Two Love Symbols

~II~

SB:The video doesn't have a whole lot to do with the chapter but I love this so I added it. Watch it if you would like to. But yeah, please enjoy.

-December 6, 1991
-Chanhassen, MN
-Prince's POV

So, I don't know if this is too much or not but I asked if Janet would like to sit in on the stage rehearsal. See, we have this whole schedule where once we got the first 10 songs figured out, we start rehearsing them on stage for a good week. Then we get the next ten songs and rehearse for another week. This continues until we have a complete set list. Then we start perfecting the whole show. Anyway, when I asked her if she wanted to sit in on the rehearsal, she quickly and eagerly said yes. It's not weird or anything because all the dancers are going to be watching this as well so she won't be sitting in the audience all by herself in lonesomeness. I'm not just doing this to get at her but the fact that she is the choreographer, she needs to know everything music wise, timing wise, and space wise. I am just thinking about her time working here. Watching this rehearsal will make her job much easier. The first ten songs we have are:

The First Half of the Diamond and Pearl Tour

1. Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (Introduction)
2. Thunder"
3. Daddy Pop"
4. Diamonds and Pearls"
5. Let's Go Crazy"
6. Kiss"
7. Jughead" (Includes "Dead on It" intro)
8. Purple Rain"
9. Live 4 Love"
10. Willing and Able" (Includes "Lively Up Yourself" intro)

In about ten minutes, at around 7:45, everyone should be walking through that very door. By everyone I mean, NPG, the Game Boyz, Diamond and Pearl, Mayte, Adrianna and Janet. While NPG and I rehearse, they will be taking note of all the musicalities that they need to remember in order to find stamina, togetherness and precise movement. For the time being while I wait, I play a few notes from 'She's Always In My Hair' on my yellow cloud guitar.

When I get halfway through the chords of the first verse, Diamond walks in through the front door wearing a black off the shoulder dress and red heels and her hair is in a bun. This girl really has too many little black dresses. Whatever happened to her good ole fashion jeans and sneakers? I mean I don't own no damn jeans but still. She walks over to me and walks on the stage. I'm sitting on the edge and she kneels down behind me. She starts rubbing my chest up and down and kissing my neck. "Well good morning to you too, Lori." I say as Diamond continues to feel my body.

"You know I hate that name, baby. What's wrong with Diamond?" She whispers in my ear.

I roll my eyes. "I don't want you to get used to the Diamond persona and her lifestyle. It already seems like your letting it go to head and you already know what happened to—"

"Who? Vanity? Oh, my bad. Denise. Look, call me Lori or whatever you want to. But I was thinking that maybe we could do a few things in the back room before everyone starts to show up, if you get what I'm saying." Diamond sensually moans in my ear.

Ever since Denise overdosed back in '82, I try to make sure that what happened to her, won't happen to any other girl I work with. I know it was all my fault. I am the one that turned her on to the whole clubbing nightlife. We went often and it initially led to her use of drugs. And you know why? Because of 'Vanity'. Denise felt that as Vanity, she could do everything that she normally wouldn't and not get ridiculed for it or have it thrown back in her face. I dated Denise because she was like the female version of me. She knew what she wanted and she worked harder everyday to get it. Denise isn't a prissy and stuck up drug addict but Vanity was and it eventually took a toll on her. I'm just glad that Denise is getting back on track in her life now. But I'm not trying to repeat the life that I had with Denise with Lori. She doesn't need that. No one does. "Not right now." I simply say.