Thanks to those of you who reviewed my last chapter. I really appreciate all your kind words. If there is anything you would like to see in any forthcoming chapters, please feel free to suggest it to me and I'll try and incorporate it.

I'm Not One of Those Who Can Easily Hide

The pub was heading towards empty, with a few of the wedding guests lingering, drinking themselves into a stupor. It was a quarter past one in the morning and the long, extreme day was starting to have an effect on Rae. Her body felt like she had ran two marathons and the exhaustion was starting to show in her demeanour.

"Are you okay, Rae?" Finn asked as her head fell onto his shoulder.

She looked up at him, her eyes half closed. "It's been an epic day." She replied, her voice slow and low.

The mix of drama and alcohol, plus the rave the night before, seemed to be affecting the whole gang, who too were looking a little worse for wear. Chloe, who had only reappeared at the table less than an hour before, was the first to stand.

"I'm going home." She declared. "I think the party's over."

Izzy, who appeared to have passed out, her head resting on Chop's chest, stirred as if it was also her signal to leave. Slowly the whole gang rose from their seats, grabbing their jackets, and headed for the door.

Finn and Rae were the last to vacate the table. Rae felt as though she had rocks attached to her calf muscles, the weight of her tired body almost cementing her feet to the floor. She stood up slowly, conscientiously trying to not make a fool of herself. Rae thought that falling flat on her face would not be the best way to end the evening- an evening that, this morning, would've seemed like a fantasy.

Once on her feet, she tried to concentrate on just putting one foot in front of the other. When Finn interlocked his arm with hers, a shock of electricity pulsated through her body. It was just what she needed. Rae suddenly felt energy beat through her veins, although it had more of an upshot on her mind rather than her limbs.

"Let's get you home." Finn proposed, leading Rae safely from the labyrinth created by the empty chairs.

The walk home felt as though it had taken no time at all. Rae and Finn strolled all the way to her home, hand in hand, making small talk. They spoke about the gang, and how the inquisition they had expected never really happened.

"I really thought Izzy was gonna push us more for answers." Rae said with a small sigh. She stopped and turned to face Finn. "What would we had even said?"

Finn looked deep into Rae's eyes. "I dunno either. All I do know is that we have plenty of time to figure it out."

Rae was taken aback. The mention of time was surprising to her- 'plenty of time?' A broad smile appeared among her features. "We do?" she asked, questioningly, surprised.

Finn tilted his head, giving her a crooked smile. "Yes."

Rae could feel tingles all over her body, a shiver- not because of the cold- but because of the current of joy coursing through her arteries. Although she thought it not possible, the broad smile became even bigger. Finn's features mirrored Rae's. He took a small step forward.

'This is it.' Rae's inner monologue yelled.

Without taking his eyes from hers, Finn slowly moved closer and closer to Rae. The smiles had faded from both of their faces as anticipation and nerve took over.

'This is it!'

It felt like an eternity before Finn's soft lips touched Rae's. When the connection was made, everything stopped; the cold, the tiredness, the time. It was a moment she had been dreaming about all summer and it was actually happening.

She, Rachel Earl, was kissing Finn! Finn- the most interesting, sweet, sensitive, hot-bodied Adonis in all of Lincolnshire.

It wasn't the perfect kiss Rae had imagined. It was a only her second ever kiss and when she found that she suddenly had a mouth full of saliva, she needed to swallow- thus breaking the kiss. She was so mortified.

"I'm sorry." She said, her voice low, lined with embarrassment.

Pressing his forehead to hers, Finn gently held her face. "Don't worry. I'm nervous too."

Rae felt her heart pounding through her chest. The earnestness in his tone was the only thing she needed to initiate another kiss. She tried to summon as much confidence she could from her tired body, tilting her head and pressing her lips back onto his.

This time it was different. Rae allowed her inner goddess to take over. She kissed him with more vigour and passion. Her hand explored the contours of his face and body. Finn responded with as much intensity and Rae could feel herself melting into the embrace. For the few moments it lasted, Rae felt free. It was who own piece of paradise and she knew that things would never be quite the same again.

The pair broke away from each other, breathing heavily. Finn left his hand on Rae's cheek, slowly caressing it with his thumb, keeping their eyes focused on one another, and mouths curled up in satisfied smiles. Neither spoke; they enjoyed comfortable silence.

A light from within Rae's house switched on, disturbing the couple. It was now 2am and the outside world had broken the twosome from their bubble.

"I, urm, should go in." Rae said, hesitant, not wanting Finn to leave her.

"Yeah, it's urm.." Finn was unable to finish his sentence.

"Yeah."

Rae's mind raced with questions. 'Should I invite him in? Is that going too far? Is he expecting to come in? What should i do?'

Before her subconscious could offer up an answer, Finn had bowed forward to whisper in her ear. "I'll see you tomorrow, my love. Sweet dreams." He kissed her once again, short and sweet.

"See you tomorrow."

Rae walked up to her front door and put the key in the lock. She turned back to see Finn still stood there, who throw her a little wave. She waved back, her heart skipping a beat as Finn made his way home.

Once inside, a familiar face was waiting for her. "Good night?" Her mum asked inquisitively.

Rae beamed "The best."

She walked to her room, where, as soon as she caught sight of her bed, her body gave way to the exhaustion and she entered the land of nod.