Thanks for the reviews, it keeps me motivated! The next chapter might not be posted until next week as it's half done and it's the bank holiday weekend, so don't know how much I'm going to get down. Will try my best to find the time. Enjoy!

Oh and some bad language in this one. Sorry.

Chapter 3

"Ray, my man this is Cassandra,"

Ray couldn't help but stare. Cassandra was at least a foot taller than Morris, had hair the colour of carrots and if he wasn't mistaken had a slightly hairy upper lip. She was also wearing a non-existent lime, green dress that wasn't leaving much to the imagination.

"Hey, nice to meet you," Ray said.

"Hi," Cassandra shyly replied, nervously twisting her hands.

"Hey Babe, why don't you go get me and junior here a bottle of bud?"

"Sure," Cassandra replied, before disappearing into the throng of people.

Morris slapped Ray on the back "Now is she hot or what? You know I bought that dress for her, you should have seen her face when she saw it. I had to practically force it on her."

Ray laughed, "I can imagine,"

"Yeah she's kinda shy, but she's got a great pair of.."

"Err Archie," Ray interrupted "where did you get your brown suit from?"

Morris did a twirl, "Like it huh? Wanted it tight to show off my assets if you know what I mean! Would like to tell ya, but it's been tailor made just for me."

"Probably for the best," Ray grimaced.

"Hey where's the Roomie, not here yet?" Morris asked, settling himself down on a sofa,

"Ex-roomie," Ray answered sitting down beside him.

"Oh yeah, forgot about that. You're well rid of her man, far too sarcastic that one, couldn't live with that."

"Well I.."

"And you know another thing," Morris broke off leaning forward, " I think she's secretly laughing at me, you know she's all deadpan in the face, but I don't know," he whispered.

Ray grinned "I think you're paranoid man."

"Yeah well, as I said you're well rid, let Gates keep his precious girlfriend, they've got more in common, I mean who… "

"What did you just say?"

Morris looked blankly back, "er, I said you're well rid."

"No, the girlfriend part," Ray's grip on the sofa arm tightened.

"Oh yeah, Gates was bragging this morning about his date with Neela, something about her wanting him."

Ray shook his head "Nah man, you've got it wrong, she wouldn't go out with someone like him."

"Well I don't know about that," Morris retorted looking pointedly to his left.

In that moment Ray felt a combination of stunned elation, and excruciating pain.

She was looking at him, biting her lip; she only ever did that when she was nervous, but boy did she looked beautiful. He had never seen her in anything like it before. The dress was shimmering, changing colour in the differing light, and clinging to her body accentuating her tiny waist before falling to hide what he knew were slender legs beneath. Her shoulders were bare, touchable and her hair was down, just as he liked it, shining blue black in the light. His eyes were drawn to her lush, red lips wondering what it would be like to taste them, explore them. He returned his gaze to her eyes, they were large and nearly opaque, he could get lost in those eyes….

And then she looked down. Ray followed her movements and saw her hand entwined in another.

Jumping up from the sofa, he stammered, "er I'll go get the drinks."

Morris yelled at Ray's retreating back "Are you sure? Cassandra will be back in a second."

Ray slammed the door of the bathroom shut and leaned back against it. Screwing his eyes tightly shut, he banged his fist against the wooden door.

"Bastard!"

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"I didn't realise Luka and Abby had such a great pad!" Gates exclaimed as they entered the room.

"Haven't you been here before?" Neela asked, waving as she spotted Luka proudly holding his son in his arms.

"Nah, don't think Abby likes me too much, but me and the big guy, we get on great."

Neela looked thoughtfully at Tony, "I'm sure Abby likes you, she's never said a bad thing to me."

Gates slid his arm behind Neela's shoulders hurrying her over to the table that was laden with alcohol, "probably Barnett's doing. Now he really dislikes me."

"You're imagining things, Ray just jokes around, he hasn't got a bad bone in his body," Neela replied shaking off Gate's arm and picking up a glass of red wine. She looked up and searched the room knowing what she was looking for but not finding it.

Then she saw him,

He was chatting to Archie. He looked relaxed and he was grinning. It had been ages since she had seen him like that. She half smiled as she watched him talking to Archie who was animatedly talking back. He had dressed up for the occasion, wearing a beige blazer over his regular jeans, it made his shoulders seem broader somehow. His white shirt was slightly unbuttoned revealing a tanned chest. He ran his hand through his hair, laughing, she smiled drinking him in.

Suddenly he stopped smiling and turned his gaze on her. He stared at her. She stared back. His eyes slowly travelled down her body before returning to her face, to her lips. She felt her body stiffen and heat up under his intense gaze, she felt naked, alive.

"Earth to Mayday?"

'Huh?' Neela said breathlessly.

"If he likes me so much, why is he currently sending me evil glares from across the room?"

What the? Neela felt a tuggng at her hand and looked down, when did that happen? She quickly looked up again just in time to see the pain in his eyes before he hastily left the room.

Neela pulled her hand out of Gate's grasp, "Damn!" Neela cried.

"Yeah Babe I know this wine is awful," smirked Gates.

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So what did you think? Let me know………pretty please?