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

✨ Chapter Thirty Eight

"Hey, y/n, is something wrong? You've been kinda spacey, did something happen?"

"Huh? What? I'm fine, just tired." That wasn't a complete lie. My feet still hurt like hell and however much sleep I did get just didn't feel like enough. But something else weighed a little heavier in my mind.

Ray tilted his head, giving me an unconvinced glance. "You can go back to bed if you want. I'll stay here and wait for Emma." I shrugged, making my way from my chair to my obviously very used mattress. I guess there's no wait out of this but rest. I shuffled my way to Ray's side of the bed, noting how warm it was. Something in my chest resonated with the heat, and I buried myself in the also very warm blanket. It was really comfy. "You might be here for a while. Emma sleeps like a rock." Ray shifted his chair, brushing his messy bed head aside. I pulled the futton over my face, an unbearable heat washing over my face. W-What the hell? Am I sick? There's no other explanation... right? "I don't mind. Your room is surprisingly peaceful, as messy as it is." "I'm going to take that a compliment." I replied, my voice muffled. "As it is," he chuckled, taking a crunchy bite from the apple.

So now, I'm supposed to be sleeping, right? But- But I can't! My chest- My head, it's pounding! I seriously can't handle this! Well, Ray's humming, that is. It's- It's surprisingly cute. I've never heard Ray this gently, singing along softly to some familiar melody I feel like I'd heard before. "Hey, y/n, are you awake?" He startled me with the random question, but I held- or laid- my ground. "I guess not. You had a long night." I heard the chair creak under the release of his weight, his soft footsteps stopping right in front of me. They shifted downwards, to my feet, and I felt his hand brush against my toes. "I probably can't say this to you face to face, so I'm glad you're sleeping. First, I want to apologize. For forcing you to confess last night, even though Oliver beat you to it. Hearing someone you love say such terrible things about you is something I would never wish upon anyone. Except Gillian. And she still can't seem to take the hint." I had to hold my breath to stop me from laughing. "Second, you looked beautiful last night. I feel like I didn't tell you enough. But I was... awestruck when I saw you. I couldn't even believe it was you, actually. That soft, stupid girl always wearing hoodies and leggings was suddenly this enchanting, just- just mystifying fairy. This is so embarrassing, I just- I just have to get it off my chest. I might explode if I don't." I could sense the second hand embarrassment radiating from his squirming body. I wonder what my poker faced tutor looked like right now. "You asked me before if I liked someone, y/n. And I think I do now. This unlucky girl that's caught my eye, you'll help me with her, right? I'm bad at feelings. I'm bad at love. And maybe, when you're awake and I feel like you won't tease me too much over it, I'll tell you about her. I like talking to you, y/n. I wish I'd never left you." Okay, as deep and wholesome the last part was, I'm more shook that Ray likes someone?! Oh my god! Imagine this emo lopsided bangs weirdo in love with someone. Haha, I can't. I can't imagine Ray being anything near nice to a girl. He's always cold, unfriendly, and gives his damn textbooks a more  passionate gaze than most people. I was left to wander my thoughts as Ray silently laid down at the door of my bed. I wasn't nervous. I didn't feel on edge, or afraid. It was peaceful. But something inside me wanted to talk to him. I just... wanted to hear his voice.

"y-y/n! I'm here! Ya girl is here!"

"Yo."

"Whaddafuck?"

"I was taking care of her. Since you failed to last night."

Emma replied, obviously a bit agitated. "Yeah sure, well I'm here now. You can leave."

Ray's weight was lifted from the foot of my bed. "Maybe you can give me a schedule next time. When you're going to be a good friend and when you're not. Because if I wasn't here, she'd have been all alone. Well, have fun with your two boyfriends, I guess. y/n has better things to worry about, so don't fuck up my student."

"Hey Cyclops, literally no one asked. Weren't you the one who set up the pairs? You wanted Norman and I to make up. You're seriously being annoying."

Oh god. It's really just argument after argument with these people. But- But how should I step in? I can't have another scuffle over me escalate.

"I expected you two have a cute date and to go back to your rooms with your respective dorm members. She was crying for hours on end and all she had was me."

"You could've just left, dumbass. You keep calling her your student. So keep those boundaries. Those mentor-pupil boundaries. Don't get closer to her than you already have. Who knows, you might just leave her out of the blue again. And Norman and I will have to pick up the pieces, like always."

Ray was silent. No hissy rebuttal, or sassy snap back. Like he'd accepted that. That he might disappear again.

"Now get your shit and get out of my room. I need to take care of my sister." Ray mumbled something like an "it's about time," and stomped his way outside. He slammed the door behind him, Emma letting out a very deep sigh. I felt her hands pat the top of my head, covered in my fluffy pink blanket. "You poor thing. I'm never letting you get close to a stupid boy again. Especially Ray. What an asshole, right?" I heard the distant creak of her own mattress. I think we all knew it, somewhere really deep in our hearts. Our happy friendships had started to crumble, jealousy, pride, and unreturned feelings all starting to clash. Maybe it was because of the damn party. Maybe it was all bound to happen. All I know is that our lives had turned into a whole mess and half.

"I'll protect you, y/n. Norman will too. I know I was the one who told you to just go for Zack. But maybe I was too hasty. We didn't know him well enough and you ended up being hurt. I don't want that to happen anymore. You've been hurt enough, by anything and everything. So don't get close to Ray, okay? We don't know him well. And he gives me a bad vibe. He just wants something from you. And I don't think it's friendship."

Norman's momtude was starting to rub off on Emma. Where am I going to find fun friends now, haha? But seriously, it made my chest warm knowing how much Emma cared about me. And as for Ray? I can only stay so far apart from someone I meet almost every day. I have so much to worry about. I have to speak to Zack and Oliver. And find out what's wrong with my wand. But I think we'll tackle things one at a time.