Of course I'd never do that again! No way! I'm never going to pose for a Camera Club again! And especially not topless! I kept repeating this to myself, believing it even as I popped into a newsagent the next afternoon to buy the local paper for a neighbouring town. After all, its good to know what's going on elsewhere, right? I repeated it even more as I just happened to glance through the clubs section; and of course I wasn't looking for camera clubs... Ah!
'The Camera Club, digital photography with weekly programme, editing facilities. A place to share your work and learn from others, Membership gives access to all our facilities. We meet Thursday evenings, 7.30 - 10.00pm, at 14A Broad Street, above the bakery. Membership Secretary 0797... '
Taking the paper up to my bedroom as soon I was home, I turned again with shaking fingers to that ad. Hm, nothing about models wanted. Nothing about discrete, or broad minded... no point in calling...
Switching on my laptop I found the address, and going to street view... 14 (a bakery) but no 14A
... no point in calling...
No point in calling? What was that supposed to mean? I was never going to do it again. Ever! I repeated this to myself as my hand toyed with my mobile phone... as I typed in the first few numbers... And the rest ..
Suddenly it was ringing at the other end! Shit!
"Hi, this is Geoff?"
Shit, I thought. Quickly putting the phone to my ear, I cleared my throat, and said a rather strangled, "Hi."
"Hello .. I don't recognise the number... are you calling about the camera club?"
"Er, yes ," I managed, a bit more fluent this time.
"Oh, I'm really sorry, but we're full. We had a great response to our advert in the paper, and we can't take any more. I can put you on the waiting list if you like? Bound to be some who either don't show up, or don't come back next week, ha ha,"
"Oh, but I wasn't .. um, I mean... oh never mind... "
"Wasn't what? Not interested in membership?" he replied, sounding curious.
"Well no, not exactly... "
"Oh, well that's ok, I can still put you on reserve if you like... Um... so what were you interested in? You sound like a young lady, am I right?"
"Er, yes... I'm, er, 18," oh that sounded so like a lie!
"OK, and what is an 18 year old young lady interested in with a Camera Club, if not membership?"
He wasn't making this easy for me... Did I have to beg? I could feel the nerves churning up my tummy, but somehow this making me work for it was really exciting, it was getting me a little fired up!
"Well, I just wondered if you ever needed models at the club, you know, on club nights?"
There was a pause, as if he was choosing his next words carefully.
"So you're interested in coming along to our club .. to model... to pose for us... to be our photographic model?"
"Er,... yes,... yes I am... " I was holding my breath.
"And you are definitely at least 18 years old?"
"Yes; I can bring my birth certificate if you want," What? I screamed to myself... And give away my identity?
"That would be good, yes... Are you available tonight? 7.30, 14A Broad Street? Above the bakery?"
"I'll find it," I assured him, looking again at the street view... yes, another door set back by the bakery.
"Would you be able to bring your portfolio?"
Damn, I thought. "Er, well actually, I don't currently have a portfolio... its like... a work in progress?" cringing even as I admitted this. Why hadn't I asked for copies of the photos from yesterday?
"Oh... So what experience do you have?"
"Well no professional experience, but I have posed for... er,... boyfriends,... I mean friends, done selfies," he really was making me do all the work here, but that seemed to make me feel more turned on, more adventurous, and I continued, "some more glamour type if you understand me... is that the kind of thing you're interested in?"
So now I actually WAS begging? I was disgusted with myself and loving it. It seemed like a good idea not to mention last night.
"Interesting, yes... we would be interested in that kind of thing... what, er, are your measurements?"
"Oh, um, well I suppose I'm a fairly pretty brunette, 34c and I think I have nice legs and a cute bum,"
"Nice... Um... So you'd be prepared to do some, er, swim wear modelling for us?" he asked hesitantly.
Now I was excited!
"Certainly .. Would you like one piece or bikini?" I screwed my eyes up .. Just how brazen was I getting?
"Bring both, and we'll see where we go... " he paused, then, "So you're definitely ok with swimsuit, lingerie... and stuff?" his voice now sounded strained, and catching his excitement my heart really was thumping now.
"Yes, I can also do lingerie... and stuff... for a suitable fee... "
"Good, good... well as I said, we'll see where we go... um .. See you tonight... oh, what's your name?"
"Andrea,"
"Ok, so we'll see you tonight, Andrea, at 7.30."
"Thanks, bye then," I replied, ending the call.
As I put the phone down with a shaking hand, I realised that I hadn't withheld my number this time... SHIT!... Had I done that on purpose? My tummy was doing somersaults and I was almost wetting myself.
If I didn't show up would they call back, maybe even trace my number!? Did I have to go, just to stay out of trouble?
No! I can't do it, I can't go! I mustn't! I got up off my bed and opened the top drawer of my dresser, leafing through the folder until I pulled out my Birth Certificate which I placed carefully on the top surface. I was just checking that I knew where it was. I wasn't actually going to show up. Next I went over to my drawers and rummaged through to find the school swimsuit... a 'Lifeguard Speedo', blue, high leg, high front, backless with cross-over straps. I pulled it out and tossed it onto the bed as an idea came to me. Crossing to my desk I found my sewing kit and tossed that on the bed too. Then back to the drawers, to the bikinis... the plain black one? It was fairly modest. I glanced across to the swimsuit; the bikini joined it. Sitting on the bed I got busy.
**
7.25 came and I was at the side door by the bakery. It had been an exhausting afternoon, full of indecision and nervous excitement. When Mum came home from work we had tea, but I didn't eat very much, and I could tell that she was a bit worried about me while still trying to give me space, allowing me to make the first move if I wanted to talk to her. But how do you tell your Mum you're becoming addicted to taking your clothes off in front of strangers?
After tea I had changed into a loose flared short skirt in pale green with little yellow flowers, yellow cotton briefs, low-front t shirt over a soft bra, flat pumps. I'd decided today to wear my long hair loose. In my bag I had my hairbrush, makeup, bikini, swimsuit, and 2" black heels.
Through the unlocked door, up the stairs (why are camera clubs upstairs?) and a knock on the plain white door.