Love's Not a Competition

Chapter 16

The fact that Kitty fancies Rick – or probably more accurately, is in love with him – becomes more and more apparent as the day goes on. From where I sit to watch the auditions I have a good view of Rick's chair and every time she pops out to tweak his hair back into place or powder away a little shine from his skin she blushes and giggles like a school girl. And if he says something remotely amusing you'd think it was the funniest thing anyone had ever said based on her reaction. As I said earlier, poor girl, she's got it bad.

Aside from that I have a great time watching the auditions and seeing what goes on. As there was earlier, there's a lot of waiting around and breaks while people come and adjust this and that and the other.

Rick looks cute in his red and blue check shirt and waistcoat and he is on excellent form, getting the audience laughing with silly jokes and impressions between auditions, at one point getting up on the stage and dancing. Mind you, he's a born show off and he loves an audience; he's in his element. He told me that the first couple of days he was incredibly nervous but there's no sign of nerves now as he banters with the audience and the other coaches. It's a great atmosphere.

During the lunch break an assistant comes to get me from my seat and takes me backstage and into a room where the coaches and the presenters are eating lunch together. Once again I'm nervous but as soon as Rick sees me he gets up from his seat and comes over; greeting me with a hug and discrete kiss.

"Come and meet Will and Tom," he says, taking my hand and pulling me over to the table where the aforementioned Will.I.Am and Sir Tom Jones sit eating their lunches just like normal people. Will is tapping away at an iPad with one hand while eating sushi with the other, but he pauses and directs his attention to me, telling me that it's 'dope' to meet me; whatever that means.

Sir Tom on the other hand actually gets up from his seat to greet me, putting a hand on my arm and leaning in to kiss my cheek. "Hello love," he says in his deep, deep Welsh accent, "it's a pleasure to meet you. Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I am thank you Sir Tom." I almost feel like I should be curtseying to him, which is ridiculous, but he's such a legend and of course he is a Sir. "And the pleasure is all mine."

"Less of the 'Sir' young lady. My friends all just call me Tom, and if you're a friend of Ricky's here, then you're a friend of mine."

"Uh... okay. Thank you... uh... Tom, yes I'm enjoying myself very much. I did like that last girl you got for your team."

"Wasn't she good?" He agrees as he sits back down at the table.

"What about mine?" Rick asks, I knew it wouldn't be long before he asked my opinion on the two team member's he's added today, a girl first thing and a guy – Nathan – just before they broke for lunch.

"They're great. I really loved Nathan."

"Yeah, me too." He leans in close and adds, "Not like I love you though," his breath warm against my cheek. Pulling back he smiles again, "Come and sit and have lunch with us."

"No, I couldn't." I shake my head and try to step back, "I'll just go and grab a coffee and a sandwich and see you later."

"Please Cherry. The queues will be a mile long anyway by now, so you might as well." Rick turns back towards the table, "Tell her Tom, she needs to stay for lunch, doesn't she?"

:: :: :: :: ::

"Kitty fancies you." I tell Rick as we get into the lift to go up to our rooms. Not that mine has been used at all, as I suspected.

"No she doesn't." He gives me a smug grin and fiddles with the strap on his rucksack.

"Yes she does. Anyone can see it; you'd have to be blind not to notice."

"Well I haven't noticed."

"Oh come on, you must have. She blushes whenever she has to touch up your make up, you can practically see her doing heart eyes in your presence. She laughs at all your jokes."

"That's because I'm a funny guy." He winks and grins at me again as the lift doors open onto our floor.

"You're not that funny." I retort, stepping out of the lift and hurrying along the deserted corridor ahead of him. There are two reasons for me hurrying, one I know Rick will want to get me for that comment and two, I really need to go to the toilet. I should have gone before we left the studio, but we're not far from the room now.

"Oh really..." He catches me by the waist and begins to tickle me, one hand finding its way under my jumper to the bare skin above my jeans. I squeal, half laughing, half desperate for him to stop. I hate being ticked. "I'm not that funny eh?"

"No..." I gasp. "Stop Rick, please."

"Why should I?" He laughs and tickles me harder and I try to squirm away.

"I need a wee. Please stop." I beg, now almost on my knees on the thick carpet, thankful that there's no one else around. "Rick I really need a wee, I'm going to wet myself if you don't stop."

He pauses for a second although he doesn't let me go straight away, testing to see if this is a ruse to get him to stop, but obviously decides I'm telling the truth because he lets go of my waist, reaches for one of my hands and pulls me along the corridor. I'm half running, then almost dancing on the spot while he opens the door and then I dump my bag on the end of the bed and run for the bathroom, listening to Rick laugh at me as I close and bolt the door.

"It's not funny." I shout.

"Oh, it SO is." He calls back. "Oh Rick, I really need a wee." He mimics in a high pitched voice that sounds nothing like me. "What's it worth for me not to tell everyone you almost wet yourself?"

His question is punctuated by a slight thud from the bedroom followed by a muttered curse and I wonder if he's dropped something.

"You're evil." I laugh, wondering if he really would tell anyone. Not that I can think of anyone he could tell.

He doesn't reply at all, which surprises me a little; he'd normally have some sort of comeback for that.

When I come out of the bathroom a couple of minutes later – feeling much better – Rick is sitting on the end of the bed looking intently at something he's holding in his hand. I pause, wondering what he's finding so interesting but then I recognise a photo on the corner of the paper. It's one of the MS leaflets that Marion gave me at my appointment and I shoved into my bag to read later. In my rush to get ready to leave yesterday afternoon I'd forgotten to take them out of my bag and leave them at home.

A/N: I hope you're enjoying this story, sorry this chapter's a bit short. I'm not so good at writing chapters where not much happens.  :-)