Peter sighed. He knew that his best friend Mike had been dating Heather for years but recently he�d felt closer and closer to her, and could tell she felt the same. If she hadn�t been with Mike then there would be no stopping him asking her out but�
�Hey, Peter, Mike just sent me to ask if you wanted to go out to the movies tonight!� Heather chirped as she bounded up to him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him. �How�s my favourite hippy?� she asked with a huge smile.
�Me, oh, I�m fine thank you,� he replied quietly, pushing her gently away and sitting down.
�What�s wrong?� she asked, concerned.
�Oh, nothing. Just a little tired,� Peter smiled. He hated lying but how could he tell his best friend�s girlfriend he was in love with her?
�Oh, well, you get into bed and get some rest. I�ll get worried about you, y�know, Pete, you�re one of my best friends!� she told him, kissing him on the cheek. His cheeks burned fiery red. He wished he could take her in his arms and give her the kind of kiss Mike gave her but he couldn�t do it. Not to his best friend. Not to her. �You might be getting a temperature,� she continued, worried, resting the back of her hand against his forehead. �Would you like me to stay and keep you company?� she asked.
�Uh, no, no thanks. I�ll be fine. Like you say, I probably just need some rest. I�ll go to bed. Give Michael my apologies, I�ll see you both tomorrow,� he smiled at her, trying to act as naturally as possible.
�All right then. I hope to see a marked improvement by tomorrow!� she joked as she left The Pad and set off back to the apartment she shared with Mike. Peter shut the door behind her and sighed again.
�What am I going to do?� he muttered to himself.
�What about?� Davy asked as he strolled into the living room.
�Nothing,� Peter fibbed again. The lies were killing him almost as much as the unrequited love.
�Hey, Peter, man, you look awful!� Davy told him.
�Thanks!� Peter replied, dryly.
�No, I mean, you look really down, man! Is it anything I can help with?� Davy asked. Peter was ready to explode with keeping this secret, and had to tell someone.
�Davy, if I tell you, will you give me your solemn promise you won�t tell a living or dead soul about this?� Peter begged him, seriously.
�I give you my word as an honourable Englishman. It won�t go any further than us!� Davy promised, equally seriously.
�Well, it�s Heather,� Peter began.
�Has she been annoying you? Don�t listen to her, she�s Scouse!� Davy joked.
�No, David, it isn�t that. I think I�m in love with her!� Peter confessed. Davy�s jaw dropped open.
�You�re in love with her? Peter, man, she�s in love with Mike! Mike�s in love with her! They�re engaged! They LIVE together! They SLEEP together! Man, you�ve gotta stop this, this, whatever it is you feel for her, and soon, because soon she�ll be married. She isn�t available. Not to you, not to me, not to anyone other than Mike,� Davy explained.
�I know, I know all that, but I can�t help it!� Peter protested.
�You have to help it!� Davy told him, firmly.
�But lately I�ve got the feeling she�s started to feel the same way,� Peter began.
�No. Just stop there. Peter, man, you can�t do this to them, you can�t do this to yourself, it�s not healthy! If you really love her, then let her marry the man she�s in love with. He�s not a bad guy. He dotes on her, she totally adores him. I�d understand if Mike was a total bastard, but he isn�t. He�s in love with Heather, and the whole world can see it just by looking at him!� Davy told him.
�David, I�ve never ever felt this strongly about anyone before. I love her. I need her, she�s just� beautiful,� Peter sighed. �She�s got these beautiful big brown eyes, and she��
�Talks like a Munchkin on helium!� Davy finished. Peter didn�t get mad because that was Heather�s exact description of her own voice.
�It�s not so bad. Why can�t it work out like it does in the movies, Davy?� Peter asked, looking more vulnerable and scared than Davy had ever seen him look before.
�Because the movies aren�t real. She is, and so are you. And it�s a terrible thing to break real hearts, Peter,� Davy told him gently.
�I know,� Peter whispered.
Meanwhile, Heather and Mike had gone to the movies.
�Mike, I�m really worried about Peter. He�s been so down lately,� she told him on their way home. Mike wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.
�Peter will be fine, I�ve known him for years-� Mike began.
�Yeah, and so have I, Mike. He�s not happy, and it�s making him ill. I�m worried about him,� she interrupted.
�Don�t worry about him,� Mike assured her.
�Maybe I�ll go and see him tomorrow just to check,� she decided. After all, Peter was one of her best friends, she had every right to be concerned about him. And his beautiful face and big hazely brown eyes just made her melt� Wait a minute, what was she thinking? She was stood with her fianc�, Mike Nesmith, and she was wishing that she could be making out with Peter Tork! �Maybe the day after,� she finished, shaking her head quickly. �Mike, I love you,� she told him, forcing herself to forget about wanting Peter. She was in love. She was engaged. It was Mike she loved, not Peter.
�I know you do, honey, and I love you too,� he whispered. �So let�s get home, shall we?� he asked, winking at her. She grinned.
�Oh yeah!� she giggled. �I�ll have to go and see him tomorrow, and get this whole mess sorted out,� she thought. She prayed that she wouldn�t call out Peter�s name all the time she was with Mike, but his name nearly slipped from her mouth once or twice.
The next morning she got up early, kissed her darling, beloved Michael goodbye, and told him she had to do some shopping and go and see a few people. She went straight to The Pad to see Peter.
�Peter, I�ve got to talk to you,� she began, hastily.
�I�ve got to talk to you, too, Heath,� he told her.
�Please let me go first so I can get it over with,� she begged him. He nodded.
�Won�t you sit down?� he asked. She shook her head.
�No, I�d quite like it if we took a walk on the beach,� she replied. He obliged, and as soon as they were out of ear and eye shot of The Pad, she turned to him.
�Peter, I have to stop seeing you,� she told him.
�Why?� he asked.
�Because I�m scared that I�m falling in love with you. I love Mike. I absolutely adore him, he�s the most wonderful man I know. I don�t want anything to come between us, but I know you could. I�m crazy about you, I can�t stop thinking about you but I have to. I have to force myself to not shout your name when�� she stopped herself and blushed violently.
�When you�re making love to Michael?� he finished. She nodded.
�I don�t want to fall in love with you, Peter, but I feel as though I am,� she whispered.
�I feel exactly the same way,� he told her.
�You do?� she asked, amazed. He nodded.
�I understand how you feel, because I feel the same. We can�t go on like this because someone�s going to get hurt, and it�s probably going to be Mike,� he continued. She sighed.
�Peter?� she whispered.
�Yes?� he replied.
�I don�t want to have to ask you this, but-� she paused for breath.
�Yes of course,� he murmured as he bent his head down towards her and kissed her like he�d wanted to kiss her the night before. She didn�t want to let him go, she wanted to stay with him forever, but she was in love with Michael. She was going to be Mrs Robert Michael Nesmith in a matter of weeks. But Peter was holding her, Peter was kissing her, Peter was running his fingers through her hair and making the blood rush to her head like she had never known it. Right then, right there, at that moment, she wanted Peter Halsten Thorkelson. That�s all she wanted, and damn the consequences. Of course, they both knew she wouldn�t go any further with him than kissing him. She wouldn�t dare make love to another man when she loved Mike. She really truly adored Mike, they both thought the world of him. However, the sea air and the love that they had for each other had been bottled up inside of them for so long that it made them do something they wouldn�t have otherwise done. But she could not go through with anything more than kissing him. They both wanted to, but they both knew it would kill Mike if ever he found out. Slowly they pulled away from each other.
�Heath, I think it�d be best if we didn�t say anything about this to Michael,� Peter began. Heather nodded in agreement. �In fact, I think it would be better all round if we didn�t see each other at all for a while,� he finished.
�What about the wedding?� she asked.
�If it goes ahead, which it will, you will be happy with the man you love, you won�t need me there. You�ll forget me. Just like I�ll forget you, one day. People don�t remember things forever. This will all be a memory one day, a vague memory of some hippy you can�t remember the name of,� he assured her.
�Peter Halsten Thorkelson, born 13th February 1942, kissed me on 14th July 1967, two weeks and three days before my wedding to Mr Robert Michael Nesmith. I�ll never forget it. I never want to forget it,� she replied softly.
�You have to forget it, or else you�ll be made bitter and twisted with guilt. You need to forget that this ever happened,� Peter begged her. �I don�t ever want you to change,� he told her, hugging her.
�I don�t want you to change either. But we already have,� she answered. �We both changed a while ago, didn�t we?�
�Yes. We did. We changed on the day we started to fall in love with each other,� he agreed.
�We have to stop changing today, don�t we?� she asked. He nodded.
�You love Michael, remember,� he reminded her.
�Yes. I love Michael,� she answered with a faint smile. �And I love you too,� she whispered. Peter�s heart swelled with joy as he smiled an irresistible smile at her.
�If love really is all you need, why is it so complicated?� he asked, thinking of the latest Beatles� single as they turned to walk back to The Pad.
�Well you�ve got to have something to occupy your mind with!� she joked. He laughed. They saw Mike at the window, his eyes red with tears. Heather instinctively knew it was something to do with his mother, she�d been feeling ill lately. She had seldom run in her life, but she impressed herself at how speedily she got to The Pad to get to Mike.
�What is it, darling?� she asked, throwing her arms around him and kissing his forehead gently.
�She�s really ill, babe,� he told her, sniffing.
�Is she still in Dallas?� she asked. He nodded. �Mike, sweetheart, you have to go to her if she�s ill,� she told him without stopping to think of the vulnerable position it would leave both her and Peter in if they were ever alone together. All she could see was that the man she truly loved at the end of the day needed to go to his dying mother, and so he had to go. If it meant putting the wedding off for a week or so then so be it, but he had to be with his mother.
�And leave you here all alone?� he asked.
�Davy and Micky can look after me,� she assured him.
�And Peter,� he finished.
�What about Peter?� she asked, defensively.
�He�ll look after you as well?� he reminded her.
�Oh, Peter? Oh, yeah, sure he will. See, I�ve got loads of people to look after me, I�ll be fine!� she promised, glancing up at Peter who couldn�t take his eyes off her. �I�ll still be here when you get back, and I�ll have the kitchen tidy and the bathroom neat and we can get married and live happily ever after,� she promised.
�Well if it means getting to see you clean the kitchen and bathroom, I guess it�s worth going away!� Mike teased. She slapped him playfully.
�Cheeky thing!� she giggled. �Look, guys, we�d better get going, he�s got to pack, and I�ve got to book a flight for him. We�ll see you tomorrow maybe,� she told them, kissing Micky goodbye, then Davy, then� she smiled nervously at Peter and kissed him goodbye as quickly as she could, then she almost raced Mike out of the front door to get as far away from a confrontation situation with Peter as possible.
�What�s the matter with Heather, Peter?� Micky asked.
�How do I know? What makes you think I�d know why she�s acting like she is, even if she is acting like you say she is, who�s to say I�d know why, huh?� Peter asked, defensively.
�Okay, Peter, sorry I asked,� Micky muttered.
�Oh, gee, I�m, I�m sorry, Mick!� Peter apologised sincerely. �I didn�t mean to snap.�
�It�s okay,� Micky assured him.
�Peter, can I have a word? In our room?� Davy asked.
�Sure,� Peter agreed, going into his and Davy�s room. Davy shut the door behind them and whispered:
�What happened?�
�What do you mean, what happened?� Peter asked.
�Peter, did you do anything with her?� Davy asked him. Peter looked at the floor in shame. �Peter, I told you, I told you to stay away! No wonder she ran a mile when she realised she had to kiss you goodbye!� he reprimanded him.
�David, for your information, what I did was kiss her, which she responded to willingly. She loves me. She told me so,� Peter answered.
�No, Peter, she loves Mike. Didn�t you see how she comforted him when she came in before? She wouldn�t do that if she didn�t love him with all her heart,� Davy told him, calmly.
�She loves him with nine tenths of it. One tenth belongs to me,� Peter smiled, happily. �I don�t want any more than that.�
�You shouldn�t have even that much!� Davy sighed. �Peter, we have to do something about this, man, and fast!�
�What are you saying? We go and tell Michael that not only is his mother about to die but also that I, his best friend, happened to kiss his fianc�e to whom he is getting married in two weeks? You think that�d be easy on him? You think that�d be fair? You think that�d show love and understanding? Well it wouldn�t. It�d be cruel, it�d be callous and I couldn�t do it to him,� Peter retorted firmly.
�Peter, you already have,� Davy answered. �I�m not saying we tell Mike. What I am saying is that I don�t want you going near Heather for the few weeks that Mike�s going to be away for. If she needs anything, either me or Micky can help her.�
�But what if-� he began.
�Peter, leave her alone. For Mike, leave her alone,� Davy begged. Peter looked at the floor.
�All right. I�ll leave her alone. I won�t go to see her and if she comes here I�ll go out. I�ll do it for Mike,� he whispered.
�Good. Look, man, I know it hurts, but� it�ll all work out in the end, I promise,� Davy assured him. Peter looked up at him and smiled faintly, tears glossing over his eyes.
�I�m doing it for Heather,� he finished.
The next day, Heather, Micky, Davy and Peter went to the airport to see Mike off to Texas. It was an emotional farewell for the couple who were soon to be married.
�I love you, darling, don�t you ever forget that,� Heather told him, fighting back the tears.
�I love you too, angel, but I�ll be back before you know it. Peter�ll keep you company!� Mike promised.
�I don�t want Peter, I want you, please believe me, Mike, it�s you I love!� she blurted out. Peter�s eyes started stinging, he felt tears coming but wouldn�t let anyone see them.
�I know it is, darling, and I love you too. But for a few weeks I�m going to be with my mom. She needs me, you said so yourself. I�ll call you every night, I promise,� he told her, kissing her. He cuddled her tightly, not ever wanting to leave her. She didn�t want him to leave either.
�Will you miss me?� she asked, stroking his sideburns with the back of her hand.
�Yeah of course I will. Now, no kissing any strange boys while I�m away, okay?� he joked. She felt her heart tearing apart, but put on the most fake smile she could muster.
�What do I want any strange boys for, when I�ve got you to deal with?� she joked. He laughed.
�Oh, I love you!� he giggled. Then over the tannoy the announcement for Mike�s flight was made, so he had to go. She had never felt so alone as she did when she saw him turn the corner to leave, and when he had, she broke down in tears.
�What�s the matter?� Davy asked. �Scared any strange boys will come along?�
�What?� she asked, confused. �Davy, my fianc�s just left for Texas, that�s hundreds of miles away, I miss him already!� she answered. Davy laughed sarcastically and walked away in disgust. Peter turned to her.
�Will you be okay?� he asked, concerned. She nodded.
�I think I�ll just go back to my place for the night. Tell Davy that his sympathy was overwhelming and I had to go and have a lie down to recover from it. Ignorant Manc midget�� she muttered angrily to herself.
�Well, hey, would you like me to walk you home?� he asked. She shook her head.
�I�ll get a taxi,� she answered with a smile. �I might see you again before Mike gets back, but I�m not sure,� she told him.
�Well, you know, if you ever need anything-� he began.
�I�ll go somewhere I�m welcome,� she finished. �I�m not stupid, Peter, I know Davy knows about us. I also know he won�t tell Mike. But I�m not going to go somewhere where I�m not wanted. I can take care of myself, I promise,� she assured him, waving him goodbye. Peter smiled sadly and went to join Micky and Davy.
�Davy I think you owe Heather an apology, you really upset her just then,� Peter began, aggrieved.
�Oh really? Oh, that�s just terrible,� Davy replied sarcastically.
�Davy, just apologise, it�s not that hard, even I do it sometimes!� Micky told him. Davy shrugged.
�Yeah, okay, whatever. I will do when we get home,� he decided.
�Good,� Micky and Peter replied together.
�Dave, I�m not interested. I�m just going to stay at home and vegetate for a few weeks waiting by the phone for Mike,� Heather told him over the phone.
�Heath, that won�t do you any good, you�ve got to leave the house sometime. Do you want me to go for a walk with you?� he offered.
�No. I want to be left alone. I miss Mike, I won�t be cheered up until he�s back with me,� she replied.
�What about Peter?� he asked.
�What about Peter?� she repeated.
�I know what happened,� he informed her.
�I know you do. Davy, it won�t happen again. It�s Mike I�m engaged to, not Peter. I don�t love Peter,� she lied.
�You told him you do. Who are you lying to?� he asked.
�Davy� it�s�� she flustered.
�Complicated?� he asked.
�Yes. It�s a different kind of love to how I feel about Mike. It�s like how I felt about Mike when we first started dating,� she explained.
�How do you feel about Mike now? Bored of him?� he inquired.
�Certainly not!� she protested. �No, just used to him. I love him, Davy. I�d die for him. Not Peter. If I was to go out with Peter it would only be for one thing, not because I�d marry him,� she told him.
�So stop stringing him along,� he pleaded.
�We�ve stopped it. We won�t see each other again,� she told him.
�And that�ll make it go away?� he asked sarcastically.
�Maybe,� she replied quietly.
�Oh, stop kidding yourself! If you don�t get Peter out of your system once and for all it�s going to jeopardise the relationship you have with Mike,� Davy told her sternly. �You need to talk.�
�Pass him on then,� she requested.
�No, I�ll send him over. Just talk to him,� he ordered. �I�ll speak to you about it tomorrow, love, bye.�
�See ya,� she replied, putting the phone down. As soon as she did, the phone rang. She picked it up again.
�Nesmith residence,� she announced.
�You�re getting a bit premature!� Mike laughed. She squealed happily.
�MIKE! Oh, darling, how are you?� she asked.
�Missing you,� he replied. �I�ve got a half empty bed in Dallas and I want you to fill the space,� he told her.
�I�m the same in California,� she assured him.
�Come to Dallas,� he begged.
�Me?!� she asked.
�No, the other chick I�m on the phone to,� he answered sarcastically.
�Mike, I can�t!� she answered. �I�m not family.�
�You�re my wife to be, how much more related do you want to be?!� he asked, confused. �Mom wants you here,� he added.
�I can�t afford it!� she decided.
�The ticket�s booked. You�re flying out at nine tomorrow morning, I�ll meet you at the airport,� he told her.
�Oh. Well. See you tomorrow then, I�d best go and pack,� she replied.
�You best had. See you tomorrow, honey. I love you,� he told her.
�I love you too. Bye,� she called.
�Bye,� he replied, replacing the receiver. She did the same, then turned to go into their bedroom to start packing. As she got her suitcase from the top of the wardrobe there was a knock at the door.
�Hang on!� she called, dragging the suitcase down and flinging it onto her bed. She raced to the door and flung it open to see Peter stood in her doorway. �Oh, Peter, hi, you�ve nearly missed me. I�m leaving in the morning,� she told him. �It�s all sudden,� she explained.
�It�s not because of me, I hope?� he inquired. She shook her head.
�Oh no, certainly not. Mike�s just missing me and he booked me a flight to Dallas,� she replied.
�How romantic,� he commented blandly.
�Yes, it was,� she agreed, looking up at him.
�Heather, I-� he began.
�Peter, I�ve got to pack, I�m sorry,� she told him quickly, trying to shut him up.
�No, you must listen to me. I love you, and I need to know where I stand,� he insisted.
�Peter. My fianc�s mother is dying. To be honest, you come quite a way down on my list at this second in time. You�re one place above me in my list of priorities. Let me go to Mike, I�ll talk to you when we get back. Maybe the time apart will do us both good,� she suggested.
Back to THE PAD!
Back to FANFICTION!