Chapter 43

Michael's POV

My heart nearly shatters when I hear Alondra shout on the other side of the door.

"What are you hiding?"

I'm not heartless, I just don't know where my heart is. With her? A part of it.

But I'm not lying. I'm on my way to the studio and Frank called me yesterday to tell me that I can't be distracted. I need to get back to my music, I've missed it.

What I'm avoiding to tell Alondra is where I'm going after I leave the studio. I feel terrible, but how else will I fix this?

I meet Bill downstairs. "Good morning."

I guess I sound a little grumpy because he then asks, "Is something going on?"

He and I have a close relationship. Bill is like a father figure to me and I barely keep anything away from him.

So I tell him. I tell him everything, about how I feel while he listens closely.

After a minute, he shakes his head. "That's a pickle to be in. But just remember not to hurt Alondra. She's been through enough pain," he advices.

"I know that," I groan, hiding my face in my hands. He gives me a pat on the back.

"You'll do the right thing, you always do."

"Thanks, Bill." I exhale and uncover my face.

"No problem. To the studio?" I nod and we leave Neverland.

--

I feel empty. Weak, and addled. Maybe I'm overthinking this whole thing.

I keep repeating to myself: Michael isn't like that. He's not that kind of person. But what if he is? I don't know about his past love life at all. I don't even know if he had dated Tatiana.

I turn over in bed when the landline starts ringing. "Yeah?" I answer drably.

"Hey Alondra," Janet's voice comes through and I sit up, clearing my throat.

"Hey girl, what's up?"

She giggles sadly. "Just worried about you and Mike. Listen, I heard about what happened..."

Yeah, along with the rest of the world.

I slump my shoulders and nod, but then realize she can't see me. "Oh, yeah."

"I'm sorry hun."

I shrug, and when I want to reply, my voice gives out and cracks. "Its fine, it's not your fault Jan."

"Aww girl, is there something else going on?"

I feel wetness group together in my eyes, thinking about how Michael is keeping things private from me.

When I don't answer, and all I do is sniffle into the headset, Janet speaks.

"Do you want me to come over?"

"Yes, please," I say graciously.

"Okay. I'll be there in a few Lonnie." My smile is ailing at the silly nickname I've earned.

We hang up and I then loll back on the bed for almost an hour. My head is swimming when there's a soft knock on my door.

A head pokes around it. James. "Miss Cade, Janet Jackson is here to see you."

"Send her in, and please call me Alondra."

He nods and then some seconds later, Janet slips through the door.

"Hey, Lonnie," she smiles and heads over to the bed where I'm laying.

I wave my hand unsteadily as she nears me and I sit up, giving her a hug. When we break away, Janet perches on the edge of the bed.

"How are you?" I shrug a shoulder and try to mask the tears that are surfacing. She pulls me back into a hug and I slowly start to cry.

"I'm terrible. Okay? Nothing is going right, nothing."

"That can't all be true. I mean, you still have my brother."

Her unaware statement makes me weep deeply. She rubs my back frantically.

"Lonnie, I'm sorry. Was it something I said?"

I shake my head and break the hug. "No.. it's fine. You don't know."

"I don't know what?" I continue shaking my head, not wanting to think of anything.

"Alright, that's it." She says. I glance at her. What?

"Pull yourself together, girl, we're going out. Get ready."

"But Janet, I really don't feel like it," I sigh.

"Exactly! You can't mope around in Self-Pity City. Where will that get you? You just need to break out and feel free. You're all cooped up in her Lon. And I'm not making light of the situation. But you need to get up and out," She grips my arm and pulls me up and out of bed.

"Up! Go shower, get all pretty, and meet me downstairs."

Without a meet second left to disagree, she forces me into the bathroom and shuts the door with a smile.

Looks like I'm going out.

Ten minutes later, I'm out of the shower and drying my hair. I don't dry it very often, because I know it will become weaker and duller with every dry.

Then, I braid it down my back and start lotioning myself with Shea butter. After that I go to my closet and dress myself up in white jeans and a grey sweater, since temperatures are dropping as September goes along.

I put some lip gloss on my lips, no other makeup, and lace up my trusty black boots. I then grab my silver cross body and rush down the steps to where Janet is sitting tight.

She must've heard my quick stomps because she comes over to the stairwell.

"Well, don't you look cute," She smiles as I come down the stairs.

"Thanks, girl, so where are we going?"

"I know a little cafe just south of here. No one really goes to it, so it's pretty private."

"Okay, let's go."

Then we walk out the door, my mind still, and always on Michael.

~

I take a sip of my Espresso and set it down. Janet is currently trying to pry the problem out of me.

"Tell me what's happening Lonnie. I want to know and help."

I take a long drink of the Espresso, still stalling, and then distance it from my mouth.

"I think... I think that Michael is cheating on me."

"Hell no, not the Mike I know," she immediately defends her brother.

"Trust me. I don't want to believe it either.."

Then I spill everything to her, what has led me to believe that he's cheating.

"He wouldn't even let me go with him to the studio," I tell her.

"Then let's go there."

"But Janet. If he didn't want me to be there--"

"Then he may be suppressing something, I hate to admit. Bad things are kept in the dark. Let's go find out what it is."

This potential rebellion doesn't sit well with me. Janet breaks me from my thoughts.

"Lon, you're still debating whether we should go? Here's the answer: we should. Here's some advice.. You can't be a little sweet girl all the time. Now is your chance to be a strong woman. You deserve to know what Michael is doing. He is your boyfriend, and you suspect something."

"I know, I'm just scared," I say quietly.

"Of?"

"What if he is cheating? Then I literally have no one on this earth. I'm afraid of being completely alone." I bring this confession to the light.

Janet outstretches her hand to me with a small smile. "Well, now, you have me."

We get up from the cafe and walk to her car. Then we go inside and speed off to the studio, while I nervously gulp the rest of my Espresso in the passenger's seat.

--

Chapter 43

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~Joy ✌️