Prince's POV
"Welcome to the land of the living." I smile as Genevieve takes her seat beside me at breakfast. She stretches lightly and looks around at our plates before putting her head in her hands.
"Want me to make you a plate?" I ask around a bite of oatmeal.
"I need more than some undercooked eggs and dry toast."
"What do you want?"
"A steak."
"Damn, G. Talk about expensive taste." Andre says picking up his bagel.
"I'll be back." She says standing up. I reach for her hand, holding it tight.
"Where you going?"
"To find a more suitable breakfast."
"Go get dressed. I'll take you."
"Okay." She sighs walking away.
"Where you gonna take her?"
"I don't know. I was just gonna drive around until something sounded good to her."
"Drive?! You rented a car?" Miko yells.
"Where'd you go last night?" Andre asks sitting back in his seat accusingly.
"I went to a bar."
"You went to a bar after all that shit you talked about G?"
"Now, hold on a minute. It ain't even like that. I was checking out this late night concert slot."
"What do you mean?"
"They were looking for bands to perform after midnight."
"And you signed us up?"
"No I was gonna talk to everybody first but I think it could be good for us. We could play the shit we want to play and maybe Genevieve will finally be able to sleep."
"You know this ain't about her sleep."
"It's not but a man can dream."
"Was it really that bad last night?"
"No, it wasn't. She slept like a baby. I just don't want to encourage that habit."
"I get it. You want me to spread the word? See if people are interested in the extra concerts?"
"Yea. Just see what people think."
"Alright." He looks up from his food and gestures to something behind me. I turn around and see Genevieve in a bright windbreaker tracksuit and simple sneakers. She pulled her straight but curled hair back into a weird ponytail and put on my extra pair of sunglasses.
"Ready, Genny babe?"
"Yes, I'm starving. We'll see you all later." She says waving to everyone and heading to the back entrance.
I say my goodbyes and follow after her. She hands me the car keys once we get to the back parking lot. Together we get in the car.
"I'm just gonna drive. You tell me when to stop." I say pulling out of the parking spot.
The drive is full of conversation. That's good. It means she's feeling more like herself. She's awake and engaged, and still a little tipsy. I missed talking to her in the morning.
"Oooo, let's go there!"
"You sure? I doubt they'll sell you steak."
"Probably not but I know whatever I get, it'll be good." I pull into the old diner and she excitedly leaves the car. We walk in and a young waitress looks our way. Unenthusiastically, she tells us to sit wherever we'd like. We have a seat in a booth at the far corner of the diner.
"Mona, you have a table." The teen says staring down into her magazine. A small woman walks out of the kitchen and takes the magazine, tucking it into her apron.
"And next time I ask you for hash browns, they better be cooked!"
"Hi, I'm Mona. I'll be your waitress today. Can I get you started with anything to drink?"
"I'll have a coffee." I smile picking up the menu.
"Can I have an orange juice and a cup of water?"
"Sure thing. I'll be right back."
"Anything look good so far?" She asks peeking over her menu.
"I'm probably just getting some eggs and toast. I'm not that hungry. What about you?"
"Everything sounds good." Mona returns with two glasses and mug. She walks back to the counter, grabbing a coffee pot and comes back.
"Ready to order?" I nod my head. "Alright go for it."
"Two scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast, please."
"How do you like your scramble?"
"Hard."
"White, wheat, or rye for the toast?"
"White, please."
"Any grape or strawberry jelly?"
"Strawberry."
"Alright and for the lady?"
"Can I get two chocolate chip waffles with extra butter, an order of bacon, and hash browns extra crispy."
"Want anything in the hash browns? Onions, mushrooms, cheese?"
"Onions please."
"Anything else?"
"Could you bring out hot sauce and ketchup please?"
"Of course. Coming right up."
"Damn." Genny mumbles under her breath. "I have to finish this dance for Janet Jackson."
"When's it due?"
"A little over a week. I've been so tired I completely let time get away from me."
"How much is it? How much do you have to do?"
"Not too much. It's just one song. I don't even know if they'll use it. My contract says one song with the possibility of being hired. They just want to see what I've got."
"Do you think they'll use it?"
"Not a chance. Apparently Joe Jackson's running all the behind the scenes stuff and he's decided nothing is good enough or pure enough."
"Pure enough? Is it a church album?"
"No he just doesn't want anything provocative for his daughter."
"Didn't you show me the track list?"
"Don't get me started. All I know is when I show them the dance I get paid whether they like it or not."
"How much?" Mona walks up to the table placing everything just so. She pauses for a moment as if she wants to hear how much Genevieve's gonna make
"Mind your own pockets."
"I just wanna know if you're getting cheated."
"I negotiated this one pretty well. That's all I'll tell you." Genevieve dresses her hash browns and cuts her waffles before digging in.
Prince lightly picks at his food, watching Genevieve eat.
"I don't get how you can eat like that."
"Eat like what?" She asks taking a sip of her drink.
"You could have 5 plates in front of you. You'd eat all of it in 10 minutes and not make a mess."
"Well think about it this way. I've eaten 4 meals a day since I started dancing. I don't eat on a regular schedule. I dance for anywhere from 8-12 hours a day. Where do you think my energy comes from?"
"That doesn't explain why you eat so fast and never make a mess."
"I'm used to sneaking meals backstage and eating in the middle of recitals."
"How do you ever enjoy your food?"
"I don't always eat fast. Only if I'm hungry or have somewhere to be."
"You need a studio to go record for Janet?"
"No. I'm just going to record at the venue later. Now please no more work talk."
"Okay... what do you want to do after this?"
"Probably go back to bed."
"You want me to come to bed too?"
"If you want to but you can't keep me awake."
"I won't. Might be able to help you get to sleep though."
