It was getting late now, the time was well past midnight, and Rachel couldn't believe she was actually in a nightclub. This was something she hadn't done in years; usually due to the fact she was scared she would run into some of her students! There were only herself, Matt and Steph, Eddie and Melissa left in the group, everyone else having made their excuses and retreated back home to the comfort of their beds. Indeed, Rachel herself had been preparing to find a taxi and call it a night. She was here because of the man standing close next to her near the side of the dance floor, the man she could never quite bring herself to refuse.
Eddie was similar to herself, slightly more conservative than the remaining members of the group, and had also been ready to leave at the mention of a club. But Melissa was of course having too much of a good time, and he couldn't leave her to make her way home by herself in the state she and Steph had managed to drink themselves into. So he'd begged Rachel to join them, saying that he would really be in need of some adult conversation inside the club. He was feeling quite drunk himself by now and was, he had to admit, enjoying the evening immensely. It wasn't very often these days that he got to spend any quality time with Rachel as they had done before Melissa's arrival, particularly outside of school. So while Mel partied hard with Steph and Matt on the dance floor, he was enjoying the secluded corner nearby that he and Rachel had found to share a quiet conversation.
In the hour that they had been left to their own devices, the two most senior members of staff had relaxed in each other's company, sharing their own thoughts and opinions on any topic that came into mind. The only subject banned from conversation this evening was school. As they gradually began to get to know one another again, they found that they had much in common from books and films to their favourite holiday destinations. Eddie couldn't help but compare these interests with those he shared with Melissa, which were admittedly very limited. They had been arguing only this week about where to go on holiday over the summer, Mel wanting to go to a relaxing all inclusive beach resort, whereas Eddie knew he would be bored of this after just a few days and wanted a holiday where there was more going on. As he and Rachel shared stories of trips to Barcelona and New York, and Rachel mentioned that she would love to visit Venice this summer but had thought better of visiting one of the most romantic cities in the world on her own, the couple gazed into each other's eyes, both secretly wishing they could be visiting that city with the other.
As Rachel stared dreamily into Eddie's eyes, she noticed their proximity and shivered with delight, enjoying the contact the left side of her body was sharing with his right. The alcohol she had consumed tonight had somewhat lowered her inhibitions and thoughts of her sister and her relationship with Eddie were well hidden at the back of her mind. After all, Mel had deserted what Rachel considered to be one of the most perfect guys in the world to go and dance with her friends, so Rachel reasoned she had every right to keep him company in the meantime. Glancing around the room, she noted that the club had now become so crowded that she could no longer see Mel and the others on the dance floor, and she remained happily ensconced in her corner, her little bubble which, for tonight at least, contained only enough space for Eddie and herself.
As Eddie leaned in to whisper in Rachel's ear again, he felt her shudder in delight at the contact between them as his slight stubble brushed against her skin. Oh how he wished he could make her feel like this all the time. He too felt that for the last hour the rest of the world had ceased to exist and it had just been he and Rachel enjoying their time together contentedly. He only realised how late the hour had become when he noticed that the music had begun to slow down, and couples all over the dance floor had come together for the last dance. He noticed Steph half way across the dance floor, with some blond guy about half her age, but could not see Mel or Matt anywhere. As the final song of the night struck up over the sound system, he hesitantly moved his arm from where it had been resting along the shelf behind Rachel and placed it gently around her shoulders, drawing her towards him, determined to prolong their time together, just the two of them, for a few more minutes before it was back to reality.
Rachel once again shuddered in delight as she felt Eddie's warm skin make contact with hers, marvelling at the effect these simple touches and brushes of fingers were having upon her this evening. As he drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her, she stiffened, an image of Melissa dancing before her eyes for a split second, before relaxing into his embrace, determined to remain as carefree as she had all evening and enjoy these last moments of her time together with Eddie. She held on tight, clasping her arms around his neck as his snaked around her waist, and resting her head on his chest, letting the lyrics of the song drift through her mind…
Baby you're all that I want.
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven.
Eddie marvelled at how true the lyrics were to the situation he currently found himself in. This was all he had longed for, for so long, to feel this beautiful, remarkable woman's body close to his, wrapped in his arms. When he had dreamt about this moment, it had indeed felt like heaven, and he was finding it very difficult to believe that it was happening to him, to them, right now, and that it could feel even better in reality.
Now, nothing can change what you mean to me.
There's a lot that I could say
But just hold me now,
Cause our love will light the way.
Rachel pulled herself closer to Eddie's body, revelling in the contact between them, and knowing that nothing could ever change what he meant to her. She just wanted him to hold her close, for the moment to last forever, here in his arms, she felt like she belonged and berated herself once again for letting him go at the beginning of the year. She loved him, she finally admitted to herself in their secluded corner of the club, but she held back a tear as she realised this perfect moment of pure heaven could not last forever. Soon the song would be over and reality would come crashing down around them. Eddie would be going home, back to her sister while she went to bed in her empty house.
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart.
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven.
As the final lyrics washed over the couple, Eddie held Rachel at arms length and stared deeply into her beautiful dark eyes, so different from her sisters. He saw the conflicting emotions there swimming in her eyes, and his heart broke as he noticed a solitary tear tracing a path down her smooth cheek. He knew in that momnent that he still loved her, was doubtful that he had ever stopped. Realising that Rachel could be having similar thoughts of regret and wistfulness as those spinning around in his own mind, he slowly leant in and brushed his lips slightly against the side of her cheek, kissing away that single tear betraying her true feelings to him. At the contact, both of their bodies suddenly felt as though an electric current was passing through them. Rachel turned her head slightly to stare once again into Eddie's chocolate brown pools that were the windows to his sole, and with the now even closer proximity, neither of them could hold back any longer. Still staring into each other's eyes, their lips gravitated towards each other, both of their minds filled with nothing but thoughts of the person stood before them and how long they had waited for this moment. And with just millimetres of space left between them, the music stopped and the glaring over head lights came on in the club, exposing the couple in the corner more than they were comfortable with, causing them to come back to their senses and jump quickly apart, trying not to look guilty as Melissa came into view in search of Eddie and a ride home after their long night.
[lyrics taken from DJ Sammy's 'Heaven']