Okay, before you start hurling stones just give me a chance to explain. I am so incredibly truly sorry that it has taken me so amazingly long to update this fic. Two months to be exact as someone pointed out to me actually. School has just been so hectic lately that I haven't even had time to breathe let alone write. So again, my apologies. Moving on…I hope everyone likes the chapter. Here it is…
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Chapter 10
The club was alive, full to the brim with people drinking and dancing the night away. However, sitting in a booth tucked between the stage and the bar sat three couples who were far from the carefree yet intimate atmosphere that the club provided.
The first couple was a man and a woman. The second couple was another man and woman. And the third couple was the man from the first and the woman from the second.
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Ray and Neela sat uncomfortably in their seats trying to have a good time with their respective dates while inconspicuously shooting glances at each other. These ranged from looks of longing to hard stares of fury from both parties, the incident that took place only a few short hours ago fresh in their minds.
Catching the others eye as their gaze wandered away from their beaus yet again, both shifted uncomfortably in their seats, breaking the look that passed between them.
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Ray returned his focus to Abby but his thoughts wandered back to Neela even as he saw them strike up a conversation out of the corner of his eye. Quickly averting his gaze so as to avoid another awkward glance, he dug into the deep recesses of his mind, trying to analyse the bombardment of emotions he had felt when his and Neela's gazes had met briefly.
Most prominently he had felt desire and that unnerved him. He didn't want to feel that way about her after the way she had treated him after they had made love. So distant and callous. He had never once imagined that Neela would be so heartless. Nevertheless, he would be lying if he said that he didn't ache for her.
She had changed into something more conservative for their double date but it was by no means less sexy and he was reminded of all her soft, mocha coloured skin. Her smooth thighs tightly gripping his waist, her laboured breathing in his ear and the taste of her on his tongue.
Ray brought himself back to reality when he realised that Abby was talking and he hadn't been paying the slightest amount of attention. Too caught up in the memories of earlier that day, it was only now that he felt the first twinge of guilt at what he had done. He had cheated on her and he felt disgusted with himself but still couldn't push away the small spark of happiness that the incident had ignited.
Choosing not to dwell on that particular note, he berated himself for once again forgetting about Abby. She was an amazing woman. Beautiful, passionate and bold. She had had a string of bad relationships and when they first started seeing each other he had vowed to himself that he wouldn't hurt her in such a way. But he had and in the worst possible way. He had slept with her best friend.
Ray wondered whether he should tell her about what had happened. It would hurt her to know about what he had done but at least it would be truthful. Coming to the decision that now was not the time to be contemplating such a matter, he reverted his attention to Abby and tried to connect with her.
He had briefly toyed with the idea of trying to pursue a relationship with Neela but seeing as how their brief fountain of passion had so obviously meant nothing to her, he rid his mind of the idea. And with that, he smiled at Abby as she continued to chatter away, wrapping his arm around her, kissing her softly on the cheek and looked on lovingly.
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Neela felt a stab of pain in her chest when Ray turned away from her but she knew that she deserved it. After replaying the incident over and over again in her head she had realised how he might have taken what she had said out of context and judging by his behaviour towards her he had. She blamed her obvious lack of social skills for that one.
Ever since they had slept together she had been unable to keep her thoughts at bay and here they were flooding her head again. She felt ashamed with herself that after everything Abby had done for her she had betrayed her in such a way. Abby had been a good friend to her, even letting her stay at her apartment for a while. She owed her a lot.
The guilt was made even worse when Neela realised that even through all this she did not regret what happened. She had revelled in the pleasure and passion that Ray had invoked in her. They had shared a connection deeper than any she had felt before and for the longest time it was the fear of exactly that that prevented her from telling Ray how she felt. But now…now she longed to feel that way again and she knew that he was the only one who could make her feel such a way.
She started when she felt Brett place a hand on her shoulder and ask so very sweetly if she was alright. At this action, Neela felt the guilt rise up again and it threatened to overcome her. She was being so selfish that she hadn't even had a second thought about how it would affect him if he found out. He was Ray's best friend but on top of that, he was a wonderful guy who deserved better.
It was no secret that Neela had detested Brett, and the rest of the band for that matter, when they had first met at three in the morning when he and Ray had stumbled in drunk after a gig and managed to wake her up. But over the course of their relationship she had grown to really care for Brett and had come to the realisation that he too had hidden depths that held a good soul. Neela didn't want to hurt him.
Feeling terribly confused about the whole situation she decided to just not think about it at all and try to at least enjoy the night. On that note, she tried to strike up a conversation that would keep her on neutral ground. However, the attempt was short lived when she noticed that Ray and Abby were looking so happy in their own little world and felt a twinge of jealousy when she saw how loving and attentive Ray was being by holding Abby in his arms and kissing her.
Neela told herself to look away knowing that she was blatantly staring at them but she couldn't tear her eyes away. The scene once again flashed before her eyes. His hands roaming over her body, his strong muscles beneath hers. His hot breath on her neck and the burning sensation she felt everywhere their skin touched. Sadness enveloped her as she realised that it was only a memory and she had lost her chance. She and Ray would never be.
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Brett looked on as Neela continued to stare at Ray and Abby with a knowing smile. For sometime he had had an inkling that there might be something more between his best friend and girlfriend and their actions tonight had only served to confirm his theory. He wasn't upset at this discovery and that surprised him. Deep down he had known that he and Neela would never last.
He really liked her and they had fun but he wasn't ready for commitment and more importantly, they would only clash in the future. He was a musician who jumped from one menial job to another but Neela was a doctor for heavens sake and had a promising career ahead of her. She and Ray were definitely better suited. He made the decision then that he would save Neela the agony and guilt and break up with her instead.
Anyone could see that Ray and Neela belonged together and he wasn't going to stand in their way. Neela might think that Ray hated her for whatever reason but he knew better. Ray had been his best friend since high school and he knew how to read him. Everyone thought that Ray didn't have feelings but it wasn't true. If you looked into his eyes for long enough you would realise that that was where his heart and soul was, on show for everyone to see. And the only thing he saw in Ray's eyes when he was looking at Neela was love. One way or another he was going to make the pair realise their true feelings.
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'I'm going to go get a refill, anybody else want one too?'
They all snapped out of their thoughts at Brett's abrupt question and he couldn't help but feel amused at Neela's flustered look. Ray and Abby nodded their heads in thanks and Neela got up from her seat.
'I'll help you'
Brett nodded and they proceeded to pick up two glasses each before heading towards the bar.
'Four more' Brett shouted to the bartender over the music who nodded in return to say that he had heard him.
Turning to face Neela who was standing quietly beside him he decided that now was probably the best time to get it over with.
'Neela?' he asked, observing that she had once again become lost in her thoughts.
He waited patiently as she came out of her reverie and gave him a small smile when she realised that he had been talking to her.
'Hmm?'
'I think we need to talk.'
Neela felt her stomach do a somersault at his words. He knew. Oh God he knew. She could tell by the look on his face what he was going to say and she wasn't surprised. After all, she had been drooling over Ray the whole night. She was a horrible person.
'Okay' She replied, her voice coming out a bit squeaky to Brett's amusement.
'I really like you Neela and I think we have a great time together but who are we kidding? This relationship isn't going to go anywhere and we are both so different. I think its best that we just stop the brakes here before things get too messy and we can't even salvage a friendship from this. I would like for us to still be friends.'
Brett took a breath after his speech and looked down at her, waiting for Neela's reaction. He was relieved when he saw her give him a small smile, her eyes full of gratitude and apologies.
'I think you're right.'
He shoved his hands in his pockets and grinned at her 'Me too. No offence but I don't think you're woman enough to handle two rock stars.'
'Huh?'
Brett held back the temptation to laugh at Neela, her jaw literally on the floor.
'You know what I mean. And for the record, I don't hate you. Just promise me you'll talk to Ray. You guys deserve each other.'
Neela smiled genuinely for the first time that night. Brett was just amazing and she was sorry that she didn't feel that way about him. He was truly fantastic.
'Thanks' she whispered.
'I'm just gonna head home now if you don't mind. I have to go to work tomorrow. That is unless you want a lift.'
Neela shook her head smiling.
'That's okay. I'll see you around. But just so you know, I really am sorry.'
Brett pulled her into a hug and laughed into her hair.
'There's no need to be.'
They eventually broke the embrace and with one last kiss, said goodnight. Neela watched as Brett left the club and couldn't help but grin to herself. He was going to make a woman very happy one day and whoever she was, she was very lucky. Turning back towards their booth, she saw that Ray and Abby were both staring at her.
Finally ready to embrace her feelings, Neela started to walk back towards the couple.
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So what do you all think? Good? Bad? Shouldn't have bothered? The only way for me to find out is if you press that little review button! I know it's cheeky of me to demand reviews after being absent for so long…but oh well. It's in my screen name. LOL! I have exams over the next few weeks but luckily I also get study leave so I'm going to try and put aside some time especially for writing. Think of it this way, the more people review, the more incentive I have for putting up the next chapter and quickly at that. Hint Hint!