I'm fine, J. You don't need to get me anythi–"

"Pepperoni it is. See you in.." he paused. "Half an hour, maybe, okay?"

"Looking forward to it."

And they both hung up the phone.

Camila smiled to herself, remembering how much Jude was such an affectionate and caring figure in her life. When life wasn't treating her well, she always had him to rely on. He was her rock, especially during the period a while after her mother passed. The one thing she loved the most was that the thought of dating him would be disgusting.

She slumped back down on her lounge chair, refusing to get ready because she had no reason to look good whatsoever for him. He has seen her in all her states already.

A few minutes after 5 PM, Camila heard her front door open. She rushed out from her study room and down the hall to see Jude standing straight up with a smile across his face, two filled paper grocery bags on either side of him in his hands.

He dropped the bags as soon as she came near, and they both gave each other a big hug.

"Ah! How's my girl?" he laughed, releasing himself from the hug. "How's life been treating you lately? How was Vegas?" he asked as he made his way to the kitchen, placing the grocery bags on the countertop.

Camila helped him take out the groceries. "Oh, nothing much," she replied. Then she was quick to make him not suspicious about Michael, since she heard it was all over the news. "But you know what? I tried to go to a casino, but I went in and immediately exited after only a few minutes. Disgusting, old, sweaty, greedy gambling men with nothing else more to do but be a stink bomb in society. The whole place was just screaming dirty money. Everywhere, it was just them ruling the whole area, I got sick and stayed in my room the whole time!" she jittered.

Jude looked at her funny. "Oh yeah, wow. I can agree, I hate casinos. Just a place where old men get to shrivel up and waste their last days gambling for money to feed to their hungry trophy wives who don't even love them back."

She smiled and was glad that her plan worked, and so they talked about casinos.

* * *

"You've gotten uglier," Camila pointed out towards Jude's eye bags. "You look like a homeless racoon."

They were relaxing in her living room, with the TV turned off and her jasmine scented candle burning up.

"Sheesh. Thank you, I'm very much aware of my lack of sleep."

She scanned his somber facial expression and rubbed the back of his hand. "Work?" she guessed.

"Yes. What else?" Jude slumped himself more down the couch. "Dad is never satisfied with my business proposals and what not. I'm trying to help him with the company but he keeps criticizing my work. Man, if only I was talented in acting or modeling like you."

Camila laughed. "Stop being so modest. But you're right, you're way too ugly to be a model," she joked. In reality, Jude had the perfect dreamy eyes and jawline of a model, especially with his lean figure and shiny blonde hair that would constantly cover his eyes.

They both continued eating the pepperoni pizza in silence.

"So, how's Fiona?" Camila asked, in reference to Jude's girlfriend. She had brown bombshell locks of a goddess and a petite figure to die for. They were, to say the least – a gorgeous couple.

"She's doing great, I'm going away to spend the weekend with her family in Vermont. I'm so lucky," he bragged. "What do you think I should gift her family? I was thinking.. some type of food like chocolates or baked cookies but that's too lousy, don't you think?"

Camila thought for a moment and said, "Why not a painting or some placemats, some type of home decor? That way they'll be forced to hang it somewhere."

"You're a genius, that's a great idea. Thank you so much," he pecked her a small kiss on her hand.

Although she was very happy for her best friend, she can't help but to wish that someday she would end up with a partner for herself. They're merely the same age but she secretly envies how much more advanced he is in his social life and relationships compared to her.

"Oh, by the way..." Jude started and Camila can already sense the suspicious tone to his voice, "Let's stop talking about me and Fiona. How's Camila and Michael?"

Camila can't help but to blush and look away. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. I've seen it on the news – Camila Jensen and Michael Jackson spotted together in Vegas during his album-release party," he nudged Camila playfully on her shoulder. "This is huge! Can't believe my girl got with a pop icon!"

She knew the topic of Michael would inevitably come up. All she wanted was to rant to him of how she's fallen deeply in love with him since that evening and the infuriating fact that she hasn't been able to reach him for the past week.

But, that's too much information. She didn't want him to think that she's gone back to her old self with the one-night-stands.

"Well, I was introduced to him while he was talking to my dad..." she started. "After that, we separated for a while but somehow found our way back to each other again and we had a short conversation."

Jude listened intently to Camila's recount of the night but after one moment, he scoffed when he realized that she might be hiding something.

"What? I'm serious!" Camila insisted, laughing.

"Really? No intimate touching? The news said that you two can't keep your hands off each other the whole night."

"And I thought you would know the news isn't the most credible source.." she rolled her eyes. "I'm the one telling the story here, honey."

"Yes, I know that. I'll just let you continue now."

She explained the gist of everything that happened, leaving out the part of when they took their clothes off. She told him about the movie and the small dinner, but nothing in detail. She also didn't want him thinking that she has this huge crush on Michael, because then it would seem like she's just another fangirl.

"If you ever have the chance, please introduce me to him. He seems like a cool dude," Jude said.

"J, I've only spoken to him once or twice."

"Yeah, but you guys were alone! Please, please, let me know, okay?" He looked down at his watch, "Fuck.. I got to go."

Camila glanced at the time, it was nearing 10 PM. "Damn, time flew by that fast? You sure you don't want to just stay over?"

Rising from the sofa, and gathering his stuff, Jude replied, "I'm sorry Mils, I can't. Fiona's waiting back home." His voice turned into a whisper, "And she doesn't know that I'm at your place."

Camila threw her hands in the air and grunted. "Seriously Jude, for the thousandth time, is Fiona fine with me?" she asked, annoyed. "You know we've been best friends for longer than she's even met you."

Jude shook his head. "I know, I know.. But she's totally fine with you, she's just uh..."

"What is it?"

"Nothing," Jude said and hurried to the front door. "Look, I really have to go, I don't want her to worry."

She rolled her eyes but obliged eventually. "Fine."

She walked him over to the front door, and he kissed her on the forehead. The doors opened and  out went the only human company she had that night. Once again, the lonely feeling crept back into her, agitating her every nerve. Without much thought, she rushed to the nearest telephone and dialed the same numbers written by Michael on the crumpled hotel paper, that she has now pasted on her fridge door.

The first ring, second ring, third ring... No response.

She swallowed her pride and went in to dial for the fourth time.

"Hello?" The recognizable and bothered Frank Dileo voice spoke.

"Hi, it's me again... Camila Jensen."

"Oh, you," he replied with a clear distaste. "Please, Michael is busy and if he really wanted to talk to you don't you think he would've called you back by now?"

"Um..." Camila thought. He's right, why hasn't Michael called her back?

"Point is, Ms. Jensen, I'll tell you when he's free," he said briefly. "Which is hardly most of the time."

With a disappointing sigh, she replied, "No, no. It's fine, Mr. Dileo. I won't call anymore."

"Very well then, Ms. Jensen. Good night."

Camila, without saying much back, hung up the phone. Seems like this could be a long wait.

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(A/N): Please don't forget to vote, comment and share! It's always so heartwarming when I see my readers interact with me and tell me how you're liking the story so far, I always appreciate everything!

PS: I named him Jude after Jude Law, because he is one gorgeous man. So, if you're like me, feel free to picture Jude as Jude Law although it's open for your own imagination :)

Thank you for reading, I love you! -Mia <3