March, 1984
Brooklyn and Janet are 18, Michael is 25

Brooklyn: I cried as I waited for someone to pick up. Ross and I just broke up. It was a mutual decision, both of us feeling that the love we had ran out. But it hurt so much, he was my first love.

"Jackson House." Michael's voice answered. I haven't seen him in so long, or heard from him.

Janet kept me updated a bit, and he was always in the news. But he didn't have time for me, and I got that.

"Hey, Mike." I said, sniffling.

"Brooke? What's wrong?" he asked, sounding worried.

"N-nothing. Is Janet home?"

"Uh, yeah. Just wait one second."

It was silent for a moment, then Janet spoke, "Michael told me you were crying. Is everything okay, Brooke?"

"Just come over, please. Ross and I broke up. I need you." I said.

"I'll be right there. You have ice cream, right?"

~

9th of August, 1984
Brooklyn is 18, Michael is 25

Brooklyn: "Brooklyn, Sweetheart, there's someone here for you!" I heard my dad call.

I sighed, going downstairs. Michael and my dad were talking to each other, sharing a laugh.

"Michael?" I asked, confused.

"Hey, Brooke." he said and hugged me.

"What are you doing here?"

The last time we actually talked was back when Ross and I broke up.

"I came to see you. I thought maybe we could have a dance lesson." Michael smiled warmly.

"Um, yeah, sure." I said.

"Thank you, Mr. Casey." Michael said quickly to my father before following me upstairs.

"So, what's the real reason you're here, Mike? I don't see you for nearly two years, and here you are showing up at my house?"

"I missed you, that's all. Can't I miss a friend?" he said innocently, "Now, can we dance?"

He went to my record collection, picking Janet's album.

'Don't Mess Up This Good Thing' started playing, and I rolled my eyes at his choice.

Michael offered his hand, grinning. I just stood there, with my arms crossed against my chest.

"Come on, Brooke. I'm sorry, okay? I was... I was just giving you a bit of space. You had school, and you were in a relationship and I didn't want to mess that up for you."

I still wasn't convinced.

"Please, dance with me, for the good old days. After that, I'll go, and if you don't want to hear me from me ever again, I'll understand." he pleaded, looking at me, his beautiful brown eyes glowing.

I sighed, taking his hand.

"I missed you, too." I said, smiling.

"Ha! I knew you did!"

I put both of my hands on my hips, squinting my eyes at him. "You little-"

"You little what?" he cut me off, tickling my sides. I was extremely ticklish, and he knew that.

I started laughing uncontrollably, telling him to stop.

"Mike, please, sto-" before I could finish, I felt myself fall on the ground, Michael on top of me.

"I'm so sorry, Michael. Are you okay? Are you hurt-" I was silenced by his lips pressed onto mine.

He was kissing me, and I was kissing him back. I was kissing him back.

I quickly pushed him off of me, "I can't."

"What is it? Is it me? Is it the way I kiss?" Michael asked.

"Oh, no, Michael. It's not you or the way you kiss. You were perfect, okay?" I said.

"Then what's the problem?"

"You're my best friend's older brother. THAT'S the problem. I just kissed my best friend's brother." I mumbled.

"There's nothing wrong with that, Brooklyn." he said, trying to calm me down.

"Yes, there is! She'll hate me!"

"Now you know that'll never happen. Janet loves you too much."

Michael smiled, "Brooke, listen to me. It's never easy to confess your feelings for someone else. I've learned that. I really do have feelings for you. I think about you all the time."

"I- When do you think it started?" I asked.

"Two years ago, maybe. When I heard from Janet that you have a boyfriend. I was jealous, I guess, and that's why I didn't talk to you. I thought it would hurt me too much to be with you." he answered.

I was quiet for a few minutes.

He came by my side on the floor, taking my hand. I started feeling butterflies in my stomach.

"What are you afraid of?" Michael whispered.

"People's reactions. Janet's especially." I whispered back.

"I don't care about what people think, and you shouldn't either. Our lives, our choices. And like I said before, Janet loves you. She'll understand, and she'll probably support it."

He was now looking straight into my eyes.

I can't say I've never thought about Michael in that way, because I have. I did have some feelings for him, but I was never sure what they actually were.

Come on, Brooklyn. Give it a try.

I leaned over to peck MIchael's lips and he placed his hand on my cheek.

"We'll try this, but on one condition. You ask me out AFTER I tell Janet." I

He chuckled, "Deal."

~

12th of August, 1984
Brooklyn and Janet are 18, Michael is 25

Brooklyn: I knocked on the Jackson House door, and Michael was standing infront of me.

"Janet said you weren't home." I said as he let me in.

"I got back from the studio ten minutes ago." he said, smiling. "Are you going to tell her?"

I nodded slightly.

"Can I have a kiss?" Michael asked shyly. I giggled as he leaned down to kiss me.

"I missed you, baby." he whispered.

"I missed you too, Michael," I said, pecking his lips one more time, "I'll go to see Janet."

I went up the stairs to Janet's room, and her door was wide open.

"Hey, Brooke." she smiled as she scribbled something on the notebook infront of her, "Come in."

"New song?" I asked, pointing at the notebook.

"Looks like it."

I hugged her, and we both said how much we missed each other.

Janet looked at my face, and squinted her eyes at me.

"You look... happy. I hadn't seen you this happy since before you and Ross broke up."

"I am. I have someone new." I said.

"Ooh. Do I know him?" she asked, looking curious.

I nodded, "You might."

"Is it someone I worked with?"

I nodded again.

"Okay, can I get the first letter of his name?" Janet mumbled.

"M." I said.

She thought for a second, "Is it Mark?" she said, reffering to one of the guys that worked with her on her album.

"No, it's not Mark. In fact, you're related to him."

Janet thought for a second, and then it hit her.

"Is it Michael?" she said quietly.

"Yes. Are you mad?" I asked, worried.

"Are you kidding me? I'm the happiest girl in the world! My brother and my best friend are dating, there's nothing better than that."

She hugged me tightly as a knock on the door was heard, and I got up to open it, only to see a smiling Michael.

"You," Janet told him, "I'm disappointed in you. I thought you'd be the one to tell me."

"I couldn't, I made a deal with my girl here." he said, grinning at me.

I blushed, hiding my face.

"Look at her, she's so cute." Janet said.

Such a friend.