Chapter Two

Onstage, The Monkees bowed at the round of applause they got. They talked amongst themselves a moment as they tuned up for the next song.

"Looks like Mr. Vincent found a new waitress," Mike said observantly.

Peter and Davy looked around a moment, spotting her as she went around to differen tables. "Oh yeh! A li'l red haired girl!" Davy replied with a nod in her direction. "She's kinda cute."

Micky peered over the drums, "Where is she?"

Davy went up behind him and pointed him in the right direction. "See?"

"Oh yeah... I can't tell much about her up here though."

"Neither can Davy, she's just a female species," Mike muttered.

"Oh, is that an island somewhere?" Peter asked.

The others looked at him as if he'd grown two heads.

He made a face and looked down to tune his bass.

"Right, mates, 'ere she comes. We'll get a bettah look at 'er durin' this song, I think," Davy said as they began to play their next song on Mike's count of three, "Words."

They had become aquainted with the other waitresses of the Vincent Van Go-Go, and Davy had even dated a previous one, so it was only natural that they were curious about the 'new girl.'

She got close enough to the stage once she had made her rounds at tables that each of the guys could clearly see her now. She had long, straight light red hair with fringed bangs in the front, earthy green eyes with long eyelashes enhanced with mascara, and freckles sprinked across her cheeks and nose. Pouty lips and a pixie chin finished out her face, and the rest of her was tall and a little bigger than average size with long legs and an ample bosom.

Mike didn't have much of an interest in the girl other than knowing she worked at the Vincent and that they would more than likely cross paths here and there. He had his own girl in the audience to worry about. His eyes found his object of affection again and smiled, winking what had been referred to as his 'deadly wink.'

Peter and Davy thought she was rather cute and looked forward to meeting the newest member of the Vincent's staff. She had looked a little nervous at first but as the evening had progressed, she seemed to be more comfortable.

Micky watched every move she made, and the couple of times he botched on the drums proved it. Something about the freckles made her face so sweet and her eyes were almost exotic. Her red-blonde locks weren't something he'd seen much of - and her smile...

Gee I hope she sticks around for awhile...

About halfway through the evening, The Monkees came down from the stage and sat at a table reserved for the entertainment. This was when the jukebox in the corner was implemented for about half an hour until time for the band to go back up again.

"When the band comes down, they always get refreshments on the house, it's part of the payment," Mr. Vincent had explained to Sarah beforehand. So now that they were down, she walked over to them with pen and paper in hand.

"Hi guys, I'm Sarah, what'll it be this evening?" she asked with a bright smile, looking around at all four of them.

"Hi Sarah, we're The Monkees," Davy smiled charmingly.

Sarah nodded with a small laugh, "I kinda guessed as much from what this gentleman said earlier when he was intro-ing you guys."

"Oh that? Well yeah, uh, I think that's been my first and only foray into comedy," Mike replied.

Around this time, a girl with an almost black pixie haircut and amber eyes a little less than a foot shorter than Sarah came from the restroom area and sat next to Mike.

"Hi, I'm Sarah," she introduced herself to the girl, "I'm just coming around to get orders."

"Oh, cool," the other girl replied, then smiled. "I'm Carrie. I follow these goofs around... mostly 'cause of this one," she patted Mike on the shoulder.

"Only mostly, huh?" he aske her with a smirk, then patted her on the head when all she did was grin up at him.

"Okay, I'm new... how do they normally handle the refreshments when it comes to you?" Sarah asked in a slightly embarassed whisper.

"I just pay for myself," Carrie replied, unphased.

"Cool! Okay, so what are we having?" Sarah continued with her work.

Everyone told her what they would like, and tapping her pen on the notepad, she smiled with a promise to be back soon and went to turn their orders in and check on her other customers.

Carrie looked after her a moment, then said, "She's cute. So, which one of you three's gonna be bringing her around the beach?"

Mike chuckled at his girlfriends' frankness.

"But we don't even know her," Peter replied, missing the point.

"Well in order fer us to bring 'er around, one of us would 'ave to get to know her now wouldn't we?" Davy asked the blonde, then grinned. "I'd volunteer that but I doubt she'd want to look down at me when we're slow dancin'... though I've gotta admit the view I'd 'ave would be rather nice."

This met with Peter and Carrie snickering along with Davy.

"Well, Mick, how 'bout you? You ain't said a word since she left."

Micky's face flushed, "I'll be right back," he said, rising and turning with a brisk walk. But before anyone could warn him, he ran right into Sarah, who was carrying their tray of orders. She stumbled backward onto her butt and glasses flew and fell to the floor shattering and sticky cokes as well as what couple of snacks were on the tray flew up and spilled between the two.

"Gosh, Sarah, I'm so sorry!" Micky exclaimed, hurrying over to help the girl up. "Here, if you'll bring me a mop and bucket and a broom I'll clean all that up."

Dear lord how embarassing... This would have to happen with the drummer... Sarah thought to herself as he helped her up. "It's okay, you don't have to - I can get it."

Carrie stepped in around this time, "Here, we'll clean this up, you can get the order again and check on your other customers. No sense in you havin' to do that all by yourself."

Mike walked past them to find Mr. Vincent for a broom, mop, and bucket while Peter and Davy came forward to help clean up. Sarah nodded, overwhelmed with gratitude and embarassment, then went back hurriedly to fetch their orders once again.

Mike came back the supplies and with Mr. Vincent. "What happened?" he asked.

"I wasn't watchin' where I was goin' and ran her over while she was bringing our orders," Micky replied quietly.

"Oh, is she okay?"

"Yeah, we offered to clean up the mess so she could get orders," Carrie answered.

Mr. Vincent nodded. "Thanks for always bein' so good to the girls, fella's, and Miss," he sighed and added, "not everyone is as thoughtful as you all."

By the time Sarah brought back their new orders, Mr. Vincent was back in the back again and the mess was cleaned up. With another embarassed apology and pink cheeks, Sarah gave them their individual orders and left in a hurry to tend to her other customers.

Carrie sipped her Coke through her straw then mused aloud, "Well, that's one way to meet a girl."

After a moment of silence, Mike snorted and Davy couldn't help but giggle. Peter looked confused and Micky rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah yeah, guys, laugh it up..." he mumbled, staring into his Coke and casting a stolen glance as Sarah walked from table to table a few feet over.