Ebony&Ivory-Chapter 15

Illust: *is at home, sitting in front of the wardrobe deciding wht to wear*

Luke: *Arrives home, finished his meal*

Anita: Welcome home, Luke. How'd it go?

Luke: Really well.

Anita: So wht did she say?

Luke: It's because of her contract. That's why she can't go near her. But she loves her very much and misses her

Anita: Contract? Wht does tht mean?

Luke: *explains to her every single detail that Lisa told him*

Anita: Oh my. I guess it's understandable. If the tabs hear tht Lisa got pregnant with someone else so soon aftr divorcing Michael, they would have a field day with it

Luke: Yea me too. I got a call from the Weekly Tabs

Anita: Oh? Wht did they want?

Luke: To apologize

Anita: I personally believe they should make it public

Luke: They did

Anita: Oh?

Luke: They're gonna do it tomorrow

Anita: Well, tht's nice then. It's the least they can do for letting tht bastard give so much hell to Illust n the other girls

Luke: That's one of the things

Anita: Speaking of Illust, is she done dressed yet? We're going off to visit Tom n hopefully get her together with Leo

Luke: She is? *goes to check on her*

Illust: *still sitting there, looking undecided*

Luke: Can't decide?

Illust: *surprised bt shook her head* Nope. I dunno wht to wear

Luke: Just go with your usual

Illust: No. I... *looks dwn bashfully* I wont look pretty

Luke: He won't mind

Illust: *blushed evn harder, in denial* I'm not dressing up for him

Luke: I'm saying just dress casual

Illust: *puppy-eyes* Help me?

Luke: Oy. *gets her a pair of jeans and a band t-shirt

Illust: *looks at the clothes n shrugged, getting changed*

Luke: *leaves the room so she can change

Anita: *looks up* So? She done?

Luke: She wanted me to pick the clothes for her

Anita: *chuckles* Lemme guess, she wanted to look her best for Leo

Luke: Seems that way

Anita: Ah, young love. Reminds me of my puppy love days

Luke: ^_^ Hehe

Anita: Remember when we first met?

Luke: I sure do. It was a year before I released an album

Anita: Yeah, n I was just getting started with my guitar career bt applied to be ur cook first

~~Flashback~~

Luke: *A fourteen-year-old Luke is in his room, writing poetry in his notebook*

Michael: *approaches him n hugs him frm behind* Wht r u doing there, Luke?

Luke: Nothing much. Just writing\

Michael: Well, I've got someone u'd like to meet

Luke: Who? *puts his books down*

Michael: *smiles, then turns ard* Come in, Anita

Luke: *he stood up and looked*

Anita: *comes in, smiling with her hair tied in multiple braids n dressed in a summer dress*
Michael: Luke, meet ur newly employed cook, Anita Brynes

Luke: *he noticed that the girl was at least 3 years old than him* Hi

Anita: Hi. It's so nice to meet you, Oliva *bows*

Michael: Frm now on, she will be doing ur meals. Ever since u did ur album, u havent been eating vry properly there, Luke

Luke: I can't help it. I'm really focused

Michael: Yes, well, Anita here is a wonderful cook, and I'm sure u kids will settle in just fine

Anita: I look forward to work for u, Oliva

Luke: Please, call me Luke.

Anita: U can call me Anita

Luke: *Is wearing a piano shirt (similar to the shirt from Beat It) and jeans with a tore hole in the left knee*

Michael: U guys get along now. I need to go chk on the kids

Luke: Okay Michael *shows Anita his room

Anita: *followed him upstairs to the room*

Luke: *opens it. It's quite extravigant. It has a big bed, a flatscreen TV with a game system and a DVD player. He also had a Arcade system for Moonwalker*

Anita: *looks ard* Wow. Looks pretty cool for a room for a cook

Luke: *opens a door that leads to another room* this one's mine

Anita: *looks in n noticed it was just as extravagant, with tons of MJ memoriblia in it*

Luke: Well?

Anita: Nice. I can see how fanatic u are ovr Michael

Luke: Yea. He's been like a father to me since my folks died

Anita: Oh...I'm sorry to hear tht

Luke: It's okay. I've gotten over it now

Anita: Well, at least Michael is taking good care of u. He and his children are such darlings

Luke: It's great hanging with the kids. They treat me as a big brother

Anita: *sees a picture of Luke n a young couple, the man looking almost alike with Luke* Is tht ur parents?

Luke: No, that's my brother and his wife

Luke: Yea, my brother and hid wife died in a car accident

Anita: Oh my, I'm sorry to hear tht

Luke: *nods* But I'm over it now.

Anita: Did they have any children?

Luke: Only one. A girl

Anita: *looks ard* Where is she?

Luke: We don't know. She's pronouced missing

Anita: *remembers* Oh, so tht's wht Michael has been doing...

Luke: *picks up his three notebooks*

Anita: *sees him* Wht are those?

Luke: My lyrics books. Almost a year's worth of lyrics I wrote

Anita: Wow. Tht's quite a lot. Can I see?

Luke: *hands her one of them*

Anita: *scans through n saw Ebony & Ivory* Ah, this one look nice

Luke: I wrote that one when I was playing it on piano. Wanna hear?

Anita: Sure!

Luke: *takes Anita to the house studio*

Anita: *looks ard, amazed at the setting*

Luke: *sets the lyrics on the book stand and sits down at the piano*

Anita: *leans against the piano, listening in*

Luke: *starts to play the piano, starts to sing the song*

Anita: *closes her eyes n listens, enjoying every phrase*

Luke: We are like the keys of a piano....ebony and ivory...

Anita: *hums along with it*

Luke: *finishes the song*

Anita: *claps her hands* Tht was wonderful! U reli live up to ur reputation

Luke: Reputation?

Anita: Michael has been saying how talented u are, how well u sing n stuff, n how u inherited ur mother's genes and all. He played ur album in the car wen he picked me up, bt hearing u singing live, u reli r as he says u are

Luke: Oh that. Those aren't done yet. We still gotta mix them and add back-up vocals

Anita: Still, you're reli good. I'm impressed *smiles sweetly at him*

Luke: I wrote all the lyrics. Michael helped compose the music for most of 'em but two. I did the music for those two myself

Anita: Which two? This one?

Luke: *nods* The other one is a ballad as well, it's called "Missing"

Anita: Missing? Wht's it abt?

Luke: It's about missing someone close

Anita: Ah, OK. Who were u missing?

Luke: My parents

Anita: *realizes* Oh...sorry I asked... *feels a little awkward now*

Luke: No, it's no deal. I was out with Michael when the house caught fire

Anita: Ur parents died at a fire? Wht caused it?

Luke: It was an electrical short-circuit

Anita: Oh dear. It's painful to imagine being trapped in a burning home

Luke: I wanted to run in and help, bnt Michael held me back

Anita: *nods* It's understandable. He doesnt want u to end up like them

Luke: True...Then I realized...I wanted to make music

Anita: I can see u made the right choice

Luke: Well, it's almost done to mix a track

Michael: *comes in with Blanket in his arms* I see u guys are getting along

Luke: Yea, we are. *sees Blanket* Hey Blanket ^_^

Anita: Hello there, lil guy

Blanket: *shyly hides his face on his father's shoulder*

Luke: how you doing, bro?

Blanket: *just smiles at Luke*

Michael: He just got up frm his nap. Give him time. Btw, isnt it time u showed us ur expertise, Anita?

Anita: *sees the time* Oh my, dinner already? I better get cracking. Where's the kitchen?

Luke: This way. *shows her straight through*

Anita: *followed behind him*

Luke: Here we go

Prince: *is getting the plates and silverware ready*

Anita: Alright. Outta the way n let the maestro work her magic *starts cooking up a storm*

Prince: *Goes to his dad* Who is the lady, Dad?

Michael: She is Anita Brynes. She'll be Luke's new cook as well as ours

Prince: Is something wrong with big bro?

Michael: If u can count skipping meals as something wrong, yes, something is reli wrong with ur big bro *looks mischievously at Luke*

Prince: He's just working so hard, Dad. Just like you

Michael: Agreed. We're all working hard to please our fans

Prince: Does big bro have fans yet?

Michael: *think bk* Hmm, judging by the recent polls of newbie artists on the tabs today, I say Luke is picking up a steady fanbase. Not much yet, bt they're moving up

Luke: Speaking of which...*has the billboard paper for charts, especially the Hot 100* Check this out *shows his single, Ebony and Ivory debuted at #5*

Paris: Wow~! Tht is impressive!

Michael: *sees the chart* Very. Ur reli making a name in the entertainment business as fast as I am

Prince: That's great!

Luke: *blushes a bit* I didn't expect it to be that high. I mean, it'll be tricky to have 4 top 10s from a debut. Like what you did with Off the Wall

Michael: True. It's all abt the gamble n having Lady Luck on our side.

Anita: Soup's up, everyone! *set the dinner on the table*

*All the members of the family sit down at the table*

*it was a fine spread, almost like one u would see wen someone is having a full-course dinner in the restaurant.*

Anita: Dig in. See how u like it

Luke: *gets his spoon and tries it* wow!

Anita: I hope it's up to ur taste

Michael: *tries it as well* Mmm...This is delicious! I made the right choice hiring u

Luke: It tastes great!

Prince: *gives it a try* Wow!

Paris: *eats it* Mmm~! This is awesome!

Blanket: *tastes some, then happily gobbled the rest*

Anita: Thanks. I'm glad. Help urselves. THere's more where tht came frm

Luke: *Later on, they all finish their dinner, all satified* Thanks Anita ^^

Anita: Ur welcome. Still have room for desserts?

Blanket: Ice cream!

Luke: What do you got?

Anita: Well, I can make sundae or banana split. Whichever u want

Michael: Ooh, I'd like a sundae

Paris: Banana split!

Luke: Hot Fudge!

Prince: Sundae

Blanket: Fudge!

Anita: Alright. I'll get it done right away. In the meantime, lemme clear the table

Luke: Can't wait to watch my favorite movie

Blanket: Wht is it?

Anita: *at the kitchen fixing up dessert*

Prince: You never told us.

Luke: Hook ^^

Michael: Ah, the Peter Pan adaptation with Robin Williams in it. It's my favourite too

Luke: What's your favorite movie, Anita?

Anita: Oh, I'm more of a horror buff reli. But I do like bit of fantasy or two *carries the tray of desserts for them

Blanket: Ice cream~! X3

Prince: Looks great!

Luke: I also like scary movies. Especially An American Werewolf in London

Anita: I like the Friday 13th franchise

Paris: *took her dessert and ate* Mmm~!

Michael: U make great dinner AND dessert, I'm impressed

Anita: Thanks

Luke: *finishes his dessert* I'm done ^^

Prince: Me too!

Anita: Wow u guys sure eat fast

Michael: Yes, sometimes I suspect whether they chew their food or not *pinches at Prince's nose playfully*

Prince: hehe! Dad!!

Paris: *laughs along with Blanket*

Anita: *chuckles before collecting all the ice cream glasses n taking them to the kitchen to be washed*

Luke: *Gets up and goes to help her*

Anita: *washes the dishes* Oh, Luke. U dont have to. It's my job

Luke: Please, it keeps me busy

Anita: Alright then. U can help me wipe the ones tht are done washing

Luke: You got it. *starts wiping the dishes dry*

Anita: The kids seem to like u a lot there

Luke: It's true. I may be adopted, but they look up to me as much as their dad

Anita: Lucky u to have met Michael then

Luke: He's my godfather, afterall

Anita: How close was Michael with ur family, anyway?

Luke: Very. My father was a back-up dancer with Michael on his tours

Anita: Wow. So ur family had been Michael since way back!

Luke: *nods* Yep.

Anita: I must admit, despite him knwing ur parents way bk when, he still looks pretty good for his age

Luke: well, he is turning 49

Anita: Tht's why I said. He still looks reli well despite his age. I could hardly tell. He still looks as he were bk during his Black & White era

Luke: *nods* Yea, I was around when he was recording Invincible

Anita: :)

*soon the dishes were done, n it was bedtime for the kids*

Blanket: Aww, I dont wanna~

Luke: You have to, Blanket.

Michael: Tht's right. U've got school tomorrow, remember? N tht goes for the rest of u, kids

Paris: *pouts bt reluctantly obeys*

Prince: How come Luke doesn't have to go to school?

Luke: I graduated early. Actually, no. I have a private tutor

Michael: Tht's right. And u kids, on the other hand, have to go to school like everybody else. C'mon, bedtime. Go brush ur teeths n go to bed. I'll read u a bedtime story

Luke: *hugs the kids* night kids

Kids: *simulataneously hugged n said* Night, big bro! *ran ahead of Michael upstairs*

Luke: Time for some studio work. Wanna come Anita? I need to do a guitar track

Anita: OK, sure. Just lemme clean the table up n I'll be with u. U head on first

Luke: okay. *heads into the studio room downstairs in the basement. He turns on all the lights. He heads to the guitar in the guitar stand. he turns it on and tries to get a riff in*

Anita: *finishes up n comes to the studio*

Luke: Damn...*puts the guitar down*

Anita: *sees the guitar, picks it up, fixes the riff expertly n started playing Dirty Diana on it, surprising Luke with her guitar skills*

Luke: Anita, you play guitar?!

Anita: Huh? Oh, this ol' thing. Yeah, I play alright, not as good as the pros

Luke: Play that riff I did earlier

Anita: *does so, playing the riff as she did*

Luke: Would you mind...going into the recording room so we can get that

Anita: Wh...Wht? Me? Naw, I cant. I'm just a cook. I dont play tht well *being a little too modest*

Luke: *plays her the song. It's a got a rock sound to it*

Anita: *instinctively in her blood, she followed up with it, giving a few solos of her own*

Luke: *Manages to get them recorded*

Anita: *lost herself in it. Wen she was done, she realized wht she did n was embarassed* Um..Sorry, I didn't knw wht I was...I better go bk to my chores *prepares to leave the studio*

Luke: Wait *grabs her hand* Would like you being my touring guitarist?

Anita: M...Me? I...I couldnt! I'm...I'm just a cook...!

Luke: I'm sure Michael can arrange it. That's the other reason he hired you

Anita: Wht? He hired me to be a cook, not a guitarist. Wht r u talking abt?

Luke: Michael?

Anita: *turns to see Michael at the doorway*

Michael: *smiles knowingly* U didnt I'd reli hire u for the sake of cooking, did u?

Anita: Well...Actually I did think u hired me for...cooking...

Luke: He saw you on Youtube playing Dirty Diana

Anita: U...U did?? *blushes*

Michael: Yes. U were wonderful. U play almost like the real deal

Luke: Since we were getting ready for a US tour soon, all we need was a guitar player

Anita: I...It was just for fun...My friend made me do it, n I got grounded for it. I can't reli...If my family knws...

Michael: Dont worry. I'm sure I can talk ur family into it.

Luke: We''ll contact them tomorrow

Anita: I...No, I reli must decline

Luke: Cmon.

Michael: Why? It's a chance of a lifetime

Luke: You get to be what you want to be

Anita: I...I've been raised to believe tht we will nvr get anywhere. My family had been frm South Mexico n been maids, cooks n servants all our lives for generations. We...We'll nvr get anywhere past tht n we should stop dreaming big things n bite more than we can chew. I just...dont think...

Luke: Well, this time, it'll be real

Anita: I...I dunno...

Michael: I'll make the call. I'll talk to them. Dont worry a thing. U'll be big, u'll see

Luke: It's official. You're officially my cook / guitarist

Anita: *laughs*

*flashback ends*