Tatiana's POV

"Michael?" I furrow my eyebrows as I walk out on the balcony seeing him staring up at the sky tiredly. Surprisingly no fans were crowded below to catch a glimpse of him...perhaps because we just arrived to Bloomington this morning.

Lately Michael seemed to be extremely restless at night when it came to sleep. I knew he had rough nights of course after concerts and touring, but it seemed to be progressing to the point he wasn't getting any rest whatsoever.

"I couldn't sleep." He whispers lightly as I stand closer to him, before he wraps his arms around me, instantly warming me up from the cool night air.

"There are just some nights that I can't sleep, but it's like—the moon and stars won't let me go. So, I'll come out when I can and try to count them all...and while I do that, I make the same wish on every single one." He whispers softly.

"What do you wish for?" I ask curiously as he smiles lightly, looking back at me.

"I've always wished for you." He says simply.

"But you have me already." I say quietly as he shakes his head, with a smile.

"I know. But in a different way..." he says making my eyebrows furrow in confusion. He chuckles as he leans in pressing his lips against my forehead. 

He stares back up at the night sky intensely. "I look up sometimes just to talk to the sky." his voice grows in a whisper as he  glances at me and says, "It's stunning, you know. The sky. No matter what mood it shows me. No matter how imperfect it is. It's wonderful. And it always reminds me that there's something beautiful beyond everything. It reminds me that the same God who created all of this created you...and I look up to thank him everyday."

I smile as I look up at Michael who stares at the sky so intently as if he was studying every small detail of the moon and stars. He gently squeezes me closer to his body before whispering; "If only you could hear all the stories I've said to the moon, you can never count those times I've mentioned how much I love you..." he smiles. "I've probably said it more than all the stars up there."

I blush deeply as I rest my head in his neck as his hand gently strokes my side. I lift my head up for a moment as he looks over at me. I stare in his eyes for a moment before pressing my lips against his.

"You need to get some sleep, baby...it's so late."

He shakes his head before looking down. "I can't--"

"Then will you come to bed and let me hold you?" I ask softly. He pauses and nods tiredly as I take his hand walking back inside. I close the balcony doors behind us, before climbing in bed. 

'Just give me a minute..." Michael says before disappearing in the bathroom for a few minutes before coming out climbing into bed. In seconds his body is molded into my own, sharing his body heat as easily as he shares my heart. 

We lay there in silence as he wraps my leg around his waist, running his hand up and down my thigh slowly. Eventually the only sounds in the room are his rhythmic breathing as he slips into a deep sleep. 

**

"Can someone pass the orange juice?" Michael asks wearily as Ricky pushes the pitcher towards him. 

"Man, you look beat." Ricky mutters as Michael yawns out tiredly. 

"I swear this will be my last time touring." Michael mumbles. "After this, that's it." 

I roll my eyes. "Didn't you say you loved to tour?" I ask as he cuts his eyes at me, as I restrain my laughter. 

"Yeah, well....I'm not doing it anymore. I'll write music, I'll record....but I'm not going on tour no more. It's taking a--"

"Hey Tatiana!" 

I look up seeing Karen flashing me a smile as she sits down next to Ricky. "How are you?"

"Fine...uhm...you?" I ask as Winnie walks in with Clifton sitting down at the table awkwardly staring at Karen. 

I look up seeing Sheryl beginning to walk over with Greg.

Even though Greg seemed to be in better shape since he left the hospital the other day, he still was a little banged up. The large bandage on his head was a good reminder.

He suddenly stops walking as he holds his head in his hands.

"What? What's wrong?" Sheryl asks urgently as Michael begins to get up staring at Greg with worry.

"I-I think I'm hallucinating but I think I see a big haystack sitting there." Greg mutters as he continues to hold his head.

"It's Karen, you idiot." Ricky snickers. 

"Is there a difference?" Greg mutters as he sits down rubbing his temples. 

Karen smiles as she butters her toast. "Who else would it be?"

"Satan." Greg answers bluntly.

"You should know Tatiana and I settled our differences...isn't that right Tati?"

"Tati?" Greg spats as he looks over at me. "You let her call you Tati now? Who got hit in the head?!"

"Greg, we just thought it would be good if we could get along...for the sake of the tour and Michael."  Karen smiles as he looks between Michael and I.

"Ya'll really believe this?"

Michael stays silent as I speak up; "I'm giving her a chance Greg."

"They gave the Titanic a chance and you saw what happened."

"Why don't you want me here, Greg?" Karen asks.

"Because for one, I'm trying to get to heaven that's why." he says. 

"I don't think God or the devil would know what to do with you." Ricky snickers. 

I feel Michael's hand slip under the tablecloth, his hand searching mine. Our hands finally connect, our fingers intertwining. I smile looking down as he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. 

I couldn't help but love simple moments like these with Michael. 

He leans in my ear chuckling softly; "I see Greg is back to normal..."  he whispers making me giggle softly. 

"Karen! Can I talk to you for a second about tomorrow?" Frank calls out as she gets up walking on the other side of the room. 

"I wish that woman gets diarrhea and runs out of toilet paper every damn time." Greg mutters. Winnie immediately pushes away the chocolate pudding away from her as Ricky chokes. 

"Greg..."

"I wish the person in front of her at the store will always pay in pennies." he says stabbing a fork in his fruit. "I wish she'll never find the matches to her socks." 

"No one ever finds the matches to their socks." Sheryl snickers as I laugh out. 

"I'm serious. She's the real reason we have middle fingers." 

"She's the human version of period cramps." Sheryl retorts. 

"Her birth certificate was an apology letter from the condom factory to her parents." Greg says as Ricky screams out in laughter. 

"That was cold man..." he wails in laughter as him and Greg slap hands. 

"Keep the jokes clean...we have kids here." Michael warns with a low chuckle. 

"On a serious note though...are you two really cool?" Ricky asks as I shrug. 

"I-I..." I sigh out shaking my head. "I don't know." 

"You know what philosophy I'd go by with this situation?" Sheryl says as she takes a long sip of water before speaking. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer...and she--" Sheryl nods towards Karen. "Is not your friend." 

"I'm surprised you're actually considering this chick is being sincere." Ricky says. 

"I'm not. I'm just tired of fighting a battle that I don't want to fight." I shrug. 

"That doesn't mean to not watch your back." he says. 

I look up noticing Winnie eyeing Michael as they stare at each other silently as if they were telepathically speaking. She finally breaks her gaze before ripping a piece of her donut, popping it into her mouth. 

"Yeah. I will, I promise." I say reverting my attention back at them. "I mean--all she really does is talk crap. I don't think she can do any worse right?" I ask as they all shrug. 

"I don't know I--" 

"That's exactly what she wants you to think." Ricky says. "She wants to reel you in, make sure your comfortable in that "friendship" and then....bam." he snaps his fingers. "She'll come down on you harder than the house falling on the witch in the Wizard of Oz." 

"I just don't get--" Greg shakes his head in disbelief. "It's like you've morphed into Michael. He's usually the naive one..." 

"I am not naive." Michael says as we all look at him blankly. "What? I'm not." 

"Mike, I love you. But when it comes to your judgement on some people you think everyone is good or has good qualities." Greg says as Michael blushes. 

"What's wrong with that?" he asks setting his juice down. 

"What's wrong with it is, that someday you're going to trust the wrong person like that blonde loofah over there." Greg says pointing to Karen. "And they are going to ruin you in the worst way possible, which means my ass is going to have to go to jail for whooping theirs." 

"The point is--" I interrupt. "I'm not turning into Michael. I'm trying to just let things go." 

"Well how about this?" Ricky pipes up looking over at Michael. "Let Karen go." 

Michael sighs out. "I can't let her go because--"

"Of the contract." we all chime in together. 

"Yet, you were quick to fire me." I say as Michael flushes deeply. 

"Are we still talking about that?" he asks shyly. 

"The whole point is--Girl, watch your back." Sheryl says in a hushed tone before Karen walks back sitting down next to Michael.

"What did I miss?" Karen asks cheerfully. 

"My fucking sanity." Greg scowls. 

Michael's POV 

I feel my heart beat in my chest, faster and faster, so fast I felt as if I could have enough energy to circle around the world.  

"I love you!" I say in the mic as the fans scream back. I lick my bottom lips as I look among the sea of fans that had gathered in the arena/ It was as if the whole world had piled into the arena and had joined together as one. 

I feel my heart skip a beat at the thought these were the people that loved me as much as I loved them. That I felt every ounce of their love flowing within me--I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world. 

I continue to breathe heavily as sweat continues to pour down on my face.

"Goodnight!" I shout out waving to the crowd before exiting the stage quickly. Within seconds the backstage was in chaos as I still hear the screams from the crowd. 

I immediately spot Tatiana,  her damp curls clung to her face and neck as her body glistens with sweat. She catches my eye and smiles as I gently grab her by her waist quickly as I pull her close to me. "You can get a ride back with me." I say in her ear as everyone around us yells back and forth. 

"I can't. I have to help break down...I'll see you on the plane tonight." she says before pressing her lips against mine sweetly. "I love you.." 

I smile pressing my lips against her forehead before releasing my grip as she disappears in the chaotic crowd. 

"Come on Michael!" Bill calls out as I follow after him outside before immediately jumping into the van as we drive away. 

 I sigh out as I  dry my face with a towel as I lay back against the seat closing my eyes tiredly, licking my bottom lip slowly.  

"Mike...." Frank says from the front seat as I open my eyes slightly. "You got a phone call...it's LaToya. She wants to speak with you." he says as he holds the phone in front of me. 

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I'm sorry I haven't been able to update. I've been dealing with things outside of Wattpad that were more important, and that need my attention. I rushed through trying to write through this chapter due to get so many comments and inboxes to update. 

Thank you all so much for your support!

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xoxo, 

moonwalkergal