Chapter 8
1500 Words
That week Michael and I hosted a small elegant wedding there at Neverland. Outside in the garden. The day was a bright sunny one. Perfect for our wedding day. I did not mind playing the part of being his bride. We kissed after we read our vows to one another.
I nearly melted into his arms when he briefly kissed me. Each kiss left my head spinning. We had been so focused on proving that Michael was innocent that he and I did not have any real alone time together. We had not talked about these kisses. Or where these kisses were leading us.
I admit that I was a little nervous to bring that up. I wanted to find out if Michael felt how I was feeling about him. If he could know that I was and have been in love with him. I did not want to ruin this friendship.
After the wedding was over, we had a dinner party for our guests there. A live band was playing music to. It was so lovely. All of it. We had a photographer hired to take photos. Michael allowed some press to be there of course. People Magazine and Us Magazine were there to cover the live event.
"Renee I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that you are finally a member of our family! We always thought you were perfect for Michael. I am so thrilled at how happy you are making my brother!" Janet gushes as she hugs me. "Welcome to the Jackson family" she tells me near my ear.
Guilt settles in me. The Jackson's had no idea this was all fake. They were going to be hurt when they found out what we had done. I loved Michael's family. I did not want to hurt them in anyway.
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"Thank you, Janet. I am thrilled" I admit.
"I always knew you had a thing for my brother. I could tell" she laughs as I go to drink champagne. I nearly spit it out hearing that remark.
"W—what?" I stammer. My cheeks blush.
"I knew honey. I am glad that you two finally matured and saw the love that was always right there before the both of you" Janet praises me.
I sigh. "I had no idea anyone else knew my little secret" I laugh.
"I knew. You followed him around. With such devotion. You have always been the only friend he could trust. I am glad he found someone like you honey" she praises me some more.
"D-did Michael know? Could he tell that I had a crush on him?" I ask her hoping she would spill the dirt. I had to find out. What was Michael not telling me?
"No honey. He was blind. He could not tell for years. I am glad he found his true love in you" says Janet.
I nod. "Me to. This is the happiest day of my life" I sigh. I wished it was all real. It was so beautiful.
The wedding. The guests. The food. Michael. God he was handsome today. All decked out in a tuxedo. Everywhere I went I could hear his sweet laughter ring out as he talked with our guests. He would end up at my side. Offering me his arm.
Like a devoted husband would do. Should do. I was loving every moment of this. After all this was the closets that I was ever going to get to having a real wedding with the man of my dreams. Michael would never want to marry me. Not someone like me.
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"Congrats to the happy couple!" I hear Toby come up from behind me.
We hug. "Glad you could make it. It was kind of all last-minute kind of thing. But it turned out lovely" I sigh.
He shakes his head. "I never could picture you as the marrying kind" he announces. His words sting my heart a little. My head snaps up quick to meet his cold gaze in a stare down.
"What do you mean by that?" I demand to know.
"Forget I said anything kid" he laughs.
I stop him from leaving. "What do you mean Toby? Why am I the unmarrying kind?" I demand to know.
"Well you are loyal. A true-blue friend to the end kind of girl. Someone to pass the time with. But marry no. Not marry. You are plain. I mean I was lonely that was the only reason why I asked you out that one day. I knew you would say yes but then you turned me down. Following Michael around like a lost little puppy dog. All the girls want Michael. They always do, don't they?" he laughs.
"What do you mean no one would want to marry someone one like me?" I demand to know. Forcing myself to say it and hear it again.
"You are to hung up on Michael to be with anyone else. I never thought I would see him settle down with someone like you is all. Look forget what I said. Today is a joyful day, right?" he asks me. I nod.
Tears sneak in at the corner of my eyes. "You saw I was in love with Michael too? Who all did not know" I groan.
"We all knew it. Everyone but Michael himself" he laughs.
"Great!" I sigh.
"It all worked out. Look you snagged the guy. Now enjoy it! I am off girl! I am going to mingle with all those singles over there. Bye!" he laughs before heading off into the crowd.
Michael soon was at my side again. I try to push horrible thoughts from my head before they made me burst into a million tears right here in front of them all. I would not let them all see me cry.
Never.
"Hey there, you are my bride. This wedding turned out to be something huh?" Michael asks me.
He smiles brightly at me.
I wince as I nod. "Perfect day for this wedding" I agree.
"Are you alright?" he worries. "You look a bit down"
"Everyone has been saying oh I never thought I would see the day when you would end up marrying" I sigh. He hugs me. Then kisses my forehead.
"You are wrong. They are wrong. You are going to make some man blissfully happy one day" he promises me. "You have a lot to offer a guy"
Just not you....
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"Michael! Renee! We need you for the first dance! Come on the dance floor!" calls out the photographer.
We do as we are told. We are dancing in one another's arms as the live band plays. Michael's eyes are focused on me. He is all I can look at. Right now, no one else mattered.
Just Michael.
A handsome smile spreads on his face as he glances down at me. My heart races faster. His hand was holding mine as he led the dance. His other hand rested in the middle of my back.
"Smile for the camera" he teases me.
He makes me laugh.
"Kiss for the camera guys!" the photographer orders.
Michael's head is leaning in to meet mine. I close my eyes wait8ing for his kiss. His lips cup into mine. He groans softly as my heart skips a beat. His hands are in my hair. I hear a few females going "Aw so sweet" in the back ground.
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Suddenly a scream shoots through the crowd. And another. The band stops playing. We break apart. Michael looks concerned. It was a female screaming from some area here at the wedding. Cries keep ringing out. She sounded like she was in pain.
Whoever it was. We follow where the sounds were coming from. Over in the garden area where we all had been early. Behind a huge bush. A crowd follows behind us to find out what was going on. We come to find a woman, laying there on the ground. A little battered. Her dress ripped. Her hair a mess. She trembled in shock as tears streamed down her face. It was Lilly. One of my old college buddies.
"Lilly who? Who hurt you?" I ask as to kneel down beside her. Michael goes to her other side.
She shakes her head. "I don't know. He raped me. I could not see his face" she whispers in fear. "He said if I talk that he would come back to finish me off" she whimpers.
"We need an ambulance!" Michael calls out to the crowd.
"He did this again! Michael struck again at his own wedding!" someone calls out in the crowd.
I stand up. "No, he did not do this! He was with me!" I argue.
"I did not see if it was Michael. I could not see who its was" says Lilly.
"So, you are saying it could be Michael then!" argues someone in the crowd.
The crowd is angered.
"Michael go to the house where you are safe. You did nothing wrong. I will handle this" I tell him. I kiss his cheek. "I know you did not do this. Go!" I demand to him.
"I am sorry Lilly" he tells the woman. Then he takes off to get away from the crowd.
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- Writer
