A/N: So, this is my third story and I am guessing not that many people liked as the first two. I am not sure if it is the wekaness of the plot or the writing. Some feedback would be great.


Kim went on about her life unaware of the brewing storm of public interest. She was somewhat lucky that the grainy photos of her were blurry enough that one can only make out the general shape of her body and blonde hair. Beyond that her features were indistinguishable and only if one knew it was her, would they be able to recognize her.

TMZ picked up the story from the fan site and run the pictures on their website with cheeky headline of "Ricky Is Refused!" with a subtitle of "First look at his secret girl crush."

We got the scoop on the notorious trouble magnet pop-star. He was trying to stay low and was out and about in a quaint music shop. But that is not the big news. He was spotted with a mystery blonde! It would have been good to see him recover after the latest break-up; however, eye witness confirms that Ricky was asking a girl for a date, but the mysterious girl is made of sterner stuff than most of us and tuned him down. Official statements are of course unavailable at this moment. But seeing these two, we can all believe that stars are just like us and sometimes they fall for regular people and even can be turned down.

Apparently TMZ talked to the guy, who took the pictures and heard part of the conversation, where Kim told Ricky she would not talk to him because he hasn't changed.

Of all this Kim was unaware.

So, not surprisingly, when she first heard girls talking about Ricky and his new love interest, she brushed it off. That is until Grace showed her the fan site and a picture was in front of her.

Kim had a moment of cognitive dissonance.

Cold sweat run down her back when she realized what happened. She was kind of panicking and went to zoom in on the picture with shaking hands. Some part of her noted distractedly that she looked good in her skinnies and a layered top. She looked at Grace from the corner of her eye, suspicion clouding her mind: was Grace just testing her?

"You know, he must have a type. All the girls he's been with are blondes," Grace commented airily and Kim's heart thudded in her chest uncomfortably.

"Yeah, I guess so. But is it confirmed that she is his love interest? Who is she?" Kim managed to bleat out of her suddenly dry mouth.

"Well, no and no idea. They speculate that she is his new girl, because he asked her out and because he broke up with Helena. And just... look at them. Holding hands and being all lovey-dovey..." Grace trailed off looking at the picture again.

"Are you sure? They could just be strangers that bumped into each other and he held her to prevent her from falling," Kim knew she should drop the subject and move on to something less dangerous, but part of her wanted to get the facts right.

"Yeah, right. That's why he is trying to stop her from leaving."

"What? Stop from leaving?" Kim was horrified. What if they got the picture of her with Milton? Good god, that would be the kicker. Then her identity would be known to the people of Seaford High.

"Look at this," Grace swiped on the pictures and to Kim's relief there no pictures of her with Milton, but there was where she was walking away and Ricky was looking at her retreating back. She knew the real story here, that is there was no story, but the pictures looked so compelling and she could see how everyone would assume that there was some sort of romantic background there.

"Well, you know what they say: innocent until proven guilty. So, in this case, they are not dating until it is confirmed," Kim was proud how she ended the conversation. It was the truth.

"Why, Kim? I didn't know you still cared about Ricky."

"What? I don't! I just thought that the pictures could be of anything really..." she stopped herself seeing the knowing look in Grace's eye. The lady doth protest too much.

"Uh-huh... Sure. So, see you at practice?" Grace moved on and Kim was grateful to drop the subject.


Kim kept quiet about photos hoping that the issue would die, when there is no further information or news about Ricky and his mystery blonde. There bound to be some other scandal from some other celebrity. Or a royal. Or a politician. Right?!

There was no official statement from Ricky's camp for two days and the story grew in retelling.

InTouch reprinted the screen grabs of the origin tweet and ran the story.

Ricky wants to stay away from the drama of a high-profile romance. The girl he is after is an ordinary person, unconnected to the entertainment industry. A source close to the singer tells us that the fact that girl turned him down only made his interest that much stronger. He vowed to find the girl and to woo her. Here is to Ricky hoping that he succeeds.

Commentary on various fansites ran wild and everyone was speculating about the blonde girl and whether she was worth the effort of chasing after her.

It was quiet for another couple of days and Kim began relaxing a little bit. Then one afternoon Kim arrived at the dojo with Jack at her side as usual. They were greeted with a hyperventilating Rudy, who rushed to Kim's side and started pulling her by her arm to his office. "Come. Come quickly. They have been waiting for you."

"Who's they? Would you stop that!" Kim pulled away from Rudy and stopped in the middle of the dojo.

"Kim. These are serious people. Its Ricky and his manager," Rudy whispered the last part his face and eyes comically animated.

"Why would they want to talk to Kim?" Jack was scowling, but Kim's stomach dropped to her feet and she felt light-headed.

This was bad! Why were they here? What did they want? And now she has to tell everyone about the pictures...

"So, Milton and I were in the shop in LA and I sort of run into Ricky. We just exchanged awkward hellos/goodbyes and that's it. But someone took pictures of us and now there is press coverage of it..." Kim rushed out to explain in one breath and stopped to look at Jack.

"That's it?" Rudy suddenly looked deflated.

"Oh..." was Jack's contribution. "Why are they here then? His camp just has to deny any rumours and stories, right?"

"I have not clue, but I don't like it. Nothing good comes from interacting with that guy." Kim was now sure that it was universe's punishment for flipping Ricky that one time.

"Well, you should go and find out. Want me to come along?" Jack offered and Kim melted as usual at the show of his care and concern.

"Nah, you kind of pissed him off last time. But Rudy should come with me just in case: I am a minor and he is my sensei." Rudy preened and together he and Kim went into his office.

Ricky was sprawled on the couch fiddling with his phone, but jumped up when Kim and Rudy entered. There were two bodyguards standing by the door. Ricky's manager was in the middle of the office, pacing and furiously typing on his tablet. He looked up at them and frowned deeply.

"Right, I was expecting Kim only," he glared at Rudy, who shrank a little at such hostility.

"I am a minor. Rudy stays." Kim was right; she already disliked this situation.

"Minor?!" the manager turned to face Ricky fully, "Are you insane? Are you trying to get yourself in more trouble? Hooking up with a minor?" He fairly shouted.

"I did not hook up with anyone. Why are you here, Ricky?" Kim had enough of this guy ignoring her, so she decided to return the favor.

"Well, the pictures came out. The rumours began. This is damage control," Ricky was lazy and unaffected.

"All you have to do is to say that there is no romance or story. What happened with simple denial? And why are you here for the damage control? You could have done it from anywhere." Kim was not sure, but she had a suspicion as to where it was going.

"Told you she is smart," Ricky was smirking at his manager, who dropped his intimidation tactic and turned to Kim with a wide smile. It was disturbing how fake it looked. Just like his teeth. And tan. And really, pretty much everything about this man.

"Hello, my name is Steven. I am Ricky's manager. Pleased to meet you Kim Crawford of Tennessee and, lately, of Seaford." Kim almost laughed. Was this guy intimidating her by showing off how much her knew about her?

"I am sure you are. What can I do for you gentlemen?" Kim could always rely on being polite in face of fakeness and hostility.

"Well, I was not sure that my plan would work, seeing as you are a minor, but, on second thought, it would be even better. Ricky's turning the new leaf, being clean and wooing an ordinary girl, waiting until the right time with the right girl. You are like the stand-in for every fangirl he has. Simple, young, all-American, girl next door..."

"One-dimensional and a liar." Kim added to his rhapsody of a spin.

"What?" Steven was a little perplexed and Ricky just laughed outright.

"Steven, I am not interested in being anyone's love interest. I am not interested in pretending to be anyone's love interest or a redemption arc. And I am certainly not interested in doing it with a celebrity. And, no offense to Ricky, I am not interested in him," Kim said firmly and let it sink for a little.

"But, you'd be famous... And we can pay you for this..." Steven was definitely perplexed now.

"Not interested and am not for sale."

"I told you it was a bad idea. Kim is not like other girls. Always has been." Ricky sounded a little wistful, "I wish I knew that when I met her first."

Kim looked at him sharply and he smiled a little at her, for once not smirking or acting disaffected. He looked... tired. Maybe a little too sad for a famous and rich person, who had the world at his feet. For a second, Kim had a feeling that he was both pleased that she was refusing this scheme and upset, because maybe, just maybe, he thought she might be something to him, someone he needed.

Steven, like a hound dog who sensed blood, looked at Ricky then her and his gaze was calculating. "You sure Kim? It does not have to be a lie."

"It would be. I have feelings for someone else." Kim was avoiding looking at Ricky, but still saw that his expression fell a little and he chuckled unhappily.

"I think I can guess who that it. Well, he is a lucky guy to have a girlfriend like you."

"I am not dating right now, Ricky, but yes, it is him."

"Why not? All this time... I am sure he feels the same way about you. If he hasn't figured out what a wonderful girl you are, he does not deserve you."

"Unfortunately for me, he sort of agrees with you right now. He thinks he would complicate my life too much. He is wrong of course, but here we are." Kim thought the irony of her talking to Ricky about the complications that fame brings to the relationship was unprecedented.

Ricky nodded and then turned to his manager, "Steve, lets go. I told it was a bust. Now you know this too." He started going out the door, his bodyguards falling in line behind him.

"So, Steven, you will issue a denial about pictures?" Kim pressed.

"Yeah, sure. No problem." He was typing again and then announced, "It's done. It should start hitting the news soon. Officially we only say that the reports are untrue and that should suffice. We don't to deny too hard or with too many details. People might get wrong ideas."

Steven was talking and walking and by this point the group was almost by the door. Ricky gave a small nod to Jack, who wearily returned it. Milton and Jerry stared at the procession with obvious curiosity.

Kim stopped and turned to Steven. "Thank you the denial."

She turned to Ricky, "Good luck, Ricky. I believe this is a good bye."

He stood there and looked at her for a second. He then leaned in and whispered, "You turned out even prettier than I imagined. And you haven't changed a bit. Still the stubborn, amazing girl, who does not take crap from others. You shouldn't take any crap from him either. And if you ever change your mind, let me know.

With a wink he and his entourage left and left the Wasabi Warriors looking after them.