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

✨ Chapter Thirty

"Emma where's my fucking shoe? I literally can't find it!" "Well maybe you should've prepared everything last night so we wouldn't be in this rush!"

Haha, she was right. After I got back to the dorm, I had decided to take the fattest nap of my life. Using pyro magic was more difficult than I thought it would be. The amount of focus and control you have to exercise to make sure you don't burn something down was so mentally taxing. In fact, I actually still can't believe I did so well.

"Ignit!" Unlike Ray's fireball, mine was a deeper shade of red, almost crimson, tinges of little purple bolts following the little flame. The flame quickly formed into a warm orange ball inside the silver lantern. And just like that, nothing had burned. The willow tree was alive and well, and I turned around to make sure Ray didn't somehow get into some freak accident within the last 30 seconds. My chest was heaving with exhaustion and disbelief, but the look on my mentor's face was pure pride and happiness. "y-y/n!" He shouted my name, pulling me into a tight hug. Another fire was lit in my chest. "You did it, y/n!" I... I did it? I did it? I- I did it! Slowly, I'd begun to process my success, while Ray just gazed at me patiently. I passed my test. I used a pyro spell without killing anything. But... am I sure? My chest... it really burns... But not in a bad way. I just feel warm as a whole, actually. I blinked a couple of times, starting to return to real life. Someone's messy black hair was tickling my cheeks. A pair of warm arms were squeezing my waist. "I'm so proud of you, y/n." Ah. Ah? Ah! "R-Ray!" I stuttered, finally realizing the warm embrace he had attacked me with. I think he had too, as he stumbled backwards, his usually pale face flushed bright red. "S-Sorry- I- I was just-" "I'm really happy too, Ray." I finished his sentence, knowing that he wouldn't have an explanation. The sun had begun to set, dyeing us both a warm caramel orange. I was feeling some weird sort of deja vu. A sunset. An ocean of orange-red leaves. Ray. My heart racing. But I pushed the butterflies in my stomach deep down. "S-So, I'll be seeing you at the Gala tomorrow?" I threw my backpack over my shoulder, handing Ray his as well. His fingers brushed against mine, those damn butterflies trying to break out the cage I dug them in. "Of course, stupid. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Here's your damn stiletto, y/n, now help me find my headband!" Emma tossed the red heel onto my lap, the two of us in a panicked hurry. I woke up at about 4:30 pm, with our meeting time being five. And God knows I wouldn't get this dress, makeup, shoes, and mental state to look good in time for 5:00. I threw the shoe to my side, instead helping Emma find her cat ear headband. "How do you even misplace the most crucial part of your outfit?" She laughed, nudging my shoulder playfully. "How do you misplace a bedazzled red stiletto with mile long ribbons?" I shrugged, giggling in return. "Touché," I replied, shuffling through a pile of her shirts. Something plasticy grazed past my finger. I grabbed it, pulling Emma's damn cat ears out. "You didn't check this mess over here?" I asked, tossing her the final piece of her costume. She'd already done her makeup, and I'd done the cute symmetrical whiskers on her cheeks. The orange haired girl thanked me, rushing to the mirror to adjust its fit. "Ah shit, I gotta go. You'll be down in thirty, right?" I nodded my head, opening the door for my friend. "Yeah, you all can wait for me in the event hall. I'll send you a blink when I leave." Emma fastened her wand to a cute little silver belt accenting her black dress. "Then, cya y/n!" I waved as she disappeared into a flight of stairs. The dorms were already empty, not a sound or voice to be heard from anywhere. I glanced at the clock, grimacing at its hands, telling me it was 5:05. I wonder what Zack was doing. Hopefully Emma could distract Oliver so they didn't interact too much. I have to do this tonight. I have to confess.

Taking a deep breath, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I'm not the same person I was a month ago. I was a coward. I was bitter. I was mean, cold, unforgiving and traumatized by my past. But luckily, I had people there to push me through my darkest hours. I had Norman and Emma, who've been the most loyal, kind, and patient people ever. I've had Zack and Oliver, who completely defied my stereotypes and just shattered my cruel way of thinking towards the world. I should thank headmaster Isabella sometime today. For pushing me to take pyro. For helping me find a way to get over my fears. And most of all, Ray. Who's just... who's just saved me. I wouldn't be where I am today without him, that's for sure. "You're brave. You're strong. You're loved. Don't forget that, me." I tapped my nose in the reflection, glancing at the red dress laying on my bed. "And you're going to look fucking amazing."

Makeup. Let's not go too hard. I don't wanna ruin Emma's extensive amount of makeup pallets anyways. Why does she have so many? She doesn't even wear this crap, haha. Let's try to look soft and innocent, yet slightly alluring. I dabbed some of the problem parts of my face with concealer. I don't think I need to use foundation. I don't want to look like a cake. Now for eyeshadow... let's go sparkly- peachy, highlighting the inner corners with a bright white shimmer. Ugh, eyeliner. My hands were already a shaking mess. How am I going to make these wings look good? And then I remembered. That's what we have magic for. I pulled out my wand, tapping the eyeliner pen gently. Take a deep breath and think about you want it to look like. It'll be fine. The cold felt tip of the pen gracefully traced my upper eyelid, drawing a perfect wing on my left eye. "Huh, pretty cool." I muttered, doing my right eye next. And for lips... Let's just go with a light gloss, tinting only the inner lips with a soft pink. Some warm undertoned blush... Some glitter freckles... And we're done! I winked at my reflection, pleasantly surprised by my work. Maybe I should quit witchcraft and become a makeup artists instead, haha. Again using my magic as a makeup hack, I curled my hair into soft beach waves, brushing through them so they looked a little more natural. And the dress. I don't think I'll ever get used to having my collarbone so exposed, but that's what we have this cute velvet cape for. And unlike Emma, I remember where my headband is. I gently placed the little devil horns on my head, struggling to string these stupid shoes on. Unfortunately, my magic can't help me here. I don't even know what the stupid ribbons should look like, even though Emma showed me hundreds of times. Well... This looks... good enough. Hopefully my outfit will distract people from my very incorrectly tied stilettos. I grabbed my wand, whispering Emma's blink. Shutting the door behind me, I carefully stepped down each individual step, making sure I don't rip my dress or trip in these shoes. "Hey, y/n!" Emma's voice was filled with excitement and joy. I guess she was having fun. "I'm coming downstairs now." I replied, my voice echoing in the stone corridor. "We'll see you soon, y/n! Oliver, stop eating those tarts, you're going to have to shi-" The call had cut off abruptly, making me giggle to myself. I was looking at the ground, watching these little feet in crimson red heels make their way down a flight of stairs. These feet are mine. This body is mine. And I'm sure as hell going to impress.