Love's Not A Competion

Love's Not A Competion, but I'm too shy

As I got out of the car at the party I instantly started to regret my decision. I felt extremely underdressed, despite being out of my comfort zone already, compared to the other women. My dress was knee length and paired with flat biker boots as apposed to their bottom skimming short shirts and dresses and totteringly high stilettos.

"I feel a bit too covered." I whispered to Taylor as we headed to the open front door.

After shuffling around strangers and exchanging awkward smiles with a drink in hand for a hour I slipped outside. I sat down on a low wall and took a gulp of my drink. A ginger cat came prowling towards me across the lawn from a dark hedge.

"Hey cat, you're handsome." I said softly hold out a hand to invite him over. The cat reluctantly came over to sniff my outstretched hand and then rubbed it's nose along my finger.

"He looks cute but he won't let you touch him. He's a right little shit." a male voice said behind me.

I jumped with fright at the sudden presence. The owner of the voice stepped closer and held his hand out to me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Ricky." He introduced himself.

"I'm Juliette." I replied, trying to keep my voice still.

I looked this Ricky up and down as I shook his hand. He was a little taller than me, very slim, with gingery brown hair and bright blue eyes. Even in the semi dark I could tell these were the kind of eyes that would stop our conversation right there. I had a thing for men with blue eyes. When I say thing I actually mean I find myself incapable of intelligent thought whilst looking into said blue eyes.

"He'll never let you stroke him." Ricky told me.

"Sorry?" I asked, having lost my train of thought at those blue eyes.

"The cat. He's weird. He hates people. I've had him for years and only get to stroke him when he's sleeping. Last time I tried that he scratched my hand open." He clarified.

"Oh, he's yours? So you live here?" I nodded to the house.

"Yeah, first Christmas and new year here." he replied. "It seemed right when I brought it but it feels a bit big for just me and that fur ball. It was a bit of a rebound thing to prove I can live on my own after five years with the ex."

"Five years? That's impressive." I said out loud without realising. "Crap! I didn't mean it like that. I meant to say something much more tactful."

Ricky laughed. "I do that too, don't worry. So, moving on from break ups, this'll probably come out sounding arrogant but have we met before?"

"I'm a friend on Jim and Taylor. Jim said something about producing someone's album." I replied.

"Oh, yeah. I know Jim. That's my band's album he's talking about." he nodded.

"Cool, what band are you in?" I asked.

"You're probably too young to know our stuff." Ricky smiled.

"I'm older than I look and I have an open mind. Go on, hit me with it!" I laughed.

"Kaiser Chiefs." he replied.

"Shut your face!" I replied in shock. "I knew you're familiar from somewhere! You guys were my teenage door slamming music! And you used to be... Not this hot!" I gasped as I realised what I'd just blurted out. I grumbled to myself and turned away smacking my hand into my face.

"Sorry, I have what I call "verbal vomit". I can't talk normally when I... I'm just going to shut up and die of shame." I muttered, looking at the grass.

"Thanks," he chuckled and took a step towards me, pressing a kiss on my flushed cheek. "You're incredibly beautiful yourself." He whispered in my ear before pulling back.

I looked up from the grass to say thank you but found myself looking into his blue eyes again. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. We stood there for what felt like an eternity, probably just seconds, as I tried to speak.

"Jules." Taylor's voice hissed from the door. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." I sighed, I should have known I couldn't get peace at a party.

"Stop hanging out with the neighbours cats and come in." she told me. "It's bloody freezing out here!"

I hadn't noticed. I thought it was getting quite... hot.