Cara sat in Mickey's hospital room while Mickey lay in his bed, twiddling his thumbs. "So…are you alright?" asked Cara, for the millionth time.
"Yes, once again Cara, I am perfectly alright, just tired and recovering from shock, and I am alive because you saved my life," said Mickey all in one breath. "Have I answered you yet?"
"I just…I just feel horrible," said Cara.
"Why?" asked Mickey. "God Cara, I owe you one, a big one!"
"It's just that…I can't believe that happened," said Cara. "I'm in shock too."
"And besides," continued Mickey. "If anyone should feel horrible, it should be me! I mean, it's your freaking birthday!"
"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" said Cara, resting her head on the wall behind the chair she was sitting in. "Oh man, I almost forgot!"
Mickey tried to shrug in his bed, but it just ended up looking like a weird contortion. "Well, happy birthday Cara, you got a friend not dying!" Cara laughed. She still couldn't get it into her head that she had saved Mickey's life. The door to the room opened and the doctor walked in, looking satisfied.
"Well Mr. Dolenz, you have seemed to be recovering just fine, and your results say that you can go home!" he said.
"Oh, great news," said Mickey. "So, you're sure I'm alive?"
"Well, yes…very sure," said the doctor, confused. "And if I hear correctly, it's all thanks to this young lady right here." He gestured to Cara, who smiled nervously. "Don't be so bashful dear, you're a hero!"
"Well…in fact…yeah," said a very modest Cara. She never really put it that way before. "So everything's okay then? He can really leave?"
"Yes ma'am," said the doctor. "We just need to take care of a few things and he's out of here."
"That's great," said Cara. "Hey, Mickey, I'll be right outside with everyone else, see you in a bit."
"Alright," said Mickey. Cara walked out to the waiting room where the others were sitting.
"Is everything okay?" asked Davy.
"Yeah, they're getting him ready to leave right now," said Cara.
"Cara, I still can't believe you did that," said Peter. "I mean, you saved him, but you could've been hurt too. Why didn't you ask for help?"
"I didn't think about it," said Cara. "I mean, you all are so nice to me, you threw that party, took me in and everything, and when I saw Mickey in trouble—well—adrenaline took over and the urge to save a friend from something horrible…it was all instinct from there I guess."
"Don't get me wrong, I was very worried about Mickey," said Peter. "But I was worried about you too." He looked at her with the most sincere eyes she ever saw.
"Oh, Peter," she said. "We're both fine." She smiled and pulled at a lock of Peter's hair, which sent his heart and mind flying. At that moment, Mickey came walking into the waiting room, a spring in his step and looking very relieved.
"I'm free!" he shouted, throwing his arms up in the air. "Now let's get the hell out of here."
"Glad all that's over," said Mike as they walked out to the parking lot. "So Cara, it's still your birthday if I recall…what do you want to do?"
"I just think I need a rest from all this excitement," said Cara, indeed feeling like she was about to go crazy. "Anyone else have anything in mind? As long as no one else almost dies I'm good."
"Well, I actually have to go to a photoshoot today," said Abigail, checking her watch. "You all want to come? It won't take long and it'll be something to do."
"Sounds good," said Cara. "Trust me, anything's better than a hospital."
"Okay then, let's do this!" said Abigail. They all went over to the car (Mike followed the ambulance to the hospital in it) and drove off, Abigail giving specific directions to Mike, which seemed to annoy him a bit.
"Look, you've said 'take a right' three times already, I think I get the hint!" said Mike, agitated.
"Oh, come on Mike, leave the lady alone," said Davy.
"Davy, if you don't shut up, there's gonna be three ladies in this car," growled Mike, eyes firmly on the road. Davy squeaked and winced and didn't say a word for the rest of the ride.
"Okay, it's right here!" called Abigail when Mike parked in front of a large, white building. "They love having guests, they'll give you food, a tour, everything!"
"How bout a model?" asked Mickey, hopeful.
"No," said Abigail.
"But why did Davy get one?" wined Mickey.
"Because Davy's Davy and Abigail's a woman," said Mike. "Come on, let's not make Abigail late." Everyone filed out of the car and walked into the building. A blast of cool air hit the group as they walked in. It was a big, roomy place with classy-looking people walking everywhere from desk to desk, set to set. Cara felt very out of place here; although she was technically one of the popular girls in high school because of dating Jeff, she didn't feel like she fit in with the crowds who did this kind of stuff.
"Hey, everybody, let me introduce you to my boss," said Abigail, who was bringing a young man in tow. He looked like the artsy type, with a mop of brown hair in a Beatles style, thick black rimmed glasses like Buddy Holly, and a smart suit with a ruffle-collared shirt and a red bow tie. Right out of the Mod scene from England. "I'd like you to meet Mr. John Harding."
"Pleasure to meet you all," said John in a British accent. It was more smooth and posh than Davy's whimsical Manchester accent. "Please, have a seat—oh—wait—are you all who I think you are?" he asked, his brown eyes getting wide.
"Uh…well…who do you think we are?" asked Peter.
"You're that band that played at my restaurant the other day…The Monkees, if I'm correct?" said John.
"That was your restaurant?" asked Peter, flabbergasted. "I've been going there for years and I had no clue!"
"Oh, I've had it for quite some time," said John. "I must say, you all did a very spectacular job!"
"Oh, why thank you sir, very much sir," said Mike, flattered, messing with his cap.
"Say, do you all need more publicity?" asked John. "Because I can snap some shots of you, give you a story, and we'll make magic!"
"Wow sir, that'd be great!" said Peter. Then he got a bright idea, which he knew didn't happen often. "Hey, can the girls come pose with us?" By girls of course, he meant mainly Cara, who he grabbed and held by his side as he asked the question, but Abigail was the model of course.
"Oh, of course!" said John, very excited. "I just can't believe you all of all people walked into the agency today, just terrific! Come on everybody, let's get gorgeous!"
"Geez, what a poof," muttered Davy under his break as they followed John to the makeup booth. Cara laughed as she sat down, next to Peter of course.
"Let's do this!" sung John. He grabbed a powder puff and proceeded to slam it right into Mike's face, sending white powder flying everywhere. Mike coughed and hacked loudly.
"Man, I appreciate the help here, but come on!" he shouted, waving his arms every which way to get the powder out of his face.
"Oh, sorry cutie, I guess I got a little…excited," said John. He winked at Mike seductively as he walked away, sending Peter into boughts of laughter. Of course, he got the next smack with the puff while his mouth was still open from laughing.
"Uhggggg!" he exclaimed as he stuck his tongue out in disgust and pulled a face. He thought that was the most humiliating thing that could ever happen to him until he heard Cara's musical laughter from next to him. Maybe she liked the dummy thing?
Once they were all made up and dressed, they went over to the set to start taking pictures. "So boys, we have instruments that you can shoot with," said John. "Just grab your choice and get your cute little asses back over to the set so we can start making magic!" Mike caught John giving him the eye and hustled over to grab a Gretsch hollow body guitar. "Pose pretty!" said John once the guys got their instruments and props together. There was a click and a flash of light, and the shoot began. Sets changed and props shifted. Cara and Abigail got in front of the camera, alone and with the boys. Abigail did some solo shots with Davy; the two of them were very good in front of the camera together; they had a great chemistry.
"Okay, let's do some pair shots with the other girl…red head…" said John, not remembering Cara's name.
"Cara!" piped up Peter, hoping that would get him a shoe-in to be in her pictures.
"Ah, yes, that's right, thank you Petie," said John. "Hey, why don't you shuffle on down there with Cara and we'll take some pictures of you two!"
Peter muttered a triumphant "Yes!" under his breath as he approached Cara. Cara smiled and her pulse doubled when the two of them got together in front of the camera.
"Okay you two, get close!" ordered John. "Come on Petie, hold her from behind, look happy!" Cara grew hot as Peter put his arms around her waist and held her. She had never been that close to him before, not even when he fell on top of her at the beach earlier. She tried not to look too off guard. Peter took advantage of the opportunity to bury his face in her soft hair. It smelled like coconut and roses and he wished he could have more time, but John yelled again to have them pose. With very genuine smiles, the picture was took. Over and over, they changed poses, each one more and more fun. Cara felt close to Peter at this point; she felt truly enamored and enveloped by feelings. Was this what it felt like to be in love? She had no idea; she wasn't even sure if she was in love, but she didn't care then because it felt great anyway!
"Okay kids, that will be all!" said John, walking to them in the set. "Great job, really…Mike baby, you were golden." He winked a brown eye at Mike, who grinned awkwardly and sped off to avoid his gaze.
"Thanks again John," said Abigail on the group's way out. "That was fantastic!"
"No problem Abby dear," said John, giving her a friendly kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you next time! Oh," he added a sidebar, "And can you bring that tall Texan fellow next time? He has such a great look…boy would I love my hands on him!"
Abigail giggled. "I'll see if I can bring Mike next time," she said.
"Alrighty darling, buh-bye now!" said John, seeing them off to the parking lot.
"Well try to figure that out," said Mike, getting into the driver's seat before Cara and Peter got to the car. "Davy gets a model, Peter's almost got a pretty damn cute girl, and I get a gay photographer. Can you believe my luck?"
"Well…" said Mickey. "I kind of have nobody right now, so at least you're getting hit on!" He laughed nervously as Mike gave him a reproachful look.
"That was…really fun," said Cara to Peter as the mosied along to the car.
"Yeah," said Peter. "I can't wait till those pictures come out." Because he'd be looking at her all day and night, remembering her touch, the smell of her hair, and…well…her.
"Yep…" said Cara, thinking of what else she could say.
"Well, happy birthday…again," said Peter.
"Thanks Peter," said Cara, fingering the pendant hanging off the silver chain around her neck. "Wow, this necklace really is beautiful."
"Yeah, well, it matches you," said Peter. Cara blushed and the stuttering started.
"Oh—well—I—th—thanks?" She giggled a little, not sure what to say.
"Cara, you act like you've never been called beautiful before," said Peter.
"Well…actually, I haven't," said Cara. It was true, with Jeff, it was ugly this, stupid bitch that. Never before had someone called her beautiful…she wasn't sure what to think.
"Well I don't know why," said Peter. "I mean…you are." All Cara could do was smile and blush a little. She looked up into Peter's eyes and saw that he meant it; they were sincere, strong, and meaningful.
"Hurry up, you two," called Mike from the car. "I wanna get out of here before that photographer starts hitting on me again!"
"Oh, come on, give him a chance," said Davy. "You're never gonna know till you try mate!"
"Man, shut up!" said Mike. Cara and Peter hopped in the car before Mike could smack Davy with the car's manual. "Alright, let's get going." As the car drove off, Cara felt something warm on her hand next to her. She jumped and looked down, and realized it was Peter's hand. She didn't look up at him; she didn't want to embarrass him. Instead, she relaxed and smiled to herself as she always did, hoping no one really noticed. This was indeed a very good and eventful birthday.