Chapter Eight

The photo shoot was really great to watch. I took no pictures of my own during it though, because Rhys was doing it for another magazine. I figured it was professional courtesy to do so. Instead, I watched Mr Mega Famous looking cute, gorgeous and sophisticated in many different outfits and poses. He's confident in front of a camera, and looks sexy from behind it. Rhys Ryan has most definitely grown on me. His music has wowed me. His singing has moved me. His personality intrigues me. He is an annoyingly sweet amalgamation of talent, wit, vulnerability, honesty, cockiness and charm. I've enjoyed spending time with him and think that he's fast becoming a friend.

"Where to now?" Just as we are leaving the fun photo shoot, I am wondering where we are off to next.

Rhys ruffles up the front of his hair, like it somehow helps him to think better. "To the recording studio to just lay down some vocals and I'll also do the vlog from there." He happily tells me.

His mood has been getting higher as the morning has gone on. Whenever he has a moment, he wants me to ask him some of my interview questions. The one thing that has really struck me about Rhys Ryan so far today, it's his thoughtfulness. He keeps making sure that I am included in everything that is happening. That no matter what is going on around him, that my interview is actually progressing. At no time has he made me feel like I am an inconvenience or just another thing for him to have to think about.

I like that. And his high mood has obviously been rubbing off on me, too. I'm no longer feeling as tired as I was earlier this morning. I think the two cans of Red Bull may also have something to do with it as well, but at least I am managing to keep up with the Rhys Ryan crazy schedule.

When we arrive at the recording studio, I won't lie...I am excited.

To be able to hear Rhys Ryan sing again is something that I really am looking forward to. He is truly amazing up on stage, but with his voice alone, he is utterly breathtaking.

There is something thrilling about being in a studio. Being in a place where a simple song is made into a musical masterpiece. It is here that I intend to get lots of shots of Rhys. From beginning to end, I want to capture every moment that he is here. After all the warm introductions with the engineers and producers, I happily start snapping away. Having fun with the whole experience, I even take some fun shots of Will, Cameron and Jules as they kick back and relax whilst Rhys records his vocals. Between shots, I snatch moments of just watching Rhys Ryan. Just watching him sing effortlessly into the mic with his eyes closed tight as he immerses himself into only his music. When he sings, I feel like I am in the very same place that he is in a song. I have no idea where that place is, but I feel like we are there together. His voice has become one that affects me so deeply. A voice that makes my heart race along with every harmonious chord that is expelled from his mouth. During the crescendo of the last chorus of his deliciously slow tempo'd song, his eyes suddenly opened. It was like he knew I was watching and knew when to open his eyes at just the right time—at the very moment that I was mesmerised.

As his vocals came to a pleasing end, our intense gaze didn't. Our eyes seemed transfixed as the instrumental music in the background slowly faded away. It was only then that Rhys blinked away the way in which he had been staring at me and replaced it with a naturally full smile. That smile illuminated me from the inside out. Moments like that are what I call 'foundation moments'—they cement the connection between two people. It may sound a little crazy, but myself and Rhys really had 'cemented' our fledgling friendship. A raw and untouched admiration now existed between us. No words are needed to know that it is there; a simple look at one another during his beautifully sung song told us that it was there.

"How did it sound from where you were?" Rhys is carrying a bottle of water in his hand, twisting the lid off as he casually strides towards me.

"As always, amazing." I gush back at him.

He blinks a few times before coyly looking down at the floor. It really is the cutest thing ever. "Cool." He quietly says before taking a large sip of his water.

Next to praise him are all the guys. "Sounding goooooood, my man!" Will is patting Rhys on the back.

"I think you've nailed that track, bud." Cameron places a proud hand on Rhys's right shoulder. "You were determined to get it done before we left, weren't you?"

Rhys eyes narrow with determination before popping some gum in his mouth. "I sure was." He sounds satisfied, musically now sated.

Jules cockily interrupts, squeezing himself between both Rhys and Cam. "I don't actually think it was all that...I think you need to do it again." Then he roughs up Rhys's hair before darting out of the way, knowing that if he doesn't, he'll get hit.

Sure enough, Rhys throws his half-drunk water bottle at his teasing PA. "Shall I be vlogging about needing a new PA, then?"

Sniggering, Jules is quick to respond. "You could try...but you know you're nothing without me." His laughter reaches across the lounge area of the studio.

"Yeah, right." Rhys chuckles back. "Okay, let's get this vlog done." He sounds focused now, joking around no longer on his busy agenda. "Plus, we need to get some shopping done." He tells everyone in the room, but only winking at me.

"How long you been vlogging for?" I ask, taking a nearby seat and being genuinely interested.

Rhys is making himself ready for Will on a comfy chair, who is pointing a small video camera at him. "A couple of years, I think." He drags his eyes and his smile away from me as he prepares to start his vlog to all of his loyal fans.

Will does a silent countdown using his three fingers to indicate to Rhys when he's about to record him. 3-2-1 and a silent thumbs up tells him to start talking. "Hey guys, I just wanted to do a quick vlog from the UK again. This will be my last one from here as I'm returning to The States on Sunday....have y'all missed me?" He laughs, cutely chewing his gum as he flirts with the video camera. "So, tonight is my last show. I'm excited but sad, you know? My time here has been great and even the press seemed to like me more this time!" His cocky chuckle makes us all smile, along with his light sarcasm. "I just wanted to check in before the show tonight. If you have a good look behind me, you'll notice I'm in a studio, and what does it mean when I'm in a studio?" He cups his hand around the back of one ear, pretending that his fans are giving him the answer from wherever they are. "Hell yeah...I'm laying down a track! One that you'll get to hear real soooooooon!" Sitting taller, his animated body becomes still in his seat as his expression becomes a little more serious. "Anyway, I guess all good things have to come to an end, right?" His tense eyes search for mine. Even Cameron has noticed the shift in Rhys's mood and the fleeting stare in my direction. Cam looks as though he finally has the answer to something that has been really bugging him. He then looks hard at me, then at Rhys and then back to me. His own expression is one that is undergoing a swift change. No longer is it relaxed, in its place is a really tense one. "Well, as I get closer to wrapping things up here in England, I'll also wrap up this vlog. I'll see you guys when I get back. Take care of yourselves, and each other. Big love to you all." With a quick and boyish wave, Rhys's vlog is done and dusted.

I am just about to talk with Cameron, who seems to be eyeing me very suspiciously now, when my mobile phone starts ringing. It's Dex, more than likely wanting an update. Everyone promptly looks my way, so I decide to leave the room to answer the call. "Hello?"

"Have you got cooperative Rhys Ryan or uncooperative Rhys Ryan?" Dex is straight to the point, as always.

I'm smiling. "Cooperative." My tone is smug; deservedly smug—I have the interview of the year absolutely slam-dunked.

Dex does this approving little groan down the phone. "Well done, Clara...I knew you could do it."

"Did you now?" My reply is dubiously sarcastic.

"But of course." He states with bolshy confidence.

"Hey, you ready to go shopping?" Rhys pops his head around the corner, the corner that I managed to find some privacy in.

"You're going shopping?" Dex now sounds perplexed down the telephone line. "And is that actually him asking you to go?"

Nodding at Rhys, I can't help but smile to myself at Dex's reaction. "Yes and yes." I teasingly tell my slightly confused boss as I watch Rhys happily leave me to finish the rest of my phone call. "He wants to buy a present for his mum before going back to The States." I actually didn't want to give Dex an explanation right away, I think it would have been much more fun to wind him up for a little while longer. "I'm also going to the after-show party, as well." I confidently add, smiling some more.

Typically Dex, he doesn't really react. "Right, well it seems like you have everything under control, Clara. Just thought I'd check in on you."

Not quite done with my teasing just yet, I smirk along with my reply. "Yup...my knickers are very much still on."

Dex tuts, groaning with loud disapproval this time. "Goodbye, Clara." Then the line goes dead.

As I'm left still smirking to myself, Cameron is also now looking for me. "Everything okay?" He strolls towards me once he realises that I've just finished my call.

With my mobile gripped in my hand, I nod with a greeting smile. "Just my boss checking up on me."

Cameron is apprehensive with his own smile, it twitches nervously around his otherwise straight mouth. "Clara, can I give you some well meant advice?"

Looking up at Cam, I just nod. "Sure." Although I now feel anxious for saying so.

Stepping a little closer, Cam rests his dull blue eyes on me. "Please don't fall for Rhys."

His words are like a verbal slap. It takes me a few seconds to recover from them. "I...I don't intend to." My reply is stuttered but firm.

Cameron tilts his head slightly, like he doesn't believe what I've just told him. "I know him and I know who I am. If you fall for anyone, I'd really like it to be me."

That's when everything just seems to fit into place. The moodiness. The dirty looks. The need to guide me with his hand. The wanting to sit beside me in the car and the strange look of realisation on his face not too long ago—it now all makes perfect sense.

Minimising the awkwardness between us, I stand closer to him. I like Cam, I like him a lot. He ticks a lot of boxes for me but I can't tell him what he wants to hear. I'm not looking for any relationship, particularly with an American idol just days away from leaving England. "Cameron, I'm not falling for anyone. Not you and certainly not Rhys Ryan. Whatever you think is happening, isn't. All that you're seeing is two people becoming friends. I like Rhys just as I like you. In fact, I like him a whole lot more than I thought I ever would." My smile rises softly around the corners of my mouth. I know I don't need to explain myself to a man I barely even know, but I really do like Cameron. I feel I owe him the truth. "All I am doing is my job. It helps to do that job when you genuinely like who you are working with, you know?" My brows humorously rise. "Please don't keep looking at something that really isn't there." There's a placid pleading to my voice; quietly done.

Cam calmly takes my hand, softly kissing the back of it. "Okay, but will you at least let me have your number so that we can discuss the finished interview...maybe even have a friendly chat?" His grin is one that suggests he might be pushing his luck a little.

Hopelessly grinning back, I try to adopt a stern tone with him. "Finished interview and only a friendly chat, right?" Fishing out one of my business cards and a pen from out of my bag, I'm still wearing a small smile as I write down my home number onto the back of it. It doesn't feel inappropriate to give Cam my personal number. He's already given me his and it's highly likely that I'll be needing to contact him about the ten page spread at some point, so giving it to him now actually seems like a good and practical idea.

As I hand my card to Cam, he looks back at me with the warmest blue eyes he can offer a girl. "I only have this for professional usage, right?" I know there's a little hopeful meaning behind his cheekily said words, but he knows how I feel, so I don't overreact to them.

"Yes." I say, in the friendliest of ways before quickly remembering that the other guys are all still waiting for us, so I instigate our walking back into the main part of the studio.

When Rhys clocks the two of us returning together, he frowns a little at the sight of us. But as quick as the frown was there, it is soon gone. "I'm needing something to eat before we go shopping." He bluntly remarks, holding a new bottle of water in one of his hands. "You like sushi?" The frown has quickly returned when he addresses only me.

"Love it!" I jovially tell him.

"Good." Is his short reply before making his way out of the studio.

We all start following him; like hungry sheep. Putting one foot in front of the other, I watch him walking with silent determination. He certainly seems to be in a hurry to grab some sushi, which is fine with me because I really am starving. In the car, everyone seems oddly quiet. It's like the adrenaline rush back at the studio has induced a temporary low. I don't even try to talk to Rhys, he looks like he needs to be left alone. For a brief moment, I wonder whether it's connected to the weird look that he gave me and Cameron earlier on. But the look he gave was literally there for only a split second. It was there, then it was gone. I think that he was annoyed because we had kept him waiting when he was ready to go and was wanting some much-needed food. I am sure that once he has filled his famous face with some Sashimi and Nigiri, he'll soon be back to his usual cocky and chatty self.