Ebony&Ivory-Chapter 18

*flashback to the auditions, where Luke is sitting with Michael, looking through the dancers*

Michael: *discussing with Kenny with the profile pictures and them dacning on stage*

Luke: I liked them, those two

Michael: Those are good too, just lack a little more energy

Kenny: Wht abt tht one? *points at a dancer with longish hair*

Luke: definitely!

*group aftr group of dancers came in, in which Luke, Michael n Kenny sift thru and chose the short-listed ones*

Luke: Well, are we ready?

Michael: Yes, definitely. Kenny?

Kenny: Ready as I'll ever be

*the three of them annouce the people they picked for the concerts

*those chosen were ecstatic n hugged each other, while those not chosen congratulate them though some broke dwn n cried*

Luke: Michael?

Michael: *stands up and came to the stage to those not chosen* Don't be disappointed. U all danced reli well. It is an honour to watch u dance for me, tht u put so much effort to be in my team. If permitted, I would've chosen all of u. Thank u all so much *gave a group hug for them*

Luke: *Stands up* And I just talked to Michael before this audition, for those who didn't make it... I was wondering if you would like to join my next tour?

*they looked at each other in shock, totally speechless*

Michael: *smiles at them* See, it's not a total loss

Luke: So what do you say?

*they cheered, totally hyped as they agreed*

Michael: And those chosen, congratulations. Welcome to the family *gave group hug to the winners*

Luke: *hugs everyone*

*The next day, Luke goes in to meet the dancers who were chosen*

*the dancers were chatting among themselves wen Luke came in*

Luke: hey everyone

Dancer 1: Oh, hey, Luke. Is Michael coming today?

Luke: He's coming up soon.

Dancer 2: Whatcha doing here?

Luke: Well, Michael wanted me to help him co-choreograph y'all

Dancer 3: Reli? Wow, tht...tht would be an honour!

Dancer 4: For someone so young, too

Dancer 1: He's the godson of the King of Pop, possibly his successor. Wht do u expect?

Dancer 5: I mean, just you and a piano came up with Ebony and Ivory...it's just pure genius

Dancer 2: We salute u, man *laughs as he puts his hands up n dwn in a worship movement*

*all other dancers laughed*

Luke: *laughs as well

Michael: My, my, aren't we chipper today?

Luke: *turns around* hey Michael

*all the dancers held their breath wen they saw him. They just cant get ovr how amazing MJ was in person*

Luke: :)

Michael: Hey, guys. Ease up, it's OK. We're family now.

*The dancers cheer together*

Luke: shall we show them the stage

Michael: Yes, we shall. C'mon, everyone. Let's familiarize with ur surroundings

*Luke and Michael take the dancers to the stage*

*once at the stage, everyone looked in awe as the crew fixed it up*

Dancer2: That is awesome!

Dancer 1: Far out!

Dancer 3: Is this reli where we'll dance?

Michael: Yes, of course. This is where u'll be doing practices with me, so give it ur all, OK?

Dancer4: You got it!

*all the other dancers agreed as well*

*they all get ready and prepare to rehearse Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

*singers n dancers got in plc*

Michael: *cues in and started singing*

Luke: *is one of the pop-up trap doors, mic-stand in front of him*

Michael: *sang as he cued for the pop-up trap doors to bring them out*

*All the dancers, with Luke, popped on stage with the mic stands*

*the crew below the stage cheered n clapped, compensate for the fans*

Michael: *did his signature dance once at the chorus*

*All the dancers started to provide back-up vocals*

Michael: *sang n danced, n cued to the part where he was supposed to have tht long pause for momentum*

Luke: *starts to snap his fingers with michael's foot tapping*

Michael: *starts singing again aftr the pause, cueing the musicians to play*

*All the dancers start to move again*

*The dancers and the back-up singers start to do the chant of the song*

Michael: *does his dances while going "Whoo!" and "Hee-Hee"*

*Eventually, the song ends and everyone hold their ground for a moment,then cheered*

Michael: *takes a breather n claps his hands* Good job everyone. Tht was great for first rehearsal

Luke: *tries to catch his breath

Michael: *pats Luke's back* U alright there?

Luke: I'm excited, that's all

Michael: Just don't get too excited *laughs* OK, take five everyone, then we'll resume

Luke: What song is next?

Michael: Maybe we could try out Smooth Criminal

Luke: OooH!

*At the end, Luke watches Michael sing Man in the mirror*

Michael: I'm starting with the man in the mirror... *making a bit of dance poses while singing* I'm asking him to change his ways...

*all the dancers below the stage waved their hands in the air*

Luke: *Starts to snap his fingers*

Michael: And no message can be any clearer... *backup vocals follow in cue* If you wanna make a world a better place, take look at yourself and make that...change!

Luke: *applauds the performance*

Michael: *ends the song* ...Make that change...

*all the dancers cheered n clapped*

Luke: Go Michael!!

Michael: *makes a bow with his hands extended, smiling at them*

*a month later...*

Luke: *he is in bed, sleeping till heard pounding on his door. He slowly wakes up and goes to the door* Yea?

Luke: Anita, what's wrong?

Anita: *her eyes were red n there were tears streaks along her face* It's...It's Mike...! He...He...!

Luke: *runs past her and heads to Michael's room, seeing the doctors around* Hey, what's going on

Doc: Pls, dont come in. This is an emergency situation

*another doc was giving MJ CPR*

Luke: Michael! *pushes him away and goes to his Godfather* Michael! What's wrong?!

CPR doc: He just had a cardiac arrest. We're trying to revive him right now *keeps giving CPR*

Luke: Michael! Please! Wake up! *starts to tear up, he notices the ambluence sirens and the medic crew coming in*

Anita: *tries to pull Luke aside to let the medic crew do their job*

*the medic crew rushes in with the equipment*

Luke: *He watches them get a stretcher out and they place Michael on it. He gets asked to come along, since he is family. He hops into the ambulance, holding onto Michael's hand*

*in the ambulance, the medics still continues to try n revive him*

Michael: *had a vry short reaction, in which he turned his head to see Luke n whispered* Luke...My...boy...I saw...

Luke: Michael...please, hold on!

Michael: I...saw...Princess... *gazes at Luke with his eyes seeming to say "I love you" n then gently closes them, flat-lines again n the medics got into a panic, trying to revive him again*

Luke: No NO!! Don't die on me!!

*they made their way to the hospital, in which Luke was told to wait outside while they wheeled MJ into the emergency room*

Luke: *waits there, when he sees Jermaine* Uncle J!

Jermaine: Oh god, I heard abt him frm the Staples n rushed here *hugs Luke* I just called the family. They'll be here any minute now

*Moments later, the lead doctor comes out* What is it?

Lead doctor: *shook his head* I'm sorry. I...I reli tried everything...I'm sorry...

Luke: No...no...*starts to cry*

Lead doctor: I'm reli, reli sorry...

*the Jacksons family came in with the kids*

Jermaine: *was trying to comfort Luke*

Luke: *Kept on crying and ran out of the hospital*

Paris: Big bro! *goes aftr him*

Luke: *he finally reaches a secluded place, seeing the fans*

Paris: *managed to chase aftr Luke, avoiding the fans* Big bro...Is...Is it true...? Is Daddy reli...?

Luke: Paris...*has tears in his eyes and hugs her close*

Paris: *her tears also came as the truth sank in* D...Daddy...Our daddy... *sobs in his arms*

*Weeks later, the memorial is held at the stadium where Michael was rehearsing*

*the whole Jackson family had the front seat, the casket slowly brought into the stadium, while thousands of fans were outside watching it thru a big screen, crying their hearts out*

*After a speech, Luke walked onto the stage, microphone in hand. He starts to sing Ben*

*everyone listened tearfully, with the kids crying the hardest*

Luke: They don't see you as I do...I wish they would try to...I'm sure they'd think again...if they had a friend like Ben...

*aftr the song, Jermaine escorted him dwn, hugging him*

Luke: *takes deep breaths, crying*

Jermaine: *comforted him as he led him to the seat with the Jacksons family*

Blanket: *reach ovr to sit on his lap, hugging him, comforting him*

Luke: *hugs his little brother and goes back to his seat, putting his shades back on*

*a few more eulogies n speeches were made, n more songs were sang, especially by the young boy Shaheen Jafargholi who sang Who's Loving You*

Luke: *Goes and joins Michael's band on stage for singing We Are the World, then Heal the World*

*the memorial soon ended n everyone gave each other a hug*

Luke: *watches his uncles take Michael's casket out to the car and he follows them*

*the three children clung to Luke as they sniffled sadly, following him as well*

Luke: *he leads them into their limo and closes the door after they're all in*

Blanket: *whimpers* I miss Daddy...

Paris: *hugs him*

Prince: *just stays emotionless, feeling hurt from losing his father*

Blanket: *sobs in Paris' arms*

Luke: *He would just sit there, staying still as a statue*

Paris: U...U OK, big bro? *pats his shoulder*

Luke: *he doesn't respond at all*

Paris: *wraps her other arm ard Luke sadly*

Prince: Is he okay?

Paris: I hope so. He looks a little shaken up.

*Later on that day, Luke heads back to his home, feeling a bit...out of it

*the kids try to help him wen Anita came ovr*

Anita: I'll take it frm here. U kids go rest now, OK?

*All the kids nod and head to their room*

Anita: *takes Luke's hand n led Luke to his room*

Luke: *his grip seem to tighten*

Anita: Luke...Luke, I knw it's hard for u, bt u have to be strong now. Michael is gone, n its not ur fault

Luke: *starts to breath heavy*

Anita: Luke? Luke, shh, shh, shh...It's OK... *hugs him close* It's OK...

Luke: *Then, suddenly, he passes out on the floor*

Anita: Luke? Luke?! Tom! Tom, help!

Tom: What? What happened?

Anita: Luke just suddenly fainted! We better help him lie dwn!

Tom: * helps getting to him to his bed*

Anita: *wet a towel to put ovr his forehead* Should we give him some smelling salts?

Tom: No, he's okay. He's just exhausted

Anita: I suppose. The whole thing is reli taken a toll on him. He hadnt slept since the day Mike died. I hope he'll do OK

*flashback sequence end*

Luke: That was a harsh day for me.

Anita: It was a harsh day for everyone, bt at least something good turned out of it

Illust: You *gestured at Luke, smiling*

Luke: And you coming into our lives *pats Illust's head*

Illust: *grins*

Anita: Everything is a blessing in disguise

Luke: Shall we get ready for a tour?

Anita: Bt u've got ur This Is It to be done, don't u?

Luke: That's in 3 months. We got an album to promote

Anita: Oh yes, ur right abt tht

Illust: Am I coming along?

Luke: Sure are! *picks her up*

Illust: *giggled n hugs him* Is Leo n Tom coming as well?

Luke: *grins*

Illust: *realized wht she just said n blushed HARD*

Anita: *chuckles at this scene*

Luke: Let's get packing

Anita: Definitely