"That's the fifth time someone has hung up when I've answered in the past two days," Davy said putting down the receiver of the red phone. "I'm starting to get a complex."

"Maybe it's burglars calling to see if we're home so they can come rob us!" Peter said worriedly.

"You know Pete, I bet that's it," Micky said patronizingly. "I think you should stand watch from the upstairs bedroom in case there's any suspicious characters. Don't let Davy help you though because we all know how he can get carried away with that kind of stuff."

"Quit that Micky! No one is robbing us we don't have anything worth taking," Mike scolded. "Now can we please practice for this gig this weekend. You've all had your heads elsewhere this week and we need to get back into a musical mindset."

"Why didn't you say so Mike," Micky said twirling his drumsticks around in his fingers.

"I have been for the past hour and keep getting interrupted and ign…"

"Peter stop barricading the door will ya?" Davy yelled across the room.

"…ored," Mike finished as he rubbed his hands down the length of his face.

The phone rang again and everyone just stared at it.

"I'm not answering that again," Davy said.

Micky leapt up and picked up the phone. "Hello Micky speaking….Mary Ellen, I was hoping you'd call…Yeah it's Saturday at The Scene…7:30…See you then, bye."

Micky gave a triumphant fist pump into the air and galloped back over to his drum kit. And settled back in like nothing had happened. Everyone else stared at him with waiting for some information. And when he didn't provide any Mike spoke up.

"So who was that Mick?"

"Oh my date from a few nights ago. She is planning on coming to the gig on Saturday."

"That's great Micky," Peter congratulated.

"Did you ask your girlfriend why she keeps hanging up the phone on me?" Davy asked impatiently.

"I'm sure that wasn't her. Just a coincidence," Micky answered carefully.

"Oh don't mind him," Mike said. "He is just in a sour mood because he is having girl troubles of his own."

"I am not!" Davy protested. "Quite the opposite, I have a lot of options."

"Yeah and from what I heard one of them say yesterday when she came over, she is pressuring you to be a one girl kinda guy," Peter chimed in.

"So, Last Train to Clarksville then? 1,2,3,4," Davy changed the topic so quickly that everyone started the song off in different places.

Micky had been dripping with anticipation about Mary Ellen coming to the show to hear them play. So much so that even the docile Peter told him to "chill out." Most people would be nervous to have someone in the audience that is special to them, but not Micky. He thrived on that type of adrenaline and saw it as an opportunity to show off.

When the band arrived at the club early to set up, Micky couldn't help but to keep sneaking glances around every minute to notice when Mary Ellen arrived. He was so distracted with checking that he put his drum kit together upside down and didn't even notice until Mike stepped on the upside down cymbal.

People were beginning to file in and fill the seats, which was making it more difficult for Micky to see through the throngs of people. Mike and Peter were busy disassembling and reassembling Micky's drum kit (he was of no use at the moment) as Micky paced back in forth getting in the way in the process.

"Mick, do you mind not stepping on my hands?" Mike complained.

"Yeah he's not your stepping stone," Peter said with a snicker.

Mike shot Peter a disapproving look.

"What? If Micky's not in a position to make the jokes someone has to."

"I'm sorry Mike," Micky said absently. "I am just trying to get the best view of the door. When is Davy going to get back from talking to the manager? I could use that little guy as a step stool."

Just then Davy entered from offstage and Micky immediately pushed him to the ground and began climbing on his back.

"What are you doing?" Davy demanded irritably.

"Quiet I can't look while you're talking," Micky answered.

"Well that explains it," Davy said struggling to wriggle free.

Micky noticed right away Mary Ellen entering the club then turning and walking out the front door. He didn't think twice before leaping off Davy as well as the stage to make his way through the crowd to catch up with Mary Ellen. He dashed out the door and looked left and then right, spotting her just a few steps ahead of him.

"Mary Ellen!" he called as he made large strides towards her.

She stopped at the call in surprise and waited for Micky to approach. She appeared nervous biting her lip, twirling her hair, and balancing from foot to foot. When Micky got there she hurriedly greeted him with a hi.

"Hey, what was that about? You came in and left right away," Micky asked.

"Oh you know…I just…" Mary Ellen seemed to be searching for the words as if she did not expect Micky to have noticed her. "My sister."

"Your sister?"

"Yes, I nearly forgot that my mother asked me to watch my younger sister tonight while my parents are um…bowling. So I'm already late and have to go," she finished abruptly and turned around to begin walking.

Micky gently caught her arm, "Wait, do you need a ride or anything? I'm sure I can go and make it back in time to start. I have 15 minutes."

Mary Ellen waved him off with her hand dismissively, "Oh no, no. I wouldn't want to you to put your roommates…bandmates in a tough spot. Drums are very important can't function as a band without them. I will be fine. Maybe some other time."

And with that, she was briskly turned and headed away. Micky was dumbfounded. He didn't want to doubt anyones' personal life and obligations, but he was a little skeptical. This was the second time she had unexpectedly had to leave a date and her excuses, while plausible, were presented in a way that sounded to him as though she was making them up on the spot.

Micky slouched back into the club and towards the stage looking defeated. He noticed his drum kit was right side up and Peter was helping Davy brush the dirty shoe prints off the back of his shirt.

"What was that all about, Mate? You nearly ground my nose into the floor," Davy inquired impatiently.

"Yeah and you nearly got caught on a microphone cord and took that down with you," Mike added.

"Sorry," Micky said carelessly. "I was trying to spot out Mary Ellen and as soon as I stood on Davy's back I saw her headed out the door. I went to go catch her and she had a lame excuse for having to leave."

"I'm guessing you don't believe her then?" Peter asked.

"Well, it has happened twice that she has had some random excuse that sounds like she thought it up last minute. Like she didn't even expect to have to talk with me to come up with one."

"She did come all the way over here though, so it couldn't be that she didn't want to see you," Mike suggested.

"She sure has a funny way of showing it," Micky criticized.

"I agree with Mike. I don't think it's you at all. Either her excuses are legitimate or there must have been something here that sent her heading for the hills," Davy offered.

"I just wish I knew where she was going to," Micky thought aloud.