STAND 18

The alarm clock buzzes for a split second before Mark switches it off. He turns to Maddi to see if she’s still sleeping. She doesn’t move. He smiles at her and slides out of the bed.
Grabs his clothes from the chair and goes get dressed in the kitchen.
Starts humming ‘Babe’ while placing two toasts, her beloved home-made jam and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice on a tray. He looks at it and decides to add a red rose and a note. Tiptoes back to their room and leaves the tray on her bedside table. Places a light kiss on her forehead and walks out.
When Maddi wakes up it is almost 11. Opens one eye and sees Mark’s side of the bed is empty, turns to check the time and sees her breakfast waiting for her. She sits on the bed and reads his note while smelling the rose.
“I couldn’t wake you up. I’m off to work. If I don’t stop him Doug will turn our shows into a bloody Broadway musical. I love you very very much and I miss you already, even though I’m standing right in front of you watching you sleeping. How pathetic is that? Have I written ‘I love you’ already? Think so. Gotta go now, really. See you tonight at Gary’s. You’ll have no problem in spotting me in the crowd; I’m the one crazy for you”
She throws her arms in air “Yes!”
Gets off the bed and gets to phone. She tries my home number, Jay’s home number, and my mobile but it seems like I fell off the face of the earth. She has breakfast and tries to call me again.
“I’ve been looking for you all morning. Where the hell are you? Wanna go shopping?”
“MMMMM”
“Need to buy shoes”
“MMMMMM”
“Since I know for a fact Howard is with Mark and Jason just called asking me if I had heard from you I have a simple question. Who are you having sex with?”
“MMMM must be German humor, I don’t get it”
“What are you doing? Sounds like sex to me”
“Better. I’m at the Sanctuary. Facial, body massage and foot treat”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have come along”
“It was a last minute decision. I woke up so depressed this morning I had to take some action. Besides, this is meant to be relaxing and I’m not strong enough to put up with your sarcastic remarks and your love talk about Markie”
“He left me a note and breakfast this morning”
“I bet he used the expression ‘I love you’ at least 5 times. I know you said size doesn’t matter, but what about grammar?”
“You’re jealous because your love life is pathetic. I will therefore ignore your comment. What would you do without me? I’m your reality check, your sense of right and wrong, the mouth telling you what you don’t want to hear”
“I see you get my point” and laugh
“So the full Monty beauty treatment is in Howard’s honor?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about”
“Hehehehehe, maybe I didn’t make myself clear yesterday. He’s in the band, hence he’s coming at Lara’s tonight.”
“I’m laughing in the inside, your innuendo offends me. I’m doing it for me”
“So you’re not interested in hearing the latest news”
“Are you pregnant?”
“Stop saying it! Not about me, about Diddilydougie”
“…no, not really”
“Perfect! So when will you be done? We could have coffee”
“Maddi”
“Or tea”
“Or a murder”
“So you want to know”
“It’s not that I want to know, as you said, he’s part of the band, I think I should be informed about what’s going on, I mean …to be supportive and all…”
She sighs, “Are you sitting down?”
“I’m lying”
“Better. Lara called me before and she said, I’m quoting here dear, Diddilydoguie is dead. Long live Diddilydoguie”
I sit up and gesture the masseuse to stop. “What do you mean?”
“Interested all of the sudden, aren’t we?”
“MADDI”
“He ditched Camilla on Boxing Day, any idea why?”
………
“Titti, I hear strange noises, what are you doing?”
“My head between my legs … trying to breathe”
“It’s a good thing you don’t care”
“What am I going to do now? What?”
“Wear your maroon dress, smile and be yourself”
“Be myself? You must be joking. Do you know what the last thing I told him? Moron! That’s what I said, no, I’m not accurate. Because I told him to leave me alone so I could shag his friend. Even though I didn’t know it was him so technically it doesn’t really count. Oh my god, oh my god…”
“As I said, it’s a good thing you don’t care”

Taylor and Sophie are chasing each other on the dance floor. Mark, Gary and Jason are talking by the piano while Lara and Howard are sipping their coffees.
“No point in insisting La. I’m not coming, cannot come”
“Please”
“If I see them together I might have to kill Jason and I like Jason. I don’t want to do it”
“You have to come! I have a very good reason and you know it”
“You enjoy seeing me suffering?”
“You’re right, I have two reasons. Do you want to know why I’m throwing this dinner party?”
“I’m dying for you to tell me La”“The two of you are perfect for each other. I love you to death but you’re love life’s a disaster and you are a very difficult man. She could put up with you”
“Easy on the compliments, you’ll make me blush”
“I’m serious”
“She used to hate me, now she pities me”
“Let me take care of it”
“What about Jason?”
“Unlike you, he’s perfect, the too-good-to-be-true kind of man”
He starts looking around him like he lost something. “What are you doing Howard?”
“Looking for my self-esteem. It was here just a moment ago”
She gently smacks his head “were was I? Jason will find someone else in no time, you on the other side…let’s face it. She might be your last chance to have a respectable relationship.”
“I won’t let her take control over my life again. The last 10 days have been the worst of my entire life. I like to be in control. It won’t happen again”
“Welcome to adult relationship Doug. That’s the way it works. You are in love.” She pokes his chest “She’s not with you, Doug sad. She’s with you. Doug happy. Is it clearer now?”


I’m standing on the sidewalk, shifting from one foot to another and talking to Jason on the phone.
“I’m sorry Titti, we’re running late. Cannot come and pick you up. If we get stuck in traffic we’ll never make it on time for the dinner” he says.
*that’s the plan honey*
“Are you sure Jay? I don’t want to get there all by myself.”
He laughs at my last remark “they don’t bite, the children can be scary sometimes but they’re harmless. Really”
*damn it!* “I might not even find a taxi. It seems like the entire population of London refuses to take the tube. Maybe I should just wait for you at home. You could come up with some good excuse with Lara. It’s going to be so many of you she won’t even notice I’m not there”
“Nonsense. I’ll send a car to pick you up and I’ll meet you at Gary’s. Where are you?”
*hell* “I’m on the Strand, in front of Somerset House”
“Fine. Don’t move. A Paul is on his way”.

Half an hour later we stop in front of Lara’s mansion. I walk through the garden as if I’m going to the scaffold. I ring the bell. My hand is shaking.
I hear Maddi yelling “I’ll get it!”
She opens the door and grabs the sleeve of my coat dragging me inside the house and into the study. She closes the door behind us placing her index finger on her lips mouthing to keep silent.
“Hey!” I object. “I’m a delicate damsel. If you pull it any harder my arm could come off! What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry Titti”
“Me too”
“About what?”
“You first”
“He’s here”
“Yes. I remember. Dinner to celebrate the first week of rehearsal of the new tour. Him being of the four members of Take That very much likely to show up. See? I do listen to you” and roll my eyes.
She places her hands on my shoulders “he’s not alone”
I feel like someone just punched me in the stomach, I can feel bile finding it’s way up to my mouth “what do you mean? You said…”
“I know what I said! He’s a rude selfish self-obsesses arrogant liar! Lara is furious. She’s been trying to talk to him for the past half an hour but she won’t leave him alone for a second”
“You said he ditched her” it’s all I can say
“It’s not Camilla, she’s a new one”
I take a step back, freeing myself from her grip. I bite my lip and weakly smile at Maddi. “That’s fine” I tell her and myself, I guess none of us is buying it though. “I don’t care. I’m here to have a good time with my friends”
“Titti…”
“Really, I’m fine”
She stares at me.
“Don’t worry” I repeat “what’s she like? To die for I bet”
She sighs, “no point in beating about the bush. Can you picture Scarlett Johanson?”
I nod.
“Well now try to imagine her most beautiful sister”
I swallow hard hoping to choke; “good for him” I hiss
“Titti”
“Really I’m fine”
“You are not fine”
“We better join the others”
She shakes her head “I need to pick up your face from the floor first”. I’m not in the mood for jokes. She’s about to hug me but I stop her “Maddi, I know you mean well, but I can’t right now. I’m sorry”. I take off my coat and walk with her through the door.
Gary appears in front of us. “I thought I heard the bell! Welcome Titti! Here’s your white wine” and hands me a glass.
I smile.
"Are you okay Hun?" he asks me with a look of concern on his face. "You look as if you are going to be sick." *pull yourself together. NOW* "You better be kidding, I spent almost 200 pounds in beauty treatments today. You better tell me I’m fantastic!”
“You are!” and kisses my cheek. “Some commotion going on I’m afraid. Doug came with his new girlfriend. My brother has been looking for her switch on/off button. He cannot believe she’s real. He’s convinced she’s some sort of hot robot from the hotties planet.”
“Men…” I manage to comment and walk away with Maddi. My eyes slowly scan the room. Mark and Janathan are by the piano hitting few keys. A couple of people I don’t know chatting. Jason is talking to Lara, who looks at me concerned. I move my head slightly to the left and I see Howard and his ‘new one’ laughing and talking to Sophie and Ella. He’s stroking her long hair.
I squeeze Maddi’s hand “can’t do this” I hiss and I march back into the study.
She follows me “I know it’s going to be hard but you need to be strong. When the going get tough the tough get going”
“I’m not tough. To be honest with you, I just want to kick myself for being so stupid”
“You’ll do it later, when this is over. Now you be brave and come back in there”
I sit on a chair “I had it all rehearsed in my mind. I thought I was ready. I’m not even wearing his bloody scarf. But standing here, having to look at him, and her, at them”
“I know it hurts…”
“THERE YOU ARE!” Jason walks into the study smiling. “I thought I saw you! What are you doing in here? Enough with your girl talk. We need to work on your social skills ladies! I haven’t seen you in almost 24 hours! Missed you honey” takes my hand forcing me to stand up. “The two of you can talk later!”
I smile back “you’re right. Let’s go”
I step back into the living room and I say hello to everyone. They all say something back or wave at me, everyone but Howard *asshole*.
Lara walks to me “I’m so glad you finally made it! Jay can you excuse us for a second?”
He rolls his eyes “of course!” and turns to Gary “WOMEN! Who am I to hope to spend some time with my beloved? But I want to set the record straight. People in the room! I’m happy to announce I’m the only one allowed to have sex with her. Nobody else!”
Lara smiles back at him “I’ll keep it in mind”.