My first Post-Finale Car Share Fanfic. This is the first of the two chapters in the fanfic. Hope you enjoy reading it.

You're My World

Chapter 1

That morning; which was a Thursday, started off with an Autumny feel in the air and John busy dealing with one or two questions put to him from Steve - When imight he planning on asking Kayleigh out on a date? and when are the two of them planning on telling their work colleagues about their relationship? John got the impression, Steve was looking out for Kayleigh's best interests at heart and hoped the two were happy in their relationship.

John had persuaded his brother Paul to let him borrow his Red Clio for the day, so he could pick Kayleigh up in it and get them both to work on time in it. They hadn't travelled together since the Fiat 500L was out of action for a while, no thanks to the hedgehog incident. Except for one particular morning where fate had thrown them a lifeline, Kayleigh had managed to successfully catch the same bus, which John just so happened to be seated on, at the back of the bus.

No sooner had her face lit up when she set her eyes on him; the couple, for the rest of the journey to work, spent it sitting closely together with John's arm linked with hers and her head snuggled against his shoulder. "Talk of the shop" according to Elsie - the woman who says nothing. Given that their romantic relationship was slowly blossoming and brink on the brink of becoming official, the two of them wasn't too worried about how their relationship might set the cat amongst the pigeons.

He couldn't get his head around how eventful the last 10 days had become for him. Believing he had lost the love of his life forever because of his own stupidity of how he couldn't reciprocate her feelings. Then 9-10 hours later in a desperate to win her back, he'd chose to pour his heart and soul out into the lyrics he wrote for her. For him, this gift to her had meant showing her how much he thought 'the absolute world of her' and how this magnificent, fabulous and feisty woman had helped him to open his eyes and made see love was a blessing, not a curse.

Like he told her three weeks ago, some things are worth going out your way for. He had certainly well and truly stuck to this motto, the morning he delivered the walkman containing his song for her to her Mandy's house. All that mattered was making sure she knew how he felt empty and like a lost soul without her. She loved his song, she couldn't stop singing those cheesy lyrics he wrote for her. It made his day, week...no scrap that, his year complete, knowing she couldn't get the song out of her head.

Then 4 days later, they had very nearly had shared their first kiss on their lunch break while John was consoling a tearful Kayleigh after she had to sit through a 20 minute telling off from Dave Thompson. John was fuming, he had every right in the world to be after what she told him, how the bloody miserable arsehole boss of his suggested the possibility of transferring her to the Wigan store. According to him, she spent more time wandering around the store, chatting with colleagues more than doing her actual job and so he couldn't have that sort of lazy attitude in his store. Any excuse really to make sure she didn't get a further chance of wrapping John around his finger.

Yesterday, temporary cover on the Deli counter for Elsie had proved somewhat difficult, while she was spending time off work nursing the swelling on her wrist, after getting it stuck in a jar of Wine Gums. So the last 10 days hadn't given him any time to breathe.

"We've known each other for so long

Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it

Inside we both know what's been going on

We know the game and we're gonna play it"

"Rick Astley 1987, Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy" John wrestled the temptation of trying to not laugh. He and Kayleigh looked the complete picture of pure happiness, with Kayleigh's hand giving John's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Even I know that one." Kayleigh gave an "It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that one" look.

"Alright Miss Marple. Answer me this then. Name all the things Rick says he's never going to give up in the song." John decided to put her knowledge of Rick Astley's most famous song to the test. Would she pass with flying colours? or would she fall at the first hurdle when it came to naming the first line in the song's chorus?

"Ooh, feels like I'm a contestant on Who Dares Win. You're Nick Knowles and I'm one of the nervous contestants" She was almost giddy at the prospect of pretending to be a contestant. "Fire away!"

"Hang on! I challenged you to name them. Your turn now. Tell me what they are, Little Miss Know-It-All." John grinned knowingly, clearly, he was loving having the upper hand over her at that very moment. He was head over heels in love with her. He made her laugh so easy with his impersonation of Dave Thompson, Elsie and Stink Ray.

"Never Gonna Give You Up."

"Correct" John confirmed. Kayleigh did a small gesture in the air like a victory punch.

"Never Gonna Let You Down."

"Correct again. Eh, you're on a roll here." John confirmed she was right for the second time. Kayleigh showed she just how much she was in the mood for celebrating.

"Never Gonna Run Around and Make Your Dessert. Never Gonna Make You Drive."

"Maybe I spoke too soon." John chuckled. Her music knowledge wasn't as impeccable as she claimed it to be.

"Hey did you hear about Stink Ray the other day. He and Leanne off Customer Services ended up locked in the staff toilets together. Kath Hilton found them yesterday morning, naked in the women's toilets. When they got called to head office, Ray's excuse was that they ended up playing strip poker. Urgh, I don't want to even imagine that."

"Christ me neither." Both John and Kayleigh pulled an Ewww face. None of the men in the store could get their head around the fact of how Stink Ray had turned into a sex symbol overnight. Perhaps his unlikely friendship with the store's new hunky delivery man Robert, who looked the spitting image of Aidan Turner from Poldark, might be responsible for elevating his new status.

"I don't know what any woman sees in him. I mean he's hardly George Clooney in the looks department." John made a good point, George Clooney had nothing to worry about when it came to Stink Ray's growing popularity amongst the store's female staff.

"Well, he clearly thinks he is. Hmm makes you wonder doesn't it?" Kayleigh didn't fancy Ray but the need to know the truth left her feeling rather curious, to say the least.

"Don't be looking at me. I couldn't care less why any woman would dare throw themselves at his feet" John scoffed at the idea of the likes of Leanne, Rachel and even Elsie individually all wanting a piece of Ray.

"John!" Kayleigh giggled, turning her head away from him momentarily. Honestly, the way he made fun of Ray. She thought he had better watch his back in case the fishmonger himself heard what he was saying one day.

"What I'm only saying what needs to be said! If he's desperate to have a girlfriend he'll be Speed Dating before long." John had known Stink Ray for many years and he knew him well enough to know he desperate to bag himself a girlfriend by the time he was 45, which was 3 years away.

"What on ice?" Kayleigh didn't quite get the concept of the meaning of Speed Dating.

"No, in a room with other single people, looking for love... you clown!" John quickly corrected her on this.

"Sorry...my mistake." Kayleigh screwed her face up like as if she might be thinking "Oops I've gone and put my foot in it again, haven't I?"

xxx

Timing was never a good thing for John. He hadn't got round to telling her yet, he had tickets for an upcoming Tom Jones concert at the MEN Arena. Well, they were original Paul's but soon after he told his brother over the phone about him and Kayleigh, Paul insisted on John having tickets instead and making the most of the evening with Kayleigh. They were nearing work, driving past a shop named Bradley and Louis Walsh Ltd.

"John."

"Kayleigh."

"Can we have a night out together? It'll be my treat." Kayleigh was keen on having a night on with him anytime this week, tomorrow night even. Anything to get herself out of the house and to save her from having to watch another Game of Thrones episode with Mandy, as well as having to listen to Steve revving his effing motor outside, no doubt waking up the neighbours.

"Where've you got your eye on?" John asked her.

"Luigis. Our Mandy had her birthday there one year. The night Italy won the World Cup. She had Italian blokes flirting with her. She thought she knew a bit of Italian but it turned out she didn't. I think whatever she said to the blokes scared them off. So what do you reckon, yes, no or maybe?"

"Actually now you bring it up. I might have a better suggestion." Kayleigh's suggested venue for their first date finally prompted John to reveal about the two Tom Jones concert tickets.

"Ooh, the plot thickens." Kayleigh smiled to herself. She could tell from the thoughtful look in his eyes. He had a big announcement to make. Maybe he was going to ask her if she'd fancy going away for a romantic weekend with him or he wanted to treat her to a romantic meal for two at his house.

"Look in the glove compartment" John dropped the first hint. Kayleigh followed his instruction successfully.

She opened it and rummaged her hand through some of the paperwork inside it. She found something and pulled it out. It wasn't the tickets. She had a sneaky peek beneath the folded paper, at what was written on it.

"No...no that. Go on have another search in there." John knew exactly what she had mistakenly pulled out. Paul's Sunday League Football Teamsheet.

She did the same again. Soon enough her hand grabbed hold of the tickets and then she took them out from the compartment. She gasped in surprise, with one hand on her chest as her eyes read which music artist's name was printed on the tickets. "Tom Jones tickets! Are these for me and you, John?"

"What you on about? Of course, those are for me and you." John was more than happy to confirm this for her.

"Oh, John!" She reached over to him and flung her arms around the back of his neck.

"Kayleigh I'm driving! Hug me later will ya." John blushed. She always had the regular habit of letting her emotions get the better of her at the wrong moment.

Kayleigh removed her arms from him and sat back in her seat. She couldn't be happier at that very moment. She had to thank John for many things but most importantly she had to thank him for making her feel as she were the luckiest woman in the world and making her feel cherished. She was absolutely thrilled. They had decided to go public with their relationship when it comes to their one month anniversary. Keeping it hidden from her fellow colleagues had proved trickier than they thought.

"Move a step closer you know that I want you

I can tell by your eyes that you want me too
Just a question of time I knew we'd be together
And that you'd be mine I want you here forever

"Our first date! Can't believe we're going out on our first date. So exciting!" Kayleigh squealed with delight. As the Red Clio pulled into the store's car park.

Do you hear what I'm saying gotta say how I feel
I can't believe you're here but I know that you're real
I know what I want and baby it's you
I can't deny my feelings because they are true

"Alright keep your voice down, will ya! Dave Thompson might have heard you by now with his supersonic hearing." John said, with a mischievous grin.

Dreams can come true
Look at me babe I'm with you
You know you gotta have hope
You know you gotta be strong

"What night is Tom Jones playing at the Manchester Arena?" Kayleigh was praying for their first date to be either tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

"Tonight... I'll pick you up of course." John reassured her.

"Tonight, it's short notice. It's fine. Just as long as it gets me out of our Mandy's house for a few hours the quicker the better. Can't take another evening of watching Game of Thrones or Doctor Foster with her. Spending an evening with my Knight in Shining Armor sounds much better. Maybe he and I could book into a hotel room for the night and make the most of the night together...while we've got the chance to." Kayleigh winked her eye suggestively.

"What time do you want me to pick you up?" It came as a bit of a rush he had to admit. Still, it was worth every effort at the end of the day. just to prove to the woman he loves her, that she would always and forever have a rightful place in his heart.

"6:30 pm..." She blurted out a random time, at the top of her head.

"6;30pm? Christ! You're cutting it a bit fine, aren't you? Guess I'll have to get changed in the back of the car then." John sighed heavily, knowing he only had 2 hours to head home, choose one of his best snazzy shirts to wear and to find out on his computer where's the best place to park your car at the Arena.

"Stop worrying you'll have enough time to go home, get ready for our date and to come and pick me up." The ball was in Kayleigh's court now, to do the reassuring and to ensure John wasn't experiencing any last minute nerves.

John remained hopeful, traffic wouldn't be too bad later that afternoon and then for when they arrived in Manchester 30 minutes before the gig. Luck and timing really needed to be on their side especially if they wanted the opportunity to buy merchandise at one of the pop-up stalls.

Kayleigh removed her seatbelt and was ready to open the door on her side. She soon realised John hadn't attempted to make the same move just yet, so decided to take it upon herself to persuade him to step out of the car.

"Come back my Car Share buddy. I don't think life is fair. Come back my Car Share Buddy..." She knew singing the lyrics back to him in a shit singing voice would embarrass him.

"Okay I'm out...I'm out." John quickly unclips his seatbelt as he done so but is slow to open the door on his side.

"So you are gay then?" She proceeds with her attempt to coax him out of the car. Which shouldn't take longer than five minutes which she estimated. She accepted, keeping a straight face especially in John's company wasn't exactly one of her strongest skills.

"Christ I'm not gay! How many times. You're unbelievable." John rolled his head back on his shoulders mumbling a few words to himself. Soon as he finished he gazed at the staff entrance door for a few moments before focusing his gaze back on her, smiling lovingly at her while she was admiring the seating inside the car.

"I'm joking. I know you're not a big gay mute." Kayleigh giggled uncontrollably, much to John's blushing. A moment or two later, the two finally left the car together, walking side by side.

xxx

John was finishing off a phone call with Jim and was glancing at the staff door every time it creaked open. His neck was getting stiff. Finally, she emerged. John watched Kayleigh striding towards the car. He drank in the mesmerizing and dazzling sight of her as she saw him and began to wave her hand, so much so, he'd forgotten he hadn't actually ended his phone conversation with Jim.

"Hello, you still there John? Hello?"

"What? Oh sorry, Jim. I'm getting called in to see my boss at work. I'll give you a call tomorrow."

"Sure you're not checking out that bird of yours."

"As if...Bye...Bye." John rushed him off the phone.

Kayleigh clambered into the car and made herself cosy in the passenger seat. She graced him with one of her finest beautiful smiles. "Who were you on the phone to?" She asked.

"Jim. Phoned me to say he's got us a gig in Warrington on the 31st." John tells her.

"That's Halloween isn't it?" She realises that date sounds awfully familiar.

"Aye, it is. Means I'll have to start getting my brain working on Halloween themed songs for the gig in the next few weeks. Thriller's too obvious." John liked taking on a challenge. when he got the chance to do some songwriting and to work on at least two or three cool covers of famous songs. Thriller wasn't high up on the list for him.

"John. You have to do Thriller. You never know, it might sound shamazing, once you've rehearsed your cover of it." Kayleigh tried her best in encouraging him to give this song a try.

"You really think so" John was genuinely touched by her words of encouragement. Of all the people he knows, it was a lovely moment to see his girlfriend acting as the perfect voice of reason for him. She was beginning to become the more mature person in their relationship. something which he had never considered would happen straight away. Girlfriend, a word he acknowledged would take a while to get his head around.

"Oh, I know so, John. Believe me." She smiled knowingly.

"I suppose I could give it a shot." There was no harm in putting a stamp on Thriller with a modern day twist.

"Yaay" Kayleigh clapped her hands together excitedly. From the looks he was giving, she could tell John had carefully listened to her and was relieved to see he'd taken her words on board. She wanted to reward him with a kiss on the lips but then she remembered, the Tom Jones gig tonight and how perfect would feel to round off their night out with their first kiss then.

John steered the Red Clio away from its parking spot before driving the shiny vehicle out of the staff car park entrance and onto the main street. The drive back to Mandy's house was unusually quiet, it soon became obvious, both were busy counting down the hours for their night out. Not even hearing one of One Direction's cheesy songs on the radio was enough to kickstart a rant from John. The only gesture he could reveal was an eye-roll to show his dislike of the song. Kayleigh caught him in the act but she knew she couldn't argue with him on this matter. He was right, One Direction's music was shit.

"You best get wriggle on you know when I come and pick you up in a couple of hours. Don't be keeping me waiting." Her track record of maintaining a 100% record of being ready on time for him every morning had veered off course once or twice over the 3 months they had gotten to know and gradually fallen in love with each other.

"I won't, well once I've chosen my best pair of denim jeans...and my best t-shirt...and my best bra." She was setting off some very suggestive hints. Taking a shower might not probably be enough to release him from his unacquainted passionate and coquettish feelings.

John's eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets. The look on his face screamed 'Don't be giving me fantasies tonight Madam. I don't want to be going into my meeting with Dave Thompson tomorrow morning, looking like I've stayed up half the night watching one of the adult channels'. She had a filthy mind plus she was a bloody good tease, he had to give her that.

"Hey, maybe you should go on stage and do a duet with Tom Jones." Kayleigh suggested. She thought John and Tom Jones on stage would make their evening extra special and memorable. It had to happen surely, once John gives her the green light that he's not going to faint or start jumping up and down with excitement because of Tom standing next to him.

"Me and Tom Jones doing a duet. Knowing me, I might end up upstaging him with the way I sing." John chuckled. Of course, he was joking but who knows perhaps stardom or fate might just be waiting there on stage for him.

Kayleigh appeared to look nonplussed as she twirled her hair with her finger. The most amazing thing in the world about John was, he could make you laugh, make you happy and make you wish you had the chance to spend every single moment of the day with him, in an instant. In work, he behaved in a professional manner but when outside of work he became an entirely different person altogether; funny, loveable, kind, sweet and creative, thanks to his song for her.

End of Chapter

All Reviews are welcome