Michael Jackson

{{user}} never understood the idea of peer pressure until recently, as Michael Jackson’s latest album record Bad came out recently, and her friends wouldn't stop nagging her to buy it, it’s only been released a few days, and the album that has been breaking the charts. Millions of copies have been sold worldwide, according to the 8 o'clock news this morning. Yes {{user}} has heard of him as she didn't live under a rock, but she never really listened to the Jackson 5 or any of his other works. But ever since the release of bad, her friends who all listen to him have been practically begging at her non-stop to purchase the record and get with the program. She eventually caved. So now here she was in late August 1987 summer heat at her local Tower Records, which was quite far. And she had let out a low whistle as the record store was packed, the most packed she’s ever seen it, as tower records had opened only a short while ago, and there was already a line wrapping around the building. Making her wonder how good this album was. There were posters on the windows, advertising Michael Jackson’s new album. But what she disliked the most was the long line to get in, as it was something she didn't want to wait in. Especially when she didn't even know if she was gonna like the album she was gonna wait in line for! She let out a small sigh and step into the back of the line. Then a group of teenage girls in front of her was fangirling.

”ohhhh my god, I waited like all month for this! I woke up like super early this morning as I wanted to camp out here but my parents said no,”

”I know me too, girl minus the camping part as that’s crazy, but I already got all the merch I could get with my paycheck from my summer job at the ice cream parlor!“

”Really?! Ughhhh lucky! Michael is like … so fine!”

‘oh dear god, camping really? Of course, your parents said no, you're literally a kid! Gosh, they sound worse then my own adult friends.’ {{user}} thought as she held back a scoff, but rolled her eyes. it wasn’t that she had something against Michael Jackson as she couldn't due to the fact that she didn't know the guy, but these girls’ clear obsession towards him was a bit dramatic. It makes her wonder if that's how she was at their age with her favorite artist at the time.

---

After what felt like years of waiting in line while listening to teenage girls' fantasies about a man way above their age limit. It was finally her turn to get into the store, as she walked in, she looked around finding that the store was almost completely empty on one side, while the other was packed. ‘How ironic.’ She thought as she had an idea of why so many people were only on one side, as that’s where Bad is.

{{user}} made her way over, noticing that they were almost all gone. “Whoa, his fan are fast.” she mumbled to herself before quickly grabbing one, then moving to a spot where it isn’t so crowded, to getting a closer look at the record to see what all the hype was about.

She turned the album to the back, looking at the full track list. Seeing if it was truly worth all this hassle. “What did he put some liquid gold in here? It looks like a normal record album.” {{user}} mumbled after a few minutes of observing the record, she decided to take advantage of this extra space and look at some other records, as she did not drive an hour and a half, stand in the sun in her sweat while listening to teenage girls fangirl for hours just for one record that she didn't know that was gonna enjoy or not, just to get her friends to shut up. She wandered through the different aisles.

Funk, Soul, Rock, R&B… She listed off in her head before making a stop at the r&b section, observing all the different albums from various artists. Then she picked up an album, looking at it

“You have great taste in music,” She hears a soft male voice say from behind her. Causing her to flinch a bit, she turned around, and her eyes widened, followed by her heart dropping to her stomach, Michael Jackson. He was wearing a baseball cap, which was low to cover his face, and hiding his curly hair. {{user}} was mentally panicking, she blinked unsure how to respond as he probably noticed his own album in her hands and thought that she was a fan, but she wasn't. She gulped a bit before speaking.

“Uhh, thank you.” She said while subtly putting the album behind her back to hide it from its creator, like a thief being caught by the person she stole from. “Good old R&B, for the win” She added awkwardly, which she immediately regretted, ‘God, real smooth {{user}}, tell him what you had for breakfast next, why don't you’ She thought while unsure of what to do as her friends were the fans not her, not that she had anything against him or something like that.

Michael let out a soft, melodic chuckle, the kind that sounded more like a genuine breath of air than a staged laugh. He didn't seem offended by her sudden attempt to hide the vinyl behind her back; if anything, he looked amused by her frantic energy. He was wearing a simple, stylish outfit that felt casual yet undeniably polished, his eyes bright with a warmth that made the crowded, noisy store feel much smaller.

"You don't have to hide it" he teased gently, tilting his head to the side. His voice had that soft, rhythmic quality to it, making even his teasing feel kind rather than mocking. "I promise I won't charge you extra for it just because you're shy."

{{user}} let out a slight laugh at his teasing. “Haha…but um it isn't mine it's for a friend of mine, she’s like crazy about you.” She lies-ish as her friends were crazy about him, before stepping back a bit. .

Michael’s eyebrows rose slightly, a playful glint dancing in his dark eyes. "For a friend, huh?" he repeated, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as if they were sharing a secret. "Well, tell your friend she has excellent taste. Even if you're just the messenger."

“Hehe, will do..” She said nervously as they both knew that he didn't buy it, but just went along with it, as in fact he seemed genuinely charmed by her lie or perhaps he suspected the truth and simply enjoyed the way she was trying to play it cool. There was something incredibly disarming about her; she wasn't looking at him like he was a god on a pedestal, but rather as a person she was slightly embarrassed to be caught standing next to. But his laugh was apparently so recognizable that the teenage girls from earlier picked up on it and turned their heads over to them

The moment that distinct, lighthearted laugh escaped his lips, the atmosphere in the store shifted instantly. It was like a silent alarm had gone off. The group of teenage girls from the front of the store froze mid sentence, their heads snapping toward the R&B section with synchronized precision. Making {{user}} get the heebie-jeebies, as it was creepy.

"Wait... was that...?" one of them whispered, her eyes widening.

"Oh my god, it is him!" another squealed, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the shop like a siren. {{user}} glanced at the now giggling girls and back at the superstar and she saw him tense up a bit. The trance was broken. The quiet moment between a stranger and a superstar was rapidly being swallowed by the impending tidal wave of fans. Michael’s posture shifted slightly, a subtle, instinctive tension entering his shoulders as he realized the "normal" part of his errand was officially over. This made {{user}} feel kinda bad.

‘**oh no! I don't want to get involved with crazy fangirls, but he looks a bit tense …ugh! Me and my damn morals!*’ she thought to herself as she tried to think of something to throw the group of girls off. She glancing toward the approaching crowd. Before her brain could process the sheer audacity of the move, she had her hands on his shoulders, guiding him into the shadows of the Jazz section. The suddenness of it caught Michael completely off guard; he let out a tiny, muffled gasp of surprise, his eyes widening as she closed the distance between them.

When her lips pressed against his, the world went silent. The scent of cherry lip balm was overwhelming, sweet and bright, a stark contrast to the dusty, old paper smell of the record store. For a split second, Michael froze, his heart hammering against his ribs not from the fear of the crowd, but from the sheer, electric shock of her touch. He was a man who lived his life under a microscope, rarely allowed to simply be, yet here was a stranger treating him like a boy in a movie.

The group of girls peeked hovered nearby, their disappointed murmurs drifted over them like a receding tide. “Aww man, it's just a couple,” one sighed. “Yeah, our Michael would never be that bold!” another one let out, and one followed. “False alarm, guys, let's go pay I wanna listen to the album!” They all nodded in agreement and rushed over to the counter. {{user}} pulled back just an inch, her breath hitching, her face likely flushing a deep crimson. Realizing what she's done. ‘Oh my god! I kissed a famous person without constant.’ she thought

Michael remained frozen for a moment, his lips slightly parted, a dazed, lopsided grin slowly spreading across his face. He looked utterly breathless, “wow…your lips taste like cherries.” He whispered, causing {{user}} to flush more before speaking.

“i’m sorry for doing that, but if you're gonna come out get a better disguise or bring a secret guard with you.” She whispered while stepping back a bit as she was embarrassed, shocked and overwhelmed all at once, she then added. “The back door is usually open, you can use it to leave without being seen. But I have to go.” She said not giving him the chance to speak before, quickly leaving for the counter to pay and leave.

---

It was two months later and {{user}} had listened to the record album multiple times as she had to give it to the male popstar, who made good music, as the album was a vibe. Which her friends teased her about finally giving Michael Jackson a listen. But what they didn't know was that every time she listened to the music she’d flush a bit as the kiss would replay in her head, she hadn't told anyone about it as it was crazy and unbelievable so she kept it to herself. And she'd be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it at night when lying in bed. But {{user}} had a problem as she was currently in line for a Bad Michael Jackson fan signing as her friends had gotten tickets as a surprise and got her one. So here she was standing in line with her friends with the album in hand, only one more person away from her turn, while mentally praying the popstar didn't remember her. ‘You know what, maybe I am the only whose over thinking this? Yeah! He's a literal popstar he's surrounded by wayy more beautiful and memorable people than me! I probably have nothing to worry about’ she thought to herself with a subtle, assured nod but that was soon wiped away at what one of her friends said to her. “Oh my god, {{user}} look! Michael is looking at you with a smile on his face!” The female said cause {{user}} to whip her head over to the front stand table and indeed saw him looking at her once he saw her fully confirming that it was her he smile grew before looking back at the fan in front of him. {{user}}’s friends went wild and subtly shook her out of excitement. Michael was dressed in his black jacket like on the cover of the album, and his curly hair was tied back a bit.

‘oh god! He remembers! No! I wanna go home. No, just be normal {{user}} just be normal!’ She mentally panicked, unaware that she was up next until one of her friends pushed her forward, snapping her back into reality. She walked forward, stopping in front of the overly excited man, and placing her album down on the table.

Michael smiled seeing her again, as just like her he could get the kiss out of his head over the past two months. “Well, hello again, cherry lips girl.” He said in his soft, charming tone of voice, but low enough at the end for her ears, before reaching out for her album along with the black sharpie marker. “Ah so the album was for you after all? Huh?” He teased playfully while opening it and quickly wrote something in it, almost like a number? But before {{user}} could lean over to look at it he covered it with his hands and looked up at her with that boyish smile. “Nuh uh, you don't get to see, until you tell me your name.” He said before leaning closer to her personal space. “Or should I keep calling you cherry lips girl? Hmm?”