Chapter 42

To no one's surprise, the story has already spread to national TV news, but it is a shock that they actually got the story right.

"The King of Pop comes to a near death experience with sister's fiancé. More on the lead story," The anchorman says.

I lay very stiffly on the bed while the news story is broadcasted for the fourth time in a row, but make no move to turn off the TV.

Once we returned to Neverland, I didn't shed a tear. What's the point? More tragedy will hit me. Or maybe I should just stay crying because disappointment is always around the corner.

I haven't seen Michael in hours, and I'm too shaken up to go look for him. I rest my severely pounding head on the pillow and moments later, the door opens.

I don't bother to look up, not needing to see Michael to know he has entered the room. His aura is powerful, and so is this headache.

The bed sinks next to me and I can take a whiff of his light cologne.

"You alright?" He asks, rubbing the small of my back.

"Peachy." I answer with more sarcasm than originally intended.

I sigh and lift my head up with difficulty, feeling bad about my remark.

"Sorry," I finally say as I rest my eyes on his face. The first expression I can extract from his features is distress.

"It's okay." He pulls me closer to his body and I try not to flinch, thinking about how roughly I was handled just hours before.

I keep my eyes on him before speaking. "I want to know what happened."

"You sure? I was just going to let you rest," He says.

"No. I want to know."

Michael pauses for a moment and then proceeds to tell me how Jack used deadly force to make Michael write him a check for $30 million.

"This is all my fault," I whisper.

"How? What were you to do, sweetheart? Don't put unneeded stress on yourself. Sometimes, it's too much for any one person to handle." He avers.

I slightly nod. "Go on."

"I talked to my lawyers. The good news is that Luis has been charged with attempted murder, sexual assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. He's locked away for five years at the very least. You're safe."

But am I really safe?

"And the bad news is?"

"They let out Jack within three hours of putting him in. Said there wasn't enough 'evidence' to convict him, which is complete bull, although he's been ordered to pay back the $30 mill."

"That's terrible! What evidence did they need?!" I burst into outrage, sending a sharp pain to my throbbing head, and Michael calms me by stroking my hair.

"I really don't know. LaToya called me and I told her, but she refuses to believe what Jack did."

I scoff. "Love is blind."

"Alondra, she's not in love. I know it. She's shut herself away from the whole family."

"Why are you so bent on analyzing her relationship?" I question.

"Because she's my sister! She deserves real love, like you and me."

He wraps his arms around my waist and brings me closer.

"What if Jack tries to hurt us again?" I murmur.

"He won't if he's in his right mind. I filed a restraining order against him for the both of us, and I've tightened Neverland security."

I nod wordlessly.

"We're safe, I promise. But what I want to know is, how did you manage to call Bill? That saved us, baby."

I exhale and tell the tale of my quick thinking, and how I called for help.

"Here's it back." I pull the phone out of my back pocket and place it in his hand.

"You're a lifesaver."

"You are. You saved me from being raped." My eyes well up with tears and before I can say anything else, he kisses me. I close my eyes, and my headache suddenly goes away.

"Don't speak," He mutters against my shaky lips before connecting his to mine again.

I pull away as it gets heated. "I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not going anywhere without me. Literally. When you're in the studio, or meetings, I'm there with you. And screw college, because I'm not going back."

"You.. you're sure you're done?"

"Surer than sure. I just want to be with you." I say truthfully.

"Okay," He says after a session of silence. "As long as you're sure."

"I am. And you still didn't tell me what was bothering you in the limo."

"Oh. I'm not ready to tell you yet." His voice seems far away. I can't take it anymore.

"Why?!" I yell. "What ever happened to no secrets? I have told you everything Michael," I say, vexed.

"I just need to work some things out. Once everything is okay again, I'll tell you."

What is that supposed to mean? I silently slip off the bed and walk toward the door.

"So now you're mad at me," He says annoyed.

"No." I say curtly before slamming the door behind me.

--

I don't know how long I was downstairs for. Way passed dark, for sure. I just needed some space, thinking space.

Could he be cheating? No. He isn't like that.

Then why do I have doubt in my mind?

I shake my head and to relieve the headache that has returned, I pop a few aspirins in my mouth.

I then clamber up the stairs to the bedroom again and see Michael sleeping peacefully. I walk up quietly, mesmerized by his beautiful sleeping face.

I go around to slide into bed next to him but ungracefully trip over something. I pushed my hands up against the floor to catch myself, not waking Michael.

I turn my head to find the cause of what made me fall. Its a journal.

It's black, leather and small with rounded edges. On the front, it says Michael Jackson in his chicken scratch handwriting. Under it is his perfect signature, and I chuckle to myself at the extreme contrast of the prints.

I'm about to open the cover but stop myself. There may be personal things in here. Maybe the reason he felt bothered is in here then. I flip open the leather book.

The first seven pages are blank. Then on the first page it says:

I love Alondra Marie Cade. She's my love. I can't think of life without her, I can't screw up, not again.

Screw up? Not again? I'm utterly confused, but moved at his deep words. I read on.

I love the way her eyes light up when she smiles. Oh, her smile. Like an angel's. I wish she would smile more.

She does things to me. I want to marry her, but she's so young... and I'm confused.

Confused about what?

The only thing I know is she is my soul mate. I believe it, I believe in that. I can't be with anyone else. But why are my feelings contradicting themselves? I love her but..

The sentence isn't finished. He loves me but what? Now I'm confused.

I turn to the next clean page and look up at his face again. I snatch a pencil off the nightstand and start sketching him. His round eyes, small nose, his slightly parted lips.

I'm there for hours, putting the details in. It must be early morning. Suddenly, I hear a low grunt fill the air and I snap my head up, breaking away from lightly shading his messy curls.

"What are you doing?" He asks, his eyes red and sleepy.

I just stare at him, not able to form words. Then I remember I was upset with him the last time he was awake, so I divert my gaze.

"Is that my journal?"

I try to be quick to hide it but Michael gets up from the bed and yanks it out of my hands in one swift movement.

"What are you doing with this?"

I don't want him to see the sketch. Around it, I wrote what I love about the features of his face. His eyes, nose and mouth.

"Nothing," I say but he already is looking at the drawing. I sigh in defeat.

"Wow," He looks in awe. "You never told me you can draw, sweetheart, this is like a portrait." His eyes are widened in amazement.

I snort and roll my eyes. "Yup, sure."

He turns to me. "I'm serious, this is.. its... So realistic. I've never seen anything like it."

"You're supposed to say that. You're my boyfriend."

"I know talent when I see it, and this," he says, holding the portrait out to me, "is talent."

"Well thanks," I smile a little.

"Um, did you read the page I wrote?" He asks.

"Yes. And I love you too. But you didn't finish.." I start but am cut off.

He blushes. "You shouldn't have even found it in the first place, you snoop." He accuses.

"I didn't snoop! In fact, you shouldn't have left it wherever. I tripped over it on the floor," I say.

Michael shakes his head. "Don't worry about what I wrote, okay?"

"Worried, no." I correct him with a small shrug. "Confused, yes."

"You and me both. Just get in bed with me, I sleep better with your body next to mine."

I agree and we climb onto the bed, drifting to sleep.

--

Three hours later, I wake up to the sound of water running in the shower. I sit up and think, racking my brain for any reason that Michael would be confused and unsettled.

I desperately push the thought of cheating out of my mind, though it keeps floating to the surface again.

Michael walks out of the bathroom and goes into his closet, dressing up casual as he comes out.

"Hi sweetheart," He says along with a kiss.

"Hi," I giggle. "Where are you headed?"

"The studio," He answers while shrugging on a blue hoodie.

"Oh, awesome! Let me get ready, I won't take long." I exclaim with a smile and hop out of bed.

"Wait, no! You can't come." He denies me.

"And why not?"

"Frank says I can't have any distractions," he mumbles. "I'll be back soon."

He walks to the door and I stomp my foot in frustration, annoyingly perplexed.

"What are you hiding?!" I scream at the already closed door.

--

Chapter 42

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~Joy ✌️