The Dance

2

I woke up and had a severe headache from being hungover. Why did I drink last night knowing damned well I can't handle tequila of any kind. I opened my eyes and noticed I wasn't in Charley's spare bedroom at all, but I was looking at myself in the mirror tiles above the bed. I noticed that the spot next to me had wrinkled sheets and bed covers meaning someone was laying next to me at one point. I sat up seeing I was still in my dress and my heels were by the bed...next to another pair of heels, but these heels were different. The front door opened and Prince wrapped in a towel entered the room. "Oh, you're finally awake." He said.

My eyes were wide as he walked in and towards me. "Um...did we...?" "No. You were drunk and possibly drugged, but I haven't figured that part out yet." He walked over to me placed his slightly damp hand on my forehead. "You're not running fever anymore. I bet you're hungover, huh?" He asked me. I nodded. "Not too bad, though. Is this your place?" "Yup." He walked back over to his closet and I saw how skinny he was now. He was definitely smaller than me, and I felt insecure. "You're...are you sick?" I asked him. "No? Why?" "You're so skinny. I've never seen you this skinny before." He grabbed some loose silk pants and slipped them on under his towel before dropping it. The skin he had was now sagging ever so slightly because of his weight loss. "Prince, when was the last time you went to a doctor?" I walked over to him running my fingertips over his ribs causing him to shiver. He grabbed my wrist. "Last week. I'm healthy as can be, I've just got...other problems." I followed him to the bed where he sat down. "Like what?" "The usual stuff, Zanna. I'm fine."

I shook my head in disbelief. "When was the last time you ate?" Prince slipped his right heel on first. "Just a couple of hours ago. I had some cereal." "Promise me you're eating correctly, Prince. I'm serious." While he was getting his other heel on I stroked his hair feeling him relax. I had never known how tense he was until I touched him. Prince stopped trying to get his heel on and looked at me. "I promise I'm okay. I've got problems, but I don't think it's because I'm not healthy." I kept stroking his hair. "Like what?" He seemed embarrassed. "Nothing. Do you need a ride back to Charley's?" He asked as he stood up.

"Yeah, I wanna change before we get coffee, and probably shower. I don't know." I stood and walked to his bathroom hearing him sit on his bed. As I was finishing up using the bathroom, I could hear him on the phone with someone. "Yeah, I know I'm a little late on your track, but...Look, I've got my own things to take care of which includes my own music........Then why don't you mix your own stuff?!" He sounded really irritated, so I slowly walked into the room. This wasn't the most upset I had ever seen him, but it was pretty close. "Fine, I'll see if I can have it done by Sunday. I have service that day, so....." he pulled the phone away from his ear and slammed it down before putting his elbows on his knees.

I frowned. He was still working hard all these years later and now it sounded like he was back to helping other artists again. He has always done that, but this one in particular sounded pushy. I slowly walked over to him to stroke his hair and he picked his head up quickly. "Sorry...are you ready?" He asked. "Yeah." I said quietly before he pulled away and headed downstairs. I put on my heels from last night and followed him out to the car. "How is Charley?" He asked as we got into the back of the car. "She's okay. Just working a lot. I think she's got a boyfriend." He was pressed up against his door as far as he could go and the guy with the glasses from last night got behind the wheel.

"Trae. Take us to Sunset, Zanna here will lead the way when you get there." I smiled softly at Trae who had an extreme poker face going on. Okay, what the fuck is his deal? Trae started driving us and I yawned. "What happened to Tay? I miss him." I said. "I gave Tay'ron a paid vacation, so Trae is filling in for him." Trae seemed a little off because he was so quiet, but maybe he didn't know Prince and I had history. "I was worried about you last night." Prince suddenly said. I blushed. "I was fine. I was just tipsy." Prince shook his head. "I'm gonna make sure Gavin's little brother never comes around my place again." He was being very protective over me.