Motivation of Memories: The Second Book of the Labors of Love Series

Eruption

Prince's POV

We're back on set and no longer rehearsing for the tour. After my meeting with Mayte we decided to cancel it and allowed anyone with tickets to exchange them for tickets to the next tour.

She drained me that day. All we did was yell and argue. She called the meeting to discuss the items she thinks I owe her. We went down the list and argued about every single item. Shoes she only wore once, the coffee maker we were gifted when we got married, the wedding portrait that hung on the wall in the hallway, even money for any songs I wrote about her.

I was there for hours. We screamed at each other the entire time and our lawyers decided it would be best to do this in parts since we weren't getting anywhere. I told them I didn't want to get a judge involved so it needed to be settled between us. We all agreed to meet every other week until everything was resolved.

That was all a few weeks ago. Our most recent meeting happened yesterday and I'm tired of playing her game. Each meeting she comes in wearing some new expensive outfit Morris bought her. Every outfit is meant to entice me, low cut tops, short skirts, and tight pants. All this to get me to beg her for forgiveness and take her back but I won't. I don't love her anymore.

I arrive on set and everyone is already in work mode. Morris and Jerome are in hair and makeup and Apollonia is going over lines with Brenda in the corner. I look over at Albert who's talking to someone just out of sight when he motions me over.

"I can't get First Avenue for a while so the ladies will have to shoot their performance over at the end of filming. We're only gonna be able to do house scenes for a while. We're setting up for the scenes with your parents now. You've got 45 minutes to be dressed and in that basement." I nod and quickly make my way into my trailer. My team is already here and they get to work immediately.

I didn't feel good about these parent scenes when I first saw the script. The Kid and I have more in common than I'd like to admit, especially now. He's thrown himself into his work to avoid what's going on in his life. So am I. I'm just adding a few women here and there to lighten the load. Once I'm dressed, I make my way back to the house. I grab an apple and some water from the buffet table before heading inside.

Scene after scene is shot. I'm tired of filming and I'm very grateful when we are dismissed for lunch. Today they ordered pizza which should be arriving soon. People pour out of the house and into the backyard. If you didn't see all the filming equipment you'd think we were having some kind of party. People sit talking in chairs and on stoops but somewhere someone is playing music. I say brief greetings making my way through the crowd as I follow the sound. The gentle beat grows louder as I make my way to a garage on the other end of the backyard. I open the door and see Genevieve and The Revolution having some kind of rehearsal.

"What's all this about?" I ask walking in slowly.

"I was running some ideas I had by Wendy. Then, Lisa and Andre came and we started going over moves. They told me some of the stuff from our last rehearsal wasn't clear. So, I grabbed everybody else to answer question and clear things up."

"So y'all having rehearsals without me now?" Most of the band looks at me apologetically but not her.

"You didn't need to be here." She shrugs before putting her hair in a quick ponytail.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I can feel my anger growing as I walk further into the room.

"It means. We don't need you to sing to go over dance steps. Look at them. They don't even have their instruments!" She gestures to them as she approaches me. I look quickly. She's right, they don't but, it's the principal.

"I'm in charge of this group. Y'all don't meet without me."

"Was I supposed to stop the movie because they wanted to ask me questions?"

"You should've waited."

"Okay." She scoffs before walking passed me and heading outside. The band sits in shock and waits for my next move. I turn in my heels, following after her. We need to talk. I walk fast to catch up to her. I lock arms with her and bring her into the house.

"What's your problem?"

"My problem? You want dedicated performers but don't want us to rehearse?"

"We're a group. Why would you rehearse without me in the first place?"

"We aren't conspiring against you! They just had some questions about my choreography."

"I make the rules. Don't let it happen again."

"If I wanted a group I'd make one. I don't have to take yours." Face to face she glares angrily. The depth of her eyes taking over. The dark irises make her face seem heavy with frustration. She walks away from me and heads to the sink to fill up her water bottle.

"You're so inconsistent."

"I'm the same gyal today, yesterday and tomorrow. You're the one who's inconsistent!"

"Oh really?"

"One minute you're begging me to stay with you, to lay next to you. Next, you've got every girl that knows your name in your bed." She turns around leaning on the counter and taking a long sip.

"Is that what this is about? I'm a bachelor again, mama. A free agent."

"Then why do you still wear your ring?" I look down at my left hand and sigh feeling caught. "Face it. You don't know how to be alone and you don't want to admit that you are."

Genevieve's POV

The change in his stance tells me I've struck a nerve. The anger falls from his face as he twists the ring on his finger. I watch him go through several facial expressions, frustration, disbelief, and finally acceptance.

"Y-you're right. I haven't slept in an empty bed so consistently since before I was 15." I furrow my eyebrows as I approach him putting my hand on his shoulder.

"I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm sorry."

"But you're right! I-I need to learn how to be by myself." He turns away from me headed toward the door.

"I-I'm learning too." He turns around to face me now standing in front of the door. "Mamakoko and I did everything together. I feel like...like I'm missing part of me."

"Maybe we could learn together."