After escaping from the home of her crazy soon to be ex-husband...Hope finds herself alone on the streets; surviving on nothing but her wits and the clothes on her back until one day, help comes from an unexpected source...
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May 13, 1989
**Hope POV**
I'm not sure what convinced that it was safe to accept his lunch invitation. Maybe it was the concern in his voice...or was it the gentle look in his amber eyes that did it? Either way, he took advantage of the situation and quickly guided me inside the restaurant doors before I could change my mind.
However once he started making his way toward the counter to place our orders, I froze in place causing him to turn around, catching my gaze with questions in his eyes. "Aren't you going to come up with me to order?"
That's all it took for my nervousness to set back in, drawing my eyes to the ground. I can't let anyone see me. What if word gets back to Damien? I'm never going back to that...I can't...
His continued silence forces me to eventually raise my eyes, meeting his gaze reluctantly before I mumble quietly. "I'll have whatever you're having."
At first the look on his face makes me wonder if he'd even heard me, but then I note a flicker of recognition light his eyes as he offers me a wink and a hint of a nod before turning away to place our orders.
I take that few moments of silence to shuffle to quickly choose a table...one shrouded in shadow, and far away from anyone else lingering in the establishment. I think I should be safe here...
I quickly get settled in before I notice his eyes travelling the restaurant carefully, before he finally zeros in on my location. "What are you doing all the way over there, little mama?" he asks, concern lighting his features as he slowly makes his way to my designated table, a full tray in his hands.
I'm not immediately certain how to answer his innocent question, finding myself playing with my hands as I carefully avoid making eye contact. Eventually my growling stomach betrays me again, effectively ending his quest for answers...at least for the moment.
A soft smile envelopes his face as places the tray on the table before taking his seat. "Well Hope, I hope you like chicken sandwiches, fries, and Diet Coke," he offers as he reaches forward to snag a fry.
That sounds like heaven right about now... not that I'm about to let you know that...
__
After we'd be eating in silence for a few moments, I finally start to feel a little more like my old self. I'm so absorbed in my lunch and our companionable silence that I almost didn't hear his question at first.
I only just managed to hear a muffled sounding, "So you're a southern girl, huh?", his eyes meeting mine as he swallows the last bite of his sandwich while balling up the wrapper at tossing it toward the trash, where it landed directly inside. Well that's good for two points... How on earth do I answer his question...it's not like I can actually tell him anything...
Ultimately I decide to simply meet his eyes warily, going with a simple nod in the hopes that will be enough to settle his curiosity.
"I thought so...whereabouts?" he asks, eyes twinkling. "No wait, let me guess...Louisiana," he guesses blindly.
He quickly notices my lack of expression, and realizes he's missed the mark. "So that's not it, huh?" he inquires teasingly, as my cheeks start to turn ruddy at his obvious playfulness. So that's how you want to play this. I'm just gonna sit here and let you guess yourself out mister...
He places his finger under his chin, eyes roving over my face with a childlike expression. "I've got it..." he continues teasingly. "Alabama! I played a few shows there and I'd know a 'bama girl anywhere," he finishes with a wink.
My eyes drop to the table as I feel a mixture of nervousness and bashfulness at his playful nature, slowly shaking my head in the negative.
"So that's not it either..." he offers with chagrin. "I really thought I had it that time too. How about one more guess, and then I'll let it go. How's that sound?" he continues with a gleam in his eye in his eagerness to rise to this challenge.
"And if I don't get it this time, I'll even buy you dessert. How does that sound?" he finishes in an attempt to sweeten the deal.
If he hasn't gotten it by now...he's probably not going to. I'm just about home free here...and I could use some dessert...
My voice comes out wavering more than I expected, but an almost inaudible, "Okay..." manages to work its way past my throat.
His eyes light up in response, and a pensive look comes over his face..."Now let me see...if you're not from Louisiana, and you're not from Alabama..." His eyes catch mine at this before taking on a faraway look for a few moments. "Then you must be from...."
At this point, I'm starting to get a little nervous, his hand gesturing in an 'it's right on the tip of my tongue' sort of way, as he continues to think.
Just when I think I might finally be home free and I'm deliberating my dessert options, his voice cuts in as though in a Eureka moment, "....Texas!" Crap! It looks like I can kiss that dessert goodbye...
But then my hope is restored when he keeps muttering to himself..."No that can't be it. It's Georgia isn't it?" he asks eagerly. "I bet it's Georgia!" he eventually exclaims in childish glee. Oh thank god...that was a close one!
"Is that your final answer?" I ask with a smirk, eyes dancing as I feel relief overtaking me.
"You mean to tell me I didn't get it?" he asks with a pout, which sends me on a first class giggle fit. Looks like it's Hope-1, Prince-0. Sounds like I'm getting that dessert after all...
__
Once we've finished up with the rest of our lunch, I start considering all the delicious dessert options this place has to offer.
Prince graciously gets up and disposes of our trash, as all the possibilities I could order start dancing through my head...and I start to drool just thinking about it, a wistful look overtaking my face just as he makes his way back to the table.
He meets my eyes with a crooked grin. "Well someone looks ready for dessert," he asks teasingly. "What'll be, Hope?"
"Uhh..." I start hesitantly. There are so many options.... "I want a hot fudge sundae." I blurt out excitedly, looking like a kid in a candy store.
He offers me a gentle nod before turning toward the counter, presumably to place the order.
"No wait!" I babble nonsensically, frantic looking. He turns around and meets my gaze with a smirk. "Make it an apple pie!"
"Are you sure this time, little mama?" he asks with a devilish grin. Ahhh...now I see how it is...
"Actually..." I begin haltingly, a twinkle in my eye. How on earth can I possibly choose...?
However before I can even start to get my thoughts together I hear his soft voice toss out teasingly, "You know Hope...I know I promised you dessert. What I didn't promise is that we'd be having it here..."
What?!
**Author's Note: Where does everyone think Prince is planning to take Hope? Will she agree to go? I'm curious to see everyone's theories here...;) And as usual, I've got lots of things on the go...the last chapter of Musical Chairs should be released in just days. What does the future hold for Prince & Harmony? Only time will tell. Also working on another project I'm going to release soon. Lots to look forward too in 2017. :D **
