"Evil woman," sneered Cara after Jane's last crank call to the apartment. "I swear, this isn't over…"
"This is my fault," said Peter. "I started this…this…war."
"You sure are right," said Davy. "Just introduce her to me, she'll forget all about you man."
"Leave him alone," said Cara distantly as she daydreamed how she was going to kick Jane's ass the next time she saw her. And how she had a crush on Peter…but mostly about beating Jane to kingdom come.
"You doing alright Cara?" asked Mike.
"Oh, me?" asked Cara. "Oh, I just have a wild bitch on my tail and a crazy man looking for me to possibly kill me…I'm just fine…"
"I'm worried about Cara," said Mike to the side to the guys. "Ever since she started this fight with Jane, she's been very distant. How long's it been going on again?"
"Bout a week," said Davy. "Right Peter?"
"Yep," said Peter. Cara and Jane had been at each other's throats ever since he made the mistake of bringing her to the sandwich place after her first day of work. It was supposed to be a nice outing, maybe he'd have gotten to at least hold Cara's hand…but no, he had to screw up and go on a day where that crazy waitress was working…that was an idiot moment if he ever knew one.
"Good afternoon gents…and Cara," said a cheery Abigail coming downstairs who had spent the night. "How goes it."
"Well Cara has mountains of other things on her mind other than Jeff, for one," said Mike.
"Oh…and what's that?" asked Abigail. "Oh…that waitress still?"
"She just called," said Cara. "Saying stupid stuff like 'I'm gonna serve you a knuckle sandwich if you go anywhere with Peter again' and stuff. I'll punch her in one of those fake boobs if she comes near me."
"I really didn't think you were capable of all this spite," said Peter.
"Oh, believe me, I've seen it," said Abigail. "For Jeff? Boy, when the two of us were alone, she'd rail him. I'm not surprised about this at all."
"But seriously Cara, you need to snap out of it," said Mike. "Sure, we all know Jane is insane and has an unhealthy obsessive crush on Peter and she treated you bad at the restaurant, but it's been a week and you need to show her that you're the bigger person."
"Well, I am bigger," said Cara. "Tiny little…"
"Cara," said Mike.
"Oh, right, sorry," said Cara, trying to calm down.
"I did it!" shouted Mickey as he rocketed down the stairs.
"Did what?" asked Mike.
"I got us a gig, that's what!" said Mickey. "Look, here's the info, I wrote it down!"
"Oh, that's great news Mickey!" said Davy.
"Yeah, it's at that sandwich place around the corner," said Mickey. Davy, Mike, Peter, and Abigail put their faces in their hands while Cara smiled smugly. "Uh…guys? What's wrong?"
"That sandwich place is where that psycho waitress who loves Peter works," said Davy. "Ya know, the one Cara is sworn to destroy or something like that."
"Oh…Jane…that's right, forgot about her," said Mickey, rubbing his curly hair.
"No, it's alright," said Cara. "There's no telling is she'll be there anyway. When's the gig?"
"Today at five," said Mickey questionably.
"Yep, she's there," said Peter, exasperated.
"That may be, but a gig's still a gig, and we have to play it," said Mike. "Hell, we need to! Peter has to be there, but Cara doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to."
"No, I'll go," said Cara. "I want to hear you guys play more."
"And you want to beat the living crap out of Jane," snorted Abigail.
"That may be true, but I'll try to curb myself," said Cara.
"Okay," said Davy. "So do you girls want to go?"
"We'd love to Davy love!" squealed Abigail. "Right Cara?"
"Sounds great!" said Cara. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Peter smile. She loved his smile, dimples and all. It was the most adorable thing she'd ever seen. Of course, Mike caught her trying to hide her own smile and winked at her. Cara had told him about her feelings for Peter as soon as she figured them out, and Mike had been rather smug ("Now, I hate to say I told you so, but…") but she confided in him and only him. And Jane. Oh, Jane knew how she felt about Peter, she made sure of that. "When do we leave?"
"In just a bit," said Mickey. "We gotta pack up."
"Need any help?" asked Abigail.
"Eh, we've done it be ourselves before, we're not gonna have you two lovelyyy ladies strain yourselves," said Mickey, obviously very satisfied about getting the band the job. Cara and Abigail giggled as the boys went over to get their instruments and other equipment.
"Come on Cara, I've got my makeup, let's get pretty," said Abigail, yanking Cara off the couch and up to the bathroom.
"So, are you and Davy…real?" asked Cara as she brushed powder onto her face.
Abigail giggled. "Well of course! Oh, isn't he great? So cute!" She started on her powder and blush.
"He was a little annoying at first to tell you the truth," said Cara, picking out which eyeshadows to use. "But I guess he grew on me."
Abigail giggled. "Well who else is growing on you? Peter perhaps?"
Cara turned even redder under her blush. "Who told you about that?"
Abigail winked her one made-up eye. "You just did!" she said as she brushed shadow on her other eye. "But no, really, it's so easy to spot. Oooh I just have to tell you what Davy told me! You'd love it!"
"What's that?" asked Cara as she lined her upper eyelid with black liquid liner.
"He said that Peter's been going to him looking for advice to ask you out!" said Abigail, excited.
Cara stopped perfecting her cat-eye and looked at Abigail. "Really?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Abigail, lining her own eyes. "But don't tell anyone I told you…I kinda wasn't supposed to tell you."
"It's okay," said Cara, who was now putting on her mascara. "But are you sure Peter was talking about me?"
"Couldn't be more sure," said Abigail, also putting on her mascara. Cara suppressed a smile as the girls finished their makeup and got dressed.
Downstairs, the boys were organizing everything they were packing for the gig. "Mick, you have all your drums?" asked Mike, holding a checklist.
"Snares…toms…cymbals…bass…yup, got all of em!" said Mickey.
"Right," said Mike. "Davy, got your stuff?"
"Way ahead of ya Mike!" said Davy with his bag full of his maracas and other percussion equipment over his shoulder.
"And Peter, you have everything?" asked Mike once again.
"Got it," said Peter, holding his bass in its case.
"Okay, well I got my stuff, and the place is supplying all the mics and amps…I guess we're waiting till the girls are ready," said Mike.
"Geez, what do you suppose they're doing up there?" asked Mickey.
"I dunno but boy would I like to be up there," said Davy, grinning.
"Come on Davy," said Peter. "Short pervert."
"Hey, I can't help being me," said Davy, shrugging.
"Don't go anywhere, we're coming down!" said a voice from the top of the stairs. The boys turned around to see Cara and Abigail coming down the stairs. Abigail was dressed in a black mini with a V-neck that showed all of her models' curves and Cara in a lime green mini with a scoop neck and white trim. The color brought out the dark red of her hair, which was teased for volume with a brush and hairspray. Peter had tried to hide his infatuation around the guys in the past, but this time he just could not take his eyes of Cara. She was just too lovely.
"Oh, Abigail, you look beautiful," said Davy, taking Abigail by the arm.
"Oh Davy," said Abigail through girlish giggles as Davy placed kisses up her arm.
"Hey Cara," said Peter, still smiling. "You look…uh…nice."
"Thanks Peter," said Cara, beaming. She was still thinking about what Abigail told her in the bathroom. Could it be true?
"Ok everyone, let's pack up and get into the car," said Mike. They all went outside with the instruments, packed up, got into the car, and began to drive off.
"So…did you girls get all dolled up just to make Jane mad?" asked Mike from the wheel.
"No," said Cara. "But it's an idea."
"I just think we'll all have a great time tonight, Jane or no Jane," said Peter quickly. "And besides, you'll have Abigail to keep you company!"
"What does that have to do with Jane?" asked Cara.
"Oh look, we're here!" said Mickey, cutting the conversation short. Mike parked the car and they unloaded.
"Peter!" came the all-too-familiar cry from the restaurant door. Of course, it was Jane.
"Oh, for real, that's her?" asked Abigail. "She's smaller than Davy…"
"Abby!" whined Davy.
"But I like it!" said Abigail, ruffling Davy's hair.
"Peter, are you playing tonight!" squealed Jane, running to him. "Oh, I bet it'll be great, here let me help you with that—"
"Actually, I was just going to get that," said Cara, picking up Peter's bass before Jane could get to it.
"Oh," said Jane flatly as she saw Cara. "Hello Cara."
"Hey there Jane," said Cara.
"So let's move on!" said Mickey, ushering the two young women apart from each other. "Cara, Abigail, you can help us out here."
"I'll see you inside," said Cara to Jane, smirking. Jane pulled a nasty face as Cara followed the boys and Abigail inside.
"Now Cara, you're really gonna have to cool it, you hear me," said Mike as Cara helped him set the microphones up. "Jane is crazy, but it doesn't mean you have to stoop down to her level. Just know that she is never, and I mean never going to win Peter."
"Psh, you don't think I know that?" asked Cara. "He can't stand her!"
"Just listen to the music and enjoy the show," said Mike. "I'm sure it'll be enough of a distraction."
"Okay, I'll humor you," said Cara with a grin. "Hey, Peter, you want this mic higher?"
"Nah, Davy and I use the same mic for harmonies, we kinda needed to make it meet in the middle," said Peter, coming in to adjust it. "Perfect."
"Oh Peter, I got you a drink!" called Jane, handing a lemonade over the stage to Peter.
"Ah, thanks Jane," said Peter, taking the drink reluctantly.
"Don't mention it," said Jane with a wink.
Peter waited till Jane had walked away before he said, "I hate lemonade." He made a face.
"Hey, I'll take that off your hands," said Cara sneakily, looking at Jane out from the corner of her eye.
"No, Cara," said Peter. "As much as I would love to see it, just, no."
Cara sighed disappointed and Peter laughed. "Okay men, are we ready?" asked Mike from his place.
"I think we are," said Davy. "Alright girls, get off the stage, it's showtime." Cara and Abigail found seats in the audience as the band got ready to play.
"Hello there, ladies and gentlemen," started Mike into his microphone. "We are The Monkees, and boy do we have a show for you!" With one, crisp downbeat, the boys started to play "Last Train to Clarksville." Mikes melodic opening guitar line rung out before everyone else came in. Mickey's vocals, like always, cut above everything else in a clear tenor. Crowds of people came up to dance around the stage to the driving, upbeat tune. Abigail yanked Cara up by the arm and the two of them started to dance as well.
"Isn't this great?" said Abigail over the music.
"Terrific!" said Cara. She saw a jealous Jane walking around the restaurant, unable to dance because she was busy filling orders and serving people. "Can't get any better," said Cara again, smugly. The first song ended, and another one began, "Papa Gene's Blues." Mike took the lead for this one, giving the song his Texan twang. That one ended, and then another one started, and then another. Song after song was great, fun, and musical. The first half ended with "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" ("Oh, Davy's such a cutie," Abigail cooed). That song ended, and the boys came down for their break.
"That was awesome!" said Cara. "Really guys, I don't know how you don't get more jobs."
"No one wants four long-haired weirdoes workin' for them," said Mike, sitting down and taking a sip of water out of his cup.
"Oh, Peter, you sounded great!" said Jane, who seemed to magically appear with a glass of water and a towel for Peter.
"Thanks," said Peter, taking what she threw at him.
"Here Peter, let me," said Cara, rushing over. She took the towel from his hands and put it around his neck. Peter was thrilled with feeling her hands on him, although it was probably mostly out of spite of Jane, who was eyeing Cara with the ferocity of a rabid wildcat. Cara smugly looked up at the waitress. "Is everything okay, Jane?" she asked sweetly.
"Oh, just fine," answered Jane, just as sweetly. She smiled like a bitch and flounced off. "What a floosy," Cara heard her mutter.
"Thanks for that Cara," said Peter, sipping his water. "But she'll be back."
"And I'll be ready," said Cara.
"Okay boys, we're back on," said Mike, strapping his guitar back on.
"Right," said Davy. The four walked back on stage, leaving Abigail and Cara in the audience again.
"That Jane chick is annoying," said Abigail as the band started to play "Laugh."
"Oh, I know," said Cara. "Seriously, how could she think Peter actually likes her?" The girls got up to dance some more. That song ended and Mike stepped up to the microphone.
"Okay ya'll we're gonna get someone up to the mic that doesn't normally come up," he said. "I want everyone to welcome Peter Tork to the lead! This is 'Your Auntie Grizelda!" Cara looked up in interest. She had never heard Peter sing solo before; this could be interesting. The band immediately went into a goofy, offbeat-sounding tune. Peter's voice did match the song well, and he looked happy and silly as he sang. When they got to the bridge, Peter stopped singing and started making assorted noises to the beat instead.
The sight and sound was so silly and funny, Cara couldn't control her laughter. Peter saw her from the stage, laughing, but he saw her genuine smile and her bright eyes, happy and enjoying. She never looked so beautiful, standing there, dancing around, looking right up at the stage. She was sure a sight better than Jane, who was enveloped in loud giggles over by the table of a middle-aged couple who looked like they'd rather be anywhere but where they are now. Peter smiled himself as he sang and played the rest of the song.
The last set ended with "I'm a Believer." When that was over, Cara and Abigail helped the boys break down. "Great show guys," said Cara.
"I'd say," said the restaurant owner, who came to the stage, flashing a one hundred dollar bill. "Come back anytime!" He walked off, handing Mike the bill.
"Awesome!" said Mike, tucking the bill away in his wallet. "We'll all split this evenly. I'll go to the bank tomorrow."
"You sounded great!" screeched Jane, running up to the stage. "Oh, Peter—"
"Well, let's go, it's getting late," said Cara, grabbing a surprised Peter's hand. It was warm from all his bass playing. Peter smiled and the whole group walked out of the place with their instruments, once again leaving a very pissed-off Jane behind.
"Now that was gutsy," said Mike as Cara and him loaded the car. "I noticed to still hung onto Peter's hand when we were long out of eyeshot of Jane ya know."
Cara shrugged, and said, "Oh, I know." She put Mickey's snare drum into the trunk with a smile. Peter sat in the car, stroking his hand where he still felt Cara's warmth with his own little smile on his face. Yep, he had to thank Jane for this one, most definitely.