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
Last nights revelations from Jess did nothing for my ability to sleep. The mere fact that my sister was already aware of Peaches existence was bad enough, that Sal is enamoured in some way with her is really worrying. The end result of our ‘discussion' is that I'm to keep out of my sister's underwear drawers (gross!) but I have not exactly approval but permission to borrow from her extensive wardrobe provided everything is laundered before its return. Not that I plan on making a habit of it of course, for her part she's agreed to keep the whole thing under wraps.
“Geez Jamie, you look like total crap!”
“Thank you for that observation.”
“So what was it then? A night of hot passion with Karen?”
“As if!”
“Well tell us then.” Jonno persisted.
“I didn't sleep so well okay, I had a bit of a disagreement with Jess.”
“Boor-ing.”
I went through the morning barely taking notice of my surroundings, my thoughts distracted still by last night's discussion.
“Um Karen?” Jono nervously started.
“Yes.”
“Erm you see Peaches right?”
“I guess.” She kind of confirmed.
“Well erm do you think, could you ask her if she'd um like meet with me?”
“You want a date with Peaches?”
“Um well yeah.” He blushed.
“Why don't you ask her yourself?”
“She's like difficult to pin down, I hardly see her in school and when I do she's always running off somewhere.”
“So you want me to ask her for you?”
“Please.” He almost whimpered.
“No promises but I'll ask her, I'm seeing her tonight I think.” She agreed.
“Where've you been?” Karen demanded as Peaches joined her at the school gates.
“Sorry I had to go back for my history book.”
In truth it had nothing at all to do with history, the fact it was Peaches here at all hadn't been certain until a few minutes ago. Whilst Jess knowing about my dressing means I wont have to creep about so much at home it has brought up the question of just why I'm still doing this stuff.
“Earth to Peaches?”
“Oh er sorry, was just thinking.”
“Don't do too much or your head will explode!”
I blew a raspberry as a reply.
We walked towards the town centre, arms looped like so many other girl friends.
“Oh before I forget, Jonno wants to see you.”
“I see him all day, did he say what its about?”
“No you don't get it, he wants to see you, Peaches.”
“What for?”
“Sometimes girl! What do you think he wants to see you for, football practice?”
“I guess not,” then the penny dropped, “you don't mean…ew that is so wrong!”
“What's wrong about it?”
“Well him, me, I didn't think he swung that way!”
“He doesn't, he thinks you're a girl remember, to quote ‘that little fox Peaches' so I think he wants a date.”
“No way, ut uh! Tell him I'm not interested.”
“Tell him yourself, I doubt he'd believe me.”
Shit, shit, shit.
“Okay then, I'll meet him – but you have to be there too.”
Karen allowed herself a little inward smile.
It was arranged for Friday after school, Jono doesn't have practice and Karen has time before going to tutor Sal.
“I'm still not sure about this.”
“Just tell him no.”
“But he's my best bud.”
“You'll think of something.”
We turned into the park and spotted Romeo at the rendezvous point.
“I can't do this.”
Karen uncharacteristically gave me a peck on the cheek, “now go, I'll be over here watching.”
With a sigh I started the walk towards the bench where Jono was waiting. This is so wrong.
“Um hi.”
“Cool, you came, I didn't think you would, even when Karen said I was sure you wouldn't.” it all tumbled out in one barely coherent string.
“So um, you wanted to see me?” I mentioned sitting on the other end of the bench.
“Er yeah, um what I mean to say is um would you like kind of like fancy going out sometime like?”
“You mean on a date, you and me?”
“Erm yeah.” The poor sap was a bundle of nerves, something I've never seen in Jonno before.
“A girl likes a bit of commitment, do you think you can do that?”
“Sure, yeah, no problemo.”
“You play football right?”
“Uh huh.”
“To get on the team takes commitment.” I stated.
“I'm a first eleven starter!” he proudly boasted.
“So you have to do a lot of training?”
“Five sessions a week.”
“Well the problem is that I'm quite demanding, I'd need that level of commitment if we were to go out.”
“Like I said Peaches, I'm up for that.”
“I don't think you understand at all Jonathon, to go out with me you'd have to give up the footie, there's no way I'm playing second fiddle to a ball.”
“We could go out after training – and I'm free on Fridays, we could work around it.”
“You might but I won't.”
“But?”
I cut him off, “when you can commit to me as much as that ball then I might consider dating you, until then adios!”
I got up and headed towards where Karen had been eavesdropping.”
“Peaches!” Jonno called after me.
“That was harsh.” Karen mentioned as we headed away from my bud, “nice going though.”
“He's never gonna give up his footie so that should put an end to his stupid romantic notions towards me.”
“You could've said you were gay or something.”
“That wouldn't have put him off, I've known him long enough to know he'd consider that a challenge.”
“What if he called your bluff, gave up the football?”
“Then I'll have to come up with a plan B.”
‘ There's one simple solution but you've not even mentioned it.' Mused Karen as they ambled along.
“Can you tidy those magazines up please Jamie?”
“Sure Dan, where'd you want them?”
“The new ones in the rack the rest can go for recycling.”
“Okay.”
The shop has been pretty busy this week, lots of holiday snaps, which keep Dan in business and give me access to his studio. Not that I've used it much lately with one thing and another but it's good to know its there if I want it. I shuffled through the pile of ‘zines pulling out the expired issues.
I flicked through one or two where something caught my eye.
“Dan?”
“Wassup?”
“You seen this?”
“What's ‘this'?”
“Mu, mu, my picture ii-iin Photo Weekly.”
“Great stuff, well done.”
“But I didn't send it in or anything.”
“Lets see?” Dan took the offending volume from my hands, “hmm says here you got a recommendation in the Spring competition.”
Damn you Ritchie! Have to say that the kids done well though, he's beaten a bunch of really good experienced pros. Dan mused.
“But I never entered, I wouldn't, I couldn't!”
“Calm down kiddo. Look it wasn't me either it was Ritchie Brown, he edits PW, we're old mates from college. Anyway he came over a few weeks back, you'd left some shots out and he saw them, reckoned they were worth sharing. I told him it was your stuff but he insisted. Look on the bright side, you've won a hundred quid!”
“But it's Peaches, in the picture, no one's supposed to see her, she's private!” I raged.
“Look Jamie, sorry to burst your bubble but she's far from private. So okay I know who she is but no one else does and its not like other people haven't met her, I've seen you a couple of time in town with another girl – you really do look cute in that uniform.”
“Da-an!”
“Look sorry, but it's done now. You have a real talent; you really do, both behind and in front of the lens. The judges were looking for technical skills and apart from admiring a pretty girl I don't suppose they thought twice about the model.”
“I guess.”
“Why don't you try getting your friend to pose for you, it'd help you hone your skills without worrying about the ‘model' stuff. You can use the studio if you like.”
“It is pretty cool getting published in PW.” I admitted.
“Well with more practice I reckon you could become a regular.”
“No more sneaky stuff?”
“Scouts honour!”
“Can I keep this?” I waved the magazine.
“Sure and talking of models, you up for another wedding spread for my new fliers?”
To Be Continued...
Maddy Bell 03.06.10© 2010
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