Aya.

"Oh, it looks like it's going to rain today", Ephie said, as she was sitting on the sofa watching the weather forecast.

"You know, you have your own TV", I mentioned.

"I know but your apartment is special, it reconnects with my childhood", she turned around and smiled at me.

I rolled my eyes, she's still completely crazy, Ephie is just here to mooch off me again. She's always mooched off me ever since we moved to America. To be honest I didn't want to move to America because I didn't want to leave my grandmother's side, but Ephie had to literally beg me to go. Sandra suggested I should go, she said it would give me a better education and better opportunities if I went to America. I still didn't want to go, I spoke to my grandmother about it and she completely agreed with Sandra, " I don't want you to waste an opportunitie like this, you have high potential, I believe you can make something of yourself when you're there, so go, go to America", she convinced me. So I went with Ephie to America. For the first few years we lived in Arizona, then we moved to California when Ephie got fired from her first job.

We lived together, I was the only one working so I had to pay all the bills. She mooched like crazy, she droved me nuts, she never did her share. Until she got a highly paid job and moved to a bigger and better place. And she still is and always will be a moocher.

I was at the other side of the living room painting a picture, suddenly without realizing it I found myself gazing at the peter pan painting I painted. It just reminded me off Michael and that I outta go pay him a visit like I always do.

"OH MY GOD, NEW EPISODES OF FAMILY TIES ARE COMING UP!", Ephie yelled with excitement.

"Yeah, well your just going to have to wait until tomorrow to watch it, because I'm going out to visits someone", I said, as I turned off the TV.

"Hey no fair, come on that was a little rude", she complained.

"Sorry, now come on, up you get", I replied.

"What's with you lately", Ephie asked.

"What do you mean", I replied.

"Your never home, you're always happy and you're painting more than usual, I mean what's up", she questioned.

"You're delusional", I quickly answered, as we walked out of the apartment.

I didn't tell Ephie about me knowing Michael because I just didn't think the time was right, and even if I did tell her she'll just make a big deal about it, and that's not what I want. I arrived at the hayvenhurst estate, the weather forecast was right for once it was pouring rain outside, it was so bad the clouds were gray and you couldn't see the blue sky. I feared that there was going to be a thunderstorm. Michael invited me into the house, we stayed inside the whole time because of the bad weather, "It looks really horrific out there, it seems like there's going to be a thunderstorm". Michael said, as we looked out the window. When Michael said those words I was terrified I'm afraid of thunderstorms, no, scratch that, I'm petrified of them. I can't stand the sound of it or see the yellow lightning bolt in the sky. It just brings back horrible memories.

My face was frozen in fear, "hey, Aya, are you okay", Michael asked concerned.

"O-oh y-yeah, I'm fine", I answered with worry.

"Okay, you just look like you've seen a ghost", he said.

"I'm fine, really", I replied.

I wasn't fine I was feeling really apprehensive, I couldn't enjoy myself around Michael and I think he noticed. We were in the living room talking about life and magic, it was really nice and relaxing it almost made me forget about what was going on outside. Suddenly I heard a loud sound coming from outside the same sound I was fearing the whole day. It eventually came, my eyes widened my hands began to shake.

"I knew there was going to be a thunderstorm, anyways I'm going to get us some drinks, okay", Michael said.

"Okay", I replied quietly.

As Michael walked into the kitchen, the noise didn't stop, the loud earthquake sound of the thunder, it didn't go away. As much as I wanted it too it just didn't stop. I did the biggest mistake and slowly looked out the window the thunder came again, I saw the lightning bolt in the sky that was enough to scare the living hell out of me. I hid myself at the corner of the room, I put my hands over my ears and closed my eyes really tight. I hated it, I hated it, god I hated it so much.

As I was at the corner all those dark memories surfaced in my mind. I hated thunderstorms, there was a thunderstorm when my mother left me and never came back, there was a thunderstorm when Hero raped me, there was a thunderstorm when I was first called worthless because of my dyslexia. I wanted it to stop, I really wanted it to disappear, tears started to pour down my eyes. Suddenly a hand grabbed my wrists and took my hands away from my ears. I opened my eyes, It was Michael. He looked very concerned.

"Aya, are you okay", he asked worried.

I knew lying to Michael was no good because he wouldn't believe me. "I'm scared", I sobbed. Michael was puzzled at first but when he gazed through the window, he realized what was wrong. He gradually put me in his arms and told me that everything was going to be alright. "I'm here for you, I won't let you go", he whispered to me. I suddenly felt safe in Michael's arms, I felt secured and protected. He made me feel free, like all of my dark memories just perished. I didn't want him to let me go I wanted to stay with him, to hold him, to be right beside him all the way.

I was in Michael's arms for a few seconds, until my eyes caught his, we gazed at one another, my palms were sweating uncontrollably. Our faces were so close, I wasn't sure my heart had ever pounded so fast in my life. At that moment, gazing into his eyes I never noticed how big, brown and beautiful Michael's eyes truly were, I wanted to tell him how magical his eyes were but before I could, our lips met. The warmth of his mouth sent a current running through my body, I gently placed my hand on Michael's cheek, As I lost myself in his peppermint breath and soft lips. The kiss was unbelievable, it was the best kiss I've ever had. I felt the burning ecstasy running all over my body, he was a marvelous and passionate kisser. My craving for his lips made the kiss last even longer, it was like I died and went to heaven.

 And just like that the kiss was over, our lips separated from one another. We gazed at each other one more time, suddenly I was aware, aware of everything. I couldn't believe I was so blind before, all of the denial and convincing myself that I didn't have feelings for Michael, that he was only my friend, nothing more, nothing less. It was all in my head, the truth was I loved Michael, I've always loved him. When I'm with him nothing matters, like all of my worries and fears just fade away. When I'm with Michael I'm always in his wondrous world of magic, it's like everyday is a happy day. He makes me worth something, like I matter. Even in my darkest hours he some how manages to make me smile.

I love everything he's done for, how he makes me feel. I'm in love with Michael Jackson and I'm not afraid to admit it.