Ruby Tuesday -A Mick Jagger Love Story-

1954
~~~

“Keith! Wait up! Mum says you gotta take me with you!” I ran behind my big brother, who was really only 2 years older than me.

“An eleven year old taking his 8 year-”

“8 and three quarters!” I corrected him.

“Fine. An eleven year old taking his sister of eight and three quarters to his mate’s house? I’ll be the odd one out at school! You think Mike would like that, us going into a new school together known as ‘Jagger and that guy’?” Keith jerked his arm from my grip and walked a bit faster.

“You know, he lets me call him Mick! I think I like that name for him better. He looks like a Mick. Mike just doesn’t do the same justice, you know? One time when Mum and I picked you up from his house, he-”

“Scarlet! Shut! Up!” Keith was stopped now, staring at me. Maybe I rambled just a bit too much. I tended to do that. Well, only when talking about Michael Jagger, my brother’s best mate from school. I wasn’t sure of it… but could an almost 9 year old be in love with someone?

Despite my brother’s refusals, I tagged along. There was no stopping me; I was a bit stubborn. Any chance I had to see Mick, I would take. Of course, I didn’t know why we were going, but it had to be for some reason. I could get Mick to tell me, because he told me many things. It’s funny really, an 11 year old going to a younger kid for spilling things.

As we made it to his street, my heart skipped a bit. I didn’t know why, but I felt heat rush to my face and I stopped dead in my tracks. Not hearing my constant skipping feet, Keith turned to look at me. With my hand, I signaled for him to keep going, that I was okay. Deep breaths, Scarlet, deep breaths.

I decided to take the advantage to knock on the door. Keith rolled his eyes at me, laughing a bit. Did he know? Could he see right through me? Did he figure out I liked his best friend? My cheeks felt hot again, but they quickly turned brighter when Mick opened the door.

“Hey man! And ah! You brought Scarlet with you!”

“Hey Mike. Oh, and her? She followed, no stopping that little motor mouth.” My sibling ruffled my hair and stepped into the Jagger household. I followed, slipping my tiny Mary Jane’s off at the front door. Mick’s mum, Eva, quickly noticed me and brought me into the kitchen as the boys ran to Mick’s room. I felt like running after them, but that would be extremely rude and I almost wanted to make a good impression on the parents.

“Scarlet! Look at you! Still cute and petite as the last time you came over with Keith, I see.” She smiled at me, setting a plate of steaming biscuits in front of me. I smiled graciously and took one, biting into it. “And look at your hair! It’s grown so much! Shall we trim it again? Or maybe restyle it completely?” Of course. Eva was a hairdresser, so she always managed to talk about my hair. I politely shook my head.

“Thank you, but no. I’m growing it out actually…” My words trailed off, accidently showing my boredom. Eva put her hands on her hips and smiled at me. I pointed to the stairs and she gave a quick nod. I gave a huge grin and sprinted up the steps.

On my way up, I heard the boys discussing something. First, they sounded excited. I guessed they were talking about the eleven-plus exam, which I knew they both must have passed. As I pressed my ear against the door, I heard their tones change. Mick spoke up, making my heart drop.

“Different schools?”

***

July 1960
~~~

I swung my legs, bored out of my mind. Where was she? My best friend, Darla, was supposed to be here five minutes ago, when the bus stopped. Did she miss it? Was I going to have to wait a whole 30 minutes for the next bus? Luckily, it wasn’t too hot, so
I could sit. But the boredom. That was going to kill me slowly.

Taking a ponytail holder from my purse, I pulled my hair back. I hadn’t cut my hair for about 6 years, and it was crazy long, reaching down past my hips. The large ponytail was swung over my shoulder, my straight brown tresses stretching down to my bellybutton. Eva, the mother of an old friend of my brother’s, usually cut my hair, but I hadn't seen her since Keith and her son lost contact. I had even grown my hair out for her son. Lord I missed him.

The sun was starting to set, turning the sky a mixture or purples and oranges and pinks. After a while, the bus finally came. I stood as people rushed out. Finally, Darla stepped off and ran to me.

“Scarlet! I am so sorry! I was coming, but then my mum called me to help her, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to make the bus. So, here I am now!”

“Well, I’m afraid we’ve missed the movie. Do you wanna come over to my house? I’m sure we’ll find something to do. Plus, Keith is there!” Darla’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. I knew she liked him, even if he was 17. A 15 year old going after a 17 year old… was that a bad thing?

We walked to my house, Darla talking my ear off. She told me about things at home, things I frankly didn’t care about. Then, she talked about Keith. Keith this, Keith that. I knew my brother, but I wasn’t sure if he was going to like her “new skirt” or even notice she bought “the prettiest lipstick you’ve ever seen.” Her words, not mine.

Without even knocking, I walked in and yelled about my arrival. I heard my mum from the kitchen. She said my name like a question. I heard a door that sounded like it could have been my brother’s close and two sets of footsteps pounding down the stairs. Who else was here? Keith stopped at the bottom, smiling at us girls. My heart sped up when I saw who was here. The guy I had been missing for four years. The guy that caused me to decline others because I had the hope to wait for him. Before I could even move a muscle, Mick wrapped me into his arms, the warm embrace stopping my breathing along with my heart.