Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in ER. Ahh if only…
AN: I've always enjoyed Reela and wanted to write a story which focused on the friendship aspect in their relationship as well as romance so that is what I have done here. Please read and review and tell me what you think!
Italics thoughts
Chapter 1:
Ray Barnett opened the door to the apartment that he shared with his colleague and roommate Neela Rasgotra and walked in dropping his bag on the floor as she followed behind him.
"Ray!", Neela said exasperatedly, "don't just leave that on the floor for anyone to trip over".
Ray did a U-turn and picked up the bag.
Neela smiled, "thank you". There's hope for him yet, Neela thought to herself.
Ray grinned, "so Nicks having a party tonight at his place, do you wanna come?"
Neela contemplated it for a minute, "Yes ok. Why not. I don't have to work tomorrow so I might as well".
"Cool. We'll leave about half eight", he told her.
Neela looked at her watch when he said this and saw that it was already seven. "I'd better start getting ready".
Ray looked at his watch when she said this, "what? But it's only seven"
"Exactly. That only gives me an hour and half"
"Only an hour and a half?", Ray said disbelievingly.
Neela gave him a pitying look and didn't bother to reply before walking to her room and closing the door behind her. Sometimes guys were so clueless.
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Neela came out of her room around twenty past eight to find Ray, lounging on the couch, channel hopping. Ray himself had only taken twenty minutes to shower and throw some clothes on. He glanced at Neela as she walked into the living room. She was wearing black jeans and boots and a scarlet halter neck with a simple silver heart necklace hanging down in the V of her top. She looked very pretty.
"A well spent hour and a half", Ray said appreciatively, "you look good"
"As do you", Neela said smiling, "and actually it was only an hour and twenty minutes. I was fast"
"Well done", Ray said rolling his eyes.
"Thank you"
"Great. Now that were both looking hot, lets roll".
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Ray and Neela arrived at the party half an hour later and were immediately greeted by a bunch of Rays friends. As Neela was talking to one of the guys from Rays band, Ben, Ray had a glance around and spotted a pretty brunette girl wearing a simple green dress and had her long hair tied in a ponytail. She wasn't the type of girl that Ray usually went for. Usually he went for the hottest girl in the shortest skirt but there was something about the girl in the green dress that drew him to her. He glanced back at Neela who was still talking to Ben.
"I'll see you later" he said to them with his attention already back on the brunette.
"Yeah ok", replied Neela, but he didn't hear her as he had already started making his way across the room to the girl.
As he approached her she turned towards him and he flashed her his sexiest grin.
"Hi. I'm Ray Barnett"
She smiled casually, "Hey, I'm Melissa"
This is going to be fun, Ray thought to himself.