Chapter 24

We arrive back at Neverland and I look over at Michael. His whole face is soiled with ice cream. I dissolve in laughter and he gives me a weird look.

"What? I want to laugh," he whines. I cover my mouth, still giggling, and lead him to a mirror. Of course, he starts to chuckle.

"Can you hand me a cloth?" He asks, still smiling at himself.

I nod and grab a paper towel from the kitchen before handing it to him. He thanks me and wipes off his face.

"Soo, what now then?" I ask.

"Do you want to play some arcade games?" He questions. I agree instantly.

"I'm always up for a challenge," I say with a smile.

"I'll race you," Michael says, sizing me up. I shrug.

"Alright, first one to the game room." I say.

Before I can say anything else, Michael swings me over his shoulder and starts to sprint. I shout in surprise but then start to laugh.

"Michael, put me down!" I demand playfully. I am finally placed down by him and he has a silly look on his face.

"What was that about?" I ask, smiling.

"I did that so you wouldn't cheat, just like you did the last time we raced," he says.

My mind goes back that time, the evening when Michael and I enjoyed what Neverland had to offer. I laugh to myself when I remember 'bending' the rules.

"I honestly wasn't going to cheat! My days of doing that are over," I assure him.

He gives me a skeptical look. He doesn't believe me? I would believe me.

"We'll see if they really are, I mean, this is a room full of games. Where should we start?" He asks.

"Pac-man," I say immediately, dashing toward the arcade system.

"Please, hurry and make a decision," Michael says sarcastically. I roll my eyes and click a button to start the game.

My eyes and his are glued to every move I make. I stare at the screen, getting a feel of what moves I was making with my hands and not having to look down. It felt like a split second to me, but my character dies and I huff in disappointment.

"That fast? No fair!" I complain.

"Sweetheart, you played for an hour and a half," Michael says. My mouth falls open.

"What? How?" I'm so confused. There's now way that amount of time passed, it felt like a minute or two!

Michael shrugs. "I don't know, really. I guess you were so into the game that you didn't realize."

"Now I truly understand the saying of 'Time flies when you're having fun,'" I murmur.

"Well you chose Pac-man, so now you have to wait until I lose, or beat your score." He replies.

I inwardly groan. Why couldn't I have done something else that requires to people at a time.. like a game of pool?

"Actually," I start, looking over at the pool table at the other side of the room, "Can you teach me how to play pool Michael? I've always wanted to learn."

He glances at me and I make sure to add a slight pout for good measure. He sighs and it's then I know that he's ready to give in.

"Okay sweetheart, sure."

He saunters over to the table and grabs two pool sticks. He hands one to me and a white ball.

"The first thing you do is put the white ball down and aim your stick to where it will hit one of the colored balls, sending it down a hole. To do that, it's best to get in a stance like this.."

I watch him as he bends over the table with both hands on the stick, his head level with the table.

"Then you use enough power to hit the ball. But not too much, or it may bounce back."

"So, like this?" I try mimicking the position that he's in.

I look at him to get confirmation, and I find myself staring at his lips. I can't remember when I've ever been this desperate for a kiss.

"Almost there, you need to get lower so you can see your playing field. Like this.."

He adjusts my body the way it's supposed to be by lowering my hips a little and straightening my arms. I can't help but smile and shiver when Michael's hands touch my body.

"Alondra, did you hear me?" He asks.

He said something? I only zoned out for a second. Well, that's definitely what it felt like.

"What? Sorry," I apologize.

"I asked you which ball you're aiming for. You need to have a target," he says.

"Michael. I mean the blue one," I quickly try to recover.

Why on earth did I just say his name? It didn't make sense! I sneak a look at him and he has a smirk on his face.

"You don't want to learn about pool, do you?" He says softly.

"No I do, I'm just distracted." I mutter.

"Really? By what?" He questions.

"Oh, I have a feeling you know," I answer, looking down at the interesting floor.

"You're right, I do." He drops the pool stick and takes mine out of my hand, putting it back.

"Do my lips have anything to do with it?" He whispers.

Michael walks over to me and tilts my chin up. I close my eyes, knowing what comes next. He plants a soft kiss on my lips before picking me up. Our lips remain locked as he carries me to the bedroom and places me on the bed in a sitting position. He turns around to close the door and turn off all the lights.

"Lay down," he orders after the door has been closed. My heart speeds up.

"Oh, Michael-" I start. My mind stopped at a kiss, where is his going?

"Sweetheart, it's okay. I just want to kiss you and hold you. Will you let me do that?" He asks.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and nod quietly. He smiles and leans me back on the bed before laying down himself. An arm is wrapped around me and I close my eyes.

"I just want to lay next to you for a while
You look so beautiful tonight
Your eyes are so lovely
Your mouth is so sweet.."

It is then I realize that Michael is reciting the intro to his hit song, I Just Can't Stop Loving You. I turn a beet red as I feel his eyes on me.

"A lot of people misunderstand me
That's because they don't know me at all
I just want to touch you
And hold you
I need you
God I need you
I love you so much.."

He reaches his arm up and slides his fingers through my hair.

"Did you mean that?" I ask into the dark silence.

"Every last word, I did." He answers truthfully.

I hear him sit up, as I can't see anything, and feel his lips press against mine. I turn my body to him. We kiss for what seems like forever, and I feel him rub my lower back gently and lovingly.

"Michael," I say.

"Yes?"

"I love you too. I really do," I answer softly.

"I know. But I love you more. There's no other place I'd rather be than here with you."

"With me?"

"Of course." He replies.

"I'm glad to be here with you too." I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his cheek.

"We should spend a while in here." I say.

"How long?"

"I don't know, a couple forevers," I suggest. He giggles and I join in.

"I like the sound of that sweetheart."

--

Chapter 24

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