At the break for lunch, the boys caught up with Patty, Ginger, Steph, and Kari... the latter three looking like they were about to kill Patty.Peter decided to save his assistant.
"Steph, stand up."
Steph, confused, did as was told and only had a split second to prepare as Peter ran up and jumped on her back, like she had done earlier.
"My turn," he said simply and Steph, thankful for something else to do, ran around with Peter yelling and hooting like a little boy.
Micky looked at Kari, who was trying to tune Patty 's story about what happened to her at the store yesterday, and outstretched his arm, grinning. Kari took the offered arm and the two walked off together.
Mike turned to leave and Ginger shot up and ran over to him.
"For the love of God, do not leave me alone with her!" she growled in his ear.
Mike smiled to himself and turned to her and said, "Come with me."
Soon it was just Davy and Patty, alone while the others went of to lunch... Patty didn't seem to notice.
"So, Patty..." Davy began. "Where were you yestaday? I missed you, luv."
Patty giggled as she slinked closer to Davy. "Oh it was dreadful! After I left here the day before..." She paused and counted on her fingers, to make sure she had her days straight. "Yeah, the day before, after I left, I had the most aweful thing hit..."
"Aw, you were sick, dahling?"
Patty shook her head wildly with her blank eyes and her chest stuck out-- her normal posture. "Oh no! After I left here I went to go get my regular manicure and... and..." She began to tremble slightly. "Sally wasn't there!" At Davy's strange look, she elaborated, "My normal nail girl, er, technician! She's wonderful... I'll have to set an appointement up for you with here. You've only had Judy because Sally was away in Indiana for her sister's brother-in-law's third wedding, and she's not as good."
Davy nodded.
"Anyway... I got Stella, who's a nightmare, oh but a nightmare. She... She..." Patty was near tears. But continued when Davy put his arm around her to comfort here, and she moved closer. "She ruined my nails! She cut them too short and put the wrong color on them and she even nicked my little finger with the file! Look!" She held out her pinky for Davy to see some cut. He didn't see anything, but he kissed it anyway with a "there, there". "Tha's terrible! Are you feeling betta now?" Davy asked.
Patty sniffed, swayed her hips a little so she looked like a toddler, and, with a pouty mouth, nodded, giving a "ummhmm...". Then she moved on to something else. "So what do you normally do right now where all the others are at lunch?"
Davy was used to this. "I... normally I have lunch too..."
"Oh!" Patty squeaked with delight. "Where are we going?!"
Davy took in a flustered breath. He had wanted to find out where Micky and Kari were going and butt in. "How about the studio cafeteria?..."
"Ooo," Patty gushed in amazement. "Sound expensive... The Studio... Wow Davy! You're just the most, but the most!" "Oh yeah, it is... but order anything you like... They know me there... I have my own table and everything..." Davy said, going along with Patty's dillusion of going to a fancy resturaunt. He now had the opportunity to impress others while remaining cheap, er, economical. Even though he actually enjoyed this, as the two headed off, Davy couldn't help but wonder how the others were getting along.
Steph and Peter had arrived at the diner they went to yesterday, Steph on Peter's back (they switched for the public eye cause it was more proper that way) and Peter set her down gently before entering.
They sat at a little booth looking at the menu. This time around there was a little local band playing off in the corner.
"Wow," Steph said, loving every minute of it, "This is totally different from the other day...I love it!!"
"Me too," Peter said laughing.
As soon as they both had ordered Steph was back into the music, completely absorbed in it and Peter just sat there looking at her, noting that what she had just ordered had no meat in it... just like the other day...
Meanwhile Kari and Micky had found another place just as quaint, but with no live music, just the radio. They sat and ordered quickly, unintentionally ordering the same thing.
"Hey, thanks for saving me from Patty back there," Kari said with a laugh.
Micky smiled, "Actually, I wanted to get away from her too... she can get very annoying-"
"Very fast!"
They laughed together, Micky shaking his head. "They should really put her in the Black Box."
"The what?" Kari asked wonder what on earth that was.
"Oh man, we have to show you girls that after lunch. It is the coolest thing."
Just then 'She Hangs Out' came on the radio.
Micky and Kari just looked at each other and burst into laughter.
They began to sing to it while their food arrived. As soon as the waitress left the chorus hit and right after 'do the rond rond' Micky threw a fry at Kari, hitting her right between the eyes.
Mike and Ginger heard the song on the radio as well. They were in his car.
"Oh my," Mike sighed as Ginger laughed.
He moved to turn it off, but she slapped his hand.
"Keep both hands on the wheel," she snapped.
"You are something else, you know that?" Mike drawled as he made a left a little too sharply causing Ginger to bump into the window next to her.
"Look at you! You're no 'Average Johnny' yourself."
"Well, I'd have to shoot myself if I was named 'Average Johnny'."
They laughed with each other, rather than at each other, for the first time.
They both silently agreed that it was nice.
An awkward silence fell upon the car and they just sat and listened to the song.
"Well, that was the Monkees with their newest hit, 'She Hangs Out'... how about we listen to that one again..."
"No!" Mike and Ginger yelled both reaching for the dial.
Their hands touched for a split second and it was as if a spark had passed between them.
They immediately took their hands hand pretending like that had never happened, both wishing it'd happen again.
They both listened to 'She Hangs Out', again, in total silence until Mike pulled up to restaurant he had in mind for lunch today.
"I think I'll order for myself this time," Mike said as they both got out of the car.
Ginger smiled and they walked inside.
Peter carefully watched Steph as she ate.
"What?" Steph asked after she swallowed a mouthful of salad. "Never seen a person eat before?"
Peter laughed. "No, it's not that," Peter's face brought up a thoughtful look. "I've just noticed, for the past two lunches I've eaten with you, that you don't eat meat."
Steph slightly blushed. "Oh that. Heh, I'm a vegetarian," Usually she wasn't embarrased about such things, but it was just something about Peter that made her be.
"Oh that's refreshing!" Peter grinned that dimple grin. "It's nice to finally meet someone who doesn't agree with the bourgeriese, facist, meat-eating society."
Steph smiled. "I know exactly what you mean." They both smiled and Peter's foot touched hers again.
It was about time for them to go. Peter paid for the ticket and stood up, but instead of lending her a hand to get up he turned around. "Hop on!" he said.
Steph looked around the restaurant, hesitantly, but then she decided she just didn't care. She hopped onto Peter's back and he carried her out, waving to the people at the front of the diner, those people staring. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kari and Micky were listening to the Beatles on the radio, it was "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds."
"Man, that's some psychedelic shit there," Micky sat back in his seat, in some sort of daze.
Kari laughed, but she too was mezmorized by that song. It was funny to her how Micky seemed to feel that same way.
"Anyway," Micky got out of his trance and turned to face Kari in the seat next to him. He sighed. "I guess we should be heading back," he grumbled, looking at his watch.
Kari sighed too. "Yeah... do you like Davy?"
"Do I what?" Micky asked.
"Like Davy? I mean as a person, or friend," Kari rolled her eyes playfully.
Micky scrunched his brow, thinking. "Yeah, he's a pretty okay guy. A nice man," he gave Kari a look. "Why??
Kari shrugged. "Just wondering..."
Micky giggled, evily. "He's always trying to get to you."
Kari jumped. "Oh GOD don't remind me!" Kari could scream at that fact.
Micky continued to tease her. "What you don't want a Monkee as a boyfriend?"
"No it's not that, I don't like him I li--" Kari stopped. She looked at Micky's watch by lifting his hand off of the seat. "Yeah you're right, we should be heading back." Micky nodded and started the car. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So," Mike said, after he ordered a burger, with a side of broccoli. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Ginger replied as she sipped on her shake. She eyed him cautiously. "Why?"
Mike looked at her in deadpan. "Ah'm just wondering. Geez, were you going to tear me up for that one too?" Sarcasm.
Ginger rolled her eyes. "No, mister I-know-it-all," she huffed. "Go on with your plans to get me back. I know all about what you're going to do." She hadn't the slighest clue, but oh well.
"Uh huh, yeah, sure," Mike took another bite of broccoli.
"You really looove your veggies dont you?" Ginger teased, in sarcasm of course.
"Ah'm a good boy." Mike put on the cheesiest grin he'd seen Davy do earlier. Ginger couldn't help but bust a gut laughing.
"Somehow I doubt that," Ginger managed to say.
"What? You mean to tell me you don't think I'm a good... Oh who am I kidding..."
This just made Ginger laugh harder. The ticket came and Mike just stared at it.
"Staring contest. You. Me. Right now. Loser has to pay," he said arching his eyebrow in contest.
"You're on," Ginger said.
"Ok... now!"
They sat there staring at each other both refusing to blink. It was at the moment that Ginger learned that Mike had very pretty eyes. A very long minute went by and Ginger couldn't take it anymore.
She blinked and reached for her purse.
"Don't worry, it's on me," Mike said placing money on the table.
"Then what was that for?"
"Just wanted to cause you pain without having to touch you."
He smiled the sickly sweet smile again and Ginger sighed.
"Let's go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Micky and Kari stood alone on the set of the "Monkee Pad" after he was finished giving her a quick tour of the place.
They walked up the stairs and hung out on the balcony.
Just then Peter and Steph walked in with Mike and Ginger, whom they met in the parking lot.
"Hey, come on guys! Let's get this party started!" Micky yelled, sliding down the hand rail.
He jumped and slid on the floor up to the group, arms out stretched, grin on his face.
"Oh no you don't. We are having a bit of technical difficulty. You guys go destroy some other set while we work here," the new AD said.
"How long will it take?" Mike asked.
"Don't know. We'll get you when we're done."
The three boys looked at each other, the same idea running through their minds.
"How's a jam session in the Black Box sound, fellas?" Mike asked grinning from ear to ear.
"A what in the what now?" Steph asked, trying to figure out what this "Black Box" was.
"It doesn't sound promising." Ginger gave Mike a quick dirty look. "Sounds like they want us to go into a dark room, and he's smiling about it."
Peter grinned his deepest dimple infused grin at Steph. She melted. Peter saw this, and immeditately said, "Hop on!"
Steph laughed and jumped on Peter's back, and he took of for the Black Box.
"C'mon, it's so cool in there," Micky pleaded to Kari. "There's neat lights and pillows and it's hard telling what else may be stashed away in there..."
"Okay okay..." Kari said, pretending she didn't want to go, but her smile didn't agree with that pretense.
"Well, I'll be seein' ya then..." Mike said to Ginger as he started to walk off towards the others. Ginger was fine with that until she turned around to see Patty and Davy approaching, Patty talking rapidly to Davy. Mike had seen them before Ginger had.
Ginger turned back around sharply with panic. She immediately ran over to Mike, very close by his side, one hand on his arm.
Mike have her a truely devilish grin, looking from her hand on his arm to her eyes. "Change your mind, there?"
She jerked her hand down immediately and mustered her cold look. "I'm only going with you because I don't want her unloaded on me..."
"Well if that's the only reason you want to come," he began to walk off, "'fraid you can't go."
Ginger shook on the spot, then ran after him. "That's not the only reason I want to go."
Mike gave a stupid, smug look. "Really? Well then why do you want to go?"
"I want to go make out," Ginger blurted.
Mike held out his arm, which Ginger took, and they narrowly escaped being spotted by Patty and Davy by shutting the door to the Black Box. It was exactly that-- a Black Box. There were some psychodelic pillows and bean bags thrown around hapazardly. Beads were strung around the room, and there were four colored lights up near the ceiling.
Peter and Steph were entangled on one beanbag, kissing each other hungerly. Steph was running her fingers through Peter's hair passionately and Peter was pretty much groping anything he could grab.
Micky and Kari were watching, amused at their animal like passion, and munching on some chips.
Mike plopped himself down on a recliner in the corner and looked up at Ginger expectantly. "Let's get to it, then."
Ginger gave a smart laugh and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. I said I wanted to make out, I didn't say with you. I can assure you, he's not in here."
Micky and Kari let out "ooo's" and giggled.
Mike raised one eyebrow at Ginger. "Then why aren't you out makin' out with him?"
"Cos I'm stuck here with you making money instead of with him."
"Him who?" Kari said, truely bewildered. "You don't have a boyfriend."
Mike smiled. "Now I find that incredibly hard to believe, given your sweet dispostion and gentle demenor."
"I'm totally different when I'm around people. How about you, Mr. Charm-club?"
"I could get ahold of a chick if I wanted to. I'm just choosey."
Ginger was walking around the room while he was speaking, and Micky and Kari were eyeing them like they were players in a very funny tennis match. Ginger picked up a guitar and slung it on.
"Hey there, Mama Rocker, be easy with that," Mike warned.
Ginger played the very first of "Pleasant Valley Sunday", with the ever sarcastic smile on her face.
"Very nice, show off," Mike looked totally uninterested.
Micky spoke up finally as Ginger was laid the guitar down and sat down and the footrest of Mike's chair, shoving his feet off of it first. "Hey, Mike. Got any good jokes? Or bad ones? You know I don't care."
"Yeah I know..." Mike muttered as he sat up. "Well, see, there is this pirate, alright? And this pirate, he's got a ship's steerin' wheel down his pants."
Ginger gave him a gross look, not liking where this was heading. Mike ignorned her and continued.
"This pirate, he walks into a bar, steerin' wheel in his pants. The bartender watches him in just utter disbelief all the way until he gets up to the bar. Finally the bartender says to the pirate," Mike made the approiate voice changes, "'Hey there, mate, why d'ya have a steerin' wheel in your pants there?' And the pirate says 'Arrrg, it's drivin' me nuts!'"
Micky and Kari fell into each other with laughter. In one motion, Ginger let out a very sincere laugh, bit her lip, and erased any sign of amusement on her face.
"That was so brazen and disgusting," Ginger shot at Mike with a look at replusion on her face.
"Yeah, well, I have bad taste," Mike said, settling back.
Ginger let out a sound of agreement.
"I mean, I'm hanging around with you, aren't I?"
Ginger started to lite into him for that, but just turned her back to him, not speaking to him.
Mike smiled, very satifisfied, as he put his hands behind his head.
After a moment, all the lights went on and nearly blinded them all. Even Peter and Steph stopped, taking in great breaths.
"What's that?" Kari asked.
"It means they need us on the set. We each have a color," Micky explained, standing up.
Steph hopped on Peter's back and they took off.
Mike walked infront of Ginger. "You want a ride?"
Ginger stalked off past him.
"This is too fun..." Mike shook his head, following.
Micky and Kari were walking out. Much to their surprise, they were doing so holding hands. Both of them realized this as they got to the door.
"Uh..." Micky began.
Kari blushed. Micky got closer to her. She got closer to him. Very gently, Micky pressed his lips to Kari's. Both of them felt like shooting off into outerspace when this happened. As soon as they broke apart, Kari smiled and blushed slightly and walked out onto the set, Micky following with a dumb smile.
All of them were on the set, and Steph finally said, "I thought we were going to hear a jam session?"
Micky, Kari, Steph, and Peter-- Peter especially, burst out laughing.
"Come on Gingie, how about a little kissy wissy?" Mike asked, half joking, half serious.
"Why would I do that?" Ginger wanted to know, crossing her arms waiting for his answer.
"Well everybody else has."
"What? Kari and Micky haven't-"
"I know Micky, and that dumb smile on his face just proves my point."
"I don't believe you."
"Look for yourself."
Ginger looked to where Mike was looking and saw a very cheeky Micky and a very flustered Kari. When ever they accidentally touched each other, they jerked away and then smiled apologetically at each other, blushing.
"You know, the were the last two to leave the box..." she said, suddenly realizing what was going on.
"Told you so."
Ginger rolled her eyes and shook her head, laughing.
Steph tilted her head looking at Peter, thinking.
Peter mimicked her wondering what was going through her mind.
She smiled when she saw him mirror her actions and playfully punched him in the arm.
"You know, back there..." she started suddenly shy, "... was... amazing, but we've only known each other for less then two days..."
Peter saw where this was going. "But it doesn't feel that way."
"I know!" Steph said grabbing his hands. "It's seems like we've been friends for a while, but lets give it a week."
"A week?!"
"A week."
"And after that week?"
"Would you have me as a girlfriend?"
Peter smiled coyly. "I guess..."
Steph laughed and threw her arms around him in a hug.
"During that week can we do this?" Peter asked, loving the way she felt in his arms.
"I guess..." came the mumbled reply.
This just made Peter squeeze harder.
"I can't breath!!" Steph said laughing as he let her go, them two holding hands.
"So how long do you think it'll take for those two to hook up?" Peter asked pointing over to Micky and Kari.
"Something tells me they already have," Steph said, deep in thought.
Peter's eyes widened.
"Well it only took them two days," he said in a mock snooty way.
"That's just not how I work, baby."
They laughed as the AD came over to usher the boys off to the set.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day the Monkees were playing a practical joke on the assissant director, while the girls came in holding insturmuents. Kari and Ginger both had guitars in cases, Ginger's being electric and Kari's acoustic, while Steph had her violin case. Micky was the first to notice and nudged the others, hitting Davy, and the four ran over.
"What do yew have there?" Mike asked Ginger, raising an eyebrow.
Ginger gave him a look. "Oh I forgot, you're too stupid to realize what this is." She took her 12 string out. "This," she said as if talking to a two-year-old. "Is a 12 sting guitar. It has twelve stings." She nodded.
Mike rolled his eyes. Peter and Micky snickered.
Kari shrugged. "We figured, since yesterday's jam session wasn't so... jammin'--"
"Oh but it was!" Peter protested.
Everyone laughed. Steph cleared her throat to continue. "We brought our stuff over to play with you today!"
Kari took out her red acoustic guitar. "Ya know," Davy said, getting rather close to her. "I can play the guitar too."
Kari gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sure," she replied. "Poor guitar..." she muttered.
"Oh a violin!" Peter praised. "I love these!" He grabbed Steph's violin out of her hands and proceeded to play a little song. Steph clapped when he was finished. "Very nice," she said.
Just then Patty came rushing over. "Hey you guys!" She looked at their instuments. "What do you have there?"
The girls looked at her like she was stupid. Davy sighed. "It's their instruments," he explained.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "My mother says I'm musically inclined. I can sing a note or two."
"Oh Jesus..." Mike put his head in his hand.
Patty didn't hear him and proceeded to sing "Early Monring Blues and Greens". Not surprisingly, everyone had to cover their ears and cringed with embarrassment and pain. But to everyone's delight, Kari started to ramble something on her guitar and began to sing: "She owns and operates her own sunshine factory. Oh, painting smiles on dolls and then on me. She's my sunny girlfriend and personality."
By this time Steph had managed to get her violin back from Peter and jumped in playing MIcky's harmony. Ginger then joined in playing her twelve string and singing along with Kari.
The boys just stood there, amazed at the beauty of the song. They'd never really heard any of their songs sung by girls (or a violin for that matter) before. Mike was just amazed that Ginger could play a twelve string.
The girls finished to a roar of applause and whistles. Before a word was uttered the AD came over and just simply said, "Black Box."
The eight did as they were told and headed down to the room.
"Is that what I really sound like?" Micky asked Steph in a serious, yet joking, manner.
"No," Steph started thoughtfully, "You usually sound like this..."
She placed her left pointer finger at the very edge of the fingerboard on the "E" string and began to bow the most God-awful note imaginable.
Everyone cringed except for Micky.
"Really? That good?!" he asked excitedly.
The group laughed and walked into the room. This time there were instruments waiting for them. Micky and Kari sat over by a lone acoustic guitar, Mike and Ginger by another twelve string, and Peter and Steph by a five string banjo. Davy and Patty sat by a bucket of tambourines, maracas, and other various percussion instruments.
They all began to tune (with the exception of Patty and Davy) to Steph's "A".
Micky looked around excited. This was going to be awesome.
"Let's jam!"
They played all morning. Each guy left when te was needed and when they all left Ginger, Kari, and Steph worked towards finishing a song they were writing and would immediately stopped when one of the guys would come back. They played old Monkee tunes, Beatle songs, and each person would play some random tune that they knew, the most memorable being Micky playing a rocked out version of the "Circus Boy" theme and Steph's very country, and very fast, version of "Turkey and the Straw".
So when lunch time came around they all went down to the studio cafe and ate together in this big discussion on music. Ginger went to go to the bathroom, leaving Mike and Kari in a heated debate on rock and roll music. Steph saw this and left as well, unable to stand to be around the "intense scene" any more.
"Think you can leave me behind to that? I don't think so," Steph said catching up with her roommate.
"I'm sure Peter would have protected his princess from any harm," Ginger said, smiling at the one subject that made Steph turn into a bumbling idiot.
"Oh shut your mouth."
Steph shoved Ginger to the side causing her to bump into someone.
"I am so sorry! My friend here is being..." But Ginger stopped when she saw that the person she had bumped into was a cute man no more than a year older than her.
Steph smiled, her work done, and walked away towards the bathroom. When she was done she headed back to the group's table walking right past Ginger, who was still talking/flirting to the man she had bumped into.
Mike and Kari had long since ended their argument and both looked at Steph wondering why she was grinning like that.
"What is it?" Peter asked the question everyone was wanting to know the answer to.
"Ginger is flirting with some guy we met in the hallway."
Kari burst into laughter knowing very well how Ginger could "turn on the charm".
Everyone found this to be amusing... everyone except Mike.
He didn't like it.
He didn't like it at all.
"Um, Mike?" Micky waved a hand in front of Mike's face. "Hello?"
This was bad. Mike was frozen in spot, his happy expression morphing into anger as he stared at Ginger and that "guy". The rest of the boys took a step back.
Suddenly Mike started to move-- in the direction of Ginger.
"Mike?!" Kari panicked, trying to pull him back. "You'll just piss her off worse!"
"Ah don't care!" Mike replied angrily, his accent getting quite thicker. "Ah doan know what the hell she thinks she's doin' right now, but--"
"Mike, she has a life of her own!" Kari kept trying to pull him back, with the help of Steph, but to no avail. "It's not like she likes you anyway!"
Mike sharply turned around to face her, Kari could see fire in his eyes. She had said the wrong thing.
"I... I was just trying to be truthful." Kari stepped back, muttering. "I mean, ya know, she doesn't..."
Yelling and screaming was heard after that last remark. Ginger and the man turned their heads, Ginger gasping in horror as Mike yelled at Kari, practically blowing her head off, right in the middle of the hall with everyone staring.
"ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!" Mike screamed. "ARE YOU? HUH?! TELL ME!"
Kari calmly looked at Mike, with a trace of tears in her eyes and said, "Yes, I am. You sure answered my question." And with her fists to her sides she walked off.
"Where is she going?" asked Peter.
"Ah doan give a damn," Mike fumed, crossing his arms.
"Lemme go see!" Davy quickly volunteered.
Micky grabbed his arm. "No, man," he looked at him. "Let someone else, you'd just... freak her out more," he said almost to himself.
Ginger ran over. "What happened?!" She hit Mike. "What did you say to her?!"
Mike looked down at the 5' 3" girl. "None of your damn business."
Ginger gave Mike a cold stare and kneed him right where it hurts. "C'mon Steph," she said. "I think I have an idea as to where she headed." Ginger grabbed Steph's hand and dragged her along, off of the set and out of the studio.
"Well..." said Davy.
Patty looked confused. "I've never heard those words!"
Micky shook his head. He yelled to the AD, "I'll be right back, I'm going to... take a break..." and he too ran off to the parking lot.
Peter walked up to Mike. "Way to make an ass of yourself," he muttered. He proceeded to walk to the Black Box to have some quiet time.
Mike just stood there. He was all alone.
Micky, Steph, and Ginger all walked out into the parking lot and, sure enough, found Kari sitting on the trunk of the girls' car. The three looked at each other and Ginger and Micky shoved Steph forward. Steph turned around giving them an evil glare and continued to walk over to the car. Without talking she hopped up on the trunk and sat next to Kari.
"Mike is such... an ass!!" Kari said, kicking the bumper of the car.
"Well if it maked you feel any better, Ginger kicked him in the... in... in his lower regions."
Kari turned and looked at Steph in shock.
"Really??"
"Uh huh. It was really funny. You should have seen his face."
Kari laughed.
"Hey, can we go back inside, This metal trunk is starting to burn my butt," Steph said in the most innocent, child-like voice.
Kari laughed again and the two hopped off the car. It was then that Kari saw Ginger and Micky standing off yonder.
"Ginger."
"Yeah, Steph?" Ginger asked leaving Micky and Kari alone in their own romantic little world, Micky comforting Kari with his arm around her.
"I think you really hurt Mike."
Ginger laughed out loud causing the love birds to look over at her.
"No seriously," Steph said in all seriousness.
Ginger kind of smirked. "I don't really care."
Steph sighed, hating the fact that she was going to have to get into this, and walked off from the group and over to Mike's dressing room.
She knocked cautiously on the door, but nobody answered. She knocked again with the same results.
Sighing in a mix of annoyance and anger at it all, she yelled, "I'm coming in!!"
She turned the knob and walked in to his really bizarre dressing room. She looked around and found him lying on his couch staring up into space with an ice pack in the proper position.
"Mike?" Steph asked cautiously.
"I'm going to kill her," he mumbled.
Steph immediately realized that this was the first time she was ever alone with him and seeing what he had been through, didn't think that this was the smartest idea in the world.
"Who?"
"Ginger."
"Why?"
He sat up quickly, wincing in pain, staring at her in disbelief. "What do you mean 'why'?!"
"Just trying to make conversation."
He offered for her to sit next to him and she, very slowly, accepted.
"You did start it you know."
This was a brave thing to say, but Mike knew she was right.
"Yeah, I know. But she shouldn't have been flirting with that guy.
" "Who should she be flirting with then?"
"Me."
Steph's mouth dropped as Mike immediately realized what he had just said.
"This never leaves the room," he said, but Steph began to smile like an idiot.
"You like Ginger," she said in a sing song voice.
"Shut up," he said, half embarrassed half pissed.
"Aw come on old chum! Loosen up!" she said throwing her arm around his shoulders, not nearly as afraid of him now as she was when she first entered the room.
"I'd like to see how you'd act after getting kicked like that."
"Well... I'll never know, so that's not really and issue for me."
"True. I just... I just lost it when I saw her with him."
Steph felt a pang of pity hit her when he said that. He was really opening up to her, and she got the impression that he didn't open up to a lot of people.
She turned and hugged him and he did the same, both of them unable to say something.
"It's just hard, you know?" Mike said, trying his damnedest not to cry. He wouldn't cry infront of her.
"I know. It sucks, it really does."
The two continued to hug in silence and that was when Ginger, Kari, and Micky walked in.
Micky saw Mike hugging somebody and just about fell over, Kari catching him. "He hugged someone," he said, rather stupidly.
Kari giggled as she helped him to stand.
Ginger wasn't about to joke though. "Stephanie! Come here. NOW," Ginger was more of the "leader" of the group, as she was the oldest, and continued to boss them around.
Steph let go of Mike and went over to where Ginger was. "Yes mother?" she asked, polietly as possible. Ginger glared at her. Kari and Micky let out their "ooooo"s.
Steph ushered out the other two, Kari complaining. "But I wanna see what happens!"
Ginger walked over to Mike, meaning business and pulled up a rather old looking chair and plopped down next to him.
"Why are you so stubborn?" she asked him, flat out.
"Why are you so mean?" he replied ithe same tone.
She flung the chair across the room. "Listen, I don't have to take this shit from anyone, especially you."
"Me huh?" Mike mirrored Ginger's actions. "Well why don't yew just quit this job then and go work for some other "chump"."
"I WOULD do that, but I can't because we need the money, and this is the only job available for 100 miles," Ginger ranted. "A job that's decent anyway," she said softly.
"Well then I fire you," Mike said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Fire me?! You can't DO that!"
Mike nodded. "Oh yes I can. You are my personal assistant. I can do whatever the hell I'd like with you."
Ginger wasn't about to take that. If words couldn't do anything, then physical action was needed. Ginger was about to aim a blow at the same spot she did earlier until Mike pulled her close for a lip locking kiss. Ginger wrapped her arms around him as if it had been long past due. They continued to kiss until someone knocked on the door. Mike let go and Ginger dropped to the floor, embarrassed and taken aback. It was the assistant director.
The assistant director opened the door after knocking as Ginger stood up quickly, her eyes a little wide from the shock of getting such a soul-shaking kiss. And from being completely dropped on her behind.
"We're ready to get a take, Mike," the AD said, nodding to Mike and giving Ginger a polite smile.
"Thanks, I'll be right there," Mike replied as the assistant closed the door.
Ginger looked slowly from the door to Mike, who was just standing there looking at her.
He clasped his hands behind him and puffed out his chest as he addressed Ginger, very business like. "Well, takin' into the consideration the extra effort you've shown around here lately, I'll keep you on. But only on probation. We'll see how you do."
With that, Mike walked out onto the set, leaving Ginger gaping after him.
"Did she hit you again? Huh? Did she? Did she?" Micky asked Mike excitedly as he took his place on the set.
"Nope," Mike said simply.
"Well what did you say to her? What did she do?" Davy prodded further.
Mike shrugged. "We just had a very deep business discussion. I think, with further effort on her part, we'll be able to tolerate each other, at least at work." Mike remained expressionless as Micky, Peter, and Davy raised eyebrows at each other.
"So what happened? Did you give him another good one in the--"
"No, Kari," Ginger said exasperately to Kari and Steph, whot had surrounded her as soon as she had, very slowly, left Mike's dressing room.
"Did you yell at him?" Steph asked.
"No," Ginger replied, pouring a cup of coffee and avoiding Mike purposly staring at her to make her uneasy.
"Did he yell at you?" Kari asked.
"No." Ginger was sipping her coffee, staring at the ceiling. Mike was smiling at making her do this.
Kari sighed frustrated. "Well what did you do? Kiss?" she asked sarcastically.
Ginger spit her coffee out. "What?! NO! Are you crazy?! Kiss him?!"
Mike overheard. He finally quit staring at Ginger and began whistling causually.
"So what then?" Steph asked, close to Ginger to try and force it out of her.
Ginger snuck a glance over at Mike, who was laying on the chaise, whistling. "I think we managed to reach a consensus."
Right as the director made a move to call for action, Peter yelled out to Steph, "Hey Steph!!! Watch this! I have lots of lines and get to smile in this scene!!! I'll be sure to show you my dimples"
Steph laughed and grabbed a chair, dropping herself excitedly on the edge of it. "You have my undivided attention!"
Davy decided Peter had quite the idea. "Kari! I have even more line and get to smile even m--"
"Man, shut up, Squirt!" Micky shoved him sideways.
"Watch me, Kari! I'm... really... I get to... I'll try to be really cute in this one!" He put on his dopiest smile that spread all across his face and made him look like a child who'd just put a cat up a tree.
"Oo that should be very difficult!" Kari giggled and leaned on Steph's chair.
The director was sitting very uninterested and without much patience. "Anything you've got to say to your assistant, Mike?"
"Hm?" Mike leaned up off the chaise. "Oh, yeah. Hey Ginger! Go get me a Coke!"
Ginger turned on her heel and walked off calmly.
Shooting was done for the day and Kari found herself, once again, being attacked by Davy.
"All I am asking for is for one date," he said putting out all the charm he possessed.
"I'm sorry, Davy, but I have a boyfriend now."
As Davy walked away, defeated, Micky walked over with a curious expression on his face.
"Really? Who? Anybody I'd know?"
Kari rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the arm.
"Come on let's go out to dinner, I'm starved."
Micky began to act like he was being dragged away against his own free will, which made Peter and Steph, who were standing nearby, laugh.
"Come on, Miss," Peter said in a real low voice, "I shall escort you home."
Steph giggled as he put his arm around her waist and she, in return, leaned her head against his shoulder.
As they walked towards the exit, they passed Mike's dressing room, which had its door curiously left open a bit.
Peter looked at Steph, both thinking the same thing.
The broke apart and went to go look through the crack.
There, on Mike's couch, were Mike and Ginger, making out like there wasn't going to be a tomorrow.
Steph covered her mouth with her hands trying her hardest not to laugh.
After a few minutes Peter and Steph headed out to the parking lot.
"See, even they can hook up in less then a week!" Peter exlcaimed, immeadiately getting elbowed in the stomach for it.
He walked Steph up to her door as soon as they made it to the girls' apartment. After making it up the six flights of stairs, they stood there for a moment, the "no-kiss rule" making it hard to say good-bye.
"I guess... if you're not doing anything tonight, or something...I mean, if you want to...you can just stay here for a bit and watch a movie or something..."
Peter smiled at her sudden shyness around him and said, "Yeah, I'd love to."
And thus, the very first dates for all three of the couples began.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~