Rose Garden :: MJ

Chapter 15 : Never Again Until Tonight

"You don't know how much that invitation means to me," I said sitting beside her, "I want to get as far away from California as I can and never come back. I want to get as far away from Michael as I can and I never want to see him again."

1998

Amanda's POV

After Michael and I's talk, I went back to my room. He said he wanted to play with Tara for a little bit anyway. He was so good to her and I truly wished that I wouldn't have run away all those years ago. I wish that Michael was my husband and that he helped me raise Tara, not Lacey and Daniel.

I sat down on my bed and looked over at the open closet. In my closet, sitting propped up against the wall was my old guitar. Becoming a singer was a dream I had abandoned when I left California, but that didn't stop me from writing songs in New York, all of which happened to be about Michael. My favorite was a song called Last Kiss and I hadn't played it in awhile. I got up from my bed, got my guitar, and sat back down. I started strumming random chords to see if it was still in tune. It was which was surprising. I started playing the opening chords, and then I started singing the song that I would never forget the words to.

I still remember the look on your face

Lit through the darkness at 1:58

The words that you whispered

For just us to know

Told me you loved me

So why did you go away?

Away

I do recall now the smell of the rain

Fresh on the pavement

I ran off the plane

That July 9th

The beat of your heart

It jumps through your shirt

I can still feel your arms

But now I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is that

I don't know how to be something you miss

I never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

I do remember

The swing of your step

The life of the party, you're showing off again

And I roll my eyes and then

You pull me in

I'm not much for dancing

But for you I did

Because I love your handshake, meeting my mother

I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets

How you kissed me when I was in the middle of saying something

There's not a day when I don't miss those rude interruptions

But now I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is that

I don't know how to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep

And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe

And I keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are

Hope it's nice where you are

And I hope the sun shines

And it's a beautiful day

And something reminds you

You wish you had stayed

You can plan for a change in weather and town

But I never planned on you changing your mind

So I'll go sit on the floor

Wearing your clothes

All that I know is that

I don't know how to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

Just like our last kiss

Forever the name on my lips

Forever the name on my lips

Just like our last

"That was beautiful," Michael said, coming to sit on the bed beside me.

"Thanks," I said quietly.

"I love your voice. How come you gave up on that dream?"

I sighed, "Michael," I put my guitar by the bed, "Why are you so set on getting me back?"

Michael sighed and looked into my eyes, "You were the love of my life. You were the one. You still are. Something doesn't feel right about us being apart. We're supposed to be together."

Michael leaned in and kissed me in an intense kiss. Soon we were completely undressed and he was lying on top of me, kissing down my neck. I loved his touch, his lips on my skin; it brought back so many memories. But, it all abruptly ended when I heard a man's voice scream my name angrily.

"Amanda!"