when is tomorrow chpt. 1 - marilyn
January 1st, 2006
Marilyn
"I hope they like me," I twisted my hands in a knot and took a deep breath. Brian and I had been off and on for a few years, but he was now taking me over to their house for Sunday dinner. I was so nervous about going! I honesty didn't know what their reaction to my presence was going to be.
"They will, trust me," Brian showed no sign of reassurement. In fact, it didn’t even look like he cared at all. "I know my family, and they're great people. They liked Michelle."
I rolled my eyes. These past few days Brian had been comparing me to his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Dibenedetto, and I felt obligated to fill those raunchy boots of hers.
Why can't you understand? Marilyn, you have to understand that we aren't going to see each other everyday. Michelle understood. Why the hell can't you? I couldn't look at him without having the feeling he wanted Michelle more than me.
"Oh," I sunk back in my seat and stared out the window. "Right, I almost forgot."
We parked on the side of the street and slowly got out of the car. "Mmm, I wonder what's for dinner!" I grabbed his hand, but he didn't even acknowledge that I was even holding his hand. When we reached and rang the doorbell, Brian returned the handhold.
"Oh, Suzy, come here! It's Marilyn!!" Grandma Gates said with a gigantic smile on her loving face. "Oh, I haven't seen you in so long! Brian said you were really sick." She touched my forehead and let me come inside.
I let go of Brian's hand.
I guess they really did like me, but when was I sick? I don't remember myself being sick at all, but knowing Brian, my leg probably fell off. He always did make up lies when we fought, and I couldn't manage to show up with red eyes at a family function.
Dressed in a black, pencil skirt and a striped sweater, I suddenly had an overpowering sense of humiliation.
Why me? I asked myself. Why did I have to be with this guy who lied to his family about my whereabouts? It didn't make any sense at all! Was I in the wrong to think this?
I casually looked at Brian with a small smile on my face. Too busy with his God-perfect nose stuck in his Sidekick II, he paid no attention like any other time we were in a public place or with family.
Shut up, Marilyn. Quite fuckin' complaining... He loves you, remember?
Right, how could I forget?
That man loved me so much I almost forgot about it. If he loved me like that, why didn't I feel it half the time? I always told myself I was feeling a little sick every time I thought he didn't love me.
Get over it already, yah? I'm probably coming off as a bi -
"You alright, Marilyn? Are you sure you're feeling better? Brian, maybe you should take her home." Papa Gates was actually worried about me?!
"Oh," I replied with an amiable laugh to show him I was okay. "I'm fine, really. Just a little nauseated, that's all."
There was an awkward silence before Suzy came in with a little small talk.
"So, Marilyn, what do your parents do? Brian said your family's a bit dysfunctional. I want to know more!"
Wow, my family...dysfunctional? That's funny.
"Well," I set my fork down, noticing it had been in my hand for the past few minutes. "My father was a guitarist for a short-lived, heavy metal band in the 80's, now he just techies when ever people need him. He still does weird commercials and those reality shows, though. My mom's just there, really. She's got this Gene Simmons/Shannon Tweed thing going on with my dad. They never got married, yet they managed to have two kids together, three including my half sister."
"Your sister? What happened to her?"
"Oh, well...my dad knocked someone else up a few months after he knocked my mom up with me."
"I said a little eccentric, Mom," Brian mumbled.
"Yeah," I gave a warm smile, but felt Brian get uncomfortable under the table. "I do Brian's hair sometimes." I laughed slightly, running my hands through his feathered hair since we were on the subject of dye jobs.
"So, what do you do, Marilyn?" Grandpa Gates asked me in his raspy voice.
What was this, ask Marilyn questions, so she can't eat?
"Oh, well, I graduated from SoCal Long Beach with my associates in Communications, and I graduated from Pepperdine with my bachelors in Music Business -"
"I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm fuckin' tired, and we have a meeting with Warner tomorrow morning." Brian pushed himself away from the table and stood up.
"Oh, stay for drin-" Papa Gates tried to offer.
"Dad, no, I'm tired."
Once we got comfortable in Brian's truck, there was a weird buzzing noise resonating within his Sidekick holder that was strategically placed on his waist.