|
Chapter 5
Over the next couple of weeks Lori avoided every one, she canceled her dinner date with Mike and she never visited the Monkees pad, she hardly spoke to Lana and then finally when the Monkees did have a gig, she didn't go. She had decided to stay away from the Monkees for a while but the only problem was, she found herself really missing Mike. She called the pad one morning and luckily Mike answered.
"Hi Mike"
"Hello Stranger how are you?" Lori could practically hear the smile on his face.
"I've been better, look do you fancy some company for lunch?"
"Yeah of course come on over" Mike told her. She was quiet for a minute.
"I was hoping you could come over here"
"I can't I'm waitin' for a call about a job, I'm here by myself Peter and Davy have taken Micky out for the day to cheer him up"
"Why does he need cheering up?" Lori paused "No you know what don't answer that, anyway I would come over but I didn't feel like going out today that's all"
"Oh please Lori I haven't seen you for ages and you did stand me up for dinner that night and plus I could really use the company"
"What about Mr. Schneider? Can't he keep you company?"
"We had a fight and he's not talkin' to me," He told her. Lori giggled a little.
"Ok then I'll come over," She said. The conversation hadn't gone how Lori would've liked she was dreading going over to the Monkees pad but was really looking forward to seeing Mike, she had missed him so much and she was also praying Micky wouldn't come home while she was there she wasn't ready to face him yet. She arrived at the pad and knocked cautiously on the front door and heard Mike shout.
"Come on in Lolo" Lori couldn't remember exactly when Mike had assigned that pet name to her but he always called her it when he was being affectionate or just pleased to see her, it had become Mike's nickname for her, he was the only one that called her it. When Lori entered Mike was on the phone he waved his greeting and indicated for her to sit down, which she did.
"Yeah ok Pete well have fun and I'll see you later tonight" Mike said and hung up the phone "Sorry about that Lori" Mike told her and he came and sat with her on the sofa.
"That's ok is Peter alright?"
"Yeah he just called to check in that's all we're all really anxious about this gig" Mike explained "So anyway where have you been hidin' yourself these past couple of weeks?"
"Oh you know I've been busy at uni and with work I've had a lot of stuff to do, but I had to come and see you because believe it or not I've actually really missed you," She told him. Mike smiled.
"Well I've missed you too kid, so it's got nothin' to do with the fact that Micky told you he's in love with you a couple of weeks ago?" He said matter-of-factly. Lori stared at him for a little while, unsure of what to say until finally Mike spoke again "You know, Lana has a theory about you" He told her.
"Oh, she does, does she? Come on then spill it"
"She thinks you're hidin' somethin' from us" again Lori was quiet "She can't understand why someone could get so freaked out over bein' told someone was in love with you unless somethin' had happened in the past"
"Well that just goes to show how much you guys don't know me, the reason why I got so freaked out was because I had only known Micky two weeks when he told me that. It surprised me a little that someone could be so sure they were in love after knowing a person for such a short amount of time" Lori explained.
"You've never heard of love at first sight?" Mike countered.
"Yes but I don't believe in it" she replied firmly.
"So you're not hidin' anythin' then?"
"No I am not" Mike eyed her suspiciously.
"Are you tellin' me the truth?" He asked. Lori was beginning to get really frustrated.
"Oh for goodness sake I didn't come here for the third degree I'm outta here," She said. Mike let her go until she was almost out the door.
"You didn't answer my question" He called. Lori huffed loudly and left slamming the door behind her.
When Lana came to visit the guys the next morning Mike took her aside
"You're right you know, about Lori I mean, she is defiantly hidin' somethin' from us," He told her.
"I knew it! So what is it?" Lana asked and Mike sighed.
"I dunno she wouldn't tell me but we've got to find out so we can help her out," He said.
"I agree but where do we start? I mean there's no way Lori is going to tell us"
"I know I don't really know what to do, if only there was a way we could get her to open up," Mike said. He and Lana sat and thought about it all day and neither of them could come up with an idea so that night Mike called a meeting, all four Monkees where present as well as Lana and Mr. Schneider. They were all sitting at the table apart from Mike who was standing, gabble in hand and was about to start when he noticed Mr. Schneider sitting at the table next to Peter.
"Hang on what's he doin' here?" He asked.
"Mr. Schneider feels he is being left out so I said he could join the meeting" Peter explained.
"But he's not talkin' to me" Mike countered.
"I know but he's going to tell me his ideas and I can tell you" Peter answered. Mike sighed and threw his hands up in defeat.
"Ok fine let's get started" he banged the gabble on the table once "Hear-ye hear-ye and everythin' else that goes with it, we are here to discuss the matter of Miss Loretta Tyler that is why Miss Tork has joined us for today's meetin'"
"Welcome Miss Tork" Davy said.
"Thank you Mr. Jones it's an honour to be here" Lana replied.
"And so to the matter of Miss Tyler, Miss Tork and I have reason to believe she is hidin' somethin' important from us and we'd like to help her out so I'll take suggestions from the floor on how to do so" Mike told them. Davy tooted loudly.
"Don't ask the floor man he never has any good ideas," He said.
"Wait a minute Mr. Schneider has an idea" Peter told them he listened to the dummy nodding occasionally and um-hummed every now and then said "That's a good idea" he turned back to the waiting spectators "Mr. Schneider thinks we should send in a specialist agent to talk to Miss Tyler" He explained. With that said every one, including Mr. Schneider, turned and looked at Micky, who wasn't paying much attention to anything except a spider that was climbing up Mr. Schneider's arm. He had no intention what so ever of being included in the conversation. He stared back at them.
"What?" He asked then he realized "Oh no! Not me absolutely not there's no way, every time I talk to her she runs outta the room," He said in his defense.
"Yeah Mr. Dolenz is right he'd be no good, no we need some one closer to Miss Tyler" Mike told them.
"What about you Mi. Er Mr. Nesmith you and Lori are pretty close" Peter suggested looking extremely proud with himself for thinking of it.
"I've already tried once shotgun and I couldn't get through to her we need some one else her roommate for instance, Miss Tork?" Mike asked turning his attention to Lana.
"I don't mind talking to her but I'll doubt she'll listen she's hardly said two words to me in two weeks" Lana told him.
"This is gonna be harder than we thought" Mike said and the others nodded in agreement "Well I guess there's nothin' else we can do, we'll reconvene if any new information is presented to us but for now, meetin' adjourned" he announced and banged his gabble on the table three times. Every one got up and left the table except Micky, and Mr. Schneider of course. Micky was resting his head in his hands thinking over the conversation that had just gone on, maybe he should go and try to talk to Lori at least to try and get an explanation as to why she ran out on him. It was worth a try and any way he had to face her sooner of later. He got up and headed for the front door.
"Hay Mick where you off to babe?" Davy asked.
"Just for a walk I won't be too long"
"You ok Shotgun?" Mike asked.
"Yeah I'm ok I just need a bit of fresh air" He told the Texan, then left. Davy watched the front door long after Micky had left.
"Do you think he's gone to see Lori after all?" He asked no-one in particular
"I dunno maybe," Lana answered.
Micky walked to Lori and Lana's pad. He stood outside the front trying to work up the courage to knock, which after staring at the front door for a few moments he decided he didn't have. He was about to turn and walk away when to his surprise the door opened to reveal Lori, who jumped in surprise, clearly she wasn't expecting any one to be standing there. Her hand flew to her chest.
"Jesus Micky you trying to give me a heart attack! You scared me half to death"
"Sorry I didn't mean to"
"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked. Micky wasn't sure what to say.
"I. Er. I was. I was out for a walk and I.I dunno I just ended up here" He confessed.
"Oh right well I was on my way out" She told him, confusion and suspicion laced in her words.
"Ok. I won't keep you" Micky said and turned to walk away.
"Well I guess. I guess you could come with me. You know, only if you want to" As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted saying them. She had spent so long carefully avoiding Micky and now when he was standing in front of her she asked him to spend the entire evening with her "You know what forget it it's just some dumb open evening for my university you'd probably get bored" she said, hoping he would buy it.
"Why do you have to go? I mean you're already enrolled wouldn't they be wasting a sales pitch on you?" He asked a little confused. A small smile curled the edge of Lori's mouth.
"They're showing some of my blue prints and they want me around in case any one has any questions about them," Lori explained.
"Oh I see, that sounds really interesting I've always been fascinated with architecture"
"Yeah so Lana tells me"
"So if the offers still open I'd like to come along, I'd love to see some of your work" Micky said cautiously. Lori tried to think of an excuse as to why it would be better if he didn't go but she couldn't think of one.
"Ok yeah you can come, let's get going though, I'm already running late," she told him. Lori couldn't help but feel a little awkward. She wasn't sure whether of not to apologize to Micky for running out on him, but then that would bring up the `love' thing and she so
wasn't ready for that conversation just yet so she kept her mouth shut. The walk to university seemed to take forever, as neither of them knew what to say. Suddenly Lori had a thought.
"I went to see Mike yesterday he said you guys had a pretty important job on the cards did you get it?" She asked. Micky had been trying so hard himself to think of some thing to talk to her about that it had surprised him a little that she had spoken first.
"Yeah we did it's pretty exciting we're all psyched"
"What was it for? I mean if you don't mind me asking"
"It's for a couple of months at the club Cassandra, it's not a break though gig but it'll keep Babbitt happy for a few months `cos we'll be able to pay the rent on time for a change!"
"That's great Mike seemed pretty anxious about it yesterday"
"He's always like that when we've got a job on the cards it all pretty much life or death with him when it comes to the music, he likes every thing to be organized" Micky explained.
Mike was getting worried, a few hours had past and he had no idea where Micky was. Micky's walks never usually lasted this long and he never ever let anything interrupt valuable sleep time unless, that is, he was out with a girl. Lana was still at the pad playing
checkers with Peter. Davy was watching television, and was silently relieved Micky wasn't home because he knew Micky would spend the whole time arguing with him over the programme he had chosen to watch. Mike was pacing up and down behind the sofa wringing his hands his brow knitted with worry and every now and then he'd glance up at
both the front and back door as if expecting the drummer to bound in at that very moment. Finally his worrying got the better of him and he decided to call Lori to see if Micky had turned up there. He dialed the number and waited impatiently for Lori to answer, but instead he was connected to that infuriating answering service he used to speak to so often just before he and Lana broke up and she had refused to speak to him, he made his apologizes claming it a wrong number and replaced the receiver. He leaned with one arm against the table for support and the other pinned to his hip his legs crossed at the ankles. He turned to Lana.
"Hay Lan, did Lori mention anythin' to you about goin' out this evenin'?" He asked. Lana thought about it, looking up as if to find the answer on the ceiling.
"Ummm not that I recall, why?" she said looking back across at him.
"Well I just called your pad and got no answer," He said.
"I'm sure Micky's fine Michael you shouldn't be worried" Came Peter's reassuring voice.
"I know I can't help it, it's in my nature, you know bein' the surrogate big brother an' all" he said.
"So do you think they're out together?" Davy asked finally dragging himself away from the television long enough to participate in the conversation. Lana's eyes had returned to the ceiling searching for that elusive answer again.
"Hang on I think Lori said some thing about an open evening at her uni that's probably were she is" Lana told them so suddenly it made Peter jump.
"So I'll ask again do you think they're out together?" Davy repeated, slightly irritated by Lana's sudden out burst.
"I dunno but if they are, I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that one" Peter told them.
Chapter 6
To Lori's surprise she found herself having a really good time. She and Micky had stayed at her university thing for a few hours and then they had quietly slipped out and found an all night café and had something to eat and a cup of coffee. The awkwardness Lori was
feeling had died away and to her amazement she found it really easy to talk to Micky, she didn't feel as nervous as she had done previously. They had left the café and were now walking, silently, through the streets of Malibu beach and Lori was enjoying Micky's
company and visa versa. All during the evening Micky would steal long glances at Lori to try and figure out what she was feeling but he hadn't been able to work her out, not yet. He loved spending this time with her and hoped she was having as much fun as he was, she seemed to be, they hadn't stopped laughing yet and his face actually ached from the amount of smiling he was doing.
"It's so beautiful out here, I could stay out all night" Lori said suddenly, jerking Micky from his thoughts. She was staring up at the sky, they were on the outskirts of town so the stars were clearly visible and not hidden by the glare of street lamps. Micky looked up
too.
"Yeah I agree, I bet it's gorgeous down on the beach" Micky replied.
"Do you wanna take a walk down there?" Lori asked looking back at Micky "I mean I know it's getting late but I really don't feel like going home yet" Micky didn't answer at first he let her words wash over him for a second then met her eyes.
"No me either the beach sounds good" He told her. As they walked Lori decided that now would be a good time to get something off her chest.
"Micky, I want to apologize for that afternoon in your room I panicked and---" she began to say but Micky cut in.
"Hay don't worry about it, I understand it was probably a huge shock but it's totally fine"
"Thank you but I am sorry"
"Hay like I said it's fine you don't need to apologize," He told her.
Then he opened his mouth again as if he wanted to say something else but immediately closed it and Lori was silently relieved he didn't try to pursue the conversation further, she still wasn't ready to answer the question she knew he must have been dying to ask. They were silent again for a few moments until Lori spoke again.
"I'm having a really great time tonight Micky, I'm glad it's not over yet" she told him and he smiled.
"Me too" He replied. Lori wasn't sure if it was the romantic setting of walking down a quiet moonlit street on this warm night, but all her doubts and fears were beginning to wash away and she was beginning to feel like her old self again. She couldn't say she felt
exactly the same way as Micky because that wouldn't be the truth but she knew she liked him, she liked him a lot and always had done since they first met. He had been so kind to her and really taken an interest in her work at the open evening he even asked her a few
questions about it so that other people wouldn't feel to shy about approaching her, she had really appreciated his efforts and of course the fact that he had insisted on paying for their food and coffee in the café and refused to let her pay half as she had suggested. She
smiled as she thought over the events of the evening and without thinking she reached over and clasped her fingers in Micky's. Micky had been a little surprised at first when he felt Lori take hold of his hand but he soon relaxed and enjoyed the closeness. He did love her, he knew that but he just wished he knew how she felt about him, he had almost asked her once that night and he thought about asking her now but decided against it because he didn't want to ruin such a perfect evening. It had been perfect and any way, as they walked hand in hand down the street, he knew somewhere deep down inside that he
was going to spend the rest of his life with this woman and that thought made him happier then he had ever been in his life. Suddenly hand in hand wasn't good enough for him he wanted to be closer so he let go of her hand and slid his arm around her shoulder, it had startled Lori at first but she soon relaxed and returned the gesture and slid her arm around his waist and with her other hand tangled her fingers in that of his which was on the arm around her shoulder and that was how they stayed as they walked to the beach.
The next morning Mike woke up and turned over expecting to find Micky snoring away peacefully in his bed but to his surprise the drummers bed was empty <no way can he be up this early> Mike thought to himself. Micky's bed was unmade but as he rarely made it anyway this provided the Texan with no clue as to whether his curly haired friend had been to bed or not. Mike rose from his bed and wiped the remaining sleep from his eyes with his fists, checked the room for any sign of Micky and when he found none he left the room putting on his dressing gown. He leaned over the railings on the balcony and as
he suspected there was Peter busy preparing breakfast.
"At least some one is keepin' to their usual mornin' routine" Mike said to himself as he started down the stairs.
"Morning Michael, sleep well?" The bassist asked in his usual cheery morning tone.
"G'mornin' buddy yes I did thanks, you?" he added and let out a small yawn.
"Yeah I did" Peter answered. Mike took up his customary morning chair at the kitchen table and poured himself some cereal and thanked Peter when he handed him some coffee.
"Is Micky around?" Mike asked suddenly remembering the drummer's vacant bed.
"Don't be silly Michael it's not past 12 `0' clock yet Micky won't be up for hours" Peter told him. Alarm bells began ringing in Mike's head. He stared at Peter.
"He's not in bed"
"He's not?"
"No" Mike replied. Now Peter was starting to worry as well.
"Are you sure? Maybe he fell out again?"
"No he was defiantly not in the bedroom"
"Well where can he be, he must've stayed out all night!"
"Yeah and usually he'd call if he knew he wasn't comin' home," Mike said. The two boys started to panic.
"I'll go wake up Davy and we can go and look for him," Peter suggested. So Mike went upstairs and got dressed while Peter woke up Davy and informed him of the situation. Ten minutes later the three boys, and Mr. Schneider, were seated around the kitchen table after Mike had called an emergency meeting.
"Alright men and Er, dummy, welcome to operation find Micky Dolenz. As we know Mr. Dolenz is missin' in action and it's our job to find him. Here's the plan, Tork you visit Tyler and Tork see if he has turned up there," Mike instructed.
"Yes sir" Peter replied.
"Jones, you search the beach"
"Yes sir"
"Schneider, you stay here in case he comes back" The dummy nodded once and Mike was about to speak again when there was a loud thumping on the front door.
"That's it boys I AM KICKING YOU OUT!!!" Came the all too familiar roar of their landlord, Mr. Babbitt. The three boys groaned.
"Just what we need, Jones get rid of him" Mike ordered.
"Yes sir" Davy rose and went and opened the front door "What can we do for you Mr. Babbitt?" He asked. Mr. Babbitt was a tall pudgy man with black hair, thick black glasses and a stern face.
"Well you can pay me for a start!" He yelled. The Monkees didn't think Mr. Babbitt knew how to speak quietly he was always overly loud.
"We understand we still owe you some rent money and we will get round to sending you a cheque very soon thank you for your patience and understanding on the subject matter, goodbye" Davy closed the door on a stunned Mr. Babbitt and rejoined his friends.
"Good work Jones, now back to the mission. I'll search the local areas Mr. Dolenz is known to frequent and we'll meet back here in one hour for a progress report, do we all have an assignment?" Mike asked.
"Yes sir" Peter and Davy chorused and Mr. Schneider nodded.
"Ok let's go, good luck men and God speed," Mike said. Davy disappeared out the back door only to reappear again a few seconds later.
"Er Mike I found him," He reported.
"You did? Well where is he?" Just as Davy was about to speak Micky came in the back door.
"Hi guys what's going on?" He asked. Peter had been in his bedroom and came out just in time to hear Micky's question.
"We're going to look for you Mick, you didn't come home last night and we're worried about you" He said. Davy rolled his eyes and Peter was about to leave the pad when Mike said.
"Er Pete he's back"
"He is?" Peter turned around "Oh hi Micky when did you get back we were just about to go look for you" Micky looked at Davy.
"Isn't that dumb!" He whispered to the Englishman.
"Where have you been man, we were just about to send out a search party" Davy asked Micky.
"I've been on the beach," Micky told them like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"All night?" Mike asked
"Uh-huh"
"Alone?" Davy added.
"No I was with Lori," He told them matter-of-factly.
"Again I say. all night?" Mike repeated.
"Yeah" Micky said and he went and sat at the table and poured himself some cereal he could feel the other three Monkees gawking at him so he looked up "What?" He asked feeling a little uncomfortable.
"You were out all night on the beach with Lori Tyler?" Mike asked, finding it
a little hard to believe.
"Yeah, I thought about what you guys said at the meeting and decided to go and talk to Lori and she took me to her university thing, after that we went and got something to eat then ended up on the beach" Micky explained. Peter was grinning from ear to ear.
"That's so great Mick, are you guys together now?" He asked and he sat on a chair next to Micky.
"No I don't think so big Peter we just had a really nice evening"
"You had a date that's what you had," Davy told him as he came over to join them at the table.
"It was not a date!" Micky protested.
"It was too, for example, who paid for dinner?" Davy asked.
"Well I did of course"
"There, I rest my case"
"Just because I paid doesn't make it a date it wasn't even dinner really just a snack and any way Lori wanted to go dutch but I wouldn't let her" Micky told them.
"I have to agree with Davy on this one Micky" Peter said. Mike was still in a state of shock but he snapped out of it and came over to the table. mi Schneider took up the remaining chair so Mike tossed him out of it and sat down.
"Hay careful man you'll hurt his feelings" Peter said he picked up Mr. Schneider and set him down on the sofa and then rejoined his friends "And you wonder why he's not talking to you" He added but Mike ignored him.
"So what exactly did you guys do all night anyway?" He asked Micky
"Just talked mostly got to know each other"
"What did you talk about?" Peter asked.
"The band, the music, our family's, growing up, she told me what it was like for her growing up after her mother died"
"Her mother died? I didn't know that" Davy said.
"Yeah when she was two" Mike told him.
"You knew!" Davy said Peter put his hand up and smiled sheepishly, you knew as well!"
"Lana told me," Peter said defensively.
"Oh that's charming that is I'm always the last to know anything around here"
"Davy!" Mike warned.
"Sorry, any way you defiantly had a date" Davy said. Micky was starting to get a little annoyed.
"Why can't two people of the opposite sex spend time together just as friends huh? Mike and Lori spend a lot of time together and you've never insinuated that they are going on dates," Micky told them in his defense.
"Yeah but I'm not in love with her" Mike said. Micky slumped back in his chair.
"I guess you're right, I've got this really strong urge to call her as well, jeez this is so hard" He confessed.
From the Monkees pad to her own pad it usually took Lori half an hour to walk, but today it took her forty five minutes, due to tiredness slowing her down and the fact that she was deliberately walking a little slow because she wanted some time to think over the previous nights events. She couldn't believe she and Micky had stayed out all night not even realizing how late, or early! It had gotten. She thought about how at the beginning of the night, she had tried so hard to get rid of Micky but by the end of the night was trying so hard to find ways to stay with him longer. Maybe she liked him a little more then she first realized. She chuckled at the thought a little. She reached her front door and slipped the key in the lock and turned it, letting out a small yawn. As she pushed the door open some one grabbed her arms and pulled her inside. After she had gotten over the initial shock she realized the hands around her arms belonged to Lana.
"Where the hell have you been!? I've been worried sick!!" Lana shouted. Lori giggled a little.
"Sorry mom!" She said.
"I'm glad you find it so funny, anything could've happened to you and I'd have no idea" Lana told her. Lori could see the Lana was generally worried.
"I'm sorry Lan I didn't realize I'd be out so late and I just forgot I am sorry"
"Well I suppose your back safely so apology accepted, now gimme a hug" Lana said and the two girls embraced.
"Thank you" Lori said.
"Just don't do it again ok"
"Yeah ok, Lana I'm sorry for the way I've been acting towards you the past couple of weeks you didn't deserve to be treated that way after you have done so much for me since I returned to America"
"It's ok I understand I just wish you'd let me know what went on in that head of yours" Lana replied. They dispersed and Lori looked at her friend and sighed.
"Ok, something did happen to me in my past which is causing me to think twice about starting something with Micky, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet it still hurts quite a lot so just be patient with me ok I promise as soon as I'm ready I'll tell you everything" Lori explained.
"Ok well take your time, I'm not going anywhere" Lana told her.
"Thank you"
"So where were you last night any way?"
"Down the beach mostly we kinda ended up there after my university thing" Lori told her. Lana was a little confused.
"We? Whos we?"
"Myself and Micky" Lana's face broke out in to a wide grin.
"You were out all night with Micky! Really?"
"Yeah he came over to see me yesterday night I invited him to come with me to the open evening, after that we got something to eat then ended up on the beach where we stayed until about an hour ago"
"Wait this is the same Micky you've been avoiding over the past two weeks?"
"Yeah I know, that kinda surprised me too"
"So are you seeing him again?"
"I dunno we didn't make any plans although I am gonna go see Mike later he deserves an apology as well, so Micky will probably be there, don't get too excited ok Lan Micky and I are not a couple you realize that don't you"
"Yeah of course I do, but you're on your way though this is so exciting. What made you change your mind about him any way?"
"I dunno really. I woke up yesterday morning feeling the same as every morning since Micky told me how he felt. I was scared of the way he felt but then we went out and talked you know, really talked and I realized how lucky I was to have some one feel that way about me, and I do like Micky I always have you know that so I told myself to stop being stupid the past is the past and I can't do anything about it I just have to move on right?"
"Exactly, here's to the future" Lana said and she and Lori clinked imaginary glasses.
"I'm gonna go to bed I'm really tired" Lori said and with that she disappeared into her room
Chapter 7
Later that afternoon Lori had gotten up and decided to go and see Mike. She felt a little nervous and hoped the Texan would forgive her because she really valued his friendship. She arrived at the Monkees pad and knocked on the door, Davy opened it.
"Hello luv"
"Hi Davy is Mike around?"
"Yeah sure come on in," He said and stepped aside so Lori could enter. As she came in she saw Peter sitting on the edge of the bandstand concentrating as he strummed away on his bass, Mike was busy cooking something in the kitchen and she couldn't see Micky at
all
"Mike visitor" Davy said. Mike turned around and when he saw Lori his face lit up and he grinned.
"Hello you! Come and sit down," He told her. As she walked to the table she turned to Peter.
"Afternoon Peter" She called. Peter looked up a big dimple grin covering his face.
"Afternoon Lori, how are you today?"
"I'm a little tired but apart from that I'm fine, how are you?"
"Better now you're here we've missed you around these parts" He replied putting on a Texan accent and earning a playful scowl from Mike.
"I've missed you guys too," Lori told him. Davy had sat himself on the sofa next to Mr. Schneider and Lori joined Mike at the kitchen table "Hi Mike"
"Hi Lolo it's so good to see you I've missed you" Mike said he stopped whatever he was doing and sat on a chair next to her.
"I've missed you too I've come to apologize to you"
"Whatever for?"
"Walking out the other day, it was unfair and I should not have done it" Lori told him.
"Well I guess I was a little out of order as well so I don't blame you I probably would have done the same thing if the situation was reversed so you are forgiven" He told her.
"Thank you kind sir" Lori said, "Actually Mike there is something I wanted to say to you"
"Oh yeah what's that?"
"Well I can't tell you yet" She said
Mike was a little confused. "What? Why not?"
"Because I'm not ready yet but what a can tell you is that you and Lana were right there's something I haven't told you, something that happened in my past and like I told Lana I will tell you just give me time, it's a little difficult for me to talk about right now but when I'm ready I promise I'll tell you everything"
"Ok should I be worried" Mike asked already feeling worried.
"No not at all I'm fine really you don't have to worry," She told him.
"Ok although I am already worried but I won't tell you that" Mike said and Lori giggled a little.
"Thank you, so are we friends again?"
"Of course we are, we never stopped" Mike told her and he gave her a hug
"I know you may find this hard to believe but I actually think of you now as my best friend, I know we haven't known each other very long but I feel like I've known you forever" Lori confessed.
"I do believe it Lolo because I feel exactly the same way. I think of you as more then a friend more like the baby sister I never had, I kinda love you"
"I love you too," Lori told him then they let go of each other.
"So how about we have that dinner date we missed, my treat," Lori suggested
"Yeah that'll be great when were you thinkin' of?"
"Well I can't do it tonight because I've got a stack of work I need to catch up on but how about tomorrow?"
"Yeah that's fine, so do you wanna stay for lunch?"
"I'd love to if you have enough" Lori really wanted to ask where Micky was but she didn't want to seem to eager.
"Of course I do I always make way too much anyway" Mike told her. He got up and started preparing some more food.
"Can I help at all?"
"No it's ok I've got it all under control, I'm glad you're here actually because I wanted to talk to you about Micky" Mike told her.
Lori felt herself blush and was glad Mike had his back to her so he couldn't see.
"Oh yeah what about him?" She asked trying to sound as calm as possible.
"I hear you guys spent the night together"
"You make it sound so dirty" Lori said with a grin "We didn't spend the night together, we just spent the night together"
"Ok---" Mike couldn't help but feel confused "---so what's the difference?"
"It wasn't a sexual thing we just got to know each other a little better that's all"
"Right, so did you want it to be a sexual thing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you want to have sex?" Mike asked bluntly. Lori looked offended.
"Why Mr. Nesmith I do believe you do not know me well enough to ask me something that personal"
"I know I'm sorry"
"It's ok I didn't want to have sex with him last night no. A lot of stuff has happened in my life that has made me quite unhappy, but coming back to America and meeting you guys and Lana well that has made it a lot easier to move on. Micky had made me believe in love again and I will always be grateful to him for that" Lori explained.
"So you do want to be with him" Mike said, it wasn't a question Mike was just proving how much he really had gotten to her, like he could read the inner most thoughts of her soul just like any best friend should.
"Yeah I do" Lori agreed. Micky had heard Lori and Mike's entire conversation. He had been in bed ever since he had gotten back to the pad that morning but when he heard Lori's voice he had crept out on to the balcony to listen to what she had to say and he had liked what he had heard. He went back into his bedroom, got dressed and waited for Mike to call him for lunch. He was glad Lori was staying for lunch and maybe now he could work up the courage to ask her out on a proper date!
When Mike called him he waited a few minutes then walked down the spiral staircase as calmly as possible and tried to act casual because he wasn't suppose to know Lori was there, but he was finding it really difficult because he was so excited about seeing her again.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs he saw her sitting on the edge of the bandstand with Peter, they were laughing hysterically at something and Micky watched them for a few moments, a small smile tugging at his lips, then he turned and headed to the kitchen. Davy was setting the table and Mike was busy making final preparations to the meal. Davy had moved the chair from Mr. Schneider's desk and put it at the table so Lori had somewhere to sit.
"What's up with those two?" Micky asked jerking his thumb in Peter and Lori's direction.
"I dunno, but it must be pretty funny they haven't stopped giggling for the past twenty minutes" Davy told him.
"Ok guys dinner is served" Mike called. Lori and Peter came over to the table.
"Hello Micky" Lori said.
"Hi Lori" They smiled at each other Lori could feel her cheeks turn a little pink. Micky really wanted to ask her out there and then but he would've been too embarrassed with the guys there as well. They sat at the table and Mike served the food.
Lunch lasted a little over an hour. Lori found it a lot easier to talk to Micky this time and they had quite a long conversation just the two of them. When lunch was over Peter and Lori returned to their spot on the bandstand while Davy helped Mike with the dishes. Micky wasn't quite sure what to do with himself so he ended up out on the veranda. Lori used this time alone with Peter to ask him a question that had been bothering her for a while now.
"Pete what happened between Lana and Mike? Why did they break up? Whenever I ask them they go all quiet and change the subject," Lori asked quietly so that Mike would not hear.
"I'm Sorry Lor I can't tell you that," Peter said.
"Oh right yeah I'm sorry she's your sister and it's none of my business" Lori said although she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"No it's not that, I can't tell you because I don't know myself neither one of them will tell me either, none of us know"
"Why are they keeping it such a big secret?"
"I dunno but it must have been pretty serious if Lana won't tell me she usually tells me everything" Peter explained.
"What were they like before they split?"
"They were really close and very much in love we all thought they'd get married but about three or four months before they split something changed they started acting differently toward each other which came as a bit of a shock to us they had been fine one minute and then suddenly they lost interest in each other almost over night then they told us they'd split up"
"What were they like after?"
"Well Mike kinda withdrew from us for a while he'd spend a lot of time in his room and hardly ever came out we were really worried about him" Peter explained.
"And Lana?"
"Lana was a total mess, she cried a lot of the time almost non stop for ages. I ended up moving in with her for a while because she wasn't taking care of herself, she stopped going to work and eventually lost her job, it was a really difficult time for them both and definably not a way I'd like to see them again"
"They seem like pretty good friends now though"
"Yeah they are, that's mine, Davy and Micky's fault we wouldn't let them go on ignoring each other so we made up scams of ways for them to accidentally run into each other, they found us out in the end though but we didn't care because our plan half worked"
"Why only half?" Lori questioned.
"Our original plan was to get them back together but when we realized that would never happen we just let them get on and be friends and I think it worked out quite nicely" Peter said obviously proud of himself and his friends.
"So do you think they'll ever get back together?"
"Who knows, I hope so because they were great together but I suppose only time will tell" Peter told her.
Micky had been sitting on the veranda alone for ten minutes watching the waves roll up and then away from the sand.
"It's a beautiful view isn't it" Came a voice from behind him. He turned around and saw Lori standing in the doorway. She had left Peter and noticed Micky sitting out side by himself.
"Yeah it really is" He said talking more about Lori then the sea view which Lori picked up on and smiled and blushed a little.
"May I join you?"
"Of course I'd love you to" Micky replied, so Lori came out and sat on the wall next to him.
"Thank you for the last night Micky, or rather this morning, I had a really great time"
"Me too, we'll have to do it again sometime, well except the staying out all night part `cos I'm pretty tired today" He confessed.
I know what you mean so am I I've never done that before not even when I was with---" Lori cut herself off" ---you know what never mind" Micky was a little intrigued. Lori had almost mentioned something she clearly didn't want him to know about and he couldn't help but wonder what it was. Lori seemed to have gone somewhere in her memory her eyes were fixed on at the ocean thinking of something that obviously caused her pain because a small tear trickled down her cheek.
"Is everything ok Lori? Is there anything you want to talk about?" He asked her concern etched on his face.
"Yeah I'm ok thank you there's nothing I want to talk about, you're probably sick of talking to me today" She told him, he caressed her cheek with his finger.
"I don't think I could ever be sick of you" He told her. Lori smiled and ran the back of her hand down the side of his face. Micky leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. Lori was a little surprised at first and they gazed at each other for a few moments before melting into each other and kissed more passionately this time, they stood up and Micky pulled her close and they wrapped there arms around each other, it was a kiss filled with hunger and wanting.
The other three Monkees hadn't realized what was going on until Mike walked out and
saw them.
"Oh. I. Er sorry guys but there's a phone call for you Micky" He said. Micky reluctantly pulled away from Lori but kept his eyes closed.
"I'm a little busy here Mike" He replied.
"I know I'm sorry but it's your mom" Mike told him he was clearly embarrassed.
Micky sighed heavily. "Sorry about this" Micky told Lori.
"It's ok," She said. He kissed her gently again and went back inside. Lori was smiling from ear to ear she watched Micky leave then noticed Mike grinning at her.
"So." he said and came over to her.
"What?" She asked acting innocent but she couldn't stop smiling.
"You guys have come along way since you ran out on him"
"Hay that's a bit below the belt. and also completely true, my heart's all a flutter"
"Aw true love's first kiss" Mike teased.
"Well I wouldn't say that but it was nice"
"Nice! Is that it! just nice?"
"It was intense in a very, very good way my knees went weak and my brain stopped functioning for a moment I've never felt that way before"
"Why do I feel a `but' comin' along" Mike asked.
"I can't be in love again it only causes hurt and pain and heartache and I can't do that again Mike I just can't" Lori told him. Mike was a little confused.
"Again?"
"I'm gonna go, tell Micky I'll see him later" She said. She stood up and walked to the door.
"Hay Lolo you still wanna meet up for dinner tomorrow?" Mike called.
Lori turned around, considered him for a moment then smiled. "Yeah of course"
"Great I'll pick you up from your pad at seven?" He asked Lori only merely nodded turned on her heels and left.
Mike really couldn't figure out what was going on in her head, one minute she wanted to be with Micky then the next she didn't but he was determined to find out what was wrong and help her out in whatever way he could.
Micky didn't notice Lori leave and when he got off the phone with his mom he went back to the veranda. Mike was still out there, alone.
"Where'd Lori go?" Micky asked.
"She left a few minutes ago" Mike informed him.
"Oh god I did it again I made her run out on me again" Micky dropped down on the wall and put his head in his hands.
"No shotgun I think it was my fault this time"
"Your fault? Why what happened?" He asked looking up at Mike.
"You know, I'm not really sure" Mike confessed he was genuinely concerned about his new friend he faced the drummer "Micky if things go any further with Lori you will be gentle and honest with her, won't you?"
"Of course I will Mike no question, why did you ask me that?"
"Well, I've gotten the feelin' Lori has been hurt real bad in the past, just some stuff she has said have lead me to believe it" Mike said.
"Yeah I got the same feeling when we were talking last night" Micky told him. Mike was quiet for a moment.
"Take care of her ok I'm not sure what's goin' on with her but I don't want her to be unhappy" He said finally.
"No neither do I, I promise you Mike if Lori and I do get together I will look after her" Micky reassured him.
When Lori arrived home she went straight to her bedroom and burst into tears. She could feel herself falling in love with Micky and she thought she was ready for that, until he kissed her and then her talk with Mike afterwards and she realized she didn't want that to happen not this time not just as she was finally starting to get her life back together.
Lana had seen her come in and flee to her bedroom she followed her and knocked lightly on the door. "Lor you ok?" She asked.
Lori sat up and wiped her eyes. "Yeah I'm fine Lan" She lied.
"It sounds like you're crying" Lori could hear the concern in Lanas voice.
"No I'm not I'm fine I promise"
"Oh ok sorry, what do you fancy for dinner tonight?"
"Nothing for me thanks I'm not really that hungry tonight" Lori told her.
"Ok. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes I told you I was, I'm fine but I'd really like to be alone right now if you don't mind"
"Yeah of course no problem sorry" Lana said. Lana couldn't help but worry about her roommate. Ever since she had introduced Lori to Micky something in Lori had changed she seemed really unhappy. Lana really wanted to know what had happened in Lori's past to make her so frightened of falling in love with Micky.
The next evening Mike arrived at Lana and Lori's pad. Lori had not emerged from her room since she had arrived home the previous afternoon.
"See if you can find out what's going on with her, she's been in her room since yesterday afternoon I'm pretty sure she's been crying, she says she isn't but I can hear her" Lana told Mike.
"I'll try my best Lan but I can't make her tell me anythin' she's not ready to tell me"
"Yeah I know but you have to try I'm really worried about her"
"I know I am too she seemed fine until Micky kissed her"
"Micky kissed her? Did she kiss him back?"
"From where I was standin' she was definitely kissin' him back, but afterwards she told me she couldn't fall in love again because it caused her too much pain"
"She's been in love before? Maybe that's why she's so afraid of falling in love with Micky, this other guy must've caused her heart to break"
"Must've been a pretty intense relationship if it's keepin' her from givin' into her feelins" Mike said mainly to himself, he thought for a moment then faced Lana "I will find out what's goin' on with her Lan I promise" Mike said.
"I hope so I really want to see her and Micky together I know they'd be so happy" Lana replied.
Mike went over and knocked on Lori's door. "Hi Shotgun are you ready?" He called through the closed door.
Lori hadn't realized what time it was, she jumped up from her bed. "Just a minute Mike I'll be out in a second" she dried her eyes changed her clothes and fixed her make up she took a deep breath and opened the door "Hi sweetheart let's go" She said walking past the
Texan. Mike followed "Bye Lana" Lori called as she disappeared out the front door.
"Bye"
"Bye Lana, I'll try and talk to her I really will" Mike told her and he followed Lori out the door. Lori was already seated in the passenger seat of the Monkee mobile so Mike hopped in the driving seat and started the engine "So where do you fancy goin' to eat?" He asked. Lori shrugged.
"I don't mind really wherever you chose will be fine" She replied
Mike gave a silent sigh and put the car into gear. "Ok well there's this Chinese place Mick--" He cut himself off mid-word "--Er someone, has been beggin' me to try so we can go there," He said. He wasn't sure whether or not he should mention Micky's name
at the moment so he made a mental note to himself to remember not to just yet. Lana watched them drive off and silently prayed Mike could figure out what was bothering Lori.
Chapter 8
At dinner Lori hardly said two words and Mike couldn't help but feel a little irritated. He had tried so hard to get a conversation fired up but Lori had only given him one or two word answers. The fact that he was struggling to keep any food on his chopsticks made it worse. Finally he admitted defeat and with a loud irritated growl he threw them down and the wood thumped against his china bowl. Lori couldn't help but giggle a little
"Wanna try using a fork there Mike?" She asked and picked one up.
"I'm glad you find it so...wait a minute that was a whole sentence! You feeling ok?"
"Ha, ha such a comedian just take the damn fork," Lori told him with a smile and he reached over and grabbed the fork form her "Can I ask you something?" She added.
"Sure you can go ahead," He said finally happy that his food was reaching his mouth and that Lori had decided to say more then two words to him.
"Just one thing I've noticed about Peter, he's the only one who calls you Michael every one else calls you Mike" Lori said.
"Yeah I don't think he's ever called me Mike I'm not really sure why, I've never asked"
"Does it bother you?"
"No, it would bother me more if he called me Robert"
"Robert? Why Robert?" Lori asked a little confused.
"Robert is my first name, Michael is my middle name but I hate Robert so every one calls me Mike, except Peter and Aunt Kate, they called me Michael"
"Oh, that's why Davy called you Robert M the other day" Lori said , realization filling her features.
"I've tried to get him out of that habit and thankfully he's almost lost it now it's very rare he'll call me that any more" Mike explained.
"Oh" Lori replied simply. Mike looked at her for a moment then decided that since she had just participated in a whole conversation he would try playing the Micky card.
"So Micky's been kinda freaked today" he said matter-of-factly, taking a sip from his soda then setting the glass back on the table.
"Oh yeah" Lori said suddenly finding her bowl very interesting.
"Yeah he's tried callin' you like a bazillion times today"
"Has he? Well I told Lana I didn't want to talk to any one so she's been taking messages for me" Lori told him. Mike put down his fork.
"So you gonna tell me what's been goin' on with you lately?" He asked putting his elbows on the table and resting his chin in his hands.
"Nothing's been going on with me I'm fine" Lori lied.
"Really? Look Lori I know we haven't known each other very long but like I told you before I think of you as my baby sister and I can tell when you're in pain and I can tell when you're lyin' so quit playin' games and tell me the truth" Mike told her.
"I don't have to sit here and listen to this" Lori told him getting very annoyed and standing up.
"What are you goin' to do then? Run out again? Well you've had a lot of practice lately so I guess you're gettin' good at it by now" Mike said. Lori could feel the anger rising in her body.
"What is your problem?" She blurted out.
"What's yours? I don't understand why fallin' in love is such a problem for you"
"That's because you don't know what happened to me in my past" She shouted.
"So tell me!" Mike shouted back. The whole restaurant had stopped eating now and was watching them fight.
"I told you I can't"
"Why not? You trust me don't you? I want to help you, just let me please. It can't be doin' you any good to be keepin' it all bottled up just let me help you" He told her and Lori sat back down again.
"I do trust you but you can't help me you don't know what it was like"
"So again I say tell me, you're not just thinkin' of yourself here you have to think about Micky too this is killin' him he's goin' through hell"
"Yeah well so did I! My daughter died for Christ sake so I don't think the hell Micky is going through can be worse then mine" She screamed, then realizing what she said, burst into tears.
Mike was shocked into silence he stared at her unable to speak or think or even blink, he snapped out of it when he realized the whole restaurant was watching them looking just as shocked as he was.
"What!" He shouted, every one went back to their meals and Mike, who had been sitting opposite Lori, moved so he was sitting next to her.
She was crying really hard now and Mike realized that they couldn't stay there anymore so he put some money on the table for the food, pulled Lori up from her chair guided her out of the building and helped her into the Monkeemobile. They drove in silence, the only sound was the sobbing coming from Lori. Finally Mike found somewhere isolated and he stopped the car. He pulled Lori into a comforting hug.
"We've got all the time you need Lolo let it all out I'm here so when you're ready, talk to me" He said and whispered other words of comfort into her ear until she was ready to talk. Finally she pulled away and looked him in the eye. Mike could see the pain and hurt she was going though and he felt so bad for not seeing it sooner.
"I'm sorry Mike I'm so sorry"
"Hay don't be silly you don't have to apologize you've done nothin' wrong" The Texan told her, wiping away some tears that still streamed down her face.
"I should've been honest with you from the beginning I had no right to lie I should've told you the truth, you've all been so good to me and now this thing with Micky, I should never of lied"
"What did you lie about?" Mike wasn't sure if she'd answer and at first it seemed like she wasn't going to but suddenly she just blurted it all out.
"I didn't leave England because I was home sick, I was never home sick I loved England I could have stayed there the rest of my life, I left because my daughter died, my marriage failed and then I had a nervous breakdown" She confessed, she was still sobbing and Mike was having trouble taking it all in.
"You were married?" He asked unable to hid the stunned tone of his voice. Lori nodded and her crying became worse. Mike pulled her into another comforting embrace.
"I didn't want to leave I had to leave I couldn't stay there any more. It was too hard and it hurt too much" Lori told him.
"Take you're time, start from the beginnin' and tell me what happened but only when you feel ready I'm not goin' any where I promise just take you're time" Mike told her, stroking her hair. Lori wiped the tears away and gradually stopped crying she rested in Mike's arms trying to figure out where to start. She sat up again and faced the Texan.
"When I moved to England I met Ben pretty much straight away. I was fourteen and had just discovered the wonder of boys. He was my best friend and he made me feel so loved. We had been dating for two years when I discovered that I was pregnant, my dad got very angry and ordered that I marry Ben as soon as possible. I didn't mind I was in love with him he had been my first you know, first kiss, first boyfriend, first love we lost our virginity together and I wanted to marry him and he wanted to marry me. The wedding was kinda quick and not the most fancy ceremony in the world but I didn't care. Once we
were married and Annie came along I knew I'd done the right thing I was so happy my life was perfect, except for the whole having to live with Ben's parents thing but we were too young to get our own place but I had my own family and everything was perfect, until that day" Lori stopped as more tears streamed down her face.
"It's ok you don't have to go on if you don't want too" Mike told her but Lori ignored him and continued.
"Ben's mom took Annie to the park one day so Ben and I could have some time alone together it never even crossed my mind that that would be the last time I would ever see my daughter alive. They were gone a couple of hours and I was starting to worry. Ben told me to calm down because I always worried too much" Lori said and managed a weak smile "When the phone rang Ben answered it and I could tell by the tone of his voice something was wrong. He looked at me and burst into tears. He never even replaced the receiver he just fell to his knees sobbing uncontrollably. I went over to him and hugged him I asked him what was wrong he couldn't tell me for a long while because he was crying so much. Finally he said `Annie's dead' just like that. Those two little words and my world collapsed. I didn't believe him at first I couldn't believe him but I'd never seen him cry before and it frightened me so much. She was only eighteen months old Mike that was all, just eighteen months old" Lori told him. Mike was crying as well now he hadn't realized how much Lori had been through at such a young age.
"I'm so sorry Lolo I had no idea"
"She had fallen in the duck pond and drowned and nobody saw her until it was too late, I mean what were they all doing to not notice my little girl trying to get out, scared and crying. Why didn't any one see her? I don't understand! Why didn't any one see!" Lori told him she was so angry now and crying again.
"I'm so sorry" It was all Mike could say he didn't know how to comfort her, he didn't know how to make her feel better.
"Ben and I never recovered after that" Lori continued "Our marriage broke down completely six months later but it died really the same day Annie did. I couldn't handle it any more and the pain and hurt and anger got the better of me and I sunk into a deep depression, which ended in a breakdown. It took a year for me to recover enough to go home but I couldn't stand being in that place anymore I had to get away so I talked to my dad, he wasn't pleased with the idea of my leaving but he wanted me to carry on getting better so he called my uncle and asked him to look for apartments for me, that took forever as well but eventually on my twentieth birthday he found Lana so I came here and tried to get on with living my life and I was doing really well I had you guys but now I'm starting to fall in love with Micky and I'm so scared I haven't got the strength to go through all that again it's too hard I can't do it" Lori explained. She sunk back into Mike's arms the crying completely talking her over now. Mike cradled her in his arms he wanted so badly to help her to some how stop the pain she was feeling but he didn't know how and he cried as well.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I had no idea," He told her. Lori couldn't speak she was crying so much. They sat in the Monkeemobile for a couple of hours never letting go of each other. It got dark and Lori was able to stop crying, she stared in front of her unable to form a
thought, she was resting against Mike. Mike held her and stroked her hair he wanted to say something, anything, to try and make her feel a little better but he couldn't find the words and it was a surprise to him when Lori spoke first.
"Can you take me home now please" She asked.
"Yeah of course I can, how are you? Do you feel any better?"
"No not really I've got a bit of a headache and I'm a little tired," She confessed. So Mike started the engine and drove her home. They didn't speak during the journey and when they arrived at Lori's pad Mike went in with her. Mike had his arm around her and Lori was leaning against him as they walked. She didn't think she'd be able to stand without some support.
"Lana must be in bed already" he whispered when they saw the lounge was empty "Come on let's get you into bed" He took Lori over to her bedroom and they went in. Mike turned around so she could change into her night clothes then he helped her into bed.
"Mike will you stay with me I don't want to be alone tonight" Lori asked. Her voice was so quiet he had to strain to hear her.
"Of course I can sweetheart, let me just make a quick call ok, you get some rest" He told her and kissed her forehead "Goodnight Lolo" He whispered. He went into the lounge and closed Lori's door and picked up the phone and dialed the number for his pad. He should've known Micky would be the last up.
"Hay Mike what's up?" Micky asked.
"I'm stayin' over at Lori's tonight I just wanted to check in so you would know where I was," He told the drummer.
"Oh ok. Is everything ok did something happen with Lori?" Mike knew Micky would never leave it at that and instead would want a full explanation, he quietly sighed.
"No don't worry nothin' has happened between us we're just friends and that is what she needs right now I'll explain in the mornin'"
"Is Lori alright?" Micky asked. Mike could hear the concern and worry in the drummers voice.
"Not really but like I said I'll explain in the mornin'"
"I'm coming over"
"No shotgun don't, the last thing she needs is people fussin' over her so just stay at home for now" Mike told him.
"I can't Mike if she's in trouble I want to be there for her I want to help her" Micky argued.
"Listen to me Mick and listen good, you have to stay at home. If you come over it will just upset her even more and I don't think you'd want that, promise me you'll stay away at least for tonight" Mike sounded calm but really he was pleading with the drummer. The last thing Micky wanted was to stay away but he understood why he had to. With an irritated sigh he agreed.
"Yeah ok but you promise you'll tell me what's going on as soon as you get home?"
"I can't promise to tell you everythin' because it's not my place to that's up to Lori but I will tell you what I can," Mike explained.
Micky couldn't help but feel a little confused, he couldn't help but feel worried by Mike's words, he wondered what was going on with Lori and he desperately wanted to see her to hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be alright but she had chosen to find solace in Mike and all he could do was wait.
"Ok then, I guess I'll see you in the morning" he told the Texan.
"Good night buddy" They both replaced the receivers. Mike walked back over to Lori's bedroom and opened the door quietly and peered in to find her sound asleep. He came in and closed the door again and smiled as he watched Lori sleep then settled on a chair next to her bed. It took a while because he was not used to sleeping in a sitting position but finally his conscious mind shut off and he sunk into a deep sleep.
Back at the Monkees pad Micky could not sleep at all. He spent all night tossing and turning he could not get comfortable, he was far too worried about Lori. He saw the sun light start to stream through his window as dawn broke and he couldn't stay in bed any longer. He left his bedroom and went downstairs he knew it would be way to early even for Peter so the bassist would not be up yet. He got himself a glass of water and slumped into one of the kitchen table chairs. He couldn't wait for Mike to get home and explain what the hell was going on.
Peter yawned and stretched as he felt the morning sunlight wash over his rested body.
"Ummm I love mornings," He said to himself. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of his bed and rubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes, got up and headed to the door, opening it quietly so not to wake up Davy. He turned and peeked at the Englishman who was snoring peacefully in his bed. Peter smiled and entered the living room closing the door behind him. He got the shock of his life when he saw Micky sitting at the kitchen table playing checkers with Mr. Schneider.
"Micky! What are you doing up? It's a little early for you isn't it?" He asked his curly haired friend.
"I've been up since dawn I'm waiting for Mike" The drummer replied not taking his eyes from the checkers board.
"What do you mean, isn't he upstairs?" Peter asked getting a slight feeling of deja vu.
"No he called last night to say he was staying at Lori and Lana's pad"
"Why did he stay there. oh my god is he back with Lana?" A huge dimpled grin covered Peter's face.
"No it has something to do with Lori I'm not sure what he wouldn't tell me over the phone"
"Oh ok so I guess we better wait then. I'll get breakfast started" Peter told him. Peter felt confused a lot of times during his life but none more so then right now. If Mike was staying with Lori did that mean they were a couple? Would Mike really do that knowing how much Micky cared for her, <No of course he wouldn't. would he!> he
asked himself.
Mike woke up suddenly and it took him a few minutes to remember where he was and why he was there. The events of the night before began to replay in his mind like he was watching a home movie. Then he remembered Lori, he looked over at her bed and saw her sleeping soundly and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He tried to stand and his muscles ached from sleeping in the strange position. He stretched as much as he could but it didn't help <as soon as I get home I'm jumpin' straight in the bath> he told himself. He left Lori's bedroom closing the door quietly behind him and went into the kitchen and made himself some coffee. He hadn't been in the kitchen very long when he heard the door open and he turned around.
"Mike! What are you doing here?" It was Lana she was still in her pajamas and had her pig slippers on that Mike had brought her just before they split up.
"Lori asked me to stay she didn't want to be alone" he explained and poured Lana some coffee and handed to her.
"Thank you, you stayed in Lori's room?"
"Yes but not in her bed I slept in a rather uncomfortable chair in the corner" He said rubbing his neck. Lana set down her coffee cup on the table and pulled out a chair.
"Here sit down" She told him so he did and Lana began giving him a neck and shoulder rub. He closed his eyes, feeling better already.
"Ummm I've always loved you're neck rubs" He told her and Lana smiled.
"So is Lori ok?" She asked.
"No not really I managed to find out what has been botherin' her lately she told me a lot of stuff last night, stuff she wasn't really ready to tell any one, I kinda tricked it out of her. She spent a lot of the night cryin' it took a lot out of her so she's restin' now"
"Is she awake, I'll go talk to her" Lana said and started walking towards the door. Mike stood up and grabbed her arm.
"Not yet Lan she's still sleepin' leave her for the moment"
"Oh sure ok, so this thing she told you, is it bad?"
"Yeah it is she's had a pretty rough past, she's still hurtin' and she's just tryin' to get on with her life"
"She's never said anything to me she's always seemed so happy"
"That's because she has been to a certain extent but recent events have made her think about a few things"
"You mean this thing with Micky?"
"Yeah, I talked to him on the phone last night, he was pretty anxious to get over here but I told him not to come well not yet anyway" Then Mike realized he was still holding on to Lana's arm he smiled slightly then let her go. Lana smiled back.
"So what happened to Lori then, in her past I mean?" Lana asked.
"It's not my place to tell you I'm sorry, Lori will tell you when she's ready which will probably be soon. Now that I know she won't want to keep it a secret from the rest of you for very long I would imagine"
"I hope so" Lana paused she looked up at Mike "I must confess it's a little bizarre having you here" she said.
"Why? I've been here loads of times since we broke up"
"Yeah I know but never in the morning. The last time you were here in the morning I had woken up next to you" Lana told him.
"That's true I never really thought about it but I am glad of the chance to see you in those groovy slippers again" He replied and Lana laughed.
"Hay you gave me these remember"
"I know, I said they were groovy didn't I!" Mike protested and then grinned. Lana forgot herself for a moment and moved closer to him, she looked up into those eyes, eyes she missed being able to gaze into.
"I miss you so much sometimes," She said. Mikes grin disappeared and was replaced with a look of affection and love.
"I miss you too," He told her and he meant it. He caressed her cheek with his finger. He loved this woman with all his heart "Why did we break up?" he asked.
"I can't remember" Lana confessed quietly they were both staring at each other and Mike felt himself leaning in for a kiss and Lana was welcoming it with open arms. They were only a few centimeters apart now.
"Morning guys, is there any coffee?" Mike and Lana jumped back and turned to see Lori standing at the door. Both their hearts were racing now.
"Mornin' Lori yeah I made a fresh pot," Mike told her. Lana and Mike looked at each other Lana was so disappointed. Lori noticed the look they gave each other
"Did I interrupt something?" She asked.
"No of course not Mike and I were just talking" Lana told her. Mike handed Lori a cup of coffee.
"How you feelin' this mornin' Lolo?" He asked her moving to stand in front of her waiting to offer comfort if she needed it.
"I'm ok still a little tired but I'll be ok" she took a long sip from her coffee "By the way Mike when I asked you to stay I didn't expect you to sleep in that old chair I have got a double bed you know"
"Yeah I know but when I got back from callin' home you were already asleep so I didn't want to disturb you, anyway how did you know I slept in the chair?"
"Oh I woke up about a zillion times last night I didn't sleep very well at all" Lori told them.
"Oh I'm sorry" Lana said.
"No it's ok it gave me a chance to do a lot of thinking I've decided I'm gonna tell Micky what I told you last night Mike"
"Are you sure, I mean are you ready for that yet?" Mike asked smoothing some hair away from her face.
"No not really but he should know the truth and so should you Lana" Lori told her turning her attention to her roommate.
"Only when you're ready, I don't want you to do anything if you're not ready" Lana told her.
"Thank you I appreciate it but I want you to know you and Mike are my bests friends and I love you" Lori told her. Lana smiled.
"I love you too," Lana told her.
"Me too" Mike added.
"I better go get dressed" Lori told her and she disappeared into her bedroom and Mike and Lana were alone once more.
"Wow I hope she's gonna be ok" Lana said.
"I'm sure she will be she just needs her friends around her at the moment" Mike told her he studied Lana's face for a minute then said "Lana about before, just before Lori interrupted us"
"What about it?"
"I was goin' to kiss you" Mike confessed. Lana stared at him.
"Yeah I noticed that" she replied finally.
"I just wanna say sorry I shouldn't have done it and I apologize. We broke up for a reason and I don't think me kissin' you would have been a good idea"
"You really think so?" she asked.
"<No>" he said to himself, "Yes" He said out loud. Lana was so disappointed but she tried not to show it.
"Ok hay then don't worry about it I understand, us kissing then would have been a big mistake," She said.
"Exactly I'm glad you agree" Mike said. But he wasn't glad at all he had really wanted to kiss her and he had hoped she did too but she obviously didn't want to.
"Yeah I suppose I do" Lana told him. She managed a weak smile
"Well I better make a move Micky is probably climbin' the walls by now" Mike told her.
"Doesn't he do that a lot of the time anyway?"
"Yeah I guess you're right" Mike said grinning a little.
"At least stay for some breakfast I'll make my French toast you used to love so much"
"Ok yeah I'd love too I've really missed you're breakfasts" Mike told her and he smiled.
Davy was as surprised as Peter when he learned what time Micky had gotten up and even more surprised when he found out where Mike had stayed that night.
"He stayed with Lori! Are you sure?" The Englishman asked Peter.
"That's what Micky told me, apparently Michael called quite late last night to say he wouldn't be home Micky spoke to him so I don't really know what went on" Peter explained.
"Mike wouldn't start dating Lori would he? He knows how much Micky cares about her" Davy said.
"I asked myself the same question and I really hope it's true"
"Of course it's true this is Mike remember it's not only Micky he's risking hurting it's Lana too and I don't think he'd ever do anything to hurt her not ever"
"Yeah I guess you're right we'll just have to wait until Michael gets home to get the full story" Peter told him.
Micky was sitting down on the beach he was getting so anxious waiting for Mike that he had couldn't stay inside any longer he had to get out of the pad. He desperately wanted to know what was going on with Lori. He couldn't help but feel so worried about her and all he wanted to know was if she was ok.
Lori came back out from her bedroom and Mike and Lana were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Lori got herself another cup of coffee and sat opposite Lana.
"You sure having another cup of coffee is a good idea Lor? you know what happens if you drink too much in the morning" Lana asked.
"It makes me jittery" Lori told Mike "anyway I need this to settle my nerves"
"Ok, do you want some French toast?" Lana added.
"No thank you I'm way too nervous to eat anything right now" Lori told her.
"So you're definitely goin' through with this whole tellin' Micky thing?" Mike asked her.
"I think so, I'm a little scared," She confessed. Mike put a comforting arm around Lori's shoulder.
"You'll be fine just be honest with him. Micky will take care of you I promise," He told her.
"I hope so I don't want to be alone any more" She said a few tears started to stream down her face.
"Hay you're not alone honey, you'll always have us" Lana told her waving her hand to gesture her and Mike. Lana placed her hand over Lori's and Lori managed a weak smile.
"And Peter and Davy too" Mike added.
"Thank you guys I don't know what I would've done with out you" she focused her attention on Lana "I will tell you what's going on Lan I promise but I have to tell Micky first I hope you can understand" She said.
"Of course I do like I said take your time I'm here whenever you need me"
"Again I say thank you I love you guys" at that point Lori was the center of a comforting hug from both Lana and Mike.
"We love you too," Mike told her.
"Can I get ride with you to your pad please Mike?" Lori asked when they finally all let go of each other.
"Yeah sure, right now?"
"Yes please if I sit here any longer I'll lose my bottle"
"Ok then let's go" he stood up "Thanks for breakfast Lan"
"No problem just take care of her ok," Lana told him.
"Of course I will" Mike looked at Lori "You ready?" He asked.
"No not really but I haven't really got a choice I have to do it I owe him that much" She replied and stood up. She and Mike walked to the door and Lori stopped him "Mike wait"
"What's the matter did you change your mind?"
"No I just wanted to say thank you, I mean I know I've been saying that a lot to you lately but I just wanted to say it again. You probably don't realize it but you have been a god send to me I don't know what I would do without you" She told him. Mike smiled.
"Whenever you need me I'm here ok, anytime night or day I'm always only a phone call away"
"You see you're making me say it again, thank you"
"You're welcome, now come on we better get goin'" Mike told her. They said goodbye to Lana and left. On the drive to the Monkees pad Lori didn't speak at all she was preparing herself to face Micky. She was running through ways in her mind on how to tell him about her past.
Mike kept glancing sideways at her he was worried about her and part of him thought that Lori shouldn't tell Micky yet but if she was so determined to tell him then there was nothing he could do about it but the other half of him was jumping for joy, if Lori did tell Micky then maybe things would get a little easier for them. Mikes two halves wrestled with each other for the rest of the drive and when they arrived at the pad Mike turned off the engine and looked at Lori. She was sitting very still staring at the front door.
"You comin'?" Mike asked.
"Uh-huh Yep I'm coming" Lori told him, but she didn't move.
"Do you need a little more time we could stay out here for a bit longer if you like"
"Ok whatever" She said. Mike got out of the car.
"No come on you better go in now or you'll never go in" Mike told her. He walked round and opened her door and helped her out. They walked towards the pad Lori had never felt so sick in her life. When they entered Peter and Davy were watching television but Micky wasn't in the room.
"Hi guys" Mike said as he came in the door.
"Morning Michael" Peter said he saw Lori trail in behind Mike "Hello Lori"
"Hi Pete Er is Micky around?" She asked.
"He's down on the beach," Peter told her.
"Thanks, hello Davy" She said as she headed towards the bandstand to exit through the back door.
"Hello luv" Davy replied.
"You gonna be ok?" Mike called to Lori.
"I think so" She told him and smiled. She walked over to the steps that lead to the beach and spotted Micky immediately he was sitting on the sand quite close to the edge of the water .He was wearing tan coloured trousers and no shirt. Lori took a deep breath <Come on Lori you can do this just be brave don't chicken out now> she told herself. She took another deep breath and headed down the steps.
|
