Jennifer Juniper

Once Robert and I returned from our "date" (which was rather a nice conversation between two mates over lunch and a brisk walk around inner London), I ran into the half-bath next to the study and fixed my hair and makeup. I was thankful that I didn't wear much makeup in the first place, because it probably would have run by this time. As the last sounds of some Led Zeppelin-Donovan composition died away, I rushed to the mouth of the sound room and fixed myself before any of the four men downstairs could come up.

Jimmy was the first to emerge into the hallway, followed by Donovan and Bonzo, then John Paul. When Jimmy saw me, he gave a wild smile and grabbed my shoulders in a friendly manner for a second before leading the rest of the boys down the hall toward the foyer. I followed them, keeping tabs on Donovan. When the five of us reached the foyer, Jimmy, Robert, and John Paul got into a conversation while John Paul retreated up the stairs and on to the landing where he turned down the hall toward his room.

Donovan ignored me, examining a plant in the corner instead, until Jimmy walked over to him and escorted him to the door.

"Don't you want to get your guitar and equipment, Donovan?" I ask, hoping it sounded as nonchalant vocalized as it did in my mind. He eyed me from over his shoulder, Jimmy's arm on his back, and smiled.

"I'll be back." He grinned wider and opened the door, letting a large gust of cool wind inside, ruffling every one's long hair and just barely tussling Donovan's Beatle-length.

"For guitar, right?" I called before he closed the door behind him. He stopped and looked back again, his eyebrows raised in satisfaction.

"I'll make time for you, sweetheart, no worries."

I screwed up my face in mock confusion and responded indignantly, "I have photo shoot tomorrow out back for Levi's. I don't have time for the likes of you." The strange plan that had formulated in my seductive and persuasive mind was going perfectly as planned. I had hoped he would come back, and just hearing that he would gave me hope.

He wasn't Jimmy, but he was damn near as attractive, as hard as it was to believe, and my plan seemed fool-proof. I would do my usual tease-and-please, my way of playing hard-to-get. It had worked in ever instance throughout my life except with Jimmy, although I hadn't really applied it to him, and I knew it wouldn't fail with Donovan. The tease part was pretty self-explanatory. Tease, mistreat, test, all the hard-to-get characteristics. Then, when the man had gotten trapped in the dark seductiveness of the tease, I'd snatch him up somehow, like a Venus Fly Trap. Somehow.... I hadn't exactly thought how I would snatch Donovan up, and I hoped he would be the one to make the first move, but I knew that in the heat of the moment, something would give. Oh yes, the tease-and-please, hard-to-get seduction stage was only beginning and there was no difference in comparison with a Venus Fly Trap.

However, my plan was not specialized to the fly-- er, person--, and could fail in some circumstances. "Well, I'm glad to hear it, because I'm matrimonially obligated to hope you don't have time for the likes of me," Donovan smirked, reading my mind. I frowned and narrowed my eyes. He turned to Jimmy's inquiring face and continued, "Linda is doing just fine, by the way. Her and the kids. God bless them, every one. It's been three years now and I love her more as the days pass by. Well, thank you for having me over, Pagey. Brilliant seeing you and Bon and Jonsey again. I remember when we were all session pals back in '67, was it? Ah! Gear. I'll see you all tomorrow. Sleep well, carry on Planty." With that, he gave a nod and closed the large door behind him.

Jimmy turned to me as I stood next to the stair banister and rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Well, I suppose I should get to sacking Cheever, then?"

As Jimmy headed upstairs, I sighed and stared absent-mindedly at Robert's feet while he stood fixing the time on his watch. When he finally left the foyer with Bonzo, I sank to the steps and laid on my back tiredly, staring up at the tall domed ceiling. I couldn't have Jimmy because he and Bia were "happy together" and I couldn't have Donovan because the wanker was married. Letting out a sigh, I closed my eyes and mentally prepared myself for tomorrow.