(You can listen to this piece on S2E41)
Marissa sang “End of the Road” by Boys to Men into the foam-covered microphone like her audience was the American Idol judges and not just her best friends Tanya, Kelce, and Kelce’s new boyfriend Dru. Dru spelled D-R-U because his Mama was a big fan of Dru Hill which was yet another 90s-born male R&B group known for crooning soulful ballads.
“Marissa, girl, you need to forget about him,” said Tanya when the song was over.
“You better have something upbeat for your next solo,” Kelce chimed.
Marissa’s best friends looked at her expectantly, lips pursing and eyes narrowing in that way best friends can be—both playful and threatening—when they’re trying to ascertain sensitive information. Marissa caved.
“Fine, I’m singing “Officially Missing You” by Tamia next,” she said, prompting both Kelce and Tanya to burst in exclamations of I knew it and Lord please help her.
“After Dru and I do our song, we’re moving into some Destiny’s Child Independent Woman!” Kelce proclaimed as she and Dru stood up to take their turn. The intro to “Love of My Life” by Erykah Badu and Common had begun, and by the looks of their bouncing shoulders and Kelce’s quick snapping and truncated hand and feet movements, the lovebirds had pre-rehearsed choreography.
“They’re so cute together,” Marissa sighed.
“Marissa, you will be happy again, okay?” Tanya whispered back, clearly unable to understand her friend’s sappy emotions.
Marissa and Tanya bobbed their heads to the beat as Kelce and her man started the song, all the while whispering back and forth, eyes never betraying their attention on the show happening before them in the cozy bright living room loft they shared within D.C.’s city limits.
“I’m still hurt, so y’all are going to be hearing sad love songs all night,” Marissa confessed. “Actually, that’s a good one—"Another Sad Love Song” by Toni Braxton.” She added the Toni Braxton song to their song queue while Tanya shook her head in pity.
“Marissa, I’m telling you, it’s time to get over that man.”
“I need to grieve,” Marissa shot back.
“Grieve a two-week relationship?” Tanya asked, brows knitted in confusion.
“It was two months.”
“And you were long-distance.”
“So! I was in love,” Marissa said with deep lament.
Tanya rolled her eyes.
“You’re hopeless when it comes to men, Marissa,” Tanya pronounced. “Actually, I have the perfect song for you.” Tanya added to their song list what she thought perfect for her friend: “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. Marissa sucked her teeth and shook her head in denial as she read the song title.
“What are two talking about?” asked, returning to her seat on the couch now that her and Dru’s turn was over.
“The song I picked for Marissa,” Tanya said, showing her the song especially picked for their friend.
“Oh yeah,” Kelce said with a smirk as she turned her gaze towards their lovesick friend.
“’Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ is definitely the song for you.”
