Post by Mandy on Sept 23, 2008 18:29:43 GMT -5
A/N: IT'S ALIVE! Still. Sorry I'm a bit shit. Maybe I'll keep this going now. Comments are food money.
Time stopped. Or, at least it seemed like it between Brandon and I. His face transformed. The light went out of his eyes, his face slackened, his mouth slightly parted, and the blood drained from his face. It was like his heart fell through the floor. I had killed him. A part of me ached to take it all back, to go back and never say yes to going on a date with David. If I knew it was going to hurt him this much, David wouldn’t even exist.
What was I thinking? Brandon left me. I needed to get on with my life and I did that with David. I love David. Within a split second, it was like the information never hit his brain. It all turned around so fast and before I knew it, Brandon was exclaiming words of congratulations and wanting an explanation.
"Last month. I would have told you right away, but this isn’t the sort of this you tell your best friend over the phone,” I tried to steady my breathing, keep myself from shaking. A war was raging inside of me. I hurt Brandon and I felt like shit because of it, but this really was the best thing for me. Really.
He pulled me into a hug as he said,"I forgive you. Congratulations, I’m really happy for you. David, take good care of her,” and he kissed the top of my head.
“See? Didn’t I tell you he was the bestest best friend ever?” I said when Brandon finally let me go. I reached for David to steady myself again, reassure myself that this was all going to be okay.
“Several times” he said as he checked his watch. Of course, the meeting. As excited as I was, David would never let me miss the meeting. “Now, if we don’t get going you’re going to be late for your meeting. It was nice meeting you all” he finished.
“So good to finally see your guys. I’ll give you a call tonight, Brandon,” I said as David took my hand and led me away.
“Not too late though, we have an early morning tomorrow and I need to get to bed early” David said as I rolled my eyes. My best friend is finally home and all he can think about is getting to bed early? We both stepped into the car as he started it up and pulled back out onto the highway.
“Brandon seems nice, a lot like you,” he broke the silence. Now that it was all over, I was sincerely angry with David. He didn’t even try to be friendly with any of them, especially Brandon. I don’t fucking care about the meeting or his sleep schedule, I just want to be with Brandon.
“He’s very nice. I hope you two will get along,” I said shortly.
“As silly as this might sound, I think he has a crush on you,”
“What? That’s stupid, he’s my best friend.”
“Mandy, I saw the way he looked at you. You were his saving angel, he hugged you tighter and closer than even I hug you, the look in his eyes when he saw you, his split second disappointment when you told him about me…”
“David, we haven’t seen each other for two years. Of course he’s going to hug me tight. And he wasn’t disappointed, he said he was happy for us.”
“You know him better than I do, but he didn’t look too happy for us.”
“Stop assuming things. Now, let’s just get this meeting over with.” I said as he parked the car and we climbed out.
“I’m going to go next door and get some coffee, you want anything?” I just nodded and entered the building. I took the next elevator to the 10th floor: Visual Licensing. I didn’t know what they wanted with me. I had been an AD since I got here. Maybe I was getting my own project? I exited the elevator and stepped into the boardroom, closing the door behind me.
“Hi, I’m Mark, and this is Claire. You must be Mandy. Please, take a seat,” the man introduced.
"Hi," I shook their hands, "So, why are we here?"
"We should wait until everyone arrives," Claire said. I sat down and tried to calm my nerves. Maybe I was being transferred to this department, which I wouldn't be too happy about. All they do over here is license stuff to MTV and the like and make crappy dvd's. The door opened and I watched five familiar faces shuffle to the other side of the table.
"What are you doing here? I think you have the wrong room," I questioned. They looked just as confused as I was.
“No, they don’t” Mark said, “Good morning, all of you. I should probably introduce myself. I’m Mark Fleichman and this is Claire Robinson. We will be the heads of this project.” We all just sat and looked at each other. Obviously none of us had any idea what was going on.
“What project? We’re supposed to be moving into the house today, we don’t have time for another project,” Mike retorted.
“Exactly. See, we at Epic feel that this next record is going to bring you guys even higher, and that this unique experience should not go undocumented” Claire explained. Brandon looked over at me and I resisted returning his gaze, David's words still echoing in my ears.
“So what, you want us to go a ‘making of’ special for MTV or something?” José asked.Still, why am I here if this was going to be an MTV special.
“Not quite. Instead of MTV, imagine more like a DVD” Mark pitched.
“Cameras will be following us the whole time, like ‘Big Brother is watching you’ sort of?” Brandon asked, trying to dissuade them a bit.He never was very comfortable with cameras unless it had me attached to it...oh. I get it. Apparently, Epic got it too.
“Not cameras, just one. Mandy, we want you to take this project. We at the label know that it’s quite a leap, but since you seem to know the band well and are comfortable around them, we feel that it would help the atmosphere if they were with someone they could trust,” Claire rebutted. An entire production? This is the opportunity of a lifetime. If it goes well, This could really jump start my career. And, I get to hang out with Brandon. There was no way I could pass this up.
“But how would this effect our writing? Like Brandon said, ‘Big Brother…’ It almost sounds like you guys are trying to check up on us, almost spy…” Dirk shot back. Shut the fuck up, Dirk. For once, don't try to ruin it for everyone.
“We’ll only see anything after the album is done. By that time, it will be too late to influence the process. We’re not trying to take over in any way, we just feel that this will be an experience that many people would like to know about,” Mark answered. Obviously, these two had done a lot of planning because they had an answer for everything. So, I would document them recording the next album. It would be just like the last one, hanging out at the studio, sitting back, relaxing...in the house. They're in a house this album, aren't they.
“Does this mean I have to move into the house?” I tentatively asked. the project I could handle, it was being in that house all the time that I wasn't sure David could..
“Yes, it would mean just that. Is that a problem for anyone?” Mark asked.
“Yeah, it’s a bit of a problem for me” Spoke David, handing me my tea.
“Who are you?” Claire asked. David was going to lash out and I'm just too mentally exhausted to try to calm him. I want to go, I want this project, but David and I haven't been away from each other since we moved in.
“I’m her fiancé, and I don’t want her living with them.”
“But anything can happen at any time. It’s not a nine-to-five job, recording an album. And this could be a fantastic career move for her, being in charge of a major production. If this is good, it would put her in excellent light to start directing videos.” Claire pleaded.
“I don’t care about her career, I don’t want her in that house.” His words stung. My career wasn't important to him? I know he didn't mean it, but it still hurt. I wanted this too badly though to give it up without a good reason.
“What about you? What do you think about all of this?” He lashed out on Brandon. That was it. I stood out of my chair.
“That’s not fair. Brandon had nothing to do with this. They didn’t even know about it until now.” I explained, fighting every urge to scream at David.
“I somehow find that hard to believe.” What? Was this going to the theme until we get married, distrust in Brandon and especially me?
“David, hallway, now" I firmly demanded. David cleared his throat, smoothed his shirt, and walked out of the room, me following. I closed the door behind us. We stood and faced each other, neither one wanted in to start or back down.
"What am I going to have to do to make you see that nothing is happening between Brandon and me? Because if you can't trust us, then I don't know." I started.
"I trust you, it's him"
"You don't even know him. Brandon isn't like that. If he wanted me, he's had plenty of time to get me. And I want to do this. I need you to support me in this and most of all trust me, or else I'm not sure what will happen to us," and all the blood that rushed to his face was gone. I hated having to threaten our relationship like that, but if he couldn't trust me with Brandon, then I couldn't be with him.
"I didn't mean what I said before. I want you to do this too. But, I'm sorry, until he proves otherwise, I'm going to think that he wants to be with you."
"Well, he doesn't, and you need to get that through your head" like I've gotten it through mine. He looked at the floor. I opened the door and we sat back down.
“Is everything set?” Claire asked. I looked over at David as he silently nodded.
“Great. The equipment will be delivered to the house within the hour. Good luck to all of you. This should be good,” Mark said and they both exited the room. I want to do this, I really do. It will be amazing. I'll get to further my career and hang with some of the coolest guys I know. I just hated that it took threats to get David to understand. It shouldn't be like this. We should just...work. Brandon gave me a small, reassuring smile and I could only smile back. David was trying to set Brandon on fire with his eyes.
“So, well meet you back at the house in an hour,” he said as he stood, never breaking his gaze off of Brandon. They all nodded nonchalantly and I left with David, not saying anything so I don't fuck things up further.
Time stopped. Or, at least it seemed like it between Brandon and I. His face transformed. The light went out of his eyes, his face slackened, his mouth slightly parted, and the blood drained from his face. It was like his heart fell through the floor. I had killed him. A part of me ached to take it all back, to go back and never say yes to going on a date with David. If I knew it was going to hurt him this much, David wouldn’t even exist.
What was I thinking? Brandon left me. I needed to get on with my life and I did that with David. I love David. Within a split second, it was like the information never hit his brain. It all turned around so fast and before I knew it, Brandon was exclaiming words of congratulations and wanting an explanation.
"Last month. I would have told you right away, but this isn’t the sort of this you tell your best friend over the phone,” I tried to steady my breathing, keep myself from shaking. A war was raging inside of me. I hurt Brandon and I felt like shit because of it, but this really was the best thing for me. Really.
He pulled me into a hug as he said,"I forgive you. Congratulations, I’m really happy for you. David, take good care of her,” and he kissed the top of my head.
“See? Didn’t I tell you he was the bestest best friend ever?” I said when Brandon finally let me go. I reached for David to steady myself again, reassure myself that this was all going to be okay.
“Several times” he said as he checked his watch. Of course, the meeting. As excited as I was, David would never let me miss the meeting. “Now, if we don’t get going you’re going to be late for your meeting. It was nice meeting you all” he finished.
“So good to finally see your guys. I’ll give you a call tonight, Brandon,” I said as David took my hand and led me away.
“Not too late though, we have an early morning tomorrow and I need to get to bed early” David said as I rolled my eyes. My best friend is finally home and all he can think about is getting to bed early? We both stepped into the car as he started it up and pulled back out onto the highway.
“Brandon seems nice, a lot like you,” he broke the silence. Now that it was all over, I was sincerely angry with David. He didn’t even try to be friendly with any of them, especially Brandon. I don’t fucking care about the meeting or his sleep schedule, I just want to be with Brandon.
“He’s very nice. I hope you two will get along,” I said shortly.
“As silly as this might sound, I think he has a crush on you,”
“What? That’s stupid, he’s my best friend.”
“Mandy, I saw the way he looked at you. You were his saving angel, he hugged you tighter and closer than even I hug you, the look in his eyes when he saw you, his split second disappointment when you told him about me…”
“David, we haven’t seen each other for two years. Of course he’s going to hug me tight. And he wasn’t disappointed, he said he was happy for us.”
“You know him better than I do, but he didn’t look too happy for us.”
“Stop assuming things. Now, let’s just get this meeting over with.” I said as he parked the car and we climbed out.
“I’m going to go next door and get some coffee, you want anything?” I just nodded and entered the building. I took the next elevator to the 10th floor: Visual Licensing. I didn’t know what they wanted with me. I had been an AD since I got here. Maybe I was getting my own project? I exited the elevator and stepped into the boardroom, closing the door behind me.
“Hi, I’m Mark, and this is Claire. You must be Mandy. Please, take a seat,” the man introduced.
"Hi," I shook their hands, "So, why are we here?"
"We should wait until everyone arrives," Claire said. I sat down and tried to calm my nerves. Maybe I was being transferred to this department, which I wouldn't be too happy about. All they do over here is license stuff to MTV and the like and make crappy dvd's. The door opened and I watched five familiar faces shuffle to the other side of the table.
"What are you doing here? I think you have the wrong room," I questioned. They looked just as confused as I was.
“No, they don’t” Mark said, “Good morning, all of you. I should probably introduce myself. I’m Mark Fleichman and this is Claire Robinson. We will be the heads of this project.” We all just sat and looked at each other. Obviously none of us had any idea what was going on.
“What project? We’re supposed to be moving into the house today, we don’t have time for another project,” Mike retorted.
“Exactly. See, we at Epic feel that this next record is going to bring you guys even higher, and that this unique experience should not go undocumented” Claire explained. Brandon looked over at me and I resisted returning his gaze, David's words still echoing in my ears.
“So what, you want us to go a ‘making of’ special for MTV or something?” José asked.Still, why am I here if this was going to be an MTV special.
“Not quite. Instead of MTV, imagine more like a DVD” Mark pitched.
“Cameras will be following us the whole time, like ‘Big Brother is watching you’ sort of?” Brandon asked, trying to dissuade them a bit.He never was very comfortable with cameras unless it had me attached to it...oh. I get it. Apparently, Epic got it too.
“Not cameras, just one. Mandy, we want you to take this project. We at the label know that it’s quite a leap, but since you seem to know the band well and are comfortable around them, we feel that it would help the atmosphere if they were with someone they could trust,” Claire rebutted. An entire production? This is the opportunity of a lifetime. If it goes well, This could really jump start my career. And, I get to hang out with Brandon. There was no way I could pass this up.
“But how would this effect our writing? Like Brandon said, ‘Big Brother…’ It almost sounds like you guys are trying to check up on us, almost spy…” Dirk shot back. Shut the fuck up, Dirk. For once, don't try to ruin it for everyone.
“We’ll only see anything after the album is done. By that time, it will be too late to influence the process. We’re not trying to take over in any way, we just feel that this will be an experience that many people would like to know about,” Mark answered. Obviously, these two had done a lot of planning because they had an answer for everything. So, I would document them recording the next album. It would be just like the last one, hanging out at the studio, sitting back, relaxing...in the house. They're in a house this album, aren't they.
“Does this mean I have to move into the house?” I tentatively asked. the project I could handle, it was being in that house all the time that I wasn't sure David could..
“Yes, it would mean just that. Is that a problem for anyone?” Mark asked.
“Yeah, it’s a bit of a problem for me” Spoke David, handing me my tea.
“Who are you?” Claire asked. David was going to lash out and I'm just too mentally exhausted to try to calm him. I want to go, I want this project, but David and I haven't been away from each other since we moved in.
“I’m her fiancé, and I don’t want her living with them.”
“But anything can happen at any time. It’s not a nine-to-five job, recording an album. And this could be a fantastic career move for her, being in charge of a major production. If this is good, it would put her in excellent light to start directing videos.” Claire pleaded.
“I don’t care about her career, I don’t want her in that house.” His words stung. My career wasn't important to him? I know he didn't mean it, but it still hurt. I wanted this too badly though to give it up without a good reason.
“What about you? What do you think about all of this?” He lashed out on Brandon. That was it. I stood out of my chair.
“That’s not fair. Brandon had nothing to do with this. They didn’t even know about it until now.” I explained, fighting every urge to scream at David.
“I somehow find that hard to believe.” What? Was this going to the theme until we get married, distrust in Brandon and especially me?
“David, hallway, now" I firmly demanded. David cleared his throat, smoothed his shirt, and walked out of the room, me following. I closed the door behind us. We stood and faced each other, neither one wanted in to start or back down.
"What am I going to have to do to make you see that nothing is happening between Brandon and me? Because if you can't trust us, then I don't know." I started.
"I trust you, it's him"
"You don't even know him. Brandon isn't like that. If he wanted me, he's had plenty of time to get me. And I want to do this. I need you to support me in this and most of all trust me, or else I'm not sure what will happen to us," and all the blood that rushed to his face was gone. I hated having to threaten our relationship like that, but if he couldn't trust me with Brandon, then I couldn't be with him.
"I didn't mean what I said before. I want you to do this too. But, I'm sorry, until he proves otherwise, I'm going to think that he wants to be with you."
"Well, he doesn't, and you need to get that through your head" like I've gotten it through mine. He looked at the floor. I opened the door and we sat back down.
“Is everything set?” Claire asked. I looked over at David as he silently nodded.
“Great. The equipment will be delivered to the house within the hour. Good luck to all of you. This should be good,” Mark said and they both exited the room. I want to do this, I really do. It will be amazing. I'll get to further my career and hang with some of the coolest guys I know. I just hated that it took threats to get David to understand. It shouldn't be like this. We should just...work. Brandon gave me a small, reassuring smile and I could only smile back. David was trying to set Brandon on fire with his eyes.
“So, well meet you back at the house in an hour,” he said as he stood, never breaking his gaze off of Brandon. They all nodded nonchalantly and I left with David, not saying anything so I don't fuck things up further.