"Dance with me, baby." Will smiles, obviously trying to one up Michael.
I look over at Michael, and he doesn't say anything, he just holds his hand out further to me.
What am I gonna do?
Teyonna and Keri stand to the side, studying me, so they're no help.
Shit.
"Baby." Will smiles, but his eyes aren't, they reek of 'you better choose me or shit ain't gon' be pretty'.
Fuck.
I swallow deeply staring at both Michael and Will.
Who am I to choose?
Michael?
Will?
Will?
Michael?
Damn, why are they doing this to me and at my birthday party?!
"Who will she dance with?" Keri whispers to Teyonna as the lights dim to compliment the slow dancing.
Teyonna shrugs as I walk between, then away from, Michael and Will.
"What is she doing?" Keri squeaks as I walk away.
Michael and Will follow me with their eyes.
I'm not gonna dance with either one of them.
Time to show them a thing or two.
I spot a man, who's obviously a fan, wearing glasses and a black suit with suspenders standing beside the punch bowl.
He must have won a contest or something to be here, because I don't know who he is.
Who the hell has Teyonna invited to my party?
"Hi, excuse me." I smile, stopping in front of him ."Hi, would you dance with me?"
He drops his punch glass, and stares at me in awe for a second.
"Would you?" I smile bigger. "Will you dance with me?"
"Y-Yes." He stutters and I take his hand. "I would--hell yes!"
I smile, pulling him out on the dance floor, as Will and Michael watch.
"Th-This is a nice song." He compliments as 'I Could Fall In Love' continues over the speakers. "You have such a beautiful voice."
"Thanks." I smile to keep him comfortable.
"I've been a fan of yours from the beginning, Miss Chante, and you're soooo beautiful. I mean you're soooooo fine."
"Thanks again, and please, call me Jazmyne." I insist as we slow dance across the floor. "By the way, what's your name?"
"Baldwin." He blushes.
"Baldwin?" I nod. "Nice name."
He snorts and smiles. "Thanks, Jazmyne."
I giggle at his nerdiness. "You're welcome, Baldwin."
I can still feel Michael and Will's stares.
This dance is getting more and more awkward.
"Baldwin?" I sigh.
"Hmm?" He hums, looking away from me.
"You can put your hand on my waist." I direct. "You're slow dancing all wrong, honey. It's okay if you place a hand on my hip."
He has my right hand in one of his hands, but his other hand is on my shoulder.
This isn't how you slow dance.
Duh.
"Place your hand on my hip, Baldwin." I direct again.
"I can't." He swallows deeply, still looking away from me.
"Why not?" I ask and look to where he's looking.
"Will Smith and Michael Jackson are glaring at me." Baldwin points out.
"Don't worry about Will and Michael--"
"OH MY GOD!" Baldwin shouts as he stops dancing with me. "MICHAEL JACKSON!! THAT'S MICHAEL JACKSON!!"
Everyone stops dancing and looks around together.
When he's spotted everyone screams in unison.
"MICHAEL JACKSON!!"
Oh, shit!
This is about to be out of control in 2.5 seconds.
I should have just danced with Will or maybe Teyonna should have kept this party small and intimate.
"IT'S MICHAEL JACKSON!!" A girl screeches. "OH MY GOD!!"
I'm left alone on the dance floor as some members of my security team surround Michael and escort him out the emergency exit of the ballroom.
The dance floor clears and chaos ensues because of Michael's presence.
So much for my birthday party, and this damn dress.
Dammit!
Michael should have known this was going to happen.
We may be exes, and he may have wanted to surprise me, but he is still MICHAEL JACKSON!!
THE Michael Jackson and he can't just show up at parties.
There's no being inconspicuous when you're Michael fucking Jackson!
Shit! You're Michael fucking Jackson!!
"We have to get you out of here too, JC." Teddy says, grabbing my arms gently, as people scream all around the ballroom. "It's getting too rowdy. Let's go."
Teddy takes me out the side exit.
He takes me out so fast I don't even have time to look around for my mama, Teyonna, or Kendra.
Thanks a lot, Michael.
Party ruined.
Teddy and I use a private stairwell, and seconds later, we're back on the floor I'm staying on.
"Uncle Mike," Siggy sighs as Teddy and I step out onto the floor. "you shouldn't have asked her to dance."
"I know, Siggy," Michael sighs. "but I thought it was dark enough for me to ask her. She looks so beautiful, I had to ask."
"You're Michael Jackson, man." Siggy reminds. "In the dark or not, your fans will always know when you're around."
"Are you okay, Mr. Jackson?" Teddy asks as we walk up to him and Siggy.
"Yes, but, Jazmyne, please don't be mad at me." Michael swallows, turning to me. "I'm so sorry if I ruined your party. I just wanted to dance with you, and I didn't know th---"
"Shhh!" I press my fingers to his lips. "Shh, Michael."
Damn, they're still soft.
"Calm down, Michael." I smile to assure him that I'm not mad. "I'm not mad. I'm--"
My fingers are still on Michael's lips when the elevator dings behind us.
When the doors open, we see about fifteen fans standing inside, locked and loaded, ready to chase somebody.
OH SHIT!
Most of them scream Michael's name but a few scream mine when they see us.
I grab the bottom of my dress and prepare for what's coming next.
Almost immediately, the fans start screaming and running out of the elevator towards us.
"Run!" Siggy yells at us and Michael grabs my hands. "RUN!!"
Michael and I dash down the hallway away from the fans.
This is some bullshit!
"MICHAEL! JC!!" The fans scream.
Teddy and his team of security manage to hold back a few fans, but some manage to get by.
"Oh my God!" I scream, looking back at the fans still in pursuit of us. "Michael, some are still coming!"
We round a corner and lose them for a minute.
"In here, baby." Michael breathes then we duck into a stairwell.
Seconds later, the fans run past screaming loud.
Oh my God!
My heart is beating so fast!
"What are we gonna do, Michael?" I panic.
What if they find us?!
"Calm down, sweetie," Michael swallows, trying to catch his breath. "I have a suite just a few doors down. We can hide in there until the heat's off."
"Whatever," I pant. "I just don't want to be trampled, Michael."
"I got you, babe."
Michael takes out his room key and pokes his head into the hall.
"It's clear." He nods. "Ready?"
I nod and walk out of the stairwell behind him.
We're on high alert as we walk down the hallway to his suite.
That was so fucking scary.
I hope I'm never that close to being trampled again.
"This is my room." Michael sighs as we approach the door.
I hear a scream and look to my right.
Oh, shit!
"Michael, open the door!" I scream as the screaming fans run towards us. "OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!!"
The lock clicks, Michael opens the door, pulls me inside, and closes the door quickly behind us.
"Michael!!" The fans scream, beating on the door. "JC!! We love you!! MICHAEL!! JAZMYNE CHANTE!! WE LOVE YOU!!"
The fans continue screaming and beating on the door.
I hold my chest, breathing harder, as I back away from the door.
Holy Moses, my heart is beating fifty feet out of my chest.
That was scary as fuck!
I was almost trampled!
I know they don't mean to scare me, but shit, they did!!"
"WE LOVE YOUUUU!!" They scream together.
Is this what being a celebrity is about?
I love my fans, but damn.
Shit!
"Are you okay, Jazz?" Michael breathes, looking at me, as the screams die down outside the door.
Security's outside escorting them away.
"JC! MICHAEL!!"
I kick off my shoes and press my hand to my chest as I sit down on the white couch behind me.
"Jazz?" Michael calls again.
"I'm okay, Michael." I sigh heavily. "That-That's just new for me. I've never been chased before."
"Never been--Jazz, you're a superstar, and you don't expect to be chased?"
"I'm a rookie to this, Michael." I whine. "Meanwhile, you're a decorated veteran."
Michael smiles. "You're right, but, Jazz, I'll never get used to being chased. No person can."
"Seems like you like the chase though." I sigh, still trying to catch my breath. "You knew what to do."
"Only when it comes to you." Michael murmurs, staring at me. "I only love the chase when it comes to you, Jazz."
"Nuh uh." I shake my head and look away from him. "Don't-Don't do this, Michael."
"Do what? Jazz, I'm just--"
"Michael, you fucking hurt me. You broke and stomped on my heart." I snap, standing from the couch. "Did you really think giving me this bracelet would make me forget that pain?"
"I know it won't, baby."
"Don't call me baby." I warn. "Do not call me baby."
Michael holds his hands up in surrender as I start feeling the Jazmyne/Michael pain again.