‘Definitely. The way we look as though we’re trying very hard not to touch each other really doesn’t screaminlove.’
Yeah, I think the reason that we look like that is that I really dislike the way I can’t help… just…noticingher a lot. Like, being really aware of her. It makes me feel like a disgusting lech, because no-one should feel like that about people they aren’twith, ormightbe with, and that is not us. So, yep, I don’t like it. However, needs must.
I adjust closer to her and take another couple of photos, and we pore over the screen again.
‘I think it’ll be fine once we’re talking and singing,’ Nadia says. ‘No-one would expect us to beactuallytouching. No-one likes seeing too much PDA.’
‘Yep, okay, so are we doing it?’ I switch to video and press the red start button.
‘Hello!’ Nadia beams into the phone. ‘I’m so sorry that I’m not going to be with you for your party, because I have to leave for my overseas work placement, but I just wanted to wish you ahugehappy birthday. And Tom and I have a song for you.’
She looks at me and I look at her, and we smile – I smile because she’s smiling and it’s a smile that you can’t not smile back at – and then she says, ‘Aaaaaand,’ and launches into ‘Happy Birthday’ and I join in.
When I say join in, I mean that I do my best to match the notes she’s singing, but I’m pretty sure I fail. Her voice isamazing.
‘You should go onX Factor,’ I say. ‘Or whatever they replaced it with.’
‘Been on it,’ she says, ‘but I didn’t get beyond judges’ houses.’
I stare at her. She isn’t even looking at me. She has her head slightly tilted and is gazing up the river, like she’s in full sights-of-London appreciation mode.
‘Actually been on it or joking?’
‘Actually.’
‘Wow!’
‘I know. It was very cool. And if I’m honest I didn’t even mind not making it into the live rounds, because it’s kind of obvious that a lot of the people who make it through do get a little messed up by it. And I love my wedding singing.’
‘My word.’ I have a lot of questions for her and I just ask all of them. Which judge. Which songs. How much of it was staged. Outfits.
‘This is so funny.’ She’s nearly choking with laughter. ‘It isn’tthatcool.’
‘Itis. If I’d been on it, I would’ve been the comedy terrible act. I couldneverdo what you did. Nor could most people.’
‘Loadsof people have good voices.’
I shake my head. ‘Not like yours. Do all your recent friends and colleagues know about theX Factorthing?’
‘Actually, no. You can’t just say oh by the way I was partially onX Factor.’
‘Very true.’
‘Come on. Dinner.’
‘I still have more questions,’ I tell her, which makes her laugh again.
We try a few restaurants along the river, and they’re all fully booked for at least the next couple of hours, apart from one that’s really empty, which Nadia points out is not a great recommendation.
‘I think all the signs are pointing us in the same direction,’ she says.
‘What is that direction?’ I ask, not wanting her to say that the signs are saying that we shouldn’t get food and should just go home instead.
‘We should phone the very nice-looking Italian restaurant we walked past on the way to that sports pub and see if they have a table.’
‘A very good idea.’ I’mridiculouslypleased that the evening’s going to continue.
‘Hang on. Have we even looked at our video? To check it’s okay? Did we get distracted by yourX Factorquestioning?’
