Michael's P.O.V

I was frozen to the spot as I watched the pair being taken away.

My hands were shaking, my body was sweaty, I didn't know where to go or what to do.

Suddenly, I heard a burst of familiar voices. It was my mother and Janet, looking for me.

Before they spotted me I rushed round the corner into a disabled bathroom and locked the door.

I slammed my hands against the hard sink, tears stinging my eyes.

As I looked in the mirror I saw my face and hated it, an intense hatred I hadn't felt about myself in months.

What was it about me that turned everything against me? Why was it everyone I ever got close to was snatched away from me? I had just got her back and for what? To find out she was a murderer? A psychopath? A liar?

In a rage I threw my fists at the glass, punching it over and over until it shattered. Bits of glass fell in the sink and the floor. It was strangely satisfying.

Better, I thought.

I turned on the faucet and rinsed my face, trying to regain composure. The water ran with a tinge of red and I realised my knuckles were bleeding. But I didn't care.

I didn't want to care about anything anymore. I was done feeling, it just led to hurting.

I wiped my face with my sleeve, pulled open the door and stepped into the corridor, to be greeted by the only women I could trust.

"Michael what happened to your hands? Why didn't they dress them?" Katherine pulled me into a hug and it took everything I had not to burst into tears.

"Mother, don't worry. I'll be fine. Y-you should go..."

Janet put her hand on my shoulder and looked intensely at me.

"Michael, whatever is going on, you can tell us. The boys are worried about you, we're worried about you. All we've heard is rumours. We rang Jermaine, but he didn't want to talk, he was mad at you for leaving them like that. Why did you just leave, take off like that, waiting for us to find you ourselves? You didn't call or anything. We're lucky we found you in one piece... well, just"

I pulled away from them both and sighed.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I wasn't thinking. I just want to get out of here, can we go? Now?"

I was walking down the corridor before they could argue, I heard their footsteps following quietly behind.

We walked out into the corridor, only to be thrown into the view of stray journalists that had obviously slipped or bribed their way through the hospital to get to me.

"Over here! Stat! He's here!"

I internally rolled my eyes and held up my hand to cover my face.

That was a mistake.

"YOUR HAND IS CUT, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?"

"CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?"

"HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW YOU ALMOST CHEATED DEATH?"

"WHO IS THE CULPRIT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CONDITION?"

Janet rushed in front of the cameras, shielding me from view.

"HEY! Could you please give us some privacy? We are going through a rough spot right now and we would appreciate you to respect the family. Thank you"

The reporters begrudgingly left as they realised that none of their questions were going to be answered, finally bringing back peace to the corridor.

Janet shook her head.

"Mike, you have gotta be more careful! You can't be on your own like this, especially with the paps all up in our damn grill. You gotta remember who you are, I know it's hard but..."

I just carried on walking and sighed.

"Dunk, I know who I am okay? I'm Michael Jackson, the superstar, the most famous guy on the planet, the one in all the magazines saying I'm the hottest guy around, I'm the one with more money than I know what to do with, the one who visits hospitals in his spare time and wants to kidnap the kids, the one who dates a nurse just to get what I want, the one who's girl got away because she is a psycho."

Janet looked at me, her eyes sad, and shook her head.

"You know that's not true. I know that, mother knows that. We all know that, Michael. Don't beat yourself up like this."

Her gaze flicked down to my hand again. I ran it through my hair, wincing slightly as my curls brushed against the open wound.

"I know who I am and I hate it. I hate it, Dunk. I can't get away from this hole I dug myself into. That's why I'm leaving, I'm going to distract them all with my new album and my new home"

Katherine spoke up this time as we pushed open the double doors into the scorching daylight.

"New home, Michael? You don't want to live with us anymore?"

I hung my head, I didn't want to hurt her feelings like this, but I just had to do it.

"Mother, I have wanted to find a place of my own for a while now, but I didn't wanna tell you until I had it sorted out. I know it's a big deal, but I... you know we can't all stay in that house together, I'm in my twenties... I shouldn't be living with my parents. I was waiting for the right time, I was investing in my new place this whole time. Y-you can visit whenever you want, all of you, it's big enough"

She rested her hand on my shoulder, just as she always did when she knew I needed her support. My mother is my rock, and it was so hard to say that I wasn't going to live with her anymore.

"Well... I understand, my son... but you could have told me, given me some warning at least. Where is this place of yours?"

I hesitated before I answered.

"It's a Ranch in California"

Janet gasped.

"You're moving out of Indiana?! But it's so far away Michael!"

I kicked my feet on the ground.

"Well I know, but it's perfect, it's exactly what I want. It's so beautiful, there's trees and meadows and acres of land for horseback riding.. a-and I'm having a theme park right in there, like rides and stalls for ice cream and cotton candy, there's a huge cinema and there's a ginormous dance studio so I can practice all day every day if I wanted to."

I heard her laugh

"A theme park?! You can't have rides in your backyard Mike! That's ridiculous! Are you playing with me?"

I blushed and pushed her shoulder playfully.

"No I'm serious Dunk, they're already installed, you'll see, you'll see for yourself when you come visit. It's gonna be so much fun. I figured that since I can't go out to a theme park without being swarmed or in disguise, I gotta have my own, it's not like I haven't got the funds for it. And it's not just for me, it will be open to the public when I'm away, for sick children to visit anytime."

"Well I think that's a wonderful idea" Katherine interjected.

"So you're not mad at me for leaving?"

"Michael, I will miss you, you know that, it's a mother's instinct. But I'm sure that this new home of yours will be the making of you my love. You need your own place. But just don't get lost there, remember the outside world, okay? You need to keep a sense of reality, to keep you sane, grounded. And promise me you will call often?"

I smiled. "I always have time for you, mother"

We held each other for a moment then made our way to the vehicle waiting for us.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Janet turned to me, her eyes narrowed.

"We're taking you to your security HQ, we have to sort out this mess right away. The sooner it's cleared up, the better. It's just a few papers to sign and rumours to dispel, it's not as if you're attached to that girl anymore"

My heart raced as the thought of her came flooding back.

"Can't we do that tomorrow? I've had a hell of a day, I'm tired..."

"No Michael, it can't wait. You always do this when you don't want to do something. You are settling this right now. Don't tell me that you still have feelings for her. Do you? After what she did to you? To us?"

I squirmed in my seat.

"I can't help how I feel Dunk... No, look, save it... just for today and I will be right there tomorrow morning"

She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed at my beyond obvious attempt at avoiding the situation.

"You can't be there tomorrow morning because you will be on a flight home, Michael. Didn't you want to leave like an hour ago? What is the issue? Just go sign a contract to get her off your back then say goodbye to all the rumours that are spreading like wildfire. It's not difficult, damn"

Katherine looked at me, her eyes serious. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

"Fine. Have it your way. This better be quick and painless"

We spent the rest of the journey in silence, my mind a tumult of thoughts wondering how I was going to muster the strength to leave her once and for all.

*

A/N: Hey gorgeous ones! Ever Victorious is back! I'm sorry I put it on hold for so long but I hope that my two stories (Call Me Susie is my other one, hint hint) will run alongside each other, like a flashback, because I'm dramatic like that ;)
Thanks for putting up with me for so long, I hope you enjoy what's to come!
Demi xx