Chapter 21
Chester's at home upset on the couch, still upset after being up all night when he hears the front door unlock and rattle open, he looks up and sees Manny walking in
Chester: Oh, thank god, I've been worried about you all night.
Manny: I just come to get a change of clothes
Chester: Manny, baby wait-
Chester reaches out to hold Manny's hand as she pulled hers away
Manny: I didn't come home to fight, I have enough on my mind right now, last thing I need is to hear more accusations from you.
Chester: I can't apologize enough for what I said, I was an asshole and a jealous jerk.
Manny turns around and looks at Chester with tears in both their eyes
Manny: Did you know I went to the doctors last week?
Chester: You mentioned an appointment but never said what for? What does that have to do with this though?
Manny: I missed my period last month, took a test, it came back positive. I went to the doctors to confirm the pregnancy before I said anything.
Chester: You thought you were pregnant?
Manny (cries): The doctor did an ultrasound
Chester: You're pregnant?
Manny: The doctor says this pregnancy is high risk. Any complications extra not needed stress, or not being careful. I could miscarry
Chester: How far along are you?
Manny: 10 weeks
Chester: Babe that's amazing
Chester reaches to hug Manny as she backs away with tears in her eyes
Manny: Do you know how much it hurt hearing the man you want to spend the rest of your life loving, accuse you of loving someone else?
Chester: Manny-
Manny: We talked yesterday, Danny and I.
Chester: Oh.
Manny: You were right, he does have feelings for me
Chester: I don't care-
Manny: He cares more from a friend standpoint to ever act on those feelings he has. He is well aware the feelings are not mutual and knows that my heart belongs to someone else
Chester: I let my jealousy get the best of me, instead of trusting you like I should have done.
Manny: You're right, you should have trusted me. We've been together 3 ½ years, I trusted you when it came to Bianca. You should have had the same trust with me about Danny, Chester. Especially when you pushed me to work with him
Chester: I know, I'm an idiot. I'm sorry Manny.
Manny: Your jealousy has never been an issue before, why now?
Chester: That song-
Manny: That song wasn't even about me
Chester: That song just triggered something, I – I don't know what came over me. I love you with all my heart and soul.
Manny: I love you, but you have no idea how much you hurt me
Chester: I wish I could take it back, I really do, but I know I can't.
Manny places a CD on the table
Manny: I was going to give you this to listen to last night when I got home.
Chester: Manny, come home, please. We can work things out, I'll sleep on the couch or the guest room.
Manny: Chester-
Chester carefully takes Manny by the hands
Chester: Please Manny. You don't know the amount of guilt I've felt since realizing I screwed up. Especially now that your pregnant. I want to take care of you, the way I should.
Manny: How will I know you won't accuse me of cheating again?
Chester places his hand on Manny's Cheek and looks in her eyes
Chester: I will do everything in my power to regain your trust again
Manny: I'm not putting my ring back on until I know I can trust you.
Chester: That's fine baby.
Manny: Just promise me if you feel something is wrong, you'll talk to me instead of jumping to conclusions
Chester nods yes
Chester: Are you going to the studio today?
Manny: I – I don't know.
Chester: Manny, don't let what happen with us effect your music career
Manny: I'm not, I just don't know if I'm going to go, I don't need the added stress
Chester's phone rings
Chester: Hello?
Chad: Hey, I just wanted to call and check on you brother. You, ok?
Chester: Yea, Manny came home this morning, we talked and we're going to work things out.
Chad: Alright, good. I'm glad you guys are gonna work through it.
Chester: Yea, me too. I don't know what I'd do without her
Chester says with a smile looking at Manny
Chad: Love you brother, call me if you need me
Chester: Thanks man, Love you too
Chester hangs up
Manny: Who was that?
Chester: Chad. He wanted to see if I was ok and check on how things were with you and I
Manny smiles
Manny: You were pretty worried, weren't you?
Chester: You remember how scared you were when I was in the hospital? After that attack from Bianca and her brother? Where she tried to kill me in the hospital?
Manny: Yes
Chester takes Manny by the hands
Chester: I was scared too back then, scared I would have left you. I felt that same fear last night, I was so scared and worried I had lost you for good.
Manny: Honestly, I didn't plan on coming home for a couple days, I'm still furious with you
Chester: Baby, please give me another chance.
Manny: Ok, but this is your last chance.
Chester: it'll take some time, but we will get through this.
Manny: I know we will
Chester: I love you, Manny
Manny: I love you too.
Chester: So, Danny, he's a decent guy I take it?
Manny: Honestly if you got to know him, you'd like him.
Chester: Yea?
Manny: I was so upset after our fight, he came out to check on me, and talked with me until I calmed down some.
Chester: That was cool.
Manny: He understands that my heart belongs to you, yes, he has feelings for me, but he most definitely cares more as a friend than anything else. He felt my pain I was going through yesterday.
Chester: Well, now I feel like an even bigger asshole.
Manny: You should Chester, because he's actually a really nice guy
Chester hangs his head in shame
Manny: I'm going to the studio
Manny leaves, a short time later she arrives in the studio
Tommy: I didn't think you would come in today.
Manny: I got other things on my mind and worrying about this is the last thing I did
Tommy: Danny took today off, he figured after yesterday you could use a day off from him
Manny: I'll text him later
Tommy: Hey, are you ok?
Manny: Yea, I'm fine. Can we just get to work please?
Tommy looks at Manny
Tommy: Hey-
Manny: What?
Tommy: I call bullshit
Manny: What are you talking about?
Tommy: Manny, I've worked with you for well over a year now. I know when your fine and when something is bothering you.
Manny: You're crazy.
Tommy: What happened with Chester yesterday?
Manny: I don't want to talk about it. I just want to work on my music, is that ok?
Tommy: No, I know what you're doing. I've done it myself before.
Manny turns around
Manny: Do you Tommy? Do you really know what I'm doing? Because all I want to do is work on my damn music!
Tommy: Ok, what has gotten into you?
Manny snatches her bag and processed to leave
Manny: I'm out of here, that's what's gotten into me. I'll go work on my music elsewhere
Tommy: Manny, stop.
Manny: What?!
Tommy: You know you can talk to me about what's going on.
Manny: Let's see, my fiancé came in here yesterday and accused me of cheating, having feelings for Danny whose apparently has feelings for me
Manny shrugs her shoulders
Manny: We got into a huge fight, and I took my ring off, told him I didn't think I could be with someone who can't trust me.
Tommy: Oh wow.
Manny: I spent the night at Emma's last night, we made up this morning, but I told him I wasn't putting my ring back on until I felt I could trust him again. He offered to sleep in the guest room or the couch
Tommy: Least he realized he was being a jack ass
Manny: You know how much that hurt me, Tommy? The person you love accusing you of having feelings for someone else?
Tommy: Yea, because I've been there before with my ex. Difference is she and I didn't have the connection you and Chester have
Manny: I've never once in the 3 ½ years we've been together, ever once thought about another man never once have I thought about cheating.
Tommy: I know how much he means to you. You light up when you talk about him.
Manny: Look I love you for getting me to talk about what's going on, but can we just go back to work?
Tommy: What you got for today?
Manny (shrugs): I got nothing
Tommy: No, you have something. You're just blocked because of everything you're dealing with
Manny: I really do love him, Tommy.
Tommy: I know you do. Your guys' love is real, if anyone can make it through this, it's you guys
Manny: I just hope he can regain my trust again
Tommy: Does he realize how much he fucked up?
Manny: Yea.
Manny's phone rings
Manny: Hello?
Chester: Hey sweetie, how's the studio?
Manny: Honestly, me and Tommy are just talking. We haven't gotten anything recorded or written.
Chester: You're not working with Danny today?
Manny: No, he didn't come in.
Chester: Awe I'm sorry babe.
Manny: I'll be home later. I'll talk to you then dear.
Chester: Ok, I love you
Manny: I love you too.
Manny hangs up
Tommy: Have you thought about writing about the separation?
Manny: I mean, not really. I never thought things would ever get like this
Tommy: Manny, love has its ups and downs. You can't just write about the ups all the time.
Manny: I thought about it.
Tommy: But?
Manny: I got nothing
Tommy: Manny, you need to think and focus. You got this
Manny closes her eyes and takes a deep breath
Manny: Is the other studios open?
Manny: Ok, I'm going to go attempt to write
Manny walks into the other studio to try and write. A few minutes later, her phone rings
Manny: Hello?
Emma: Hey, You doing ok?
Manny: Hey Em. Yea, I'm ok.
Emma: Did you guys talk?
Manny: Yea, I agreed to come home, we're going to work on our relationship and getting back to how we used to be.
Emma: Does he know how bad he messed up?
Manny: Oh yea.
Emma: Good.
Manny: Thanks for letting me stay last night Em, I really appreciate it.
Emma: Manny, we've been best friends since forever. You know I'm always here if you ever need me. We're pretty much sisters.
Manny smiles
Manny: I love you.
Emma: I love you too, I'll talk to you later. I just wanted to check on you
Manny: Alright, I'll text you later.
Emma hangs up. Manny goes back to writing, a short time later she goes back in her studio with Tommy.
Tommy: What you got?
Manny:" I'll tell you a story, before it tells itself. Everything's been so messed up lately. They say bad things happens for a reason, but no wise words are gonna stop the bleeding. Now that it's all said and done, I never thought you'd be the one to hurt me when you said what you said."
Tommy: Nice! Let's get it together.
Manny:" I'll tell you a story, before it tells itself. Everything's been so messed up lately. They say bad things happens for a reason, but no wise words are gonna stop the bleeding. Now that it's all said and done, I never thought you'd be the one to hurt me when you said what you said. There's not a day that passes by the pain is still inside and it's breaking me down. Now I lie awake, driving myself crazy, how much I think of you, lying In your arm next to me. You made a mistake, you were such a fool, you couldn't see the pain you caused me.
I'm giving you a chance to change, to be the person you always said you'd be. You know me all too well, You're the only one who matters, and the only one for me. I can't escape what your love does to me. Only your love can save us, you can put us back together. You look at me like nobody's ever done, you make me feel like nobody else. Through it all, you've changed me forever, this pain is killing me deep within. Only your love can save us."
Tommy: Wow Manny, that's intense.
Manny: You don't like it?
Tommy: No, I love it, it's different for you.
Manny: Really?
Tommy: It's great and really speaks to the pain.
Manny: That was kind of the point
Tommy: It's going to be a good track. Your album can't be all about love songs.
Manny: I just never thought I would have to go through this pain.
Tommy: Love isn't meant to be perfect, Manny. I've been with my girl 6 years, and we've been through some shit.
Manny: Yea, I know.
Tommy: You did good Manny. I promise.
Manny: Tommy, what if I can't trust him again?
Tommy: You will, it will just take a little time.
Manny: I hope so
Tommy: As your friend, time heals all wounds, as your producer, it'll make some great music
Manny smirks
Manny: Thanks Tommy.
Tommy: Go home and work on your relationship Manny.
Manny: No, I want to work on my music.
Tommy: We're done for today. Go home. We'll pick up tomorrow
Tommy gives Manny a comforting hug
Manny: Thanks Tommy. It really means a lot.
Tommy: Just don't tell anyone about my nice side.
Manny (chuckles): I wont
Manny leaves to go home. A short time later she gets home
Chester: Hey sweetheart
Chester said with a warm smile
Manny: Hey babe
Chester: Did you guys get anything done?
Manny: Yea, we did. I wrote about what's going on with us
Chester: Oh, did you?
Manny: Tommy and I kind of had a heart to heart
Chester: Manny-
Chester takes Manny by the hands
Chester: I know I broke your trust; I don't deserve a second chance but just know, I love you with all of my heart and soul. I never would in a million years ever want you to question how much I love you and how much you mean to me.
Manny: I know you do.
Chester: I promise you, mi amor, everything will work out.
Manny grins
Manny: I love you; I'm going to bed
Chester: Goodnight babygirl. I love you too
Manny goes upstairs and gets in bed. She calls Emma
Manny: Hey, I didn't wake you up, did I?
Emma: No, I'm just watching a movie with Sean, what's up? Are you ok?
Manny: Emma, I hate this.
Emma: What?
Manny: Being upset at Chester. He's the sweetest man ever, and he's trying so hard to make things better with us.
Emma: I know Manny. It takes time to heal wounds. It's not going to happen overnight, but it will get better, I promise. Shit look at some of the stuff Sean and I have been through, we still found our way to each other and look at us now.
Manny: Everyone keeps telling me time heals all wounds, Em, I know he will do anything to make me happy and gain my trust back. But what if he does and it happens again?
Manny voice begins to crack
Manny: Or worse, What if Bianca gets out and comes after him again? Or her brother tries to kill him again?
Emma: Manny, you're spiraling. It's ok.
Manny: Well, I haven't slept alone since I've been home from my tour, I'm honestly kind of scared Em.
Emma: Manny, everything will be ok. Do you want me to have Sean drop me off over there?
Manny: No, I'll be ok.
Manny hears her bedroom door squeak open and sees Chester in her doorway.
Manny (to Chester): You scared me, how much did you hear?
Emma: Manny, who you talking to?
Chester: You're worried about everything, Bianca coming back, I'll betray your trust again
Emma: Which if he does, I'll kill him. Pregnant or not.
Manny: Em, I'll call you tomorrow, I think he and I are going to talk.
Emma: Alright, if you need me tonight, I'll have my phone on when I go to bed.
Manny: I know. I'll talk to you later.
Emma hangs up
Chester: Baby, you have nothing to worry about. I promise you on everything, you have nothing to be worried about. Even if Bianca or her brother find me, there's nothing I won't do to protect my family
Manny: I can't have the stress, Chester. You know this.
Chester: If I have to get us a house in the middle of nowhere for 9 months I will. There's nothing I won't do to protect you and the baby.
Manny gives Chester a loving hug
Manny: I love you so much.
Chester: I love you too babygirl, everything will work out, I promise.
Manny: I hope so.
Chester kisses Manny on her forehead
Chester: Get some sleep beautiful.
Manny: Goodnight babe
Chester walks out of the bedroom and goes to the guest room
