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

✨ Chapter Thirty Five

"Hey, Norman! Ray!" Zack shouted, grabbing the attention of the two boys just feet away from us at the assembly. Norman looked rather startled, while Ray had his usual plain poker face. "That was weird, right?" The white haired boy nodded, stepping towards us. "Yeah, it was really creepy. Have you seen Emma and Oliver? They just disappeared after we had an argument." Ray scoffed, throwing his arm around Norman's neck. "Hey, let's be honest. They're probably all over each other by now, making out in the staircase or something. It's obvious Oliver is into her. And I don't think Emma minds." Norman and Zack grimaced at the thought. It would be a bit pain to all of us if their two crushes started dating each other. The blue eyed boy immediately refuted the suggestion. "We- We don't know that, Ray. Maybe they're just getting drinks, or talking, or- or-" "There they are!" I exclaimed, pointing at two very noticeable heads peeking through the crowd. Oliver's puppy headband and white hair drew immediate attention. So did Emma's bright orange hair and car headband. I called my best friend's name a little louder, and the two noticed.

"They look like a good couple, don't they?" Zack whispered from right behind me. I could sense the sadness in his voice, the shattering of a heart an almost too familiar sound. Emma was carefree, wild, and loved to have fun. Oliver was the same. He was friendly, outgoing, but also a responsible type of person. He knew how to have fun and how to work. They would be good together. But it just... didn't feel right. I nudged Zack's elbow. "Well, we wouldn't know how you and him look until it happens, right?" My chest tightened as I urged him forwards, into a conversation with Oliver. "H-Hey," Zack stuttered, his tanned face warming up into a soft blush. They talked a little bit, before wandering off to the buffet table. And as for Emma, she needed some time with Norman. "Hey Emma, could you-" "Already done." A voice interrupted my sentence, my childhood friends already walking away together. Both of them looked a bit nervous and awkward, but I assume they knew that an apology was in order. And then everything should sail smoothly. "How did you-?" "Just a guess. And I didn't want tonight to end sourly." "Stop doing that." "Doing what?" "Interrupting me, Ray!" I playfully punched his shoulder, a small smile creeping across his face. "I guess that leaves the two of us." "Single forever," I sighed, stumbling to get a cup of root beer. Ray frowned, following me. "I don't think it's that bad, y'know, being alone." It was funny. I never had a problem being alone. Until I met Zack. Suddenly, I felt love. Suddenly, I felt this tightness in my chest that was both suffocating and blissful. I could easily let go, because I thought I had him. But the danger and uncertainty of the action kept the feeling interesting, somehow addicting. But that feeling of love was nothing compared to the painful throbbing of my heart right now. "He friendzoned me, Ray. Super- Super hard." "Does it hurt?" He replied, putting his questions painfully blunt. "W-What do you think, i-idiot?" "I don't know. I've never been rejected before." "I- I wasn't rejected!" I hissed, slightly agitated with Ray's annoyingly indifferent attitude. "So why are you acting like you were? Stop crying, stupid. So you still have a chance." "It was worse than a rejection." "And it still wasn't one. So why don't you go? Go and ask? Or are you still afraid of facing your fears? I thought you changed. I thought you were better than that." "You're so annoying." I frowned, chugging the glass of soda. "And you're going to lose your final opportunity. It's nine, y/n. The party will be over in an hour. And you're either going back to your room, or to his. How do you want tonight to end?" The answer was simple. So, how do I do this?  How do I just... interrupt a conversation with a confession? Ray and I were eavesdropping on Zack and Oliver at the balcony, the black haired boy continuing to pinch my arm to build my confidence. "That hurts, idiot!" I whisper hissed, Ray pulling me backwards harshly. Oliver had seemed to notice our shenanigans, and kept his chuckle at bay. "Anyways, Zack, have you been having fun tonight? Apart from the whole thing with Emma and Norman, you got to spend some quality time with your second best friend." I heard my crush's familiar hearty chuckle. "If y/n's my second best, then who's my first?" Oliver gasped loudly, joking around with him. "Me, of course! So now, spill some tea. Keep this party interesting. Isn't y/n a cute girl? How do you feel about her?" Ray squeezed my wrist. He was listening very intently too. "y/n?" Zack asked. I could sense the uncomfortableness in his voice. "She's sweet. She's really nice, and funny, and I get along well with her." Oliver went as just threw out the question. "Do you like her?" "No." It was just one word. I think I could've handled that "no". But the pain in my heart got worse the more Zack spoke.

"I don't like y/n, Oliver. I like you."

I could practically hear the white haired boy freeze. "What?"

Zack was obviously embarrassed, but he kept his voice steady somehow. "Oliver, my number one best friend. I have a crush on you. I'm in love with you. I have been for years." He admitted these embarrassing things, but so confidently. It's just insult to injury. I'll cry over it, but I'll be fine.

"Zack, what are you talking about? I- I'm a guy! You're a guy! You're my best friend!"

"I know. I love you because of those reasons."

"But- But y/n-"

"What about y/n?"

"She's in love with you! She likes you! You can't- You can't like me! I like Emma, and she likes you and everything's supposed to be... I just- Everything was supposed to work out!"

"Wait- y/n... y/n what?"

"y/n likes you, Zack!"

"No- No, you're lying. She said- She said she was my friend."

"Being friends is how liking someone starts. She met you, she befriended you, and she liked you."

"Girls that like me want to use me, Oliver! You don't understand! I thought she was my friend, I thought she supported me, but she just wants to use me like everyone else- I-"

"Hey, don't talk about her like that, she probably hid it from you because she thought you would act like this. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Worse. She's worse than Gillian. Because she meant something to me. y/n... y/n lied to me. What- What a bitch."

Did I hear that right? Did Zack just call me... that word? What? A pair of hands grabbed my waist, pulling me farther and farther away from the two boy's elevated voices. I wanted to retaliate, and continue to listen, but where would that have gotten me? I already felt my chest caving in on itself. My head had already stopped thinking logically. All I could do was cry as Ray pulled into the empty staircase I once was so excited to run down. My chest heaved heavily, the tears refusing to stop and the heels of my feet suddenly realizing how painful stilettos were to walk in. Ray gently sat me down on a step, kneeling in front of my legs. "I'm going to tie your shoelaces okay? I think your feet hurt because they're really loose." I nodded an "okay" while still sobbing into my hands. I know Ray had heard it. But from the looks of his face, it bothered him just as much as it bothered me. His warm fingers gently grazed my legs, tracing the red ribbon's wayward path until completely undoing them. It was some sort of twisted solace. Another man's touch that is. But god knows what I would've done if I was alone. Gently, Ray tied my laces correctly, giving me a sorrowful gaze when he finished. "I'm sorry y/n. I don't know how this works. Love, confessions, hate, breakups. I want to understand this. I want to help you. How do you feel? I can't have my prized pupil crying, can I?" His right hand gently cupped my cheek. I bet I looked like a mess. I bet my makeup was running down my face with my tears. My hair was probably in shambles and my dress had gotten ruffled and dirty. Ray took of his mask with his other hand, placing it on my own face. "If you want to go back to your room, I'll walk you. If you cry, it'll be less noticeable in this." He slipped off my devil headband and playfully dug it into his own styled hair, ruffling it up a bit. "C'mon, y/n. I'll keep you company." I took Ray's extended hand, allowing him to pull me up.

How did I feel?

Anger. Sadness. Betrayal. Heartbreak. All of those emotions manifested in me tonight, and some fire had started to burn in my chest. I dug my hands in my pockets, following Ray silently as he brought me back to my room. My wand was cold to the touch, a strange feeling of lifelessness washing over my body. God, why- why do I feel so light? Am I... falling? "y/n, what's wrong? y/n? y/n!" I fell into someone's arms, instead of the cold hard ground. Stupid Ray, you should've just let me fall. I don't think... I want to be saved right now.