Chapter 20
Next morning Chester wakes up and looks over at Manny sleeping peacefully next to him, as he smiles. She starts to wake up a short time later
Manny (groans): Good morning baby
Chester (smiles): Morning Princess
Chester leans over and softly kisses Manny
Chester: Are you hungry?
Manny: Yea, starving
Chester: I'll get up and make us some breakfast.
Manny (smiles): Ok I'll be down in a little bit, honey
Chester gets up and goes downstairs, Manny's phone rings
Manny: Hello?
Tommy: Goood morning sunshine
Manny: What do you want, Tommy?
Tommy: You ready to make some more music today?
Manny: No, I'm takin the day off.
Tommy: Time is money, Santos
Manny: I don't give a damn
Tommy: You did good yesterday, we need to keep the flow going
Manny: I'm enjoying my day with Chester
Tommy: Seriously?
Manny: What?! Tommy!
Tommy: I just-
Manny: I spent all day with you and Danny yesterday, let me have a day off!
Manny hangs up and goes downstairs to enjoy breakfast with Chester
Chester: What'd Tommy want, babe?
Manny: How'd you know?
Chester chuckles
Chester: The way you were giving him hell on the phone gave it away
Manny: Well, I want a day off, to be with you. I've been working hard on the new stuff for a couple days now
Chester chuckles as he places his hands on Manny's arms
Chester: As much as I would love for you to stay home and have a day together, your music is doing really good now, and you need to get that vibe going, babe.
Manny: I guess you're right.
They sit down and enjoy breakfast
Chester: You already know I'm still going to be here by your side no matter what happens with your career
Manny: Where would I be without you?
Chester (smiles): Lost, sad, miserable
Manny laughs as she kisses Chester
Manny: This is probably true. Thank you, honey.
Chester: You know I'm always here for you Manny, no matter what.
Manny: I know.
Chester: Don't worry about cleaning up breakfast, I'll take care of it.
Manny: You sure?
Chester: Go give them hell at the studio baby
Manny: I love you, so much, you know that?
Chester: I love you too mi amor.
Chester kisses Manny as she grabs her keys and walks out the door to head to the studio, a short time later, Manny arrives at the studio.
Tommy: What happen to not coming in today?
Manny: Chester convinced me that my music is important right now
Danny: Well ,yea. I mean we just made that song together and you still need more to do
Tommy: Yea, Danny's got a point
Manny: Ok, so what's on the agenda for today?
Tommy: You, are going to write today.
Manny: Well, that's obvious, genius
Tommy: Hey, you asked.
Manny: Shut up
Danny and Tommy laugh
Danny: Just think of how you feel, and the rest will come to you.
Manny: Yea, I did that with Chester's song.
Tommy: How'd he like the song by the way?
Manny: I didn't play it yet; he was asleep when I got home last night.
Danny: Well, there's always tonight or another day.
Manny: Yea, I know. I'm not worried about it. I know he'll love it whenever he does hear it
Tommy: Use that passion for your next single
Danny: For example, I'm working on something that goes like "Don't get me wrong, your eyes are so intimidating. My heart is pounding, I don't want to make you love me, I just want to get to know you, girl"
Manny: Ah, ok.
Manny: How about this, "When it comes to us, every touch you make is something special when we're wrapped in each other's arms. Baby you hold me so close like I'm leaving, yea days come and go but my love for you is forever."
Danny: It's a good start-
Tommy: I like it
Danny: Needs more work but it's a good start
Manny: Well, obviously it needs more work, It's just the beginning of it.
Danny laughs
Manny: Baby I can't get past those brown eyes shining, you always light me up like a flame and it's clear every time your near, I love the way you make me feel when I'm with you. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm on top of the world
Danny: So, put it together When it comes to us, every touch you make is something special when we're wrapped in each other's arms. Baby you hold me so close like I'm leaving, yea days come and go but my love for you is forever. Baby I can't get past those brown eyes shining, you always light me up like a flame and it's clear every time your near, I love the way you make me feel when I'm with you. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm on top of the world
Tommy: That sounds good. Let's run it again
Manny: Baby when I look at you, I lose myself in those brown eyes. When it comes to us, every touch you make is something special when we're wrapped in each other's arms. Baby you hold me so close like I'm leaving, yea days come and go but my love for you is forever. Baby I can't get past those brown eyes shining, you always light me up like a flame and it's clear every time your near, I love the way you make me feel when I'm with you. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm on top of the world.
Manny smiles as she looks up and sees Chester Standing next to Tommy. She gets up and walks out of the recording booth into the sound booth
Manny (to Chester): Honey, I didn't know you were coming.
Chester: Hey, let's go somewhere and talk
Tommy nods at Manny to go ahead
Manny: Oh. ok. Well, Studio B is open, we can go there
Chester: Ok
They walk over to the next studio
Manny: Chester, your kind of scaring me. You're never this cold
Manny takes Chester by the hands as he pulls away from her
Manny: Ok, what's going on?
Chester: That guy that was in the recording booth with you, is that the Danny guy?
Manny: Yea? He's helping with this album
Chester: Are you in love with him?
Manny: Wait? What?
Chester: Manny, I saw the way you were looking at him when you were recording. Are you in love with him? Do you have feelings for him?
Manny: Chester your-
Chester: Manny, do you have feelings for Danny? Are you in love with him? Answer the question
Manny (scoffs): You're kidding me, right?
Chester: He's clearly in love with you, soo yea
Manny: Chester, you're being ridiculous! I can't believe you would even ask me that!
Chester: The way you two looked at each other when I got here. It's clear something is going on, Manny.
Manny: I am madly in love with you and no one else. I don't know If I should be more upset or angry that you even ask me that
Chester: What do you want me to say Manny? It's not a big deal that you may have feelings for another guy?!
Manny: I want you to trust that I only have feeling for 1 guy, that's you, Chester! It's been you for the last 4 years!
Chester: I saw what I saw Manny, and you expect me to believe you have no feelings for you, even though he sang you a song that he wrote for you!
Manny: What the hell are you talking about?!
Chester: I heard the song Manny, I've been standing there for a while.
Manny: What song?
Chester: Something about your eyes being intimidating, heart pounding
Manny: What are you talking about?!
Chester: Oh, Come on, Manny! I know you're not that clueless
Manny: First you accuse me of having feelings for another guy and now I'm clueless?!
Chester: He's in love with you, Manny! It's obvious to me! He looks at you like you feel the same way
Manny: I only have eyes for you! You are the only guy I love
Chester: Damn it Manny! How could you not see that he's in love with you?!
Manny: Because I don't care! I don't care if he is! He's not the guy I'm in love with and marrying next year!
Chester: Really?! Are you sure about that?
Manny (voice breaks): Are you saying you don't trust me enough to marry me now? After everything we've been through in the last 3 ½ years?
Chester: I – I don't know I'm saying Manny.
Manny takes off her ring and gives it to Chester
Manny: Here, since you don't know what you're saying. I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me
Manny turns to walk out of the studio
Chester: Manny-
Manny (voice breaks): I love you Chester, but I'm not gonna stand here and be accused of something I didn't do nor had any thought of doing.
Chester: Manny, don't-
Manny walks out of the studio, goes to her studio, and grabs her purse and keys
Tommy: Hey, you ok?
Manny (sniffles): No, I'm not. I'm taking the rest of the day off and when I get back, I want him gone
Manny said as she points at Danny
Tommy: What happened?
Manny: I don't want to talk about it right now, I'll call you later.
Manny runs out of the studio, as she picks up her phone to call Emma, Danny runs out after her
Danny: Manny, wait-
Manny turns around
Manny: This is your fault, Danny
Danny: Manny, wait.
Manny: What? You here to tell me you're in love me and my now ex-fiancé was right?
Danny: Ok, I came to see if you were ok but, yes, I do have feelings for you, but I would never act on them, out of respect for your relationship with Chester.
Manny: Well, I'm sorry to disappoint but the feeling is not mutual
Danny: Manny, I never expected them to be mutual. I respect your relationship too much to ever act on them.
Manny: What do you want then?
Danny: I came here as a friend, to check on you.
Manny (sniffles): I'm fine
Danny: Well, you can convince yourself all you want but you can't convince me. What happened?
Manny: We got in a fight
Danny: I'm assuming about me?
Manny: He came up here and he heard the song you were signing about someone's eyes being intimidating
Danny: And he assumed it was about you? And My feelings about you?
Manny nods yes
Danny: I'm sorry Manny. I never meant for how I feel to affect your relationship with Chester.
Manny: I told him, he's the only one I want, the only one I love, and yet, he still insisted something was going on between you and I.
Danny: Yes, I have feelings for you, but I also care about you as a friend more than anything else.
Manny: Was that song even about me?
Danny: You were the inspiration behind it but no, it wasn't about you.
Meanwhile Chester's on his way home when his phone rings
Chester: Hello?
Chad: Hey brother what are you doing?
Chester (sighs): Hey buddy
Chad: What's wrong?
Chester: Manny and I got into a huge fight, I accused her of cheating -
Chad: You did what? Have you lost your fucking mind?!
Chester: Look, if you saw what I saw you'd be thinkin' the same shit
Chad: Get your dumbass over here so we can talk
Chester: Yea I'll see you in a little bit
Chester hangs up and drives to Chad's. A short time later he arrives at Chads
Chad: Come on in, dummy
Chester: Hey bud
Chad: So, what the hell happened that you clearly lost your mind
Chester: I went over to the studio to surprise her, and she was working with this guy
Chad: Dude, seriously? You dummy
Chester: He was singing a song to her that he wrote about her
Chad: Do you know for sure it was about her? Did you hear him say it was about her?
Chester: No-
Chad: Ok first off, you're a dumb ass and second, I'm calling Chuck
Chester: Why?
Chad: So, he can come knock some sense into you.
Chad dials Chuck
Chuck: What's up buddy?
Chad: Hey, so our wonderful middle brother has screwed up big time-
Chuck: He messed up with Manny, didn't he?
Chad: Yep.
Chuck (sighs): I'll be there in a little bit
Chuck hangs up, a short time later Chuck arrives at Chad's house
Chuck (to Chester): What did you do?
Chester: I got into a fight with Manny, accused her of cheating
Chuck smacks Chester upside the head
Chester: Ow! What the hell was that for?
Chuck: You jackass! Manny is head over heels in love with you! Why would you accuse her of cheating?!
Chad: Because he got jealous and jumped to conclusions
Chester (to Chad): I didn't know you turned into me
Chuck: Chester, what the hell happened?
Chester: I went to the studio to surprise her and she was working with this guy, Danny that her producer wants her to work with for the new album
Chuck: And?
Chester: And he was singing this song to her that he wrote
Chuck: But you have no idea if he written the song about her?
Chester shakes his head no as he looks down at his phone screen, a picture of him and Manny
Chester: I fucked up, big time didn't I?
Chad & Chuck shake their head yes in agreement
Chester (voice breaks): She took her ring off. She told me she can't be with someone who doesn't trust her.
Chuck: Your guys' love is real, if she really loves you, she'll forgive you.
Chad: Dude, Jamie and I just got into a fight a couple weeks ago over some dumb shit, I overreacted, and we made up. it's normal.
Chuck: Exactly.
Chester: What if she hates me now?
Chuck: Try calling her
Chester picks up his phone and Calls Manny
Manny looks at her phone and sees it's Chester calling she starts crying and rejects the call
Manny (to Danny): He's calling me, I can't talk to him right now. I don't want to listen to him accuse me of cheating anymore
Chester (to Chuck): She's not answering
Chuck: Leave her a message dummy
Chester (to Manny's voicemail): Manny, it's me. Listen, I'm sorry about the fight. I overreacted. You know I trust you; I should have listened to you instead of being an asshole. I love you, please call me.
Chad: If you mean anything to her, she'll call you back. And you guys can work this out
Chuck: Unless you actually heard the dude say he wrote the song about her, then there was never any reason for you to assume she was cheating.
Manny (to Danny): Did he leave a message?
Danny: Yea, I think so.
Chester (to Chad): I'm such an idiot!
Chuck: No, you just let your jealousy get the best of you
Chad: If you mean anything to her, she'll call you back
Manny: I need to call Emma
Danny: Manny-
Manny: I'm going to go stay with her
Manny dials Emma
Emma: Hey Manny, what's up?
Manny (sniffles): Hey.
Emma: What's wrong?
Manny: Would I be alright if I crashed at your place? Just for a night? Chester and I got into a huge fight-
Emma: Manny, of course you can. Come on over, I'll get the chick flicks out and send Sean out to Trackers or something
Manny: No, Em you don't have to do all that.
Emma: My best friend needs me, it's ok
Manny: I love you. I'll be there soon.
Emma: Ok I'll see you soon
Danny: If Chester means as much to you as you say he does, everything will be ok
Manny: I hope so, I love him with all my heart, I'd never consider cheating on him.
Danny: I know. Go be with your best friend, if you need to talk, you have my number
Manny: Thanks Danny
Chester starts pacing around the living room
Chad: Chester-
Chester: I blew it
Chuck: Chester!
Chester: I lost the love of my life because of my stupid jealousy
Chuck and Chad: CHESTER!
Chester: WHAT?!
Chuck: Snap out of it! You're spiraling
Manny arrives at Emma's house
Emma: What happen?
Many (voice breaks): We got into a huge fight, he accused me of cheating
Emma: I'm sorry, what?!
Manny: I'm working with this other artist name Danny, at the studio that Tommy wants me to work with, Chester came into the studio and overheard a song Danny was singing and he assumed the song was about me, to me
Manny wipes a tear away from her eye
Emma: Manny, it's ok.
Manny: He accused me of being in love and having feelings for another guy, Emma.
Emma: You know deep down he didn't mean it. He loves you.
Manny: He's got a funny way of showing it
Chester (to Chuck): I'm going to go home and see if maybe she's at the house.
Chuck: You know we're just a call away brother, yea I know.
Chester leaves to go home, as he's driving home, he calls Manny's phone
Emma (to Manny): Chester's calling your cell
Manny (sniffles): Go ahead and answer it if you want
Emma: Hello?
Chester: Emma? Are you with Manny?
Emma: She doesn't want to talk to you, Chester. You broke her heart
Chester: Emma Please, I want to make things right with her
Emma: Let me ask you Chester, have you lost your mind? To really think Manny would ever cheat on you or love someone other than you?
Chester: I know, I know I screwed up big, and I regret it. That's why I want to make things right with her
Chester hears Manny crying in the background
Emma: She'll talk to you when she's ready, Chester
Chester: Just tell her I love her, and I'm so incredibly sorry for what I said, and I hope she can forgive me.
Emma: She knows you love her; she's just really hurt and upset with you. She'll call you when she's ready to talk.
Chester hangs up and goes home
Manny: What'd he want?
Emma: Talk to you, tell you he's sorry for what he said, he loves you and hopes you can forgive him. He sounded like he was feeling pretty guilty about it.
Manny: I love him, so much Emma. I do, but he should feel guilty for it
Emma: He loves you and you know he would never try and hurt you purposely
Manny: Yea, I know