The Everlasting Rose

Well here it is....The next chapter....warning: Ray and Mariah actually share a *moment* together here. So just wanted to tell you... Sorry about the late update...I was on vacation.
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Chapter 6- The better Life

Mariah laughed as Ray dragged her down the corridor. It was so cold and damp, but the happiness Mariah felt seemed to lift the sullied appearance.
“Almost there.” Ray stated as the couple turned around the corner.
Mariah felt a sensation in her stomach. Maybe the steerage wouldn’t allow her to go the party because of her social status. She suddenly froze, as Ray was lurched back into her from the force of the stop.
“What’s wrong?” Ray asked his voice was filled with concern. “Is it Lee?”
Mariah shook her head no and desperately asked Ray. “Do you think they’ll care that I’m rich?”
Ray grinned and shook his head. “No, because we’re rich too.”
Mariah’s confused expression made Ray laugh harder.
“We are rich, not in gold, as you royals are, but in life. Trust me they won’t care.”
Mariah smiled at the look of Ray’s genuineness. His eyes glinted dark amber in the barely lit hallway that made him look wise.
“You are such a man.” Mariah whispered, comforted by his words.
With that, Ray grasped Mariah’s hand and both sprinted down the hall lightheartedly. When they reached the large cellar room, Mariah stopped to fix her hair. She pitifully removed pins and placed them in another area. Ray stared awkwardly at her in a state of awe.
“You know.” Ray stated. “You’re hair is just going to get ruined in there. We dance hard.”
Mariah turned and smiled, “Okay then, bring on the dancing.”
Before Ray opened the door Mariah sarcastically remarked. “I think I’m a little too overly dressed for this party.”
Ray laughed and quickly unbuttoned part of his collar. “That has been driving me crazy for hours.”
Mariah quickly pushed open the door and grinned in admiration. From what it seemed like, millions of paupers danced heartily round in circles, clapping and shouting merrily.
Women were twirling daintily around tables. Children were playing and laughing vigorously.
Men played cards at a table in the back and arm-wrestled. A tiny band played speedy music in the corner. The fiddler players moved their elbows dynamically and the purple-faced harmonica player tapped his foot to the sound of the low drum.
“C’mon” Ray stated as he grasped Mariah’s arm and jumped into a circle full of dancers.
Mariah giggled as she spun round and round. Everything seemed so perfect, so unorganized and so unprofessional, just the way she wanted it to remain.
Mariah could see Ray clapping to the song and the women dressed in ratted dresses prancing about the room. Mariah frantically wanted to be like them, go home to their mother and prattle for hours about the party. She could see the young girl’s mothers listening intensively and laughing happily with her daughter.
The night seemed to grow on and Mariah could feel her legs begin to ache. But she was restless and wouldn’t cease. She didn’t want to go back and refused to, she would rather have bleeding blisters forever than leave.
“C’mon.” Ray stated as he clenched Mariah’s arm. “Let’s go get a drink.”
Mariah froze the instant she heard the vile word. “Drink?”
Ray nodded, and smiled. “Why aren’t you thirsty?”
Mariah stared into his eyes and miserably replied. “Women aren’t allowed to drink.”
Ray’s eyes widened in surprise. “So you never had a drink in you life.”
Mariah nodded, feeling childish. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed a girl three or four years younger than her with a rum glass.
“Well, if you don’t want to drink.” Ray began. “I won’t make you.”
He turned around and walked to the refreshment table. Mariah groaned and then pouted after him.
Shortly after she found herself holding a rum glass. She stared at the substance and thought, it’s just grapes, just grapes.
Ray grinned his usual smiled and retorted. “Don’t worry, it’s not gonna kill you.”
Mariah looked up at Ray awkwardly. His eyes were warm and friendly and showed no sign of doubt.
“Do you get drunk?” Mariah asked, but regretted asking the question.
Mariah could feel the blood rush to her cheeks she gulped down air. How could she have asked him such a personal question?
“No.” Ray answered his voice remained peaceful.
Mariah closed her eyes and smiled. He was so much different than Lee. Lee, from as long as Mariah could remember came home drunk. Ray was so, personal, so unreal.
Mariah closed her eyes and pinched her nose as she drank the liquid. It was cold and sinister and yet possessed a merry warm ingredient to keep Mariah drinking.
“Don’t drink it like it is medicine.” Ray cackled.
Mariah put the glass down in relief only to reveal she had drank every drop of the substance.
“What did you think?” Ray asked curiously.
“It was really good.” Mariah answered surprised she had drunk it all. “Now I see why men stay at bars so long.
Mariah and Ray smiled at the joke.
“Ready to dance?” Ray stated as a fast pace song was heard.
Mariah laughed as she made her way to the dance floor. Ray spun her gently and twirled her back into his chest.
Mariah cackled heartily as she began to see blurs. She gasped frantically as the giddy sensation in her stomach began to erupt. She could hear Ray calling to her and suddenly she felt herself hit the ground unconscious.

“Dam.” Ray thought as he gently carried Mariah to his bedroom. “Why wasn’t I thinking?”
Ray kicked open the door, only to reveal his bunk buddies hadn’t retired for the night.
“Good,” Ray stated, as he laid Mariah on his bed. “I didn’t want anyone to think I raped her again.”
Ray punched the wall angrily. How could he have been so stupid? Giving her a drink. Ray rolled his eyes as he wet a cloth from the faucet in the back of the room.
He gently dabbed it on Mariah’s forehead and as he did so, he gingerly touched her smooth skin.
Mariah looked angelic in her sleep; one would never guess that she was a radiant roaring woman. Her long hair was scattered all over the bed, only her bangs touched her pale sunny skin.
Ray lovingly brushed through her long locks. He stared intensively for any signs of movement. He didn’t want to be caught doing this act. When all seemed still, Ray gently knelt down right above Mariah’s comely face but shortly backed away from Mariah’s sleepy groan.
He glanced around cautiously, as if he expected someone to enter the room. But after a few seconds of silence, he knelt down once again. He could feel Mariah’s warm breath from her mouth. He could see her rosy cheeks, and her chest moving up and down. Suddenly Ray lurched himself forward and gently began to kiss the unconscious body.
“Just one kiss couldn’t hurt.” Ray thought, as he pressed his lips against Mariah’s.
But as he did so, Mariah regained consciousness and wrapped her arms around the back of Ray’s neck.
Ray twitched but resumed his position.
Mariah frantically pushed him toward her and felt Ray wrap his arms around her waist. She could feel his tongue enter her mouth, and she felt the tongues unite as played tag with each other. Suddenly Mariah broke free to gasp for breath, once she regained her breathing, she stared at Ray.
She smiled as she pulled his bangs from his eyes. He looked so handsome and dashing with his hair sprawled out. But to her surprise, his cool collective look had diminished and in replace was an expression of horror.
Ray stared at Mariah, unsure of what just happened. He looked at his position in surprise, he had done this?
“You have to go home.” Ray stated as he got up from the bed. He urgently pulled his hair back into its usual position.
Mariah stared at him strangely, as she stood up from the bunk. She could feel cool tears begin to appear in her eyes. Did he hate her?
Mariah quickly wiped the beginning tears from her face, in hope Ray hadn’t noticed them and smoothed out her dress. Then she fixed her hair, so not to arouse suspicion from her mother.
“C’mon.” Ray stated as he walked from the room. Mariah followed down the dark tunnel.
It was cold and the breaths from Ray’s mouth could be seen.
Ray shook his head and grimaced. Mariah and him could never be. He was a pauper. She was an aristocrat. Besides she was nearly married to somebody.
Mariah closed her eyes and stared longingly at Ray. Why had he run away? Mariah had never kissed any other man the way she had just kissed Ray.
The couple finally made it to the top deck. The deck was desolate and quiet. Mariah could feel the cold breeze tear at her light dress. She felt her nose and cheeks begin to turn rosy from the bitter cold. The duo stopped in front of the suite door and remained silent.
Mariah stared at her suite door and then at Ray. He seemed to be looking elsewhere than at her. It was like he was another person. Mariah gulped, she didn’t want to break the endless silence, but it hung awkwardly over her shoulder and created a feeling of uncomfort that forced her to speak.
“Ray.” Mariah stated, caching Ray’s attention. “I just wanted to tell you that I hate Lee. It wasn’t my choice to marry him. It was my mother’s.”
Ray nodded, understandingly and replied blankly. “Goodnight.”
He wasn’t going to cut between the life already set out for her.
And with that, Ray turned around and grimly began to walk away, but as he did, he felt a hand grasp his shoulder and willingly turn him the opposite direction. He stared longingly down at the girl’s amber eyes and wrapped his arms around the angel and felt his lips touch hers.
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Yes, finally some contact!! YAY!!!! lol, next update will be soon!!