Here's another update - I couldn't help but get this one written ASAP. Reviews greatly appreciated, hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Seven

I entered the living room, my breath almost caught in my throat at the sight before me. Sara was sat on my couch, her feet tucked underneath her body, her boots placed neatly by the side of the couch, her hair was tucked behind her left ear as she studied the takeaway menus closely. Everything about what I saw was perfect – she looked so relaxed, like she was meant to be here. It felt like a dream for her to be here like this; it felt so intimate.

She glanced up from her menu to see me standing in the doorway and I could instantly feel my cheeks blush that she'd caught me staring. I approached her, passing the cold bottle of beer over to her, before awkwardly trying to make a decision over whether to sit next to her on the couch or take the chair opposite.

Sara made the decision for me, shifting her legs a little so that there was more space next to her, and pushed one of the cushions from the seat to clear space for me. "Thank you for the beer."

I sat down next to her and sipped the glass of wine I had poured myself, unsure what to say. I just wanted to kiss her. I needed to kiss her. My free hand felt alien at my side as I ached to touch her, just to feel her hand in mine like earlier.

"Chinese alright?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink before placing the bottle on the coffee table in front of us. She sounded so relaxed; it was such a contrast to the emotions I was experiencing.

I nodded and Sara turned her body towards me, moving a couple of inches closer, and passing half of the menu over for me to take hold of. I could feel her body pressed against my side, smell her vanilla scent, the need to respond was almost unbearable. She read out some suggested dishes, obviously used to ordering from this particular Vegas Chinese takeaway, but I wasn't really listening, as much as I tried to - I was studying her lips as she spoke, wondering what they'd feel like against my own.

"What would you like to eat?" she asked, picking up her bottle again to take another sip.

I searched the menu quickly, suddenly aware that I hadn't even contemplated food. "I'll just have chicken and noodles."

Sara smiled, "good choice. Shall I order?"

I nodded and she pulled her cellphone from her jeans' pocket. I took the opportunity of her diverted attention to take a glance at her – her shirt was a little more unbuttoned than I had noticed previously in the day, giving a subtle line to her chest-bone; her skinny jeans showing off her long legs beautifully. I also noticed her feet, now she was without her boots, she was wearing blue polka dot socks and I couldn't help but smile at the little touch of a side of Sara rarely seen. I also couldn't help but wonder what underwear she was wearing.

Sara hung up her cell and placed it on the table next to her beer. "15 minutes." She announced the food's arrival time with a grin.

"Thank you." I realized I was going to have to find something to occupy myself other than Sara. "Shall we watch a movie?"

"Sure. You pick."

I frowned a little. How was I going to judge this? My movie collection was 90% romantic-comedy, and I knew Sara well enough to know that she detested that genre. I rose from the couch and scanned my shelves for a suitable DVD.

I had recently had my living room re-decorated in a brown/white theme; with my couch and chair being brown leather already it made sense. It was one of the only tidy rooms in the house, and I was thankful that it possibly gave Sara the impression I was in control of my life. The room was big enough for my furniture, and my 42inch television mounted to the wall, but that was about it – I liked it like that, it felt warmer than the other bigger rooms of the house.

I ran my finger across the spines of the DVD covers as I debated the titles. My finger finally settled on Drive. I pulled it from the shelf and held it up for Sara to see.

"Perfect. Can I get you another drink?" she rose from the couch, noting my wine glass was pretty much empty.

"Yes, please."

Sara exited the room and I placed the DVD into the player. Despite all the other emotions that I was feeling this evening, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time, deep inside me – the deep, gaping whole that I usually felt in my chest, the emptiness that normally consumed me, was gone; instead I felt… happy.

I started up the DVD and Sara returned with drinks, taking her spot back on the couch. I joined her, back where I originally was too, hoping that the repeated closeness wasn't inappropriate. I quickly glanced over at her to make sure she was alright, and she caught my eye, holding eye-contact with me. The look in her eyes made my stomach flip excitedly and my skin tingle – it felt as though she was looking into my soul, it was so intense. Her lips parted a little and I felt like my heart might explode in my chest. Her eyes were like deep pools of something I couldn't even begin to describe, but I felt pleasure throb through me at the sight.

I watched as her lips seemed to close in on mine and I felt my eyelids close as my own lips parted in anticipation.

It was then that the doorbell rang and I couldn't help but let out a quiet groan as I opened my eyes. Sara's cheeks looked blushed and she was biting her bottom lip in such a way I felt as though I may pass out, although she had retracted the distance she had made towards me a few seconds earlier.

"I'll get it." I whispered, my full voice lost somewhere within myself. I headed into the hallway, pulling a bunch of dollar notes from my pocket and opening the front door.

The delivery man grinned at me, handing over the bag of Chinese food in his hand. He had no idea what he had just interrupted, and I couldn't help but frown at him a little, although I made sure I tipped him before closing the door. A bag of food in hand, I grabbed cutlery from the kitchen before going back into the living room.

Sara had sat up straight on the couch and she gave me a small smile as I entered the room. She seemed nervous and uneasy again, and my heart dropped at what could have been between us - what I thought would have happened anyway, whether or not that was the reality of the situation was perhaps another matter. My heart was beating so loudly in my chest I was sure Sara could hear it.

Passing Sara her box of noodles, I sat back down on the couch to her, but with a considerable distance between us. My body was in overdrive, the blood that had rushed between my legs didn't show any sign of letting up as I still longed for her touch, longed to run my fingers over her skin and under her clothes. I opened up my box of food and dug my fork into it; the film started and I fixated my attention to its pictures and sounds as I ate.

Sara and I didn't share a word whilst we ate, and as our silence progressed I became more and more concerned that I had upset her. As she finished eating and placed her empty food box on the table, I turned to her.

She looked as worried as I felt, even more uneasy now, although I couldn't be sure of the reason for her obvious anxiety.

"Have I upset you, Sar?" I asked nervously, placing my empty food container next to hers. The shortening of her name came to me without thought, and I hoped I hadn't pushed the situation.

She smiled at me in response, a warm smile that comforted me and confused me at the same time. She held her hand out to me and I took it, now unable to form thoughts as to what was occurring - nerves and hormones overtaking. She pulled me closer to her as she leant back against the couch, so that my head was resting on her chest.

Her breathing was hard, and I could feel her heart pumping rapidly in her chest. Her fingers slid through my hair, brushing through it with a few gentle strokes before her hands finally rested on my back, one of her fingers drawing gentle circles on my shirt, feeling my spine through the fabric.

My body lay between her open legs, and I shifted a little to curl my legs up. Gradually I listened as her heartbeat and breathing settled into a gentle pace, as did mine. The feeling of being so close to someone was overwhelming; wrapped in Sara's arms as she continued her gentle circles on my back.

I felt tears slide down my cheeks as I let myself savor the feeling of her warm body against mine. It had been so long since I had been close to anyone.

Sara must have felt my tears soak her shirt as she tilted my head up so I met her gaze. I felt myself blush that she had caught me crying, and couldn't help but expect her to react badly at the sight of my emotions, but instead she wiped my tears away with her soft fingers and placed a gentle, lingering kiss on my forehead before letting my head settle again on her chest.

"It's okay, Cath, honey, I've got you now. You're safe now, baby." she soothed and I felt a wave of relief wash over me as hard sobs shook my body. She held me close as I cried, repeating her comforting words as I sobbed against her chest.

I felt such a range of emotions it was difficult to comprehend - the relentless loneliness that had consumed me, the anger I felt at myself for letting Lindsey down, the relief of being consoled. Sara kept me close until I was too tired to cry anymore, and I felt myself fall asleep in her arms.