Chapter 1

Thursday - April 9, 1987

I was walking around the school holding my books securely against my chest, desperately trying to get to my next class. God, why did my mother get me registered into this huge school. Better yet, why did I decide to wear such heels today. Oh yes, look, it's India. What is she doing? She's talking to someone, a guy. That whore.. I'm not the one to judge, I love India with all my heart, but she's always talking to some other boy. I walk up behind her as she closes her locker.

I tap her shoulder," India..." She turned to me with a pleasing smile. " Aaliyah, what are you doing, your class in down the hall." Never mind that, I think to myself. The guy leaned back on his heel to get a gander at myself, then to India. The hallway was nearly empty, the bell would ring any minute.

" India, I'm going to class now. See you later." he looked at me again," Aaliyah." I nodded my head," John.." he was on his way. I gripped India's arm and we walked to 5th block. Thank God it's the last block of the day, I was exhausted.

India managed to get out of my grasp," What the heck is wrong with you, girl?" Simply ignoring her, I continued into the room, taking my seat. I was not going to stand, sit, or whatever through another one of her 'famous' lectures, but she came up to me anyway, well not to me but into the class room to turn in the assignment on the teacher's desk. Another girl walked in behind her; Denise. A smile immediately spreads across my face. My lovely darling. Wait a minute.... Is she eating a candy bar? Really? I rolled my eyes and looked down, mouthing 'Wow'.

She came up to me with that little innocent voice of hers," Liyah, did you still want to go to that Museum of Modern Arts down town with India and me, Saturday?" Kill me, please. The last thing I wanted to do was get involved with anything 'Michael Jackson'. But.. since I promised the other day, I'm up for it. I look up into those dark brown eyes. " Of course." I smiled.

Denise smiled back, India came up beside me and sat in the desk beside me. Denise pranced her way to the seat behind me. My eyes wonder over to the right of me, catching India's eyes, oops. I hated looking into other peoples' eyes, it makes me nervous.

" Hey, I..."she began but the teacher walked in, which meant everyone had to shut up now. Which made me happy at the moment. He went straight to his desk and put everything into a neat order. What a clean freak. Anyway, Mr. Sanders walked in front of the chalk board, clapped his hands together and said," Okay, let's begin."

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I sat in my chair, paint brushes in hand. Taking a break from working, listening to the smooth sounds of classical music. My door was opening slowly, a red haired woman in reading glasses peeked her head through the door. I watched her, feeling myself crack a small smile.

" Mr. Jackson, phone call."

I was in the cold studio of my wonderful museum, working on a new painting. I rise up from the chair and walked up to her and grabbed the phone from her hand, excusing her to go now. I closed the door, putting the phone to my ear.

" Hello, this is Michael.." I answer cheerfully. A shaky voice was on the other end, sounding of a young teen aged boy," Hello... Mr.Jackson. This is Jacob McCall, calling for the job opening?"

Job opening? Oh yes, Okay, I remember now, he's actually 21 years old. " Ah, yes. Mr.McCall, where are you now?" I asked him. He responded," I'm at home now, sir. About.... 10 minutes away from your museum." I walked to the door and opened it, just in time before my secretary went into her office, she looked back at me. I signalled for her," Uhh, hold on, Mr. McCall." I lowered the phone just as she got to me.

" What am I doing in the next ten minutes or so?" I asked hurriedly. She looked at the schedule that was already in her hands, shifting her reading glasses. " Nothing, Mr.Jackson." she looked up at me. I put the phone back to my ear," Still there Jacob?"

" Yes, sir."

" Okay, well, I will get my secretary to schedule an interview with you in ten minutes, do you think you can make it?" I smiled to myself, my secretary was already writing it down on the clip board. The man squealed like a little girl on the other line, I laughed at his enthusiasm. " Okay, sir. I'll be there."

" Great, bring your artwork." I said and then hung up the phone. I won't waste my time telling you how the interview went, for I still have that painting to attend to, just know he got the job and will start Saturday afternoon. His artwork was amazing.

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The bell had rung and it was time for us to head on home. Happily, I grabbed my books and school bag going to the door and out the class room. Oh yeah, I had to wait on my friends. I walked backwards and stopped in front of the door, turning my head towards them. India and Denise were talking to each other, seemingly enjoying each other's company, making me curious. I furrowed my eyebrows," hmm."

They acknowledge my presence making Denise smile sweetly, waving a little. She walked up to me and we went out into the hallways, India followed behind. It was so quiet, why are they so quiet around me? " So..." I said," What were you guys talking about?" Denise didn't even look at me, she was so shy, too shy. " We were just discussing our plans for after school." she said softly.

Whatever. " Okay." I shrugged it off. We all stopped at India's locker, my other friend took out another candy bar from her purse. I snatched it from her, damn girl. Stop eating. I wanted to say that but I have a heart deep down. I laugh to myself, my thoughts kill me. I try not to do that around too many people, they'll think I've gone mad. Maybe I have. I shrug.

" Liyah.." she only wanted the candy bar, poor girl. All of that weight will catch up on her one day, why can't she see I'm only trying to help. I hold the candy bar up in the air out of her reach, she was a mere 5'2'' almost 5'3'', short compared to my 5'6''. " Liyah." she whined. Ha, is that all she can say? Suddenly the chocolate sweet was gone from my hand, I turn to look at my dark haired friend.

" Stop teasing the girl." India gave the bar back to Denise, gladly taking it. I made a crooked smile," I was not teasing her. I'm just trying to help her from getting false teeth and fat before she's even 25." I laugh a little looking down at her. Oh come on, is she about to cry? Poor Jenna. By the way, Jenna is her middle name, we call her that sometimes. Anyway, I turn to talk to India, she seems to understand me more than anyone.

I helplessly asked her," You guys are seriously going to make me go to that museum, Saturday, aren't you?" India, whose sipping on her McDonald's cup, nodded," Mhmm. You promised. Can't break a promise." she waved her finger in my face. I sighed," but.. you know why I don't want to go."

The tiny voice behind me said," Just because it's Michael Jackson's museum, doesn't mean you have to look at his artwork or anything. He has workers that paint for him and other famous artists' painting. You can look at other peoples' stuff...." I glanced behind myself at Denise, she was making that puppy dog face. She added," You promise." I chuckled at her, that innocent attitude of hers is going to be the death of me. Probably the sweetest thing next to babies and newborn puppies.

" Okay, okay. I'll go. Obviously there is no turning back now." I told them both, rolling my eyes. The second bell finally rung, we always wait for the second bell before we officially leave. Gives us time to talk and think if we need to go back to a class just in case we forgot something. India closed her locker door and we left.

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Saturday - April 11, 1987

I was in the car with India and Denise, we were on the way to the Museum of Arts or whatever the hell it's call. I don't care, nor do I want to be there. But I stay with my promises, plus they're my friends and I'll do anything for them. I was in the back seat, Denise in the passengers seat and India was driving. About a couple seconds or more later we made it to this huge building. I've never really paid much attention to it but it was astonishingly beautiful, I have to admit, the man has taste, and they don't know that I love his artwork, I've only seen it other places. God, if they did, endless questions.

India looked back at me with a smile," We're here." I gave her a 'I think I know that' look and we all got out the car. It was really nice out considering it had rained yesterday. Oh yeah, I still need to learn that script, you know about that I think? Yes.

Once we were in the cursed building, I looked around from the tiled floors to the.... Snack bar!? They have a freaking snack bar?? I looked over at Denise, she was already eye balling it. Sigh. I told them to take me to the restroom. India grabbed my wrist and said," Your bladder is the size of a peanut, I swear, Liyah." Denise followed us.

" Heh-Heh.. " I looked on the floors, which is now all black tiled, and saw Michael Jackson's initials together in gold. Fancy bastard. India pushed the doors to the lady's room open and guided me in. I shook out of her grip and pleaded with them both," Wait on me outside, please." They looked at each other and nodded, I squinted my eyes," I mean it, I don't know my way around this place."

India snickered," Okay. Come on, Jenna." They walked outside the restroom. Denise pushed her back against the wall. There was this huge, long mirror going down this part of the hallway, she was staring out into the opening view of the big water fountain that had a cupid statue over it, meaning Love. That man was all about 'love'. " Denise?" India called her attention. She looked over at her friend.

" Let's go." she whispered, smiling deviously. Denise had a worried look on her face and looked at the restroom door, " But.." she pointed. India was already walking away, knowing Denise would follow her anyway... she pouted.

" India wait." Denise walked after her.

....

I walked up to the mirror after washing my hands, I ran my wet fingers through my hair, releasing it from it's ponytail. Then I reached into my purse and took out my brush, brushing my hair back into a ponytail again. Pleased with my appearance, some call my conceited, I can be sometimes but who isn't? Yeah, I walked out the restroom come to see India and Denise were gone. I stomped my foot out of frustration.

" Those insignificant little..." I balled my hands into fists, made sure my purse was secure on my shoulder and stormed off in the direction we came from. I am high upset, I don't really know where to go, to be honest. This huge museum was still unknown to me, as for now, I am lost. Darn it.

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Walking around the museum, it seemed busy today so I decided to wear a slight disguise, my black satin surgical mask and a hoodie. Even though I own this museum, fans still try to mob me. It's crazy. Maybe people will talk to me or I talk to them normally without being rampaged. I turn a corner to where the restrooms would be, walking, staring outside to the opening without paying attention of what was in front of me.

" Slow day... Maybe I should just go home..." I heard the sound of someone walking, as soon as I looked in front of myself, I collided with someone, " Sorry... I'm so sorry.." I look at their face. A woman. I quickly reached down to help her back to her feet. I felt so sorry for knocking her off balance. " I'm so sorry..." I said again. She finally opened her eyes and looked up at me. Goodness, her eyes were beautiful, couldn't help but to notice her pretty face too. My face was hot, I'm blushing as I help her back to her feet.

She told me," No.. I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." I couldn't help but stare, she stared back, then I realized she was looking into my eyes... Quickly, I tried to hide them.

" Wow.." she said kind of under her breath," okay.."

" Aaliyah!" I heard another girl yell from in front of me and behind her. She turned around to see two other people power walking up to her. She quickly ran to them," Guys... Leave me again, I will kill you, hear me? Kill.you." The short girl's mouth dropped, she seemed horrified by the words. The other one about Aaliyah's height just laughed," You're funny, babe. Let's go look around." They started walking in the opposite direction, playfully pushing each other around.

(Aaliyah. That named played in my mind. I had to go talk to her, but I just can't up and say hello my name is Michael Jackson, she'll probably freak out like any other fan. I'll think of some fake name. I have to make her mine...)