The Inevitable Fanfiction

Chapter 14
“That’s not what you said last night, dah-ling,” Simon drawls and waggles his eyebrows at Paula. She had become so accustomed to this line by now that she simply rolls her eyes, and when he looks away, she smiles.
She can’t help it anymore, from their sworn rivalry; she had come to find him humorous. They weren’t fighting so much anymore, possibly because they both knew that if it came to ‘making up’ again, it would be more than a fantasy playing in their heads. Lord knows how badly Paula had wanted him to kiss her that day, after their fight. No amount of crying afterward or the deliberation could make her see why she had wanted it that badly, but she did. And if he leaned in again, she wouldn’t be able to resist.
“What did I say last night, Simon?” She purrs into Simon’s ear, teasingly. “Remind me, because I seem to have forgotten.”
Simon turns to her, stunned for a moment, not paying attention to Justin who is performing. “What?” he asks.
“Never mind.” Paula flushes. That was too bold a move for her and she should have known it would have backfired.
They stay quiet and listen to the song for a minute, until Simon speaks again. He leans in close to Paula’s ear, his breath tickling her neck. “It was something along the lines of ‘you’re so good, Simon.’” He makes a breathy sound which sends shivers down her spine.
“You wish,” Paula says once she has recovered. She has taken too long though and he has already pulled away and plastered that familiar smirk on his face.
Ryan has been watching the pair since the very beginning, since they are by far more entertaining that the contestants, and he tries to get Brian and Randy to join in his enthusiasm. Brian is no fun, rolling his eyes with indifference, while Randy reports some funny business going on. They invade each others’ personal space for people who supposedly can’t stand one another. Once the show is over, he walks with the judges in a group, and they all sit down in his room. It’s the first time they’ve ever done this, and Paula gets that feeling in her stomach that she had at the beginning of auditions. Maybe they would all be friends.
Ryan takes this opportunity to call Simon and Paula out on their so-called mutual dislike. “You guys crack me up – you’re so into each other and don’t even realise it.”
Simon chuckles while Paula’s jaw hangs. “I’m not into Simon!” Her voice raises three octaves. She turns to Simon and narrows her eyes. “I hate you.”
“That’s not what you said- ” Simon starts and the others roll their eyes.
“Last night, I know.” Paula grimaces. “You couldn’t get more original if you tried, Simon.”
Randy sniggers. “You’re right Ryan, dawg. I can feel the tension sizzlin’ between them.”
“No, no, Randy, Ryan, Paula hates me and I hate her too. It’s the one thing we have in common.” Simon nods seriously for effect, though his glittering eyes give him away.
“Haven’t you heard the song? ‘We come together cuz opposites attract!’” Ryan croons and Randy covers his ears, telling him there is a reason he is the host and not the judge. Paula laughs at this.
“I take two steps forward...” Paula gets up and dances two steps forward, and then two back. Ryan dances with her and she ends up on his lap, laughing.
“See Paula, you even sang a song about it. I don’t know why you even bother resisting my charm.” Simon gives her a gleaming white smile. Again she rolls her eyes at him; it’s become customary.
“One day, P, Cowell, you’ll say there’s always been more love than hate between ya’ll.” Randy predicts.
“Psshh,” is the answer he receives.

***
“Uh-oh, guys, I have to go!” Paula jumps up.
“What, you have a hot date?” Simon teases, attempting and failing at an American accent.
“As a matter of fact, Mr. Cowell, I do. And he should be here any minute.”
“Oh.” Simon’s face falls. Paula gives Simon a smile of victory, and again, he realises, they’ve fallen back into their game. Well, maybe they never got out of it – except there are more positive elements added into the mix.
Paula’s phone beeps and displays her received text message. “He’s here! Bye guys.” She smiles and plops a kiss on each of the men’s cheeks, including Simon’s, though he catches her blush as soon as she does so.
“Actually, I ought to leave too. I am meeting someone myself. Come on, I’ll walk you out, Paw-la,” Simon says and stands.
“So this meeting... is it business or pleasure?” asks Paula timidly.
“Hopefully the latter.” Simon winks and much like his had, this time it is Paula’s face that falls.
Hank walks through the corridor before she gets a chance to reply, and he is wearing a VIP pass, which, in only a girl’s mind, could look so adorable, considering it was her workplace.
“Simon, hello!” Hanks says as he stops beside Paula and extends a hand. His other arm wraps around easily Paula’s shoulders and the Brit notes how she does not flinch in the slightest. The prick he feels because of this is annoyance, naturally. Not jealousy. “I believe we have met before.”
“Yes. Mark, right?” The men shake hands.
“Hank, Simon. His name is Hank.” Paula corrects.
“Right, sorry... Well have fun you two.” There is an underlying layer of acrimony in Simon’s voice, but no one chooses to call him out on it.
“You too.” Paula smiles, slipping her hand in Hank’s and they walk out.
Simon collects his things, keys, wallet, cigarettes and lighter and phone – all necessities. He fiddles with his phone for a minute before flipping it open and searching for a certain number. It rings a few times.
“Hi Terri... Do you think we could meet at the Ivy instead? My treat, of course. Great, see you then, love.”
***
Simon walks in and sees that Terri is already there. He is always fashionably late; it is a trait of his. She hasn’t noticed him yet, and is fiddling with her hands on her lap, nervously. He places one hand on her shoulder both as a greeting and comfort. He knows she’s always had a crush on him, and it seems many years of being apart hadn’t changed that.
“Hello darling.” He says, and she jumps to her feet in alarm.
“Oh! Hi! Hi Simon,” she laughs.
“Hi Terri,” he smiles. They kiss cheeks and sit down with comfortable small-talk.
It surprises him how easy she is to talk to, how easily they converse and how she laughs at his jokes. No, she isn’t particularly funny herself, but being around her makes him feel important, respected and appreciated. ‘I’m probably too used to Paula by now,’ he thinks.
“So what are you in the States for?” Simon asks.
“I was doing some modelling, but I think I’m going to quit soon, after this season is over.”
“Why’s that?”
“I want to get into Show Business. I think I’d be a good talk-show host, but it’s difficult getting a job when there are so many famous names floating about already.”
Simon nods – he knows how it feels to be the only unknown person amongst the big shots, but he’d long passed that stage. “I’ll see what I can do about that.”
The point of this whole meeting had been discussing her job really, and Simon’s publicist, Max, had thought Simon would be perfect to help Terri and Terri to help his image. In England especially, he is known as a womaniser, and that needs to change. Things had taken a slight twist however, as now they are more like two friends catching up with business talk appearing only occasionally and lightly. When it is time to go, Simon offers to drive her to her hotel.
They talk freely during the car ride, but one disadvantage of driving your own car would be having to keep your eyes on the road. Simon considers getting a driver, so he could look at Terri’s face as she talks. He does find her pretty, and he loves her long legs in the cocktail dress she is in. Her voice, he would have to get used to, though. He kisses her goodbye softly on the cheek, lingering slightly.
“Bye,” Terri squeaks.
“See you, Terri.” Simon winks.
Paula and her date had been pushed to back of his mind for the night, and Simon had decided Terri is exactly the kind of woman he needs at this point in his life. So she wasn’t as entertaining, and there wasn’t much to peek at, but she was good natured and even tempered and she’d put up with him with all his ways. This made him pleased to see where time might take them.