Another Chance Book I of III

Book III-Chapter 31, New York City Part 2

New York City Part 2

Prince's POV

Standing in the darkness at the back of the stage, Prince could feel his performance energy building.  In a few moments the music would start and he would come out to entertain and uplift his audience.  There was only one thing that could compare to the feeling that he got when he was performing and that was how he felt when he was with Bella.  Although the feelings were very different they were similar in intensity and in the desire to be there.  He lived to perform, and he lived to love Bella.  These were the most important things in his life and both made him really happy to be alive. 

The opening lines of Strollin' began, the hot white spot light shown down on him and he began to stroll to the front of the stage to the applause and shouting of the New York crowd.  He sang as he walked and the audience began to clap.  Bella and Elaine were in their places and were rocking in time to the music. As Strollin' ended to the loud and appreciative applause Royal said..."Hello New York!  We are so happy to be here with you tonight".  The audience roared!  So, are you ready to party"?  "Yes" the audience yelled back...he gave the signal for If I Love You and the show began in earnest.  As he began to sing the girls began to dance.  They rocked the Opera House like crazy on the first song.  The audience was on its feet and dancing in the aisles while others were clapping their hands to the riveting beat of the music.  As the song came to an end he gave the signal for the band to move right into I Love You Still.  The girls moved into that dance number with great passion.  Royal sang the song like he had never sung it before with great feeling and the the audience felt his angst and desperation to get the one he loved to understand how deeply felt his feelings were.  The audience loved it and when Prince moved to the front of the stage and danced the chorus in unison with Bella and Elaine they went crazy with admiration and excitement.  "Bring it down" Royal said. Standing at the edge of the stage he said, "everybody get on your feet and wave your hand in the air like this".  As the audience responded, he brought the music back up and repeated a verse. The audience loved it and then he said," are ya'll having a good time"?  The audience shouted "yeah". " I can't hear you he said...are ya'll having a good time"? "Yeah" they responded again but this time so loudly that the sound could be heard throughout the Lincoln Center.  "On the one" Royal said and the music stopped.  When 2 Are In Love began with the girls doing their syncopated movements and the shouts of pleasure from the audience pushed the energy of the band.  The audience still on their feet, swayed to the music and when the chorus began, many of them sang along. 

Come bathe with me, let's drown each other in each other's emotions

Come bathe with me let's cover each other with perfume and lotion

 Bathe with me, let me touch your body until your river's in motion

Bathe with me, let's kiss with one synonymous motion...

Nothin's forbidden nothin's taboo, when two are in love

Shouts of sing that, and you better sing could be heard coming from the audience.  As the song came to a close Royal said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, show your love for Bella Borden and Elaine Grady".   Then he said and my name is Royal also known as the Royal Prince and the audience clapped and shouted and stomped and began to chant Royal, Royal, Royal...and Royal said" on the one" and the lights went out as the band played a reprise of When 2 Are In Love.  Bella and Royal left the stage and quickly changed into their Purple costumes and returned to their places and Royal said "on the one" and the music stopped.  The lights came up and Royal said, and a one and a two and Bella's Eyes began. Bella danced her heart out.  She danced as though she and Prince were alone and she was dancing once again only for him.  His voice caressed every inch of her beautiful body with the subtle changes in volume following every curve of his woman as she moved.  The audience,  as one like it had on the previous night, noted the loving, borderline sexual interchange between the two of them and became quiet and watched in awe of the emotion they were conveying.  As the song ended, wild applause erupted  and they began to shout Bel la, Bel la, Bel la. " Ladies and Gentlemen", Royal said, "this is my lady, Miss Bella Borden.  Show your love for Bella Borden New York".  And the crowd did for an entire minute and a half, loud appreciative applause was heard for Bella.  As the opening chords were played for The Ladder, Royal returned to the front of the stage and once again got everyone on their feet with swaying arms. He sang the song with awe of the Creator showing in his voice.  He then moved directly into Holy River and not only did the audience remain on its feet and continue to sway, but also, many of them sang along. It appeared that once again this group had been playing the music from his new album and really were into it.  As the song ended, Royal asked as he had done the night before..."so are you ready for some new music"?  "Yeah" the audience replied.  He turned around dramatically and walked toward the back of the stage saying"Naw...ya'll not ready.  (He loved doing that)!  "Yeah...you better play that music Royal",  someone yelled.  "Play it" the audience continued.  He gave the signal for Living for the Music and  danced his way back to the front of the stage all the while playing his guitar.  He was on it tonight and played like his life depended on it.  He brought the music down and said "where da drums" and a spot light appeared over Carlos and he began his solo.  Every time he did it,  was better than the last.  He played and stood as he played and sat back down and played some more.  The driving rhythm brought the audience to the brink of emotion and they shouted for joy at his artistry as he played.  When he was done, he dropped his drum sticks as if to say I am the baddest as  Royal said, "Give it up for the drummer, Carlos Rodriguez, the baddest drummer man in the world, Carlos Rodriguez"! The New Yorkers began to shout.  Car Los, Car Los, Car Los...and Royal brought the music back up and walked to the front of the stage and asked..."can I play my guitar"?  "Play it" the audience shouted.  Royal began his guitar solo and did what he had been created to do.  He played, he danced while he played and then he played some more.  He played and jumping in the air he beat his legs in the air in a balletic move that is known as Royale...how appropriate.  As he performed the Royale...the audience went crazy!  Tomorrow morning it would be reported in New York that one of the greatest guitarists ever known had graced the Metropolitan Opera House stage and blown the proverbial top off of it...but for now, the New Yorker's continued to have the time of their lives.  "On the one" Royal said as the music stopped he said "thank you New York" walked off of the stage.  The curtain dropped and the band also quietly and quickly left the blackened stage.  The audience clapped and began to shout Royal's name.  They continued shouting for 15 minutes while the band re-hydrated and some changed shirts while others used the facilities.  They then returned to the stage and the curtain was brought up and the driving beat of Baby I'm A Star began.  They played the song with the same level of abandon and magic that Prince Roger Nelson had over 200 years before.  The audience rocked out and danced and sang and had a ball.  As the song ended, Royal shouted into the mike..."are ya'll having a good time"?  "Yeah...great time...super time"...he heard in response from the audience.  "Lemme introduce you to my band", Royal said.  On keyboards we have...and he went through the introductions.  Each band member was acknowledged with shouts of pleasure by the audience.  He then cued Cool Breeze.  The audience remained on their feet rocking and swaying to the driving beat of the base.  He then gave the cue to the band for Get Blue.  He went to the front of the stage and said, who out there wants to dance with me?  All kinds of hands went up, he chose his parents first and then Bella's then he chose two young women dressed in micro mini type skirts and tank tops that showed all of their assets.  Then he chose Carlo's parents and Elaine's too.  He went to the other end of the stage and chose two couples that were dancing in front of  stage and soon he had a large number of New Yorkers on stage.  On the two...he said and the song began with him singing it.