Chapter 4: Proper Introductions and Clothing Pursuit

Neela hurriedly gathered up her clothes and a clean towel, cursing herself for sleeping too late. She quickly emerged from her room and took off towards the bathroom almost knocking Bret off of his feet.

"Woah there…" He smiled and let his eyes slowly drift to the buddle of clothes she was carrying.

Neela warningly shot him a glare, "I need to get ready for work."

His eyes shot upward with the smiled still plastered on his face. He slowly backed away from her with his hands in the air.

"So, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Bret." He said trying his best to come off as charming. He almost extended his hand, but thought better of it.

She studied him for a second and with an obvious tone of frustration in her voice, "Neela."

Her eyes darted between him and the bathroom before she leapt inside and locked the door behind her.

Bret quietly laughed to himself wondering if Ray knew what he was getting himself into.

20 minutes later, Neela appeared in the living room, drying her hair with a towel.

"You're still here?" Neela inquired.

Bret reluctantly pulled his gaze from the TV and looked over at Neela, "Ray said I could crash here for a few days… I hope you don't mind…"

"What, your girl-friend kicked you out?" Jokingly asked before walking towards her room.

"Actually, we broke up." Bret carelessly replied.

Actually feeling somewhat bad, she gave him a small smile. "Oh. Sorry."

Neela threw the used towel back into her room and started a search for her shoes.

Bret followed close behind her and stood in her doorway, watching as she tore apart her room, looking for something important, apparently. He smiled to himself.

"So. What are you looking for? It's starting to look like World War III in here" Bret replied while gazing around the room.

Neela looked up, surprised that he was standing there, "Shoes. Must.. find.. my shoes.."

"Ah, yes. Can't deprive a lady of her shoes." Bret muttered lightly to himself.

"What was that?" Neela halfheartedly replied.

"Nothing, nothing."

Now half inside of her closet, she heard Bret clear his throat. She quickly repositioned herself so she could see him.

"Where were they!" Neela questioned, clearly annoyed by the smirk on his face.

"By the foot of your bed." Bret shrugged, but continued to smile.

She quickly grabbed her shoes that were dangling from his fingers and slipped them on her feet.

She took off back into the living room now in search of her jacket.

"What, no thank you?"

Neela lazily rolled her eyes, "Thank you"

Bret sat back down on the couch but continued to follow her movements with his eyes, "No problem. Glad I could be useful."

Ray casually unlocked the door to his apartment, stepping inside and setting the bags of groceries on the table. He looked thoughtfully around the kitchen, taking in its state of chaos. Grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator, he sat down at the counter and tried to sustain a yawn. After sitting for a few moments and smoothly closing his bottled water, he slowly began to stand, though stopped when his eyes caught sight of Neela's mail stacked on the counter. His eyes gazed over the top envelope long enough to see who it was from.

Dr. Michael Gallant…?

Not thinking much of it, he sighed heavily and walked back over towards the table and began to put the groceries away.

Finally pulling on her jacket and ready to make her escape, she hears the phone ring.

Okay, likely situation it won't be for me… but what if it is…?

Neela glanced around the living room trying to spot the phone. She hesitantly began searching in and underneath every piece of furniture in sight, half afraid of what she might find in the process.

"Where is it?" Neela questioned more to herself, though the frustration in her voice was obvious.

Giving up, she slumped into the chair across from where Bret was sitting and carelessly sent a glare in his direction.

"Hey, don't look at me." Bret raised his hands in surrender once again and turned his focus back to the TV.

"That better not have been for me."

"Actually, it was." Ray slowly entered the living room holding the phone in his hand.

"It was Abby. I didn't get to it in time, but she left a message. Something about you standing her up today for dinner—"

"Oh no no no. Bloody hell. I completely forgot."

"Well she didn't sound too upset, just worried that you didn't call"

Sighing, Neela closed her eyes and feebly let her head hit the back of the chair.

"So—" Ray started...

Quickly opening her eyes Neela glanced at her watch realizing she completely forgot about work.

"Damn it! I'm going to be late." She launched herself off the couch and rushed to leave.

"Are you going into work?" Ray questioned, trying to catch up to her.

"Yes and if I don't leave now I'll be late, so don't you dare try and distract me." She said while reaching for the doorknob.

Without thinking, Ray smoothly positioned himself between her and the door.

"Wait, I'm on too..." He briefly hesitated as he could almost feel the frustration coming from her eyes. "If you slow down for a second I'll drive you."

It was then he realized how awkward and uncomfortable this position really was. Their bodies were barely touching but he could feel the heat radiating off of her. He gently dropped her wrist and moved away from the door.

"Fine. But hurry up."

Without another word, Ray reached for his keys on the counter and grabbed his jacket off the chair.

Opening the door he silently ushered Neela outside.

Authors Note: I don't really like how I wrote this chapter, mostly because I don't like Bret, so if it seems a little rushed or sloppy, that'd be why. I'll probably have another chapter up in a day or two. If you're not feeling this story, please tell me, because I'm debating on weather or not I should continue this.