MJ Imagines *CURRENTLY NOT TAKING REQUESTS*

~Please read the authors note at the end! Enjoy!~

I met Michael Jackson back in 1984 when I was working backstage as one of the assistant stage managers for Mike Hirish on The Jacksons Victory Tour. 

It started out as a simple job, just following Hirish around as he pointed out things that needed to be fixed. Problems with lighting, sound, placement of instruments and the sorts. But one day Hirish was overwhelmed with the amount of work needed to be done to throw this tour together, and he didn't have time to take notes during the rehearsal so he asked, or more forced, me to sit in the audience as rehearsal went on.

I watched as all of the Jacksons had entered the stage and begun rehearsing. I quickly realized why Michael was the star of the show. The way he moved on stage with confidence, his voice cutting through so clearly, so strongly. His demeanor changing for whatever emotion was need to be emitted for a song. He really did deserve all eight of those Grammys. Damn.

But I also saw the perfectionist that was in him. His brothers voiced their concerns about things a few times during rehearsal. But Michael would make a comment almost every chance he could. 'The lights need to be brought up, here' or 'something sounds funny with the bass' and on and on. I swear, I had at least ten pages written up by the time we were done.

I didn't get to really talk to him though, not until our first full dress rehearsal July 1, 1984 in Birmingham. I was checking to make sure everything was set and when I was done I still had ten minutes till we started. I went out to one of the backstage rooms to get a glass of water and collapsed onto a couch. But a soft voice broke me from my break and I shot up, coming face to face with Michael. My water spilled all over me and he burst out in laughter.

I was so embarrassed and he apologized for laughing the minute he saw the raging blush on my face. He grabbed me one of his button up shirts and turned around as I changed into it. When I was finished we just got to talking. 

Him questioning why I was in his dressing room and me asking about the show. That night I learned so much about him. 

We both felt so comfortable with each other even though we had never spoken prior to our meeting. He told me about his problems with his brothers, how he didn't want to do the tour but wanted to help his family. I tried to console him as much as I could and help him throughout the rest of the tour.

But after that night Michael wanted me by his side, always. I apparently made a good lasting impression, so he talked to Frank Dileo, his new manager, and I soon became Michael's assistant. I came with him everywhere. I travelled with him to press conferences, to award shows, to the Captain EO set, anywhere he wanted me to be.

We got closer as time went on. Ours lives intermingling together as we learned more about each other. We would sneak around going to stores in disguise and would prank Frank whenever we could. He became my best friend, and I his. I can't lie, I had a bit of a crush on him. But I never voiced it, because from what I could see, he only saw me as his best friend. Almost like a sister. But being by his side, girlfriend or not, was enough for me.

But soon everything changed.

When we started working on the Bad video.

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~Helmsley Palace Hotel, November 1986 New York~

       "What if it's not as good as Thriller?" Michael spoke worriedly with a slight slur in his voice. I raised my head from its dropped position and looked up to him in disbelief.

       "Are you crazy? Man! This album is gonna be topping charts!" I cried out drunkenly. Crawling over to his spot on the floor and throwing myself to his side, wrapping a supportive arm around his neck. I wore one of his white button ups that reached to my thighs and a pair of shorts underneath. The white sleeve hit his face and he laughed.