The Monkees were back at the Vincent on the weekend day that Sarah was working; because of this, her feelings were a mixture of nerves and happiness. She didn't want anything like last time to happen, but she felt as though she had made a nice set of friends from around here since that first day at the beach.

After the volleyball game they had kind of gone their separate ways for a bit, either surfing or swimming or just doing whatever. She and Carrie became gal-pals, which was nice for both of them and especially a relief for Carrie.

"I'm not friends with too many other girls," she had said, "they're waaay too catty sometimes. That and some of the girls the others bring around..." she shook her head and rolled her eyes, making Sarah giggle.

Come afternoon's end as the sun was edging closer to the ocean and it's setting place, the gang gathered around a small bonfire that Peter and Micky had built. Mike brought out his guitar and strummed on it lightly. Sometimes the guys would sing random songs, either of their own or from other bands. Once in awhile the girls would sing a line or two as well.

The beach was bathed in firelight, the sky fading to twilight and the pleasant smell of the burning wood creeping into everyone's nostrils. Carrie leaned on Mike and once in awhile, Sarah would see him close his eyes and kiss the top of her head. They weren't much for PDA, it seemed, but she could tell that they were very close and had a great deal of love for one another.

In the process of the day Sarah had formed a bond with Peter and Davy. She discovdered she and Peter had a great love for The Mamas and The Papas, as well as Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. They were both generally non-violent people and had very tender feelings that could get hurt easily. She and Davy had fun flirting with each other, but both knew it would never go any further. He was fun to be around and easy to talk to and he felt warm to her, almost like a brother but not quite. A male best friend was perhaps the best term for it.

Things had still been awkward between her and Micky all afternoon. While cordial, they couldn't seem to get quite past one or two words apiece. This depressed them both but when either thought that the other really didn't want anything to do with them, it made things harder than they should have been.

"So who's your fave?"

Sarah nearly jumped out of her skin and brought back to the present as she was violently shaken from her reverie by Carrie's whisper from behind.

"Don't do that!" she squeaked.

Carrie giggled, "Sorry. You seemed kinda like you were off in space, didn't know if any of 'em were on your mind," she cocked her head toward the stage in indication.

"They're all groovy guys," Sarah replied diplomatically, then grinned and smugly added, "I'd say that Mike was totally lust-worthy but I'm pretty sure you'd kick my ass."

Carrie snorted, "Nice, you've been hanging around me too much already. C'mo-on, you've gotta think one of 'em's cute."

Sarah swallowed and her cheeks turned a little pink. Suddenly she was saved momentarily.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," Mike called from onstage, "our next song is called, "Sometime in The Morning." It's a little slower so if ya wanna hold your sweetheart, well, now's the time."

Carrie laughed softly, "He's so cute when he rambles..."

But Sarah was pulled right in when the song began; she hadn't heard this one before. It was soft and pretty, and when Micky began to sing, shivers went up and down her spine. Her head began to slightly bob to the music and for a moment, she wasn't there in the Vincent... she could have very well seen herself in his arms.

Damn...

"It's Micky ain't it?" Carrie suddenly exclaimed in a whisper.

Sarah's eyes went wide as she looked to Carrie. "Huh?"

"Psh, don't start actin' dumb on me, now. I've seen that dopey look on someone's face enough to know when they are infatuated with someone."

Sarah blinked and sighed a little, "I'd better go check on my tables..."

"Just remember, you can't run away from the truth!" Carrie cackled from behind her, making Sarah roll her eyes with a small smile.

But I could try melting into the earth... gah, who am I kidding.

As she checked on her customers, the song still held its spell over her and she chanced a glance up at Micky once in awhile. Oddly enough, a few times he was looking right at her, but would look away almost right then. But at one point their eyes met and held for just a moment...

Now... in her child-like eyes

You see the beauty there,

You know it was always there,

And you need no longer wear a disguise...

Sarah became aware of herself then and tore her eyes away, despite how wrong it felt to do so.

Once the song was over and the applause died, the boys came down to their reserved table and Sarah scurried from table to table because they were re-filling quick with the patrons who had been dancing. One she finished with them, she got back around to the Monkees and Carrie.

"Hey guys, what we having this evening?" she asked with a bright smile.

Once she had their orders written and her pen back in the pocket of her apron, she looked to Micky.

"By the way, uh... that last song... it was..." she felt at a loss for words and could feel the heat rising up to her cheeks. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all... "You sing good," she squeaked, then hurried away before he could even say 'Thank you.'

He blinked, a little mystified at Sarah's odd behavior. But as he watched her go back towards the back, he couldn't help the small smile that played on his lips.

Carrie giggled, "That was so sad it was cute," she said in an asside to Mike.

Mike snorted, "You said it, shotgun."