BILLET-DOUX ✦ CLASSIC ROCK

40 - ray davies ²

For the lovely achillesfirststand who wanted to see more Kinks content! This is unbearably cliché, but enjoy!
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The sun beat down on your unprotected head as you sat perched in the middle of a row of bleachers that outlined the perimeter of the football field. You were exhausted from a long day at school and, no matter how much your bed called to you, Ray had made you promise to stay with him and watch him practice.

You weren't sure what his angle was, really. Ever since Ray had grown in popularity as a football player, he'd insisted you stay by his side and support him. You were the only one he wanted around – the only one Ray would open up to.

Plenty of boys that hadn't given Ray the time of day before tried to partner up with him in class, but he wouldn't have it. He'd easily choose you over them, dodging their efforts to play nice and heading straight for your desk across the classroom. It was rather sweet, in all honesty. You had been Ray's friend for nearly six years and not once had his loyalty shaken.

Now, you supposed that your relationship had taken on a new role. Were you meant to be Ray's cheerleader, sitting here all alone? You had already lost track of him on the field, darting back and forth with the ball in tow. You didn't know much about football, but Ray looked like he was pretty good at it.

Sighing, you rummaged around in your bag, trying to find your math homework. If nothing else, you could use this time to get caught up on your grades. You used your notebook as a desk propped up on your knees as you tried your best to keep your writing neat and precise. It was slow going with the bright sun in your face and sweat rolling down your back, and eventually you fell into a rhythm.

The background noise of Ray kicking the ball around faded to the back of your head for what felt like hours as you worked your way through nearly two pages of equations.

A loud thud directly in front of your spot made you drop all of the papers you were holding as all the breath left you in one gasp. Standing barely two feet in front of you was Ray, smiling cheekily and covered in mud.

You watched your hard work flutter through the crevices of the bleachers and onto the grass below, your mouth agape. "Ray, I swear to God!"

Ray had the heart to seem guilty as he helped you scoop up your homework. "Thought you were paying attention," he said, just this side of teasing.

Once all of your papers had been returned to your folder, you allowed yourself to chuckle. "And watch you do squats for thirty minutes?"

"It's to tone my legs!" Ray cried indignantly. You could've sworn his cheeks grew pink. "I was runnin' most of the time!"

You grabbed your bag and rose to your feet. "Well I'd better get home. My parents'll kill me if I stay out any later. Yours will too."

Ray muttered something that sounded a lot like don't hold your breath, but soon followed behind you. He was like a cloud of tension hanging over your head, waiting to burst. Ray hadn't gone into great depth about what was causing him so much grief at home and you hadn't asked. Whatever it was, it bled onto every aspect of Ray's life – including you.

Together you walked home, you leading the way and Ray traveling uncertainly behind. There seemed to be something on his mind that he wasn't voicing. You could feel his eyes on the back of your head and every now and again you could hear him begin to say something, but quickly cut himself off.