[ Stevie bit down on the chip in a way that she knew would get me to laugh, which I did. Still I couldn't help reflect on the events from last night, and it was written all over my face.]
Stevie Mancini: "You know Brandi, the sooner you talk about it the better."
Brandi James-Young: "I know, "
Stevie Mancini: "Is it Rick? maybe your dad?"
Brandi James-Young:"It's not my dad...well...sorta but he's only fuckin' with me cuz of Rick."
Stevie Mancini: "Well, you've never been afraid of your dad before."
Brandi James-Young: "And I'm still not..."
Stevie Mancini: "Ok, so then what.."
Brandi James-Young: "Steve's, I asked Rick for a divorce last night."
[ I stopped and saw the shocked expression on her face. Apparently I was about to be given a serious talking to by her. I say that cuz as soon as I uttered those words she immediately closed and rolled up the bag of chips and set it back on the coffee table.]
Stevie Mancini: "You did what?"
Brandi James-Young: "I asked Rick for a divorce."
Stevie Mancini: "Why? Oh My God! Are you back with Josh?"
Brandi James-Young: "No, I'm not..."
Stevie Mancini:"Then why.."
Brandi James-Young: "Things aren't working out..."
Stevie Mancini: "Brandi, marriage is hard. You have to work at it, it's not always going to be easy."
[ Wow, talk about sounding like my mother. I should just tape this right now, so when my mom finds out what I asked Rick for I can just let her hear Stevie's bitching me out, that way she won't repeat the same shit to me.]
Brandi James-Young: "I'm aware of that Steve's...it's just..."
Stevie Mancini: "Just what?"
Brandi James-Young: "I'm scared.."
Stevie Mancini: "Of Rick?"
Brandi James-Young: "No...I'm scared that I'll spend the next 50 years of my life with Rick, waking up next to him and not once will he be able to make me feel the way Josh made me feel."
Stevie Mancini: "Awe, poor Rick.."
Brandi James-Young: "Poor Rick? Hey who's side are you fuckin' on here?"
Stevie Mancini: "I'm on your side Brandi..you shouldn't even have to ask that..but I just don't understand why you asked the man for a divorce.."
[ I rolled my eyes and looked at her blank for a moment. She should have been too shocked by this but for what ever reason she was.]
Brandi James-Young:"I asked Rick for the divorce because, there is no magic...."
[ This was very hard for me to say out loud to anyone, but it was even harder to admit it to myself.]
Brandi James-Young: "Rick is too busy trying to be a man he's not. He's not Josh, He will never and can never be Josh..."
Stevie Mancini: "But isn't that your fault Brandi?"
Brandi James-Young: "How the fuck is it my fault?"
Stevie Mancini: "Well when Josh is pitching on Tv you tune the rest of the world out, it's like you two are dating all over again. You constantly talk about all the things he did for you, and all the fun times you two had. But not once to you ever tell Rick the things you like that he does for you. It's no wonder that Rick's trying to be more "Josh" like...Hell, you've built Josh up so much in your mind I'm not even sure if Josh is.."Josh" any more."
Brandi James-Young: "You're out of your fuckin' mind. Ofcourse Josh, is still Josh.."
Stevie Mancini: "All I'm saying is no wonder Rick is acting this way..he's trying to be everything you want in a man...Brandi the man changed his last name for you..."
Brandi James-Young: "Yeah but he won't get a tattoo for me..now will he?"
Stevie Mancini: "He thinks their bad luck..."
Brandi James-Young: "Gimme a break..."
[ I began to look anywhere but in Stevie's direction. I wasn't in the mood to be judge by her. Yes she's one of my best friends but I'm so not into hearing how this relationship not working is my fault.]
Stevie Mancini: "Brandi, You and Rick are married...You still could have said no when the minister said ":do you take this man...?" But instead you said yes...some part of you no matter how big or small...wanted to be married to Rick.....You and Rick are husband and wife, and are having a baby. Probably the cutest baby known to man..but I'll have to wait to see what he looks like..."
[ She giggled a bit...knowing that she meant she wanted to see how much the baby will look like me. I was in no mood for joking around. I was mad, and in a very fowl mood. Stevie placed her hand on my knee which I knocked away before thinking twice.]
Brandi James-Young:"Stevie...Lately there have been many days I have woken up...and thought.."Oh God, I can't believe that this is my life.." and I don't mean that in a good way."
Stevie Mancini: "That's just a bit cruel to think that...especially when the man moved to Miami, and away from his whole family for you. He changed his last name so you would take his name, because it was you who said you thought his last name was gross sounding. Rick has bent backwards then forwards many times...Brandi..I think you're going to make him snap."
Brandi James-Young: "You're giving me way too much credit there..Steve's"
[ There wasn't anything left for me to do but let a sigh out. Stevie waited a moment then softly asked.]
Stevie Mancini: "So What did Rick say?"
Brandi James-Young: "About me wanting a divorce?"
Stevie Mancini: "No about being put on the roster for the Chicago White Sox as their bat boy...Yes...about you asking him for a divorce.."
Brandi James-Young: "Not too much,...really...we exchanged some words as he was taking off his suit."
Stevie Mancini: "Hold the phone...Rick was wearing a suit?"
Brandi James-Young: "Yes, he had one custom made for him, and he wanted to go to Morton's to eat.."
Stevie Mancini: "Rick is so sweet..."
[ Stevie smacked my legged just enough to leave a sting..I scrunched up my nose, and rubbed with my hand the spot where she wacked me.]
Brandi James-Young:"Ouch...bitch...that stung.."
Stevie Mancini: "Yeah, but not as much as you probably have hurt Rick.."
Brandi James-Young: "Rick isn't a Morton's kind of guy..hell even Walsh and I went there..When Shawn would say..Brandi let's go out for dinner...get dressed, I knew I could get nicely dressed, and we'd go to a place like Morton's to eat..Josh voluntarily took me there all on his own...Not like Rick...when Rick says let's go grab some food..I'm worried that jeans and a t-shirt will be over dressed and we'll end up eating at Denny's, Mc Donald's or some truck stop."
Stevie Mancini: "Did you ever think he wanted to change?"
Brandi James-Young:"No because he wouldn't have done any of this if he didn't get advice from my mom, or hear me and my dad talk about it, and my dad cramming what Josh and I did down his throat. If he never knew this..then he never would have done this on his own..It's like he hears things and figures well if they worked for Josh, then that's what I'll do...It's like Rick doesn't have a creative bone in his body."
Stevie Mancini: " That's a bit unfair, don't you think?"
Brandi James-Young:"I don't think it's unfair at all it's true...You know, Lane, Sparks, Walsh, Beckett...I loved them all...for differnt reasons...things Damien did are alot differnt than things Josh has done for me, but I love them both...they didn't copy things the others did...each had their own ideas of what they wanted to do with me, and they were all their own ideas...blah,,,I just am sick over all of this."
Stevie Mancini: "You know, I feel bad for Rick...that he loves you that much...Brandi..what else did he say when you told him some of what you felt.."
Brandi James-Young:"Nothing...he took his belt off and tied my hands behind my back, and then went down on me.."
[ Stevie shifted on her spot on the couch, and sat indian style..she leaned forwarded with a big look of interest.]
Stevie Mancini: "He did? You two were fighting and he tied you up , and then went down on you..?"
Brandi James-Young:"Yeah..."
Stevie Mancini: "Was he good?"
Brandi James-Young:"It wasn't bad...but Rick's bedroom moves were never a complaint of mine..."
Stevie Mancini: "Rick, does look like he knows his way around a bed."
Brandi James-Young:"That he does..."
Stevie Mancini: "I can't believe he did that...why did he though?"
Brandi James-Young: " I don't know..probably another one of his fantasies...right up there with having two women.."
[ We both just looked at each other for a moment. It's a road that Stevie and I know all too well. Since I once did that for Walsh. Allowing him to be with me and stevie. Actually Stevie really wanted to be with me more, but figured to do that she had to give into Shawn a little bit. It was a night that almost destroyed our relationship, and it was something we both vowed never to do again. Sure Rick didn't name a woman that he wanted us to do that with..but I just felt it was very insentive of him to bring something like that up...especially knowing what a sore spot that is with me. Then again I feel Rick only hears what he wants to hear and doesn't listen to me very well.. Stevie broke the silence by clearing her throat then shrugged her shoulders.]
Stevie Mancini: "Typical male fantasy...the whole two women thing..ya know, it's right up there with the school girl fantasy.."
Brandi James-Young: "Which the school girl one, I would gladly do for Rick, I've done the cheerleader one...I'd do the nurse, french maid...hell anything..I could be his genie to grant him 3 wishes..."
Stevie Mancini: "Yeah...that's a cute one...or your little ganster one.."
Brandi James-Young: "unhunh..there's something about a guy dressed up like a mobster that is so hot."
Stevie Mancini: "Think we feel that way cuz we're italian?"
[ She giggled...I just smiled back.]
Brandi James-Young: "Nah, alot of women feel that way..."
Stevie Mancini: "You're right...but Brandi if I were you, I'd give my marriage a chance..You're relationship with Rick has only been based on sex...how can you ask the man for a divorce when you aren't all to sure exactly what you have in common...?"
[ Steve's just stopped and went over to turn on the stero. She hit shuffle on the cd player. Atfirst she went through a few songs, then stopped at one.."sunshine" Steve's pulled me close to her and we began to dance with our bodies real tight to each other, as she moved her hands up and dowm my sides.]
Stevie Mancini:"Look, I know you wanna chill wit a player
.....But all you got to do is keep it real wit a player....
Just answer your phone whenever I call....
Cause I'm riding on chrome whenever I ball....
I like them short and tall but not too thick...
I just walk in the spot and take my pick....
And they wanna roll cause they like my style...
And when I pop my collar I make them smile...
I need a lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets....
That know how to cook cause a nigga like to eat....
Spaghetti, shrimp and steak and I'll adore you...
I'll treat you like milk, I'll do nothing but spoil you.."
[ We just started laughing, Stevie ran her hand through my hair, and I brushed the hair falling in her fae out of her eyes.]
Brandi James-Young:"I know your friends wanna holla cause I got them dollars
Push the Maybach Monday, tuesday Impala.....
I switch whips like kicks I'm a balla (I'm a balla)....
And if I get your phone number I'm a call ya (I'm a call ya)....
And we can meet up the next day and chill....
But I'm always on the road baby girl, that's how I live./...
I got bills to pay, I got moves to make....
But when my plane touch down, pick me up at 8:00, don't be late...."
[ I know all this sounds very corny..but there were plenty a night Steve's and I would just goof around in this way. We've known each other for so long and just got along famously. At once time all we really had was each other..Steve's leaned over and kissed my cheek giggles, as I gently stroked the side of her face. As I turned towards the door, I saw Rick standing there. It's funny how he always catches us in this way..but hell the song wasn't over. Steve's pushed me playfully away from her, and over towards Rick...as I continued the song.]
Brandi James-Young:"Sunshine,,,
I can call you my baby boy.....
You can call me your baby girl....
Maybe we can spend some time (some time)...
I can be your sunshine!....
I can call you my baby boy....
You can call me your baby girl...
Maybe we can spend some time (some time)....
I can be your sunshine!..."
[ Rick must think I'm crazy...but I didn't care for the first time in awhile I felt good. Steve's always has a way of doing that to me. She knows how just one song no matter what can do it for me. I just looked at Rick and continued.]
Brandi James-Young:They say love is pain and pain is love....
I know ya Momma mad cause you talk to a thug....
You think you know my type but you ain't got no clue....
About - what a real bitch like me do;.....
I like to stack my bread and flip my chips....
And I can change ya life if ya get wit Brandi...
I take private jets to Vegas, man...
It's twenty bread each pick cause I'm major man...
We can cruise the world in a Bently Azure....
But don't worry, the chauffer open the door...
You couldn't ask for more cause we got it all... (we got it all)
Cause I'm your baby girl right?, right?..."
[ I just winked and walked away from Rick. Steve's shook her head then hit shuffle again.]
Stevie Mancini:"Damn, woman your so hot...I swear..."
Brandi James-Young:"Thanks...steve's.."
To Be Continued...Rick's Point of view...