ok hi... so I reallly love ur writing! and I have a request! its kinda weirdly explained cuz I'm not good at writing, but hear me out. What if your hanging out at Michaels house and its like a palontic relationship like bsf. and the reader (bsf) decided to spend the night cuz it got to late to drive home. and like your getting ready for bed and Michael accidentally walk in on ur changing or something. and he like gets out of the room but Michael wonders if this relationship could take a step forward. cuz he already has like the bsf for a while. like not crazy smut or anything just like fluff. ik this is confusing.. but keep writing stories tho cuz ur writing is really good!
ooouu first request! love it! also thank you for the compliments this person didn't tell me which era they wanted but im just going to do thriller era! (i hope that's okay!) also im so sorry for not writing or answering sooner i was offline for a little but i am 100% back! so lets get started -`โกยด-
thriller era!michael jackson x bsf to love interest!female reader
summary: you and michael have been inseparable for as long as anyone can remember, the kind of best friends everyone swears will never change. but after one unexpected moment during a sleepover, the butterflies neither of you knew were there suddenly refuse to settle. now every shy smile, lingering glance, and stolen second together feels different, and the friendship you've always cherished begins to bloom into something neither of you is ready to put into words.
contains: best friends to lovers, sleepovers, mutual pining, yearning, lingering glances, butterflies, lovestruck michael, soft romance, fluff, slow burn.
taglist- @rockdmyworldd @thrillerbyers and i need hils's tumblr haha i dont have it๐ฌ LOVE YOU GUYS!
everyone knew how close you and michael were. the two of you had collected countless memories together, the kind you held onto long after the moments had passed. from the day you first met, it felt as though you'd already known each other for years, like your friendship had skipped all the awkward introductions and settled straight into something effortless. you knew his family almost as well as your own, and they welcomed you with open arms every single time. the jackson house became a second home, always filled with warmth, laughter, and a comfort that made it impossible not to feel like you belonged there.
you were unbelievably bored that afternoon. for once, you didn't call michael to hang out like you usually did, figuring he was probably busy with rehearsals or recording. instead, you sat at your vanity, absentmindedly fixing your lashes while the radio played softly in the background. the warm afternoon sun spilled across the plush carpet in your room.
without any warning, the telephone on your nightstand suddenly rang, the sharp sound cutting through the music drifting from your radio. your heart skipped, and you were on your feet before the second ring, practically rushing across the room. you reached for the receiver with a grin already tugging at your lips, quietly hoping it was michael on the other end.
"hello! who is this?" you chirped, tucking the receiver between your shoulder and ear.
"y/n!" michael's voice burst through the line, bright with excitement. "it's michael. i was hoping you could come over?"
you couldn't help the smile that spread across your face, so wide it made your cheeks ache. the boredom that had been hanging over you all afternoon disappeared the second you heard his voice, replaced by a familiar excitement you could never seem to hide.
"michael! of course i can come over," you beamed, doing your best to keep your voice casual instead of letting on that you'd been hoping he'd call all afternoon.
the two of you talked for a few more minutes, laughing over nothing in particular before finally saying your goodbyes. with one last promise that you'd be there soon, you gently placed the receiver back on the hook.
with a smile still lingering on your face, you hurried to get ready, eager to head over to the jackson house.
there was no point in driving. the jacksons lived only a 6 minute walk away, just a few streets over in the same neighborhood, so you slipped out the front door and started making your way there instead.
as you made your way up the familiar driveway in encino, your eyes stayed fixed on the ground beneath your feet. before you could even reach halfway, the front door swung open, pulling your attention up.
"y/n!" michael called the second he saw you, hurrying down the steps with a grin so wide it was impossible to miss. he looked just as excited as you felt, as if he'd been waiting all day for you to finally show up.
when michael started to pick up his pace, you felt yourself doing the the same, and before either of you realized it, the two of you met halfway. the momentum carried you into each other, your arms wrapping around one another in an instinctive hug that was just a little tighter than either of you expected. it almost looked as though months had passed instead of only two days.
as the two of you pulled away from the hug, michael naturally reached for your hand, giving it a gentle tug toward the house. there was nothing unusual about it, it was simply the way the two of you had always been, comfortable enough that neither of you thought twice about it.
the two of you continued up the rest of the driveway, talking effortlessly as if you'd never been apart. michael pushed open the front door, still mid conversation, and the familiar warmth of the jackson house welcomed you the second you stepped inside.
you barely stepped inside before you heard katherine's voice calling from the kitchen.
"michael! did you bring over y/n?"
a smile immediately crossed your face. even after all this time, it still felt special hearing your name called from somewhere inside the jackson house, like you were expected, like you belonged.
"mother, we were just gonna go upstairs," michael mentioned, glancing over at you with a small smile.
"of course, go have fun! it's good to see you, y/n," mrs. jackson replied warmly, her smile following the two of you as you started making your way upstairs.
you followed michael up the curled staircase, the familiar steps creaking softly beneath your feet. everything about the house felt the same, from the quiet warmth of the hallway to the feeling of knowing you belonged there.
he grabbed onto your hand again.
why is he being so touchy today?
he pushed his bedroom door open, stepping aside with a small smile as he motioned for you to go in first. you walked past him into his room, waiting as he followed behind you and quietly closed the door.
his bedroom felt exactly like michael. sunlight spilled through the tall windows, washing the room in a warm golden glow that caught the polished wood furniture and the cream-colored walls. a record player sat neatly on a cabinet in the corner with a small stack of vinyls beside it, while shelves held books, awards, and little trinkets he'd collected over the years. everything was tidy, but it still felt lived in, comfortable rather than perfect.
near the windows was a pair of cushioned chairs with a small table between them, and against one wall stood his bed, neatly made despite the jacket carelessly draped across the end of it. a guitar rested on a stand nearby, and the faint scent of cologne mixed with fresh linen lingered in the air. it was quiet, peaceful, and somehow even more welcoming than the rest of the house.
"okay, what should we do?" you mused, turning to face him with a small grin.
"i actually have something for you," he admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"for me?" you echoed, your brows lifting in surprise.
he chuckled, nodding once. "yeah."
he smiled to himself before walking past you, making his way across the room to the cassette player resting neatly on top of his dresser. he paused in front of it.
you couldn't help but follow after him, your curiosity getting the better of you. crossing the room, you slowed as you reached his side. your eyes flicked between his hands and the cassette player, waiting for him to finally reveal whatever had him smiling to himself.
when you reached his side, he turned toward you with an almost shy smile. in his hand was a cassette, which he held out for you to take.
"here," he said, "i made a cassette for you. it's got some of my songs on it, and a mix of the songs we've talked about liking together." his eyes searched yours for a reaction, suddenly looking a little more nervous than he had a moment ago.
he held the cassette out toward you, watching as you stared at it for a second before finally reaching out to take it. the moment your fingers brushed against his, you couldn't help but feel your face grow a little warm. what was this feeling? your heart gave a funny little tug that you couldn't quite explain. no one had ever made something like this just for you before, let alone spent the time putting it together by hand. somehow, it felt more personal than any gift money could buy.
you looked down at the handwritten label for a moment before lifting your eyes back to his, a smile spreading across your face before you could stop it. "aww, michael," you laughed softly, giving the cassette another glance. "thank you. this is so sweet."
before he could say anything else, you stepped forward and wrapped your arms around him. the cassette stayed carefully tucked in one hand as you hugged him, your cheek brushing against his shoulder. "thank you," you murmured again, your smile only growing.
looking over his shoulder, your eyes wandered around the room for a moment while you held the hug just a second longer, still trying to get over how thoughtful the gift was. you eventually pulled back, the cassette still clutched against your chest, unable to stop smiling at him.
suddenly, a voice echoed up from downstairs, cutting through the quiet of the room and pulling both of you out of the moment. it was marlonโs voice, loud enough to carry all the way up the hallway.
"Y/N! MICHAEL! COME DOWNSTAIRS!" marlon called, his voice bouncing through the house.
you and michael both turned toward the door, the two of you sharing a quick look as the interruption settled in. for a second, neither of you moved, the cassette still resting in your hand and the warmth of the moment lingering between you. then michael let out a small laugh, glancing back toward the hallway before looking at you again.
"come on," michael said, a small smile still lingering on his face as he started walking toward the door.
you followed after him, but before leaving the room, you carefully placed the cassette back down on his bed, making sure it was sitting safely where it wouldn't get misplaced. you gave it one last glance, still smiling at the thought behind it, before turning away.
you quickly made your way over to him near the doorway, catching up as he waited for you. together, you stepped out of the room and started heading downstairs, the sounds of everyone below becoming clearer with each step.
as you reached the bottom of the staircase, the sounds of the jackson family filled the room before you even stepped fully into the dining area. voices overlapped with laughter, the clinking of dishes, and the small movements of everyone getting ready to sit down for dinner. the table was already being set, with everyone naturally moving around each other like they had done it a thousand times before.
marlon looked over as the two of you walked in, a smile appearing on his face. "there you are," he called, glancing between you and michael. "we're all having dinner."
you looked toward the table, a little surprised. you hadn't realized you were staying for dinner when you came over, but it wasn't something completely unexpected either. you had eaten at the jackson house plenty of times before, sitting around this same table, talking with everyone, and being pulled into whatever conversations were happening that night.
still, you hadn't planned on staying today, so the invitation caught you off guard for a moment. you looked around at everyone gathering together, hearing the familiar voices and seeing the usual smiles, before a small smile came across your face. dinner with the jacksons was never something you turned down.
"come sit, you two," katherine called from the table, looking over at both of you with a warm smile.
you and michael exchanged a quick glance before making your way over, joining the rest of the family as everyone started settling into their seats. the room continued to buzz with conversation, everyone talking comfortably as dinner began.
the conversation continued to flow easily around the table. the sound of forks against plates mixed with everyone talking and laughing, the kind of comfortable chaos that always seemed to happen when the whole family was together.
you were in the middle of taking a bite when latoya looked up, glancing between you and michael with a curious smile.
"so, what were you two doing upstairs?" she asked.
caught slightly off guard by the question. the cassette was still tucked away safely, and suddenly you found yourself remembering the little moment between the two of you upstairs. you tried to keep your expression normal as you looked back toward latoya.
michael looked up from his plate when latoya asked, a small smile appearing on his face as he glanced over at you before answering.
"oh, i just made y/n a cassette," he explained, his voice carrying a quiet excitement as he spoke. "i put some of my songs on it, and a few other songs we had talked about liking." he gave a small shrug, like it was no big deal, even though the time and thought he put into it said otherwise.
"we were actually just about to listen to it together upstairs," he continued, looking toward you for a moment. "but then marlon called us down before we got the chance."
the mention of it made you smile slightly, remembering the way he had handed it to you earlier and the care he had put into making something so personal. michael simply returned his attention to his dinner, unaware of how much that little gesture had meant to you.
as everyone slowly began standing from the table, you pushed your chair in and turned toward katherine with a grateful smile. "mrs. jackson, thank you so much for dinner. it was wonderful, really. you always make everything taste so good." your voice was sincere, and katherine's face immediately softened as she reached over to gently squeeze your hand.
"oh sweetheart," she replied warmly, "you're always welcome here. i'm so glad you came over." she smiled proudly at the table she'd just fed. "now don't you go making me blush."
you couldn't help but grin before instinctively reaching for a stack of plates. "well, least i can do is help clean up."
"oh, y/n, you don't have to," katherine protested, though there was an amused look on her face as she watched you already carrying dishes toward the kitchen.
"i know," you answered over your shoulder, "but i want to."
michael followed a second later, balancing another stack of plates in his hands. "guess i'm helping too," he laughed, earning an approving nod from his mother while marlon dramatically groaned from the dining room.
"man, look at y'all making the rest of us look bad."
"you could always help," michael shot back without missing a beat.
"nah," marlon shrugged, already walking backward toward the living room. "moral support."
jackie rolled his eyes with a chuckle before grabbing a few glasses anyway, and soon the kitchen filled with the comfortable sounds of everyone pitching in. you stood beside the sink drying plates while katherine washed them, michael handing each clean dish over to you before carefully stacking them in the cabinet you already knew by heart. it wasn't awkward or forced. after so many years of coming over with janet, you moved around the kitchen almost as naturally as the jacksons themselves, knowing exactly where the towels were folded, which cabinet held the dinner plates, and where katherine liked everything put away.
every now and then michael caught your eye across the counter, flashing a small smile before reaching for another dish, and somehow even something as ordinary as cleaning up after dinner felt easy with him beside you. the kitchen buzzed with quiet conversation drifting in from the living room, laughter carrying through the house as the evening stretched on, making it feel less like you were visiting and more like you simply belonged there.
with the last plate tucked neatly back into the cabinet and the dish towel folded over the edge of the sink, the kitchen had returned to the same spotless condition it had been in before dinner. katherine looked around with a content smile before turning toward the two of you. "there now, that's much better. thank you both."
"of course, mrs. jackson," you replied, folding the dish towel neatly over the edge of the counter. "it was the least we could do."
michael set the last glass down beside the sink, brushing his hands together almost absentmindedly. he glanced toward the living room for a moment, where marlonโs voice was still echoing faintly.
katherine smiled knowingly. "well, i appreciate both of you."
"go on upstairs now. you two were in the middle of something before i interrupted."
"thanks, mother," michael replied.
you smiled at her. "thank you again for dinner."
"you're always welcome here, sweetheart."
the two of you stepped out of the kitchen together, leaving behind the warm chatter of the rest of the family. jackie and tito were talking in the living room while janet and randy argued over a television show, the sounds blending into the familiar comfort that always filled the house. you walked beside michael through the foyer without either of you saying much, neither silence feeling the need to be filled.
when you reached the curved staircase, michael let his fingers trail lightly along the polished banister as the two of you began to climb, his steps unhurried and quiet beside yours. the house still echoed faintly behind you, but up here it felt softer, more distant. after a few steps, he glanced over at you for only a brief moment quick, almost hesitant before looking back down at the stairs again, his hand tightening slightly on the railing as if he wasnโt quite sure what to say, even though he clearly wanted to say something.
"...we never listened to the cassette."
you looked over with a smile. "we didn't."
he nodded once, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "i still want you to hear it."
that earned another small smile from him, one that lingered for a moment before he looked away again.
by the time you reached the second floor, the sounds downstairs had already begun to fade. michael walked a little farther down the hallway before stopping outside his bedroom. his hand rested on the doorknob for a moment as he glanced back at you, almost like he was making sure you still wanted to come in.
when you smiled, he quietly opened the door and stepped aside. "come on."
you walked into the room first, michael following a step behind before gently closing the door. the soft click of the latch muffled the laughter drifting up from downstairs, leaving the two of you alone once again in the familiar comfort of his room. on the bed sat the cassette exactly where you left it before dinner, still waiting to be played.
the two of you had barely taken a few steps into his room before your eyes drifted toward the little clock sitting on top of his dresser. your smile immediately faltered.
michael looked up from where he was reaching for the cassette. "hm?"
you pointed toward the clock, your eyes widening. "michael..." a sheepish laugh escaped you as you rubbed the back of your neck. "i am so deeply sorry, but look at the time. i feel like it's getting late."
he followed your gaze to the clock. for a moment he just stood there, the cassette resting loosely in his hands as he quietly took in the hour. his shoulders sank almost imperceptibly before he looked back at you, a small, understanding smile finding its way onto his face.
"...yeah," he murmured. "i didn't realize it got so late."
without another word, michael looked down at the cassette in his hands. his thumb traced absentmindedly along the edge of the plastic case before he held it out to you.
he held it out a little more firmly, still not quite meeting your eyes.
you softened immediately, a small smile forming as you took it from him carefully, turning it over in your hands like something fragile.
before you could think twice about it, you stepped forward and wrapped your arms around him in a brief hug. it only lasted a second or two, but you felt him hesitate before returning it, his arms settling around you gently, almost cautiously, as though he didn't want to hold on too tightly. when you pulled away, a faint pink had crept into his cheeks.
you smiled to yourself, clutching the cassette against your chest. "i'll listen to it as soon as i get home."
he nodded, a shy smile lingering on his face. "...okay."
with one last glance toward him, you turned and started toward the bedroom door.
your fingers had barely brushed the doorknob when you felt something lightly catch your arm.
it wasn't enough to stop you abruptly, only enough to make you pause.
michael had already let go.
his hand fell back to his side almost immediately, like he'd second-guessed himself the moment he'd reached out. his eyes flickered from your face to the floor before lifting again, uncertainty written across his expression. he opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, rubbing his thumb against the side of his hand.
"maybe..." he started quietly, the word almost disappearing into the room. "maybe you should just stay the night, y/n."
he hurried to explain himself, his eyes dropping to the floor again.
"i... it's really dark outside." he shifted his weight awkwardly, his fingers absentmindedly twisting together. "i don't... i don't really like the idea of you walking home by yourself."
there was a brief silence.
he almost looked embarrassed that he'd said anything at all.
"i mean..." he added softly, "if... if your parents don't mind." a tiny, nervous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "mother wouldn't either. she likes having you here."
your heart warmed at the concern behind his words. he wasn't asking because he wanted to be bold or because he expected you to stay. if anything, he looked as though he was preparing himself for you to say no.
you glanced down at the cassette in your hands before looking back at him.
"you'd really want me to stay?"
his cheeks colored faintly.
the answer came so quietly you almost missed it, but it was honest.
"...and janet might have something you could wear," he added quietly, almost as an afterthought. "i'm sure she wouldn't mind."
you couldn't help but smile.
"i mean..." you looked down at the cassette in your hands for a moment before glancing back up at him. "yeah. my parents wouldn't mind."
he let out a quiet breath you weren't even sure he'd realized he'd been holding, the tension easing from his shoulders. "okay," he murmured, unable to hide the relief in his voice. "good."
the room settled into a comfortable silence again, but this one felt different. lighter. neither of you seemed to know what to say next, yet neither of you felt the need to rush toward the door anymore.
you smiled, lifting the cassette slightly between your fingers.
"okay," you said, a grin slowly spreading across your face. "let's go listen to this cassette now."
michael looked down at it for a moment before a shy smile found its way onto his face.
he walked over to the stereo on his dresser, leaning a bit in front of it as he pressed the eject button. the cassette deck opened with a soft click. he carefully took the tape from your hands, holding it with both hands as though he didn't want to scratch it, then gently slid it into place before closing the deck.
for a second, his finger hovered over the play button.
he glanced back at you over his shoulder, looking almost bashful.
"i... i hope you like it."
you walked over and sat cross legged on the bed across the dresser. "i already know i'm going to."
he let out a quiet, almost embarrassed laugh, ducking his head as a faint blush crept back into his cheeks.
"...i spent a long time making it."
that made your smile soften even more.
"then i'm definitely going to love it."
michael looked at you for just a second before quickly looking back at the stereo, trying unsuccessfully to hide the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. he took a small breath, steadied himself, and finally pressed play.
the reels inside the cassette began to turn, filling the quiet room with the gentle hiss of tape before the first song slowly drifted through the speakers. neither of you spoke. he walked over and sat next to you on the bed, while michael stole the occasional hesitant glance your way, far more interested in your reaction than the music he'd already heard dozens of times.
the songs blended into one another, filling the room with warm melodies and the soft hiss that only came from a cassette tape. somewhere between the third song and the last, the two of you had shifted from sitting against the headboard to stretching out across the bed, lying side by side with your heads resting on opposite pillows. the bedroom lights had long since been switched off, leaving only the amber glow of the bedside lamp spilling across the room. neither of you had talked very much. every now and then one of you would quietly mention a favorite lyric or recognize an artist, but for the most part, the music spoke for both of you.
as the final song slowly faded away, the cassette clicked softly inside the player before the room settled into silence.
you turned your head toward him, smiling.
"michael..." your voice was gentle. "i loved that. i truly did." your fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket as you smiled a little wider. "thank you."
for a second he didn't answer.
he kept staring at the ceiling, almost as if he was letting your words sink in. then a small smile slowly appeared, shy enough that it seemed to catch even him by surprise.
he finally turned his head to look at you. there was relief in his expression more than anything else, relief that all the time he'd spent recording songs, stopping the tape, rewinding it, and getting everything just right hadn't been for nothing.
"i... i wasn't sure." he looked away again with a bashful smile. "i kept thinking maybe you'd skip one."
you let out a soft gasp, pretending to sound offended.
"skip one? michael, i wouldn't dare."
that earned a quiet laugh from him, the kind that escaped before he could stop it. he ducked his head into the pillow for a second, a faint blush warming his cheeks.
the room fell quiet again, but this time it wasn't because there was music playing. it was simply comfortable, the kind of silence that only existed between people who had known each other for years, neither of you feeling any pressure to fill it with words.
another comfortable silence settled over the room.
you let out a small yawn before covering your mouth, earning an amused glance from michael.
"...tired?" he asked quietly.
"a little," you admitted with a sleepy smile. "i think that cassette relaxed me."
a shy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"...that's probably a good thing."
you laughed softly as you sat up, smoothing out the blanket beneath you.
"i am getting tired though," you said, stretching your arms above your head. "so let's go ask janet for those clothes."
michael nodded, pushing himself up from the bed a second later.
"yeah." he reached over to stop the cassette player completely before gently removing the tape and placing it back inside its case with the same care he'd shown all evening. once he set it safely on top of his dresser, he turned back toward you.
"she's probably still awake."
the two of you stepped out into the hallway, quietly closing his bedroom door behind you. downstairs, the house had grown much quieter than it had been after dinner. the television could still be heard faintly from the living room, mixed with an occasional laugh drifting up the staircase, but most of the excitement from earlier in the evening had settled into a peaceful calm.
michael led the way a few doors down the hallway until the two of you stopped outside janet's room. he lifted his hand and gave the door a couple of gentle knocks.
"janet?" he called softly. "you still awake?"
a few seconds passed before the door swung open just enough for janet to peek her head out.
"yeah?" she asked, looking between the two of you with sleepy curiosity. "what do you need?"
michael shifted his weight, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans.
"um..." he glanced over at you for a second before looking back at his sister. "could you give y/n some clothes?"
"she's staying the night."
for a moment, janet simply stared.
then the corners of her mouth slowly curled into a knowing grin.
you immediately laughed, already recognizing that look.
"i didn't say anything," janet replied innocently, though the smile on her face suggested otherwise.
michael ducked his head with a small, embarrassed smile, rubbing the back of his neck.
"she... it got late," he explained quietly. "i just... i didn't think she should walk home in the dark."
janet's teasing expression softened almost instantly.
"...that was nice of you."
michael only shrugged, looking down at the floor.
janet looked back at you and smiled.
"come on. i've got plenty of pajamas you can borrow. they might be a little big, but they'll be comfy."
"thank you," you said warmly.
"of course." she stepped aside, holding the bedroom door open. "give me like... two minutes."
as you started into janet's room, you glanced back over your shoulder.
michael was still standing quietly in the hallway, hands tucked into his pockets, offering you one small, shy smile before he spoke.
the moment the bedroom door clicked shut behind you, janet turned around with her arms folded, a grin already spreading across her face.
you immediately recognized that tone.
she walked over to her dresser and pulled open one of the drawers, pretending to be completely focused on searching through it.
"what's going on with you and my brother?"
janet looked over her shoulder with one eyebrow raised.
she hummed, pulling out a neatly folded pair of silky pajamas before turning back toward you.
"because i don't think i've ever seen michael ask somebody to stay the night before."
you opened your mouth, then closed it again.
janet walked over and placed the pajamas in your hands, the smooth satin slipping between your fingers.
"he knocked on my door looking nervous," she continued. "then he quietly asked if i had something you could wear because you were staying over."
you looked down at the pajamas, suddenly finding them very interesting.
you laughed softly, shaking your head.
she smiled, nudging your shoulder.
"i'm just saying... my brother gets shy talking to just about everybody."
you smiled despite yourself.
"but around you..." janet's grin grew a little wider. "he smiles more."
"that's because we've known each other forever."
"or maybe it's because he likes having you around a little more than he realizes."
your heart stumbled for the briefest moment.
you covered your face with one hand, laughing as janet's room filled with her giggles, the teasing sounding exactly like the countless sleepovers the two of you'd had over the years.
you laughed, shaking your head as you hugged the silky pajamas against your chest.
"okay," you said with a smile. "thank you again."
"you're welcome," janet replied, giving you a quick hug. "sleep well."
you stepped out into the hallway, gently closing the bedroom door behind you.
just as he'd promised, michael was still waiting.
he was leaning lightly against the wall across the hall, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. the moment he heard the door open, he looked up. when he saw you, a small, almost relieved smile appeared on his face before he straightened.
"everything okay?" he asked quietly.
you lifted the pajamas slightly.
"yeah." you smiled. "i'm just gonna go change in the bathroom."
his eyes dropped to the pajamas for a second before he nodded.
"i'll..." he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck before finding the words. "...i'll be waiting in my room."
he returned the smile with a small nod.
with that, the two of you headed in opposite directions down the quiet hallway. you disappeared into the bathroom, softly closing the door behind you, while michael continued toward his bedroom. he stepped inside, leaving the door cracked open just enough so you'd know he was still waiting for you once you were finished.
as you walked into the turquoise bathroom, you gently closed the door behind you.
without thinking, you never reached for the little lock.
the room was quiet, lit by the warm glow of the vanity lights reflecting off the turquoise tile that lined the walls. the matching sink, bathtub, and fluffy bath mat gave the room the unmistakable charm of the late seventies, while a few neatly folded towels sat stacked on a shelf beside the mirror. it was a bathroom you'd been in countless times over the years, familiar enough that it almost felt like part of your own home.
you set janet's silky pajamas on the counter before looking at yourself in the mirror. your hair had become a little tousled from lying on michael's bed listening to music, and despite the late hour, a smile still lingered on your face without you realizing it.
you reached up to smooth a few loose strands behind your ear, catching yourself thinking about the evening all over again. dinner with the family. helping katherine clean the kitchen. the cassette. the way michael had quietly asked you to stay because he didn't want you walking home alone.
your eyes drifted across the bathroom counter until they landed on a familiar hairbrush resting beside the sink.
it had probably been sitting in the same spot for years.
reaching over, you picked it up, turning it once in your hand before beginning to gently brush through your hair. each slow stroke eased the tangles from the evening, the soft bristles gliding through as you watched your reflection in the mirror.
for a few quiet moments, the only sounds in the room were the faint bristles moving through your hair and the muffled laughter that occasionally drifted up from somewhere downstairs. the house had settled into its nighttime rhythm, peaceful and familiar.
you set the hairbrush back to its place and took your jeans off and finally started to change. you then reach to take your shirt off but suddenly heard a click from the door opening.
you look up and see michael for a split second until you saw the door slam shut.
you quickly changed into the pajamas janet gave you and went down the hallway with your clothes in your hands and entered michaels room.
there he was standing in the center of his room, "y/n i'm sorry i didn't mean to."
your feet started to carry you a little faster than before and now you were standing in front of him in the very center of the room. you tossed your clothes onto his bed and without thinking.
you pulled in for a kiss, you felt michael kissing back as his big hands crept around your waist and yours around his neck.
"michael..." you started softly, almost like you were admitting it to yourself before anyone else.
you smiled faintly, shaking your head.
"i think i've always cared about you more than i realized."
the words felt strange to say out loud, not because they weren't true, but because you had spent so much time pretending those feelings weren't something worth noticing.
maybe that was why you always felt so comfortable around him. maybe that was why every little moment seemed to stay with you long after it ended.
you let out a small laugh.
"i guess that explains why i always get so nervous around you."
michael stayed quiet for a moment, letting your words settle between you.
he looked down, a small smile appearing as he thought about everything you had shared over the years. all the afternoons spent laughing, all the conversations that somehow lasted longer than either of you expected, all the moments where being around each other simply felt easy.
"i've always felt like you understood me," he admitted. "even when i didn't really know how to explain myself."
his voice was quiet, the way it always was when he was saying something that mattered.
"you've always been someone i could just be myself around."
the honesty in his words made you smile.
because maybe that was what made your friendship so special. it wasn't about grand gestures or needing to prove anything. it was the comfort of knowing someone was there, someone who had been there for years and continued to make life feel a little lighter.
michael gave a small laugh, shaking his head.
"i don't think i ever really told you that enough."
for a moment, neither of you said anything.
the room felt quieter somehow, like all the years of knowing each other had gathered into that one small moment. all the jokes, the memories, the countless afternoons spent with the jackson family, all the times you had been there for each other without even thinking about it.
you looked at michael, and before either of you could overthink it, you reached forward and pulled him into another hug.
not because it was dramatic or because either of you needed to say anything, but because it carried the weight of everything that had never needed to be explained. it was a thank you for every conversation, every laugh, every moment where he had made you feel like you belonged.
michael stayed quiet, but you could feel him relax into the hug, the usual shyness and hesitation fading away for just a moment. neither of you rushed to pull away.
when you finally did, he looked down with a small smile.
"i'm glad you're here," he whispered.
you smiled back. "me too."
and with that, the two of you shared one last quiet laugh before the room fell peaceful again, the kind of silence that only existed between two people who had known each other for years.
before the night ended, you pulled him into one final hug, holding on just a little longer than before.
and for a moment, nothing else mattered.
