Chapter 16

I run to the stairs and slide down the wooden banister.

Okay, so maybe I am a bit spontaneous. You've got to live a little.

"Woah woah!" I almost collide with Jackie when I reach the bottom.

"Sorry," I apologize, dismounting myself from the banister. "Actually, you're just the person I wanted to see Jackie!"

"And why?" He gives me a skeptical look. He knows that this is my tone of voice when I'm about to ask for something. And he's right, sure enough.

Jackie's one of Michael's brothers that I'm quite close to, the other one being Randy.

"Michael and I need your car. We're going somewhere."

"You're going somewhere like that?" He asks, pointing to what I'm wearing.

"Oh shoot, Michael!" I call, realizing that I'm still in his shirt and boxers. Then I hear his footsteps coming down the stairs.

I sling my school bag over my shoulder that contains yesterday's clothes.

Jackie places his car keys in my hand as Michael joins me by my side.

"We've got to go to my house, I need to change into my clothes." I say.

"That's no problem, anyways, I have no idea where we're going. This is all her so I'm not sure when we'll be back." Michael tells Jackie as I lace up my shoes.

"Alright, don't have to much fun!" He warns.

I roll my eyes and pull Michael toward the door. "Later!"

Michael and I embark on the quick walk to my house, which is five minutes tops. I pull out the house key from my bag and then unlock the door.

As we walk further into the house, Yani is laying on the living room floor with a book in her hand.

She looks up, obviously seeing us, and then scrambles to her feet. "Aniko!"

I roll my eyes and start up the stairs. "Save your shit."

Yani sighs. "Listen, I just want to-"

"I said save it!" I snap, gritting my teeth and walking into my room.

I can hear her voice downstairs, conversing with Michael.

"Why does she hate me? Why can't she just listen?"

He sighs. "You gotta remember what you did to her, Yani. You hurt her deeply. Sometime you have to think before you speak. Give her time."

I kick off Michael's boxers while listening to their conversation. I don't like the fact that Michael said Yani hurt me deeply, but it was true down inside.

I didn't want her to think that I was fazed by what she'd done to me, but she's still my sister. That stuff really does hurt you.

I quickly dress into my denim jump suit and put my feet into a pair of brown boots. I wrap a red bandana around my messy bun.

My parents aren't awake yet. Saturdays are their lazy days.

I reach the bottom of the stairs and take hold of Michael's hand.

"Where are you going?" Yani asks.

Can't this damn child take a hint? I don't want to talk to her, and I'm pretty sure that I've made that crystal clear. I scoff and start pulling Michael toward the door along with me.

"Ani, how about you just listen to her?" Michael whispers in my ear.

"Not right now. Need I remind you the devil she is? Plus, we're going to be late if we don't get going. So come on."

Both of them sigh as I exit the house. Michael follows me and we walk towards Jackie's car.

He puts his arm around my shoulder and gives my temple a soft kiss. "You look adorable, by the way."

A smile touches my lips. "Thanks. You like it?" I inquire, gesturing to my outfit.

"I love it. So, do you think that you can give me a hint about where we're going?" He asks.

"Hmmm." I unlock the car and slide into the driver's seat, Michael climbing into the passenger's side. "A hint, huh?"

He nods. "Yeah."

I turn the car's engine to life and put the gear in reverse, backing out of his driveway. Then I switch it to drive and we head out of our neighborhood.

"Let me think. Well, it's a sad yet happy place." I begin, thinking.

Michael rubs his chin in thought, looking ahead of us.

"Have I ever been there?" He asks.

I grin and control the steering wheel with one hand, nodding my head. "Yup, you have. But no more clues! We're almost there and you'll see for yourself."

He groans and puts his feet up on the dashboard, crossing his ankles. "Oh, fine."

"Um, Aniko?" He says.

The tone in Michael's voice tells me that he's about to bring up a serious topic. I glance at him through the side of my eye, not wanting to take my attention away from the road.

"Mhm?"

He takes in a breath. "That night-"

"Wait. We shouldn't talk about it Michael," I interrupt.

"But why? We can't just act like it didn't happen." He sighs.

"We aren't baby. I just... I just believe that the conversation should arise naturally. We shouldn't have to force it. Just like we didn't force the action. It was natural."

He nods slowly as I turn left onto a wider road.

"One of the most natural things in the world. I get it." His voice drops. "Do you regret it?"

I shake my head vigorously. "No no! Not at all, really. I don't. That isn't the problem."

"Okay." He blows out a sigh of relief and the rest of the ride is quiet.

"Close your eyes." I instruct, seeing the building just over the big oak treetops.

"I don't wanna," Michael whines.

I laugh. "Just trust me. Come on, close those Bambi eyes for me."

Michael blushes furiously before shutting his eyes.

I giggle and pull into a parking space in the parking lot. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass ya."

I'm sure if his eyes were open, he'd roll them.

I kill the engine and take out the car keys, putting them into my pocket. Then I get out of the car and hurry to Michael's side.

"Okay, get out of the car but don't turn around. Promise?"

"Promise." Michael gets out and I get behind him, grabbing his shoulders.

"Okay, we're going to walk inside backwards. Don't worry, I'm here to guide you."

"I'm ready," he affirms and we start toward our destination.

Michael nearly trips but I hold his waist tightly.

"Baby steps!" I remind him.

"How far away are we?"

"A couple more feet."

We finally walk into the entrance.

"We're here! Turn around in three, two, one..."

Michael turns and his eyes are met by a group of children chanting, "We love you Michael!"

Many held on to Jackson 5 records, Michael's solo albums, and pictures of all the brothers together, and his name on a bright red banner, one of his favorite colors.

I glance at him to see his reaction. A shocked happiness.

"The children's hospital." He whispers. "I..."

Before he can finish his sentence, the young patients swarm him.

He smiles at them and shakes their hands, hugging them, trying to answer all of their questions. He looks so elated.

Later on, after the welcome session, they all gather in a room filled with picture books and games for all the children.

Michael is pulled down into a small wooden chair. A little boy, maybe four or five, in a hospital gown runs up to him with a book.

"Read to us!"

Michael takes the book from him and says aloud, " The Cat In The Hat, huh?"

They run to sit all around him on the patterned carpet.

"Alright! Here we go. The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play..."

I grin and watch from the doorway.

Michael spends the next half hour animatedly reading the classic Dr. Suess book to all of them.

They way their eyes light up bring tears to my own. To know that they're able to forget about their problems, for a short while, means so much to me.

I feel a tug on my pant. I look down and see a young Hispanic girl. I smile and lower myself a little.

"Are you his wife?" She points at Michael.

I hold in a laugh and shake my head. "No, I'm not. Why don't you go listen to the story?"

"I've heard it a batrillion times! Anyway, I know you like him. It's the way you look at him." She tugs on my pant again.

I look over at him again as he acts out the scene in the book, causing all the children to laugh.

"You're right, I do."

"You should marry him. Tell him it was Sophie's idea."

I giggle and look at her. "Well, Sophie, it isn't really that easy, you know?."

She rolls her eyes. "Humans always make life so hard."

And when I look back, I realize that she's absolutely correct.

-

Two hours later, after visiting the wards of the bedridden children, Michael signing records, and performing 'ABC', it is time for most of the kids' physical therapy and daily medications, our que now to leave.

The medical director of the hospital thanked me for putting it together a week before, and thanked Michael for coming.

"The kids loved it, thank you so much." He expresses his gratitude.

I shake his hand, feeling as though it was my obligation to do something like this. If I could make even one child smile, why would I hesitate?

Michael and I are very alike in that way.

We say our final goodbyes to the children before walking back to the lot, hand in hand.

Michael suddenly steps in front of me and sings, "When I, had you, I treated you bad...."

I giggle as he takes my hand in his and puts a hand on my hip, dancing with me in the middle of the parking lot.

"And wrong my dear. And girl since... since you went away, don't you know I, sit around, with my head hanging down," he spins me around and pulls me closer to him.

"And I wonder, who's loving you." He speaks the last lyrics, looking me in the eyes.

I smile and lay my head on his shoulder.

"That won't ever happen, right?" Michael says softly into me ear.

I try to ignore the shiver that runs down my spine.

"What won't?" I whisper.

"Promise that I'll never have to wonder who's loving you, because that person will always be me. Always."

I nod slowly. "Promise."

We share a kiss, and I have finally decided that that was the very moment I truly fell in love.

--

Chapter 16

I hope you guys liked this one! What do you think will happen next? You're comments always make me laugh, smile, or provoke my thoughts. I love it!

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~Joy ✌🏼️