Petite Michel

4

That first day was long and strange for everyone. Up until today, it was never quiet in the Monkees pad. There was always something going on, always someone talking or yelling or singing. This was perhaps the first time they ever had true quiet.

Peter was sitting cross legged on the floor in the living room, reading a book when Mike finally climbed down from the table. It had been a good few hours since breakfast, but Mike had chosen to stay up there. The table had one of the best views of the whole pad.

Mike was able to jump down and land on his chair, climbing the rest of the way down. It wasn't as hard going down as it was going up. Slowly, he made his way toward Peter. The walk was only from one room to the next but it felt like a mile to Mike. He tried not to show how exhausted the walk made him, it would only make it all worse.

"Hey Peter?" He asked, tapping the blonde on the leg. Peter looked up and smiled at him. Out of everyone in the group, Peter seemed to be the least startled by the fact Mike was now only a few inches tall. It was like it didn't even matter to him.

"Hey, Mike," he said, putting his bookmark on the page. "What's up?"

"Can I have my hat now, please?" Mike asked, tugging at the bottom of his shirt, embarrassed by the question. Peter nodded.

"Yeah, I put it over on the coffee table."

He opened the book back up and read a sentence or two before noticing Mike was still looking at him. Mike didn't say anything, but his message got across as Peter nodded.

"Oh, sorry," he said, setting the book aside and standing. Mike was sure to step out of his way as Peter made it to the coffee table. He grabbed the hat and walked back over to the couch. He got down on his knee and handed it to Mike.

"There you go," he said with a smile. Mike nodded and took it.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking down.

"For what?"

Mike opened his mouth to speak but nothing could come out. He just couldn't find the words.

"Mike?" Peter asked, leaning in a little closer.

"I don't know..." Mike finally said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm just sorry."

"Michael, are you okay?" Peter asked, worried. "I'm sorry if Davy and Micky were bothering you earlier. If it makes you feel any better, I did talk with them and told them not to make those kinds of jokes around you, at least for a while."

Mike smiled and nodded.

"You didn't have to do that..." he said, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Yes, I did," Peter said sternly. "You're my friend."

"So are they," Mike sighed, finally looking up at Peter. "It's fine. We joke with each other all the time."

"Yes, but we don't hurt one another," Peter said with a frown. "They were being rude and hurting you, whether they meant it or not. And that's not okay with me."

Mike sighed.

"We joke about Davy's height all the time," he said, still trying to justify Micky and Davy. He didn't know why he was doing that.

"Yes, but Davy's cool with it," Peter said. "He's laughing along with us a lot of the time. You didn't like the jokes but they kept going. That's why I talked to them."

"Why do you bother?" Mike asked sadly, staring down at his hat.

"Because you're my friend," Peter repeated. "And I care about you and I want you to be happy. If something hurts you, I want to be able to step in and help out, without you criticizing me or saying I have some sort of ulterior motive. I don't. I just want to help you."

Mike sighed.

"And because you told me if I saw something in the world I didn't like, to say something about it." That was when Mike looked up. Peter smiled and shrugged.

"I don't like them joking around with you if you aren't in the mood for them to. It's not nice."

Mike smiled slightly and nodded.

"Thanks..." he said with a sigh. "I mean it. Especially for, uh, not making such a big deal out of it."

"Of course," Peter said with a smile. "Hopefully, they shouldn't bother you again."

Mike let out a sad laugh.

"You know how they are."

Peter nodded.

"Of course, I do," he sighed. "But if they ever start bothering you like that again, please tell me and I can help you out."

Mike nodded.

"Why are you doing all this, though?" He asked. "I don't mean that as a...as a bad thing but I just, I need to know. And please don't say it's because I'm your friend."

Peter smiled.

"Because you would've done the same for me if I was in your place, that's why."