Post by Mandy on May 19, 2008 13:48:27 GMT -5
A/N: It's a shorty ;D You know the drill!
My first few months at Epic after he left came and went without notice, except for the “Pardon Me” video and Brandon’s new hair. He made good on his promises, calling me every day, sending letters and postcards, e-mailing pictures, and even sending little presents and trinkets from around the world. His girlfriends in high school never had it this good. I treasured everything I received, but none of it could replace him. I needed someone here.
The day I met David, I was juggling five venti lattes, as per usual. He took two of them for me and opened all the doors, got the elevator, and even brought them into the boardroom with me. I thought that he was just being nice and that was the end of it, but by the end of the day, he got the courage to come back up to my floor from the bowls of editing hell and ask me to dinner. I accepted since he did save me from scalding myself, thinking that it wouldn’t be anything big. We went to a small restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier, had a lovely conversation about ourselves, and walked along the pier. It was the most typical and plain date I had ever been on. And, even more surprisingly, I enjoyed it. David was unlike anyone I had ever been around before. He didn’t have tattoos, piercings, dreadlocks, or long hair at all. He didn’t play an instrument and was actually very bad at anything musical. He went to college. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, rarely swore; he didn’t do anything. He was the most ordinary person I had ever met; very much like Bob from the Vagina Monologues, except David did not worship my vag. But it was his plain-ness that attracted me to him. My entire life, I had been surrounded by uncertainty and eccentrics, and not that I didn’t love it, but it made for stressful future planning. David was stable and caring, and that’s what I needed. Of course, Brandon stayed on my mind and still holds a place in my heart, but he wasn’t here, and I needed to move on.
Moving on meant moving in. My lease was up on my apartment and my landlord was raising the rent, so we decided that I would move into David’s apartment. It was plenty big for both of us, close to work and family, and it just made sense. This also meant that all my Incubus posters and memorabilia came down and got packed away, but it was for the best, since having Brandon everywhere would not have been good for my mental state. I became part of a couple for the first serious time. Things between David and I were great most of the time. He cooked for us a lot, since he said that I apparently burned things, we went to book readings, double dates with some friends, and basically settled into a comfortable existence. He even accepted the fact that my friend called me every day to talk from somewhere in the world. I had made the decision to not tell David who exactly Brandon was, at least until the day they would meet.
Liz, my sister, ruined my plan. She had to freak out and scream “Brandon’s on TV!” when Drive came on, which sent my mom into full out Brandon worship mode. My mom loves Brandon like he’s the son she never had. David looked at all the pictures and listened to the stories with mild interest and politeness, not that I would expect anything less. It wasn’t until we got home that I had to face him.
“So, your friend that calls you all the time, that’s the guy in the video?” he said plainly, standing in our living room. I set my purse on the kitchen counter, exhausted from the day.
“Brandon, yes. His name’s Brandon. He’s my best friend and has been since I was ten.”
“And he’s the singer for Incubus?” I nodded. I was in no mood to explain this to him. He just sat on the couch.
“That explains why you had all that shit in your old apartment.” My head snapped up.
“That ‘shit’ is important to me. Brandon is important to me. Look, he’s a regular guy. They all are. His job just happens to bring him into the public eye.”
“Were you ever going to tell me what he did?”
“Yes, of course. But I was hoping that you two would meet first to you could get to know him as a person and not as some rock star.” My cell phone rang from inside my purse and I dug to find it.
“That would be him…” David sarcastically reacted. I shot him a look and answered.
“Hey, Brandon! Where are you today?”
+=+=+=+=+
David eventually got over his initial hesitation and made peace with Brandon’s place in my life. Although, he never knew that I still wore Brandon’s shirt to bed, underneath an oversized t-shirt. About five months later, David proposed at the same restaurant we had our first date. In fact, that entire night was exactly like our first date. I, of course, accepted, thrilled with the fact that my life had a future, a stable future. My mom and everyone we knew were so excited; even Dolly gave her blessing, although I made her swear to not tell Brandon. I had to do that myself.
A small group of us all sat at a table outside, eating our lunches. It was just a normal Wednesday in June. One of David’s friends from accounting sat at our table.
“Hi. How’s it going?” David asked. I smiled and nodded, too entranced in my salad to care. In all honesty, I was up thinking about Brandon all night. He hadn’t called the day before. I absentmindedly spun my ring around my finger.
“Man, this account they have me working on for that damn mansion in Malibu taking up my whole morning. Trying to figure out personal expenses for six people is a pain in the ass.” David’s friend responded.
“Mandy, stop playing with your ring, You’ll get it dirty. What’s the mansion for?” David said. I readjusted and left my ring alone.
“Some band is going to live and record in it. I don’t know why they couldn’t just work in the studios like normal bands. They managed to argue that it would be ‘more inspirational’ or some bullshit. It better be, because this house is going to cost Epic a fortune.”
“What band, if you can say…” I asked, picking up a forkful of salad.
“Incubus.” I dropped my fork. My heart started pounding and my mouth went dry.
“What.” I croaked out.
“Yeah, Incubus. I think they come back in tomorrow around noon, since that’s when the house has to be ready by, thusly why my whole morning’s been shot.”
“Mandy, we have work…”
“We’re going.” I interrupted.
“No, we’re not. We have work tomorrow and you have a meeting at 1:30. There’s no time.”
“Fuck time. We’re going.”
“No.”
“David, if you love me, we are going. I need to see them.”
“I’m sure he’ll call as soon as they land.”
“David Davidson, I will give back your ring right now if we do not go see them at the airport tomorrow.” and I pulled it off my finger. I was not messing around. His eyes flashed between the ring and mine. He pulled out his palm pilot, pressed a few buttons, and turned back to me.
“We can go on our lunch, I guess. But after we see them, we have to get back here right away.” I smiled and put my ring back on, kissing David on the lips.
“You’re a pretty big fan...” his friend said. I smiled to myself.
“The biggest.”
Brandon didn’t call tonight either, but it hardly mattered. He was coming home. He was actually coming home. The reality of the situation brought me close to tears several times, but this time they were tears of joy. I couldn’t believe it. It had been two years of nothing but distance and now it was all over. What would I say? What would I wear? How would I feel? I was so excited and scared. Oh God, he was going to meet David. Brandon was going to hate David. There was no point in trying to think anything different; they were opposites. But I knew that Brandon would give him a chance, for me.
I managed to catch fleeting moments of sleep, the excitement coming back every so often. I sat up in bed, thinking. Why hadn’t he called to tell me he was coming home? What if he didn’t want me hanging around as much this album? What if he had a girlfriend with him? Not that it mattered, since I’m engaged, but I was just wondering. How would he look? I saw in the “Drive” video that his hair had gotten longer and that he looked like he had been working out, not that it mattered, since I’m engaged. God, I missed him. I ducked my head in through the collar of the t-shirt and smelled Brandon’s. It still had his smell. And now he was coming back.
David’s alarm clock went off. 6 a.m. already. Oh my god. He would be back in LA in six hours.
“Did you sleep?” David asked, taking hold of my hand. I shook my head no. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just excited.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting him.” He said with a smile. I kissed him, thankful that he at least was trying to understand how big of a deal this was to me. We parted and I started my first day back with Brandon.
My first few months at Epic after he left came and went without notice, except for the “Pardon Me” video and Brandon’s new hair. He made good on his promises, calling me every day, sending letters and postcards, e-mailing pictures, and even sending little presents and trinkets from around the world. His girlfriends in high school never had it this good. I treasured everything I received, but none of it could replace him. I needed someone here.
The day I met David, I was juggling five venti lattes, as per usual. He took two of them for me and opened all the doors, got the elevator, and even brought them into the boardroom with me. I thought that he was just being nice and that was the end of it, but by the end of the day, he got the courage to come back up to my floor from the bowls of editing hell and ask me to dinner. I accepted since he did save me from scalding myself, thinking that it wouldn’t be anything big. We went to a small restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier, had a lovely conversation about ourselves, and walked along the pier. It was the most typical and plain date I had ever been on. And, even more surprisingly, I enjoyed it. David was unlike anyone I had ever been around before. He didn’t have tattoos, piercings, dreadlocks, or long hair at all. He didn’t play an instrument and was actually very bad at anything musical. He went to college. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, rarely swore; he didn’t do anything. He was the most ordinary person I had ever met; very much like Bob from the Vagina Monologues, except David did not worship my vag. But it was his plain-ness that attracted me to him. My entire life, I had been surrounded by uncertainty and eccentrics, and not that I didn’t love it, but it made for stressful future planning. David was stable and caring, and that’s what I needed. Of course, Brandon stayed on my mind and still holds a place in my heart, but he wasn’t here, and I needed to move on.
Moving on meant moving in. My lease was up on my apartment and my landlord was raising the rent, so we decided that I would move into David’s apartment. It was plenty big for both of us, close to work and family, and it just made sense. This also meant that all my Incubus posters and memorabilia came down and got packed away, but it was for the best, since having Brandon everywhere would not have been good for my mental state. I became part of a couple for the first serious time. Things between David and I were great most of the time. He cooked for us a lot, since he said that I apparently burned things, we went to book readings, double dates with some friends, and basically settled into a comfortable existence. He even accepted the fact that my friend called me every day to talk from somewhere in the world. I had made the decision to not tell David who exactly Brandon was, at least until the day they would meet.
Liz, my sister, ruined my plan. She had to freak out and scream “Brandon’s on TV!” when Drive came on, which sent my mom into full out Brandon worship mode. My mom loves Brandon like he’s the son she never had. David looked at all the pictures and listened to the stories with mild interest and politeness, not that I would expect anything less. It wasn’t until we got home that I had to face him.
“So, your friend that calls you all the time, that’s the guy in the video?” he said plainly, standing in our living room. I set my purse on the kitchen counter, exhausted from the day.
“Brandon, yes. His name’s Brandon. He’s my best friend and has been since I was ten.”
“And he’s the singer for Incubus?” I nodded. I was in no mood to explain this to him. He just sat on the couch.
“That explains why you had all that shit in your old apartment.” My head snapped up.
“That ‘shit’ is important to me. Brandon is important to me. Look, he’s a regular guy. They all are. His job just happens to bring him into the public eye.”
“Were you ever going to tell me what he did?”
“Yes, of course. But I was hoping that you two would meet first to you could get to know him as a person and not as some rock star.” My cell phone rang from inside my purse and I dug to find it.
“That would be him…” David sarcastically reacted. I shot him a look and answered.
“Hey, Brandon! Where are you today?”
+=+=+=+=+
David eventually got over his initial hesitation and made peace with Brandon’s place in my life. Although, he never knew that I still wore Brandon’s shirt to bed, underneath an oversized t-shirt. About five months later, David proposed at the same restaurant we had our first date. In fact, that entire night was exactly like our first date. I, of course, accepted, thrilled with the fact that my life had a future, a stable future. My mom and everyone we knew were so excited; even Dolly gave her blessing, although I made her swear to not tell Brandon. I had to do that myself.
A small group of us all sat at a table outside, eating our lunches. It was just a normal Wednesday in June. One of David’s friends from accounting sat at our table.
“Hi. How’s it going?” David asked. I smiled and nodded, too entranced in my salad to care. In all honesty, I was up thinking about Brandon all night. He hadn’t called the day before. I absentmindedly spun my ring around my finger.
“Man, this account they have me working on for that damn mansion in Malibu taking up my whole morning. Trying to figure out personal expenses for six people is a pain in the ass.” David’s friend responded.
“Mandy, stop playing with your ring, You’ll get it dirty. What’s the mansion for?” David said. I readjusted and left my ring alone.
“Some band is going to live and record in it. I don’t know why they couldn’t just work in the studios like normal bands. They managed to argue that it would be ‘more inspirational’ or some bullshit. It better be, because this house is going to cost Epic a fortune.”
“What band, if you can say…” I asked, picking up a forkful of salad.
“Incubus.” I dropped my fork. My heart started pounding and my mouth went dry.
“What.” I croaked out.
“Yeah, Incubus. I think they come back in tomorrow around noon, since that’s when the house has to be ready by, thusly why my whole morning’s been shot.”
“Mandy, we have work…”
“We’re going.” I interrupted.
“No, we’re not. We have work tomorrow and you have a meeting at 1:30. There’s no time.”
“Fuck time. We’re going.”
“No.”
“David, if you love me, we are going. I need to see them.”
“I’m sure he’ll call as soon as they land.”
“David Davidson, I will give back your ring right now if we do not go see them at the airport tomorrow.” and I pulled it off my finger. I was not messing around. His eyes flashed between the ring and mine. He pulled out his palm pilot, pressed a few buttons, and turned back to me.
“We can go on our lunch, I guess. But after we see them, we have to get back here right away.” I smiled and put my ring back on, kissing David on the lips.
“You’re a pretty big fan...” his friend said. I smiled to myself.
“The biggest.”
Brandon didn’t call tonight either, but it hardly mattered. He was coming home. He was actually coming home. The reality of the situation brought me close to tears several times, but this time they were tears of joy. I couldn’t believe it. It had been two years of nothing but distance and now it was all over. What would I say? What would I wear? How would I feel? I was so excited and scared. Oh God, he was going to meet David. Brandon was going to hate David. There was no point in trying to think anything different; they were opposites. But I knew that Brandon would give him a chance, for me.
I managed to catch fleeting moments of sleep, the excitement coming back every so often. I sat up in bed, thinking. Why hadn’t he called to tell me he was coming home? What if he didn’t want me hanging around as much this album? What if he had a girlfriend with him? Not that it mattered, since I’m engaged, but I was just wondering. How would he look? I saw in the “Drive” video that his hair had gotten longer and that he looked like he had been working out, not that it mattered, since I’m engaged. God, I missed him. I ducked my head in through the collar of the t-shirt and smelled Brandon’s. It still had his smell. And now he was coming back.
David’s alarm clock went off. 6 a.m. already. Oh my god. He would be back in LA in six hours.
“Did you sleep?” David asked, taking hold of my hand. I shook my head no. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just excited.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting him.” He said with a smile. I kissed him, thankful that he at least was trying to understand how big of a deal this was to me. We parted and I started my first day back with Brandon.