𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 🍒 💋ྀིྀི ⋆⑅˚₊ ˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ ༘ ⋆ ˚ ༘｡⋆｡˚˖𓍢ִ໋ ༘ ⋆｡˚ 💋ྀིྀི
!!! : 70s , otw!michael , girl group!reader , fem!reader, very cutesy 🍒
𝚙𝚝. 𝟸
march 16, 1975.
the hallway buzzed with production assistants and musicians warming up. you were jammed in the dressing room with your two sisters. they were older than you. veronica, by two years, and elena by four. you of course were the youngest, just fifteen going on sixteen.
the marigolds.
a name that stuck with you and sisters after getting signed to a record label. auditioning was the easy part, but the tumultuous scheduling and rehearsals took a toll on you. you were the youngest, and the label was harsher on you. making a mistake felt like you were being burned to the stake, even if you angled your hands slightly wrong during a routine, you would tell your sisters to stop the music. causing them to exchange a tried look at each other.
“no. that’s not it. again. i can do way better than… whatever that was.” you’d say, shaking your head and tapping your foot frustrated. a record label representative would often walk by and silently judge you, stare, and walk off writing in that damn clipboard.
the label saw you easier to mold since you were young. claiming that you were the special one. you didn’t want to let anyone down. if you really were so special, you had to be perfect, you told yourself.
and now, you and your sisters finally managed to secure a gig that you felt could cement your careers. executing a performance that could reach more audiences and let the world know just who the marigolds are.
the cher show.
a variety television show that showcased musical performances and invited famous guests. you adored cher, and that lovely wardrobe of hers that you wish you could own.
but for now, you were busy making sure your fro was perfect and that your lashes were long and doll-like. making sure to finish off your look, with that signature sheer glossy lip tint and cherry flavored chapstick.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
“can’t even bother to give us separate dressing rooms or what?” you sister elena hissed, as she sucked her teeth looking around.
“how many times do we gotta prove ourselves to these people? we’re not some circus act they can squeeze into whatever room they can find?” veronica spoke as she shook her head, fixing elena’s hair.
you were all dressed in shimmering pomegranate colored dresses.
“it won’t be like this forever… soon they’ll see,” you spoke as you sprayed on the small bottle of vanilla perfume across your collarbones. “they have to.” you looked at yourself in the mirror, not sure if you were trying to reassure them or yourself.
“well i’m not tryna sweat out this makeup, let’s get behind the curtain, ac is probably way better than in here” elena said, as she extended her hand in a beckoning motion.
you and veronica nodded, each of you giving one last look in the mirror and hoping to charm the audience.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
to your surprise, the ac was better behind the curtains. you listened to the cheering audience and orchestra, smiling softly, hoping the audience would love your sisters and you.
“hey, me and v are gonna grab some water, it should be near that corner hopefully.” elena spoke to you as veronica looked around.
“yeah go ahead, i’ll be waiting here” you nodded, as you peaked from the curtains briefly.
as much as you were grateful and excited for this opportunity, your body kept fidgeting. you were fiddling with your manicured thumbs, fixing your dress multiple times, and repeating choreography silently to yourself. you were nervous. you wanted to do so well. well enough that maybe the record label rep would stop writing in that clipboard at every little thing you did, good or bad.
you were swaying back and forth, biting you lips. then back to repeating choreo silently.
“whoa—”
you gasp, almost tripping over your heels. your arm bumped into the boy, as he gripped on your wrist tightly as to not let you fall.
you felt so embarrassed.
“i-i’m so sorry, i did not see you there..” you shook your head, feeling bad.
a halo of tight black curls framed his face as wide brown eyes looked at you with concern. then suddenly shyness.
“…”
quietness.
he’s avoiding eye contact now, shaking his head at your words.
“…i wasn’t looking where i was going, sorry”
“i wasn’t paying attention,” you say “i should be apologizing really.” you give a soft smile.
he realizes he’s still holding your wrist. pulling away, and tucking his hand in his pocket quick.
“guess we were both distracted..” he murmured, giving you a soft smile back briefly before walking off.
he couldn’t have been much older than you, you thought. your eyes followed the glimmering orange suit he was wearing as he trailed off.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
“ladies and gentlemen, the jackson 5.”
the audience erupted in cheers and applause, as the brothers stood before the audience on stage. a younger jackson on drums. one brother in a blue sparkly suit, played on bass as he started singing.
then others followed suit in choreography, singing together now.
“‘cause i am love and i’d love to stay.” ♪ ༘⋆
“jermaine is a dreamboat..” your sister elena said as she looked out from behind the stage current, sipping on her water.
“ew..” veronica looked in disgust as you laughed at your sisters.
you couldn’t help but still eye the boy from earlier, he had stage presence, you thought. and felt more lively compared to your awkward bump into each other.
“come back love, come back!” ♪ ༘⋆
the boy from earlier, sung in a mature tenor and spun in a circle, before matching up with his brothers dance moves.
“…hold on, it looks like someone’s mesmerized by that michael boy.” your sister veronica smirked into a breathy laugh, nudging elena.
to make your nervousness worse, they now had you flushed.
“ugh, what are you talking about… i don’t even know him! how can you be in love with someone you don’t even know?” you rolled your eyes, now sipping on water to avoid talking more.
“i didn’t say love…but hey if the shoe fits.” your sisters were having a ball with this and you wanted to go back to practicing the steps with them for the millionth time.
the brothers finally finished their act as production went in to start outfit changes and stagehands wheeled in equipment from another set.
you patted your fro and reapplied you chapstick, breathing in shakily.
the brothers were now passing by you guys.
“aye good luck out there ladies.” jermaine smirked at elena before looking her up and down.
you already knew she would have a field day with this, but it was almost your cue to go on stage soon and you wanted it to be good, it was all you could think about.
michael looked at you before softly muttering, “good luck.” as he passed with his crew.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
“ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, the marigolds.”
the audience clapped, as they awaited for the performance.
the three of you stood poised behind the microphones, as your dresses shimmered in the spotlights. you always stood in the middle, giving both your sisters a soft smile, indicating the signal of “we got this.” they both nodded.
the opening guitar riff broke the silence.
the three of you sway in unison. and you sing the first line beautifully, like you meant every word you said.
“everytime he comes around, i feel like i’m on fire..” ♪ ༘⋆
you make eye contact with the audience, and suddenly your nerves start freeing and you feel in tune.
“when he looks into my eyes and sees down to my soul.” ♪ ༘⋆
your sisters follow in harmony. veronica extends her left arm, as elena extends her right. you lift both your hands toward your chest, before extending them to the audience.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
the final note lingers in the air.
an eruption of applause begins. you smile bashfully, as you hold both your sisters hands. you all bow, exiting stage shortly.
“oh my gosh, now everybody is gonna want a piece of the marigolds everywhere!!” veronica shouted in the dressing room. you all laughed and felt great. this meant everything and you felt you left your mark, but the best part about it was that you got to do it with your sisters.
suddenly a knock.
you look at your sisters with a smile before opening the door. a production assistant holding a note.
“marigolds, yeah? jackson 5 left you girls a note.” the man holds out an envelope, waiting for you to take it.
you take the note, as the guy walks off now.
“let me guess it’s probably jermaine huh?” you say shaking your head at elena.
elena giggles and makes grabby hands at you to retrieve the letter.
“read it out loud!” veronica says eyeing her.
she rolls her eyes but complies.
dear marigolds,
we wanted to congratulate you on your performance, and we just got word that this was your first major tv appearance. you should be proud, your voices are like heaven. enjoy every moment. we hope we can continue to keep seeing you girls and just wanted to let y’all know that we’re not strangers now.
p.s. elena i’m hoping to get to know more of you, you’re gorgeous. here’s my number if you get lonely.
veronica rolled her eyes at the last part, but could admit the letter was heartwarming.
“…well it’s nice to know they’ve welcomed us.” you say, finding the positive.
“yeah you’re right… maybe if we’re lucky we can get on a song with ‘em someday!” veronica grinned.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
you left the dressing room to go find a bathroom, before you ran into michael, again. he stopped in his steps.
he was performing again, you noticed, he was sporting a sparkly vest and bell-bottom pants.
he smiled, rubbing the back his neck.
“did you and uh… the letter?” he managed to get out.
“o-oh! yeah, no—yes we saw it. very nice of you and your brothers to write that for us.” you couldn’t help but smile at the gesture, but also because of how shy he was. “it was really sweet.”
“good. wasn’t sure if you’d throw it away or find it weird…”
you shook your head, “what? no, it made our day.” you looked up at him as you spoke.
he grinned shyly, feeling relieved now.
“i’m glad.”
“but uh… we meant it— the not strangers thing.. we know what it’s like coming up like that.”
“ah.” you nodded, understanding.
“i feel like we should’ve wrote something back…”
“no, please.” he laughed quietly, waving his hand.
“i’m being honest.” you laughed. “we didn’t get anything but that, and i think it’s just wrong if we don’t appreciate y’all back.”
“you girls don’t have to do a thing.” he shook his head, refusing any offer.
“just happy you liked it.”
you stared at him for a moment longer at his words, realizing you’ve been standing there silent, quickly laughing at yourself.
“well michael, i guess you better get going..” you pointed towards the echoes of the stage crew.
“yeah…” he smiled.
neither of you wanted to move. could you just keep talking for hours?
you gave him a small smile and a wave.
he did too.
he walked by the stage and he was gone.
you were unable to wipe the smile off your face.
he was unable to do so as well.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
august 29, 1979
michael was planning on celebrating his 21st birthday at studio 54, while also celebrating his release of off the wall. he was branching into becoming a solo artist.
you both were getting older, and even your record label wanted you to start going solo. but you were still unsure of that decision.
“time is ticking.” you’d hear everytime you had rehearsals with your sisters. the marigolds albums preformed well, even going platinum. but it was clear that elena was getting tired of it, wanting to focus on motherhood. and veronica wanted to focus on acting.
you got into modeling. often posing for lipstick campaigns, wearing high fashion dresses, appearing in magazines. it was different than what you were used to. quieter but creative.
you weren’t sure whether your contemplation of deciding to go solo was because you wanted to stay or you were afraid to leave something you were so used to.
you missed michael a lot.
you rarely got to see each other more when you got older. but when you were younger, you got to sometimes practice in the same studio as him, often pranking the staff with him or eating ice cream after trying to mimic his dancing.
but you got an invite to his studio 54 birthday-album celebration and you were unsure if you should go. not being used to walking into things like that alone. you were used to the marigolds. but things were changing.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
michael was getting ready for the night, talking with la toya. before noticing what she was reading.
noticing the magazine cover.
you. posed with your mouth agape, another with your lips pressed in a kissy face, and a playful pouty one. a cherry-red gloss covered your plush lips.
he stared, caught off guard. swallowing.
“…didn’t know she was doing magazines now.”
la toya glanced down at the magazine, nodding.
“oh yeah, she’s been modeling a lot lately.”
his mind went to when he first met you. you were nervous, all sparkly and sweet.
and now looking at you from the magazine, you looked confident, like a one of a kind beauty…
he hoped you’d be coming to studio 54 tonight.
♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ♩. ݁₊ ⊹ . 📻.ᐟ
hellooo! tried something a little different with the writing and set up compared to my first one, but i definitely liked the style of writing i did for this one more :) i also used a song from minnie riperton called “every time he comes around” from her album perfect angel (i love her, rip minnie) for the marigolds performance fyi! idk if i’ll write a second one but who knows!!
anyway thank you for reading ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🍒་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ💋་༘࿐
