Chapter 13- If I Knew

Hours later, after the rest of the roses and homework burned to ashes, Micky, Peter, and Davy finally decided to face the beast. Vocally they were all grateful that Mike had forgotten all about the dreaded mistress who the gypsy despised, but they all couldn't help but wonder to what extent Mike's amnesia went.

They each walked through the front door, one by one, being welcomed by a silent house. Micky roared into the silence, "Mike? You home?"

His echo replied back. Davy furrowed his brow. "Where could he have gone to?"

They all started calling out for Mike. They began searching everywhere. Under the couch, in closets, in cupboards. There was no dust not disturbed by their frantic search for their leader. After several minutes of yelling and looking, their actions came to an end by the sound of the front door shutting.

"Mike!" Micky yelled happily. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I can tell…" Mike said, his tone more concerned than amused. "I was just over at Mrs. Gray's, comforting her and apologizing for you three beheading all of her roses."

"You were?" Davy asked innocently.

"Yeah…" Mike said. "What's wrong with you three? You have been asking suspicious all day."

"Well we want to try and do everything in our power to get home," Peter confessed. "And the only way to do that is to ruin everyone's daily routine."

"What are you talking about?" Mike asked, seemingly more confused than when he first walked in.

"The trial!" Peter cried out. "We need to complete the trial to go home!"

"Peter," Mike said with the same confused tone. "We are home. Are you drunk or something?"

"No, no," Micky said, realizing the situation fully. "It's just a game we're playing, Mike. Nothing to be worried about. You see, there is a series of objectives we need to complete for the game. Whoever completes the most tasks gets to "go home" and the losers have to do their bidding for a week. It's quite fun, you should join."

Mike gave a skeptical look at the drummer, but sighed, passing it off as one of his crazy ideas. "No thanks. I need to rewrite my entire lesson plan now, since you three burned it."

"Sorry about that," Davy admitted. "But we can't let you do that either."

"And why not?"

"We're having a party!" Micky beamed.

"A party?" Mike asked. "Here?"

"Yeah! To celebrate Andrew's arrival in the neighborhood. It should be quite fun. The four of us can perform, people will bring snacks," Micky rambled.

"And Micky won't hurt himself, right Micky?" Davy pointed out.

"Right! I hope," Micky frowned. "We don't have a fire ring, do we?"

"Not that I know of," Mike said, returning to his neutral, confused state.

"Good!" Micky beamed. "We need to set up for the party!"

"You three are going to plan a party?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, of course. We've done it before. Remember when Davy wanted to date General Vandenburg's daughter, so we threw a chaperoned party and I had to pretend to be the chaperone because Mrs. Weefers was too stoned to move and-" The blank stare on Mike's face told Micky that he, in fact, did not remember such an event.

"Well, trust us Mike," Davy covered. "We've got this. This is going to be the best damn party you've ever been to."

"Yeah!" Peter agreed. "You and I can go start inviting people while Davy and Micky start planning and setting up."

"I don't think I really want any part in this guys," Mike said wearily.

"Don't be silly Mike," Davy said, winking at Peter. Peter grabbed the Texan by the shoulders and began pushing him out of the house. "It will be fun!"

Mike and Peter walked up to the Duncan's doorstep. Peter knocked on the door, and the two waited silently for someone to answer. However, when the door opened, it was not Andrew who answered.

"Hi, may I help you?" A young brunette asked up at the two Monkees. Peter could swear that in that moment his heart stopped. He quickly looked up at Mike, who was falling fast. A small smile crept onto his face. Peter had to do something.

First, he elbowed Mike in the ribs. "Hi, my name's Peter," Peter said over Mike's groans of agony. "I was over here earlier with two friends of mine. Is Andrew home by chance?"

"No he went to the store to get some food for a party," Melissa said, suddenly changing her attention from Peter to Mike. "Are you okay?"

Peter elbowed him again. "He's fine. When Andrew comes back can you please let him know that everyone has been invited, even Mr. Green next to us. He was a stickler, but I was able to convince him."

"Uh, okay, sure," Melissa said, shutting the door slowly, her face that of complete skepticism and confusion. "Bye now."

Peter smiled and waved, saying his goodbye. One the door shut Mike bellowed. "What was that for?!"

"You were falling in love," Peter admitted. "You can't be doing that."

"Why the hell not?!" Mike yelled, following Peter off the Duncan's lawn.

"Just trust me," Peter said. He wanted to explain, but he already knew that if he did, he would get a cocky response and then Mike would go looking to fall in love with her again. It simply could not happen. In his mind Peter decided that at the party they would need to keep both Mike and Melissa distracted in order to ensure their victory. However, he also hoped that he didn't already ruin it for them with Mike falling in love at first sight. He worried that if they were to make it home, maybe Melissa and Mike couldn't meet at all. Well, it wasn't like they were on a deadline. If they had to live another Sunday just to correct Peter's error, then so be it.

The house was decorated in streamers and balloons galore. Micky and Davy had rearranged the living room, setting up a small bandstand in the corner for them to play at. Andrew had eventually arrived and he and Davy began to cook food by the dozen in their kitchen. Micky and Peter kept Mike distracted by causing more trouble than they're worth; stealing his tie, cutting a string on his guitar, throwing paper airplanes at the back of his head. They used whatever they could find to push Mike to the brink of insanity.

Five o'clock hit and the guests began to arrive. One by one their neighbors came, they party beginning to evolve. Once they replaced Mike's guitar strings, the Monkees started playing a few tunes. Some, like the children, danced. Others, like Mr. Green, critiqued their music in the most fierce ways. However, even on the bandstand. Micky, Peter, and Davy could not avoid true love.

"Uh, hi," Melissa came up to Mike in between songs. "My name's Melissa."

"Mike," Mike smiled brightly. "Nice to meet you, officially this time."

"Mike!" Davy screamed. When Mike turned to the percussionist with a look of disdain, Davy squeaked, "Let's play 'You Told Me.'"

Mike rolled his eyes and said to Melissa, "Sorry. Last song, I promise."

As they sang the tune, Micky tossed frowns at Davy and Peter. They had worked so hard to try and avoid everything that might be normal for this Sunday, but they failed. Melissa and Mike fell in love. Again. Deep inside they each felt like the day was already restarting for them. Deep inside they were already planning their attack for tomorrow. Sunday.