Chapter seven: The world is only gonna break your heart
The hotel was beautiful, having been brand new. There was gamboling areas set up all throughout the lower part of the hotel and a special ball room with a large stage perfect for a wide range of different acts. The Monkees had been given their own rooms (two for the four of them to share) and were told that when they weren't performing they could do whatever they liked within the hotel. They had never had the chance to experience something like the two week gig here in Las Vegas. The most they ever had was poorly paid gigs in different local night clubs and at private parties given at different places along the beach. They had one of their typical gigs at a typical night club, unknowing that a talent scout was there looking for a group to come play for the special opening of this very hotel. The Monkees were all extremely excited over this because it made them feel like stars.
They had everything set up on stage, including their brand new moog synthesizer. After a small sound check The Monkees went backstage and people began to fill the room. Neither of the four of them knew how the performance was going to go, especially in front of a crowd like this and on the stage that was larger than the ones they were used to. But they were all excited for it. After hitting the stage they went right into their first set. They played a few songs and grabbed the audience with their music.
"This next song we're going to do is a brand new one we've been working on." Mike said in between songs "This is our first time we've played this in front of a crowd so we hope y'all like it. If not then we've got some more tunes for you. This is called Daily Nightly."
The first notes of the song began and immediately sparked the audience's interest. With the sound of the synthesizer this song was like nothing anyone had heard before.
"Darkened rolling figures move thru' prisms of no color… hand in hand they walk the night but never know each other…" Micky sang as he played the synthesizer "Passioned pastel neon lights light up the jeweled trav'ler. When lost in scenes of smoke filled dreams, find questions but no answers…"
As Micky sang, Mike gazed out to the crowd. He had to look twice to make sure that he in fact saw who he thought he saw. And he was right. Standing amongst the other people were Trixie, Brownie and Tulip. Mike grinned towards them to let them know that they had been spotted.
"Salvation's yours for just the time it takes to pay the dancer! And once again such anxious men find questions but no answers!"
Micky sang on and the band continued to play. Mike winked at Trixie, causing her to smile.
"The night has gone and taken its infractions! While saddened eyes hope there will be a next one!"
Mike looked over again at Trixie and then saw someone come up to her, handing her a drink. It was Marc, and seeing him made Mike feel ill. 'How dare she bring that guy to Vegas with her, and flaunt it in front of me like that?' he thought, nearly causing himself to play a sour note.
"Second hands that minds have slowed are moving even faster. Toward bringing down someone who's found the questions but no answers!" And with that, Micky's final sung lines led them into the fade of the song
As they finished up their set, Mike kept a close watch on Trixie and Marc. He absolutely could not stand seeing that guy with her. What was so special about him? What did she even see in him? He clearly was not her type. He was barely taller than she was, and quite a bit scrawny. Mike could have easily snapped him in half. He didn't even look as though he could have taken a shot of whiskey that little piece of shit. What did he have that Mike didn't? What was that Mr. "I spell my name with a C" all about any way? He must have been rich or something. Maybe he tricked her into being with him somehow. He certainly couldn't have been all that interesting. And yet Trixie hung onto the guy's side and every word that came out of his mouth as though he was the greatest guy to ever walk the earth. That no good skinny nothing of a guy any way.
Mike's jealousy was raging within him by the time their set was over. He stepped off stage, walked past Trixie and Marc as though he didn't notice them and headed for the bar across the room. Right away he ordered himself two shots of whiskey and downed them just like water. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Trixie and Marc approaching him. Mike's eyes turned to their hands and took notice to the fact that they were linked together. He then quickly looked away and ordered a beer. When he looked back at them he had a fake grin resting upon his lips.
"Hey! Nice to see you Trixie. Oh and I see you're here with Max."
"Marc…" Marc corrected
"Yeah that's right." Mike looked at Trixie "So how you like the show so far?"
"Oh it's great! Your new song is amazing!"
"Well you helped Micky figure out the synthesizer and got him to sing it."
"Yeah but you're the one who wrote it. I just love the songs you write, Michael."
"Thanks. I do what I can." He took a swig of his beer
"Well your can is better than most people's do." She said with a wink
"Well I wouldn't know about that."
"I would." She grinned, catching him by the eyes
Marc tugged on Trixie's sleeve "C'mon babe let's go gamble or something."
"Oh alright… well I guess I'll see you a little later, Michael."
"Oh of course."
"Can't wait for your next set." She playfully twirled a finger through his hair before stepping away
"See you later Trixie. Max."
"It's Marc!" He called as he and Trixie were walking away
"Yeah I bet it is, Marcey-boy." Mike took a swig of his beer and watched Trixie from behind
Meanwhile the other five guys were in the casino area having a good time. A waitress came over and served them their drinks while they watched Micky play the slot machine. In one hand Micky held his drink and in the other he had the handle of the slot machine.
"Check this out." He pulled the handle down "C'mon c'mon c'mon…. yes!" Coins came out of the machine "Take that!"
"How's it every time you gamble, you win? 'Specially slots?"
"Well Pete, I got magic fingers! What can I tell you?" He took a drink and then pulled the lever again
"I once thought that I had magic fingers…" Said Brownie "But of course I was so stoned at the time that I thought everything was magical."
"So what's new?" Laughed Tulip
This caused all five of them to laugh, including Micky who had won again.
"Hey Davy you got more change on you?" Micky asked
Davy reached into his pocket "Why don't you use what you've won?"
"I'm saving it up for something good."
"Alright. But this is the last I'm giving to you." He handed Micky the change
"Thanks."
Before Micky could put a coin in the slot he looked up and across the room. His eyes widened and he dropped the coin, allowing it to land on the floor by his foot.
"Micky you kinda missed there." Peter said with a laugh "Mick?" He patted Micky on the shoulder
Micky's eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched as he stared across the room.
"Here hold this for me." He handed his drink to Peter before walking away
"Micky? What's the…" Davy was the first one to see what Micky was suddenly after "Oh shit…" When Peter gasped Davy knew he had seen it too.
Micky approached the area where August stood with another love-struck guy in his arms. Davy and Peter looked at each other with pained expressions.
"That could go nowhere good fast." Peter stated
"Uh uh. We bettah keep an eye on the situation. We'll step in there when it's absolutely necessary."
Peter nodded "Right."
Micky scowled as he tapped August on the shoulder. August and the other guy pulled apart and then August looked at Micky.
"Heeeeey! Micky! Long time no see!"
"After you dumped me and left me stranded? Yeah."
"Micky I'd like you to meet Donnie."
Micky briefly looked at Donnie "Yeah nice to meet you." He looked back at August "So how long did it take you to round him up after you got rid of me?"
"Don't be testy, babe."
"Oh don't you babe me! Did you think you were never going to see me again? Surely you must have known that we were going to be playing here, otherwise you wouldn't have shown up with, what, your latest victim."
The whole time Donnie stood there confused, upset, and looking like a wounded puppy at the same time all while he watched August and Micky.
"Micky it ain't like that."
"Then how is it? Don't tell me you actually have feelings for this guy or something." He turned to Donnie "Save yourself the trouble and don't buy into what he says or does. That charm of his might make him seem like the greatest guy ever, until he rips your fucking heart out."
"Hey listen fella!" Exclaimed Donnie "I don't care who you are or what August has done to you, but he's with me now and you're going to have to get over him."
"Oh yeah?! You want me to get over him? Trust me, one day soon you're going to know exactly what he put me through and then you'll have to be the one to get over him!"
"What the fuck is your problem, fuzzball?" Donnie grabbed August's arm "Come on babe. Let's go to our room."
"Hold on Donnie." August looked at Micky "Who the hell are you to come over here and yell at me and my boyfriend?"
Micky rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists "Oh you don't want to know who the hell I am, August. How dare you do that to me and then move on with him like I never mattered at all to you?!"
Right before Micky could punch August, Peter had grabbed his fist. Davy and Peter quickly pulled Micky away from August and Donnie. Micky began to yell at August as he was being pulled away by his two friends.
"Fuck you August! Fuck you and your fucking boyfriend! If I ever see you again you are going to know exactly the pain you caused me once I'm done with you!"
Peter and Davy brought Micky back over to the slot machines. Peter sat Micky down in a nearby chair.
"Micky just cool down." He said sternly
"He just pissed me off so much, Pete." Micky huffed "I just want to kick his fucking ass so bad!"
"Violence is never the answer. You know that."
"Besides," Davy chimed in "We know he hurt you, but you really had no right in going ovah there like that."
"He didn't have to fucking show up at this hotel with another guy, knowing damn well that we were going to be performing here!"
"No he didn't. But he did and there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it." Peter replied "We're really sorry this happened to you but something a lot worse could have happened."
Micky sighed and nodded. But before he could reply he looked up and saw Brownie and Tulip standing there.
"Hey man, that was some heavy shit." Said Tulip
"You don't need to worry about that asshole. We've all got your back." Added Brownie
"Thanks man."
"How about we all go out to my van? I've got my monster bong out there and Brownie's got some shit that will cause you to forget about August completely."
"You know what?" Micky stood up "Yeah let's go. I need to relax."
"Relax?" Brownie laughed "You won't be able to feel your fucking body after smoking this shit."
"Ok bring it on."
Without saying anything else, the five of them walked out of the hotel and to where Tulip's van was parked. Their night was about to get better but what they didn't know was, Mike's night was about to get a lot worse.