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

✨ Chapter Twenty Seven

"That really does look cute on you. I thought the whole cat girl thing was a joke." I harshly pulled on my pair of crimson red heels, fiddling with the strangely stiff ribbon trailing up my calves and to my knees. Emma easily slipped on a comfortable pair of new black converse sneakers. "Norman is going as a cat too. And Oliver's gonna be a puppy." Sorry Emma, I'm only half paying attention. I just can't seem to get these stupid shoes under control! "Holy shit-" I muttered, getting these annoying red ribbons tangled within each other. A slightly amused orange haired girl kneeled in front of me, peeling my wandering fingers away. "What are you doing, silly?" Her gentle smile brought ease into my heart. The ball was two days away and I still couldn't figure out how to deal with this dress on my own. "Could you show me one more time? The... The shoes?" I whispered, a bit embarrassed that Emma would have to demonstrate for nearly the twentieth time. But the green eyed girl just giggled warmly in response, adjusting the ribbons gracefully and gently around my leg. "Did you get it that time, y/n?" Ugh... Not really. But I didn't want to disappoint my best friend. "I think I'm fine, Emma. Thank you." She fixed my feet firmly on the ground, the crimson stilettos clacking softly as they met the wooden floor. "Norman should be here any minute. Should we ask him what he thinks?" I felt my face grow warm. This dress... More importantly, ME, in this daring yet beautiful dress... How would anyone react to this? Hell, I didn't even know how to react!

As I finished the thought, a soft knocking startled me to my feet. I pulled on the lace velvet red coat Emma and I purchased ( with Professor Yuugo's money ) and stumbled my way to the door. I guess I'll use Norman as a way to gage how Zack will react. Because that was my goal. To impress Zack. Emma flashed me own last thumbs up before I took a deep breath and turned the metal knob slowly. "N- Norman, don't be weird, o-okay? Just- Just tell me if I look..." "I don't even know what to say." What? What the fuck? That voice- It wasn't Norman's. It was- "Zack!" Emma shouted, pushing me aside. I was frozen in shock and embarrassment, staring blankly at my crush who was equally at a loss for words. "What- What are you doing here?!" She pushed me deeper into the room before closing the door behind her, dragging Zack back into the hallway for whatever he'd come here for.

I couldn't seem to process what had just happened. His face- My own expression. His coal black eyes were wide open, his jaw dropped. I didn't want him to see me now! I didn't- I- "AHHH!" I shouted into a pillow. Those familiar tan cheeks were tinted red. I could only image what color I was. My heart, my head- Zack- I was going to explode from this stress! But did I look cute? He did say he didn't know what to say- Oh my god, do I look fat? I knew it! I shouldn't have let Emma talk me into this!

The door clicked open softly, an exasperated orange haired girl collapsing onto her bed. She threw a small packet of papers onto my desk, groaning in annoyance. "Some stupid study notes. From Ray." "From Ray?" I muttered, a little confused. "From Ray." Emma nearly hissed. I threw off the heels and shuffled my way to the parchment. A small note written hastily on a yellow post it was stuck on the blank cover page. "Don't slack, stupid. If you fail your test tomorrow you're not allowed to go the ball. Read these carefully. -Ray" My chest grew warm as I flipped through the pages of highlighted, annotated and thoughtfully planned notes. They were all written in Ray's tilted sort of script, yet neat and easy to read. He was right, this is no time to slack. I have to confess to Zack during the party. It might be my only chance before he decides to pursue Oliver seriously. It's sure to be a crazy night. How could it not be when I'm wearing something that's not a hoodie?