Chapter 8

Dave and James broke apart, looking at her with fear and confusion. Mandy could barely breathe. Dave just stared back at her with no idea what to say.

"What's the point of stopping, I've already seen everything!" Mandy shouted before running back to the elevator.

Randy ran after her. "I didn't want you to find out like this, but you have a right to know."

"Shut up Randy! I know you've wanted our marriage to fail!" She turned her attention back to the elevator and stepped in.

The tears began to flow, she ran back to her room and sat on the bed, holding her head. Repeating "Oh my god," over and over before grabbing her stuff and packing everything up.

Dave came in a few minutes later. "I can explain-" He began, but it was pointless trying to explain anything to Mandy in the state she was in.

Mandy looked at him, her blue green eyes filled with tears. "Explain that our whole marriage was a lie? That I was just there to help hide the fact that you like guys? Tell me that everytime we did something, you wished it was with someone else?" Mandy went right up to him unable to control her tears.

"I did love you, I still do." Dave told her. Mandy's sadness suddenly turned into anger and she slapped him in the mouth.

"Don't even try to explain yourself! To think I made effort to look good for you! I supported you and loved you and you lied to me!" Mandy screamed in his face. "Since you are so stupid that you don't even realise what gender you like before making a vow of commitment, let me put it to you like this. We're through, I'm leaving you and there's not a damn thing you can do to stop me! Don't call me, don't visit me, the only time I want to see you or hear you is in the divorce settlement."

Dave blocked the door, shocked as he had never seen Mandy so angry before. "Don't leave. We have to talk about this. I'm so sorry you had to find out like that. I was going to tell you."

"When? While pregnant with your kids? On our fiftieth anniversary? I'm sorry I ever met you and allowed myself to fall in love with you! Now if you don't let me leave, so help me god I'll rip your nuts off. Then we'll see how you and your boyfriend get along." She shoved past him.

"Stop yelling. Come back here." Dave calling after her. By this time, a couple of other superstars had emerged from their rooms, staring at the scene in the hallway.

Mandy stormed back to Dave. "For months you made me believe this was real. What makes you think I want to listen to a word you have to say."

"I never lied to you, this only happened recently." Dave tried to explain. "It was all real. Our wedding was real."

"Well you could have fooled me." Mandy replied before walking off in tears.

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The next morning, after a sleepless night of crying, Mandy felt she was ready to open up and she was glad her best friend was there to talk. "I can't believe it. It was like I could see it, but it wasn't real. Then it hit me." Mandy sat on Danielle's couch, hands shaking, holding a glass of water but not taking a sip. "I had to get out of there. He wanted to talk, explain himself, but it made no difference."

"It's okay. You can stay here as long as you need to." Danielle took the glass of water from Mandy and placed it on the table. "So what are you going to do now?"

"I can't be with someone who cheats on me. I guess we'll get divorced." Mandy broke out in tears again. "I never thought I'd hear myself say that. He always managed to convince me that I was the one. I can't help wondering when he found out that he was...I can't even say it. What if it was me?"

"It wasn't you. Don't think like that." Danielle put an arm around her friend. "You're a beautiful, intelligent, talented person and I can't pretend to understand how your feeling right now, but I do know you'll get through this. In the meantime, how about you get changed and have some breakfast."

Mandy looked down. "I don't feel much like eating right now, or doing anything. I used to think this stuff only happened in movies or those stupid talk shows." She couldn't help but laugh. "What a naive idiot I was."

"Well, atleast your smiling." Danielle said, smiling back. "I'm going to make us something to eat, just in case you change your mind."

Mandy lay back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. She wondered what life would be like, what she was going to do, the many questions she didn't have answers to. The doorbell rang, interupting her thoughts. She wondered if it was Dave coming to sort things out. It was the first place he would look after all. After a second ring, she went to answer it, opening the door to reveal Randy.

"Can we talk?" He asked, letting himself in. "You left in a hurry last night. Dave is in a pretty bad state."

"I'm sure he is." Mandy said, disinterested. "Now what did you come here for? I thought you'd be on a plane home by now. Hope that now I've been single for five minutes you can make your move?"

"You know me better than that." Randy moved closer to her, only to have her step back. "You may think I had selfish intentions, but the truth is I was looking out for you. You had a right to know."

"I don't think you have selfish intentions, I've seen it. You tell me you love me, when I'm married and your dating my best friend. You kiss me, making me feel like crap. You think any of that was looking out for me?" Mandy looked at Randy, who was staring past her. She turned around.

"You kissed him?" Danielle asked quietly, turning to Randy. "You love her? When did you think to tell me any of this?"

"He kissed me! I was going to tell you, but you had broken up and so I didn't think it was an issue." Mandy explained.

"That's why you broke it off. That's why I was dumped on Christmas Eve." Danielle shook her head. "You've always tried to prove that you were better than me Mandy. Better job, bigger house, a husband who buys you million carat diamond earrings."

Randy tried to speak in Mandy's defence. The last thing he wanted to do was cause problems with Danielle. Mandy's mouth opened wide. "I've never thought like that. Besides, you and Randy didn't go out that long, how can you believe him over me?"

"Save it. I trusted you. I can't look at you right now." Danielle walked halfway up the stairs. "Please be gone when I come back."

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"Mandy, you forgot your bags." Randy ran down the street after her, catching up and stepping in front of her. "Look, I have a car back there. I'll take you where you want to go." Mandy tried to slap him, but Randy grabbed her arm.

"First you wreck my marriage, then ruin my friendship and now you think I want to get in a car with you?" Mandy yanked her arm free. "I used to feel guilty that I couldn't return your feelings but now I know better. If this is your way of showing love, I'd hate to be one of your enemies."

"I know your upset, but you can't blame me for Dave's mistake. If you would just let me explain." Randy's eyes had a pleading look in them. "I know that you'll never feel the same way I do and just then, I screwed up. I also know that you have no place to go and need someone to talk to, and I want to help. I feel like crap because I know you've been crying. Not only can I not do anything about it, but I'm partly to blame. It kills me, because I can't help the one person I love so much. The one person who makes me want to become a better person. The one person I have been trying so hard to get out of my mind for nine months, because I know I can't have her."

Mandy turned around, looking him in the eye. "Look, I'm sorry okay. I just have to be alone right now."