Author's Note: Happy chapter alert! I've also uploaded a performance to set the scene. To "hear" Kimberly shine, watch (6:27-6:41 and 7:21-7:36). For the "Brenda and Prince Reunion" watch (8:54-9:38), and to hear Kay finish off the performance with her glorious keyboard, watch (12:05-13:01). This idea is 100% fictional. Otherwise, enjoy.
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1984 – "Purple Rain" Tour
KIM
We hit the road before Thanksgiving. I've never felt so liberated. Every bit of drama and sadness I met earlier in life vanished when the rhythms started. Every single concert blew me away. Prince gave everyone a chance to shine and even grooved with some of us time and time again. I could play in this band forever if even humanly possible. It wasn't long before my heart just burst. As of late, Brenda unplugged from the entire world after that medical tragedy. We replaced the choreographer and even I felt strange for a few months. Then one night, everything changed.
During "Baby I'm A Star," Prince once again tore up that damn stage. At his call, I threw down one musical accent after another. The crowd screamed feverishly without hesitation as he sweated near the microphone, offering trademark falsetto. Behind the keyboard, I almost shouted to encourage him with my own voice. Yet, my waiting allowed him to just exist in the moment.
When the band finally kicked back in and Shelia reached her percussion solo, Skip voiced for the crowd to howl and chant like dogs. I laughed out loud beside Fink, but still concentrated on my rhythms. Losing traction would've ruined the entire point of this intense musical breakdown. Several audience whoops later, Skip "called to God" once more. Only this time, I heard two voices instead.
Brenda shuffled from behind the scenes and appeared onstage like a badass.
I jumped with tears while playing my keyboard at the same time. By now, music and the moment overwhelmed everyone around me. On the other hand, those reunited fiancés shuffled right across the stage together. Seconds before Prince screeched into the microphone again, his bare arms and chest rocked Brenda with an overdue embrace. Even Shelia cheesed widely. Those drums still shook with impressive rhythms.
By the time Prince shuffled toward me and planned to finish the song, I couldn't bear leaving this stage. Even Brenda encouraged me while slapping a tambourine Her curly mane now whipped up and down to the music alongside madly jamming Wendy. If every performance remained this lively from now on, I could sleep happily every night. As I've said, happiness only seemed to enter when I performed.
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Brenda cried in his arms backstage after the show. I've never seen Prince so vulnerable. A rarity in my eyes. We couldn't even touch them or say hello. My heart swelled and shattered all at once. As I've said, we hadn't seen Brenda in months. I held onto my heart without even thinking.
From the corner of my eye, Prince even kissed her hands. Wendy teared up while Lisa drooped her head onto her shoulder beside me. I didn't even want to move right now. Prince was no longer a bachelor. In that moment, I knew that he wanted to marry my old friend. As if the previous tragedy wasn't enough to show his commitment beforehand.
I nearly swooned with joy when Skip whispered possible admiration sweet nothings into Brenda's ear. These two deserved as much as "alone time" as needed. I'd refused to disrupt in one way or another. Overall, the pair had been so adorable. For the millionth time, I began to believe that Skipper found his lifetime companion. No other woman melted him like this, not even myself.
The rest of us, we all headed toward the parking lot. My now aching boots trudged with Shelia and the girls. I didn't even mind staying in my "apparel." We'd all pack into a king suite to celebrate Brenda's return. Prince already walked hand in hand with his fiancée toward a limousine.
Meanwhile, Wendy sat alongside her girl in this automobile. Shelia and I fished out the champagne from a minifridge. Lisa and Wendy cackled out when Shelia popped off its cork. The bubbly almost spilled onto nearby leather of this vehicle. At this point, we edged into nightfall road traffic.
I kindly wished for our chauffeur to turned up the radio. Within seconds, my voice laughed out loud this time while "State of Shock" by Mike and Mick Jagger rumbled. Shelia nudged me and winked after pouring glasses for us. I rolled my eyes, but grinned before drinking. I hadn't Mike in person since that "Victory Tour" gig months back. We called each other, but otherwise, I drowned myself in practicing for this very tour.
Within the hour, I found myself cramming onto a sofa alone. I wouldn't drink again this time. "Guests" spilled out to party on the now vacant extravagant hallway. Prince had reserved this entire top floor. Other big names unfortunately scattered to different locations. While we didn't perform in a widespread town this time, the city itself could've shut down because of us altogether. Thousands even flocked to see the gig.
Before long, I heard joyous cheering and laughter. Right now, Brenda hugged Vanity as if she were a sister. Prince's old flame shocked everyone in lacy and fashionable black. On the other hand, Brenda matched Prince in white and purple.
His fiancée curved those previously dancing hips into bright white jeans. "Monty" even sported a bustier right now. Healed scarring of "that" medical tragedy ran across her stomach. As if to the tell world that she was better than adversity.
Brenda Michelle returned for good.
