This is a new occasional series that takes its basis and some of its storyline from the cancelled Tokyopop Manga, Yubisaki Milk Tea by Tomochika Miyano. It's a great series and well worth looking out, it's a mystery why they cancelled it. For my version I've changed the setting from Japan to England and of course the names, then I've added some new characters and situations to produce Jamie and the Peach . The original series was cancelled before completion but I intend to take my version somewhat further!
Maddy Bell, February 2010
"Jamie, you seen my makeup remover?"
Darn, it's still in my bag.
"How should I know where it is, you use so much of that junk you need an industrial scrubber."
"Huh!"
"What's it look like?"
"A clear bottle about so high." she indicated from the doorway.
"I'll keep a look out, I'm getting a shower if you're done in there."
"I'll rustle up some supper, you want some?"
"Whatever you're doing."
I waited until she had disappeared before digging out the stuff I'd purloined - well borrowed, earlier and heading to the bathroom. Shutting the door I gave a sigh of relief, at least she didn't suspect I had anything to do with the bottles disappearance. I let the hot shower play on my back, boy that was good. I'm gonna have to be more careful taking Jess' stuff, sooner or later she'll pin it on me, hmm, guess I need to buy my own remover and stuff. This Peaches thing is starting to get expensive that bra was fifteen pounds and if I'm buying cosmetic stuff I know that can be pretty expensive.
"Look what I found." I crowed twenty minutes later.
"Where was it?"
"In the wash basket, you must've knocked it off the side or something." definitely something!
"Brill, I've done you a toastie."
That's my sister, one of the world's great gastronomes - not!
“These are nice, a bit Lolita maybe, didn't know you were into this stuff Dan.”
“Not mine Rich, wish they were, I think there's real talent there.” Dan noted joining his friend.
“So who is this new David Bailey?”
“Just a kid who helps out a bit, I let him use the dark room as payment.”
“Who's the girl? Girlfriend or something.”
Dan had promised to keep Jamie's modelling a secret; he wasn't about to break that trust with Ritchie Brown.
“No idea, he's never said.”
“She's got something about her.”
“She does take a good picture.” Dan agreed.
It was a fluke that the pictures were even in Dan's hands, Jamie had dropped the folder the other night and Dan hadn't seen him since.
“Hey, you should enter the kid in the summer competition, I'm sure the judges would like this stuff.”
“In the mag? Don't be daft he'd never agree.”
“Well don't tell him then.” Rich pressed.
“I dunno, its not exactly ethical is it?”
“Its not like you are putting them in under your name or anything Dan, go on, give the kid a break.”
It was true enough that the kid was quite shy of letting others see his work despite his obvious talent – the fact that he was the model as well as photographer surely played a part in that.
“I'll think about it, now're we going for that pint?”
Over the next few weeks Jamie (more often than not dressed as Peaches) and Karen fell into a kind of routine. It was an odd relationship, Karen continued to eat at the lad's table each day, not that there was ever much conversation of course. No, if anything Karen was more obtuse than ever, rumours of her relationship with some mystery girl, whilst not rife, were however starting to make the rounds.
Jamie for his part was becoming more and more frustrated. On the one hand he was getting to spend plenty of time with the object of his desires and whilst hardly the hottest romance in town there was a definite, if small, thawing of Karen's attitude to him in class. The problem and fly in the relationship was Peaches. It was Peaches that Karen went out with, it was Peaches that Jono mooned over every lunchtime and it was Peaches who spent all his spare cash!
“So we going to see that new film at the weekend.” Karen pressed as they walked to the bus stop.
“I kinda said I'd go with Jonno.” I admitted.
“Not as Peaches.”
“Shush! Of course not!”
“Well he does keep going on about you.”
“I wish he'd give over.”
“Well if Jamie is going with Jono there's no reason us girls can't go together is there?”
With logic like that there was no chance of me winning. “Guess not!” I sighed in defeat, “I'm not wearing school uniform to the Cineplex though.”
“I suppose it would look a bit weird.” She agreed.
Yes!
“But no jeans or trousers.”
I guess I should've seen that coming.
“Sure, hey your bus is loading!”
I took my usual route along the river, intending to make my change back to Jamie in the park as I have done several times since this whole ‘girlfriend' thing kicked off. Ha, kicked off, very appropriate, I have somehow avoided being seen by Sal since that first time although Jamie has been accosted a couple of times.
Thoughts of what I'd wear to the cinema with Karen occupied my mind and I hadn't registered my arrival in the park. I just about registered a football trickling towards me and without thinking I ran to meet it with a curving shot that took it back into the throng of kids whence it came. Which would have been fine if a) Jamie had taken the kick, b) I'd hit it square and c) I hadn't landed flat on my back afterwards. The net result was that the ball travelled about five metres and suddenly became the centre of attention.
“Stupid girl, can't even kick a ball!”
“I think she's hurt.”
“Serves her right.”
“Shut up idiots!” a familiar voice instructed.
The sudden and hard landing onto terra firma had done a good job of winding me; I'd barely got my bearings before Sal's arrival.
“That was some move,” She noted, “are you okay?”
“I'm sure I'll live.” I allowed brushing my dishevelled wig from my eyes.
“Peaches?”
“We'll have to stop meeting like this Sally.” I managed after finally getting to a sitting position.
“I didn't know you could play footie, let me help you up.”
“I don't think you can really call that football.” I pointed out.
“Well it was probably the way the ball bounced.”
Yeah and I'm David Beckham.
I straightened my clothing out and checked that everything was in place.
“You sure you're okay, you look a bit flushed.”
“Yeah, just a bit winded.”
“You should sit down for a bit.”
“Good idea.” I agreed.
I thought Sal would go back to her game instead of which she held onto my arm and guided me to the nearest bench.
“Thanks.”
“No sweat.”
“You not going back to the game?”
“Nah,” she slumped down next to me, “they're getting a bit boisterous for me.”
“I thought that was all part of it?”
“Well not like they are, its more like rugby tonight.”
“So why football?”
“I just like it, I'll tell you a secret.” She whispered.
Oh boy, what now?
“Well the real reason I started was because Jamie used to play, it used to be all he ever talked about and I thought that if I played too I could talk to him more.”
“Did it work?” I knew the answer but I could hardly let Sal know that.
“Not really, he stopped playing when he got the job at the photographers.”
“So why did you keep playing?”
“Well its like you get a rush when you make a good pass or shot on goal, I'd like to get in a team but there aren't any round here that take girls.”
“Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?”
“Not really, it's not like its boxing or some martial art thing, don't you do any sports?”
“Not if I can help it, just the usual school stuff.”
It wasn't a lie was it?
“You going ‘round to Jamie's, that's his folder isn't it.” She pointed to my homework folder sticking out of Peaches bag.
“He um left it at the library.”
“I could take it for him if you like.”
Damn.
“No I should take it, I need to talk to him anyway.”
“We can walk together.”
Must we?
“Great, you can tell me about your football.”
So of course there was no way I could give her the slip so we walked together to our corner of the universe. As we turned into the road I spotted my sister getting out of a car, her latest boyfriend I guess. What now? There's no way I can slip indoors and get changed.
“Hi ya Jess!” Sal called out.
“Oh hi Sal, been playing footie?”
“Yeah, I wish Jamie still played.”
“That's boys for you, who's you're friend?”
“This is Peaches, she goes to school with Jamie.”
“So you're in Jamie's class eh? I'm Jess by the way, his sister.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You looking for that daft brother of mine?”
“I've got his homework folder, he left it at the library.”
Our little party had moved towards the door. Jess tried the door that of course was locked still.
“Huh, the little shit's still out and it's his turn to cook.”
“Oh.”
“He could be hours, I'll give him the folder.”
“Er okay,” I dug in my bag and handed her my folder, “tell him I'll see him in school.”
“I will, see ya Peaches.”
With that I was dismissed and had no real choice other than to leave again.
“She's nice.” Sal mentioned.
“In a plain sort of way.” Jess stated.
“I think she might like Jamie.”
“Does she now?”
To Be Continued...
Maddy Bell 31.05.10 © 2010
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