✨ A Little Bit of Magic || READER X RAY || The Promised Neverland

✨ Chapter Eight

"Starting with the basics of magic. Magic is like a reservoir, a big pool of unicorns and rainbows. Everyone has their own private pond, and each one depends on the user's internal strength."

"Mhm mhm." I nodded, yawning, not really paying attention to Ray's lecture. "y/n." The black haired boy said my name strictly, tapping my desk with his wand. "Are you going to fall asleep again?" Tch. As if he'd let me. "No, Ray. I'm fine." "Then can I see your notes?" He raised an eyebrow conspicuously, unconvinced my mind was anywhere in the room. He got me. "Unicorns." I tapped the doodles on the margins of the lined paper. "And rainbows. Just like you said." His eyebrows furrowed, visible frustration written across his face. "I don't like your attitude." He hissed, slamming my notebook shut. I returned his sour glare, pulling the black book into my arms. "And I don't like your damn class." "Good thing you'll be spending some more time with me then." He smirked, flicking my forehead. "What?" I scowled, pushing him away. His gray eyes glistened mischievously. "Headmaster said that I would be your tutor for the rest of the year. You didn't want pyro, right? Well now you have me." "Like hell!" I shouted, standing up. I received an aggravated shush from the librarian. It was too late though. My chair clattered to the ground loudly. Ray's voice was ringing with some sort of triumph, like he had won our feud. "You're not the only one who doesn't want to be here, y/n. So do us both a favor and sit the fuck down. You're acting like a child." 

Hell no. Fuck no. This stupid idiot leaves my life when I needed him most and now he thinks he can just trot in for brownie points with the headmaster? I clicked my tongue, storming out of the room. The empty hallways of Grace Field Academy were filled with the harsh stomps of my boots, echoing in the stone corridors. That annoyingly smart idiot called my name. "y/n! I'll see you tomorrow!"

No way. No way in fucking hell was I going to do this every day. 

"Give me someone else! Anyone else!" Headmaster had been doing this more often. Rubbing her temples and sighing deeply, giving me that look of her patience being pushed to the brim. "y/n, he's the only qualified student to teach you. Everyone else flunks pyro one." "I- I don't care, give me someone average, give me someone who failed-" "y/n, I've been very lenient with you. Even if you don't like him, just listen to his classes. I don't want you to be his friend I want you to get the credit. Please." I sighed deeply, slapping my cheeks.  God, my life sucks. "Fine. Fine. Fine." 

"Get along with him, nyeh nyeh nyeh," I recalled her words mockingly, heading to the library. Ugh, how am I supposed to face him? Do I apologize? Do I pretend yesterday didn't happen? Whatever, I'll figure it out- "Oomph-" I crashed into someone's chest, my wand clattering on the floor. A strange feeling of deja vu washed over me as I bent over to pick up the rod. A boy's tanned fingers brushed against mine. "Ah-" We yelped in unison, grabbing it. I turned my gaze upwards, a familiar striped headband looking back at me. "Za- Zack! Hi!" I squeaked, waving my arms frantically. I felt my face grow warm with embarrassment. The black haired boy chuckled, dangling in my wand in front of my face. "I remember you. We bumped into each other a few days ago, right?" I nodded, taking the obsidian stick. "We should stop doing that." "Mhmhm!" I mumbled, trotting off. Emma- Emma couldn't be right. He was the stupid jock. I didn't even know him. He easily stepped by my side, following me. "So, what's your name?" Was- Was this real? Was he really talking to me? "y- y/n," I blushed, clutching my wand tightly. "Pretty name," he commented, his shoulder brushing against mine. My chest suddenly felt very... squirmy... And some warm feeling was flying around in the pit of my stomach. "I- I'm going to the library a-and I don't know where you're headed, s-so," "What a coincidence! I'm going there too! I need to check out a textbook. Oliver accidentally casted an enchantment on my last one." I giggled. He was strangely easy to talk to. "He- he's kind of a goofball, isn't he?" Zack chuckled, glancing at me with his ink black eyes. "Quite literally, actually. He placed a ridiculum on the damn thing, so now instead of Pyro Two and the Warrior's Weapon, I have a collection of fairytales." "That's not that... ridiculous?" I smiled, the butterflies in my stomach running wild. "Oh, you haven't seen the pictures. The princesses have been blessed with only the bushiest of mustaches." He put placed a finger over his lips, imitating the illustrations. When was the last time I talked to someone who wasn't Norman or Emma? Probably too long. "Oh, we're here." I was slightly disappointed by our inevitable arrival at the library's large wooden doors. "Ladies first," He turned the knob and bowe dramatically. "Why thank you, sir." I giggled, stepping inside. I wonder where- "You're late." A voice like a blade pierced me from behind. Ray was leaning against the wall, annoyed and unamused. How was I going to talk my way out of this? Zack's excited voice hopped in front of me "Yo, Ray!" That stupid idiot's cold glare changed into a friendly smile within a second. "Zack," He grinned, shaking his hand. The boy with the headband winked at me, my face immediately growing hot. "That's all my bad. I'd bumped into her and steered her off course from your class. Isn't that right, y/n?" He nudged my shoulder, glancing at Ray. I nodded my head. God damn it these butterflies! Ray sighed, accepting his apology. "Thanks for getting her back here. She's quite the stubborn student." God, I wanted to smack him into another universe. Zack patted my head, walking off to the librarian's desk. 

Right as he left, Ray's expression turned back into that condescending sneer. "I hope you're aware you look like a tomato." "Shut up!" I hissed, shoving his shoulder as I plodded past him. "I also hope you don't talk to your teachers like that." "Just hurry up and teach me!" I pulled my chair out aggressively, sitting down. I opened the first page of my textbook, just to have Ray slam it shut. "y/n, I have a proposition." "What?" I hissed, throwing his hand off of my book. "All I want from you is a good attitude and to be an enthusiastic, easy to work with student." "And I want you to shut up, so we can't all have what we want." He sighed deeply, flicking my forehead. "I know you like Zack. It's basically written on your face." "I do not!" I yelped, very flustered. The librarian gave me an exasperated shush. "I do not have a crush on Zack!" I whisper screamed to the unconvinced boy across the table. "Yeah sure, and my name's not Ray. Anyways, I happen to be good friends with him. So here's my deal. I'll give you a chance with him. And in return you'll be a good girl." This- This might be my only opening. How could I find any other way to interact with the school's most beloved football player? I wasn't a cheerleader, or popular, or half as pretty as Gillian or anyone else. All I did know was that he made my heart beat faster. "And that's all you want from me? To be a good student?" He flicked me again. "Yes, y/n. If you're in a good mood, teaching you will be easier. So go fall in love, I guess." He held out his hand, raising an eyebrow. "Deal?" He asked. I grimaced, taking it hesitantly. "Deal."