"Would you like to order an appetizer sir?"

"No thank you, I'm fine."

"Are you sure because you are chewing your fingernails an awful lot?" asked the waitress.

Micky stared down at the nubs of his fingers and they began to ache. He politely repeated himself to the waitress and she walked away. He didn't realize how nervous he actually was. A few days ago was so simple and effortless, but that was because that was not a date. He was just comforting a stranger. Now the stakes were higher.

Micky had arrived at the club half an hour early because he didn't want to risk Mary Ellen spending any more time alone wondering if she was being stood up again. This left him alone with his thoughts and gave him plenty of time to build up anxious feelings. What if I wasn't clear enough about the plans? What if she changed her mind? What if this was all a clever ruse to sell me a time share? He graduated from biting his nails and began vigorously shaking his leg which in turn shook the table and almost caused him to spill the pitcher of water on it.

Micky was relieved when he saw Mary Ellen walk through the door. She looked confused as she was searching around the room. Micky stood up and waved her over to the table. She cautiously approached.

"Mary Ellen, you look amazing!"

"Micky?" Mary Ellen questioned. "What happened to the beard and eye patch?"

"Oh right," Micky said forgetting he was in disguise the day before. "Doctor says the eye is in tip top shape again you know after the rubber band accident."

Micky could tell his nerves were showing. He was stammering and overly attentive to the point that he pulled out Mary Ellen's chair too far and she almost fell. He needed to chill. How did Davy do this all the time?

"I must say I like you better without the beard and eye patch."

"Thank you. Can I be honest and say that I'm a little nervous?"

"I am too," Mary Ellen admitted, "but I am glad you asked me to come out. I needed to restore my faith in dating again. I felt like I was on display here a few days ago. Forcing smiles when the staff was asking me if I needed anything. You could tell that this sort of thing happens all the time because of the insincerity and shifty eyes from everyone here. All I needed was a kind soul."

Mary Ellen placed her hand on top of Micky's and he felt his face flush. "Gosh, it was nothing."

The two fell into the natural conversation pattern that they had the night before. Micky explained to her the real reason for the disguise and she told about her childhood in San Diego. Time was seeming to fly by and stand still at the same time. Like they were the only two people in the place.

Once they had finished their meals, Mary Ellen glanced at her watch. "Wow it's later than I thought. Time flies. I really have to get going."

"But it's only 7:00," Micky noted his voice plagued with confusion.

"I know, but um…my neighbor is watching my cat and she has…ear medicine she needs. The cat not the neighbor," she stammered.

"Well that's a relief," Micky said it was difficult not to notice the disappointment in his voice.

"I'm sorry to rush out. I had a really great time again."

"Listen my band is playing a gig at The Scene this weekend, would you be interested in coming out?" he asked hopefully.

"I have no plans as of yet, but let me make sure I'm free…you know my cat and all."

"Of course here's my number. I have three roommates Mike, Peter, and Davy."

Mary Ellen hesitated as she took the slip of paper with the number on it. She stared at it for a moment and then shoved it in her purse. "Great, I will certainly give you a call."

"Would you like an escort home?"

"No, no I am perfectly fine." And with that she rushed out the door disappearing into the night.

"She's very independent and mysterious," Micky contemplated. "I think I'm in love."

Micky waltzed into the Pad on a cloud nine. Even though there was an abrupt exit by his date, he could tell the night had gone well. He was humming 'Sometime in the Morning' and he shut the front door. He noticed Mike and Peter playing checkers at the kitchen table.

"Hey Mick, how did it go?" Mike asked.

"Marvelous, fantastic, stupendous."

"Oh no, he's becoming more and more Davy-esque by the day," Peter commented.

"What made the night so good?" Mike continued.

"Good?" Micky repeated. "Michael, good doesn't even begin to describe the magnificence that was this evening."

"Oh brother!" Mike rolled his eyes.

"If it was so magnificent, then why are you home so early?" Peter inquired.

"She had something or other she needed to attend to," Micky said waving off the comment. "We talked again for hours though. It's so easy. We click so well."

"Good for you then, buddy," Mike said as he swiped the last red checker Peter had in play.

"No fair, I demand a recount!" Peter protested.

"Recount what? There are no points to count!"

"Can I get in on this action? Or has Davy already called playing the winner?" Micky asked.

"Davy isn't home."

"Where is he? Going for a swim at that club again?"

"He very well could be," Peter answered. "He went out to try to smooth things over with that girl he accidentally stood up. She could be still be mad so there's no telling what he may come back looking like."

"The guy has so many options for girls and he tries to go fix this one that will probably only last another week. Hell he had so many dates that he double booked himself. He could really learn something from me."

"I'm sure Davy is just fine in that department," Mike said with a sigh. "Besides I don't want any of you picking up each other's bad habits. It's bad enough having one of each of you."

"Quit stalling, Tex and deal me in."

"Why are you and Peter so confused about how checkers works?"

Davy arrived back at the Pad a few hours later dry as a bone. Mike and Peter had retired to bed, but Micky stayed awake still high from the adrenaline of his date.

"You're not going to get very far with him, you know," Davy said.

Micky stared at Mr. Schneider. "Yeah he won't tell me if he's got any fours." He gathered up the cards and began to shuffle. "Want me to deal you in?"

"Why not," Davy shrugged and sat down. "What are you still doing up anyway?"

"I had a date tonight and it went so well that I am all keyed up with excitement."

"That's great Micky!"

"How did your night go?" Micky asked as he dealt.

"Well I'm dry so that's a pro. I explained myself, the honest truth no excuses. I told her that I was seeing her and another girl. I expected the worst, but she seemed to take that news as a challenge. She's a very sweet girl, but I saw a feisty side to her the past few days and might I say that I am more intrigued."

"I was wondering why you wanted to try to make amends with someone who dumped water on you. It makes sense now, you're hung up on her."

"Come on now, man. David Jones does not get hung up on girls like that. I'm a lady killer."

"Babe, you fall in love more times a day than Mike adjusts his hat. How can you say you don't get hung up?"

"You have to admit it never lasts long enough to be considered a hang up."

"Right, and I've rarely seen you chase after someone that had such a reaction towards you."

Davy thought for a moment and stared at his cards as if the reply to Micky's comment were written on them. "I don't know exactly what this is about. I can't put my finger on it, but I am willing to see it through. What have I got to lose?"

"The promise of dry clothing," Micky quipped.

"I guess I'll start carrying an umbrella. Gin!"

"We were playing Rummy."

"Seems like we are playing two separate games here. Someone is bound to lose," Davy stated getting up from the table and stretching before heading into his room.