As the bell's chime marked the end of the school day, Prince invited me and my friends, Cynthia and Kim, to come hang out with him and his crew at Andre's house. We eagerly accepted, excitement quickening our steps as we made our way to the basement. We were greeted by the casual camaraderie of Morris, Terry, and Dez, already at ease as they sprawled out and lounged around.
As we settled in, the temperature in the room seemed to rise, the excitement and anticipation of the game of truth or dare infusing the atmosphere with an electric energy.
"Alright, Jackie...truth or dare?" Morris asked, his eyes flickering with mischief.
I hesitated for a moment, sensing a mix of nerves and anticipation building within me.
"Dare," I said finally, my voice tinged with both trepidation and curiosity.
A sly grin spread upon his lips. "I dare you to kiss Prince."
A flush crept onto my cheeks as my gaze shifted to Prince, my heart doing an intricate dance. My feelings for Prince were known to me, I hesitated. I really didn't want to jeopardize the equilibrium of our friendship.
Prince responded with a reassuring smile, his eyes a calming presence. "It's okay," he murmured gently, his fingers reaching to touch mine in a comforting gesture. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
A surge of gratitude coursed through me. I appreciated his unspoken support, his respect for my comfort zone.
Still, my thoughts swirled. I didn't want to kiss him.
But, I didn't want to wiggle out of the dare completely. I glanced down at our linked hands, lifting his to my lips. I pressed a gentle kiss onto his palm, leaving a faint trace of pink lipgloss behind.
A surprised flicker crossed Prince's eyes, soon replaced by an appreciative grin. "Smooth," he praised in a hushed tone, followed by a rich and warm chuckle.
Laughter bubbled from me, a mixture of relief, victory and amusement as Morris shot me a chagrined look.
"I kissed him, didn't I?" I retorted teasingly, lifting my eyebrow expectantly in a playful challenge.
He rolled his eyes, a begrudging grin tugging at his lips. "Fine, fine," he relented, his exasperation only a thin veneer over his amusement.
The game continued, the dares and truths progressively more daring and revealing. In the midst of it all, the bond between Prince and his friends merged seamlessly with me and mine.
In due time, the spotlight swung back to me, the momentum of the game turning my way.
"Truth or dare?"
I shifted my attention to my right, noticing the question slipped effortlessly from Prince's lips, weaving through the air like a soft melody.
I felt a sense of nervousness wash over me, knowing that Prince's question was bound to be more intimate, to cut deeper than the usual surface-level questions. But I also felt a sense of excitement building within me, curious to see what he would ask.
"Truth," I said finally, my voice carrying around the room with curiosity and anticipation.
Prince leaned in, his gaze a comforting anchor. "What's something you've always wanted to do, but never had the courage to try?" His question hung in the air, its gentle challenge seeming to ignite a spark of curiosity within me.
A soft smile graced my lips, my heart racing with both exhilaration and vulnerability. It was an invitation to explore the depths of my own desires and fears, to unearth a part of myself that I had never dared to speak out loud before. He wanted to see the dreams that had been nurtured in the quiet corners of my heart.
"I don't know," I began, my voice a tender confession. "I love playing music for sure, but I think I like listening more. People always tell me I have an ear for it. Every time we drive past the radio station, there's this urge to walk in and ask them to give me a chance... I'd love to DJ a set. Even if I'm spinning tracks at 3 AM, when no one's listening but the owls."
Prince's reaction was an intricate dance of surprise and admiration, his lips curving into a small smile. "That's incredible," he affirmed softly, his words laden with understanding and encouragement. "You should definitely go for it. And I promise, I'd listen."
A rush of warmth swept over me, as if his words were a soothing balm. With Prince, it felt as if I could unearth my truest self, without the fear of judgment. His unwavering support had a way of making my aspirations seem less daunting, more attainable, as if he saw beyond the surface and into the depths of my ambitions.
