The Inevitable Fanfiction

Chapter 13
Daniel and Wendy are both at the show today, both backstage and both irritating Paula. She just wants to swat them away as they follow her down the corridor of the Idol studio, Daniel twisting her damp hair around a curler as he and Wendy jabber on about things much too personal.
“Paula you said you’d go to the doctor– ”
“Mom is sure you’re not serious about the adoption– ”
“–You need that surgery.”
“–To be honest, even I don’t think you are.”
They don’t notice Simon and Ryan walking a few feet behind them, unable to squeeze passed with the limited space.
“Shut up,” she snaps, unable to take any more of their insistent lecturing. In a second, she pulls off the curler and drops it in Daniel’s hand and holds a hand up to her sister’s face.
“This is my life, and I know how to run it.”
Simon watches in awe, how her hair spins with her so gracefully when she turns. His lips are slightly parted as she walks into her room and it takes him a second to realise that Wendy and Daniel are turned to him. Damn the woman, how does she do that? He gives them a courteous nod and squeezes passed to get to his own dressing room.
When it is time for the show yet again, which to Simon was becoming annoyingly repetitive, he tries to entertain himself. He acts playful, somewhat endearing in his own way, towards Paula. She notices this; he isn’t exactly kind, but when he teases her, it isn’t full of that condemning tone, as if to say ‘your opinion is worth nothing to me.’
She tries to regain some form of normalcy by insulting him, though her heart isn’t in it, and still she fails.
“That’s not what you said last night, Paw-la,” Simon drawls and she blushes. She can’t help it.
After the show, the usually slick and cool Simon follows Paula around like a puppy tied on a leash. He hasn’t the slightest clue what is wrong with him, but he simply walks a step behind her when she goes to give some trinkets to the contestants, when she talks to some audience members. She tries to act indifferent, wondering if being nice is just another scheme of getting under her skin. However people have started to give them funny looks, and so he turns to him mid stride making them bump fronts. She hadn’t noticed how close he had been.
“What is it, Simon?” She asks, sceptically. She wishes she could step back but it would only accentuate her intimidation.
“Can I have a word with you?” He asks. Paula attempts to cross her arms, but she knows that her bare skin would be brushing against him if she does. They place themselves back at her sides. “Alone?”
He takes her hand, leading her away from the crowd and they both are extremely aware that it is an extremely intimate gesture for their circumstances, their relationship. Simon switches to holding her wrist and Paula cannot decide whether this is any better. He pulls her into the corridor, where there are too many people. Instead, he takes her into his dressing room and closes the door behind her.
Nervous, Paula wonders what might be up. Was he about to tell her that she wouldn’t be coming back next season? After all, their contracts were up in just a few weeks. Is that why he had been so nice to her?
“Was that your sister, earlier? The one in the audience?” he asks, looking at her in the eye.
It is the most absurd question Paula could have ever heard which along with his proximity and their isolation makes her feel very afraid and alive all at once.
“Yeah, that’s Wendy.”
“Okay.” He nods, piecing together more information of this funny woman. Now he knows what one of her family members look like, and he also knows now that Paula is the tall one in her family. The thought makes him smirk.
“Is that all?” she asks.
“I heard what she and Daniel were saying earlier and– ”
“You were eavesdropping on my conversation?” Her mouth forms an angry line.
“It’s rather difficult to tune you lot out. They were being loud, if you hadn’t noticed.” He finally steps back and walks a few feet away from her. Paula stands there and crosses her arms, watching him.
“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again. Can I leave now?” Discomfort is too mild a word to describe her feelings at that point. She angles her body to the door, fingers brushing the handle, but her slow movements have her wondering if she wants to leave at all.
“Paula...” Simon walks back to her and takes her gently by the upper arms. She does not move away from his touch. “What I want to say has nothing to do with you professionally. I’m not about to fire you; I’d be stupid to do something like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know what makes good TV, darling, and you’re definitely it. You may be the most difficult person to work with, but you are television gold... Anyway that isn’t the point.” Why she was the only one who could distract his train of thought, when no one else had that power over him, he does not understand.
“So?”
“It’s about the adoption matter...” Paula’s mouth forms that line again. “Isn’t you schedule a little hectic for a child?”
Completely evading the question, Paula reacts, “Are you always this much of a busybody?”
If he was being honest, he does not usually pry into other peoples’ business. Only his most intimate friends, those he has known for years, would he ever add his two cents in their personal matters. He knows it is much too forward, especially for the peculiar woman before him, and yet he cannot help it. He can’t quite decide if it her stubbornness or just plain diva-like attitude that makes him feel slightly protective over her. Or perhaps he was just looking out for his show. Yes, he liked that option better.
“I’m perfectly capable of managing my life, Simon, business and family.”
“Okay.” He nods at her calmly, assuring Paula she looks like a maniac fuming at him.
“Bye,” she says.
Simon leans in slowly; brushing his lips against her cheek ever so softly, as she conveniently forgets how to breathe.
“Bye.”
Daniel drops both Wendy and Paula off at their respective houses, hoping to clear the tension between them, but all his friend does is mumble incoherently. He can faintly hear the words ‘Simon’ and ‘my life’ and ‘his business’. She has her arms crossed and she stares out of the window huffing childishly. Even now, he can’t help but find her cute. She looks like a small child being deprived of her TV privileges, not at all the forty year old woman who is considering becoming a mother.
He follows her into her house and makes a drink for them both, nothing too strong. He hands one to her when she comes out of the bathroom, in her pyjamas and make-up free. She regards it for a moment, she doesn’t drink very often, but takes it. It’s as close as sorry Daniel gets, she knows. He smiles.
“My kid would need a father, Dan,” she says, just when he thinks she was going to stay silent the whole night.
“Just call me daddy,” he says, puffing out his chest. Paula wants to stay mad, but she ends up giggling at his nerdy self.
“Seriously, Danny, I love you and all, but she’ll need a daddy to call her own.”
“She?” Daniel raises a brow and Paula looks down shyly.
“I guess a little girl sounds very tempting... but I don’t mind either.” With that, he knows her mind is already made up. He can tell that she has already dreamt of what she’d look like, that she’d love dance and call her ‘mama’. That must be why her eyes look so dreamy.
“Mhmm.” She slaps his arm.
“I don’t know why I have been putting it off,” Paula says, a little suddenly. “Something is just holding me back.”
“If it happens, it was meant to be. If it doesn’t happen, it’s for the best,” Daniel says. Paula nods.
“I want a real family, Dan.” She sighs and lets Daniel hug her.
“Well you could go out with that Hank fellow you told me about. Maybe he wants kids.”
Paula gives him a look. “Oh sure, I’ll just go out on a date with him, and go ‘hey, will you be the father of my baby?’”
Daniel laughs hard. “It could be a gradual thing. You’re not that old, P. You still have time for dating and finding your one true love.” He places a hand over his heart dramatically.
“I guess so.”
“Call him.” Daniel places Paula’s mobile phone in her hand and walks to the kitchen.
“Daniel!” She calls from behind him, irritated. He doesn’t look back. “Fine then.”
She fishes for Hank’s phone number and dials. Within seconds he picks it up. “Hello?”
“Hi, Hank, it’s Paula... I was wondering if we could meet up sometimes this week ...Tomorrow, oh no, I’m not free then... How about Saturday? Sure... See you then.”

***
Butterflies flutter in Paula’s stomach as she opens the door for Hank. Saturday had come too quickly and she hasn’t had enough time to brace herself.
“For you,” says Hank and presents her a bouquet of pink roses. Paula smiles shyly and allows him to enter.
“They’re beautiful,” she says and breathes their scent. “I’ll just find a vase and we can go.”
“Honey, could you put these in the crystal vase in the living room?” She asks and passes the roses to Marina, the housekeeper, but not without a final sniff.
Hank follows Paula silently into the dining area, where the dogs are busy playing. She collects her coat and purse, watching Hank’s reaction to her babies. He is quite indifferent to them which disappoints Paula, but she lets it slip. Not everyone can be as big a dog lover as her.
“Let’s go.” Hank offers her his arm and she takes it.
In the car, Hank tells her that he is taking her to a lovely restaurant at the Hilton Hotel which pleases Paula. She doesn’t demand it, but it is nice to be spoilt every once in a while and she knows Hank has no shortage of money. It’s a relief when you’re a famous persona, to not have to worry about your partner being intimidated by your success.
“May I tell you how beautiful I find you, Paula?” asks Hank in a low tone. Paula blushes. He must be a prince pulled out of one of her childhood fantasies.
“Thank-you, Hank. You’re pretty handsome yourself...” Her face reddens.
The night goes by without a hitch, with delicious food and slow dancing. God, the man could dance – Paula swooned at the thought. To be able to go dancing with a man, as a dancer yourself, and not have to take the lead was a rare case. She was smitten before the night was over.
“Goodnight, Paula,” Hank whispers, at the doorstep of her house once again. He touches the strap of her wine coloured dress, trailing his finger to her cheek.
“Goodnight.” Hank kisses her cheek softly and smiles as he pulls away. He waits until she has entered the house and with a small wave, closes the door, before he gets into his car.