Saturday 1st October 1964

Tugging the robe tighter, Jackie paused in the doorway.

Early evening, dinner and washing up done, she had scrubbed the day away from herself and now, with her novel under her wing, she gazed at Beth, who was completely hypnotised by the black and white television.

A whole day after the Princes of Liverpool now Abbey Road visited her palace of dilapidation Jackie was still no nearer, nor further, from her rampant thoughts and craziness of having Paul McCartney show an interest in her.

In her!

It was like magic, like a fairy tale that he should see something in her that she didn't quite see in herself. Because in her mirror she merely saw her soul marred and dirty with doubt.

And like a fairy tale she had sung, albeit softly, as she lay on her bed thinking of dark eyes and luscious lips and crazy words he wrapped frequently around her ears.

This evening had been quiet, a polar opposite to the whirlwinds of yesterday.

Watching Roy Orbison sing Pretty Woman and Herman's Hermits preform I'm Into Something Good live on the television program Top of The Pops had been lovely and Jackie had relaxed and forgotten for a few seconds about the topsy-turvy of her today. And that of the mad one, that had occurred a mere twenty four hours prior....

A Mad Day In, in the end....

All the Beatles in her flat, John inviting himself to dinner, Pattie scowling at Katie, Ringo falling asleep, and Paul.... And Paul pressing all her buttons in mere moments, eliciting wanton behaviour from her body. Her lips still hurt come to think of it, his mouth greedy and wantingly supped on her like she was his first meal in days.

And she, herself, was ready for second helpings too.

And today....

"What's this" Jackie had questioned slowly as Gary slipped two photographs and a fifty-pound note under her nose. Patties eyebrows had shot up but she said not one word as she watched her friend lift those pictures higher and higher til she couldn't dispute the owner's legs any longer "What did you do!"

"I sold two shots of them"

"You sold pictures of my legs and didn't ask permission?!?! I don't believe you! How dare you!"

Now as she toyed with the fifty pound note in her dressing gown pocket, she felt it was burning a mighty big hole, she still could not believe his total disregard for her body. Even if it was just her legs, a fraction above her knees..... Alright, alright, half a thigh NO more than that! Fingers grasped the damn note as tightly as they grasped Gary's neck earlier....

"Settle down Jacks" Pattie had pushed a gasping reddened Gary toward the door and he scrambled away like the coward he is. Shouldn't he stand and take her verbal abuse. Shouldn't she punch him in the nose or knee him in the crotch, take your pick she didn't mind which. Pattie circled Jackie up in her arms and swished side to side as Jacqueline tugged and pulled and pushed for escape "Shush it's not so bad. No face, no telling where those legs belong"

"But they're my legs AND I know where they flipping belong Pattie!"

Pattie lifted the pretty fifty pound note, fluttering the Queen and numbers in front of both of their faces. "Look at this, fifty pounds! For a faceless picture. FIFTY. POUND. Jacqueline! Think of the groceries, think of the bills or, dare I say it, ... think of yourself"

"I'll kill him"

"No, you won't. Go home, study the photographs, look at the fifty pounds and see if a murder is really necessary" Pattie plonked down on the chair and dragged Jackie onto her lap "Listen to your mummy and do as she says!"

"Mummy"

"Yes dear"

"May I throttle the naughty bald photographer again"

"No, you may not! I didn't bring you up to throttle nasty photographers. I brought you up to have fun with Beatles, well Beatles except George, oh and John. Bugger, Richy too, Mo would have a cow if I let you after him"

"Stop being silly"

"Stop shuffling on my lap, you're not light you know"

"Yes mummy"

"Go buy something pretty for Paul!" Pattie pushed the money under Jackie's nose...

Thus starting Jackie's hours of internal monologue....

No! You're not to use it . Well then what Jacqueline? It goes mouldy in that bloody chocolate tin in the larder?!?...... yeahhhh mouldy! Well I wouldn't want that to happen would I............ Maybe I could spend a little of it, like a small corner. No! Yes! No! Yes! This is ridiculous.

Pattie hadn't given up.

"No, I shouldn't"

"You're so stubborn Jack, buy something for you then; That Paul will go crazy for!"

"Pattie...." Jackie pushed the offending photos and fifty pound back into Patties chest.

"What!?" Pattie pressed it back gently and pushed Jacqueline off her lap "No darling..... Gee, just go home and sleep on it, will you"

"Bed time sweetie"

"Just til the end. Pllleeeeaaaseee"

"Alright but you better get up right smart in the morning"

"Oh bummer" Beth frowned and sat up on her knees pulling her teddy bear to her stomach "Matt Monro's back on, I'll head up to bed now"

"Oh, don't like Matt then?"

"Ugh, he's so old"

"He's only a tad older then me"

"See"

"Cheeky. Go to bed luv" Dropping the book on the armchair Jackie beckoned Beth into her arms, the girl was nearly as tall as she was. The devil was certainly making her dance in terms of keeping Beth on the straight path, as she got taller the lines blurred and soon Beth would be saying funny cheeky asides like 'How's the weather down there, mother'.... "Kiss"

"Mummah. Love you mummy"

"I love you too. Never ever forget"

"Never" Beth's bare feet padded to the stairs after dropping her empty glass in the sink "Night"

"Goodnight; and no reading"

"Awwww"

"No Beth, straight to bed"

"Okkkkk"

"Goodnight sweetie"

"Night"

Dragging the dreaded fifty pound note out in front of her, Jackie ran a finger round the edges.

Queen Elizabeth was quite pretty. A youthful face stared back at Jacqueline as she contemplated the money. She could do with a new pair of shoes, Beth could have a treat. Sitting up and reaching for the notepad and pencil beside her she jotted a huge list of needs then wants.

Pattie was right, she should get something for herself but the need list was soooo big. Tapping the page Jacqueline closed her eyes and dreamt of the fancy dresses and twin sets she'd seen in the magazines at work... Ohhh ladder-less sheer stockings and heels. Heels that made her legs long and svelte.

Bloody legs, that's what got me into this mess in the first place!

Fingers tugged at the curtain of the front window and she allowed herself to be truthful with herself.

She wanted him, here, now, maybe even forever. The street was quiet and the window felt her breath, condensation forming. His lips on hers, his skin, his everything...

She would go shopping, she would buy something for herself anddddd be that girl, for just a little while.

And maybe......

And just maybe she would amaze that gorgeous creature that turned her insides into mush and her heart into a pitter-pattering mess.

********************

Monday, Monday

"Come out, come out, where-ever you are!?!"

"You know where I am Pattie"

"Well hurry up then!" Pattie bit her lip as she flounced about the small fitting room flipping through dresses and skirts and shirts and lacey undergarments. Dress shopping for someone else was the pits............    Oh! That's nice... noooo it's Jackies day, not mine.

"What do you think?" Jackie's voice sounded fragile and unsure. She knew it looked pretty gear but still. Still, there was that little doubtful part of herself that fretted.

Pattie swept around and stared. The rolled at the neck emerald green turtleneck jumper hit Jackie's bum, the daring skirt had tiny pleats in that same emerald green and red tartan, tiny silver thread throughout.

Jackie raised her chin to point out the boots "Black knee-high boots like those behind you Pats...."

"Arrrr"

"You don't like it?"

She didn't think she would feel disappointment but she did. The whole thing clicked in her head and now, with Pattie staring through her, she wasn't sure. Of anything.

"No! Yes! I mean yes, I do! You just look so innocent and sexy all at the same time. Paul's gonna flip"

"Flip?"

"Totally -out!" Pattie checked out Jacqueline's legs.

The skirt sat daringly high.

Higher than she had on the other night. No it wasn't. It just felt that way. It just felt daring... and chilly near the wotsit.  Paul could fix that...

Mmmmmmm... warm wotsit fixing Paul.

"Buy it!"

"I was going to whip up a skirt like it at home. I have time"

"Jack no"

"But-"

"Jackie no. Put them on the counter and buy them. Off you go, get changed and we'll buy some knickers that'll make the poor sod faint"

"You're terrible"

"I know. Come on. Fainting knickers don't hang from trees you know" Pattie watched an older customer roll her badly done eyes and continued on unperturbed "Well they do if you're doing it in the forest"

Jackie's laughter met her ears and Pattie smiled happily.

A/N: votes / comments on the outfit please. I looked at photos of what Pattie was wearing at the time and a lovely shot of her in a long turtle neck jumper out. Although Jackies is a different colour and the black knee high boots .  Anyway....WE- you and I can change the outfit let me know!