Bittersweet Candy Bowl

35. Under Pressure, original chapter posted 3/17/07

Page 2 of 10

Transcript

*Sue sighs, treading water in the middle of the pool.*
Sue: Phew! I’m so relieved we made it to the final week of swimming..

*Sue aims an accusing glance over her shoulder at Katie, who’s lounging poolside in a cute two-piece and strappy sandals.*
Sue: Although some people found a way to barely start..
Katie: Um, like, you can’t PROVE I’m not having my period every week?

*Sue crosses her arms disapprovingly.*
Sue: What’s the issue anyway? Your outfit’s so skimpy it may as well be a bikini.
Katie: Oh, like you can talk about fashion! Where’d you, like, get that swimsuit, the dollar store?

Sue: Well at least it’s a step up from the strip club!
*Sue swims away, grinning, while Katie screeches.*
Katie: Ex-CUZE me?!
*Daisy watches as Mike gleefully swims by.*

*The Three Weird Girls stare at Mike with heart-eyes, while Daisy watches him, forlorn.*
Daisy: …

*The girls continue their admiration session.*
Girl 1: Is he cute or what?
Girl 3: Always so happy.. ♥
Girl 2: And sooo talented!!

Girl 1: Can I have him?
Girl 2: No, he’s mine!!
Girl 3: I can’t believe you guys forgot..
*Daisy looks over at them.*
Daisy: …

*Girl 3 tosses her hand to the side.*
Girl 3: Mike’s taken..
*The other girls look deeply distressed.*
Girl 1: Wahh?!
Girl 2: Ahh, NOOO!

*The Three Weird Girls keep chattering off-panel. Daisy looks very uncomfortable.*
Girl 1: So we can’t even try..?
Girl 2: It’s not like he’d talk to us anyway!!
Girl 3: He’s not really the type..

*Daisy blushes deeply and exhales.*
Girl 1: What do you mean by THAT?
Girl 2: Yeah! I heard he’s got TWO girlfriends!
Girl 3: Really, so maybe..

*Mike looks cheerful, swimming in the distance.*
Girl 1: Just a little fun wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Girl 3: I guess you never know until you try..

*Mike catches sight of Daisy out of the corner of his eye.*
Mike: Daisyyy!!
*Daisy squeaks.*
Daisy: Yeeeep!!

*Mike swims over and smiles at her. Daisy blushes and clasps her hands together nervously.*
Daisy: M-Mikie..
Mike: I haven’t seen you in a while!

*Mike grins sheepishly.*
Mike: Well.. I mean..
*Daisy looks a little anxious.*
Daisy: …
Mike: .. I still see you all the time in English, but we don’t TALK in class!

*Mike turns away. Daisy puts a hand on his shoulder, blushing.*
Mike: It’s just been weird without you at the lunch table.. we’ve all been missing you ever since..

*The gym teacher shouts from off-panel.*
Gym teacher: CLASS! Over here! Time to show me what you got!!
*Daisy, startled, quickly pulls her hand back.*
Daisy: Eep!!
*Mike glances over at the gym teacher, frustrated.*
Mike: .. Geez, already?!

Mike: C’mon, Daisy!
Daisy: Y-yes.. Coming!
*Daisy follows him, leaving the Three Weird Girls staring after her in shock and dismay.*

Girl 1: ?
Girl 2: !!
Girl 3: …

Author commentary

Veronica: When I drew the earlier version of this page I was originally pretty frustrated.. I left it unfinished for a few days before I finally picked it up and continued.

I guess there’s technically a lot of floating around and talking, maybe that’s why I was annoyed? I guess it was also because I wanted to make the dialogue natural and good.. which was only fully corrected in the redraw/rewrite! I definitely like it much better these days, and I like the three weird girls. That was probably why I was fatigued in the first place. Because of their pattern of speech.

The three weird girls (taken from the pre-BCB comics I used to draw) have always been this way: the one to the left always speaks in questions, the one in the middle speaks in exclamations, and the one on the right speaks sort of flirtatious way or ends her sentences with an ellipsis. VERY SILLY MEME, BUT I LIKED IT. That’s probably why I had trouble with this page, initially! I had to follow specific rules, but now I have Souppy as an editor! And I’ve become a better writer to boot!