Michael let out a loud yawn, stretching. "Yeah well I think I'ma call it a night. I'm pretty tired" I nodded, rubbing my eyes a bit. "Well thanks. For letting me sing on the track with you. It was......fun" I had managed to say with a smile as I started to walk away. Suddenly I felt Michael's hand grab my wrist, turning me back around. He pulled me into his arms for one of the most awkward hugs of my life. "Welcome" he whispered. "M-Michael?" I asked, my voice shaky. "Hm?" "Please let go of me?" This was getting too weird. Why the hell was he holding me like I was his girl or something?! Michael let me go, a smirk on his features. "You like me.....don't you?" I'm pretty sure I had just thrown up a little in my mouth when he said that. "What?! Of course not, why would you think that?" I asked, my face hot. "It's okay if you have a crush on me.....I mean, LOOK at me, how can you not?" Michael said and he was serious. I gave him a blank stare. Wow....can you say CONCEITED much? Yet another trait to add on to his long list of annoying qualities. "Have you ever had a boyfriend before?" Michael asked out of nowhere. I looked down at the floor. He chuckled. "I'll take that as a no...." "Why do you care? It's really not that big of a deal" I said, nervously playing with my fingers. "Well,you've at least had your first kiss right?" "That's none of your business" I warned. And it wasn't. This was a touchy subject for me and he was the LAST person I wanted to discuss it with. Can't he take a hint that I want this conversation to be over?! Michael let out a laugh. "Wait don't tell me you're still a virgin too?! At 20 years old?! I can't even tell you all the shit I had already done at that age!" That was enough. "Alright fine! I'm still a virgin, I've never been kissed, I haven't had a boyfriend there you happy?! All during high school, even now boys don't even think twice about dating some loser like me because I'm a social outcast....I didn't even attend my prom so if you're gonna now make fun of me for that get it outta your damn system!!!" I snapped, the tears stinging my eyes. One fell down my cheek and I roughly wiped it away. Michael didn't say anything, a look of regret on his face. "I'm going to bed" I mumbled, walking out and heading for the beds in the back room of the studio. It had literally taken me forever to fall asleep that night. I decided on calling my older brother Keith and he helped a lot. I told him all about what happened with Michael and I. "Wow....what a dick. I always had a feeling he was like that....I never liked him anyway. Somebody needs to set that boy straight.....tell him to get his ego head outta his ass....fake ass James Brown wanna be....." Keith said, making me laugh a little. I then told him about how Quincy had tried to put Michael in his place. "Who?" "Quincy? You know, Quincy Jones?" I said over the phone. "Aw yeah! I know who you're talkin about! See, I've always liked Quincy. His jazz music's good as hell. Plus, he knows not to put up with Jackson's bullshit" Keith and I ended up talking for a good hour before I hung up. As I played my head on th pillow, what Keith had said kept replaying over in my mind. "Don't let Jackson get to you alright? Because if he does ANYTHING to mess with you, I'm coming down there to beat his black ass....I don't care if I'm in Disney right now. Keith was on vacation at Disneyland with his wife Tish and their son Cameron. When I woke up that following morning I looked horrible. I didn't really get that much sleep and it definitely showed. After going in to the bathroom to freshen up, I changed into a pair of blue jeans with a black long sleeve shirt. I brushed my hair back into a low ponytail  putting my glasses on and brushing my teeth. "Oh good morning bambi!" I heard another voice call out as I walked inside the studio. Never in my life had I been so happy to see Quincy. "Morning!" I replied, giving him a hug. "Have you seen smelly? I tried calling him but he wouldn't answer" I shook my head. "I haven't seen him either. I was the only one here last night" I lied. Suddenly if almost on que, Michael came rushing into the studio. "Hey we were just talking about you. Where you been smelly?" Quincy asked. "Sorry. I was out for a run. I had to get away from Tati for a few hours. We had a fight" Michael said, wiping sweat off his face. He had looked over at me but I kept my vision locked on the controls. "Is everything alright?" Quincy asked. Michael let out a sigh, shaking his head. "No I don't think so. I'm thinking about calling it quits with her.....she's too much to handle" Michael took a seat at the table, his head in his hands. I could tell there was more to his story but I kept quiet. "You ready to record Smooth Criminal?" Quincy asked, setting up the controls. Michael nodded, heading inside the booth to put on his headphones. The beat for Smooth Criminal filled the studio and I had to admit, it was a pretty good song! I tapped my foot to the beat. When Quincy played back the final version back it sounded great! "I think we've got another hit on our hands smelly!!" he said excitedly. I nodded. "Yeah it's a really good song Michael" "Thanks" Michael mumbled. "Alright I just need you to record one more track then we are done" Quincy said. "Which one?" Michael asked. "Well there's actually 2 tracks you can choose from: Man In The Mirror or I'm so blue" Quincy said. Michael sighed. "I'll do the second one" he said, putting his headphones back on, slowly walking back inside the booth. What's his problem? "Listen Bam I'm going to need you to record this one okay? I have to attend a meeting now but it shouldn't take too long" "W-What?" I asked, becoming nervous. I didn't want to be alone with Michael anymore. "I should only be an hour. I've got to attend the meeting now" Quincy got up, packing up his things. "Does Michael know?" I asked. "No but could you please tell him for me? Since I couldn't find his ass last night" Quincy joked making me smile a little. "Sure I'll tell him. No problem" I tried to sound professional but in reality I felt sick. Once Quincy left, I turned the microphone on, my hands trembling. "Quincy had to leave early for a meeting. So I'll be recording you...." There was silence from the booth. "Michael? You okay?" I asked. Finally he responded. "Fine. Just record" I pressed play and was blown away just by the music itself. The song opened with a piano and a harmonica, the harmonies they gave were beautiful. It actually reminded me of a sad movie opening with the credits rolling in. This was actually one of the songs I've yet to hear Michael record before so it should be very interesting. Once I heard Michael's vocals come in, I closed my eyes. They were so soothing and the lyrics were heart wrenching. By the time he finished, he came out of the booth and I replayed the track back. It sounded amazing and suddenly I was overcome with emotion. Maybe it was the sad lyrics or how painful Michael's vocals sounded or even the actual instrumentation of the blending of the piano, guitar, and harmonica. Whatever was the factor, I couldn't stop the tears that now flowed. "You too that to church" I joked softly, sniffling. I already knew Quincy was gonna love this track. Michael chuckled a bit at my comment. "Thanks" When the song came to a close I stood up and clapped causing him to laugh. "Damn Hazel it wasn't THAT good" Michael said, looking away. "Wasn't that good?! Are you kidding?! Michael that was amazing! I could literally feel the ache in your voice. It's a beautiful song.....a sad song but a beautiful one too" I said, wiping at my eyes. "A little TOO sad for the Bad album though, right?" Michael said. "I mean think about it, where would this fit on the track list? It'll probably just end up being unreleased....and I want it to remain like that" his voice trailed off. I gave him a confused look. "Wait, so this song won't be released to the public? What was the use of recording it then? When did you write it?" I asked. "Last night....it's about Tatiana....I found out she cheated on me...." he said, his voice soft. I looked at him in complete shock. Tatiana cheated on him?! "How'd you-" "After you fell asleep last night, my phone rang. I answered it and it was her. I thought she wanted something but I heard her voice in the back along with some other guy's. By the sounds they were making, I knew she was getting 'something' alright. I even heard her tell the guy not to worry cuz I'll never find out.....I wonder how that bitch must feel right about now....."  Michael said. I could tell he didn't want to get emotional, especially in front of me. "I'm sorry about that" I whispered, not really knowing what exactly to say. I've never been cheated in before so....Michael shook his head, holding up his hand. "I don't need your apologies....you're not the one who fucked some other man behind my back" the bitterness was evident in his tone. "Did you love her?" I asked. "What's it matter to you?! It's not like you'll ever experience it anyway....." Michael snapped but got quiet once he noticed the look of hurt on my face. "I've gotta go...." he suddenly said, grabbing his stuff and leaving. 'Man I hope he doesn't hurt anybody....' I thought.