"Okay, I'll be back to pick you up at one," said Peter, who was dropping Cara off at Psychedelic Psycho for her first day of work at ten o' clock. "And…maybe we can get that lunch we were supposed to get yesterday?"
"Sounds good to me," said Cara, smiling as she got out of the car. "I'll see you then, and drive carefully!" Feeling triumphant that he successfully made plans with Cara, Peter drove off, unable to wait to see her later. Cara walked through the door of the head shop, not sure if she were more excited about starting her job or getting off at one to see Peter. She'd just have to wait and see.
When she opened the door, the smells of the incense hit her, but unlike the first time, she was ready for it this time. "Well hello Cara!" greeted Bill when he saw her. "Are you ready for your first day?"
"Sure am," said Cara, setting her purse down behind the counter where Bill stood. "What should I do?"
"Go ahead and restock the records, the box is over here," said Bill, gesturing at a cardboard box filled with new vinyl records. "Alphabetical order, you went to school, you know your ABCs I'm sure."
"That I do," said Cara, carefully lifting up the heavy box and carrying it to the other side of the shop.
"Oh, and put one of em on the player over there, for some sound," said Bill. "It'll flip itself, don't worry about that."
"Gotcha," said Cara, pulling out a copy of The Beatles "Rubber Soul" and starting it up on the player. She waited until she heard "Drive My Car" start up before she went back to her stocking.
"So how'd ya come to meet Big Pete?" asked Bill as Cara sorted.
"Well, it's sorta a long story," said Cara.
"Well, we've got till one o' clock, don't we?" asked Bill. "I'd like to know!"
"Okay, here goes," said Cara. She proceeded to tell him all about Jeff, how she ran off and came across The Monkees' house, running into Abigail, how and why Peter got her the job at Psychedelic Psycho, and finally the car crash with Jeff just yesterday.
"Wow," said Bill, trying to comprehend everything the girl said. "You've sure been through a lot in the past week, have you?"
"You can say that again," said Cara as she walked the empty box back to the counter.
"You're fast," said Bill. "Man, that Jeff character sounds like quite the douche."
Cara laughed at the terminology. "I couldn't have said it better myself!"
"Eh, I think you could," said Bill. "Say Cara, can you go ahead and restock the incense? We sold a crapload yesterday and we're running thin." For the next few hours, Cara finally decided she was going to like this job. It sure was interesting, and Peter was right when no one like Jeff was going to come though those doors. The customers, of course, were all long-haired, crazy-dressed, music loving hippies, and needless to say, Cara liked them. Yeah, she could sure get used to working at a head shop.
"Well Cara, it's one, time to get ya on out of here," said Bill.
"Wha…" said Cara, who was polishing the hookahs. "One already? Wow, that sure was fast…"
Bill laughed. "May be the fumes, mess with your head." He saw Cara's confused look. "Just kidding kiddo," said Bill again. "I think I see Pete out there waiting for you. See you same time…let's say…day after tomorrow?"
"Sounds good," said Cara. She took her stuff and headed out the door. Like Bill had said, Peter was outside in the Monkeemobile waiting for her.
"So, how was it?" asked Peter.
"It was fun," said Cara. "I haven't dropped anything so far."
"Good," said Peter, looking embarrassed. "Don't want you to make my mistake."
Cara just laughed. "So where do you want to go?"
"Oh, that's right," said Peter. How could he have forgotten about taking Cara out? Or was he even taking her out? No one said anything about a real date…he thought as far as Cara was concerned, they were just going on a friendly outing. "There's a cool sandwich place a few minutes from here, small and out of the way. I'm sure you'll like it."
"Well, you haven't been wrong about what you think I'd like yet," said Cara. "Let's go!"
Cara climbed into the car and Peter took off in the direction of the sandwich place. Peter drove extra-carefully this time around; he wasn't expecting Jeff to pop up anywhere, but there was no way he was going to let anything ruin lunch with Cara this time around. As much as he wanted to look at her and never look away, he, with great effort, glued his eyes to the road.
"Alright, here we are," said Peter as he parked. This place, much like the boutique and the head shop, was small as well. There seemed to be a lot of little places in this town. Peter led Cara inside to the dimly-lit room. It was decorated much like Psychedelic Psycho with posters all over the walls, but instead of the smell of pot and incense there was break and coffee. "Look nice?"
"Cute place," said Cara, looking around. "Smells better than work."
Peter laughed. "Come on, let's get a seat."
"Hey Peter!" said the young, pretty, brunette waitress who rushed up to them. She was petite, smaller than even Cara, with big blue eyes and short dark hair in a bouffant with a flip at the ends and bangs across her forehead. "And…sister?"
"No, this is my friend, Cara," said Peter. "Cara, this is Jane, she works here."
"Peter, do you know everyone who works in these places?" asked Cara.
"Oh, he comes here a lot," said Jane, smiling huge and falsely, handing them menus. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Want a coke?" asked Peter. Cara nodded. "Ok, two cokes please!"
"Coming right up Peter!" called Jane, winking as she walked off. On her way out, she managed to smack Cara square in the face with her neck scarf.
"What the hell's her problem?" asked Cara, brushing her hair from her face. "That was so on purpose!"
"Oh, well she…she has sort of a crush on me," said Peter, looking exasperated. "She's…not the most…amazing person you'd want to like you that much…kind of obsessive. I guess she's a little jealous of you."
"I see…" said Cara. "Well…we're just friends though, right? I mean, I'm really nothing to be jealous of!"
"Yeah…yeah, friends," said Peter, feeling disappointed. But then again, would Cara admit to liking him this early of she did? He just hoped Jane wouldn't do anything devious to Cara. She was definitely capable of it and Cara had too much on her plate already.
"Two cokes!" said Jane cheerily as she came back around. "Oh, Cathy, I made yours diet, if you don't mind. I'm sure you want to keep your figure." She served the drinks and went back to get a notepad.
"And so it begins," muttered Peter, making a face.
"She's just lucky she didn't put a lemon in it," said Cara, her blood starting to boil. "Cathy…seriously."
"Okay, may I take your orders?" said Jane, back with her notepad. "Peter?"
"Oh, I dunno what I want yet," said Peter quickly. "Cara, what about you?"
"Oh…" said Jane. "What'll you have carrot-top?"
"It's Cara," said Cara, trying to hold her temper back. "And I'll have a turkey on wheat, lettuce and tomato please."
"Right…" said Jane, frowning as she wrote. "You ready Peter?" she said, smiling again.
"I'll take the ham and cheese," said Peter, not smiling his trademark dimpled smile, rather neutral.
"I'll be right back!" said Jane, rushing over to the kitchen to place the order.
"Cara I am so sorry," said Peter, putting his face in his hands. "I thought she was off today."
"Oh, it's fine," said Cara. "It'll be war if she calls me 'Cathy' or 'carrot-top' again, but I'll live."
"So apart from all this, how was your day?" asked Peter, trying desperately to make the better of the afternoon.
"It was kinda fun," said Cara, keeping a lookout for Jane. "Learned how to stock everything, what stuff is, met some—er—interesting people…thanks for helping me out with it, really!"
"Not a problem, I'm so glad everything's working out for you," said Peter. Before Cara could say so much as a "You're welcome," a smiling Jane came back with two plates.
"Here's lunch!" she practically squeaked as she placed the sandwiches at their places. Cara checked her sandwich before she even dared take a bite. Everything looked fine, but she was still skeptical. "So Peter, are you free after this?" Her blue eyes grew dreamy as she looked into Peter's reluctant tawny ones.
"Uh…well I actually had more plans with Cara," said Peter.
"Oh," said Jane, looking and sounding disgusted. "Well…tomorrow?"
"Look, I'll get back to you," said Peter.
"Fine," said Jane. She gave an evil look to Cara, who gave her an equally sour look back. "Enjoy," Jane huffed as she walked off.
"What a little—" said Cara.
"She'll get over it," said Peter. "God Cara, I'm so sorry about her."
"Oh, don't worry," said Cara in between bites of her sandwich. "At least she didn't do anything to screw up the food. Bitch gave me diet coke though, she's gonna get it for that."
"It'll blow over," said Peter. "She's just an infatuated girl, I'm sure you know how that goes…do you?"
"Not exactly," said Cara. "Jeff was my only boyfriend, and I was never really infatuated with him. I was kinda dating him as a way to get into the inner circle of kids in high school, and after that, he never let me go. I have to say it wasn't worth being popular at all. What about you Peter? Ever have a big crush?"
Peter tried his hardest to hide his blush. If only she knew. "Eh, well you know, a few here and there. The usual."
"But not Jane?" asked Cara.
Peter guffawed. "Oh, hell no!" he said. "She'd be way too clingy anyway. I like a stronger, more independent type. A fiery chick is pretty groovy."
"Yeah, assertive is nice," said Cara. "But if you get too assertive like Jeff, well, let's say it's not so groovy."
"Oh, well, you'd be right there," said Peter. He was trying to drop all the hints he could that he liked her, but he was also holding back—way back.
"Are you ready for the check?" said Jane suddenly a few minutes later from right behind Cara, making her jump out of her skins, which was obviously Jane's intention.
"Most definitely," growled Cara, taking her wallet out. Jane's and Cara's eyes met and it was like electricity in the room.
"Cara, I've got it," said Peter, making Cara put her wallet away and taking his out instead. That made Jane furious, but she was trying to hide it well. Cara could still see it in her piercing eyes that she wanted to rip Cara limb from limb.
"Thanks Peter!" said Cara with a huge smile, infuriating Jane more. Peter paid and the two got up to leave. "Just a minute Peter," said Cara in a hushed voice. "Go out to the car, I'll be there in a couple minutes."
Peter knew right away what Cara was up to. "Oh…are you sure that's a good idea?"
"I'll be fine," said Cara. Peter walked out to the Monkeemobile as Cara approached Jane. "Thank you for your service…uh…Janice, was it?"
"It's Jane," said Jane flatly. "I'm wearing a nametag.
"Oh, I'm sorry sweetie, I didn't see," said Cara. "I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't look at your cans!"
Jane gasped, arms crossed over her chest. "Oh, how dare you!" she said. "And what do you think you're doing, trying to take my Peter away from me!"
Cara laughed. "Oh, Jane, I think he made it clear that you aren't his at all," Cara sneered.
"Oh, well you aren't his either, are you?" asked Jane. "What did he call you…something…oh yeah, 'friend'?"
"Oh, well what did he call you?" asked Cara. "Oh…wait…something…waitress? I think I'm winning so far."
"Don't be such a hussy," huffed Jane.
"Don't fucking call me a hussy, bitch," growled Cara.
"Ooooh, red head has a temper!" said Jane. "You'll see you carrot-top hussy, I'll steal Peter right out from under your feet. He wants me and I want him!"
"Oh, it's on now, bitch," said Cara. "You wait and see, I want him more than you do." Wait…what did she say? Did she just admit she had feelings for Peter, or was she just trying to get back on Jane for being such a jerk?
"We'll see," said Jane.
"He's waiting for me out there right now," said Cara smugly. "I don't want him to miss me too much." With that, she left the place, swinging her hips and holding her head high, leaving Jane flabbergasted in the restaurant and herself confused about her feelings again. "Alright Peter, no harm done," she said as she got into the car where Peter was waiting.
"What happened?" asked Peter.
"Oh, just told her I didn't appreciate what she did today," said Cara. And a little emotional self-discovery.
"Okay," said Peter. "Just glad it was nothing bad. The car took off on the way back to the apartment and as Peter and Cara took part in conversation, all Cara could think about was how she found out all she felt about Peter. Yep, she definitely had a crush. Now to just figure out if it was a good thing or not.