"Well there's nothing else for it. We have the whole afternoon free, we just have to play! So I say....." Pattie spun on the spot and grasped Jackie to include her into the spinning top of a dance."Let's play dress up!"

One of the photographers for the Smith Crisps advertising campaign had called in sick a little after one pm. Jacqueline and Pattie had just eaten a light lunch. They sat chatting easily, sharing a salad sandwich. 'So I'm not too fat for the shoot' was Pattie's reasoning to the division of the sandwich.
Jackie knew it was only half the reason, the other half was that Jackie never ever brought lunch nor ate take away from the chippy up the street nor join the team after work for a roast dinner across the road at the Alfred.

It wasn't that she was a snob, it was because she was a mother with a teenage daughter with a food consumption rate currently in the tons it seemed. Beth always seemed to be wanting seconds or even occasionally thirds of vegetables at dinnertime, sweet treats or wanting a few shillings here and there so she could go have a chippy lunch with Kate on the weekend.

Jackie didn't mind, she wanted her daughter happy and underneath, if she did have to say a firm no, Beth understood in the main, what it meant.

It meant they were skint for remainder of the week.

"You dress up every day Pattie...."

"Arrr but it's not the usual is it"

"Um yes... It is the usual Pats"

"Oh no it isn't! You my dearest are the model this afternoon. I'm going to be the assistant! Anything goes!! Boss me around! Watch!..." Pattie rolled her eyes making Jacqueline snort a laugh out "Seee! I can do a perfect version of you!"

"I do not roll my eyes at you"

" Oh pllllleassse. When I ask you to find a shoe I kicked off seconds before or when you have to fetch a new glass of water because the one I have is too hot or cold. I'm a spoilt child when it comes to you missy" Pattie spun once more and wandered over to the racks stuffed to overflow with clothing "You're not my mother, but you are, you know. You have that quality Jackie. You make me want to hug you when I'm sad and have you tell me off when I'm being too pig headed"

"You're never pig-headed Pattie, a little head strong but you're ever so sweet and warm and I don't think I have smiled more than I do when I'm in your company" Jackie felt the array of materials as her fingers slipped over the many blouses and dresses that sat waiting for Pattie to wear. Pattie sidled up beside Jackie and they had a cuddle, wiggling them both in harmony. The sweet and quiet moment didn't last long.

"The black set will look great on you, the boots from the Vogue shoot and you can use those stockings there on the table. I wore them for like two minutes yesterday remember" Pattie flung the shiny black Saint Laurent jacket, a matching blouse with frilled cuffs and leather mini skirt that was way too short over the concertina wall then proceeded to slap the floppy black hat from the hat rack on Jackie's head with a musical laugh. With a tug the earrings popped off the earring stand, Pattie then dropped them beside the basket of eyeshadow on the make-up table.

Jackie was laughing subtly as she followed after the infectiously wonderful girl that was, Pattie Boyd. Pattie turned about, a lost look on her face, tapping her lip. She was ticking things off, Pats eyes strolled over the clothes she had fetched and she grinned as her eyes settled on the hat perched on Jackie's head. Snickering, she raced over and grabbed the chunky belt off the back of the door and without as much as a 'boo' looped it gently around Jackie's neck.

Jackie was neither impressed or repulsed  It would be kinda fun to dress-up. Fun to see Pattie look after her for once, so Jacqueline followed Pattie like an obedient puppy to the concertina wall.

The afternoon took off with a whoop of laughter. And fluttered along with giggles and teasing ending with a head on bang of indeision.

Jackie stepping from behind the short wall with an expression very similar to utter terror.
She repeated her critical inspection in the centre of their little room.

Looking down upon herself, eyeing the mini hugging her upper thighs, leaving not all that much to be imagined by others imaginations! Pattie, as Jackie suspected, ignored the grimace adorning her face.

Then, ss Pattie began primping and curling Jackie's lashes and hair, colouring her face gently, fluttering eyeshadow over her eyes with practiced ease, Jackie opened herself up to the possibility of it all. The possibility of letting the woman out, that she had kept hidden deep within.

"Ta dahhh!" Setting down the colour palette Pattie leaned in placing a gently kiss on Jacqueline's cheek "Look there she is. Stand up Jacks, take a walk down our corridor"

"I'm not going out there"

"Why ever not, you're beautiful. I want you owning that corridor, come on. I'll go too, just casual like; two friends wandering the hall"

"But the skirt is so not there"

"You know what's in. You read those magazines more than I do and you figure out the next trend before Barbara and her lackeys from head of design trundle it through. Come on you're basically my twin, girl. You know what, with Jenny we could really do some serious mental damage at the clubs"

"You're so bad"

"In a good way?" Pattie pouted those lips of hers and Jackie couldn't disagree any more.

"Yes of course"

"Well let's go! First one to the front door, wins a night out"

"Oh, that would be nice I guess"

"What's that girl of your doing tonight?"

"Shes off to Katie's tonight"

"Well missy, you are free and I do have the perfect place for us to go"

"Not a club. Please Pattie I couldn't"

"No just a friends' for drinks, I doubt there would be more than a dozen there. So no pressure" Pattie took off into the corridor and spun poking her head back in the room "Anyway you have to win first!"

******

George was watching her.

Yep he most definitely was....In the rear vision mirror as Pattie pointed out where they lived, then again as he motored to, and idled at, the next intersection. George took too long looking at her, shaking his head in perplexion.

"I know you right?"

Jackie's breath stuck in her chest but somehow she managed to cover the somewhat startled look in her eyes by gazing at the drift of people as they exited the shops beside the car. Thankfully Pattie replied for her.

"Of course, you do sweetie. I introduced you two the other week- Jackie saved you from the parking inspector"

"Oh that's right, I had the strangest feeli-"George scratched his nose and tapped the cigarette ash out the window "... I don't know. None the bother. You both look lovely, did I mention that?"

"I dressed Jackie, didn't I Jacks"

"You most certainly did and I'm paying for it right now" Pattie turned about and frowned making Jackie smile innocently back.

"And where do you hale from.... close by?" George drew himself back into the loop of conversation. He wore a dark grey turtleneck with black dressy leather jacket, his skin was flawless from Jackie's position diagonally behind him. Not a mark littered his face, not even a freckle.

"Oh Maida Vale, it's a nice neighbourhood"

"Near the studio Georgie"

"I know where it is, it's not far from the studio at all. Most often stop in The Peppermint on Elgin with Richard"

"Oh, I'm round the corner on Randolph not far then"

"Not far" George absentmindedly replied as he cast an eye about then turned his indicator on. His hands swung the wheel effortlessly and George easily slid the Jag into the only vacant parking spot on Green Street.

"Hyde Parks' just down the street tis lovely for a stroll isn't Georgie" Pattie grabbed her large fur coat from between the two of them on the front seat and smiled back at Jackie, her eyes taking in Jacqueline's outfit in an almost critical way. Like she was making sure Jackie hadn't changed back into her dowdy office skirt as they motored toward Green Street. Pattie wrinkled her nose and sniggered teasingly as George opened his driver's door "Perfect Jacks. You look perfectly lovely".

Jackie tugged on the hem of the short skirt once more in a vain attempt to keep some semblance of dignity... Pattie pointedly rolled her eyes while Jackie tussled with the material stretched taut over each thigh, both girls thinking it would be a long night.

"Parks alrigh' when the fans don't cotton on" George was scowling slightly as he opened both Pattie's and Jacqueline's door, earning a smile from both ladies for his trouble. His scowl disappeared and a cheeky smirky grin quickly replaced it.

"George wears a moustache some days, and a tweed hat like a hunter. Very stately"

"Must get a bit restricting, going through all that though"

George looked deep in thought as he readied a suitable reply. His response was telling and bittersweet to Jackie's ears "Sometimes I want to give it all up and other times.... Well I have my Jag"

"It's a beautiful car, my Beth is always raving bout your motors" Jackie had tripped.... Both, as she clipped a heel on the kerb, and from letting her daughter's name escape her lips.

"Watch your step there" George hummed as he opened the front door of the five-story apartment building and let Pattie begin to guide Jackie up the stairs. "Who's your Beth then?"

"Beth, for your information, is Jacqueline's Beatley obsessed teen daughter Georgie" Pattie giggled to herself as she went to continue the journey up the staircase.

Jackie froze from the slip up Pattie had now disclosed, feet pinned in fear of discovery. Pattie lurched a little as they abruptly stopped then George bumped into her from behind.

George was so close.

He was breathing down her neck "Thought I recognised you Jackie"

Pattie tugged once more without bothering to look behind her "Perhaps the boys can sign a photograph for her" She sing-songed back to Jackie and George trailing behind her.

"Or make a list of errands to run" George whispered quietly for Jackie's ears only.

"Pardon Georgie?"

"Nothing Pat's- just breathin" With a press on Jackie's back George urged her to move a little quicker up the staircase. He was interested now, hadn't much of a bother to come out to Pauls place before, but now.... Now there should be some actual excitement this evening "This evening should be a blast"