"Might I say that this time went immensely better than the last part."
"Last part?" Micky questioned.
"Rehearsal, I meant rehearsal, not the last story that was written about us," Mike said with his eyes darting from side to side.
"What story?"
"Shh, never mind. I don't know what's gotten everyone so motivated to play, but keep it up."
Peter and Davy exchanged a knowing smile while Micky was preoccupied with trying to pick his fallen cymbal off the floor.
"Does this mean we get to end early? You know since we will be practicing tomorrow too…" Davy asked hopefully.
"Please, Dad," Peter encouraged.
Mike gave them an odd look. "I'm just going to say yes so you two stop being weird."
"That won't happen, Mike. I'm the only other normal one around here anymore," Micky said clanging his cymbal onto the floor once more.
"I'd take my chances with Mr. Schneider any day over you," Mike teased. "What do we want to do with this extra time?"
"Finish the scavenger hunt!"
"Micky, I think that that ship has sailed."
"Brilliant Mike! The next clue must be at the marina!"
Mike grabbed Micky by the collar before he could run out the front door. "Not a chance."
"Why don't we just go out and grab a pizza?" Peter suggested.
"I see what you're up to, Peter," Micky said wagging his finger in the bassist's direction.
Peter held his breath for a moment, hoping Micky wouldn't say anything about him and Davy.
"You know the next clue to the scavenger hunt is there in plain sight. You thought I wouldn't figure it out," Micky sidled up closer to Peter and poked his chest. "But I'm on to you."
Peter breathed out at the conversational direction.
"Micky, please don't cause a scene. I'd like to be able to show my face at Luigi's again," Davy pleaded as they walked out the door.
When they pulled up to the pizza parlor, Micky had forgotten about the scavenger hunt because he was too busy thinking up the pizza concoctions they could get.
"How about pineapple, anchovy, mushroom, and green peppers?"
"That sounds disgusting!" Peter said crinkling his nose.
"Why can't we have something normal like pepperoni?" Mike offered.
"Fine have it your way, amateurs," Micky said dramatically.
They chose a table closer to the door just in case someone did something and they had to make a quick exit, learned that lesson the hard way after Peter knocked over a candle and set a whole table on fire at another restaurant. Peter sat next to Davy and made every attempt he could to 'accidentally' brush up against him. Davy playfully nudge Peter's knee under the table with his own. Maybe this was actually going to be a date situation. Peter could pretend that they were doubling with Mike and Micky, although as Peter thought about it Mike wasn't really Micky's type.
The waitress came and took their order and the guys started talking about nothing in particular. Suddenly, Peter noticed Davy's face turn red and he sank down in his chair with his hand trying to hide his face. Mike noticed the sudden change in demeanor as well.
"Everything okay over there, Tiny?"
There was no lying about it. "I just see someone I'd rather not right now and was wondering if we could take our pizza to g…oh no," Davy whispered.
Micky and Mike turned around and Peter stared in the direction of a blonde girl walking up to the table excitedly. She came over and planted a kiss on Davy's cheek. Peter's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hi Davy! I thought you were rehearsing today and that's why we couldn't go out."
"We're taking a break," Davy mumbled.
"Why are you acting so cranky?" the girl said playfully pushing Davy and running her hand through his hair.
"I'm not," he said subtly moving away from her.
"Can I introduce you to my friends?" the girl asked extending her hand which Davy begrudgingly took. "Sorry fellas, this will only take a minute."
She whisked Davy away and Peter could see Davy's polite smile as he turned on the Davy Jones charm to talk to the group of girls. Mike broke Peter out of his staring trance.
"That must be Davy's girlfriend."
Peter had already come to that conclusion. It was one thing for Davy to go on dates with this girl and others, as long as Peter didn't know anything about it he could lie to himself and pretend it wasn't even happening. Seeing it in front of his own eyes was like a punch to the gut. It made everything all the more real. He was trying to keep jealousy in under control since he knew what the conditions of their relationship were. This was a real test and Peter was nervous because he knew the prize that was at stake. He wanted to let Davy have his own space with things to sort them out. Peter didn't want to hassle him because he didn't want to scare Davy away. While Davy navigated his newfound sexuality Peter would be there patiently waiting to see what he discovered.
Peter watched as Davy hugged his girlfriend goodbye and slumped back over to the table. So much for a potential date night.
"Why didn't you introduce us to your girlfriend?" Micky joked with Davy batting his eyelashes.
"Yeah, you seemed uncomfortable with you seeing her here. Are you embarrassed of us or something?" Mike chimed in.
Davy looked in Peter's eyes which must have told him so much. "Yeah, something like that," he murmured.
The rest of the meal was awkward, well to Peter it was. He knew that he was not in the best spirits and he was feeling a certain energy permeating off of Davy. Peter couldn't quite pinpoint it. Guilt? Uncomfortability? Irritation? Peter wondered if Davy would bring it up later and he also didn't know if he wanted to. Maybe if he ignored things it would be like it never happened. Mike and Micky were oblivious to the energy which was surprising since Mike was so perceptive about everything and apparently Micky was becoming a savant about Peter's life.
When they arrived home, Micky suggested that they all catch the horror movie that was on TV that night. Mike was on board, but Davy said he wasn't feeling well and retired to the bedroom. Peter was torn as to what to do. He didn't want to make things obvious to Micky by following after Davy and he was afraid that if he watched the movie then Davy would fall asleep, although would that forced avoidance be a bad thing? Peter decided to split the middle and watch half the movie before feigning exhaustion and retiring.
Peter could not keep track of this movie at all, there were zombies, aliens, werewolves, and for some reason an evil monkey. It made no sense. Probably because he couldn't follow the plot with all the things running through his mind at full speed. After the aliens beamed up the werewolves to battle the zombies on Venus, Peter determined that it was time to face reality, which was scarier than this movie. Micky was so engrossed in the plot that he didn't notice Peter leave and Mike had already dozed off. This made it easier for Peter to slip out.
As Peter walked to his bedroom door, he was unsure what he was hoping for. Would it be better to face an awake Davy and talk about things or an asleep Davy and stew on things? Peter wasn't sure and honestly he had no choice in the matter whatever the situation was... He creaked open the door and a pair of melancholy brown eyes greeted him from his bed. There was silence for quite some time since it was clear that both of them were at a loss of how to address this.
"Peter," Davy began, "I'm so sorry you had to see that…her. I had no clue that she would be there."
"No, how could you have."
"I feel terrible that you had to see that. As soon as I noticed she was there I tried to hide and wanted to leave, but she spotted me. I never meant for these worlds to collide."
Peter thought for a moment before he spoke. "Well, it was inevitable, wasn't it?"
Davy looked confused.
"I mean it's difficult not to run into someone you know around here. The longer that this double life persists, the more the likelihood increases of these incidents," Peter explained.
"I guess you're right."
"Which begs the question, how long will this go on? Eventually, this girl is going to want the normal relationship commitments; meet my parents, let's go steady. Where are you going to draw the line?"
"I hadn't thought about that. My main concern has been my relationship with you and how to keep that safe."
"I think it's less about keeping the relationship safe and more about keeping an identity secret that you're not ready for yet."
"I'm ready for this!" Davy protested. "I just don't know if others are."
"I can tell you for sure I am. And I don't care about everyone else anymore. I'm only worried about you and me. So you need to really consider how long you're going to keep up this charade."
Davy nodded.
"Just for the sake of not clouding your mind, I think we should sleep separately tonight."
Davy nodded again a slid out of Peter's bed and settled into his own. Peter flicked off the light switch. Peter was shocked at how assertively he had handled that situation. The only way he was able to do that though was to stuff down his feelings about it. That didn't mean that they were gone. Peter could still feel them simmering under the surface. Eventually everything comes to a boil.
Peter was sure his nightmares tonight would involve a blonde girl stealing away a certain Brit.
"Evidently lightning can't strike twice," Mike said. "But things aren't going too bad."
He was right. The rehearsal wasn't as good as it had been the day before, but they had definitely had worse days. And shockingly, it had nothing to do with Peter or Davy and their relationship fogged minds. Micky had stayed up so late watching the sequel to that horror movie that he was barely functioning. He was continuously dropping his drumsticks, coming in either too late or very early, and he smacked his head on the hi-hat one too many times from dozing off.
"I think Micky needs a nap," Peter offered.
"No, no you guys I'm fine," Micky yawned. "I just need these sticks glued to my hands and then we'll be in business."
Mike shook his head. "Micky why don't you sit these next few out and Davy will get behind the drum kit."
"Aye, aye Sargent Texas," Micky saluted lying down on the chaise lounge.
The three others shook their heads at the immediate sound of snoring. Davy was counting down to the next song when there was a knock at the door. Mike took off to answer the door as he whistled When Love Comes Knocking at your Door.
Mike looked out the peephole. "Well, how ironic!"
Mike opened the door and in walked Davy's girlfriend with a picnic basket in hand. Peter's jaw dropped but he was able to pick it back up before he thought anyone would notice. He heard a familiar sound of the day afterward; drumsticks plummeting to the ground.
"Davy, where are your manners? Your girlfriend is here. And come to think of it, you didn't even introduce us yesterday."
Davy slunk out from behind the drum kit and went to stand next to the beaming blonde. "Fellas this is," he paused for a moment seeming uncomfortable, "Daisy."
Peter's heart stopped. Daisy? Daisy? Like Daisy he was dating before? The one that he had told Peter before any of this relationship stuff had happened between them that he loved? That she was different. The one. That Daisy?
"Pleasure to finally be introduced, Miss. Daisy," Mike said politely.
"You all too!" Daisy said enthusiastically. "Sorry, I didn't introduce myself yesterday. I guess I was stunned to actually see this handsome devil out from his musical toiling."
She snuggled up close to Davy. Peter thought he was going to be sick.
"So what are you doing here?" Davy asked. Peter thought he sounded a bit irritable and he could see a tight, forced smile on his face.
"I figured since you gentlemen were working so hard, I would surprise you all with lunch. I had interrupted your meal yesterday and hadn't introduced myself so thought we could start on the right foot."
"That is very kind of you," Mike said taking the picnic basket over to the table.
Peter's feet were glued to the bandstand and his eyes were glued to the couple. Daisy was now hanging on Davy with her arms around his neck and Davy had uncomfortably placed an arm around her waist. Amazingly, Davy's eyes were on Peter. But not making eye contact, just staring in that general direction possibly for comfort and reassurance. He wasn't going to find what he was looking for though because the message that Peter was giving off was not an inviting one.
"Come on over here you guys and look at this spread!" Mike said. "Daisy, you have spoiled us. You'll have to excuse Micky; he's down for the count."
During the meal, Mike and Daisy chatted about anything and everything. It was helpful since the table's other occupants did not seem to be interested in making conversation. Peter was refusing to look up at the couple before him. It was hurtful to see Davy two days in a row interacting with his fake girlfriend. Not to mention that she wasn't just any fake girlfriend, she was one that Davy had previously developed feelings for. Peter glanced over and saw Daisy's hand on Davy's knee and Davy had his arm around her with a phony smile plastered to his face. It was all getting to be too much. Peter excused himself from the table and made his way towards his room. He didn't want to see Davy's performance of loving boyfriend right now because he had seen that act before played out with himself.
"Where are you going, Shotgun? I thought we could play a song for Daisy since she is here," Mike called after him.
Peter stopped and his body stiffened as he turned around. "I feel sick to my stomach right now. Must have been something I ate."
Peter looked straight at Davy as he said this and saw a moment of concern flash through his eyes before turning away. Peter went into the room and prepared himself to leave. He didn't know how long Daisy would be hanging around, but he didn't want to find out. He climbed onto his bed and opened the first floor window. He needed some space away from the pad and all its occupants right now. It was time to think and make some relationship altering decisions.