Off the Wall! Era Micheal Jackson x thick!blackgirl reader
Story concept: Micheal having hidden feelings about his older sister’s (Latoya) best friend. And with having to hide his feelings and not get rejected he bullies her any chance he got.
The day finally came. This day is a day where everyone celebrates. Giving gifts, happy kids, happy parents.
That holiday the whole neighborhood in Gary Indiana on Jackson street celebrated it. The lights in the houses, decorations of Santa and his sleigh. You know the usual stuff.
But one family didn’t. And that was the Jacksons. They were Jehovah Witnesses meaning they don’t celebrate any holidays not even their own birthdays.
There was no giant tree glowing in the living room. No piles of wrapped presents. No Christmas music playing through the house like everybody else in the neighborhood.
And somehow, Malaya found herself there anyway.
“You nervous?” Latoya whispered while helping Katherine in the kitchen.
Milaya looked down at the small box in her hands. Inside were bracelets they were homemade. She made them with love and care.
Each bracelet had little details matching everybody’s personality. Janet’s had tiny colorful beads. Tito’s was simple and clean. Marlon’s was messy on purpose because she thought it fit him.
She swallowed hard thinking about his.
Black cord woven together carefully with silver beads and a tiny music note charm hidden near the clasp.
She spent the longest on his.
Latoya smirked immediately. “You made his special didn’t you?”
“No I did not.” Milaya cut her eyes at Latoya.
Latoya only smirked at her best friend knowing damn well she has a crush on Micheal. She supports them both, she just needs them both to get together already.
“You literally restarted his three times.”
Milaya glared. “You talk too much.”
Before Latoya could tease her again, loud yelling came from the living room.
“I wasn’t even touchin’ you!”
The house erupted into arguing and laughter.
Malaya smiled despite herself.
“Look who finally decided to show up.”
Her smile disappeared instantly.
Micheal leaned against the doorway wearing dark jeans and a burgundy sweater, curls hanging around his face. He looked unfairly good for absolutely no reason.
And of course he already had that smirk on.
Malaya rolled her eyes immediately. “You got somethin’ smart to say already?”
“I always got somethin’ smart to say.”
His eyes dropped to the box in her hands.
“Ooo,” he teased, walking closer. “Secretive.”
Malaya moved the box behind her back dramatically. “Mind your own.”
Micheal narrowed his eyes suspiciously before suddenly trying to snatch it.
She jerked away quickly while he laughed. Getting closer to her smiling. Those damn dimples popping out.
Why he had to be so fine.
“What you hidin’?” He said licking his lips and tilting his head.
“You annoying!” Milaya tried walking past him but he stepped in front of her grabbing her wrist lightly.
Milaya looked at Micheal with the box in her other hand.
“And you defensive.” Looking her up and down.
Latoya slipped away quietly the second tension started rising.
Milaya pointed at Micheal warningly. “Don’t touch my stuff.”
He grinned again and God she wanted to hit him.
She also noticed how pretty he looked when he smiled.
Which made her even more irritated.
Later that evening everybody gathered in the living room while Katherine passed around hot chocolate.
Janet laid across the carpet half asleep while Randy and Marlon argued over music near the record player.
Joe sat in his chair talking loudly about touring stories nobody asked for.
And Malaya sat quietly on the couch clutching the gift box nervously.
Micheal noticed immediately. Of course he did he always noticed her. How she always liked wearing overalls. Picking up rocks and throwing them into the lake. Hated getting her hair wet cause it took forever to comb through. Always wanting to take a picture of trees. Loving animals like him.
Any little thing she liked or looked at a long time. He would always take note of it in his mind. Then go home and write about it in his journal. He even has drawings of her he made. Marlon teased him about it. So Micheal made sure no one. And I meant no one would ever find his journal.
“You look constipated,” he whispered while sitting beside her.
Malaya looked horrified. “What is wrong with you?”
He shrugged innocently. Chuckling at how easily she was irritated at his antics.
“You been holdin’ that box for thirty minutes.”
She sighed dramatically before finally standing up.
Malaya suddenly wanted to disappear.
“I know y’all don’t really celebrate Christmas but…” she started awkwardly. “I made somethin’ for everybody.”
“Awwww,” Katherine said immediately.
Janet sat up excitedly. “Wait really?”
Malaya nodded nervously and started passing the bracelets out one by one.
Everybody loved them instantly.
“MINE GOT COLORS!” Janet yelled happily.
“Told you she cooler than you,” Marlon told Micheal immediately.
Tito examined his carefully. “You made these yourself?”
Malaya nodded shyly. “Yeah.”
“That’s talent right there,” Katherine praised warmly.
Micheal stayed quiet watching her the entire time.
She stopped in front of him. Her hurting was beating outside of her ass. For once neither of them joked or teased each other.
Malaya held his bracelet carefully in her palm.
“I made you one too,” she said softly.
Micheal stared down at it.
It was a Black woven cord, had silver beads and a small music charm to bring it all together. Milaya knew how much music meant to Micheal. And also how much he loved singing. So yes of course she took forever to work on it.
She just wanted it to be perfect.
Exactly how he likes to make his music.
His chest tightened immediately.
Because this wasn’t random.
And suddenly all those stupid jokes and teasing games felt childish. He knew for sure now. He would tell her the truth.
What all the teasing was for. The name calling, throwing snowballs at her. Micheal finally had a reason to say it to her.
He took the bracelet gently from her fingers.
Malaya shrugged awkwardly. “Don’t make it weird.”
Weird in the way his heart started pounding.
Weird in the way she wouldn’t look directly at him.
Weird in the way everybody else suddenly went suspiciously quiet watching them.
“It’s nice,” Micheal said quietly.
It caught her completely off guard.
Micheal looked up at her slowly.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “I really do.” He smiled showing his dimples. And Milaya felt so warm and giddy inside.
The room collectively reacted like they’d witnessed a historical event.
Jermaine whispered loudly, “Oh they in LOVE love.”
“Shut UP,” both of them snapped instantly.
The room exploded laughing.
But even while everybody joked around, Micheal kept staring down at the bracelet in his hand.
Hours later, the house had calmed down some.
Milaya sat outside on the back steps alone wrapped in a blanket, enjoying the cold air.
Then the screen door creaked open.
“You follow me everywhere?”
Micheal sat beside her anyway. “You complain a lot.”
For once neither argued afterward.
Micheal leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees while staring out into the dark yard.
The bracelet sat around his wrist now.
“You ain’t gotta wear it,” she muttered. Thinking he was wearing it to just be nice.
Her stomach flipped annoyingly.
Then Micheal spoke again quieter this time.
“You really made all these by hand?”
“But mine different.” He shifted closer to her facing her entirely.
‘How the fuck did he know’ Milaya thought.
She looked over sharply. “No it’s not.”
“You spent more time on mine.”
Malaya looked away immediately.
And that was all the confirmation he needed.
Micheal smiled softly to himself before looking down at the bracelet again.
“You know…” he started carefully.
Malaya’s heart sped up instantly.
His voice sounded serious again.
That dangerous serious tone.
“I been tryna tell you somethin’ for awhile now.”
Like the air shifted between them.
Malaya looked over slowly.
Micheal rubbed his hands together nervously before finally turning toward her. Again.
His eyes met hers. He looked scared.
The screen door suddenly slammed open.
Latoya stood there looking emotional already.
‘Every damn time I want to say how I feel it’s always something or someone coming to interrupt me damn it’ Micheal thought. He clenched his jaw at Latoya out of ALL TIMES.
“My daddy got the call today,” she said quietly. “We movin’.”
Micheal straightened immediately. ‘Shit’ how could he have forgotten about it. He sighed and put his hands in his head.
“What?” Milaya said looking at Latoya with her eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Then to Micheal.
Latoya looked between both of them carefully.
“We moving to Havenhurst,” she explained softly. “Micheal’s solo career taking off… daddy says it’s better opportunities out there.”
Everything suddenly felt cold.
Malaya stared at her best friend in disbelief.
“You serious?” She says with a tremble in her voice.
“We leave in a few weeks.”
Micheal went completely quiet beside her.
Because suddenly all he could think about was Malaya not being around anymore. And how could he tell her he liked her. When they’re gonna be hundreds of miles away.
No more arguing in the living room.
No more chasing her through the backyard.
No more hearing her laugh.
His chest genuinely hurt.
Milaya looked down trying hard not to cry.
“So you both knew.” She stood. Staring at both Micheal and Latoya.
Micheal could already feel the once innocent loving atmosphere to a more heated one quickly. So he stood with his hands up to Milaya.
“Laya- w-we I- we knew but we swear we were all gonna tell you.” He tried to reach out for her hand. But she backed up immediately. Her doing that caused Micheal to have an ache in his heart.
He didn’t want it to go like this.
“I’ve been hanging out with you guys almost every day. And now you wanna tell me? On Christmas night?!” Milaya let out a huff and ran her fingers through her silk press.
“Laya please i wouldve said something sooner.” Latoya sniffled trying not to cry.
“It’s fine you guys lives are moving up. Congrats Micheal I pray your career is nothing but success.” She left from the porch leaving to go back to her house slamming the door shut.
Micheal couldn’t believe how fast everything changed in a matter of a second.
“I- I can’t let her. I don’t wanna leave without telling her how I feel. I have to tell her before we leave. O-or maybe she could come with us.” Micheal was pacing on the porch trying to set things up.
“You know Jospeh won’t let that happen.”
“I know! I know! God I just wanna be with her tell her how I feel. And it’s like every time I get a chance it slips through my hands.” He finally cried. Putting his hands on his face crying.
Latoya felt so bad for her little brother. She knew how much Mike wanted to be with laya.
Latoya helped Micheal inside the house. The family heard him crying. Jermaine stood up from the couch.
“Mike what’s wrong man?” Jermaine asked with concern.
“Wait where’s Milaya.” Janet asked.
Now everyone stood around Micheal. They all knew they both liked each other. And to see Milaya go home early. And Micheal crying. Something had to happen.
“She left because I told her we were moving to California.” Latoya said looking at everyone.
“And I was in the middle of telling her I had feelings for her. I didn’t get to finish. That’s why she left.” Micheal looked away from everyone turning his back.
“Mike don’t give up man it’s still a chance to-“ Jermaine said trying to lighten the mood.
But Micheal storms off into his room slamming the door.
The whole house was quiet. Nobody moved.
The sound of muffled crying echoed faintly down the hallway, making every sibling look at each other with guilt sitting heavy in their stomachs.
Jermaine rubbed his face and sighed.
“Bad.” Marlon added quietly.
“He loves that girl.” Jackie muttered.
“And she loves him too.” Randy said while leaning against the couch.
Latoya looked toward Michael’s closed bedroom door.
“He’s been trying to tell her for months.”
“Then let’s help him.” Jermaine suddenly said.
Everyone looked at him. Jermaine grinned slowly.
“I mean really help him.”
Michael sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees while he stared at the bracelet Milaya made him.
The tiny silver charms clinked softly as he turned it around his wrist.
His chest hurt thinking about her face when she backed away from him on the porch.
That look. Like he broke her heart.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Go away.” Michael muttered weakly.
The door slowly creaked open anyway.
Jermaine poked his head in first.
Behind him stood Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Randy, Janet, and Latoya all crowded together.
“We know.” Tito said gently.
Jermaine crossed his arms.
“But you are gonna fix this tonight.”
Janet suddenly smiled brightly and held up paint-covered hands.
Then Randy and Marlon lifted up a huge poster board.
In giant red glitter letters it read:
“And that ain’t even the best part.” Marlon grinned.
The backyard had transformed completely. String lights hung across the fence. Candles flickered along the wooden table. A white cloth covered the small dinner setup while rose petals were scattered everywhere.
The old record player outside softly played The Stylistics. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” floated through the chilly night air.
Michael looked completely speechless.
“We know you scary when it comes to girls.” Randy teased.
Michael rolled his eyes weakly.
“But tonight you’re tellin’ her.” Jermaine said firmly. “No interruptions. No teasing. No runnin’ away.”
“And no stuttering.” Janet added.
Michael groaned nervously.
Everybody laughed softly for the first time all night. Latoya walked over to him carefully.
Michael’s face softened instantly.
“So go get your girl before California takes you away from her.” He looked down.
“What if she doesn’t forgive me?”
“Then at least she’ll know the truth.” Jackie said to Mike with a smile.
Because that was the part eating him alive.
The thought of Milaya never knowing how deeply he loved her. How every joke, every tease, every lingering stare meant something. How he memorized the sound of her laugh.
How he looked for her first anytime she walked into a room. How nervous she made him. How safe she made him feel.
Jermaine suddenly shoved Michael lightly toward the back gate.
“Yes NOW!” everybody whispered-yelled.
Janet shoved flowers into his chest.
“And don’t mess it up!” Randy laughed.
Milaya sat near her bedroom window still upset.
Her silk press was wrapped now, pajamas on, yet sleep felt impossible. Everywhere she looked reminded her of them.
The bracelet-making earlier.
Michael stealing extra cookies.
Michael looking at her when he thought nobody noticed.
A soft knock hit her window.
Milaya slowly pulled the curtain back.
Michael stood outside holding flowers.
He motioned desperately for her to come outside.
Then sighed heavily before slipping outside onto the porch.
“What are you doing here?”
Michael looked nervous immediately.
“You already said what you needed to say.”
Michael stepped closer slowly.
The cold air wrapped around them while music faintly carried from his backyard.
Milaya looked confused hearing it.
Michael rubbed his palms together anxiously.
“I know you’re mad… and you should be. I should’ve told you sooner. I just…” He laughed shakily. “I kept getting scared.”
Milaya almost laughed in disbelief.
“Micheal Jackson nervous?”
His voice cracked slightly.
“And I know I joke around and tease you but…” He swallowed hard. “That’s cause you make me feel normal.”
Milaya’s expression softened a little.
Michael stepped closer again.
“So when Latoya told you tonight…” his eyes watered slightly, “…all I could think about was leaving without you knowing.”
His breathing became uneven.
Milaya stared at him completely frozen.
Michael looked terrified now that the words were finally out.
But he kept going anyway.
“I love everything about you. Your attitude. The way you roll your eyes at me. The way you never let me get away with anything.” He laughed softly through tears. “I love how pretty you look when you’re mad at me too.”
“And every time I tried telling you…” Michael shook his head. “Something always interrupted it.”
He reached carefully for her hand this time.
Michael looked down at their hands like it meant everything.
“I don’t wanna go to California wondering what could’ve happened between us.” His voice dropped softer. “I don’t think I could stand that.”
Milaya finally spoke quietly.
“And now you’re leaving.”
“But I swear to God… if you ask me to stay tonight, I’ll try.”
Her heart nearly shattered hearing how serious he sounded.
His grip tightened gently around her hand.
“I’d do anything for you.”
Milaya stared at him for a long moment before noticing candlelight glowing faintly from his backyard behind him.
Michael blinked before looking embarrassed.
Suddenly Randy’s loud voice ruined the moment from across the fence.
“JUST BRING HER OVER HERE MAN!”
Everybody groaned loudly.
Michael covered his face.
Milaya burst out laughing for the first time that night.
And hearing her laugh again?
Michael swore it felt like breathing after drowning.
Milaya should’ve known the second she stepped into the Jackson backyard that the entire family was spying.
The candles glowed softly against the cold Indiana night while the string lights shimmered overhead. The dinner table looked almost too pretty to touch.
And standing beside it was Michael nervously fixing his curls every three seconds.
Meanwhile half the Jackson siblings were terribly hiding behind windows and bushes.
Milaya narrowed her eyes.
Michael glanced toward the house.
Immediately the curtain snapped shut.
She laughed softly despite herself.
Michael’s chest warmed hearing it again.
God… he missed hearing her laugh.
He pulled her chair out gently.
Milaya looked down at herself before sitting.
“I’m literally in pajamas.”
She motioned to her soft pink pajama pants and oversized shirt with fuzzy socks.
“I didn’t know I was getting kidnapped into a love confession tonight.”
“You still look beautiful.”
And the way he said it made her cheeks warm.
Michael sat across from her while soft music from The Stylistics continued playing through the record player.
For the first few minutes both of them were awkwardly quiet.
Michael kept smiling nervously every time she looked at him.
“You’re making me nervous now.”
Michael leaned slightly across the table.
“You know how long I’ve wanted to take you out like this?”
Milaya played with the napkin in her lap.
“I used to imagine it all the time after rehearsals.”
Michael smiled sheepishly.
“Us eating together. Dancin’ with you.” He laughed quietly. “Telling you how pretty you are without everybody interrupting.”
Milaya’s heart fluttered.
“You really liked me that much?”
Michael looked at her like the answer was obvious.
“Milaya… I’ve been gone over you.”
She looked away smiling shyly.
Michael nearly lost his mind seeing her blush.
Because usually she always had something smart to say back.
Now she looked nervous too.
The dinner went on with soft conversation filling the cold air.
They talked about California.
About how much Michael was gonna miss Gary.
From the kitchen window, Janet melted dramatically.
“Oh my God they’re so cute.”
Jermaine shoved popcorn in his mouth.
“Told y’all Mike was down bad.”
Outside, Michael finally stood from his chair and slowly held his hand out toward Milaya.
Milaya looked down at herself again.
“I told you I’m in pajamas.”
Michael smiled softly. “You think I care about that?”
She looked away shyly. “You should.”
“I think you look even prettier like this.”
Milaya’s stomach flipped.
Michael stepped closer carefully.
“You look comfortable. Real.” His voice lowered gently. “I like seeing this side of you.”
The music changed softly as Smokey Robinson played through the speakers now.
Michael slowly reached for her hand.
Milaya finally sighed dramatically.
“You are so lucky I like you.”
Michael grinned instantly.
He pulled her gently toward him into the middle of the backyard.
Michael’s hands carefully rested on her waist while hers settled around his shoulders.
His hands held her waist tighter while hers slid gently into his curls despite the cold night air.
The kiss deepened slightly… still sweet.
The entire house ERUPTED.
Michael jumped apart from her so fast he nearly tripped. The back door flew open with everybody screaming and cheering.
Milaya immediately covered her embarrassed face.
(Hope you all enjoyed comment below on what u wanna see next. Imma make a part 3😛🤷🏽♀️)
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