He'll Be There - Chapter 4

Back at April’s house, Micky tried to stop the poor girl from crying.

“April, it’s me, Micky! Please stop. I-I’ll do anything for ya!”

No matter what he said or how many James Cagney impressions he made, he couldn’t get her to stop.

“April, look. I’ve gotta tell ya something. I’ll go mad if I don’t. Please listen to me. April, I…um, I like ya, and wanna know if you’d like to get a milkshake or something with me. But, I can’t tell ya if you don’t stop crying. Please April. I like you…”  April sniffled.

“What did you say, Micky?”

“Um, look. I kinda like you, April. I always have since we met, and I couldn’t tell you because, well, first we all liked you. Then, Peter asked you out. Then you met Freddy—”

“Freddy?” she sobbed, letting more tears gush. “Freddy doesn’t love me…” she buried her face in a handkerchief as she mumbled those words.

“April, don’t cry. It’s gonna be okay. You’ve got your family and friends, and the people at the laundromat. Heck, you’ve got Davy, Peter, Mike, and me. We still love you, April.” She calmed down.

“You boys still love me?”

“Yes! Well, not like that. I mean, we’re still your friends, and I still kinda have it bad for ya…”

“MICKY!” Mike, Peter, and Davy yelled as they parked in front of the lawn.  Micky turned to see his three friends jump out of the Monkeemobile and run towards him.

“Micky, what are you doin’ here?” asked Mike. “You had us worried!”

“Why’d you leave us like that?” Peter asked.

“Guys, I was just trying to—”

“We looked everywhere for you. What’s wrong with you, following her home like that?” Davy asked angrily.

“Guys, I—”

“You didn’t even tell us where you were!”

“You can’t just waltz right out of a church and stalk her like this!”

“Micky babe. I know you like her, but you can’t follower her without asking if she’s okay—”

“EVERYONE QUIET!” Micky shouted.  The other three backed away once they realized how close they circled around him.

“All I wanted to do was make sure April was okay. I know I probably should have waited until she felt better, but I couldn’t wait that long. I just had to let her know we care about her.”

“You mean, you care about her,” Mike implied.

“Well, I mean all of use, but um. I guess you’re right, Mike. I got so caught up in my feelings that I didn’t think about how she’d feel. I kinda feel dumb for not considering that.”

“Micky? Mike? Davy? Peter?” April asked, walking from her doorstep.  “What are you doing here?”

“April, I can explain,” Micky began, “Y’see, we wanted to make sure you’re okay, and…” Mike nudged him forward, “Well, if you need a friend to talk to, you can come visit us any time you’d like. That is, when you’re ready to talk to boys again.”

“You’d let me do that?” she asked, smiling weakly.

“You bet,” Peter answered.

“We’re here for you,” Davy said.

“Just drop by, or give us a call. Whichever you’d prefer. We’ll be there,” Mike said.

“Oh, thank you, boys,” she said, wiping her tears.  “You’re so sweet. I think I will need a little time before I come over.”

“We understand,” Micky said.  He tried to hug her, but she smiled and shook her head.  As he pulled back, she walked back to her house and closed her door.