Chapter 14,

April 13, 2007,

We've been here in Las Vegas for about two months now and just moved into a rental house a week and a half پہلے because we had been living in a hotel. AEG entertainment division is paying all our bills until we get moving on the whole "Michael Jackson hotel" as planned last year.

It was 12 o'clock at night and I was wide awake because I had taken a nap earlier. I looked out the window and walked back and forth. I کہا to myself "this is so boring, I need something to do!" I looked back out the window and then looked at my bedroom door. I walked out of my room and down the hall to peek into dad's bedroom. He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open and snoring. I gently shut his bedroom door so he wouldn't wake up and went back into my bedroom. I looked at the rhinestone studded mask that was laying on a chair and then I went to my closet so I could change out of my pajamas.

I got dressed in a pair of jeans that were ripped at the knees and a Kobe Bryant باسکٹ, باسکٹ بال jersey. I kicked off my slippers and put on my sneakers that I wear when I go skateboarding. I put on my LA Lakers hat; facing backwards like usual I grabbed my skateboard that was leaning up against the wall. I remove my hat because I decided to see if my fohawk was looking okay. I took one last look at the mask and shook my head to snap myself out of it.

I walked downstairs and snuck into the basement because I didn't want the security guards to notice me on the cameras. I knew that if I was going to be able to sneak out of the house than that was the way because that door could only be opened from the inside so there was no reason for there to be security cameras in that area. This is my first time ever attempting to sneak out of the house and I was not about to let my nerves get to me!

The moment I shut the door to the back gate, I took a sigh of relief and booked it down the سٹریٹ, گلی because I didn't want to leave time for someone to notice me. Once I knew I was a far enough distance away so no one would suspect that I was gone, I stopped to catch my breath. I drop my skateboard down and climbed onto it. I revved up speed with my foot and started skating down the hill.

I had skated all the way down to the beginning of the Vegas strip but; I knew that if I went beyond that point I would for sure be caught because minors aren't allowed because of various reasons. I turned back to go back the way I came and saw another street. I decided that I would go down there to see what was on the other side.

When I got to the end of the سٹریٹ, گلی there was a group of kids roughly around my age I'm guessing and they were spray painting the side of a building. One of the guys turned around and noticed me. He کہا "you better not snitch on us dude!" I'm assuming that he thought I was a guy because of the way I dress but; it doesn't bother me! I've dressed in boys clothing since I was two years old!

I decided that I should get out of there because I didn’t know what this boy would say یا do next. There was a boy standing اگلے to him with shaggy hair (pretty much like a Justin Bieber style haircut) who کہا "whoa; chill man! آپ know that's a girl; right?" He quickly smiled at me and flipped his hair. I barely smiled at him as I skated away. I did a few skateboard moves and I could hear him say to his friend "I've never seen a girl who can skateboard like that!" As I skated home, I couldn't get that boy off my mind!

May 4, 2007,

I was upstairs in my room sleeping and it was one in the afternoon. Now that am 13 years old I like to spend my time during the دن sleeping like most teenagers do. Dad came into my room and flickered the light on and off. He کہا "come on AJ; it's time to get up!" I covered my head with my تکیا and rolled over. I was laying on my stomach when he came over and patted me on the back. He کہا "come on; wake up kid!" I groaned "no; I'm tired still!" He کہا "you wouldn't be so tired if آپ didn't stay up till 4 AM playing video games." I کہا "I had to unlock a certain achievement before I could save the game! یا else I would've had to keep the Xbox on all night long and it would've overheated!"

Dad tickled my feet and I کہا "stop it; I'm trying to sleep!" He moved the تکیا off of my face and continued to tickle my bare feet that were sticking out of the bottom of my comforter. I turned my head away as I started smile and laugh. He asked while giggling "is that a smile I see; right there?" I put the تکیا over my feet and he asked "do آپ want me to pour water on you?" I didn't answer him because I thought he was joking and got back into a comfortable position.

He came back into the room but; I didn't really hear him because I was falling back asleep. The اگلے thing I knew; dad threw a tall glass of ice cold water on my head. I point my eyes and spit water out of my mouth. He laughed and کہا "that must have woken آپ up!" I was going to get mad at him but; then I paused and started cracking up! I کہا as I stood up "oh; آپ asked for it now!" He ran for it and I chased him down the stairs with a sharpie marker in my hand. Dad کہا while laughing "Alanna no; I have a meeting later; no!"

I saw that Prince was standing there and I کہا "Prince; hold his arms down so I can draw a mustache on his face!" Prince held dad's arms down so he couldn't swat the marker away and I drew a dark handlebar mustache under his nose with the permanent marker! Dad couldn't help but laugh as he stared at the mustache in the reflection on the microwave. I کہا "throw water on me again and see what happens!" He messed up my hair and asked while chuckling "what am I going to do with آپ AJ?" I can only imagine the awkward looks he got from the AEG executives today at his meeting when he showed up with a sharpie mustache on his face!

June 11, 2007,

Since I was able to sneak out of the house a few weeks پہلے without getting caught I thought I would do it again tonight because there's nothing better to do here. I did the exact same thing that I had done last time to get out of the house and then started skating down the سٹریٹ, گلی on my skateboard. I went back down the alley way and once again; the same group of guys was spray painting the same building. I didn't say anything at first and then the shaggy haired boy threw an empty spray paint can behind him.

I picked up the empty can and slowly walked up behind them. I tapped his shoulder and he turned around. He looked shocked to see me and کہا "hey; you're the girl that can skateboard!" I passed him the can of spray paint and he looked at me confused as he asked "what are آپ giving me this for? It's empty." I rolled my eyes and کہا "you shouldn't litter! It's bad for the earth!" He looked at me feeling guilty and کہا "oh yeah; I didn't think about that part." He looked down at my skateboard and asked "so… آپ can shred?" I کہا "yeah; I'm pretty good I guess." He looked at his friend and کہا "you should come down to the سکیٹ park with us tonight! They just opened it a few weeks ago, it's really sick!" I hesitated to say "um… I don't.... آپ know what; I'll go with آپ guys!"

As we walked down the street, the four boys and I started talking. I looked at the shaggy haired boy and asked "so; what's your name?" He کہا "Damien Hayes and yours is?" I کہا "AJ." He asked "what's that short for?" I کہا "Alanna" and he asked "what the J stand for?" I kind of panicked inside because I knew that things would be totally different if I told him that the J stood for Jackson! For starters I didn't want him to treat me differently because of who my father is and secondly, I didn't want dad to find out that I have been sneaking out of the house. I کہا "Jamie" and he کہا "oh; I wasn't expecting that to be your name." He pointed to each one of his دوستوں and کہا "this is Colton, Brandon, Chase, and Sketch. Don't worry; Sketch isn't his real name." I gave him a confused look and asked "why do آپ guys call him Sketch?" Damien کہا "because he draws all the outlines for the buildings we spray paint." I کہا "oh" as we walked into the entrance of the سکیٹ park.

My jaw dropped as soon as I saw how awesome this سکیٹ park was! There must've been over 50 different ramps and railings! I looked at Damien and کہا "wow, آپ weren't kidding when آپ کہا this place is sick!" He کہا "dude, you've got to دکھائیں me what you've got!" I کہا "okay" as I got on my skateboard and slid down a railing in between two staircases. Then I went over to a tunnel and skated through it, doing a few flips at the end. He کہا "I can honestly say that I've never seen a girl skateboard as well as آپ can! Come to think of it; I don't think I've ever seen a girl skateboard until now; other than on TV that is."

I skated with all the guys for a while and then Damien and I broke off from the group. He asked "do آپ want to get something to snack on at the convenience store a few blocks away from here?" I کہا "sure" because all this skateboarding made me really hungry. He looked at his دوستوں and کہا "we'll be right back guys; we’re going to get something to eat." Colton کہا "bring me back some…" Damien looked at him and jokingly کہا "no way man! What do آپ think I am; a waiter?" With that just Damien and I left the سکیٹ park to head for the store.

The two of us slowly made our way back from the store after I had gotten chips and a blue Gatorade. He had gotten some sort of energy drink and a king size pack of مونگفلی, مونگ پھلی مکھن cups. We left the store and sat down at a picnic میز, جدول in a gazebo. He asked "so; how old are you?" I کہا as I opened my bag of chips "I turned 13 in March, how about you?" He کہا "I'll be 15 this year." He asked "so, did آپ just recently اقدام to Vegas?" I کہا "yeah; my dad moved us out of here for work." He asked "do آپ have any brothers یا sisters? I have a sister named Raven, she's nine and she is really annoying!" I کہا "yeah; I have two brothers and a sister. Mine are really annoying too; so I understand how آپ feel!" He asked "what about your mom?" I کہا "I know I have a mom but; I don't know who she is yet." He کہا "my dad doesn't live with us either. He left right after my sister was born and we haven't seen him since. My guess is that he's gotten himself in trouble and is locked up somewhere." I asked "what time is it?" Damien looked down at his watch and کہا "one in the morning; why?" I کہا "damn; I should probably get ہوم just in case my dad decides to wake up and check on me!" Damien کہا as I got up from the picnic bench "you snuck out of the house?" I کہا "yup" and threw my empty chip bag in the trashcan اگلے to me. As I ran down the street, Damien yelled "sneak out tomorrow and meet us at the سکیٹ park so we can hang out again!" I shouted back "I will" as I dropped my skateboard to the ground and skated off into the distance.

August 10, 2007,

Over the past few weeks, I've snuck out of the house every single night to hang out with Damien and the other guys. I find it really funny that dad hasn't caught me yet because he's really hard to fool. I'm starting to get really confident that he won't ever catch me! During the دن actually; my behavior hasn't been as bad as it usually is and dad loves that. My grades have improved a lot and I think he's let his guard down.

We were all sitting in the living room watching TV in the afternoon and dad کہا "you know AJ; I've been meaning to tell آپ that I'm really impressed سے طرف کی your behavior lately! I mean; I haven't had to put آپ on punishment in over a ماہ and for آپ that's a new record!" I کہا "thanks" while desperately holding back a smile because of how clueless he is! I asked "can I ask آپ a hypothetical سوال dad?" He کہا "sure; go ahead!" I کہا "would it be awkward for a 13-year-old to تاریخ a 15-year-old? Keep in mind that this is purely out of curiosity because I was watching a movie where an older guy was dating a younger girl." He کہا "no; I guess it wouldn't be that weird just as long as the guy treats the girl with respect. What movie was this from?" I کہا "I can't remember, I caught a glimpse of it when I was flipping through the channels." He کہا "oh okay; I was just wondering" and brushed it off.

August 12, 2007,

I was just arriving at the سکیٹ park when I spotted the guys. I ran up to them with my skateboard in my hand and کہا "hey guys!" Damien immediately got excited and کہا "hey; I was worried آپ wouldn't دکھائیں up!" Brandon joked "why? AJ always comes here at 11. Why are آپ so excited man?" Damien quickly punched him in the crotch and کہا "cup check!" We all burst out laughing as Brandon fell to the ground groaning in pain.

The اگلے thing I know; Damien's cell phone started ringing and he picked it up. He کہا as he talked to the person on the other end of the call "why? Do I have to? She's so annoying! Can't آپ just switch shifts with one of your coworkers? Well; can I at least bring one of my دوستوں ہوم to sit there with me until آپ get back? Okay; thanks… I'll be there in 15 minutes!" I asked confused "who was that?" He کہا "that was my mom and she کہا I have to go ہوم to watch my sister while she is doing a night shift at the hospital that she works in." I کہا "oh; that sucks!" He کہا while smiling "not exactly." I asked "what do آپ mean?" He کہا "she کہا that I could invite a friend over to hang out with me until she gets back and I wanted to know if آپ wanted to come with me for about three hours?" I was shocked that he wanted to hang out with me but; I کہا "hell yeah I will!" We waved goodbye to the other guys and started walking to his house.

About 10 منٹ later, we showed up at this average sized modern ہوم and Damien took out his house keys so he could open up the door. We both walked inside and there was a brown haired woman standing at the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ counter. Damien کہا "mom; this is my friend AJ! She's a tomboy and an awesome skateboarder!" His mom shook my hand and کہا "nice to meet you! My name is Kate. I have to leave now and don't forget to make sure that آپ two are quite because Raven is sleeping upstairs!" Damien rolled his eyes and کہا "I know mom!" His mother left carrying her car keys in her hands.

I followed him into the living room and he turned on the TV. He looked over at me and stared at my hat. He کہا "I just noticed that I haven't seen آپ without a hat on before!" He started tugging at my hat and then pulled it off my head. He کہا "I didn't know that آپ have blonde hair یا a mohawk!" I laughed and کہا "it's not a mohawk; it's a fauxhawk!" He کہا "so what? It's pretty much the same thing!" We joked back and forth about how one another were correct and then he turned on the Nintendo Wii that was set up اگلے to the TV.

Damien started up a bowling game and passed me a controller. We played two games; I won the first and he won the second. I کہا "we have to do a tiebreaker now to see who actually wins!" He looked at me with a gleam in his eye and کہا "alright; but do آپ want to make this مزید interesting?" I raised my eyebrows and asked "in what way?" He کہا "loser kisses the winner." I کہا "sure" and he started a new game.

I have to admit that I was hoping and praying that I would win because I didn't want to make the first move. I think we both knew سے طرف کی now that the two of us had crushes on each other but; when he کہا that; it definitely caught me off-guard. I've never really kissed a guy before but; I wasn't about to let Damien find that out! I was determined to win and nothing was going to get in my way!

After about 20 منٹ of playing, I had the last اقدام and the two of us have the exact same score. I rolled my last ball and just as I thought I was going to lose; the last bowling pin toppled over! Damien looked at the screen in shock and laughed as he کہا "that is such bullshit!" I کہا "oh my God; I can't believe I won سے طرف کی two points!" He turned the game off and walked up to me. He asked "are آپ ready for this?" I کہا "yeah" and he moved closer. One good thing about me being Michael Jackson's daughter is the fact that I'm really tall, only a few inches shorter than Damien. He looked down and started kissing me. I think he wanted to make out but; I didn't pick up on that until afterwards when I pulled away. We both looked at each other awkwardly while blushing and I کہا just as his mom got ہوم from work "I better go now; it's getting late! I'll see آپ tomorrow I guess." He cleared his throat and کہا "okay; thanks for hanging out with me!" With that; I grabbed my skateboard, waved goodbye to Kate, and started to head home.

I quietly snuck up to my bedroom and shut my bedroom door. I put my pajamas on and flopped down on my bed. I lay there staring at the ceiling and کہا to myself "I can't believe I kissed him, wait yes I can! He’s really hot! I just had my first kiss!" I started giggling like a giddy schoolgirl and had to stop so I didn't accidentally wake anyone up. The weird thing was, I think I wanted to make out with him too… Now that I think about it. That felt right and I really want to kiss him again! Oh my God; is this really happening!!! I know no matter what happens; dad can't find out because I'm not supposed to be dating anyone until I turn 16!

August 13, 2007,

I came downstairs for breakfast and sat down at the میز, جدول with my siblings and dad. He کہا while I sat there still kind of in shock from what happened last night with Damien "why are آپ so red?" I کہا trying to come up with a decent excuse "oh; I was just staring at my Jesse McCartney posters again!" Dad laughed and asked "are آپ ever going to get over that guy? You've liked him since آپ were 10 years old and now you're 13." I کہا while laughing along with him "no; probably not!" I got up from my نشست and کہا "I'm going to go clean my room because there are magazine clippings of Jesse McCartney all over the floor and I have some new posters to hang up." He looked at me in shock and asked "did آپ just say that آپ were going to clean your room without me asking you? Are آپ feeling okay? What happened to my daughter?" I کہا "what's the matter? I can't be good for a change?"

September 2, 2007,

I walked up to Damien right after I got to the سکیٹ Park and I asked "can I talk to آپ alone for a while?" He seemed excited and کہا "yeah; sure!" I pointed toward the skateboard tunnel and we walked over there. We both sat down inside it and he کہا "I think I know what آپ want to talk about!" I کہا "we haven't talked about that kiss since it happened and I think it's time we do." He کہا "I want آپ to be honest with me; was that your first kiss?" I asked while smiling "how did آپ know?" He کہا "it was pretty obvious because I was nowhere near done kissing آپ when آپ pulled away!" I laughed and کہا "I had no idea what I was doing! He laughed and we both looked at each other seeming to know what the other was thinking.

Damien cleared his throat and asked "so; did the kiss feel as right for آپ as it did for me?" I کہا "of course it did! I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards!" He کہا "me either; so does this mean آپ and I are dating now?" I کہا "yeah; that sounds good to me! I want to make up for that crappy first kiss!" He کہا "okay but; don't forget not to pull away this time!"

We were making out for almost a half گھنٹہ when he stopped and asked "when can I meet your dad?" I totally forgot about that and I knew it wasn't a good idea because I'm not even supposed to be out of the house right now; let alone having a secret boyfriend! I کہا "wait; because I'm only 13 I don't want to jump into things too quickly! I don't mind making out with آپ یا going on dates but; until I turn 14 sex is out of the question!" He کہا "I completely understand and just so آپ know; I'm still a virgin." I was surprised and asked "really?" He کہا "I wouldn't lie to you!" He quickly changed the subject back to my dad and asked "when am I going to meet your dad because you've already met my mom?" I کہا "we're going to have to keep things between us for now because I'm not supposed to be dating for another three years." He کہا "I don't want آپ to get in trouble just because آپ want to تاریخ me!" I stood up and laughed as I کہا "please; آپ should know سے طرف کی now that being in trouble doesn't phase me at all!"