I woke up to a hard kiss on my temple that nearly knocked me out the bed.

"Ow!" I laughed, rubbing the where he kissed. My vision was a little blurry but I could make out Prince's body next to the bed. He came in and pecked me hard on the nose.

"Ow! Stop" I giggled and shot my hands to my nose.

"Ok ok fine." He chuckled at me and kissed my temple again, this time much gentler. It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the extreme brightness in the room. It was because of all the blinds being opened. When I finally regained my sight. I looked over at the clock and it was 10:30 in the morning. I was shocked at the fact that Prince was up and about, he was dressed to the 9s and smelling heavenly.

Rockstars don't usually wake up at this time. I hung out with Steven Tyler in New Orleans at Club Encore last year. I spent the night at his place. Nothing serious. I wanted a rock, punk type of vibe for a song on the Essence Of Me album. I was trying to surprise the world. Which I did, when that video came out the good girl gone bad headlines were everywhere. Anyway, we co-wrote "Irresistible". It my only collaboration on the entire album and it was with the Sex Pistols. I know crazy right? Don't ask me about it, Veronica threw out a name. We looked em up, saw it was something different and went for it. They were broken up at the time but agreed that would be the last collaboration.

Anyway, me and Steven ended up falling asleep in his hotel room, he was in a coma on the floor and I was slumped over the edge of the bed. The notebook somewhere in between us. I woke up around 9:30. He didn't come to until about 5:30. I had to stay another night to get the song finished. Not to mention he was coked up the entire time. I learned right then and there, no more rock star collaborations. At least not with Steven anymore. I rolled my eyes at that memory. Some people.

"Get up, you've been sleep too long" Prince said tapping my cheek. I groaned and pulled the cover up and over my head.

"Get up Jasmyn" He popped me again.

"Noooo!" I whined. Everything went silent. I thought he gave up until suddenly I felt myself being picked up and thrown over his shoulder.

"Really Prince?! Are we really doing this again!" I was still wrapped in the blanket, and I could barely breathe. I struggled but finally pulled the blanket off my head.

"Yes..." He threw me on the fluffy chair next the bed. "I'm trying to make up the bed."

"What are you doing?" I asked and propped my head up on my fist.

"I'm trying to make the bed." He said, pulling all the sheets off the bed. I had almost forgot that he was a neat freak. I watched him make up the bed. He turned and looked at me like I was crazy.

"What are you doing?" he asked. I squinted and looked around, confused. It's early, what did he think I was about to do. I was about to go back

"Waiting to get back into the bed"

"No your not, your getting in the shower and brushing your teeth. We're going for a ride."

"Where?"

"Just for a ride." He looked like he was trying to fight off a smile. I raised my eyebrow and got up, watching him as I moved towards the bathroom. He didn't change his facial expression, so I just shrugged it off and started getting ready. Prince always kept extras of everything "just in case" he said. But I know its booty call material.

It was when I was mid wrapping a towel around myself, when I realized that I had no clothes. I walked out to the bedroom and saw Prince wasn't there. So here I am, in Prince's bedroom, naked, and dripping wet. Ironic huh?  I took a deep breathe about to call his name but he had walked back in the room with my Chanel duffle bag.

"Here I went to your house this morning and got you something to wear."

"What did you get me?"

"Do you not trust me?" Prince said, putting the bag on the bed.

"Well I mean you did-"

"Mention the door thing and I swear mama imma smack the shit outcha" He said and then turned and looked at me with a smirk on his face. I put my hand over my chest, offended and scoffed at him.

"Awe I'm sorry" He cooed and walked over grabbing me and wrapping me up in his arms. He made kissy noises. I was trying to get out of his arms so my towel doesn't fall down. I was laughing but I was so serious. He kissed me right below my nose but right above my lips and I stuck my tongue out.

I tried to laugh it off until I got into the bathroom but I turned and had a moment to myself. Did he just do what I think he just did. I swear he was like 4 millimeters from kissing me. The craziest part about this is I don't feel bad about it. I shook off the thought and decided I needed to get dressed and looking nice.

When I got dressed in the outfit Prince picked out for me. I was a little surprised that he chose this. The man has style. I can't even lie. I fixed up my hair, using Prince's curler to fix the pieces that didn't have a defined curl due to me not twisting it last night and did my make-up and walked out the bathroom.

"Here." Prince held out my black Chanel bag. I took it from him and went into the mirror.

"I'm good aren't I" He smiled at his work.

"Wow, i'm impressed. You even got the Chanel earrings and the Chanel bag thing right. Brand matching is not something guys are good with."

"Now your just generalizing." He said and tossed my bag onto the couch. "All right lets go." He put one of his hands in his pockets and strutted out. Help me Jesus, his walk. I followed behind him, all the way to the garage where we hopped into the car.

We rode off, and it was a semi-long ride about an half hour drive, we played eye spy all the way until we reached Encino, California. We pulled up to a house and it was a bunch of cars parked outside.

"What are we doing..?" I turned to face him.

"I thought you were from the south, what does it look like?"

"A cookout."

"Exactly." he got out the car, walked to my side and opened the door. I got out the car and he closed the door behind me. "Let's go." he smiled. We walked through the grass and into the house. The door was already unlocked and we walked through the house to see the entire family.

"Prince!!! Welcome back honey." a woman ran up to him and hugged him fiercely.

"It's good to be back Linda" he chuckled. "Is Chick here?"

"He's at the grill right now, he'll be so excited to see you." He kissed her on the cheek and headed out the backdoor, leaving me there.

"I know you.." Linda grabbed my hand and cupped it between both of hers. "My daughter's love you oh, they'll be so excited to see you. BRIGETTE!! TINA!! JASMYN IS HERE!!" Soon I saw two girls run into the house. One looked about 8 or 9 years old, the other had to be atleast 12 or 13. They squealed when they first saw me, they ran up and hugged me.

"I love you so much!"

"I love her more Tina." the younger one pushed the other.

"No you don't big head."

"Now now we won't be fighting today, we have company so be nice."

"Yes ma'am" they said in unison but gave each other dirty looks. Just then a little boy ran in he looked no more than the age of 5.

"Who are you lady?" he asked me tapping my knee. His mother crouched down by him.

"She's Jasmyn and she's a singer."

"Oooo sing something Jasmyn" Chuck requested.

"Yeah sing something" Tina jumped in. I was shocked and caught off guard as they pulled me outside to the backyard to a seat, making me sit down. Then they all say down at my feet, Indian style.

"Okay...uhmmmm....oh ok my grandma taught me a song when I was little and we used to sing it while we were on the bus, on our way out the bayou and coming into the city. Start clapping on the two and stomp on the one." And they did, slowly the beat started coming together.

"Yeeeeeeehaw!" Chuck chimed in. Chick started He was really feeling the beat.

"Now the ladies say ooooo" and the girls repeated. I saw Prince staring at me in the corner of my eye, with a huge smile on his face. Which brought a smile to mine.

"Came into this world....daddy's little girl....and daddy made a soldier out of me"

"ooooo" the girls sang.

"Daddy made me dance...and daddy held my hand....and daddy liked his whisky with his tea" By now the entire cookout was staring at me and more kids started coming over.

"And we rode motorcycles, blackjack, classic vinyl. Tough girl is what I had to beeeee. He said take care of your mother. Watch out for your sister. Oh, and that's when he gave to meeeee." I stomped five times and picked up the beat, and everyone else followed suit.

"With his gun, with his head held high he told me not to cry. Oh, my daddy said shoot..Oh, my daddy said shoot."

"Yeeeehaw!'" Chuck chimed in again. He was so little and cute.

"With his right hand on his rifle, he swore it on the bible. My daddy said shoot. Oh, my daddy said shoot." By now the entire cookout was clapping along, more kids were surrounding me.

"He held me in his arms....and he taught me to be strong. He told me when he's gone here's what you dooooo...When trouble comes to town..
and men like me come around. My daddy said shoot Oh, my daddy said shoot. Next verse y'all" All the kids cheered and we clapped a bit to get the beat going before starting the next verse.

"Daddy made me fight....It wasn't always right...But he said girl it's your second amendment....He always played it cool....But daddy was no fool...And right before he died he said remember...What he say y'all?"

"Take care of your mother" all the kids sang in unity.

"And what!!"

"Watch out for your sister"

"And that's when daddy looked at meeee" I sang. "With his gun...and his head held high. He told me not to cry. My daddy said shoot...Oh, my daddy said shoot.

"With his right hand on his rifle. He swore it on the bible. My daddy said shoot. Oh, my daddy said shoot." The kids jumped in, which scared me a little bit. Kids catch on to musical patterns very quickly. Which was the wonderful thing about kids.

"'Cause he held me in his arms...and he taught me to be strong. And he told me when he's gone here's what you doooo babe."

"When trouble comes to town and men like me come around. My daddy said shoot. Oh, my daddy said shoot." We all sang in unison. The entire cookout.

"My daddy warned me about men like you, he said baby girl he's playing you. He's playing you. My daddy warned me about men like you.He said bay-be girl he's playing yoouuu. He's playing you. Cause when trouble comes in ta-own and men like me come around. My daddy said shoot. Oh, my daddy said shooooot baby. Cause when trouble comes to town and men like me come around Oh, my daddy said shoot! Oh...my daddy said.......shooooot"

Everyone clapped and I put my hand over my mouth because I was smiling like an idiot. I looked over at Prince who was clapping with a soft smile on his face.

"Good job Jas" a little girl who didn't look any older than 3 said to me.

I eventually snuck away from the kids and into the house, I had to pee so bad and I was dying to see a toilet. When I rounded the corner, I saw Prince in the kitchen but kept walking to find a bathroom. He called me.

"Yeah?" I said peeking my head in the door. He motioned for me to come into the kitchen. He was sitting there eating a piece of chocolate chip cake. He pushed a chair out with his foot and I sat down. He stared at me for a minute in awe. Then he smiled, handsome, charming and devious as ever.

"Where'd you learn to sing like that?" he asked squinting.

"You can't learn to sing like that."

"Well, you're too good to be just self taught. Seriously mama, You sound even better than you look. Which is saying a lot." I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment or.."

"Take it how you wanna but I said what I said." He winked and took a bite of cake. The way his voice sounded when he said that made my heart flutter but I started laughing just to take away some of the tension.

"Well you can play how many instrument? Your amazing and your self taught so" I shrugged. "But then again you're very ummm....Princely"

"Princely?" he mocked me.

"Yeah! You have a certain aura about you. It sounds corny I know but never mind I mean never mind I dunno it doesn't make sense." I waved my hand shaking the thought away. He looked at me, his head cocked to the side slightly, fully intrigued. "I'm gonna go pee sooo yeah" I giggled and walked off.

After a few hours. The cookout is slowing down, people are leaving. Linda, and the girls are cleaning the table and throwing away plates.

"You blew me away! Who knew such a little girl could sing like that."

"Height has nothing to do with talent Linda." Prince chimed in taking the plates out her hand.

"I'm not saying that I was just saying. I always thought it was the radio" Her daughter's all paused and looked at her.

"What?" She asked. They all shook their heads and walked in, mumbling things to each other.

"Where the hell did you learn to sing like that? You channeled that real deep southern belle shit" Linda said, trying to mock my Southern accent that only occasionally slipped out when I wasn't thinking.

"I don't know, I can't explain it. It's like....I start singing, and something starts to move inside me.It's in my hands, my feet, my gut, my thighs.." I ran my hands all over my body as I described it. I could see Prince watching me. "..and it just builds and builds till I feel like I'm gonna explode. That's usually the part of the show where I start crying but that's neither here nor there." I laughed and went back to helping clean up. I turned around, looking for a trashcan and noticed that Prince and Chick are gone. All the trashcans outside are empty so I went inside to the kitchen. I heard talking in the kitchen so naturally my nosey ass slowed down and quieted my footstep. I flattened against a wall, trying to keep out of sight.

"Well, will you look at that." I heard Chick say, with a hearty laugh.

"What?"

"Your eyes have been on Jasmyn all day. You've looking at that girl the same way you looked at Vanity when you first met her all those years ago. Only difference is you never looked at Vanity or any girl in awe as much as you have that beautiful girl in there. And you've had a lot of girls so that's saying something" Prince scoffed at his statement.

"You like that girl, I think you like her more than you originally planned and that's why your acting like that."

"She has a boyfriend." He said as a matter of factly.

"They're together out of convenience."

"She says she loves him" I peeked around the corner but just a little. Prince was helping with the dishes by drying them.

"If she loved him that much she wouldn't run to you whenever she's upset." Prince stopped for a second and then put the plate up.

"She just needs someone to comfort her  every once in a while and I'm just that and that's all I want from her. Besides I have Suzannah."

"All I'm saying is, this one's beautiful on the inside too. And she won't be on the shelf forever." Chick said and then a silence fell. I heard the backdoor opening so I bolted up and tried to play it all cool.

"Hey guys!" I threw the paper plates away. They both jumped a little bit. I could feel the nervousness in the room.

"What?" I asked, sitting on a stool.

"Nothing" Chick reassured me. I saw Chick casting glances at Prince, even thought he thought I didn't. Prince casting glances backs. "I was just explaining to Prince that even opportunity has a shelf life." He casted a fatherly glance at Prince. Prince wrinkled his nose and cut his eyes at Chick. Linda walked in luckily, to ease the tension.

"Here's your cake honey" She said handing him a plate.

"Thank you Linda." He smiled and took the plate from her and she gave him a motherly kiss him on the cheek. "Come here the kids are practice your dance from Little Red Corvette. They want you to teach them the split." And she pulled him out the room. It was a sweet moment warmed your heart. I looked over and noticed Chick staring at me.

"Hi" I waved, awkwardly. He brushed my hair out of my face.

"Hey thanks for all the help cleaning up."

"No problem" I said. He smiled and watched me.

"Well ok...I'm just gonna go I guess." I snapped my fingers and hopped off the stool. He was still watching me with a big smile on his face. Which was starting to creep me out so I scurried to the backyard. The kids were singing Little Red Corvette to him. Chuck was singing lead and the girls were his background. It was funny to watch. Prince glanced over and noticed me. So hee stood up, to leave. He crouched down to Chuck's height

"Keep workin' brotha. I see big things." and he gave him some dap. He clapped for the girls and they bowed.

"Bravo ladies I might have to get y'all in studio...." He had this old school pimp voice going on and it was hilarious. "Your ready to go mama."

"Yeah. Lemme get my bag." I walked back into the house and into backdoor and  grabbed my bag. I turned around and found myself face to face with Prince. My hand shot to my heart immediatley.

"Ready now?"

"For what!? Death, you nearly gave me a heart attack." I hit him in the chest.

"All the ladies say that." He said and popped his collar. I rolled my eyes and put my hand up in his face.

"Take me home"

"I'll drop you off at home don't worry."

"Oh you better" I said walking past him, and out the house.

"I'm gonna drive slow you can just jump out the car."

"Oh whatever." I walked out the room, Prince on my tail as we stepped into the livingroom. "Bye y'all. It was nice meeting your family Chick." I gave everyone a hug and they watched me as me and Prince went back and forth until we finally got in the car. On the way to my house, we laughed and joked about everything, talked about the industry, the media, just everything. While we were talking I unwrapped his plate and took a little bit of his cake since I didn't have any.

"What the fuck?! Oh hell naw Jasmyn put my shit down." He was darting his head between me and the road.

"What are you gonna do? Kill us both?" I smirked putting another piece in my mouth.

"So you just gon' do a brotha like that."

"I am"

"It's a cold world out here man"

I laughed and wrapped his plate back up. He slowed down by my house and looked at me. I was laughing waiting for the joke to be over but he ended up speeding off.

"Excuse me?" I said, Prince had a devious smile on his face.

"Sorry, you ate my cake. I wanna go to get some more now." He shrugged. I shook my head in disbelief.

"Your insane"

"No Jack the Ripper is insane. You disrespected my cake." I scrunched my face up at him.

"It was just a cake you have a ton left. She damn near gave you half."

"Ok I take my last bite, it'll sit in the back of my mind that I could've had one more bite."

"Prince your ju-" I sighed and gave up knowing I couldn't win this battle. I leaned my head on the window.
"Where are you taking me?"

"I told you, to get more cake." He took the most illegal U-Turn and headed the other direction.

"Get more cake? You can't be serious Prince. It's late where are you gonna get cake from."

"This is Los Angeles" he said plainly. I shrugged in agreement at him.

"True True"

We rode for a while in silence. A good silence. Then I decided to invade his privacy a little.

"What's up with you and Suzannah." I blurted out. "I mean you jumped from Vanity to her. They are too completely different people."

He laughed a little at me. "They each have certain qualities that I like. They remind me of someone."

"Who?"

"A special person" He shrugged.

"Male or female?" I asked. He did a quick glance over at me, and he felt around my face until he found my nose and placed his finger it.

"Prince! What are you doing?"

"Your being nosey." I scoffed and pushed his hand away.

"Your a child" I crossed my arms.

"Oh, damn!" Prince blurted out and took a sharp turn onto Sunset.

"What?"

"I just remembered I have to make a quick appearance at a party."

"You just remembered." I raised my eye brow at him, not convinced.

"It's on the way to get the cake. We'll be quick. Ten minutes, tops. Do you mind?"

"And if I do?"

"Then you've been kidnapped." He smiled and turned off Sunset and heads up into the hills.

We pulled up to a mansion and he parked the car. I was looking at him.

"What it'll be quick."

"Prince I don't wanna be here" I looked at him with puppy dogs.

"We'll be quick I promise" He leaned in and kissed my temple. "Now come on." He opened the door and I whined. "What Jasmyn?" he said sounding a little irritated.

"Can't I just sit in the car?"

"Party. With me. Now." I rolled my eyes at him. "Gimmie that." He swooped down grabbed my bag and bolted out the car. I hopped out the car and sped walked behind him as he was walking away. He turned around and walked backwards.

"If you ever expect to see this bag alive again... you'll come with me" He turned back around. I decided to stop fighting it, since he had the car and controlled my destiny. I ran to catch up with him.

"You always do this"

"Yeap...I always get my way don't I?" He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the commotion. The closer we got the louder everything got. Valets running around out front. We walked in and the house was decorated 60's modern, walls of glass with jetliner views. It was fabulous party underway. sophisticated music blaring, caterers weaving through the hip crowd. I was not dressed for the occasion and I felt really out of place. It seemed a odd atmosphere for Prince. But he was acting so natural in this environment. Prince guided me through the crowd, as he was waving and saying hey to people.

"Wow" I said in awe. "Nice house."

"Hey Prince." A man in a suit called at us.

"Hey, how ya doin'" He shakes the guy's hand and moves on through the party. Someone else called out to him.

"Prince!"

"Hey, let me get a drink, I'll be back." he waved. He shot me a look saying 'I'm not coming back', which made me giggle. He pulled me the opposite direction, avoiding another group trying to greet him. He grabbed two glasses off a oncoming tray and gives one to me then pushes through a door into a kitchen.

Bustling chefs,  and trays and trays of food and booze everywhere. Prince picks up two trays  of horderves and kept walking.

"Prince you can't just take that." He hushed me and handed one tray, and used his free hand and grabbed a bottle of sparkling apple juice from one of the big fridges. I was looking at him like he was insane. He shrugged at me and nodded for me follow him.

"They're gonna throw us out of here."

"Not if we sneak out first, come on." He kicked open a back door and we were greeted by a sky full of stars, making the house sort of glimmer. Music from the party drifted away as we continued to walk. Prince looked around and then up a hill.

"Up there." He pointed and walked up some steps to an outdoor gazebo. I groaned and followed him. We passed two incredibly well dressed girls as they  were coming down the stairs.

"Hi Prince." one girl waved.

"Hello ladies, Debbi, Vicki this is-"

"Jasmyn!! I love you!" The other girl behind her pushed past her and she grabbed my hand, shaking it vigorously. "I'm Vicki and I am a huge fan! I've loved you since the first album!!"

"Thank you" I looked down, then I noticed her shoes. "your shoes girl yes!"

"Aren't they? Louboutins. I treated myself for my birthday girl!"

"Speaking of shoes my feet are killing me come on let's go. Great party Prince, as always." Debbi said.

"Glad you could come." He waved and continued up the stairs, he looked around and stopped when he noticed I wasn't following him. He smiled and took my hand, and kept leading me up the stairs.

"You had to make an appearance at your own party?"

"Would've been rude not to, right?" He laughed. I however wasn't amused. "You'd like those girls, their both in the Bangles." I glanced back at Vicki again and locked in on her shoes.

"I'm gonna dream about those shoes."

"Thousand dollars a pop."

"Excuse me? Those shoes better make sure I get chosen in the rapture. Those shoes better clean themselves. Those shoes better give Madonna some talent. Those shoes better make me 6'2". Those shoes better end racism. Those shoes better make me cum. Those shoes better groom my eyebrows. Those shoes better make me fly. Those shoes better give me super speed. Those shoes better write my songs. Those shoes better produce my album. Those shoes better be able to harmonize some background vocals. Those shoes bet-"

"Alright I get it" He laughs as we finally reached the top of the stairs and I paused and took in the most breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city.

"Whoa. L.A. looks one hell of a lot prettier from up here."

"It should. That view cost me three times what the house did." He set the trays down and grabbed the one from me and set it down. He grabbed my hand and we walked towards the window. "See that strip mall down there?" he pointed.

"Yeah?"

"That's the first mall, I went to when I first came to L.A. I can't go anymore obviously, i'll be mobbed, but it was a nice memory."

"So you bought this place just to see the mall?"

"No I made a lot of memories in this area. I played my first L.A show over there and, I used to rehearse there, and Sunset sound it right there." He pointed. "It's more sentimental reason and the best part is I get to keep the second best view in L.A."

"What's the first?" I asked and he shoots his gaze at me. I rolled me eyes. "How many girls have you used that on?"

"None who ever called me on it." He smiled and looked out to the city. "What do you want, Jas? In life. A small town southern girl like you, who doesn't come from a lot, gives up everything for her dream. You get on plane, heading for total uncertainty, all you had was a gift, A gift from God. And as a young girl you risked everything for a dream. I want to know what it is."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because you're talented enough to get whatever you want. So? What do you want?" Which was a good question? What do I want? I came into this industry at 11 years old. I trained for 2 years and then released my debut album at 13. I won a good amount of awards since then. Many #1 albums, many #1 hits. Many accolades and I'm not even 21 yet. Most would consider that an lifetime accomplishment. But what do I want? That's hard to say. I looked at him, still pondering.

"Uhmm I guess I just want to be the best singer I can be. I want to give as much joy as I get when I perform. And...... I want to die knowing I made the most of every opportunity life gave me."

"That's actually beautiful Jasmyn" He smiled, looking a little surprised.

"I know and it wasn't a dry eye in the house when I said it at the American Music Awards in 1981." I laughed and his eyes narrowed.

"Why do you women always take advantage of nice boys?"

"Oh, please. You are so not a nice boy." I said and he smirked, devilishly.

Later that night...

I moved forward, then backwards, forward, then backwards again, back and forth, back and forth...in and out...in and out. It was going on 20 minutes at this point. My heart was pounding, and I was sweating. I could see the light of dawn coming in through the windows. I could feel my ears burning...then I moaned, softly at first, then began to groan louder.

Finally, totally exhausted, I let out a scream and shouted, that you could probably hear for miles.

"OK, OK!! I can't park the damn car! You do it, you smug bastard!"