Author's Note: I've uploaded the extended version of "When Doves Cry" to fit the chapter. As a disclaimer, this idea is 100% fictional. Regardless, enjoy!
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1983 – California
KIM
I guess you know me well, I don't like winter.
But you seem to get a kick out of doing me cold.
Oh, what the hell, you always surrender.
What's this strange relationship that we hold on to?
Baby, I just can't stand to see you happy.
More than that I hate to see you sad.
Honey, if you left me I just might do something rash.
What's this strange relationship? (ship, ship, ship)...
Breaking the news to quit that nightclub wasn't easy. Mom begged me to come back home. Dad offered his lecture once again. Gail shed more tears. But I wouldn't leave yet. Right now, I sat at the keyboard in this recording booth and jammed. Across that glass, two engineers nodded along with the biggest smiles. I understood that joy in one way or another. By the time, I finished the entire song, these men cheered out loud. I blushed for once and jokingly bowed after rising from my chair.
Just as I removed the headphones from my curly hair, someone walked in. Prince shook hands with my two engineers and sat right down at the mixing board. I almost hurried out of the recording booth to see this man. Even though he "dated" Brenda now, the smile on his face proved genuine. Prince then stood and opened both arms to embrace me. We rocked back and forth in this dimly light room. As if I hadn't seen the man in years. "
I've read so much about you in the papers. Play something for me, Keys." Prince almost laughed to himself. I quickly remembered the short-lived nickname that rolled off his tongue now. I shook my head for the millionth time. The engineers in this room gladly complied with his request, but Prince stopped the men from even touching that mix-board again. I took
I took a seat at the synthesizer this time and cued up a nearby drum machine. Prince wanted me to give authenticity now. My mind decided to play another song altogether. Prince nodded along while listening. The engineers once again smiled without hesitation. My curly hair almost bounced with every rhythm.
Thoughts soon churned with memories of Prince. I scribbled lyrics soon after he left my side, but hadn't expressed the feelings in song until now. Previously, I'd wanted to hide any attachment to that man, but his charm pulled in me like a magnet. I'd never forget. For a moment in time, he was mine.
Dig if you will the picture?
Of you and I engaged in a kiss.
The sweat of your body covers me.
Can you my darling?
Can you picture this?
Dream if you can a courtyard.
An ocean of violets in bloom.
Animals strike curious poses.
They feel the heat.
The heat between me and you.
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold?
Maybe I'm just too demanding.
Maybe you're just like my father, too bold.
Maybe I'm just like my mother.
She's never satisfied.
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like.
When doves cry...
"I need an electric guitar! Now!" Prince shouted from across the glass. He wasn't even playing around now. I tossed my head laughing when one of the engineers gifted him with a nearby and securely hanging instrument. An amplifier also cornered the room, but I'd never used it. We left it at bay, but maintained this tool for other supporting musicians. This guitar also shaped into an odd circle. Its spokes pointed upward, nearly resembling devil horns. We called it the "cloud." Its ivory shade glowed underneath dim lights of this same room.
Before long Skipper plugged in, A scale of shredding and uphill chords followed. It took his one nod for me to cue up my keyboards again. After several tries, we found our rhythms. I hoped to sing the second "verse" of my emotional journal scribbles. The engineers dropped jaw without hesitation. I closed my eyes while fitting back more than tears. My voice now pleaded in song once more.
Touch if you will, my stomach.
Feel how it trembles inside.
You've got the butterflies all tied up.
Don't make me chase you.
Even doves have pride...
Near the midway stretch, I vocally screamed in time with those chords. Prince continued shredding right across me. I couldn't even help tearing up more when this man harmonized with me. I'd waited for a moment like this for my entire life. Michael would never sing with me back at Epic.
By the time Prince and I ended together, my voice completely fried. I cried in another rocking embrace. The engineers Even Prince looked at me with watered eyes. We never usually expressed emotion like this, but this moment seemed too dreamlike. Right now, there was only us. When Prince and I pulled away, he kissed the top of my head and subtly bid farewell to those engineers. The door creaked shut.
__
I couldn't call Michael back. I wanted my Skipper again. One of his "girls" back then spilled that he every so often visited one of those high-end condominiums in the area. Everything from the entry to foyer resembled an over-the-top hotel, though. Even outside the window, night called for distant lights to gleam with numerous colors.
I glanced upward in the lobby and noticed a beautiful glass chandelier. Near the reception, I soon noticed that Prince donned rounded glasses to "hide" and scribbled information before walking off. One of several bodyguards nodded to his presence as this man before standing up straight once more.
Prince strutted toward an elevator without even looking back. As if he'd been here countless times before. I rushed toward his direction before the silver doors even closed. Other well-known faces passed, but I ignored those people for once. At that point, Skip almost jumped after recognizing me.
"Whoa! You scared me, Kay. What are you doing here?" Prince held onto his heart. I understood his fright in one way or another. We did just scramble to see each other in this crowded location. Still, I wouldn't explain how I found him. As wild as Skipper had been back then, I still didn't want to cause drama and kept things private.
"I've been looking for you and we don't hang at my place anymore, so here we are, I guess..." I almost shrugged off the words. Prince poked out his adorable lip, but hesitated otherwise. His next response left a pang in my heart for once. One suited millionaire passed by. I faked a smile.
"Oh. Well, sorry. We can't talk right now. I'm surprising Mo with a date tonight and it's almost 8. I'm in a hurry, Keys. Sorry." Prince apologized twice just before pressing the tenth-floor key. Regarding the woman, he'd reffered to Brenda's accent nickname. I simply waited between beeps of awkward silence. I'd leave, but didn't muster up enough courage to press the first-level button after Skip. He lowered eyes with the most adorable smile for some reason to be honest, I missed that smile.
When that tenth bell chimed, Prince stepped his heels right out. The elevator chimed open. Just when I planned to push my own button, shouted words rattled my core. I didn't know what to think at this point. My eyes even widened by now. Anything could've happened since I couldn't view more.
"What the hell?!" Prince yelled from inside his location.
