A/N Hello you funktastic ones! How are you all? Good I hope! I'm alright-ish. I just watched the episode (season finale) called 21 guns... so I'm still in shock. I'm not going to talk about it incase people have seen it, hopefully you won't get annoyed by me saying it's a great episode, because you knew it would have to be!
Anyway, with the last chapter I was hoping to get a total count of over 50 reviews (we were on 46 or so) but now we are almost at 60! So many readers! I am so so so glad you guys like this and review and for all those who aren't reviewers, glad you like reading!
Hope you enjoy this chapter... sorry it was so long in coming, I was waiting for some information which I ended up just making up, it doesn't make much of a difference actually... anyway! God, I keep going off the point. Here ya go.
Chapter 12- Ray
I was completely surprised when, as I called out a goodbye, Neela came out of her room dressed in dark blue jeans and a white, sort of flowy top. Her hair was in curls and she tipped her head and gave me a smile. "I thought you said I could come along."
I stood, with my mouth open, trying to think of something witty to reply. "Sure," was all I could manage.
She followed me down the stairs and out to Sam's van, me lugging my guitar on my back. I was just wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, but wished I'd dressed up a bit now. We climbed into the back and Sam called from the driver's seat, "Alright Neela, didn't know you were coming tonight."
"Nice to see you," a girl called from the front seat. I think it was Sam's girlfriend, but I hadn't really been keeping up with them recently. I felt a bit guilty actually, but I'd been busy with work and to be honest I loved just hanging out with Neela, rather than spending all night out at some club. Gigs were a different matter though.
"Yeah, nice to see you too," Neela said politely, before sitting down next to me on the floor. As the van pulled away she grabbed hold of my arm to stop herself falling over.
"So Ray, you up to coming to California?" Brett was asking.
"When? No-one told me about it."
"Oh, well we might be able to get a gig there in a couple of weeks."
"I'll have to check my schedule..." I said with a sigh. Weaver would kill me if she knew I was taking more time off.
"I'll cover for you if you want," Neela said with a smile.
"See, that's why you get a girlfriend you work with," Sam said with a smile.
Me and Neela looked at each other, "No we're not," we said at the same time.
Everyone simply looked at us with raised eyebrows.
When we got into the club I put my guitar on stage then headed back to Neela to get us some drinks. We both got a beer, then went to sit with the others. She squeezed into a space between Brett and another girl, when they offered it, and I perched on a stool.
Sam said, "We're on in half an hour, ok?"
"Cool," I said, watching Neela and Brett talking out of the corner of my eye. "What set we doing?" I asked, trying not to seem distracted.
"We're starting with..." Sam began to explain but I wasn't really listening. I already knew what we were playing -I was a professional after all. Well, sorta.
"Yeah, Ray made me listen to them one time," Neela was saying with a wide smile. She seemed really happy to be out. I guess it took her mind off Gallant or whatever. She turned to me, "You did right?"
"Who?" I asked, smiling that she'd included me. I felt like an idiot, but I couldn't help being jealous when she wasn't talking to me. And I couldn't help noticing how the curls in her hair lightly touched her shoulder, the black and white totally contrasting. And the gleam in her eyes as she told some story. Then I realised she was talking about me again, and I smiled once more.
It was all too soon that we were up on stage, and I felt a sudden surge of nerves that I hadn't had for years. It was like I was a teenager all over again, what an idiot. But of course, as before, as soon as we started playing I lost myself in the music, hearing only the songs and the occasional whoop from the crowd. I looked up a few times but couldn't make out anyone in particular, because of the lights. Then I looked up and saw her near the front, bobbing along and smiling at me. She looked different from everyone else, and stood out- but in a good way, a way I would never be able to explain. She gave me a wave and I smiled at her. I began concentrating even more on my guitar, I wanted to sound good, I wanted to impress her. It was stupid, egotistical, but I wanted her to think I was good. I just couldn't help it.
"Thank you!" I shouted into mic, as I finished singing the last song in the set. "You've been great."
I unplugged my guitar, and put it in it's case then jumped off the side of the stage. There was a small group of women there, early twenties. "Hi Ray!" One of them called, and I'd never seen her before.
"Um hi," I replied, trying to squeeze passed them.
"We love your band," another one breathed, putting her hand on my arm. I carefully peeled it off.
"Thank you, can I get passed please?"
"Aw, don't you want to talk to us for a minute?" The first one asked.
"Um, I'd love to, but I have to go and see my friend." I'd had fans crowding me before, but they'd usually move when I asked them. These ones seemed slightly... creepy. Then one of them bustled to the side, as if she'd been pushed a little, and in her place stood Neela, smiling at me.
"You ok, Barnett?" She asked, with a grin.
"Yeah, of course," I replied, smiling at her in return. She came and took my hand, leading me out of the circle of women, amongst mutters of "bitch" and "who does she thinks she is?"
When we got to the table and sat down, she passed me a bottle of beer and then clinked it against her own, "Cheers, great gig."
"Thanks, and thanks for before. I'm just too irresistible for some people," I said, shaking my head.
She laughed, "Somehow I don't think so, Barnett."
"You know you find my charm irresistible," I joked.
She laughed again, throwing back her head. "You wish." I laughed too.
She nudged me and I nudged her back. We were sitting on a sofa, just nudging each other and finding it really funny, I had a slight suspicion we were slightly tipsy. "You're a bad influence on me," she said, "I'm ever so slightly drunk."
"Me? The influence on you? I think you'll find it's the other way round Roomie."
She scoffed, "I say again, you wish."
She smiled at my, and I found myself unable to find a witty reply, I couldn't do anything but look at her. She was so beautiful. She was looking up at me with her dark brown eyes, and I remembered what some guys in high school had said about brown eyes being easier to "fall into". I totally agreed now. She moved towards me and I moved down to her, so we were millimetres away from touching. I wanted so badly to close that gap, but I pulled away instead.
"You're right. I'm a bad influence on you."
She sat back in her seat. "Yeah..."
I tried to explain, "I was the re-bound guy in college once. It hurt like hell when I realised she still loved him. I don't want to..."
"I understand, it's fine," she said, interrupting me, "I told you, I'm just a bit tipsy."
"Oh." I didn't know what else to say. The meaning was obvious, she was drunk and regretted ever getting that close to me. That was fine, we were friends, room-mates, colleagues. That was it. Some lines you just don't cross, as I'd realised here tonight.
A/N So? Please review and tell me all!
