Months quickly past and it was soon the holiday season. The boys were booked with gigs and the girls were busy with the Christmas rush at the store. At the pad the boys were practicing for a gig that they had that evening.
“Don't know...just what I said wrong But girl I apologize...
Don't go... here's where you belong
So wipe the tears from...” Mike suddenly stopped playing, which cause Micky to stop singing.
“Okay Micky that was the wrong note, that was a C when it’s suppose to be an A.” Mike let out a sigh. It had been a long day, they had been trying to get this new song down for the last two hours and Micky wasn’t paying attention to his playing. Mike was just sick of it, if it wasn’t Micky playing the wrong note; it was Davy fumbling over a line.
“Right Mike, sorry.”
“Okay let’s try this again, one, two, one, two, three.” Suddenly the phone rang. Mike let out a sigh of annoyance. Micky ran and answered it.
“Hello you have reached David Jones answering service, how may I help you? Davy phone, it’s a girllllll.”
Mike let of another sigh, they were getting no where. Peter gave Mike his “What are we suppose to do” look and then set down his guitar. Davy went and retrieved the phone from Micky.
“’Ello luv” Davy put his hand over the receiver “I won’t be long.” An hour and a half later they started up again.
“Perfect” Peter said.
“Finally” Mike sighed. They had finally gotten the song down perfect.
“I think we’re ready for tonight then.” Micky said plopping down on the couch.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Davy went to answer it; he opened the peek hole then shut it.
“’Ello luv” Davy greeted Mary.
“Davy baby how good it is to see you again.” Mary said doing her best English accent. Mary then scooted past Davy and head to where the guys were sitting. “Lilly told me to tell you Mick that she will see you at the party.”
“Okay groovy.”
“Hey guys we don’t have time to sit, we have to get are stuff packed up and into the car.” Mike started putting his guitar in its case and the guys quickly followed suit. An hour later the guys took stage. Lilly was not yet at the party but excepted to be coming sometime soon.
“Hello everyone we’re the Monkees and we will be your entertainment tonight” Micky hollered into the microphone. With that they started into “Love is Only Sleeping”
They finished up ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’ then announced they would be taking a 10 minute break. They head over to where Mary and Lilly were sitting. Micky, Peter and Davy sat down.“Guys I’m going outside for some air” Mike muttered as he walked off.
“What’s ‘is problem?”
“I don’t know but I’m going to find out” Mary answered. She got up and headed in the direction Mike had took off in. She found him seating on the edge of the fountain in the back yard. She sat down beside him.“Hey Mike”
“Hi Mary” Mike said with little emotion.
“I thought I could use some air too.” They sat there for a moment in silence then Mike finally piped up.“Okay I know you didn’t need any air, what do you want?” Mike ordered.
“Okay so I didn’t need any air but Mike you seem really bummed out, what’s wrong man?” Mike let out a sigh, normally he would just tell people nothing was wrong but for some reason he really wanted to tell Mary. He felt like he could trust he, he’s never felt like that with another person let alone a girl.“See we’ve been doing this band thing for sometime now and it’s real groovy and all but I feel like I’m the only one who takes it seriously. Davy and Micky are always messing around and Peter just seems happy where we're at. I want more, I want to make it big and I know if we continue on with what we are doing it will never happen.”
“Okay then what are you going to do about it?”
“Truth be told Mary I have no idea. I can’t stop Davy from being girl crazy and I can’t stop Micky from being Micky.” Mike let out a short laugh.
“What about Peter?”
“I don’t know I just don’t know anymore” Mike said putting his head in his hands.
“Mike I think it’s time you had a talk with them, you can’t continue on feeling like this.”
“I think you're right Mary.” A silence drew over the two. Not an awkward silence but a silence of peace. Mike couldn’t remember the last time a person had really sat down and listened to him like Mary just had. Mike suddenly stood up.“We should get back inside”
“Yeah” Mary said standing also.
“Thanks for listening”
“No problem, anytime” Mary smiled. They both stood just looking at each other for sometime, then Mike did the unthinkable, he grabbed Mary around the waist and kissed her. Mary put her arms around Mike’s neck, she didn’t know what she was doing but she kissed Mike back. A minute later Mike pulled away. Back inside everyone was starting to wonder what had happened to Mary and Mike.
“Guys she has been out there sometime and we have to get back on stage.” As if on cue the owner of the house came over.
“Are you kids going to be starting back up anytime soon. I’m not paying you to sit around” Before anyone could answer he walked away.
“I’ll go get them” Micky offered.
“Thanks Mick” Peter said. Micky got up and walked out to where he had seen Mike walk and then Mary go. Micky walked outside, then came to a stop when he saw Mike and Mary kissing. His hand flew to his mouth to cover the scream that wanted to escape. He turned around and walked right back inside.
“So man where are they?” Peter asked.
“Oh he’ll be in, in a minute.” Micky said sitting down with a plop.
“W...what was that?” Mary asked sitting down, she didn’t know how much longer her legs would support her.
“Umm a kiss” Mike replied scratching his head.
“I know that but why?” So many thoughts were running through Mary’s head that she couldn’t think straight.
“I don’t know Mary; you just make me feel something I haven’t felt in along time. You’re like no other girl I’ve meant and I know this will never go anywhere because you’re with Peter but I feel like you should know how I feel about you. And I swear after this I will never bring any of this up but you’ll always have a place right here.” Mike put his hand over his heart.
“Mike you can’t be saying this, not now, not ever.” Mary know that is was cruel but she had to make him realize that she didn’t feel the same. Mike’s hand dropped from this chest and he turned to leave. Mary grabbed his shoulder and made him turn around to face her.
“Mike I’m sorry but I’m in love with Peter and I don’t want to hurt him.”
“No, no Mary it’s alright I’m fine.” But his eye’s said otherwise. Mary hated hurting Mike like this, he was a great guy and under different circumstances it would work.
“I know, I never thought that something could happen between us, I guess I just hope it would.” Mike let of a laugh, a laugh of hurt. Mary’s heart nearly broke at that.
“Mike I never meant to hurt you, that’s something I don’t want to do.” Mike turned around again, then after a second looked back at Mary.
“We should get back inside; I have to get back on stage.” Mike starting walking away and Mary followed him close behind. There was nothing she could say now that would make it any better. Mary and Mike walked over the table where everyone was sitting.
“I was beginning to think we lost you man” Davy laughed.
“Are we ready?” Mike said a little snappy.
“Yeah man” the guy returned to stage and started up.
The rest of the night went okay, except for Mike, Mary and Micky. Micky couldn’t even look at Mike or Mary and wouldn’t get too close to Peter for fear of spilling the secret. Mary avoided Mike and Peter, not knowing how to act in front of both and Mike just kept quiet and to himself.