Two Different Roads

Stuck With You

Ellen was positive they both appeared extremely guilty when they emerged at last from Mike's strange dressing room with its Christmas lights and black walls adorned with aluminum foil, old cigarette wrappers and safety pins. She decided Peter had been entirely correct-Mike DID have a certain look about him when he'd just had sex, and her own wrinkled clothes as well as the assorted marks he'd left on her neck in his enthusiasm she attempted to hide with her long hair were dead giveaways.
To make matters infinitely worse, Ellen almost immediately noticed one of the most persistent of the young, enterprising journalists who seemed to come and go constantly on the set, Ann Moses. She only knew this one's name because Mike hated ALL press and had recounted to her gleefully how he'd successfully scared this woman away from him by telling her he'd only consent to an interview if she'd sleep with him.
Miss Moses couldn't possibly have very fond feelings toward him to say the least. What would she infer from this scene, and what might she write about it? Mike wasn't married obviously, but having sex with his girlfriend in his dressing room in the middle of a work day? Ann could still make it a bit embarassing for him. Ellen knew he'd hate their private relationship being held up for public scrutiny. The fact she also worked for Bob would complicate things further. A particularly vicious person could spin the situation to imply that Ellen had slept her way into a job. Truthfully it could get all kinds of nasty.

Ellen tried to creep past the woman as inconspicuously as possible, but was halted by a voice saying,"Do you have a minute?"
She motioned Mike on ahead and stopped to answer the summons. "I'm Ann Moses from Tiger Beat. I don't think we've met."
"Ellen Raymond."
"You're Bob Rafelson's new personal assistant."
"I am, yes."
"Could I possibly interview you at some point? I'm sure the fans would find it interesting to learn what you do and what it's like working with the guys."
"I'd have to clear that with Bob."
"Let me know. I'm always around."
The young woman suddenly glanced toward Mike who was now in a seemingly friendly conversation with James Frawley as if nothing had happened.
"Nesmith is something else isn't he? A great-looking guy but all kinds of trouble. I saw the skirmish earlier. They must have sent you to reason with him. I bet THAT was a fun experience."
"You have no idea," Ellen smiled.

II
The incident with the journalist indirectly led to a major life change. Ellen and Mike were lounging in bed on a rare day off when he suddenly revealed, "Bob called me into his office yesterday to talk about you."
"I hope I'm not getting sacked."
"Hell nah. He thinks you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. He says he can always find his shit now, and he hasn't missed a single appointment or message since you started."
"What is it then?"
"He's a little worried about US, this. Ann Moses is very curious about you, and David and Pete are just about to move out. Soon it'll just be you and me here. Bob thinks the Monkees' image might suffer if the press gets a hold of the fact that one of them is 'living in sin'."
"But the girls have practically worn a groove in the path to the other guys' dressing rooms."
"That's different. None of them ever brought one home to play house with."
"So they'd be OK with us messing around; it's just the idea of us living together without rings on our fingers that gives them the vapors? That's mad that is."
"You always turn into a regular scouser when you're irritated. It's adorable."
"I'll show you adorable, Cowboy."
"You do know that not everyone from Texas is a shitkicker right? But then I guess you limeys don't care to keep up too much with us backward peasants in the colonies."
Once the chuckles subsided she nestled against his chest, asked, "Seriously though, Michael, how do you think we should handle this?"
"I was considering that." He rolled over to pull something from the drawer of the nightstand.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"The world's smallest hand grenade concealed in a fancy little box?"
"Be serious."
"Oh I'm deathly serious about THIS Darlin."
He opened the black felt box to reveal a delicate gold engagement ring with a rather large diamond. "What do you think? I picked it out myself. Just don't ask how much it cost me."
"It's beautiful."
"I know it's awful sudden, and I hope you'll excuse me not getting down on one knee. I thought it might be a little weird me being bare ass naked right now."
Her breath caught as he removed the ring and offered it to her. "How do you feel about marrying me, Marie?"
She'd had no idea how she'd feel about it until he actually asked. Somehow all her earlier fears and reservations were gone. She hadn't been ready the first time it seemed they were heading to this point, but she was now. She wrapped her arms around him, covered him in kisses.
"I take it that's a yes?"
"It's a hell yes, Cowboy."
"Better make it official then," he said, slipping the ring on her finger. "Give me some more sugar to seal the deal."