I felt so English writing this chapter considering i was actually drinking tea as i did it lol. There are a couple of lines in this chapter that sound so English it makes me laugh, true that's not hard, but just thought I'd prepare you. :)

and i just though i should tell you that maybe u might want to re-read the end of chapter 1 to get the full effect of this chapter.

Love to every1

xoxoxoxoxxo

"Hey, Neela sorry I'm late, Pratt was talking to me. " Ray said as he ran up behind his room mate.

"That's k," she said in a rather distant voice, she had been thinking about what Abby had said earlier.

"Just tell him. How hard is it to say "I love you Ray." Oh god, its the hardest thing in the world"

Sometimes she hated to admit it but she really did care for Ray, more than anyone.

"You ok?" a rather concerned Ray asked.

"Yeah fine, let's go home," she said as she took his hand in hers.

"Funny," thought Ray, "She's never done that before!"

"Actually, I have a better idea, how about we have a night out?" he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Neela just took one look at him and knew that she couldn't protest, - she would just be fighting a loosing battle, what would be the point?

"Were are we going Ray?"

"It's a surprise!"

"But I just want to go home, take me home please!" she whined.

"Too late now, we're already here." He had pulled up in the car park of a small bar in the middle of no-where. "Come on I swear you'll have fun, now just get out of the van!" He said in a stern but jokey voice as he flashed her a smile.

They walked in just in the middle of a man, quite a camp man, Neela had to admit, who was singing a rendition of Abba's "Dancing Queen" on a stage set up next to the bar. Just at that moment Neela realised knew what Ray had in store for her…

"No Ray, I'm not doing it, you can't make me!" She cried.

Ray grinned at her and ordered a couple of drinks.

"Alcohol will make everything seem much better!" he said and gave her a wink. She just enjoyed his company, just being with him made everything feel much better. He was right though, alcohol would dull the feeling of embarrassment!

"Come on! It will be fine I promise!" Ray encouraged her, whilst simultaneously dragging Neela towards the stage. He knew she was very reluctant as they had spent the last half hour watching people being booed of the stage and with each boo Neela had flinched taking another swig of her beer, but he also knew that this was just what she needed to take her mind off things.

The song that appeared on the screen was not the one that he had picked, but Ray decided that it would have to do because he knew for sure that Neela wouldn't get up on that stage ever again, at least not in this lifetime! Ray was about to go and sit down again when Neela grabbed his arm.

"Please sing with me, I won't be nearly as nervous if you're here with me!" Ray looked at her, seeing pure dread in her eyes.

"Ok" he said beaming at her, then he faced the audience and announced, "this song is called "You Give Me Fever" and is dedicated to the lovely lady beside me."

Neela smiled, lost her footing and fell forward just to be caught by Ray; a warm feeling flowed through her as she landed in Ray's arms.

"Whoa, maybe I shouldn't have bought you that much alcohol!" He laughed.

"I'll be fine Ray, let's just get this over with!" She responded.

"Right you heard the lady," he said and Neela noticed that having been on stage so many times, he had a way with the crowd. She had never made it to one of his gigs and she deeply regretted it now that she was about to hear him sing.

Ray grabbed two microphones and started to sing never taking his eyes off Neela.

Never know how much I love you

Never know how much I care

When you put your arms around me

I give you fever that's so hard to bare

You give me fever

When you kiss me

Fever when you hold me tight

Fever

In the morning

Fever all through the night

She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a spark between Ray and her that night as he sang love songs to her. She was suddenly feeling a warmth inside of her that she hadn't felt since Michael. She had felt so empty, so alone, until Ray had helped her pick up the shattered pieces of her life. She just watched Ray, never noticing she wasn't actually singing.

"Thanks for the back up!" Ray grinned, "You're the one who was meant to be singing!"

"Sorry I just thought you would sound better than me," she laughed, "but it did cheer me up."

"Want another drink?"

"Go on then, and Ray? Thanks." She added.

As Ray left her to go to the bar she slumped back in her seat. A man approached her.

"Can I buy you a drink sweet heart?"

"No thanks, my friend's just gone to get me one."

"Come on darling, just one drink…"

"I said no! " Neela nearly spat the words out.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? She said she wasn't interested" Ray shouted as he returned with the drinks.

"Ray, just leave it."

"Yeah listen to your girl!"

"One, I don't own her so she's not MY girl. And two, I think you should leave because you're upsetting my friend." Ray was trying to keep as level headed as possible but he was finding it terribly hard.

"If I'm leaving, I'm leaving with her!" was the man's slimy reply, and at that Ray had had enough. He clenched his fists and punched the man in the nose.

"Ray!" Neela cried out. That was the worst time to call his name because as he turned around he got a face full of fist.

"Shit! That hurt!" Ray said as he wiped the blood from his face, "Neela would you mind waiting in the van for me? I'll only be a minute." He gave her a smile and a wink and she obeyed.

"I didn't want to fight you in front of my friend but now you're all mine!" he laughed punching the man again. But his smile soon faded away as two other burly men stood up from a table and started to walk over to him.

"FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!" thought a now not-so-cocky Ray.

One of the man punched Ray hard, and he hit the floor with a thud.

Black.

When he woke he was in unfamiliar surroundings, a man towered above him, and Ray doubled over as the man kicked him over and over again. The pain was too much to bear and Ray let out a cry of utter agony.

"Now you're all mine" was the last thing Ray heard.

Then everything went.

Black.

Ray had been an awfully long time, Neela thought. She was starting to get worried. She walked back in to the bar.

"Hi sorry, you haven't seen my friend any were have you? He may have been punching some burly man…" she smiled to herself at the thought of Ray defending her honour.

"I didn't see him throwing any punches," said the bartender cautiously, "You might want to check round the back, but be careful you don't want to get on the wrong side of those men." He added slowly.

Her heart filled with dread, the bar tender had said "men." There had only been one man. What did he mean?

She looked around the back of the bar; all she saw was a couple of garbage bags and a skip. But then she heard a moan. She ran towards the sound, and there he was. Ray, sprawled out on the floor.

"You look terrible!" Neela said trying to keep her voice cheery.

"Thanks." Ray gave her a weak smile, he was struggling to keep his eyes open and then he could bear it no longer as exhaustion filled his entire body, he closed his eyes and saw her no more.

"Ray? Ray? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, please!" Neela pleaded. She was in shock all she could do was sit and stare at his motionless body. She rested her head on his chest and whispered, "Please, don't leave me."

The tears kept falling, sliding down her cheeks.

"Don't leave me."