Mike knocked on the car window. "Come on Davy, get a move on!"

"Do I have to go in? Can't you guys just do this without me this time?"

"You know the deal, Tiny. We keep the gig because of you, you gotta be in there."

Davy gritted his teeth and threw his head back against the car seat. This gig was getting tedious. The band had gotten a standing gig at a swanky new club The Belvedere, but the only reason they had secured the spot was that the club owner's daughter Maggie was sweet on Davy. The prospect of a potential date with Davy was causing Maggie to beg her father to keep the band playing each week. And Mike had made it abundantly clear to Davy that he was to keep stringing the girl along until he was ready to be serious and committed to one girl. Mike didn't want to risk one date and a quick break up because that meant empty pockets.

Davy was glad that Mike was putting certain limits and expectations of dating Maggie. Truthfully, Davy didn't want to date the girl. Sure she was pretty enough, just like all the others he had dated before…the problem wasn't her. It was him. He had been discovering over time that he wasn't interested in girls at all. He knew that he never felt quite right about girls. Davy just figured at some point everything would fall into place. Girls seemed to be very interested in him so the least he could do was test the waters. As time went on though, the 'let's see how this goes' mentality was getting old and frankly annoying. And Davy was very much aware that he was scoping out other men. He just didn't want anyone else to know. What would they think of him? Would they disapprove and disown him? It was better to keep up the charade.

Although, at this particular time the charade was becoming increasingly irritating. Maggie was throwing herself at Davy every chance she got. He was doing his best to put on the act but was growing so weary of it that last week he tried to climb into Mike's guitar case to avoid her. She wasn't overbearing, nothing that he wasn't already used to. He supposed it was being tired of living a lie and having it constantly rubbed in his face.

Davy made one final sigh and trudged up to the club door angrily clutching his tambourine.

"What's wrong, Babe?" Micky had sidled up to him.

"Nothing! Everything is fantastic," Davy said sarcastically.

"You can't kid a kidder."

"I wasn't trying to," Davy was exasperated by this conversation already.

"Lady troubles, huh?"

Did that drummer not take a hint? Usually sarcasm and body tension meant to not talk to someone. Clearly social cues were not Micky's forte.

"You think! I'm tired of having to appease and put on this act that I want to go out with Maggie for this job. It's exhausting!"

Micky nodded. "I could see that. She comes on to strong. 'Oh Davy, I love you.'" Micky started making kissy faces towards Davy.

"Oh come off it, Mick," Davy said bumping into the drummer playfully. He was already starting to feel better. "It's not her at all. I'm just not interested is all."

"Davy Jones not interested in something in a skirt? I don't buy it."

If only he knew…

Davy avoided what Micky just mentioned. "I don't know how I can go on dodging her like this. I would go out with her and get it over with but Mike isn't ready for that…I'm not ready for that. He wants me to be in a longer term relationship with her and I'm not on board with that."

"Yeah and you can't blow her off because you don't want her telling daddy to fire us."

"Exactly! Damned if I do and damned if I don't," Davy rested his hand on his forehead.

Micky glanced at his watch. "Well at least there isn't a lot of time for her to make kissy faces at you before we play. You can thank Peter for causing us to be a bit late."

"I don't understand how he keeps getting his head stuck in the railing of the staircase," Davy shook his head. "That reminds me we need to get more butter."

"You better hope that you can smooth this over next time Davy!" Mike scolded as they drove home from the club.

Micky had been right, there was no time before the gig for Maggie to approach Davy. That only meant that her eventual approach later on was more aggressive. It started out innocently enough with her hanging on Davy's every word (though he was only giving brief one-word answers). She upped her game a bit and began rubbing his shoulders. That was a little too intimate for Davy, so he gently maneuvered away from her touch. This act caused her to bring out the big guns and…

"She grabbed my ass, Mike! What was I supposed to do?"

"Definitely not head butt her!"

"That was an accident! A knee jerk reaction."

"Looked a little too purposeful to me," Mike shot back.

"Listen, I've been playing this little game and it has been tame up until now. But she's crossed the line and I feel violated. I'm not a piece of meat, you know."

Mike huffed. "You're just lucky that I can think quickly on my feet and gave an excuse, so that we are allowed to come back next time."

"I don't want to come back next time! I'm done with this cat and mouse game."

Mike slammed on the brakes and turned around to face the backseat. "You will keep this up as long as we can to secure this income. In fact, I think you're about ready for a girlfriend…you dig?"

Davy glared at Mike. There was no arguing with him. He felt like Mike was pimping him out for gigs. Davy's feelings weren't important and that's what stung the most. Mike turned around and continued driving. Davy slunk down further in his seat. Suddenly, he noticed a presence near him.

"Don't worry, buddy. I've got a brilliant idea."