Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Note: thanks everyone for ur reviews, its keeping the roomie spirit alive (and giving me a nice distraction from 'Dance' which I will progress with too but god, angst can be so depressing to write sometimes can't it :p)
"OW!" yelped Ray. Neela had thumped his arm as they made their way out of the cinema.
"You totally deserved that, I can't believe you did that!"
Ray couldn't help but laugh despite the pain, it had been a classic.
Neela had no idea how he had managed to punch a hole through the bottom of the pop-corn tub but come the famous head-spinning scene when she had reached for another few kernels, a hand grabbed hers causing her to emit a high-pitched scream and everyone in their screen to turn towards her – mortifying! She definitely thought she had lost at least 5 years off her life.
"Aw c'mon, you can't tell me that wasn't funny," he cajoled.
In spite of herself, Neela allowed a smile to appear, now that they were outside in the fresh air and the shock had worn off, yes, it was quite funny.
"See, there you go," Ray was gladdened to see his friend returning his grin. "As a peace offering, I'll buy your dinner. Ow!" This time, though, his yelp was more for effect as Neela's next hit was more playful than painful.
"Talk about taking advantage of a cheap night, you know I won't eat much after seeing that," she let out a theatrical sigh but still led the way to the steakhouse just across the road.
------------------------------------------------
So maybe she had more of an appetite than she thought but those ribs were tasty! Neela was definitely of the 'can't talk, eating' school of thought as she put her sharp mind to the 'sticky' problem of how not to get the secret-recipe sauce dripped on herself as she wrestled with her meal.
Ray savoured this rare opportunity to study her, seeing how cute she was in her single-mindedness to chew clean the bones whilst maximising the mopping up of sauce, white napkin tucked into the neck of her blouse.
At one point, she had glanced up at him during her epic battle, her nose covered with a smear of sauce. Without saying anything, he had reached over to wipe it off with his own napkin. Neela had just grinned at him and for a fleeting moment when their eyes met, there had been the slightest …something?
Finally, when they had finished their meal, Ray took out his wallet and adopted a gloomy look. "Right, so you wash, I'll dry."
Startled, Neela could only say, "Eh?"
"So much for you not being able to eat much. Cheap dinner she said, hah," his tone was serious but there was no mistaking the laughter that brought out the gold in his eyes.
"What can I say? I guess the devil just brings out the hunger in me." And I don't just mean the food. Oh, God, tell me I didn't just think that! Did he notice? Don't think so… Why am I talking to myself? Stop being a nutcase!
Giving herself a shake, Neela ignored the enquiring eyebrow that Ray had raised at her after seeing that she had been having some kind inner struggle.
Seeing that he would not be getting an answer to his unasked question, Ray stood and held out his hand, "Let's get out of here and get a drink."
Note: sorry its just a short chapter this time. a bite-size piece to bridge for next installment. Might be a little gap between updates as am starting new job tomorrow, arghh!