The Party Begins

The Party Begins.

The Valentine's Day Party at Lucky's was in full swing. All of the Crew from San Francisco, Bel Air, Tucson, and New York were there. Everybody was having a good time dancing and sitting around talking to friends. Everybody was coupled off sitting at tables.

The whole place was decorated for the holiday. Red hearts, Cupid's with bow and arrow were strung up everywhere with silver tinsel and red and white balloons. Even the bartenders were decked out in red and black.

At one table Chey Kirkland, Chris Martin, Cupcake Kirkland, and Brandon Devonnteno were sitting with Michael and LaKara talking.

"Are you having fun, Kara?" Chey K asked.

Kara looked at her.

"Yeah, I'm having a great time." She answered.

"Aren't you glad you didn't skip this party now?" Chey said, reminding her of her decision to skip the Valentine's Day party and stay at home because she had no date.

"I'm very glad that I didn't miss out on this party." Kara told her.

"She really did want to go but she just didn't want to feel like a fifth wheel or feel lonely at a "Couple's Only" party on a holiday that was dedicated to love and romance.

"I was really surprised when Chey told me you weren't going to go. You would have been the only person not here." Said Cupcake.

She did not know Kara as well as her cousin Chey did, but she liked her, and she would not have wanted to see Kara sitting at home alone on Valentine's Day.

"I know, but I didn't want to come by myself." Said LaKara. "I would have been the only one who didn't have a date. I wouldn't have felt comfortable at a "Couple's Only" party alone.

"Well, that's all changed now." Said Chris.

"If it wasn't for you, I would have been in the same position." Michael said to Kara. "I would have been sitting here without a date feeling very uncomfortable. And I probably wouldn't have stayed long."

"Well, things worked out for the best." Cupcake said.

"Yes, it did." LaKara agreed. "Thank you Chey. You kept your promise. You did not let me down."

Chey smiled. She knew what Kara was talking about. She had set Kara up with the best possible blind date ever. It did indeed work out for the best. She was the luckiest woman in the world. Just then, they heard a good dance tune come on. Most of the couples got out on the dance floor and danced.

"Cupcake, do you want to dance?" Brandon asked his girlfriend.

"Yes. This is the jam." Said Cupcake.

Next, Chris turned to his girlfriend Chey.

"Let's dance Chey." He said.

"You've got it." Chey replied enthusiastically, and she took his hand.

Both couples got up and went out onto the dance floor to dance. It was Mikey's turn now. He turned to face Kara.

"Do you want to dance Kara?" He asked.

"Sure, let's do this." LaKara smiled.

He took her hand, and led her out to join the others on the dance floor. They had a good time dancing through the next two songs after that. Then the Deejay slowed the music down a little. Some of the couples continued to dance. So did Kara and Mikey.

When Mikey drew her into his arms and started to move in time to the sensuous music, LaKara felt a little nervous. Dancing with him get a fast song was fine because their bodies didn't have to touch, but dancing with him and feeling his body against hers made her temperature rise and here pulse race. She just couldn't believe that she was actually this close to M.J. She could feel his hear and smell the scent of his cologne, and she absolutely loved it. She felt like she was in a dream. Slowly she started to relax and just enjoy the moment.

Little did she realize that Mikey was equally was affected dancing with her. Holding her this close was sending his pulse racing also. It just felt so good, so right to him.

He could tell that she was a little nervous and he knew why. He had to think of something to put her mind at ease. In order for him to get to know her as he wanted to, she had to relax and feel comfortable being with him. She had to get over him being a celebrity whom she was a huge fan of and see him as just a normal guy.

He was truly touched and grateful that she loved that part of him. But it was only one part. Right now, he needed her to get to know the real him and love him for the man that he was. He felt her body gradually relax and he smiled to himself. That was more like it. Now she was reacting normally, getting into the groove of things, and he felt a lot better. Two minutes later, the music ended. Slowly he released her, and he looked into her eyes. He then placed a kiss on her cheek. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Thanks for the dance." LaKara spoke not knowing what else to say.

"My pleasure." Said Michael, and he linked his hand with hers as they walked Barclay to the table where their friends were. "Would you like something to
drink?"

"A glass of Brandy would be nice." LaKara answered.

"You just relax, and I'll be right back." He told her. Then he went over to the bar to order some drinks. Kara sat back down in her seat.

"We saw you out on the dance floor." Said Chey. "You go girl! You and Mikey really look good together."

Kara smiled.

"You really think so?" Kara asked. She had not given much thought to how she and Michael looked to their friends or family or to people in general.

"Yes, I do. I have just one word of advice for you." Said Chey.

"What?" Kara looked at her.

"Just relax and enjoy yourself with him." She told Kara.

"Yeah." Cupcake agreed with her cousin. "I know this is M.J that we're talking about here, but don't be overwhelmed by his superstar persona. He is just a guy. If you are comfortable around him, he'll be comfortable with you."

This alarmed Kara a little bit. She didn't know that her nervousness was that obvious. She did not want. Michael to know how nervous she was, but if her friends noticed it, then she was sure that he did too.

"Does my nervousness show that bad?" She asked.

"Just a little." Chey told her. "I'm sure he probably senses it."

That confirmed jut what she was afraid of.

"Relax, and just be yourself. He really seems to like you." Cupcake admonished. "You have nothing to fear. He's a bit of a shy guy himself, and he's really a sweet person."

"I know, but I can't help it." Kara said with a sigh. "It's just all feels so surreal being here with him. But eventually I'll snap out of it.

"He's just another guy the same as Chris and Brandon, and all of the other guys in the Crew. He really does seem to like you. If you play your cards right, you just might get a goodnight kiss out of him." Cupcake teased.

The others laughed.

"Cupcake!" Kara exclaimed.

"Who knows, anything is possible." Cupcake smiled. "Michael is a man of deep emotions. He can surprise you sometimes. Just wait and you'll see."

"I will." Said Kara.

She looked up to see Michael returning with two drinks in his hands, one for her and one for himself. When he got to the table, he handed her a glass.

"Here's your drink."

"Thank you." She said, and she took a sip. He sat back down beside her and took a sip of his own drink.

"Mikey, how do you like hanging out with the San Francisco Crew so far?" Cupcake asked him getting the conversation started again.

"They're pretty cool." Michael admitted. "They all seem to accept me as just another guy just the same as Ray and the rest of them."

"I knew that they would." Said Chey. She was glad that he felt accepted as a part of them.

"So, you and Chris still haven't told me when you plan on tying the knot." Michael said curiously. Many of his friends were getting married this year.

"We haven't quite set a date yet." Chris answered him.

"He just asked me Thursday night." Said Chey. Her face was glowing with happiness.

"What?" Cupcake was surprised at the sudden news.

"He asked you after the get together Thursday night?" Mike asked her.

He knew he had not heard Chris make any proposal or announcement during the gathering that night.

"Yes. We did have a nice long talk after we got home that night." Then Chey suddenly remembered. "Oh yeah, that's right, we haven't told you our other news yet! We're having a baby."

"What!" Exclaimed all of the others except for Chris.

"Yeah, Chey is expecting." Chris smiled.

They could see the joy on his face and hear it in his voice. Michael envied him. It was something he wished for himself, to find true love and happiness, and to settle down and have some children of his own.

He also knew that Chris and Chey were not the only ones planning to get married and have a baby soon. So were Brandon and Cupcake. He was truly happy for both couples, but he wished it were him.

"Congratulations!" Both Michael and Brandon said at the same time.

"How far along are you?" Cupcake wanted to know.

"About two months." Chey answered.

"You've told Chris already?" LaKara asked.

She already knew about this news. Chey had already told her and a handful of their friends Thursday.

"Yes, Thursday night." Chey's eyes met hers. She did not want Chris to know that she had already told her.

"And you proposed to her the same night." Brandon turned to Chris.

"Right." Said Chris.

"This calls for a celebration man. You're about to become a daddy." Brandon said exuberantly, and he called a waitress over to the table.

A tall, leggy, red head came over to them.

"Yes." Said the Waitress.

"Can we get another bottle of Champagne over here please?" Said Brandon.

"Sure. One bottle of Champagne coming up." She said and then walked off to go get their order.

"Take it easy, Brandon." Said Kara. "I'm still sipping on a glass of brandy here, and I'm not reall that much of a drinker."

"Same here." Said Michael.

He was being very careful not to drink more than he could handle too.

"You two can make an exception just this once for Chris and Chey." Cupcake told them.

Cupcake knew that Michael was not much of a drinker, she didn't really about Kara. However, she didn't think that one more glass of Champagne to celebrate their friend's good news would hurt either one of them.

"Okay." Kara agreed. "But after this, that's it for me tonight. I don't want to get drunk and embarrass myself. I'd like to be able to remember this night when I wake up tomorrow."

"No more for me either." Michael agreed. "I definitely need to keep my head clear."

The last thing in the world he needed was to get drunk and lose control of his senses. The media would have a field day with that. He agreed with LaKara, he definitely wanted to be able to remember every detail of this night. This was their first date. He wanted it to be special.

"Okay, not more drinks for you both tonight." Brandon relented.

In two minutes, the waitress returned with their bottle of Champagne and some fresh glasses. She placed the Champagne and the glasses on the table and cleared away the used glasses. Brandon paid her and she left. Brandon then opened the bottle of champagne with a loud pop and poured everybody a glass. He raised his own glass to make a toast.

"To my boy Chris and to his beautiful wife to be, Chey. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. May your union be a blessed one. In addition, congratulations on your first baby. May this be the beginning of a healthy, happy family for you both. Cheers!"

They all raised their glasses.

"Cheers!" They said, and they all took a sip from their glasses.

"Thank you everybody." Chey said happily.

"Yeah thanks." Chris echoed her sentiments.

"You're welcome. You just better show up at our wedding in June." Cupcake admonished.

"Oh, we will. Even if Chris has to roll me there." Chey said jokingly.

The others laughed at that.

"We'll be there. We just need to decide on a date for our own wedding." Said Chris.

"I will try my best to be there, but I can't guarantee anything until I find out what my manager has planned for me to do in the next few months." Michael told them.

All of his friends knew he could not make any definite plans to do anything until he checked with his manager first. His career kept him busy year around between working with his brothers and his solo projects. He was lucky to have this time now to take a vacation.

"If you come, are you going to bring Kara with you?" Cupcake asked being mischievous.

Michael looked over at LaKara. She smiled at him shyly.

If he had it his way, and everything worked out the way he wanted it to between them, he most certainly would be escorting LaKara to both of their weddings, as his woman. He had definite plans for her, and he was putting them into action starting tonight.

"It's a possibility." He answered Cupcake's question. "We're just going to have to wait and see what the future has in store for us."

He left it at that, giving Kara something to think about. So, they finished their drinks, and they continued to dance some more through a few more songs. They also got up to go mingle with some of their other friends at the other tables. All in all, Michael and Kara enjoyed themselves.