Brian was cranky today, fuming at everyone, and Mandy was being very careful not to look at Curt too long. After the third time Brian snapped at her for nothing, she gave up and stood, intending to go to her room. Brian caught her hand as she passed and pulled her down onto his lap. He dug his fingers into her hair and kissed her roughly, hard enough that Mandy could taste blood on her tongue. He pulled back finally and shoved her away violently, and Mandy braced herself for the fall she was sure she was going to have. Curt caught her, steadied her quickly then stepped back and went to Brian, sitting on the arm of his chair and leaning down to whisper in his ear. Mandy clutched her wrist and tongued the tear inside her lip where her teeth had cut into the flesh. Curt glanced up, then continued talking softly to Brian. Brian smirked and turned his head, looking in Curt's eyes for a long moment as he murmured something back. Tired of the dramatics, Mandy went again to leave, squaring her shoulders as she moved again by Brian's chair, her skin humming as she brushed Curt's arm. Brian's voice stopped her at the door. "I'll come to you tonight, Mandy," and he wasn't even looking at her, and one of the band members tittered.

For a moment, all Mandy could feel was hatred for each and every one of them, then she caught Curt's eyes on her. He shook his head, a tiny bit, and she blinked, then nodded. She didn't mind if Brian came to her tonight. It was about time anyways, and Mandy felt a pang that their relationship had cooled so much she was lucky if she saw her husband twice a month anymore. Curt looked confused, then smoothed his features and looked away, and her heart skipped a beat as she looked at him. "I'll be waiting," she replied, and left, shutting the door softly behind her.