The Eye of the Storm - Sequel to The Oncoming Storm

Chapter 24

Prince hardly even slept that night. His mind was racing at a mile a minute. As he laid in Jess's small bed... a bed too small for two people... he couldn't seem to find a way to make his brain shut off. His inner turmoil eating away at him and he restlessly rolled over onto his other side, careful not to wake up Jess though.

"What was I thinking challenging Morris? I'm so screwed. He's gonna kick my ass for the last time and take away everything I have left."

Then Prince rolled back over to face his sleeping girlfriend. Her green eyes hidden under her closed eyelids. Her long lashes rested delicately against her cheekbones and her soft features so tranquil in her deep sleep. Her breathing was silent through her slightly parted supple lips. She was so beautiful even when she wasn't trying to be. A smile formed over Prince's lips as he studied her quietly with his glowing amber eyes. Very gently, he tucked away a strand of her long curly black hair behind her ear.

"Well, there's one thing Morris can never take away from me."

Prince's smile grew wider as he gently feathered his fingertips over Jess's cheek. Then he gingerly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body close to his. She instinctively laid her head against Prince's muscular chest and entangled her legs with his. He pulled the blanket over both of them and held her tightly against him as he felt himself finally beginning to drift off to sleep.

"No one can ever take her away from me."

...

Today's the day. The day Prince has to face both his inner and external demons. The day he either wins his club back, or starts leafing through the yellow pages looking for some meaningless job. As he sat on the edge of the empty stage holding his telecaster, looking out into the empty floor space of the club, he had never before felt so small. So insignificant. How the hell is he supposed to generate a bigger crowd than Morris all on his own? It's bad enough already that the Pandemonium holds more people than the Glam Slam. All Prince could do was hope for another miracle at this point.

A knock on the front door of the club broke Prince from his silent thoughts. He set down his old guitar and jumped down from the stage to go unlock the front door. "Don't you have the spare key to this place? You know you can just let yourself in," Prince chuckled to the shivering Jezebel, blocking her from entering.

Jess shoved Prince out of the doorway and made her way inside the club and out of the freezing cold. "You have the spare key, smallfry!" she teased. "It's the one you have in your hand right now."

"Oh shit, yeah I forgot about that," Prince laughed looking down at his key.

"Dumbass."

"Hey! Be nice or I'll throw your ass back out in the cold!"

"You wouldn't dare!" tempted Jess.

"Watch me," Prince smiled wickedly. And with that, he scoop Jess up in his arms and carried her back towards the door, pretending like he was gonna throw her out in the snow.

"Okay okay! You're not a dumbass, I'm sorry!" begged Jess through her laughter.

Prince set her back down on her feet, and she smirked deviously at Prince before punching him in the shoulder hard and then walking away.

"Oww! What was that for!?" glared Prince.

"Just because!" giggled Jess.