The Eye of the Storm - Sequel to The Oncoming Storm

Chapter 7

Prince woke up and noticed Jess wasn't in his arms. He sat up in bed and saw her sitting quietly in front of the mirror, untangling her long black curly hair with his hair brush.

"Is that my shirt your wearing?" he asked in a sleepy voice, noticing the white, low cut shirt that ever so graciously revealed her shoulders.

"It looks enough like a women's shirt," Jess smirked into the mirror, watching Prince's reaction in the reflection.

Prince narrowed his eyes. "It does not look like a women's shirt!" But he knew it kinda did, especially with Jess wearing it.

"Whatever you say, hun!" Jess laughed.

Prince sighed and slowly got out of bed. "Why are you wearing my shirt?" he asked as he looked around the room for his pants.

"Because look at what you did to mine last night." Jess spun around to face Prince and held up a badly ripped piece of fabric that was once her shirt.

"Well that's your fault for wearing such tight little tops," Prince smirked to himself as he found his black pants and slid them on. Then he walked over to Jess and draped his arms around her, planting a soft kiss on her exposed shoulder as she continued brushing her soft hair. "So... now what?" Prince asked, referring to the current status of himself and Jess.

"I think you should go try to find Apollonia today and talk to her," Jess said boldly. She watched a shocked expression paint itself on Prince's face in the reflection of the mirror.

"You're not serious, are you?" he pressed.

"Prince, I told you that I'm always gonna be here for you as a friend no matter what happens, but I know deep in your heart you still love Apollonia, and she still loves you."

"But what about last night? You sure got real friendly with me last night, mama!"

Jess smirked at her reflection. "I call it, friends with benefits!"

"I can't believe this," Prince muttered as he slid his arms off of Jess's shoulders and walked back over to his bed.

"And there will be no more of the 'benefit' part until you figure out if you are still with Apollonia or not!"

Prince knew Jess was serious about this. And he knew she was right, too. He sucked in a breath and said, "Yeah me and Apples definitely aren't together anymore. Did you hear what she said to me yesterday? I've never heard her that mad before."

"Well when people are angry they say things they really don't mean. I bet she's just as confused right now about where your relationship stands as you are. You really need to talk to her about it."

"I don't want to talk to her!" Prince snorted.

Jess rolled her eyes and sighed. "You have the opportunity to maybe make things right between you two. You should never just leave a relationship on bad terms." Jess thought back to how she left Prince when their relationship ended... and she hated the state she left him in... the last things she said to him... "Anyways," she continued, shaking herself from her thoughts, "you have the chance to be the bigger person here and go and right all the wrongs."

"I don't want to be the bigger person!"

"Well damn, Prince, you really don't wish you were a few inches taller?" Jess joked as she struggled to hold back her giggle.

Prince tried to glare at Jess for making such an awful short-person joke, but he could contain his toothy grin. "Why did I ever like you in the first place?" Prince laughed. "Back in high school when I had that huge crush on you, the first words you ever said to me were, 'Damn, you're short, boy!'"

"And you've been head over high-heels for me ever since!" Jess grinned widely, her nose scrunched slightly.

Prince laughed and sat down on his bed. But his smile quickly faded as he looked down at the floor. "So you think it's really a good idea for me to try and talk to Apollonia?"

"Yes, Prince, I really do. Just please remember to hold your temper and do not yell at her... and oh God, no matter what she says, do not threaten to hit her. I've... I've never seen you like that before... and it kinda scared me. You are not your father Prince. You know that."

Hearing the word 'father' sent a tiny jolt of pain running down Prince's spine. He knew Jess was only trying to make a point though. And it's true, Jess had never seen Prince raise his fist at someone before. He'd never ever threatened her before... even though some of their countless fights in the past had gotten pretty nasty, Prince never once raised his fists at Jess. Jess can't say the same, however...

There was that one time... oh Jess can't even remember what that fight was even about... it was a bad one though, one of the last ones they had before Jess finally broke up with Prince... she was just so mad at him and she couldn't contain herself... And she instantly regretted it as soon as it happened... how he looked up at her with fear in his eyes... the same fear he had for his father... Jess has always regretted that day. To her, it may even be worse than the day she was attacked and raped by that tattoo-covered, cheap cigarette-smoking asshole. Though she struggles with her beliefs, she wonders if maybe that was God's way of telling her she should've never hurt Prince. Even though Prince told her she never deserved to be hurt like that by that punk and that she should never ever blame herself or think she deserved it... she can't help but let those thoughts get to her sometimes.

"I won't," said Prince, breaking Jess from her deep thoughts. Jess's mind came back to Earth and she looked at Prince confused. "I won't hit Apples." He clarified. "I've learned my lesson."

"Me too," Jess accidentally said out loud.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, just forget it." Jess looked away from Prince, hiding her eyes from him so he couldn't search her brain.

"You were talking about that one fight we had, weren't you." Apparently he doesn't need to look into her eyes to read her mind. "Come on, Jess, let that go. It didn't even hurt and... I deserved it anyways for being a dick to you."

"No, Prince, you did not deserve it and I'm sorry I ever laid my hands on you like that." Hot tears began to well up in Jess's emerald eyes. "I loved you so much, and I hurt you. That's just not right, and I won't ever forgive myself. You should've just punched me back, right there and then. I would've deserved it. Besides, Mr. Cigarettes taught me my lesson about what if feels like to be on the receiving end."

Prince looked at her with angry eyes. "What did I say about not blaming yourself, Jezebel?! You did NOT deserve to by hurt and violated by that monster! It's not your fault, it will NEVER be your fault, and if I ever see that fucking lowlife ever again I'll blow his goddamn brains out!" Prince's eyes softened and he used his thumb to wipe away Jess's tears. He ran his fingers through her long lush hair and held her close to his chest. "You're the only friend I have left, and I will never let anyone hurt you. I promise you that. Now I'm gonna go try to find Apollonia. You can stay here if you'd like."

"I better not stay, just in case Apollonia would come back here."

"Where will you be if I need you?"

Jess slipped her shoes on and started up the steps. "Oh you know," she winked before pushing open the door and exiting.