When you and your father Bill Bray temporarily move in with the Jacksons while Katherine and Joe Jackson are on a holiday, you mostly expect quiet weeks filled with family chaos, late-night conversations, and time with Janet.
You have known Michael Jackson for years and treat him like your friend that he is — just Michael. But when you suddenly live under the same roof day and night, small things slowly begin to change. Especially for him.
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In the meantime, half a week had passed since you and Michael had decided to try to date.
Officially, you were now a couple.
Although hardly anyone knew that.
Actually, only La Toya knew about it, and that was only because she had been the one who had finally let you two talk to each other again.
For the rest of the family, everything was still exactly the same.
And to be honest, that made keeping it a secret surprisingly easy. You were best friends before you started dating.
Nobody thought it was strange that you two went for a walk with Louie.
No one would bat an eye when you sat in Michael's studio for hours while he wrote music.
No one asked questions when you were watching movies together or sitting in a corner of the house talking.
You did that before too.
The only difference was that you now occasionally exchanged glances that lasted just a little longer.
That your heart sometimes beat faster when he smiled.
And that Michael had to fight every time against the urge to hold your hand in front of his whole family.
Until now, you have kept the secret perfectly hidden.
Although La Toya started to enjoy herself more and more with the fact that she was the only one who knew what was really going on.
This week was busier than usual.
The recordings for the video clip of Say Say Say were finally at the door. Michael had talked about it many times in recent months. The song he had recorded with Paul McCartney now also got a video clip and that involved a lot of preparation.
You were sitting in his studio with Michael that afternoon when he leafed through a pile of papers for the umpteenth time.
"There's a problem." He mumbled.
You looked up from the magazine you were reading. "What kind of problem?"
Michael lowered the papers. "La Toya."
"What's with La Toya?"
"She can no longer do the video clip."
You frown.
Until now, the plan had always been for La Toya to play Michael's love interest. Not only because she was family, but also because Michael felt completely comfortable with her for such scenes.
"Why not?"
"She suddenly got extra studio recordings for her own music this week." He sighed. "And it is impossible for them to move."
You nodded understandingly.
In recent weeks, La Toya had indeed spent more and more time on her own career.
"That's a shame."
"Yes." Michael nervously twirled a pen between his fingers. "Because now I have to find someone else."
You shrugged your shoulders. "I'm sure you will."
Michael looked at you for a few seconds. A little too long. Which slowly made you suspect where this was going. "... Nope."
He smiled. "What nope?"
"No."
"I haven't asked anything yet."
"But I know what you're gonna ask."
His smile got bigger. "Maybe."
You let your head fall back. "Michael."
"What?"
"No."
He started to laugh softly. "Why not?"
"Because I'm not an actress."
Now Michael raised an eyebrow. "You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do."
"You've literally been dreaming of becoming an actress for years."
"That's something else."
"How?"
You were looking for an answer. "Because..." But you didn't find any.
Michael immediately took advantage of that. "You've always said you want to be discovered one day."
"I know."
"And now you get a chance."
You bit your lower lip. That was exactly the problem, because he was right. This was an opportunity. Maybe even a big one, but at the same time it was also frightening. "Michael, millions of people are gonna see that."
"Probably." He grinned.
You threw a pillow at him.
Michael caught it with a laugh. After that, he became a little more serious again. "I'm serious." His voice softened. "You'd be good at this."
You looked at him. And saw that he really believed it, not because he was your friend. Not because he wanted to convince you, but because he genuinely trusted you. That made it difficult to say no.
Very difficult.
It remained silent for a few seconds. Then you sighed deeply. "Okay."
Michael blinked in surprise. "Okay?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
You laughed. "Yes, Michael."
His face lit up immediately. "You mean it."
"I meant it the first time."
He almost jumped up from his chair. "You just saved my music video."
"That seems slightly exaggerated to me."
"No." He shook his head enthusiastically. "Not at all." You started laughing at his enthusiasm.
Michael walked up to you. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"No, really." Before you could answer anything, he put his arms around you and you smiled automatically. It remained special how quickly he could change from world star to enthusiastic boy. When he let go of you, he looked at you for a moment.
That look that appeared more and more often in the past week. The look that only you seemed to get, very softly he pressed a kiss on your lips.
Briefly.
Sweet.
But enough to make you smile again. When he pulled back, you could see the same smile appear on his face. "Thank you for saving my music video."
You shook your head laughing. "I haven't done anything yet."
"That doesn't matter." Michael picked up the pile of papers again. His mood had completely changed. The problem of five minutes ago suddenly seemed to have disappeared.
And as he started talking enthusiastically about costumes, scenes, and ideas for the music video, you could only think that maybe you had just said yes to something that was going to be much bigger than you both could predict.
The first day of shooting felt almost unreal to you.
You had hardly been able to sleep the night before because of the nerves. Not only because this was your first real acting job, but also because today you would meet people you had admired for years.
Bill took you and Michael to set by car and laughed with you the whole ride.
"You're more nervous for Paul McCartney than for the fact that you're going to be in a music video."
"Dad, it's Paul McCartney."
"I know."
"A Beatle."
"I know that too."
"A real Beatle."
Your dad laughed. "I think he's indeed real."
A few hours later you were actually on set. And there he was.
Paul McCartney.
Of all the situations you had ever imagined, this one was not one of them.
You stood there for a moment, looking as if your brain hadn't quite processed that the man in front of you wasn't a poster, record cover, or television appearance.
He was real.
Next to him stood Linda, who immediately smiled kindly at everyone.
"Breathe." You suddenly heard next to you. You turned your head. Michael stood next to you with a grin. "You look as if you have seen a ghost."
"That's Paul McCartney."
"I know."
"Paul McCartney."
"I literally work with him."
"That doesn't help."
Michael started laughing. "Come with me." Before you could protest, he pulled you towards Paul. Within seconds you were facing one of your greatest musical heroes.
To your own surprise, the conversation went surprisingly normally.
Paul turned out to be friendly, funny and above all very relaxed.
After a few minutes it felt like you were no longer talking to a legend, but just to a friendly man who happened to be one of the most famous musicians in the world. "Michael told me that you are his co-star." Paul said.
You nodded. "That's right."
"Your first time?"
"Is it that clear?"
Paul laughed. "A little."
Linda smiled. "Don't worry, honey. By the end of the day, it all feels much more normal."
You hoped she was right. Fortunately, that turned out to be the case. As the hours went by, your nerves slowly disappeared.
The set was busy, but also surprisingly cozy. People walked back and forth with cameras, lamps and costumes. Everyone seemed to know exactly what to do.
Except you.
At least, that's how it felt sometimes.
Fortunately, Michael was almost constantly around.
When you weren't sure where to stand, he helped.
When a scene had to be reshot, he reassured you.
And whenever you became insecure, he reminded you why he had asked you for this role. "You're doing well." Those were probably the words he spoke most often that day.
During a short break, you sat together on a wooden box behind one of the set pieces. "You don't have to say that every five minutes."
Michael looked up in surprise. "What?"
"That I'm doing well."
"But you're doing well."
You shook your head laughing. "I know that by now."
"Good." He took a sip of water. "Then my plan works."
"Your plan?"
"Yes."
"What kind of plan?"
Michael smiled. "Make sure you don't run away."
You had to laugh. "I haven't run away from anything yet."
"That surprises me to be honest." You gave him a gentle push on his arm. Michael just grinned.
You noticed how relaxed he was today. Of course he worked hard, he always did. But there was a different energy around him. As if he was extra happy, and honestly you knew exactly why.
At the end of the afternoon, one of the more difficult scenes was discussed.
You and Michael had to walk through a street décor together while talking and laughing with each other.
On paper, it sounded simple. But every time the camera started rolling, you suddenly forgot how to walk normally.
"And... action!"
Within ten seconds you almost tripped over your own feet. The whole set burst out laughing. You immediately put your hands in front of your face. "No."
Michael laughed so hard that he almost forgot his lines himself. "That was perfect."
"That was terrible."
"Nope." He tried to hold back his laughter. "That was cute."
You gave him a warning look. "One more comment and I'm leaving."
"You won't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because you're too professional."
You rolled your eyes. But you couldn't stop smiling. The rest of the scene eventually went without a hitch. When the director was finally satisfied, there was applause from several people on the set. You immediately felt your cheeks getting warm.
"See." Michael said proudly.
"I think they're just happy that I didn't fall again."
"No." His smile softened. "They're happy because you're good."
And for the umpteenth time that day you believed him. By the time filming for the day was completed, the sun was already setting. People started to clean up material. Paul and Linda said goodbye to everyone. And slowly the set became quieter and quieter.
You and Michael stood there for a while.
Tired, but satisfied.
"Your first music video." Michael said.
You smiled. "My first music video."
"And probably not your last."
You looked at him. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely." The certainty in his voice made your heart beat faster. Not because he was Michael Jackson. But because he was Michael. The boy who always believed in you, even when you didn't.
And as you watched the setting sun together, you knew that this day was one you would never forget. Not only because you had finally come one step closer to your dream.
But also because Michael had been next to you the whole way.
