i can't help it (mj fanfiction)

Chapter 20: Summer 1978

Penny-

"Megan shut up!" I laughed as she joked about how Jake said goodbye. It was finally summer and Megan was staying with me. We were driving through my neighborhood with the windows down, our hair blowing through the wind. I prepared myself to not see Michael over the summer, but there was a tiny spark of hope in my heart.

"He was all like 'Bye Penny" She made a kissing face and imitated Jake before we left campus. It was clear that Jake had feelings for me, and his goodbye really showed that.

"Megan!" I slapped her arm "Right here!" I pointed to my house and she quickly turned into the driveway. I couldn't help but stare at the Jacksons house, sitting next to mine. I could picture Michael walking through the front door... it felt so real.

"Penny you good?" Megan asked.

"Am I imagining things or..." I pushed open the door and ran towards what I thought was just an image in my brain but... it really was him. My long hair blew around as I ran down the sidewalk to their front door. My legs running as fast as possible. "Michael?! Oh my god..." He wasn't looking my way but he was just meters away, I ran up the path to their porch "Michael! I'm ho-"

"Oh hi Penny." It wasn't Michael, it was Marlon.

"Hi Marlon." I gave him a hug for I hadn't seen any of the family in awhile and I missed them all. "Is Michael here?"

"Um, he should be here in a sec- actually he's right there." I turned to the direction he pointed, there he was. Climbing out of the car in the road. His skin was glowing, his hair puffy, and his Mickey Mouse shirt tight to his slim figure.

"Penny." He breathed out. He jumped up and ran towards me. I couldn't help but stand frozen. Megan was out of the car and watching Michael sprint my way. "Penny!" He swooped me off of my feet as I squeezed onto him. As Michael spun me around I couldn't believe I was finally in his embrace. "I love you. I love you. I love you." Michael kept repeating as he sat me down on my feet. I looked at his handsome face, my chin quivering as tears rolled down my cheeks. He was here with me. His hands gripped my shoulders as he showered my face with kisses, a smile of relief appearing on my face.

"Penny say something! Anything!"

I breathed in heavily I couldn't believe it "Oh Michael." I gave him another hug. "I missed you so much." I could feel his smile on my neck as I breathed in his sweet scent I had missed so much.

"Do you guys need a room?" Marlon whispered as he walked past us.

We looked at each other's faces and began to giggle. I brushed my fingers across his lips "I missed your smile." I said as he kissed my fingers. His fingers felt around my chest and pulled the locket out from under my floral dress. A sigh of relief was heard and I kissed his cheek. "How long will you be here?"

"Just a few days." He said as I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Oh"

"But at least we can see each other!" He smiled weakly and leaned in to kiss my lips, but I turned my head to the side.

"Michael no."

"Why?" His fingers brushed my cheeks.

"It will hurt too much, when you leave again. It will be too painful." I wanted to kiss him so badly, but I knew it would end up hurting me more when we separated again.

"I understand." He hugged me once more.

"Michael, I want you to meet someone." I grabbed his hand a walked over to Megan. Megan was leaning against the car door, her arms crossed. "Michael meet Megan." Michael politely shook her hand and Megan smiled.

"It's great to meet you Michael. I've heard so much about you."

Michael blushed "It's nice to meet you too Megan. I'm glad Penny met a good friend like you."

We stood awkwardly for a second "Michael do you have time to help us unpack? Meg's gonna be staying with me over the summer."

"That sounds great." Michael felt more distant today, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I brushed the thought away as we unloaded the car, bringing our belongings to my room.

"Baby, can you put on some music?"

Michael snapped his head up to me, Megan looked confused. "I- uh yeah sure." Michael stuttered, what did I say?

Michael put on The Commadores. Michael set up the vinyls, he knew where everything went. "So Michael, are you going to be staying here for awhile?" Megan asked.

"No." He was talking so little.

"Why's that?"

"Oh um, I'm filming a movie." He's what?

"You never told me that. What movie?" I asked, shocked.

"The Wiz, with Diana Ross." He squeaked.

I smiled widely "Oh my god Michael that's awesome! I'm so proud of you." I gave him a high five and we continued to unload, discussing the movie. Michael began to sing and I found myself stopping to listen. This was somehow more painful being here with him than being without him at all. The feeling was so close to being normal yet so far. "Michael can we talk in private?" I pulled him into my bathroom.

"Michael what the hel-" I was interrupted by his lips on mine. It was the best feeling in the world. It felt like drinking water for the first time after a 3 mile run. We were thirsty, we needed each other. His hands ran through my hair, mine cupping his perfect face. He picked me up to set me on the counter by my sink, our lips still moving with one another. As he pulled my shirt over my head my mind began to race, were we going to do this right now? His cold hands ran down my back, I moaned in his mouth. His lips traced down to my shoulder as he pressed me to him, simply hugging me now. I was confused until I felt his tears run down my back. "Michael-"

"Penny I c-can't do it." He whimpered and shook in my arms.

"Michael what do you mean?" Although I was holding him tight, he fell to the floor in tears. "Michael-"

"Penny, I can't be without you. Each of my nights are sleepless, my days blend together, the shows are all the same, I can't talk about how I feel to anyone, everyone expects me to be so happy. I'm not happy!" He slammed his palms to the ground, as he sunk down on his knees. I hopped off of the counter to cradle him in my arms.

"Michael it will be okay, I promise. It will all be okay. And you are going to be in a movie! With Diana! You love Diana, she will help you. But you have to find things that help you through this like I found Megan and Jake." He flinched when I mentioned Jake, I was somewhat worried of this. I wiped his tears away as he looked up to me. "Michael you're too precious." I kissed his forehead. "I love you Applehead."

"I love you Doodoo."