The Concert

*Rose*After watching Michael rehearse for about three hours with my mom, John and Bill, he finally calls for a break.

"Alright great job guys! Let's all break for lunch." Michael says, dismissing everyone in the venue. He looks down the stage, looking for myself and the others. "Come up here!"

We walk up the stairs and I felt like I was at home again on the stage. I miss performing so much.

"Damn!" My mom yells, making everyone, including myself for once jump. "I've never been on a stage before! Where's the microphone?! I wanna sing a little tune." She says. She's so naturally loud that she doesn't need a damn microphone.

"It's over there." Michael points to his left and my mom runs to it. She taps the microphone, making the feedback screech in our ears. "Is this thing on?!"

"Yes, Dalma its on, there's no need to yell." Michael says, rubbing his ears.

"Don't tell me what to do Chico." She clears her throat, and all hell breaks loose.

" 'CAUSE THIS IS THRILLER! THRILLER AT NIGHT! AND NO ONES GONNA SAVE YOU FROM THE BEAST ABOUT TO STRIKE!" My mom screeches. My mother is the worst singer on the planet. A potato sounds better than her.

On top of that she's echoing like no tomorrow. Everyone on the floor and on the stage, including Michael, are covering their ears, hoping that they don't bleed.

"YOU KNOW ITS THRILLER! THRILLER NIGHT, YOU'RE FIGHTING-"

"Okay! How about some food mom?" I interrupt her before she makes all the staff quit.

"What? I was killin' it right?" She looks around and everyone turns away from her. "Oh fuck y'all! Where you think Rose got that voice from? Pendejas." She mumbles.

I snicker and walk her off the stage, and we head backstage to eat. "What do y'all want to eat?" Michael asks. "I really want enchiladas."

"Ooh that's sounds good." Bill says, and we all nod in agreement.

"Great!" Michael claps. "Because that's exactly what I ordered." He opens the door to the meeting room and there's nothing but Spanish food. Enchiladas, Fajitas, Chorizo, tacos, everything. With my mother being Puerto Rican and myself being half Puerto Rican this is a dream buffet right now.

"Well the food isn't gonna eat itself!" Michael says, digging into a pan of black beans. I grab a plate and grab everything I could find. I ended up having three plates filled up. One plate was just plain guacamole. Hey, I like to eat.

"Rose you eat so much but yet you're so small! You must've gotten that fast metabolism from ya pinche daddy's side." My mom says.

"You're the one to talk! You're the same size as me and look at you, you got five damn plates on you!" I point out, earning an eyeroll from her.

After we finish eating and having side conversations I excuse myself to the bathroom so I can fix myself up. I go into the bathroom and examine myself. I haven't really taken a good look at myself in a while and I didn't realize how skinny I've really gotten. All this stress and shit did a number on me.

I fix my high waisted jeans and unbutton my oversized long sleeve denim shirt and wrap it around my waist, leaving just my black tank top showing. I smooth out any flyaways on my bun and once satisfied I walk out the bathroom, only to bump into the person I didn't want to see.

"Could you watch where you're going next time? I could've dropped all this makeup and I would've been out of a job!" Karen says, dusting off her ugly parka.

"Hmm, too bad, if only everything had dropped. It would've been nice to see you sitting on the street begging for money like a peddler." I say.

When she recognizes my voice she freezes, then gives me a scowl. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

I gasp, putting a hand on my chest. "My my, what awful language. Didn't your parents ever teach you manners?"

"Does Michael know you're here?" Karen says, clenching her jaw so hard I swear it was gonna pop.

"But of course darling. How else would I get here?"

"Stay away from him. You're no good for him." She threatens.

"Oh and you think you are?" I say, getting in her face. "Because from what I hear you're the tour slut, and fucked every guy and girl that works on this tour." I lie, just to rattle her up.

Karen's eyes bulge, as if her secret was out. "I-I never fucked any girl. Shit." She winces, and I stand there, mouth agape. Did she just confess to sleeping with all the guys here?

"Oh so what if I did? That's my business. Not yours, not Michaels. And besides, he would rather be with me than with some corrupt money stealer."

I laugh, "Really? Do you really want to go there? Tell me baby, if he would rather be with you than with me, where was he last night?"

Karen didn't answer right away, and I knew she was going to make up another lie so I let her stammer herself into her grave. "Easy. H-he was with me doing last minute visuals for tonight's concert." She smiles, confident with what she said.

I chuckle. "Right. So there must be two Michael Jacksons because I distinctly remember having him in my house, in my shower, seeing him in all his manly glory, AND, here's the best part, stayed the night! Hence why I showed up with him this morning." I finish with a cynical smile, and Karen's smile fades into a look of hurt, and anger.

I pat her face, "Aw, cheer up buttercup. You'll think of something better. But you'll probably be too busy having someone's dick in your mouth." I wink and walk away, leaving her speechless. "Don't make those faces! Your face will freeze up that way!" I yell, skipping back into the meeting room.

Yep, your girl still got it.

••••••••••••••••••

*Michael*

I was doing last minute wardrobe fittings for the concert and I started to get nervous. I always seem to get nervous before a show, but it always goes away when I get on the stage. After Rose came back from the bathroom she was surprisingly more happy. I asked her what was it that made her so giddy, but she wouldn't tell me. Eventually Rose and Dalma went back to Westchester with John to get dressed and ready for tonight.

While Rose was in the bathroom I started talking to Dalma for a while and we both came up with a plan. We decided to have her sing in the show tonight, if she's willing of course. We both said that when she was on the stage it made her happy, yet sad because she hasn't performed in a while. Plus despite all of these allegations she still had fans, and what better way to show her that people still love her by having her sing with me? I just want her to know that she's not alone in this, that's she has people who care for her. Like her mother and I.

I shake my thoughts away and get my final outfit on. Once dressed I go back to my dressing room and sit in my makeup chair and wait for Karen. I haven't really seen her all day and she's been distant.

After about five minutes she comes in through the door, and doesn't even say hello.

"Hey girl. What's up with you?" I ask.

"Nothing."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No."

I raise my eyebrow and go back to reading my magazine. After a moment of silence she finally speaks up. "Are you fucking that bitch?"

I snap my head up. "What?"

"I said. Are you. Fucking. That bitch?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Oh don't act so innocent now! I saw that Lily or Tulip or whatever the hell that flower girl is today. She had the nerve to berate me and call me a whore!"

I stifle a laugh, and clear my throat. "Her name is Rose, and I think you're overreacting. No I'm not sleeping with her. We're just friends. Just good friends."

"Don't use your song titles on me. She said that you were with her last night!"

"Yeah? And your point?"

She looks at me bewildered. She didn't know what to believe. "So you were with her?"

"Yes Karen. What I do with my personal life shouldn't concern you."

"It should seeing that I was with you."

I stop her. "No. We were never together. Yes we engaged in sexual activities before, but we have never, and will never date. I told you after the Grammys that I was done with you after I found out you were screwing the visual effects guy."

"But what about last week? Back in California? Didn't that mean anything to you?"

"I don't want to sound like a dick, but no. You attempting to give me head was mediocre. I didn't even want you to give me a blowjob but I didn't want to hurt your feelings." I really did not want to say that, but the truth had to come out sooner or later.

"I thought y-you l-l-loved me." Karen stutters, bringing fake tears. I know she's bluffing because there's no actual tears coming out. She's just mad because I don't want her anymore.

"I do. But I'm not in love with you. The love I have for you isn't the same as the love I have for others. I love you on a professional level."

Her jaw drops, and she composes herself. "I think I'll go do the other members makeup tonight, and I'll have manny come and do yours." She finishes, packing up her bag.

"Alright. Fine with me."

She opens the door, but before she walks out, she turns around to look at me. "Be careful of that Rose girl. She's bad news. She'll get you caught up in things that you don't wanna be caught up in." And with that she's gone.

I brush her last statement away. I know what Rose is about. She's not bad news. If she was I would've known already.

1 hour later...

"Alright guys are you ready?!" I yell to my band and backup singers. They're just as pumped as I am for tonight. In just about five minutes we'll be in front of thousands of people doing what we love to do: Entertain.

As everyone goes on stage to take their places I spot Rose and Dalma looking at the crowd.

"Hey guys! Excited about tonight?"

"Oh my God Chico this is insane! Can I please go out there and do a dance or something? I wanna be famous too !" Dalma says, amazed by the sight in front of her. I laugh and look over at Rose, who's also admiring the crowd. She looked gorgeous, all she had on was an off the shoulder skin tight black dress and heels. Her hair teased and hanging down her back, and she only had on eyeliner and lip gloss. It doesn't take much for her to look beautiful.

"Are you gonna keep staring or are you gonna say something?" Rose says, catching me staring at her. I clear my throat, embarrassed yet again.

"You look stunning Rosie." I say truthfully.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself Jackson." She smiles. We look at each other for a moment until my manager comes and tells me it's time to get on the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Madison Square Garden for Michael Jacksons Bad Tour 1988. Everyone please welcome the King of Pop himself, MICHAEL JACKSON!"

"Good luck!" Rose and Dalma say to me. I wink and run out the stage.

"HELLO NEW YORK! HOW ARE YOU DOING?!" I yell, and the screams in the arena are deafening. For the next hour I felt like I was at home, with my huge family. It was truly magical.

"Thank you guys! You guys are amazing! Now this next song, I wanna bring out a special friend for." I look at Rose to my left and she's staring at me as if I went crazy. "Everyone please welcome, Rose!"

Dalma pushes Rose towards the stage and for once she's nervous. Once the crowd sees her everyone went ballistic. People were chanting her name, screaming for her, just loving her. When she realized they weren't booing her she relaxed, and walked up to me, waving at the fans and hugging me.

"Michael what the hell are you doing?" She says in my ear.

"Showing you that you still have people who love you. Sing with me." I hand her a microphone and she takes it.

"Who wants to hear us sing together?!" I yell. The crowd roars, and I look at Rose and she smiles.

"We can't hear you!" Rose says. "Who wants to hear us sing?!"

I swear the way that these guys were going they could tear paint off the walls. I laugh and cue for the song to play, and that familiar melody that everyone knew came on, and I felt as if this song was meant for me and her...

••••••••

*Rose*

I could not believe Michael. He really brought me up here to sing with him. I guess he noticed that I was yearning to perform for the longest. I haven't been this happy in ages. This was the best night of my life.

The song starts and as soon as I heard the melody I got excited. This was my favorite song from this album, besides Man in the Mirror.

'Each Time The Wind Blows

I Hear Your Voice So

I Call Your Name . . .

Whispers At Morning

Our Love Is Dawning

Heaven's Glad You Came . . .

You Know How I Feel

This Thing Can't Go Wrong

I'm So Proud To Say

I Love You

Your Love's Got Me High

I Long To Get By

This Time Is Forever

Love Is The Answer'

He points to me and I start singing, meaning every word that came out my mouth.

'I Hear Your Voice Now

You Are My Choice Now

The Love You Bring

Heaven's In My Heart

At Your Call

I Hear Harps,

And Angels Sing

You Know How I Feel

This Thing Can't Go Wrong

I Can't Live My Life

Without You'

I look at Michael and he had this passion in his eyes, not a look of lust but a look of love.

'I Just Can't Hold On.'

'I Feel We Belong.'

'My Life Ain't Worth Living, If I Can't Be With You!'

We both get into the chorus, and it felt as if it was only me and him there. Nobody else, just us two, singing together. It brings me back to when we first met at the Afterparty. I was so mean to him. All he wanted was to sing with me. I was such a bitch to him. He didn't deserve any of that. Now that he's trying to be in my life to make me a better person, I should be so grateful for him. He's saving my life.

'I Just Can't Stop Loving You

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

And If I Stop . . .

Then Tell Me Just What

Will I Do'

I look at him across the stage, my eyes never leaving his.

'Cause I Just Can't Stop Loving You.'