At three o'clock, as promised, Cara heard a loud and shrill car horn from outside her shop. "Is that her again?" asked Bill, cleaning up the counter.
"Yep," sighed Cara. "Wish me luck."
"All the luck you can have," said Bill. "No catfights unless they're filmed." Cara laughed, as this was something she'd expect to hear Davy say. Taking a deep breath, she walked out to where a black convertible was parked out by the curb. Inside was Jane, waving wildly and grinning hugely, her white teeth almost blinding in the sunlight. How obnoxious.
"Hey Cara!" said Jane, graciously opening up the passenger door for Cara. "How was work?"
"Livable," said Cara, reluctantly getting in the car. Jane had some sort of air freshener (Cara had no clue why, it was a convertible with the top down) that smelled like cheap lavender perfume. She discreetly wrinkled her nose and took smaller breaths.
"That's good," said Jane. "So do you want to get a cup of coffee?"
Uhg. What was it with Cara and coffee today? "Sure," she said shrugging. She still felt a little hungover; maybe a little more coffee would help anyway.
"Terrific," said Jane. "Let's go!" She sped out of the parking lot and turned sharply around the corner, making Cara slam into the door handle. Yep, there was certainly still some animosity between the two. All this over a guy… after much more rough, sloppy driving and Cara getting tossed around in the passenger seat, Jane finally came to a (sharp) stop in front of a place called "Beans and Booze." Ha, what a novel idea, selling alcohol and coffee in the same place. She knew that she was definitely only getting coffee.
"Okay, we're here!" sung Jane as the two got out of the car. Cara nearly fell into the bush that Jane had taken so much care to park right by so Cara's side was right on top of it.
"Great," said Cara, brushing herself off. Jane gave her a cutesy look and skipped over to the door. She, halfheartedly of course, held the door open for Cara to let her in. Cara was surprised that Jane didn't let the door come back and slam her. Whatever she wanted, she was doing a good job to try and get it. That, however, was not going to work. Not in the least.
"Welcome to 'Beans and Booze' what can I get for you today?" asked the bored-looking young woman at the register.
"Oh, I'll have an Iced Mint-Mocha Monster," piped up Jane, completely cutting off Cara. Cara tried so very hard not to explode on her. She was still very grumpy from last night's antics and was not one to be toyed with today. "Cara. What do you want?" asked Jane sweetly, as if she never cut Cara off in the first place.
"I'll just have a hazelnut coffee," said Cara.
"Hot or iced?" droned the lady at the counter.
"Hot," said Cara. So she could pour it all over Jane when she figured out what was going on here. She was about to pull out her wallet when Jane, almost violently, jerked her arm away from her purse.
"Oh no dear, this is on me," said Jane, taking out her own wallet. Cara accepted; a free drink was a free drink, even if from someone like Jane. Their drinks were delivered and the two sat down at a table. "So I must apologize again for how I've been acting lately," said Jane again, stirring her drink with a straw. "It just hasn't been right."
"Oh, it's fine, really," said Cara, trying not to seethe. "Thanks."
"Oh, really, don't thank me," said Jane after a sip of her coffee. "I don't really deserve a thanks, don't you think? Now, I really want to make this up to you in the best way I can. I suppose you may owe me an apology too though? Not to be forward, just a courtesy."
"Ah, yeah, sorry," said Cara, spitting the words out very reluctantly.
"But do I deserve it?" asked Jane with a very much staged sigh. "I mean, I'm a horrible person, just terrible for trying to knock you away from Peter just because I had taken a fancy to him! How selfish of me…I think he may like you more anyway."
"Oh, do you think?" asked Cara, brimming with sarcasm.
Jane either didn't catch the sarcasm or just looked past it because she said, "Oh, well of course he does! I was so jealous because I saw it!"
"I'm sure you did," said Cara, still sarcastic, after a sip of coffee. It was actually very good; the bitter coffee taste did not overpower the hazelnut flavor at all and it went down smooth. She should go to this place more often. At least she found something to thank Jane for.
"No, I'm not kidding," said Jane. "Just the way he looks at you, it's so true! I must say, I'm still jealous, but at least I'm being a better sport about it."
"You sure are," said Cara. She was getting very tired of all this.
"Cara, are you feeling alright?" asked Jane with mock care.
"Oh…I had a…uh…long night," said Cara. God, she couldn't believe all that was only last night…
"Okay, just checking," said Jane. "You just seem a little distant."
'The caffeine should be doing its job any minute now," said Cara. She'd need the energy to get the hell away from Jane.
"I hope so dear, it really does hurt seeing you like this," said Jane. "You've been going crazy lately, what with that maniac boyfriend of yours after you, it must be dreadful."
"Yeah, it's pretty tough—" started Cara. "—wait, how do you know about Jeff?"
"Oh…" said Jane, looking down. "I—uh—Peter told me about it, yeah."
"Ah," said Cara, suspicious. Maybe Peter really did tell Jane, but the odds of that seemed a little bit off. "Well, regardless of where you heard it, yeah, it is hard."
"He must be a horrible man," said Jane. "Who in their right mind would want to hurt you?"
Maybe you when you found out I knew Peter, Cara thought. "He's heartless," said Cara. "Doesn't care for anyone but himself and a lazy rat-bastard to boot."
"But why did you start dating him?" asked Jane, her eyes just a little too wide.
Cara shrugged. "Wanted to be popular in high school," she said. Why in the world was she telling Jane all of this? "Of course I know it wasn't worth it."
"And to think you're almost at having someone as sweet as Peter," said Jane. "But…if you end up with Peter, wouldn't you be cheating on Jeff?"
Cara wanted to smack the living daylights out of Jane. "Trust me Jane, I've felt like I've been broken up with Jeff for a long time now, it wouldn't be anything special," she said bitterly.
"Oh my," said Jane. "Well, you don't seem to like talking about this, why don't we stop?"
"Sounds fair," said Cara. "I think I should get back home anyway."
"Alright then, I'll take you home!" said Jane, a little too excited.
"Nah, it's okay, I'll just take the bus," said Cara, wanting to be rid of Jane.
"Are you sure?" asked Jane, put off.
"Yeah," said Cara. "I'll give you a break, you deserve it." Before Jane could say anything more, Cara was up and out of the coffee shop and waiting at the nearest bus stop. Well that was all done…she was still very confused at Jane's sudden change of heart…Jane was a strange girl anyway, maybe she actually wanted to be friends, but Cara could not be too sure. The bus came eventually, thankfully before Jane could steal her again, and she started her way back to the apartment.
"Back," said Cara, thankfully around people she actually liked.
"Where were you?" asked Mike. "I came for you at three but you weren't there. Bill said that you left with someone else. I was worried."
"Sorry about that," said Cara, plopping herself down on the couch next to Peter, of course. "If you really wanna know, I left with Jane."
"What?" asked Peter, flabbergasted. "Why?"
"Beats me," said Cara. "She fed me some crap about how she's sorry about all the stuff she's done and how she wants to be friends…there has to be something behind this."
"So that's why you went with her then?" asked Davy.
"Yeah, actually," said Cara.
"Of course," said Davy. "Cara the Headstrong…"
"Well the whole thing sounds fishy," said Mickey. "Just like…a…fish."
"Yeah, no shit Sherlock," said Davy.
"I'll figure this out," said Cara. "I feel obligated to this now…like it's my puzzle to figure out. You get me?"
"Just be careful," said Mike.
"I agree," said Peter. "That chick's crazy…trust me."
"Oh, trust me, I know that," said Cara. "I think I'll be okay, it's not like it's Jeff or anything. I'll live Peter." She smiled at him, making him smile back.
As Peter looked into that lovely lady's eyes and saw her lips curved in that reassuring smile, he tried to remember what it felt like to had kissed her last night…he really wished it had happened under different circumstances, but as Davy had said before, "A kiss is still a kiss." Her lips were so soft…comforting, although it was a very clumsy kiss. He wished he remembered more of it…
"Peter, you okay?" asked Cara, noticing Peter's total space-out.
"Oh, yeah," said Peter, shaking himself out of it. "Sorry, still kinda out of it from last night."
"You and me both," said Cara. "I doubt I'll be up very late tonight!" Her and Peter laughed.
"Well, glad to see you're feeling better and not snapping at anyone anymore," said Mike.
"Yeah, sorry about this morning," said Cara.
"I understand kiddo," said Mike, going to the kitchen to search through the cabinet.
"So I take it any more hanging out for now is out of the question?" asked Mickey.
Cara smirked and rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna be a raging bitch any more today," she said. "Unless Jane tries to call me again."
"Howsabout you try out that little flute you got for your birthday many a moon ago?" asked Mike coming out of the kitchen with a bag of chips. Cara reached out to the table by the couch and grabbed the wooden flute Mike had given her as a birthday gift.
"Let's see…" she said, taking a look at what the hell she was supposed to do with that thing. Once she thought she had her fingers in the right spot, she brought her lips to the…blowhole?...she had no clue what to call it…and blew. What came out was a very airy, shrill, scream of a sound, causing Cara to jerk the instrument away from her face and jump back. "Uhm…musicians? Any pointers?"
Mickey shrugged. "Hey, don't look at me, I just play the drums!"
Meanwhile, Abigail was at her house. Jeff was home and watching TV while drinking a can of beer, as always. She was sitting by the window while wondering why she wasn't at Davy's place. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The sofa creaked as Jeff stood up, grunting. Abigail wondered who it could be. Jeff didn't have any good friends around here as far as she knew. She desperately hoped it had nothing to do with Cara, although it seemed Jeff had stopped searching as much suddenly.
Jeff opened the door to reveal the person Abigail least expected—Jane, from the sandwich shop. What was she doing there? Well, she wouldn't find out everything if she was still in the room. Silently, she slinked off to her room and hid behind her open door…she was gonna find out whatever was going on here.
"Got anything for me?" asked Jeff.
"Went out with Cara," said Jane. "Didn't find out anything totally juicy, but I think I can dig deeper very soon."
"Good start," said Jeff. Abigail was shocked. This was all about Cara? Was Jane being Jeff's spy? She listened closer. "She have a weakness?"
There was a slight pause before Jane spoke. "She's in love with Peter," said Jane.
"Great," said Jeff. "That loser from the car crash? He'd be easy to get to."
"You're—you're not gonna hurt him though, are you?" asked Jane.
"No," said Jeff. "Just rough him up a bit to get to Cara, don't worry, you'll get your boy-toy in the end, I promise you."
"Good," said Jane. "She doesn't think much of you either."
"You don't think I know that?" asked Jeff. "You think I care what she thinks of me?"
"No, I don't," said Jane.
"Did you figure out where she's staying?" asked Jeff. "I know it's where that little shit that my sister's seeing but she ain't talking." Oh no…Abigail was doing everything in her power not to go out there and give both of them a beating.
"No," said Jane with spite. "The bitch ran off to catch a bus before I could get to her. I think she suspects something."
"Not that stupid whore," said Jeff. Abigail trembled with rage. "She's too dumb to know a thing."
"Jeff, I'm on your side," said Jane. "But I think we are both underestimating Cara here."
"Whatever you say," said Jeff. "But I think it's overestimating. I'm giving you one more chance to find out where she's staying, and after that, well, you're gonna get what's coming to you. Got it?"
"Got it," said Jane. "You won't be disappointed." Abigail half expected her to call Jeff "Master."
"I better not be," said Jeff. "You can go now. I'll give you a break today, but tomorrow, you will, and I don't care how, find out where Cara is hiding from me."
"Yes," said Jane. She walked over and out the door, leaving Jeff standing in the living room alone. Abigail ducked more into her room as Jeff walked past it on his way to his room. Once she heard his door close, she rushed out into the living room. She was going to find out how this whole thing started—how Jeff found Jane, how he found out about Peter, how he found out that Cara was staying with the guys. Then she saw it—
Lying on the coffee table in plain sight was the magazine with the story on The Monkees written in it. She couldn't believe it. She raked her fingers through her short blonde hair and her eyes grew wide. She picked up the magazine and flipped through. Of course, Jeff had seen the pictures of Cara. As she went through Cara's pictures, the breath caught in her throat. The photos were defaced; some had the face marked up with pen, others had the eyes poked out, and some even had red marker drawn all over her body, like blood, and worse. A tear of fear bloomed in Abigail's eye, but she wiped it away, closed the magazine, tucked it under her arm, and walked out of the house. She was going to show Cara and the guys all of this. She was going to warn them.
The drive took much shorter than it usually did. Abigail sped and weaved through traffic as fast as she could without getting caught. When she parked at the apartment, she jumped out of her car and raced to the door, knocking wildly. The door opened and she saw Mickey in the frame.
"Cara!" shouted Abigail.
"Hey Abigail," said Cara. "What's going on?"
"I dunno how to say this…but…Cara, Jeff knows more than you think," said Abigail.
"What do you mean?" asked Cara, her heart racing.
"He saw these," said Abigail, handing Cara the magazine.
"Oh no," whispered Cara as she flipped through and saw her defaced pictures. "This is horrible…and he's seen Peter in the car crash and he knows you're dating Davy! He must've put two and two together!"
"Bout time too," said Abigail. "But there's more."
"What more could there possible be?" asked Mike.
"He's having someone help him out," said Abigail. "Someone we know."
"Who?" asked Mickey. "Although I have my suspicions…"
"Jane," said Abigail. "I guess she's still pretty pissed about the whole Peter thing and she wants revenge on Cara."
"I knew it!" said Peter. "I knew she was nuts! And now Cara's in trouble. I should've never taken her to that sandwich place."
"Peter, it's not your fault," said Cara. "I shouldn't have acted out around her."
"No, it's my fault," said Abigail. "I should've known better when I had John do that photoshoot…Cara should not have been in those pictures. Because of me, Jeff will definitely find her."
"Abigail, don't blame yourself," said Cara. "I was the one who should've known better to not be in those pictures!"
"Okay, slow down," said Mike. "Now, does Jeff know exactly where we are?"
"No, not yet," said Abigail. "But Jane' gonna find out for him. Cara, everybody actually, keep your heads up for her. Cara, did you go anywhere with Jane today?"
"Yeah, we got coffee," said Cara.
"What did you tell her?" asked Davy.
"Nothing really…she did most of the talking," said Cara. "I'd say she's doing a terrible job at being Jeff's stooge."
"Well good," said Abigail. "Just thought I'd come over and warn you…that bastard…"
"As long as Cara's with us she's safe," said Peter, coming over to Cara and placing his arm around her. Cara was impressed at how brave Peter seemed at this moment, like he'd never let anyone come near her if he had something to say about it.
"I hope that's true," said Abigail. "I have no doubts that you all will go to any end to protect her." And that was true. Peter would stand by Cara's side no matter what. No matter how big Jeff was, or how mean, if he meant to harm the woman Peter loved, there would be hell to pay. He was ready for this.