"Remember this: Pacing is everything. Stay aligned with everybody else on stage, no matter what happens during these shows." My voice directed rehearsal. Holding this microphone, I spoke, sitting empty among rows. Handpicked dancers, background vocalists, and other musicians packed the stage, ready for instructions.
We'd all woken up that day with perfect sunlight greeting us. Sunglasses topped my curls as I kept speaking. To still beat that heat, I'd worn little makeup and no flashy earring. My sister had gifted me this short-sleeved crop top that showed off the name of her college. Not that long ago, I'd officially helped her move into the dorm.
Hot pants clothed my hips, leaving room for me to move during choreography. High tops lined my steps for comfort to also match. Standing this time, I walked up to the stage with my microphone and already wanted to start practicing the show's routines. These new dancers formed all around, planning to mimic me, of course.
Handing over my shades to this personal assistant now, I clipped that microphone back into its stand, ready to cue up everything and kick off this practice. Admiring Michael and Prince boosted my timing, or at least my own energy felt that way.
After building up momentum with this self-composed intro, the band played opening chords of "You're The One For Me" by D-Train. Once that melody dropped, I shuffled with the dancers. My steps felt as though our lives depended on movement. One of the camera workers suited just film everything taking place.
Even background vocalists were cued to groove behind their own microphone stands. My curls swayed or jumped to the music as I picked my microphone back up and covered this song. Between lyrics, I pointed to the empty rows as if still live.
When I lifted my eyes after bowing, someone stood among those same rows. I didn't even know what to think until I then looked from across this stage and recognized this person immediately. Everyone else had noticed what I'd seen too and of course cheered wildly. For a moment, I turned to the side and soon cackled.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I'm here!" Prince announced with his own microphone from a roadie. As soon as I heard that damn voice, more laughter ensued. Even other people on stage just couldn't help laughing, either I jokingly rolled my eyes and walked off to finally greet him. We quickly shared another embrace together.
"Hi!" I said. At that time, not only had Prince finished the "Purple Rain" tour, but I also watched the Oscar ceremony with tears in my tears as he won "Best Original Score." Once again, I'd felt extremely proud of this man, no matter how much fame grew around him right now . I'd never stop anyone from achieving their dreams.
"I'm just here to see if you actually know what you're doing." Prince joked with me. I gently nudged his shoulder, which prompted him to offer a low chuckle towards my ears. His rare smile joined in too, happy. Everyone else didn't even bother us.
"Don't doubt me. Truth be told, I get most of my inspiration from you and Mike." I smirked right back. We sat back down together among those empty rows. Everyone else had been called off the stage for a break, or at least until Prince left my side.
"If you start moonwalking during these gigs, I'm out." Prince teased, laughing once more. Being around me must've tickled him or something because we still giggled during most of this conversation. It was another rare moment for him and I knew.
"Did you hear that he's finally recording again?" I'd remember a detail after reading some news article from not that long ago. Even my sister squealed with excitement and she wasn't even obsessed with Michael just like many other folks these days.
"Good, because If I hear Billie Jean on the radio one more time, somebody's getting called." Prince folded both arms. I nodded, agreeing. As huge as "Thriller" became, that one tracklist of music seemed to repeat itself for the masses. We needed more.
"What about you? Even though I've respected that music, I could say the same thing about your Purple Rain soundtrack." I volleyed right back to Prince, smirking as I glanced between him and the empty stage at times. Prince then understood.
"I never stop working, so be on the lookout for new records soon, okay? Sorry, but I gotta go." Prince stood up from his seat near me and leaned in to kiss my cheek to bid farewell. Yet, as always, we'd most likely call each other again at some point.
"Okay, see you around. Say hi to the band for me and thanks again for my beautiful flowers." I winked, still observing as Prince still looked my way. He still clicked his famous heels to leave. We'd fallen back into our usual goodbye patterns.
"Nikki?" Prince called out my name, prompting me to turn right back around in these hip top sneakers. Prince didn't even have an entourage to back him up out here, but I knew that his team must've lurked somewhere else nearby for safety.
"Yeah?" I smiled back. Crew members passed us by. Silence fell between us. Sunlight still hovered right above our heads. Other musicians or different folks stood nearby, still not interrupting my conversation. I'd seen the moment before.
"Will you go out with me tomorrow night?" Prince then asked, blushing for the first time in a while, at least around me. I nearly froze in place, even though he'd offered such a request. He must've waited years to say something like this.
"Sure." I walked back over to Prince and kissed his cheek, giving my answer.
