Tatiana's POV

"She dashed by me in painted on jeans
And all heads turned 'cause she was the cream
In the blink of an eye I knew her number and her name, yeah
She said I was the tiger she wanted to tame..."

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I sigh adjusting the sunglasses on my face as I continue to drive around the city.

Instead of going to rehearsal I ended up renting a convertible, music blasting and exploring around the city.

It was the only thing that kept me sane from being exposed to any Michael propaganda.

No begging to stay on the tour.
No questions of what happened.
No reminders of what was or could have been.

"Caribbean queen
Now we're sharing the same dream
And our hearts they beat as one
No more love on the run...."

I sing quietly along with the radio as I tap my fingers against the wheel and suddenly the phone starts ringing.

I furrow my eyebrows as I look down at the phone compartment. It couldn't be the rental facility wanting the car back. I rented the car out for a full day.

"What..." I mumble to myself as I fumble with the phone answering;

"Hello?"

"Hey mamas." a familiar calm voice replies.

"What—what the—-Prince?!" I furrow my eyebrows. "How did you...? How did you get this number even? This isn't even my car." I groan turning the radio down.

"Well I'm doing great, thanks for asking. It's great to hear from you." he says ignoring my question. "You sound happy."

"Sorry." I mumble. "I just needed to get away and clear my head."

"So you still ain't talking to twinkle toes yet, huh?"

I roll my eyes as I balance the phone on my shoulder as I make a turn.

"There's nothing left to say. I said everything I needed to and after that..." I shrug to myself. "I only owe him the obligation of finishing our professional relationship."

"That's just a cop out from seeing him."

"Bingo." my voice dripping with fake enthusiasm. "That's exactly what I want. To not see him."

"You're gonna play with him like that? You get the boy and make him wait?" He chuckles.

"Well since he wants to play with my heart—two can play that game. I'm not crying, begging, or pleading for him."

"You still love him." he says. "Why don't ya'll just kiss and makeup?"

"It's not that simple." I mumble. "One can take only so much..."

"Not to play devils advocate here..." he pauses. "That would be the case in any other sense but—it's Michael."

"I didn't realize you even knew his name." I snort. "And I'm aware he's Michael."

"Uhhhh..." he chuckles lowly. "Have you viewed him at the other angle?" he asks.

"What other angle?"

"Not as the Michael you love, and know." he says as I hear a guitar strum lazily on the other line. "But the Michael everyone else sees and that side of the coin on what he experiences on the day to day."

"Yes, I get that but—"

"That period where you and Michael fell out before—" he says. "That was one of the biggest betrayals that you've felt in your life...right?"

"Yes..."

"And him not believing you...that cut you pretty deep. It knocked the air out of you, right?"

I sigh stopping at a red light. "Where are you going with this?"

"Imagine experiencing that every day." he says. "Every single day in the public, and in private." he pauses briefly as he continues to play the guitar harmonically.

"The Michael you know—no one else will see. Now Michael Jackson? That is a whole different story. Even though I don't know him on the level you know him, I've known him longer. And you know..." he clears his throat. "There's been a lot of ugly things I've seen or heard. There's been people who smile in his face and he gives love to and as soon as he turns around..." he stops as he plays completely off key. "It goes downhill. There's just been a lot of ugly in Michael's life, Tatiana. A lot you don't know about."

"So what are you saying?" I sigh pulling over in a parking lot. "Do you think I really would do something to hurt him? And do you think I should just keep taking how he treats me?"

"Of course not." he says calmly. "I'm not saying you did anything to him. What I'm saying is to walk in those tacky penny loafers for a minute."

"And let him disrespect me."

"When I was a kid, my best friend Andre adopted a dog from an animal shelter." he snickers. "It didn't even look like a dog. When he brought that thing home no one could come near it. All it would do was bark, hide, and bite. It got me quite a few times."

I could hear the small smile in his voice as he continues. "Anyway—everyone hated that dog. His mama tried like hell to get Andre to take that dog back. Exchange him for another, anything." He chuckles. "But Andre's stubborn ass wouldn't. He kept on loving that pitiful dog regardless..."

I stay silent listening.

"Turns out that dog had previous owners. He was abused and beaten a lot before Andre got him. I guess he acted that way because it was his defense mechanism...he was scared Andre and his family would do the same to him like his previous owners. That experience over a period of time changed his behavior towards people."

I stay silent as I listen to Prince grow quiet as he begins to play more chords on his guitar.

"So what happened to the dog? What did they do with him?" I ask quietly.

"He chilled out eventually..." he laughed. "That dog ended up loving Andre more than anything—probably because Andre showed him the most love and didn't give up on him."

"You think I'm making a mistake walking away?" I ask.

"I think...." he says. "All love is war. And if you love him—and I think you do...you gotta fight back."

"How?" I laugh bitterly. "He thinks I set him up, Prince."

"The truth has a way of revealing itself." Prince replies simply.

We stay silent for a moment before I clear my thrust;

"So basically you're saying...." I begin.

"Yes?"

"That Michael is a complete dog."

Prince busts out laughing. "Your stubborn ass has a lot of work to do." He chuckles.

Sheryl's POV

"She's really not making an appearance anytime soon?" Frank asks me as I sigh shaking my head as I take a drink of water.

"I tried, Frank. Everyone on this tour has been begging. Tatiana isn't going to change her mind...not ever. I really think Michael has her permanently fucked over this time."

Franks runs a hand over his face letting out a sigh. "Sheryl—it might be best if you take Tatiana's place once she is off the tour."

I shoot him a look. "M-me? I can't take Tat's place."

"You did some shows before! After uhh—" he snaps his fingers trying to remember. "After that Rachel broad tried taking over."

"That was just a quick thing! It wasn't permanent! And I almost killed myself doing my parts and hers!"

"Listen...I can't afford to throw someone in right now. Mike is going to be picky over casting a girl. Then he's going to be a pain in my and everyone else's ass when rehearsals come around..." he sighs as I look over at Michael getting on Greg about a beat he missed.

This was our first rehearsal without Tati. It was more than apparent it was getting to Michael who has been agitated, pensive, short, and extremely critical.

More critical than usual.

The chords and exact arrangement he perfected before wasn't good enough or had to change, the lights were too bright or too dark, someone was breathing too loud....something.

"Listen, you know the choreography, and vocals already. You are Tatiana's best friend and the last thing she needs to see is some other girl singing love songs  to Mike. And Mike..." he waves his cigar around. "Mike won't have to be uncomfortable around some other dame who ends up falling for him.."

I groan as I throw my head back closing my eyes, with my hands on my hips. "Gawd..." I groan. "Fine. Okay. I'll do it. But I need to tell Tatiana first."

Frank breathes a sigh of relief resting a hand on my arm. "Thanks Sheryl. I'll let the wardrobe department know and talk to Mike about what's going on."

"I WANTED AN E-FLAT." Michael says loudly into the mic as Greg shouts back.

"THAT WAS AN E-FLAT!"

"No, it wasn't!"

"How are you going to tell me what an e-flat is when you can't even read notes and you go by ear?!" Greg shouts back getting angry. "And if you keep shouting at me the next thing that is going to be flatter is your moody, big mouthed, skinny a—"

"Sheryl..." Frank sighs rubbing his nose. "Please don't let me down. I can't handle any of this for the rest of the tour." he says before rushing over to Greg and Michael.

I sigh looking up. "God....please...let them get back together."

Paul's POV

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"You ready?" I whisper to LaToya as I toss a carry on bag over my shoulder.

She nods silently as she grips the straps of her backpack nervously before looking down.

"Toy?"

She smiles slightly at her nickname before looking up at me. "Whatever happens....I don't care what it is—" I stare at her. "You run. Get out of here, keep going and don't look back."

There was a chance that this could all go to complete hell.

If so to hell with what could happen to me, all I wanted was LaToya to get away and be safe.

"Paul....I wouldn't just leave you—"

I open my mouth to protest and she stares into my eyes cutting me off. "We are doing this together and sticking together. I mean it, Paul." she says firmly.

I smile slightly looking up at her before gripping the gun in my hand. "Come on—let's go."

I grip the gun in my hand as I open the bedroom door slipping out as Latoya follows close behind me.

We creep slowly down the hall barely taking a step. Even though I know Latoya is right at my heels, I can sense she's holding her breath scared that even the softest escape of air would risk us getting caught.

We get to the spiral staircase and I raise my hand stopping her and puts my finger up to my lips and I slowly go down the steps, raising the gun as I look around cautiously.

Everything was silent and the coast was clear. I look up the steps and nods to Latoya as she tiptoes down the steps quickly and quietly and we make our way down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Wait--" Latoya whispers as she nods towards the kitchen walking in. I quickly follow behind her holding the gun in my hand as I look around hesitantly. Latoya goes to the wall grabbing keys off the small rack on the wall.

"They left the Van." she whispers to me.

I glance over at the kitchen table seeing papers on the table. I walk over furrowing my eyebrows as I  walk over picking them up. There were articles of Michael and Tatiana and the Jackson family. Michael's tour schedules, hotel stays...

I flip to another page and send seeing Michael's LA concert circled.

"Leave if you want. But I'm finishing things with her. However it goes down. She ruined my life and I won't allow her to just walk away and go on with hers like it never happened. And it's more than a perfect time to take down another Jackson. Especially Michael..." Jack's voice echoing my mind.

"We gotta go." I say before peeking out the kitchen window. "Lets go out the back." I nod to the door as Latoya nods urgently. She opens the door as we slip out quietly.

I squint my eyes, the sun blinding me from being locked in the  dark basement for too long. I look around seeing no one. There down the circle drive is the black Buick van. "Let's go."

She tosses me the keys as I catch it smoothly unlocking the door as we make our way down the mini road to the car.

"Hey!"

I turn my head seeing two of Jack's guards, Tommy and Gibson chasing after us.

"TOYA! GO!"

We take off running down the drive and suddenly around the corner of the front of the house 3 more guards run out.

I'm three steps ahead of Latoya when suddenly she is tackled to the ground.

"No! Paul!" She screams in pure terror as I turn around whipping the gun out. As I point to all of them they whip out theirs pointing them at me and Latoya.

"This is how we are going to do it." Tommy shouts . "Put the gun down, Paul or she..." he says catching his breath as he wrestles Latoya with one arm, and pressing the gun against her temple with the other. "She gets it."

Latoya looks at me tearfully as I swallow hard staring at all five men and then at her, reading her eyes.

I drop the gun putting my hands up as they instantly come towards me.

Suddenly in a split second, Latoya slams her heels into Tommy's foot and throws her elbow back aiming right at his throat, making him yell out.

In the split second of the other three being distracted, I instantly take a swing at one right in the face with everything I have knocking him to the ground.

I feel another guard come behind me wrapping his arms and lifting me up slightly as the other guard runs towards me.

I lift my legs up kicking him right in the jaw before throwing my body forward making the one whose arms were tightly around me fling forward into the ground.

I can't tell what was happening or how I was fighting four men at once taking a few blows to the face and various parts of my body that I'm sure would be bruised, fractured, or broken.

"FREEZE!"

Everyone stops and looks up.

I'm sure any other time one would be tickled hearing Toya's childlike voice saying "freeze" as if we were playing banks and robbers—but it sure was a hell of a lot different when you see her holding my gun in one hand and Tommy's in the other ready to send whomever to their premature grave.

Her eyes were dark and filled with rage that would kill.

"Paul..." she nods as I back away slowly towards her, my nose bleeding and body scraped up as she keeps the guns pointed at them.

In a split second, Gibson reaches in his holster whipping out his gun. In the quickest motion, I instantly grab the spare from Toya's hand and shooting Gibson in his side as the others begin drawing their guns. He cries out falling to the ground and I look over at Latoya who's in shock.

"Run!" I yell to Latoya as I hold the gun in my hand pointing to them as she takes off running to the car with me close behind her.

"Don't let them get the fuck away!" Gibson screams as he lies on the ground.

I turn my head slightly seeing one of their guns raise and I look over at Latoya yelling, "KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!"

My heart is pounding as I begin to hear shots fired at us with Latoya and I dodging them left and right, and me being able to exchange some back. I begin firing them back left and right

We jump in the car as I start the motor. The radio automatically comes on;

"One love feeds the fire.
One heart burns desire,
Wonder who's crying now?
Two hearts born to run...."

I look in the rear view mirror seeing them running towards the car, with more guns drawn.

"Stay down." I tell Latoya who crouches down as I put my foot down on the gas and we begin speeding, in the distance there is the iron gate.

Bullets fly everywhere as they shoot at us and I go full speed towards the gate. They shoot at the car back window shattering it as Latoya screams out startled.

"They closed the gate!" She yells out over the sounds of bullets and the radio blasting.

"It's not for long! Hold on!" I shout out.

I rev up the van even more and goes full speed ahead towards the gates. In a split second the car collides into the gate, with the loudest crash and sparks flying everywhere knocking it down as I continue speeding down the road leaving Jack's men in the dust.

"WOOOOO HOOOOOO!" I crow out as we take off down the road.

"W-we did it?!" She says completely stunned as I look over at her breaking into a grin.

"We did it."

She blinks slowly letting the events that just occurred, and our newfound freedom  slowly settle in her mind.

"W-what will we do now?"

I swallow hard as I grip the wheel staring ahead before looking over at her.

"We gotta save Michael."

Winnie's POV

"We gotta figure out something."  Clifton mumbles as we sit in the balcony watching Michael alone on stage.

I think of my fight with Tatiana earlier as I watch Michael running a hand through his curls before looking around at the empty stage.

It was obvious he was thinking about Tatiana. What was even more obvious was that they loved each other.

They just were too stubborn to admit it.

"I know." I mumble. "We have to prove Tatiana is innocent."

"But how? And will it be enough?"

"I mean—the truth has to be enough right? They already love each other."

"We just have to get them to see that."

We grow silent as we watch Michael pace back and forth.

We just needed a miracle.

A fast miracle.

Michael's POV

I walk back and forth on stage as I run my l hands back through my hair and begins walking back and forth, pacing.

Rehearsal today was a disaster and Frank sent everyone back to the hotel after I snapped at Greg.

"You need to get it together, Mike. I can't have everybody walking out on this tour because you can't get your act together."  Frank said before walking out earlier.

Music was once my escape and now here I am having to face it.

All that was on my mind was Tatiana.

All that was in my heart was Tatiana.

The problem was which version did I believe?

The one that could possibly have betrayed me?

Or the one I loved with every breath I took?

I swallow closing my eyes as I rest my hands on my head, inhaling as I continue to pace the stage.

Deep down, I knew deep down that Tatiana was innocent. That she wouldn't hurt me—but how could I believe that when the evidence was there in my face?

I swallow hard looking in the distance.

"Was the baby even mine?" My voice echoes in my head as I remember the look on Tatiana's face.

It was as if I took the ultimate and final stab at her heart and watched her die in front of me.

I knew the miscarriage was a road Tatiana and
I never wanted to cross and I used it to my advantage in that moment of rage to break her.

How does one even come back from something like that?

I swallow hard as I look down at my fingers playing mindlessly with them before hearing soft whispers in the arena.

I look up in the audience section seeing Clifton and Winnie talking quietly amongst themselves before getting up and jumping off the stage before jogging over to them.

"Winnie? Clifton?" I breathe out as their eyes meet mine. "I need your help. I have to get Tatiana back."

Winnie looks up at me surprised as she slowly stands up tilting her head to the side. "You want her back? You mean...you're still in love with her?" she asks shyly.

"Very much so." I nod.

"You know you messed up big time right?" Clifton asks adjusting his glasses as Winnie crosses her arms in agreement.

I nod. "I do."

"Not just once but twice."

I look down closing my eyes. "Yeah—I know." I mumble. "But...I need to make it right. I can't lose her. Not again." I stare at both of them. "Please...

Winnie looks over at Clifton and back at me before breaking into a smile grin. "We thought you'd never ask."

__________________________________

Hi everyone 🤍

Lawd have mercy—Paul and Toya are free and on the run, Jack is out and about, Michael is tryna win Tatiana back, the gang is trying to prove her innocence....

I tried to make this chapter extra long for you all because you deserve it 🤍 I've been reading this story again getting my groove back (and remembering certain details) and I forgot how amazing it felt to write and escape.

These characters are literally like old friends I missed so incredibly much 🤍

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back! Your comments and DMs mean so much to me and I'm extremely happy to come back and write again!

Also recently there's been quite a few new readers adding this to their lists and voting which I appreciate so much 🤍

Also fun fact— I actually wrote Paul's POV first and was listening to Journey and this song came on and I played it over and over and it really set the tone and imagery in my head for the "great escape" (so I highly recommend listening while reading because I was getting the Miami Vice feels)

And then I happened to listen to Caribbean Queen by Bill and I noticed the pattern of both songs with "love on the run/two hearts born to run" and I thought it fit perfectly for how Tati, Michael, Paul, and Latoya are all on the run from something...whether it be physically or emotionally.

In my head there are so many soundtracks to these chapters 😂

Also! I've been checking my comments and DMs and many of you wanted the "movie/book trailer" back on here! So it's posted again!

Mind you—I did this like years ago and maybe someday I'll make another 😭

I wasn't very happy with it.

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I hope you enjoyed!

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Xoxo,
moonwalkergal