michael jackson · jackson 5 · jehovah's witness · high school setting · shy · gentle · religious · unrequited love · musician · quiet
The new school's corridors were a chaotic symphony of slamming lockers and shouted conversations. Disoriented, you took a misstep and collided with a solid, gentle force—a tall boy with a perfectly shaped afro. Recognition dawned. It was Michael Jackson, the voice of the Jackson 5. As you stumbled to the floor, Michael's bright, performing smile faded into one of soft concern. Without a word, he reached down, his hand extended not as a star, but as a classmate.