The Beautiful Katastrophe

(XL) In the Wee Hours...

     "I just think it's a little inappropriate to be talking to you at this hour."

Yeah. Then I remembered when Prince said that exact same thing to Michael.

"I'm not trying to be inappropriate, I swear," he said. "I just want to finish our conversation."

"Where's Kat?"

"She's sleeping with Jill in the other room."

Maylani didn't respond.

"Like I was saying earlier before you disappeared—actually, where did you run off to? Why were you so upset?"

She didn't respond right away. Poor girl wanted to sleep but didn't know how to say 'no' to Prince. "Um, Azzedine asked me to go find Michael because someone told us he was upstairs."

"Michael who?"

"Jackson..."

"He was there?" Prince genuinely sounded shocked.

Maylani cleared her throat. "Yes."

"You guys going together?"

"No."

Prince waited for her to say more but she didn't. "Are you dating Azzedine?"

"Oh, gosh, Prince. No. Did it seem like it?"

Prince laughed.

"Really? Did it?"

"A little."

"Ugh. No. He treats all his models like daughters, actually. And I'm just a muse."

"I see why. You have an amazing shape."

She let out a humored breath. "Thank you."

"I was serious when I said you had an ass like I've never seen."

"Strike one."

"Sorry." I could feel his smile through the phone.

"Plus, that song isn't about me. It's just a song. I had fun dancing with you, though."

"You want me to write a song about you?"

"Strike two."

"For what?" he spat, with a tickle in his voice. "What I do?"

"If your tongue gets slick again, I'm going to hang up."

"I'm going to have to fight you on the last one. An appeal needs to be in order."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

She giggled. "You're welcome."

"Like I was telling you, I think you belong on a stage."

"I've been on a stage I told you."

"But not with me."

"Hmmm..."

Strike two if you ask me.

"Don't even think about it. I'm just saying, it would be different. What kind of stage shows have you done?"

"A few dance competitions and theatre shows..."