Leaving

Katherine came in and woke us up. "We leave in 3 hours, " She said.

I shook Michael a bit, "get up." I said but then I was just pulled into his arms.

"I just wanna hold you for a little but longer." He begged.

I laid there with him for a while till Katherine said breakfast was done.

"Michael, where are you going?" Janet asked eating her pancakes.

Michael opened his mouth but then shut it at a lose of words.

"Come on Michael tell her." Joseph taunted.

"I have to go away for a long time jan." He said.

"Why?" She asked sadly.

Michael couldn't answer her, i mean how do you tell you it little sister your addicted to drugs.

"You'll come visit me . right?" She asked.

"I can't Janet." He replied softly. Janet's bottom lips quivered, "Why are you leaving? I don't want you to go! I promise ill be better when you babysit me!" She said on on the verge of tears, then she jump down from her chair and ran to her room.

MICHAEL'S POV ~ ~ ~ ~

I watched as Janet ran away crying. I quickly got up and went after her.

I turned her door nob to find it was locked. "Jan, please let me in." I begged.

I heard her little feet walk to door and unlock it.

I opened the door to see her staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"I-i don't want you to leave. Your the only one who plays with me. " she said wiping her face. I picked her up, hugging her.

"I know, and I don't want to leave you but I have to." I said.

" Then why are you leaving?" she asked crossing her arms.

"I'm sick, and I need some major help Janet and once I go i have to stay for a year to get better and to stay better. I'm doing it for you, mom, and Dre because I love you guys and I wanna be able to take care of you guys. " i said.

"Okay." She said then hugging me tight.

"I love you baby sis." I said.

"I love you big brother." She said.

** * * *

"You've got everything?" Dre asked. I nodded grabbing my other bag. We walked down stairs and loaded the car up. I shut the trunk and saw Wesleys car pull up and out jumped all of our friends. I smiled a bit, i was happy they came to see me.

Anna came running to me, hugging me. "Were gonna miss you but we're glad you're getting help." She said.

"Thanks." I replied. They came and hugged me and said bye but wesley. He was talking to Dre. Wesley took a deep breath and walked over to me. He stuck his hand out, i smirked and grabbed it, we pulled eachother into a brother hug. "Dont ever lay your hands on her again." He said.

I nodded understanding where he was coming from. "Get better for her. She loves you."

"I will." I said.

"Write me or whatever they'll let you do.see yah man." He said.

"Michael we have to go." Mother said.

I waved goodbye to everyone and got in the back seat with Dre. We buckled up and i grabbed her hand as she leaned her head on my shoulder.

It was a long silent drive. "Michael, is there anything you would like to eat before we take you to rehab? Favorite restaurant? " my mother asked.

"Olive garden?" I asked.

"Of course." She smiled a little. She found the nearest olive garden and we sat down and ate. It was actually a nice lunch. Just me, my mom and my girlfriend.

" What can I get you sir? " the young waitress asked giving me a smirk. Is she trying to flirt with me? I gave her a weird look, "Um can I get the Italian tour?" I ask.

"Of course." She replied biting her lip.

"Babe, what do you want?" I asked kissing her head.

" Um I'll just get the same." She replied smiling. The waitress then gave her a dirty look.

My mother then order, the waitress then left with our order.

"Michael did you notice that waitress?" My mother asked.

"Yeah..." i replied.

"Notice what about the waitress? " Dre asked.

"The waitress was flirting with him." Katherine giggled.

"Seriously?" Dre asked.

I nodded. "Was she pretty?" Dre asked.

"not as nearly as pretty as you." I said. She smiled.

The waitress came back with a fake smile on her face. " Would you guys like any appetizers? " she asked me.

" baby? Would you like one?" I asked smiling at her. "No I'm good." She replied.

We waited for our food and made some talk and kind of made fun of the waitress who kept hitting on me.

We got our food and ate.

We finished our food and headed to rehabilitation center.

Dre fell asleep on my shoulder. I brushed the hair out of her face, kissing her forehead. I draped my jacket over her.

*** we pulled up to the rehab center, i felt my nerves shoot through the roof. I was scared of going to rehab. "Were here." My mother said. Dre woke up, yawning. Mother got out but i stayed put. "Michael, baby. You need to get out of the car." My mother said opening my door.

" Michael.... let's go." Dre said softly. I got out of the car and we were meet with a nurse.

She helped grab my bags and brought us into the center.

We were in the lobby. I looked at my surroundings. The place was so plain, white walls, white floors, white ceiling..... "babe."

"Hm?" I asked.

"Follow us." She said.

The nurse took us into a office where we met with a counselor.

"You must be Michael. I'm dr. Taylor " She smiled.

"Yeah. ..." i replied.

"Please sit, there's some details we would like to go over with you guys. " the doctor said. We all sat down, Dre held my hand giving me support.

"So we're just gonna go over what you're gonna go through with this year long rehabilitation. For the first 2 months you will be staying here. After the 2 months is up Michael will be moved to a type of home, not a half way house or a camp. Now if he gives us a lot trouble, he'll be sent to a camp but the plan is to send him to this place where he is basically in the real world but will not have the same resources, and has restrictions. The first couple months are going to be extremely hard, and we do not allow visitor the first two months."

"Why isn't he allowed to see anyone for 2 months?!" Dre asked.

"Miss have you ever seen your boyfriend on drugs?" The doctor asked. Dre nodded.

"Not a pretty site, right?" The doctor said. "Nope." Dre huffed.

"Well during these first 2 months Michaels body will go through a cleansing phase. His personality and action will not be the same as usual. Compare it to when he's under the influence, maybe worst. People coming to visit him would most likely end with someone getting extremely hurt which would cause more stress on Michael that we don't need." She explain. Dre nodded slowly.

The doctor went on and on.

"Michael, how often do you use heroin in a week?" The doctor asked.

"Ummm usually 2 or 3 time but if it's been a bad week 5 or6." I replied.

"Do you have a lot of bad weeks?" She asked.

"They happen often. "

"What cause you to have a bad week? "

"Fighting with my parents or my girlfriend. "

"And that happens often? "

"Lately they have been. "

"Okay, um you said you used for 2 years now?"

"About. "

"Okay. That's all the questions for now. We'll show you to your room. "

We followed her down the long white hall. As we did I peaked in rooms. There were people who seemed normalish & people who held their knees to their chest rocking back and forth. " This is your room Michael." She smiled. I looked around it, there were bars on the window, straple's on the bed for holding feet and hands down. There was only a bed, a small tv and a little bathroom.

"I'll give you guys sometime to settle in. " the doctor said leaving.

We set my bags down, and we all were still examining the room. " Its only 2 months you'll be here honey." My mother said.

Truth is, i really don't want to do this. Yeah I wanna get better but they make getting better sound terrible. "Baby, you can do this. " Dre said.

" Are you sure?" I asked doubtfully.

"Yes." She replied.

I swollowed the lump in my throat, "michael we know this is scary but if you keep on this path with drugs your not gonna have a future, your not gonna have a family, your not gonna have music and your not gonna have Dre cause you'll be dead!" Mother said as she choked up. "Mom-" i began.

"No! You listen to me. You are my son and I love but I do not like the person these drugs created. You are my baby boy and I dont wanna loose you. " She cried.

"Mom I'm gonna follow through with this. I promise, imma get better. "I said hugging her.

"Mrs.Jackson I'm sorry but its about time for you guys to leave. " the doctor said politely. Mother hugged me again, goodbye

Dre already had tears soaking her face. After mother let go of me she hugged me crying. "Baby, don't cry. " I said holding her.

"I'm going to miss you, so much. " She cried.

"Does this mean were still together? " I asked trying to get her to at least smile.

"Of course we are dummy. " she said.

"But Michael i swear, you check yourself out of here? We are done, forever and I promise you that. "

"I ain't gonna check my self out. " I replied. "Dre its time to go. " My mother said.

Dre hugged me tight, "mom can you give us a second? In private." I asked. She nodded leaving. I grabbed Dre's fave kissing her passionately. "I love you so much baby," i said.

"I love you so much too." She replied kissing me roughly. Our tounges danced as we knew this would be pure last kiss for a while. She liked away breathless,

"Dre we have to leave now. " my mother said. She left one last passionate miss on my lips then walked out the door.