Ok, this is their first big chapter together. Hope it was worth waiting for? Thanks for your patience. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 5

Ray picked up the bottle of tequila, filled his glass and downed it in one.

He shuddered and pulled a face. Turning back to the cupboard he resumed his search for the salt.

"Can't drink tequila without salt it's a crime in England."

Not bothering to turn round, Ray continued rummaging.

"If you're looking for sliced lemons they're in the fridge?" Neela said touching him slightly on the arm. Flinching, Ray pulled his arm back and turned to face her.

"Thanks but it was the salt I was after," he said sharply.

Frowning, Neela picked up the salt that was lying next to her on the counter, and handed it to him. He took it silently and headed to the fridge.

Finding two empty shot glasses, she filled them up and waited. Pulling the plate of lemon slices out of the fridge, he turned back to face her. She was biting her lip. Scowling, Ray brushed past her and picked up his empty shot glass.

"I've already poured you one," she said holding out a full glass.

Ignoring her, he picked up the bottle and refilled his glass.

"Look Ray, I came here to talk."

He looked at her coldly, "well I don't want to."

"I know you're saw us earlier, I just wanted to explain," she said urgently.

"There's nothing to explain, I already know," he retorted.

Confused she replied, "you do?"

"I spoke to our mutual friend and was given all the gory details," He spat.

Bewildered she continued, "I don't understand? Who did you speak to?"

"Who do you think?" he replied angrily. "Look, I'm bored of this Neela, this little game you're playing? It's crap, and I don't want to play any more? So if you don't mind?" he snapped before downing his drink.

Feeling her temper rising she retaliated, "bollocks to this, I don't know why I bothered making the effort"

Ray was amused, "effort? Ha, let's not joke about this, who has always made the effort in this friendship? Me, that's who," he laughed snidely.

"God you can be a wanker sometimes." Neela threw her hands in the air, exasperated.

"I'm trying to mould myself into your perfect guy? Thought you'd approve?" He crossed him arms, smirking.

"I happen to like nice men," she spat.

He laughed at her, "I wouldn't call Gates particularly 'nice', unless 'nice' involves leering over anything in a short skirt and then bragging about it the next day to anyone who'll listen."

She closed the gap between them, pointing her finger accusingly at his chest.

"This coming from Mr, 'one night stand', in fact, let me think." She cocked her head to the side thoughtfully, before coldly retorting, "Haven't you won awards for bedding the most number of women in one night?

Feeling the heat in his face, his voice raised a notch, "Yeah an oscar? Didn't you attend the evening? Ahh probably not, you were probably at home playing footsie with your new boyfriend."

Hands on hips, she narrowed her eyes. "You know what, I don't have time for this, I came here to apologise for the way I've acted and say sorry, but you're not worth it."

Smiling cynically he replied, "Yeah I think you've already proven that point."

Uncrossing his arms he turned away from her and re-filled his glass.

Neela continued, undeterred by his disinterest, "I have 3 things to say to you, and then I will leave you to wallow in your own self pity.

Swallowing his drink in one gulp, he grimaced at the sharpness. Slumping in a nearby chair he returned his gaze to Neela and adopting a bored expression on his face.

"Firstly, this is how you drink tequila."

Neela pushed past him. She licked the back of her hand, poured salt over the back of it and downed the tequila in one smooth motion. Ray watched her mesmerised. She finally turned her attention back to Ray, and leisurely sucked on the lemon slice. She had not winced once, in fact she had savoured the bitter shot, and her face revealed pure pleasure.

"Secondly," she paused, "I don't have a boyfriend. I haven't been on a date with anyone, since Michael died."

In an instant he felt his anger dissolve, and the guilt set in.

"And thirdly," she looked down briefly, before gazing searchingly into his eyes, her voice softening.

"Thirdly, I came her to say sorry." She turned away and looked out the window.

"I'm sorry for the way I've treated you this year. I came here to ask you if we could start over. For some reason that I can't for the life of me remember at this minute in time I missed you, and wanted you back in my life." She closed her eyes tightly, fighting for control.

He gazed at her profile, itching to touch her, to tuck the hair that was resting on her forehead behind her ear. He half moved towards her, then stopped himself. Remembering he couldn't.

"But now I can see that I've damaged this relationship to the point of no return," her voice trembled slightly, she turned towards him, he stared into her cloudy eyes.

He could see the pain and his heart painfully contracted.

"Neela I."

"No Ray let me finish "she said regaining her composure, "I'm sorry that I ruined our friendship and hurt you, I had feelings for you and couldn't handle them. I don't blame you for hating me. If I was you I'd hate me to. You opened up to me and I threw those feelings back in your face.

She inched closer, closing the gap between them.

So I'll say it again, I'm sorry Roomie."

Lifting her hand she captured his cheek, caressing it. He closed his eyes, immobile, breathing in her flowery scent and revelling in the feel of her hand on his skin. She leaned over and gently kissed him on the check. He held his breath, holding back the desire to pull her into his lap, wrap his arms around her and nestle his face in her neck. He felt her retreat back, but couldn't move. It had been so long since they had physically been close to each other. He wanted to remember the moment, the nearness of her body, the touch of her soft lips on his rough cheek.

Eventually he opened his eyes, "Neela I'm sorry too. I'm an idiot."

He was alone in the room. She had gone.

"I'm an idiot!" he whispered again.

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Hopefully it was worth the wait.