One week later

Michael's POV

Well, today I have to go grocery shopping for me, Becky and Miracle.

Gosh, I'm so in love. Becky is the girl of my dreams, and Miracle is an angel sent from heaven, I swear by it. I'm the luckiest man in the world, to have those two: the two most important girls in my life.

Since Miracle was born, I've had to go shopping a little more often, because of the constant need to stock up on baby milk. The little sweetie only likes a certain brand, so I have to get it at least twice a week for her.

Becky has tried breastfeeding, but it just hasn't worked out. So... store-bought milk it is.

I park the car in the car park of the grocery store, and get out. I lock my car, before heading towards the store, and I take a basket from outside the doors.

I begin my little browsing session, scanning for food for me and Becky, as well as the all-important milk for Miracle.

Gosh, I could think of my girls all day long, no bother. But I've had a year and a half to think of Becky everywhere I go, so my mind mostly wanders to Miracle when I'm out and about now.

Her gorgeous eyes, the little tiny hairs on her adorable little head, her light, soft skin and her tiny hands and feet - everything about my daughter is perfect.

Oh, how strange it is to call someone my daughter! It's something I never thought would happen.

Doctor Michael Jackson, who has a low sperm count, being the biological father to a beautiful, healthy daughter. Gosh, what an amazing thought!

My thoughts are shattered when I accidentally bump into someone at the frozen food section, and I brush myself down and turn to the woman.

"I'm so sorry!" we apologise at the same time.

"No, it was my fault. Mind was elsewhere," I add with a laugh.

"Really, it's no bother," the woman chuckles.

There's something about her that seems familiar to me.

"Uh, I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but don't I know you from somewhere?" I ask politely.

"Um... I don't think you do," she replies with a smile.

"No, I'm pretty sure I recognise you," I assert.

"Maybe you have the wrong woman," she suggests with a small grin of politeness. "Unless you know anyone called Virginia Knowles."

Virginia Knowles! The name is instantly recognisable to me!

"You don't remember me, Virginia?" I ask. "M-Michael Jackson?"

She takes a couple seconds to process my name, and when she does, her eyes widen in shock. "Michael? Really? Gosh, you've changed!"

"Yeah, I know..."

"I mean, you used to be black!"

"Uh... I got Vitiligo. I'm pretty sure you knew that, though."

"I'm sorry, that came across rude. Let me rephrase: You... you've changed. Matured more since I last saw you."

"Well, last time you saw me was 1977, Virginia," I say softly. "Over fifteen years ago."

"Yes," she mutters. "When all we did was spend time together."

"Those were interesting days in high school," I add. "Very interesting."

"Yes... the three years we spent dating one another were certainly years to remember."

"But now we've matured and grown up, right?" I ask. "I'm sure you're married to someone better than me, now."

"Well, I guess. I don't want to sound rude when I say that, Michael."

"No, no, not at all. In fact, I'm the same. Been married and divorced, now got a child with another girl."

"Oh, how sweet! I'm married, but our marriage is about dead really. We stay together for the kids' sakes. Got two of the little devils; both boys," she laughs.

"Oh, I have a two-week-old daughter... Miracle. What are your sons' names?"

"Jason and Oliver, and, oh, two weeks old! How lovely! I'm sure you're very happy with that," she smiles.

"Yes... I really am," I agree. "It's changed my life."

"That's so sweet, you know. I'm glad you're having a good life. I'll tell you something, though."

"What?" I question.

"I can still totally see why I fell for you in high school," she jokes. "But I'm glad you're happy, anyway."

"Well," I feel my cheeks warming up. "Th-Thank you Virginia. Um, so... yeah."

"You can totally say no to this," she starts. "But maybe you could come 'round mine and have a drink... maybe catch up on the past fifteen years. I'd love to see what you've been up to."

I take a moment to think. Should I?

"Well, I have my girls at home..." I start. "But... I guess a half hour won't be so bad. We could do with a small catch up."

She grins, "Great! Look, we can finish shopping first, then you can take your car and follow me back to mine. Okay?"

"Sure, that's okay. But before we head towards yours, I'll need to ring Becky; tell her where I am."

"Becky, huh?" she smiles. "Girlfriend?"

"Yes," I find myself smiling uncontrollably at the sound of my girl's name being spoken. "That's my girl."

We continue our shopping, and once we're done, we both head back to our cars, and I take my phone out of my pocket.

I open the flip top, and go to use it, but then the screen goes black.

"Wha-?" I scowl. "You can't be dead, you stupid-ass phone!"

I throw it onto the passenger seat, and assure myself that Becky won't mind me being gone an extra half hour, before switching the ignition on, and starting to drive out the car park.

I follow Virginia's car, until we reach her house, and I have to pause for a moment to take in its beauty and size. It's huge, and so wonderfully decorated.

"Home sweet home," she states, getting out her car with her groceries, and leading me to her doorway.

We get inside the house, and her two children are in the living room, chilling on the sofa. One looks to be about thirteen, the other looks about ten.

"Hey mom," the younger one greets.

"Hey Ollie. Would you and Jason go upstairs for a while? I have a visitor around, and we would like to spend some time together without you two interrupting," she says sweetly.

Oliver sighs, and gets up from the sofa, before taking Jason's sleeve and dragging him from the room - leaving me and Virginia alone.

"You've got a lovely place here," I compliment.

"Oh, thanks. It's a little too big for me, though. We're only here because my husband wants a place near to his work. Don't know why he felt we had to get a big place, though."

"I think it's lovely," I assure her. "I would kill for a place like this – not literally, though."

She laughs with me, and sits down on the sofa. I join her, still looking around the place.  It's such a wonderful place; I wish I could live somewhere like here.

"So," we both start at the same time.

"Oh, you first," I say.

"Uh," she chuckles. "So, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm actually a doctor," I answer. "And yourself?"

"A doctor, wow! I just work at the pet shop in town," she answers. "But I bet you get highly paid!"

"Well... yes. It keeps me afloat," I joke. "Uh... how long you been married to..."

"Stuart," she guides me.

"Stuart," I repeat. "How long you been married to Stuart?"

"Oh, about thirteen years. We actually met not long after you and I finished. Clicked straight away."

"Well, that's good. How come your marriage is dead now, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, we had an argument a few months back, and he hit me upside the head with the TV remote. He apologised straight away, but it's stuck in my head since. He knows I've not forgiven him yet, so he doesn't really speak to me as much as we used to. At night, he will turn away from me when he falls asleep. He used to make me feel so happy, but now... that happiness is gone. It's been replaced with coldness, y'know?"

"I understand," I comfort her. "My first marriage was similar, but she cheated on me with my current girlfriend's ex. We've basically done a girlfriend swap, but me and Becky have nothing to do with our exes."

"I'm sorry," she frowns. "Love can be a bit of a bitch sometimes."

"Bitch isn't the word," I smile. "That's the polite way of saying it."

She nods in agreement, "Oh, would you like a drink? I completely forgot to ask."

"Oh, please. Orange juice, if you have it. If not, water. Thank you."

"That's okay," she smiles. "Be right back."

Okay, so I'm going to have this drink, talk a few minutes more, then leave. Becky will be wondering where I am, so I'll have to make this drink quick.

She returns a few minutes later. "Here ya go."

"Thank you," I take the drink from her hands. "So..."

"You've changed a lot, Michael."

"I know. It's mostly the Vitiligo that's done it."

"Yeah... I have a friend with Vitiligo. Splodges all over her, but she's still so beautiful."

"You have a friend with Vitiligo?" I ask in shock. "I've always thought I was the only person in existence, so it seems. Even as a doctor, I've never met anyone with Vitiligo!"

"Really? Well, maybe I should bring her to meet you one day. I'm sure she would love someone to relate to."

"So would I. Man, I've never been able to talk to anyone about Vitiligo before - at least, not seriously. With Becky, she accepts that I have it, but she doesn't fully understand it, so I can never really talk to her about it, you know?"

"You can talk to me, if you like," she offers. "I can be the ear that listens."

"Gee... I've never spoken so openly about it before Virginia... it's just so hard having Vitiligo, cos everyone is always sayin', "Oh, what happened to you? Last time I saw you, you were black! What happened?" and it drives me insane. It really does," I confess.

--

"And... the people I've not seen since I was like... sixteen, they have to do a double take before they realise who I am. I have to explain the Vitiligo to everyone, and... it's not nice," I explain a while later.

I think I've been here a while longer than a half hour, simply because we're talking about Vitiligo so much. It's been nice.

"I know Michael. My friend Jeannette is just the same. Says it drives her up the wall," Virginia tells me.

"But it's when they accuse me of bleaching my skin, or taking medication... that's when it bugs me. Why would I want to change my skin colour? I swear it isn't even possible without Vitiligo!" I frown.

"I know, I know. As far as I'm concerned, it isn't possible to take medication to do that, anyway."

"It isn't! I'm a doctor! I've never, ever seen medication to change the skin colour!" I add.

"You're getting agitated, Michael. You need to calm down," she says softly.

She places her hand on my knee, and a weird, unexplainable feeling gives me a shiver down my spine. I look at her, and she gives a sympathetic smile in return.

I look down, and realise that my Vitiligo problem is actually quite hard to deal with. I'm just used to the fact I have it now, so I guess I never talk about it much. It still hurts when people accuse me of those things, though – the whole skin-bleaching thing.

"I'm sorry," I apologise for what feels like the millionth time today. "I've just never realised how much Vitiligo has changed me. Not just physically, but... emotionally, too."

"You don't need to apologise," she tells me. "I'm here to listen, so that's what I'm doing for you. You can talk as long as you need to, Michael."

"I don't want to be a burden," I say, standing up from the sofa. "I better be getting home."

"Of course," she agrees. "Wouldn't want your girls wondering where you are now, would we?"

"No," I smile faintly. "But this has been nice; catching up with you after all these years."

"It has," she answers. "I'll take you to the door."

We walk towards the front door, and she opens it, revealing a rainstorm outside.

"Great. I parked the car a little down the road. Now to get wet," I joke.

"Good luck," Virginia taunts.

"Thanks," I laugh.

I walk out the door, immediately feeling my curls getting drenched by the rain. I turn to face the doorway, where Virginia is still standing, watching me.

"I'll see you round," I say.

I then walk back towards her, and lean in to kiss her cheek in farewell. Not in a romantic way – more of like... the kind of kiss you would give a guest when they arrive for a dinner party or something. You get the idea.

But at the last second, she turns her head, and the kiss lands on her lips instead. Realising what's happening, I immediately pull away, and we both widen our eyes.

"I'm sorry," she and I both gasp at the same time.

"My fault," I say.

"No, mine. I moved my head. I'm sorry," she apologises again.

"Not to worry. See you soon," I bid farewell.

I quickly head towards my car, absolutely drenched by the time I'm there.

Although neither of us meant it, I think that kiss is going to linger in my head forever now... and I feel guilty.

She's my high school love, and seeing her after fifteen years is just... crazy.

But I'm glad I saw her again.

I thought she still hated me from when I broke up with her in high school. I won't go into detail, but I ended it with her because I had to move away from where she lived, and I couldn't cope with a long-distance relationship.

I never told Becky about her because I thought it was just pointless to mention high school dates. I bet she's had a few I've never known about.

But when I ended it with her, she was heartbroken, and I was, too, but I guess now we're both other it.

... Ah, what fifteen years can do to your life.

Hmm, a nice ex for once! I wanted to be different. ;) What do you think of Virginia? Nice or nasty? Hehe, hope you liked it. :)