Chapter 4: All the Pleasures and the Fun
"Ok time out--you guys drive this?" Jacelyn asked, gazing appreciatively at the sleek red machine parked just in front of her. She stepped up to the car, circled it once so that she could get a glimpse of every angle, and then looked back at the guys with an awed expression. "It's amazing!"
The guys positively beamed with masculine pride at Jacelyn's reaction. Truth be told, the car was their baby. They couldn't help but delight a little when others admired it.
It was a modified Pontiac GTO that featured a two-piece windshield, a touring car T-bucket-type convertible top, modified rear quarter panels and front fenders, and exaggerated tail lamps. Across the door on the driver's side, the group's name was painted in vibrant yellow.
They had spent all day down at the beach laughing and playing, and now evening had set in. Shea was the only one to depart, as she had plans to spend the evening with her boyfriend. Everyone else was commitment-free, and so they'd collaborated on where to go for dinner. Eventually, they'd decided on a local pizza place, and the guys had offered to drive everyone.
Jacelyn had wondered how they planned on fitting seven people in one car. One glimpse at their ride, however, and she didn't doubt that they could manage to everyone inside. The thing was an impressive size.
The tall blonde stepped back to the group, then paused as something on the car's bumper caught her attention. Her eyes narrowed curiously as she studied the object, and then she looked over at Micky questioningly.
"Is that a parachute?" she asked, pointing to the object that did in fact look very much like a bundled parachute.
The drummer smiled broadly and nodded. "Yep!"
She laughed gleefully. "Very nice, guys! I'm officially impressed."
Mike chuckled. "Yes sir, that there's the Monkeemobile--our pride and joy." He glanced over at the other girls, who also appeared to be fascinated by the car. "We each chipped in to pay for it."
Jacelyn nodded, secretly finding it adorable that they called their car "The Monkeemobile," and looked back at the red machine. It was blatantly apparent that each of the guys had needed to combine their money to pay for it. The thing was one seriously revved up car. She recalled how the guys had mentioned that they often struggled to make money as undiscovered musicians, and she didn't doubt the truth of that. But after seeing their ride, she developed a new appreciation for their plight. She was willing to bet that car was at least partially responsible for them being short on cash. She wouldn't have been surprised to learn that the vast majority of their money had gone into paying for it.
Not that she blamed them. If one was going to spend money on a car, one might as well do it right.
"All right, guys," Mike said, unlocking the car. "Pile in."
He sat in the driver's seat, and Peter called shotgun. That left Micky, Davy, and the three girls to fit themselves into the backseat. They took a few minutes to discuss the best way for them to all fit. Predictably, Micky and Davy willing offered their services as living seats for the girls.
Jacelyn rolled her eyes at them playfully. "How very kind of you."
Micky laughed and shrugged. "I'm a giver, what can I say?" With that, the drummer slid his long frame into the backseat. "Come on, Jace," he called back to her, patting his leg invitingly.
She stepped up to the door and smirked at him. "Try not to look so bummed about this," she teased.
He grinned broadly. "It's either me or Davy, girl, take your pick." She paused for a minute, considering her options, and he snorted in mock indignation. "Oh come on," he said. "Like sitting on Davy is a much better option."
The Englishman shot him a dark look. "Gee, thanks, man."
Jacelyn giggled lightly, but still hesitated. Truth be known, the idea of sitting on a guy's lap was a little...intimidating to her. It was childish, she knew, but it still gave her pause. Besides, Micky was so skinny. She eyed his slender form doubtfully. Jacelyn was hardly heavy, but she couldn't help but think that she could be heavy to him. And that was hardly encouraging.
Micky smiled warmly. "Come on," he encouraged. "You can't sit on Davy--too much leg." He winked at her.
"So I'm about two seconds away from killing you," Davy said, glaring daggers at his best friend. "I want you to understand that."
Micky laughed, but let up. He knew how Davy hated being picked on for his height when girls were around. He turned his attention back to Jacelyn, who was giving the Englishman a consoling look. Micky had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Leave it to the small one to get sympathy points.
"All right now, seriously, Jace," the drummer said, drawing her attention back to him. "Get in here!"
Jacelyn looked back at him and chuckled. "All rig--Whoa!" She let out a little shriek as Micky grabbed her arms in a firm but gentle grip and hauled her right into the backseat to land sprawled upon his lap.
"Nice," she said, casting him a wry glance as she scrambled to sit up.
He just laughed, looking entirely too pleased with himself as she settled upon his lap. "Hey, you were taking too long," he dismissed as the others filed in beside them. "Figured I'd hurry things along before we missed dinner entirely."
She glared back at him over her shoulder. "Yeah well, if your legs start to go numb, don't go crying to me because I will not feel sorry for you."
He smiled and gave a careless shrug. "Fair enough."
Beside him, Erin sat on Davy's lap. Jacelyn and Micky glanced at them and then shared a grin. The small Englishman did indeed look all but lost beneath the redhead's long legs. Hearing a snicker, Davy looked over and saw the amused looks Jacelyn and Micky were giving him. He shot them a warning look as Taryn squeezed in beside him. "Not one word, you guys!"
"I wouldn't dream of it," Jacelyn assured, struggling to contain her mirth. Davy really was such a cutie.
"Speak for yourself, chick," Micky said, casting a smirk Davy's way.
The Englishman craned his neck over Erin's shoulder to look back at the drummer. "One more time, Dolenz. I'm warning you," he said, grinning despite himself.
"All right, children," Mike cut in, clearly amused. The others looked forward to see the Texan grinning back at them through the rearview mirror. "The car's about to be in motion, so let's try to contain ourselves."
"No promises," Micky replied absently.
Chuckling lightly, Mike put the car in reverse and headed out of the parking lot. Various conversations took place almost simultaneously as the Monkeemobile drove towards the pizza place, its engine rumbling impressively. Of course, a conversation without banter was hardly worth having, and needless to say there was plenty of banter to go around. Out of respect for making Mike's driving experience less hectic, though, Micky and Jacelyn did contain themselves. For the most part.
Mike seemed to be on a personal mission to get them to the pizza place as swiftly as possible. He zipped in between cars like a racer and practically flew down the street.
"Man," Micky commented as they sailed by another car. "Get us there real quick-like, Mike."
The Texan chuckled. "Hey, no sense wasting time when pizza's on the horizon."
"Well, do what you gotta do, just make sure we get there," Jacelyn replied, only half-joking. She didn't particularly relish the idea of the car so much as nudging anything with her just perched on Micky's lap like she was.
Mike flicked his brown gaze back at her briefly through the rear view mirror. "Your lack of faith hurts me, Jace."
She smirked. "I'm sure it does."
"'Course it does," he shot back. "Especially when you've got Micky there to keep you safe. He's better than any seat belt!"
The drummer chuckled and tightened his grip on the girl in his lap. "He's right, man. Just try pulling anything out of my iron grip!"
Jacelyn cast him a speculative look over her shoulder, then with a swift tug pulled her arm right out of his grip. She arched a tawny eyebrow at him triumphantly. "Oh yes," she replied, wiggling the fingers of her freed hand at him. "I feel safer already."
"I wasn't ready!" he protested.
A few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of The Beached Italian Pizzeria and parked at the restaurant's front.
"So, what part of Texas are you from, Mike?" Jacelyn asked as they all got out of the car.
"Houston," he replied. "It's a city down in…"
"South Texas," she interjected, smiling, "I know. I'm from Texas myself."
He shot her a surprised look. "No kidding?" he acknowledged. She nodded and he smiled. "Well, makes sense," he added teasingly. "I knew there was something I liked about you."
They all walked up to the restaurant entrance, and since Mike got to the door first, he held it open while everyone filed inside. "What part of Texas are you from?" he asked Jacelyn as she passed him.
"East," she replied, adding a quick "thanks!" as she walked through the door.
He nodded. "Anytime, pretty lady."
Jacelyn gave a broad smile. "Gotta love that southern hospitality."
Mike chuckled, pleased by her statement. Micky was just behind her, the last person to go in. Mike waited until the wacky drummer had passed before stepping inside himself.
"I was born in Tyler," Jacelyn continued as they proceeded into the restaurant.
"I know the place," Mike replied with a nod. "It's nice."
"It really is," she agreed. "It's been a good few years since I've been there. I need to go back--see how things have changed."
They found a table located near the back of the restaurant that was happily large enough to seat all of them. The seven young adults wasted no time seating themselves and deciding on what they'd like to eat. Soon, the waiter came by and they placed their orders.
"Poor guy," Shea commented as they watched the teenager rush off to take care of all the orders they'd just thrown at him.
"Yeah, my hat goes off to waiters," Peter agreed. "I don't think I'd be very good at that job."
Mike laughed, thinking off all the times Peter had broken a plate or a glass when doing the dishes. Or the different concoctions Peter had tried to pass off as food during the nights it was his turn to cook. "Can't argue with that, ol' buddy!"
"Yeah, but he's gonna get a nice tip from serving all of us," Micky pointed out.
Mike winced and nodded. "Can't argue with that either."
A few minutes later, the waiter returned, his tray laden with all of their drinks. Everyone smiled and thanked him as he set their drinks in front of them.
"So, Jace, have you seen Avery's hair yet?" Taryn asked, looking over at her friend.
Jacelyn grimaced and nodded. "Yes, and I had successfully blocked the image from my mind until you reminded me," she replied. "What gives, Taryn? I thought you said he was cute."
Taryn gave the tall blonde a shocked look. "That's cause he is!" she insisted. "What's wrong with you that you can't see that?"
Jacelyn gapped at the brunette. "Are you serious? That hair gives me the wig, Taryn. That man should not be blond, it's just not right."
"Erm..." Micky cut in, looking from one girl to the next. "What exactly is going on here?"
"Avery is this guy who works at the apartment complex where Taryn and I live," Jacelyn explained.
"You know," Davy commented with a chuckle, glancing at the three girls, "I find it rather amusing that your names all rhyme like that."
"I know, really," Micky agreed. "How'd you guys set that up? Seriously?"
"Anyway," Jacelyn continued, smiling her amusement though she pointedly ignored the boys' remarks. "He's got this...kind of mousey brown hair. And he dyed it blonde earlier this week."
"And he looks incredible as a blond!" Taryn broke in, to which Jacelyn merely cast her a speculative glance.
"And so, what?" Micky asked. "Does he look like a Q-tip now or something?"
Jacelyn looked at him, surprised, and then she laughed. "Actually..."
"He does not look like a Q-tip!" Taryn insisted.
Jacelyn gave the brunette an unsettled look. "Taryn, I'm a little disturbed that you're so into this dude," she admitted.
"Oh, wow, I'm sorry, are we judging each other now?" Taryn replied, her lips curving into a dark smile. "Because if you want to go there--"
"Aaaaand, here comes our food," Mike interrupted, thanking each of his luck stars individually and by name that their food had arrived at such a perfect moment.
"All right!" Jacelyn exclaimed as the pizza was laid before her. "I'm starving!"
"Dang," Micky remarked, impressed as he watched her help herself to four slices right off the bat.
Taryn laughed. "We think Jace has a tapeworm or something," she told him, smiling fondly at the tall blonde.
Time seemed to fly for the new friends. Soon their food was ordered and placed before them. Their conversations continued a mile a minute as they ate. Micky and Jacelyn really had hit it off, as their friends had observed. They talked about anything and everything that struck their fancy. Jacelyn was warmed by the fact that he cared to listen to her at all regarding some of the trivialities she told him.
As their meal neared its end, Jacelyn excused herself and headed for the restroom. She navigated her way to the back of the restaurant, where a sign bearing the word "restrooms" was blazing larger than life. She pushed open the door to the women's restroom--and drew up short mid-step.
The room was very dimly lit, so much so that Jacelyn wondered if there were any lights on at all. The only real source of light came from a single candle that flickered on the counter in between the two sinks, its soft orange glow barely extending an inch past the sinks' rims.
Jacelyn remained where she was in the doorway, her mouth dropping open. It was as if the restaurant owners were going for a romantic feel with their bathrooms...and had lost interest one iota into the attempt. It was the most surreal, creepy bathroom scene she had ever walked into. Especially in a little pizza place like this one.
And she cracked up.
All notions of going to the bathroom now well vanquished, Jacelyn turned on her heel and headed back to the table, doing her best to stifle her laughter.
"Well that was fast," Erin commented when her blonde friend returned not two minutes after she'd left.
"You guys have to see the bathroom!" she told the girls through her laughing. "It's all totally dark--with a single candle in there for light!"
"No way!" Erin commented. "The men's bathroom too?"
Jacelyn gave her a look, and then her laughter began anew. "Because I so went in there to check!"
The guys were very intrigued by this bit of information.
"Oh man, I have to check this out!" Micky exclaimed, and off he went. Sure enough, he came back in short order, laughing the whole way. "So, yeah--Ours, too!"
This, of course, led to everybody having to get up and check out their respective bathrooms. It dimly crossed Jacelyn's mind that they probably made quite the curious sight: seven young adults heading as one over to the bathrooms, looking inside, and then cracking up as they left.
Needless to say, their car ride back was anything but quiet.