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

✨ Chapter Thirty Three

"y/n, I dragged you inside to dance, but you look like more of a statue than a fun loving teenager. Are you embarrassed to be here with me?" I frantically waved my arms no. It was an honor to be on the dance floor with Zack, so much of an honor, that every other girl in the room had started to notice us two together. God, I hope Gillian wasn't here. "I just- I just really can't dance, I'll look like a dying snake." "Then don't dance by yourself, silly." Zack suddenly took a big step towards me, opening his hand as if he expected me to take it. "C'mon. We can ask for a slow song. I'll teach you the moves."

Is- Is this real life? Or is this just fantasy? I have to be dreaming. Because right now, the hottest jock in school, my crush, was leading me through the ballroom with his hand around mine. I ignored the other girls' stares. I ignored their whispers and their words. It didn't mean a thing to me. After all, at the end of the day, Zack was still here with me. Not them. He muttered something to the student running the speakers, a slightly shorter boy in an aviator hat. "Your- Your name is Nigel, right?" I blurted out, accidentally speaking the words I was thinking. The boy, obviously unamused, nodded his head. "And you're the homewrecker, right?"

I froze, completely shocked and confused. What did he just say? What did he just call me?

He leaned in over the table, to my right ear. Zack was chatting with the other kids DJ'ing on my far left. "Don't play innocent now. Wipe that surprised look off your face. You know exactly what you're doing." I took a startled step back, all the noise in the room blurring out. All I could hear was Nigel's voice. "You know that Zack likes Oliver. You know that Oliver doesn't know. And you're trying to take advantage of that. Using Emma as a decoy to get Oliver to stray, pretending to be Zack's confidant so you could be worth any sentimental value to him. You're just another one of those stupidly desperate girls. And it's sad. You went through all that trouble but he still won't see you as anything more than a friend." How- How could this person I barely know accuse me of these things? I- I like Zack! I like him for who he is! I'm not pretending to be his friend, I'm not exploiting the situation! "You're wrong." I hissed harshly to the brown eyed boy. "You don't know anything about me. You don't know anything about my relationship with Zack." Nice grinned mischievously, his condescending snickers almost breaking into a laugh. "Really? You? A relationship with Zack? You're incredibly stupid. Any scraps of affection he's given you so far will end tonight. Don't you know? Or did he not tell you?"

Huh? What is he talking about? I guess I must've looked particularly confused, as Nigel sneered his reply instantly. "He's planning to confess tonight. He's planning to confess to Oliver."

"Y-You're lying. You're lying to get under my skin. Zack would've told me. Zack would've said something." The boy shrugged, lifting the silver disk of the song that was playing. "Hm, a slow song. BTS is pretty popular these days. How about Spring Day? Do you like that song, y/n?" "Answer my question." I hissed, ignoring his meaningless remarks. "Just thinking of a good soundtrack. Maybe... House of Cards? It's a little more... Y'know, chaotic. Aggressive. But still more a softer song. You could ask him. It's sure to be interesting. For me, at least." Nigel placed the disk labeled BTS- SPRING DAY onto the record player and the song quickly filled the room. A bunch of fan girls had started squealing just as RM began his rap. "Hey, y/n, are you ready?" Zack touched my shoulder, a sudden wave of uneasiness washing over me. "Ready?" I asked, glancing towards Nigel, who had seemingly disappeared. "Ready to dance? It's that slow song I asked for." God, that hot feeling on my leg. And it definitely wasn't an erection. I shoved my right hand in that pocket in my skirt which I'd almost forgotten about. If anything was bothering my leg, it would be in here. And it's... my wand? It's... It's burning up! My wand feels like it's on fire! What the hell? I tightened my grip on the stick, a searing hot piece of metal burning my palm. "Ngh-" I muttered, pulling my hand away. "Hey, y/n, is everything alright?" Zack grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to him. I should've forgotten about Nigel's words, but they just festered in my head, getting louder and louder. "I'm- I'm fine, Zack. Let's go dance or whatever."

He led me to an empty spot in the crowd of partying students, gently teaching me how to ballroom dance. "Hands on my shoulders, okay?" I nodded slightly, still perturbed by that hat asshole's words. Zack's warm hands found their way to my waist, gently pulling me closer to his chest. I should've been ecstatic. We were getting closer. We talked on the balcony, we were literally dancing with zero space between our bodies. But I couldn't shake the thoughts in my head. He continued to lead the dance, multiple slower songs continuing to play. I'd lost myself in my doubts and replied plainly to Zack's conversation starters. He seemed to notice my disinterest, starting to scan the crowd for someone to talk to. "Hey, y/n, look! There's Oliver and Emma!" Oh. Great. Oliver and Emma. Zack made a run for the two, but I caught his hand. I had to know. I came here expecting for us to get closer. I came here trying to change his mind. And I thought I was doing that for just a second. Just one moment.

He turned around, startled with my sudden action. Zack obviously wasn't having fun with me. "Yeah, y/n? What's up?" I felt my eyes grow wet with tears. I don't know if it was frustration, anger, or some sort of betrayal. "Are you going to confess to him? Are you going to confess to Oliver?"