June's point of view

I stood there, frozen for a few seconds, praying inside that Michael would show up soon. I knew how to handle Prince, this wasn't what my nervousness was about, I just didn't expect him to come to me this soon.

I didn't say anything, but instead turned back to the newbies who were looking at us intensely.

"God, your brains are slow! What are you waiting for? Go!" I shooed them away, and finally, they walked away.

Well, Crystal and April did.

"Do you need me? You seem uncomfortable," Caleb softly asked, leaning closer to me, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm fine, Caleb. Go, and make a name for yourself."

He kept this concerned look on his face, and narrowed his eyes at Prince before walking away as well.

Caleb is a nice boy. He's really protective over me, and really kind. Maybe too much at times, but I guess it's fine, he just wants me to like him.

Finally, I could turn back to where Prince was standing, impatiently waiting for me to shoo my newbies away.

"That guy has a crush on you," he commented, smirking. "He threw daggers at me."

I rolled my eyes, and tried to be as polite as possible, "sorry, they're the newbies. Well, a part of it," I chuckled nervously, and held out my hand for him to shake it. "Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

He took my hand in his soft one, and kissed the back of it, "the pleasure is all mine," he argued, releasing my hand. "You're enven more beautiful in flesh and bones."

Lover boy.

Thank God Michael didn't hear that.

"Thank you," I simply said, putting my arm at my side again.

"You're not gonna tell me how good looking I am?" He asked, yet another smirk on his face.

I have to admit that he did look good, but he was nothing near perfection like Michael. Nothing.

His jet black hair was straightened and wild, and he had a perfectly neat three days beard that really suited him, I have to admit. Prince's face always looked like a doll's face to me: his skin is flawless.

His leather jacket and black leather pants made him look like the bad boy he was, in total oppostion with the high heels he was wearing.

I heard many times that his Royal Badness had a hard time accepting his height, and that it was still a touchy subject for him to talk about.

In about ten years, wearing heels became his trademark, and it became less talked about, for his greatest pleasure I assume.

"You don't need me to tell you that. I'm sure your harem hoes can take care of that," I smiled sarcastically.

"Oh wow, why so bitter?"

"Where's Tara?" I asked to show him where I was going with that question.

"She's somewhere with her models friend," he nonchalantly said, looking over the room. "I heard you were coming with my friend Michael."

"Your friend, yeah," I couldn't help but laugh at this. "But you heard right."

"I thought he was married," Prince tapped his chin in thought. "Is he?"

I didn't answer and stared at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Okay, I got it. Not my business," he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Exactly. So, what are you doing here?"

"Uh? Accompanying my girl to a party?" He said with an attitude, like I was stupid. "I have the feeling my being here bothers you."

"Is this that obvious?"

"Totally. What's the matter? You're afraid I'm going to force you, or brainwash you so that you accept to be a part of my video?"

"No, no it's just-- I'm sorry but I don't get why you want me, amongst thousands of other girls. It has to be because of my relationship with Michael."

"You're a dancer, right?"

"Yes, but I'm no professional, and --"

"You're a dancer, you're beyond beautiful, and this is what I need. I don't have any ulterior motives. But if you don't want to do it, I guess that's okay.

"I'm not what the press says I am," he went on as I didn't speak a word. "I'm not that bad boy. I just want you to be a part of my art, and as you said multiple times you'd like to explore new things, I thought I could help you with that. I'll totally understand if you don't want to do it because of Michael, knowing that we're kinda rivals, but I really hope you'll do it. It would be good publicity for you, and for me. Just think about it."

Maybe I judged him too fast, after all.

"I um --"

"She'll think about it," Michael came from behind me, cutting me off.

I looked up at him, and took the glass of champagne he had in his hands. I gulped hard as Michael was throwing daggers at Prince, but still, he kept a smile on his angelic face.

"How are you doing?" He asked, holding his hand towards Prince while wrapping his other arm around my waist.

"Michael," Prince said, giving him an handshake before stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I think the last time I saw you was on that magazine with your wife. How's she doing?"

I frowned. I couldn't get how he was all sweet and kind two minutes ago, but quickly changed of demeanor, his bad and rude habits comimg back.

"Ex-wife," Michael corrected him with a smirk.

"Oh, my bad," Prince chuckled again. "Oh, is that too soon for me to pronounce that word in front of you?" He asked, placing a hand over his heart, faking to be sorry.

"Very funny," Michael snickered, shaking his head at Prince's behaviour.

"I know," he bragged, smirking. "So that beautiful creature is all yours?" He asked, changing topic, and looked in my direction.

Michael clenched his jaw, "Yes."

By the short and cold answer Michael gave Prince, he visibly understood it wasn't a bright idea to flatter me in front of him.

A short, awkward silence fell upon us before Prince broke it.

"Sooooo," Prince drawled, rubbing the back of his neck, "did you finally learn how to play ping pong, Michael?"

Ping pong? I asked myself.

"I've always known how to play ping pong."

Prince laughed, holding his belly for exaggeration, "please, bro. Last time we played, you played like Helen Keller!"

"I'd rather kick your butt in what I do best, which is music... Oh wait, I think I already did. Am I right?" Michael said, and I had to fight the urge to snicker at this.

I love this mouth of his.

"You did. I knew Bad would be a hit with or without me," he sincerely said, smiling faintly at Michael.

Uh.

Bipolar much?

"Just remember you need to be a Prince before you become a king. Take care of your crown, Michael. It's not impossible for you to lose it."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning," Prince corrected him, and I felt Michael's hand tightening on my right hip.

The tension reached its top at this point. As I was becoming nervous all over again, I drank from my glass of champagne and emptied it in a matter of barely fifteen second.

"I already gained your manager and your ex lover, the next thing I'm aiming to get is that crown of yours... And maybe your girl, again," he said, smirking towards me, which caused me to gulp hard.

Ex-lover? Who is he talking about?

Michael took a step forwards and looked down at the 5'4 superstar in front of him.

"You're not getting anything from me, and certainly not my girl. If you touch her, I swear to God that I'll take care of you myself," he threatened in a deep, cold voice.

As a waiter passed by, I put my empty glass of champagne on it, and pulled Michael back by his forearm.

"Come on babe, he's not worth it," I tried to whisper to Michael, but apparently Prince heard me.

"I'm not worth it, huh?" He asked, and I could have sworn that I saw a hint of sadness in his deep brown eyes.

"I--"

I didn't have the time to tell him that this wasn't what I meant to say because Tara interrupted me by yelling my name across the room. Once she reached us, she jumped in my arms, and hugged me like her life depended on me.

It was great to see her again. The last time we saw each other was back in 1989, to one of Chanel's shows where I presented Karl's Winter/Fall collection.

When we broke our embrace, Tara cupped my face in between her hands, and looked at me closely, like she was studying my face.

"You're so beautiful, honey," she told me, smiling. "Is Michael Jackson responsible of that glow you have in you?" She asked, averting her eyes towards Michael who was visibly into a glare contest with Prince.

"What do you think?" I asked, snorting. "You look amazing as well, girl," I sincerely said, giving her a genuine smile.

"That's because of that guy," she declared, letting go of me to go into Prince's arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, standing by his side. Prince cut his eyes off of Michael, and they both seemed to finally come back to reality.
"What were you guys talking about?" She asked, pecking Prince's cheek.

He seemed uncomfortable at Tara's display of affection.

"Nothing important. Let's go," he declared, taking her wrist in his hand before dragging her toward the bar.

He didn't look at Michael again, but gave me a sad look before walking away. Was he really hurt by what I said? Was he acting so that I have sympathy for him?

Once they were away, I sighed heavily before grabbing another glass of champagne from the tray another waiter was carrying across the room.

I took a big sip of it, and Michael looked at me skeptically.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his perfect eyebrows raised.

"This guy will be the death of me. How can he be so arrogant and despicable, and sweet and charming at the same time?"

"You think he is charming? He's just playing, because that's what he is. He's a player. With girls, with everything."

I looked Michael's demeanor closely, and I noticed he was no longer playing Prince's game. He became really angry at this point.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Who's that ex lover of mine he just talked about, right?"

"Yeah," I snorted quietly. "You never mentionned that to me."

"He's talking about Tatiana."

"Tatiana, like in Tatiana Thumbtzen?" I asked for clarification.

"Yes."

"I didn't know you were in a relationship with her," I said, a little bit hurt that he didn't tell me about it.

"I wasn't. We were never an item, it was just innocent flirt. Well, for me," He sighed. "She was in love with me, but she never dare say it to me, so she showed it by kissing me in front of everybody, during that concert in New York, the day before we met."

"Oh," I simply said, feeling quite overwhelmed.

"I've never been in love with Tatiana, and I honestly don't care who she's seeing. The only important thing for me is you, and I don't want him near you."

"He won't try anything, baby," I reassured him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "This bad boy attitude is just a façade. This is not him, I can tell you this."

"You heard him, he wants you, just like he wants everything from me."

"Well, I don't want him, but I want everything from you too," I said, trying to lighten up the mood with a smile. "One thing is sure, he's never gonna get half of your talent."

"Yeah," he sighed again, looking down.

"Baby," I began, lifting his chin up, "stop worrying, and let's enjoy this party, okay?"

"Okay," he smiled faintly, and turned his back to walk away.

I grabbed his forearm, and turned him back to face me before crashing my lips on his. My left hand was on his right cheek, while the other one was still wrapped around his forearm as we both kissed like nobody was watching us. I could feel Michael's smile on my lips, which caused me to mirror his expression.

"I love you, and only you, baby," I whispered on his lips.

"I love you too, ba--"

"There are the lovebirds!" We heard a recognizable voice said.

When we looked in the voice's direction, Brooke was walking to us with that beautiful smile of hers on her lips, closely followed by Naomi who mirrored Brooke's expression.

My girls.

"Brooke!" Michael and I cheered on unison, hugging our friend tightly.

"Come on guys, I can't breathe," she chuckled, which caused us to laugh as well. "You missed me, huh?"

"It been a while, of course we missed you!" Michael exclaimed with a smile.

Apparently he forgot about what just happened with Prince, and I was relieved. We didn't need more drama than we already had.

I, on the other hand, couldn't forget the look Prince gave me.  The sadness in his eyes when I told him he wasn't worth it really touched me to the core.
I know it shouldn't have touched me though, because Michael warned me about him many times, but if I wanted to work with him, I needed to be his friend, and Michael needed to be okay with this.

"Oh, girl!" Naomi exclaimed while she pulled me into a warm embrace. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," I sincerly said, rubbing her bare back. "You look stunning."

"You look amazing yourself, darling," she smiled, pulling back. "Hey Michael," she turned to Michael and pulled him in a warm embrace as well.

"How are you doing?" Michael asked her once they broke their hug.

"I'm doing great!" she smiled. "It's so cool to see you guys back together. This lady over here was miserable without you, let me tell you this," Naomi told Michael, talking about me.

"Come on, they were both miserable without each other, and I knew there was something wrong with that marriage of yours, Jackson," Brooke chimed in, and both Michael and I chuckled. "Hopefully you guys marriage will be true and amazing."

"That's--"

"We don't talk about this, we're just fine like this," Michael cut me off with a smile, and I frowned at him. "How does a glass of champagne sound?" Michael changed topic, clapping his hands together.

Brooke and Naomi looked at each other, and then at me with a frown on their faces. They visibly caught my pain when  Michael said that.

I felt a sharp pain in my heart when those words came out of Michael's mouth. We never really talked about marriage ever since we found our way back to each other, but I remember Michael telling me how Michael he wanted to marry me back in 1988. It hurt even more to think that he changed his mind in a matter of two years about three fact that he wanted to spend the rest of his life besides me.

"Um, sounds good!" Brooke uncomfortably exclaimed, looking at me, then to Michael.

"Let's go then," Michael declared, and walked to the bar.

As I was about to follow behind, Naomi grabbed my arm, and stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Are you okay?" She asked me with concerned.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"June, I know how badly you want to get married. You can't be fine after that."

"I am, really. I guess he doesn't want to talk about this while he's still married. That's okay."

My friend sighed, and wrapped one of her arms around my shoulder, "he'll change his mind. You guys are made for each other, you need to gnnet married."

"Yeah, well, apparently Michael doesn't have the same opinion about this."

"Come on, he'll change his mind," Naomi reassured me as we were walking side by side to the bar.

As I spotted Michael and Brooke who seemed to be in a deep conversation, I heard my name being told, and made sure to hear what they were saying by stopping just behind Michael, so that he couldn't see me.

"June is perfect, and I couldn't love somebody as much as I love her."

"Tell me something I don't know," Brooke snorted.

"Seriously though, she makes me happy like no one else can."

"I don't get why you don't want to marry her, Mike," Brooke shook her head, and I felt my heart break in my chest.

"For starters, I'm still married. Then, I had such a bad experience with marriage, with all those prenuptial agreements, the divorce papers and everything... I just want things to be easy for once."

"Why do you think about divorce already? You and June is forever, can't you see that?"

"I don't know, Brooke. I think I'm afraid. I'm afraid she'll leave me again."

"Why would she walk away again?"

"Because this is how she is, sadly."

"So you're positive about this?" Brooke asked Michael.

"I know what I want. I want June and I want things to be easy. She'll understand. She rarely mentioned marriage anyways."

"Does she know?"

"That I don't want to get married again? Probably, I don't know," he shrugged.

"Come on girl, come here," Naomi took my arm and dragged me through the crowded room to the restroom.

I came in the room, still numb from what I heard, as Naomi locked the door behind us. I leaned against the wall, and closed my eyes, trying to sink in what I heard. 

"I'm sure he didn't mean that, girl," my friend reassured me in a soothing tone. "He will change his mind. Didn't you hear what he said?"

"That he didn't want to marry, I got that, Naomi," I said in a harsher tone than expected.

"I'm not talking about that," she shook her head and took my left hand in hers. "He said that he loved you, that he wanted you. You mean the world to him, you are his world."

"I'm not that important to him if he doesn't want to be my husband."

"You need to understand his point of view. He married a girl he didn't love, so that's quite normal he doesn't want to be married again."

"You don't know the half of it."

I tried my hardest to understand how much Michael was disgusted by marriage, after what Jessica put him through, but I couldn't wrap my mind about the fact that he was afraid to marry me because he didn't trust me.

I won't ever be known as Mrs. June Jackson.

This was my dream, but at this moment, this dream seemed far away already.

"Then tell me. Tell me what's on your mind June. I'm here now, talk to me," she soothed, rubbing the top of my hand.

I walked past Naomi, and went in front of the mirror to wipe the single tear that fell from my eye.

"Let's get out of here first, okay?"

"Sure thing. Lead the way, darling."

***

Naomi and I were seated outside on the balcony, talking about what happened in Michael and I's life. Naomi has always been a good listener, just as Brooke.

With Tara, it's another kind of friendship. She's only eighteen, and I want to take care of her like she's my little sister. I want to protect her, which explained the reason why I was so bitter towards Prince at first.

"Just to see if I understood this crazy story. We hate the bitch, right? Jessica, I mean."

"We do hate the bitch, yes," I chuckled.

"Now everything is clear, I kind of understand why Michael doesn't want to get married again. Don't you?"

"I do understand, but at the same time I don't. I mean, our marriage wouldn't be the same he had with Jessica. Not at all. We love each other very much, and I know I hurt him in the past, but I swore to him that I'll stop walking away. I made a promise, and I'm planning on keeping it."

"You need to talk to him about this, darling. Maybe he'll change his mind if you show him you really want to be his wife."

"I will, but not today. I'm still upset about this, and I don't want to start an argument about this. He's right on one point, he's still married, and we shouldn't talk about this now."

"Wise decision," Naomi smiled at me. She then looked in the distance, and a frown appeared on her angelic face. "Isn't that Sheila, your newbie?"

I looked in the same direction as Naomi, and indeed, Sheila walked outside, and she was visibly drunk.

"Excuse me," I told Naomi, patting her knee.

I walked towards the newbie, and held her shoulders for support. The girl was really wasted at this point. She could barely stand on her own feet.

"What the hell, Sheila?" I hissed angrily. "How much drinks did you have?"

"I swear I had only two," she slurred, trying to keep her eyes open. "What's happening to me?"

"Damnit, you're wasted! Didn't the others tell you to behave and be appealing? This is how you make connections? You think it's a good idea to show how talented you are?" I angrily said once again, sitting her down on a little couch.

"I swear I didn't drink that much, June," she said, and she began to cry hysterically. "I-I only had a glass of ch-champagne with Steph at the bar, and another Paulina offered me. I swear June. I'm so sorry," she cried again.

"I'm taking you home, come on."

I pulled her up again, wrapping her left arm around my neck while supporting her waist so that she couldn't fall. Naomi noticed me in the distance, and came towards the both of us, a concerned look on her flawless face.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking her home. She's completely wasted, and I don't want anybody to see her like this, and certainly not Emily or Paulina."

"What the hell happened to her?" I heard a voice asked behind us.

I turned around, still holding Sheila tightly, and fell face to face with Emily, closely followed by the devil itself.

"See, I told you she was wasted!" Paulina said, smirking devilishly at me.

"June, what the hell? You were supposed to take care of the newbies and help them make connections, not getting them drunk!"

"I'm sorry, Emily, but I can't be behind their back all the time. They're grown enough to understand they shouldn't drink, now are they?"

"Visbly not," the bitch answered.

"Come on Paulina, shut the fuck up. We both know what kind of bitch you are. This girl told us you made her drink," Naomi chimed in.

"Fix that mess, and take the girl home before everybody sees her. I dont want any bad publicity for the agency. Don't make me regret I hired you."

With that, she walked away, bumping into my shoulder.

"Ouch. Must hurt," Paulina said, smirking again. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She'll just feel a bit dizzy for the next couple of hours. But you know the feeling, right?"

My face fell, and my eyes widened.

"You bitch, tell me you didn't drug her?"

"Are you fucking insane?" my friend added with the same horrified tone as me.

"Game on, bitches. This agency is mine."

"I want to go home, please," Sheila slurred, crying on my shoulder.

"This is not over. This is just the beginning," I threatened before walking away with Sheila and Naomi who was supporting the newbie as well.

"I can't believe her," Naomi muttered.

"It doesn't surprise me, but if she wants war, she'll have war."

"June! June!" I heard a group of people call behind us.

Damn, the newbies.

"Guys, I'm sorry I let you down tonight. I'm the worst manager in the world, I know that, but--"

"No, no! Don't worry, everything's fine. We got to talk to Brooke, and she said we're all invited to her place in New York when she'll be back there in October!" Crystal happily said.

"Uh, what's the matter with Sheila?" Caleb asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She had a little bit too much to drink."

"You know what, guys? I have a show next week, and you're all invited as well. A lot of high profile people will be there, and you could learn some stuff there. What do you think?"

My four newbies cheered, literally jumping up and down in excitement.

"Thank you," I mouthed to Naomi.

She nodded towards me with a smile, and suddenly, I felt lucky to have such great friends. They saved me from being the worst manager in the world, and I couldn't thank them enough.

Soon, the newbies left, saying their goodbyes to me, and Naomi and I finally reached Pit, and he took Sheila out of my arms.

"Man, what happened?" He asked, concerned.

"Take her to the limo, I'll explain in the car," I coldly said.

My friend simply nodded, and I turned back to Naomi.

"Go back to the party, girl. I don't want you to waste it for me. I'll call you very soon, okay?"

"Yes, please. We should hang out while I'm here," she said, and pulled me into a warm embrace. "You're gonna get through everything, okay? You always do."

"I know," I smiled faintly, and pulled away. "Can you go get Michael for me, please? I just want to avoid judgy stares."

"Of course. I'll see you soon, darling."

"Thank you," I smiled at my friend before she walked away.

I sighed heavily, rubbing my forehead in annoyance. This party was just too much. I expected it to be perfect, as it was Michael and I's first appearance together as an item.

As I watched the crowd from afar, I noticed Prince getting closer from where I was. He didn't notice me, but I did, and I needed to talk to him and apologize for my behavior.

"Prince!" I called, running after him. "Wait!"

He stopped in his tracks, and looked around to see who was calling him. When he noticed it was me, he rolled his eyes and continued to walk away.

"What do you want?" He mumbled.

"I just want to talk to you."

"Oh, you think I'm worth it?" He harshly asked me, looking at me.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I... I just didn't know what to tell Michael so he let it go. Why did you say that, in the first place? Why are you so mean and rude towards Michael?"

"We're rivals. We need to keep this rivalry going. Is this all you needed to tell me? There is a bunch of girls waiting for me in there."

"Please do not break Tara's heart."

"She's gonna become a star thanks to me, she'll forget about the heartbreak."

"Why are you so heartless?" I asked him, almost sad. "I saw the sadness in your eyes earlier when I told you you weren't worth it. Don't deny it. Leave that façade you have."

"If I leave it, then I'll be vulnerable, and I don't want to be another Michael Jackson just to please you. Like you said earlier, there are tons of girls out there who'd love to be my dancer. I don't need you."

Ouch.

I don't know why, but this hurt me as well.

"If you're ready to stop being a douchebag, give me a call," I said, handing him a card with my phone number. "Just know that I'm sorry, and that I'll be happy to learn more about the Prince who showed his emotions earlier."

Prince took the card and analyzed it before I turned around to get in the limo that was awaiting Michael and I.

Now I had to face Michael, and pretend I didn't hear anything from his conversation with Brooke. 

_______________________

Hey guys,

Sorry for any typos, I wrote that chapter on my phone, and didn't re-read it, because I'm kinda late right now XD

If you like imagines, you can check out my imagines book if you want to :)

I LOVE YOU ALL, xo