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

✨ Chapter Fifty Four

I ate my cereal silently.

So did Nigel, at the other end of the table.

It wasn't awkward, or weird. This empty atmosphere was what we deserved. Actually, what he deserved, after I woke up to him cuddling me like a teddy bear.

"I said I was sorry," He muttered, taking another mouthful of Cheerios. I rolled my eyes, grabbing his cup of orange juice. He frowned as I brought it to my lips, taking a big sip. I replied, my mouth full,  "And I said I'm still mad at you." The blond haired boy snatched the glass back, slamming it onto the wooden table. His leather cap shuffled at his violent movements. "We have more important things to worry about than sleeping together, idiot!" He hissed, a little too loudly.

No, definitely way too loudly.

The words "sleeping together" summoned an orange haired girl who'd been mysteriously missing since last night. Emma the drama hound. Touché.

I imagined an imaginary tail wagging at the end of her black jacket, my best friend's emerald green eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I knew it! You guys were doing it last night!"

"Shut up!" Nigel and I shouted, dragging her onto a chair. It was the one time I would agree with this asshole. "We did not sleep together!" I whisper screamed, shoving a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth. Emma tilted her head. "So what were those noises? After I finished dinner, I headed up, and the door was locked. You never lock the door, y/n. So I used my listening holes," she giggled, tugging on her ears. "And I heard you guys being very... very loud. Like, very loud. And it wasn't a bad loud, by any means. You- You two were obviously having a great time, so who are we to judge?"

"Who's having a good time?" Norman and Ray asked, startling our trio. Well, more like Nigel and I lowkey bullying Emma and stuffing her with food.

"Nigel and y/n had sex last night!" She blurted out. At that, the icy blue eyed boy dropped his spoon in defeat. "I- I seriously can't with this child. She's- She's your problem now, y/n. I can't be here anymore." Nigel's glare shot at Ray, but the shockwaves it sent made me shiver. "It smells like dog here. A puppy dog, to be quite honest." His hand brushed against mine as he left the cafeteria quite quickly.

He turned back one last time, at the hall's entrance. I could tell what he was thinking, and I didn't like it. A small grin spread across his face, again, that icy glare finding its way to Ray. He winked at me. "And babe, y/n, if you wanna have some more fun tonight we can do it at my place. Send me a blink."

God, this idiot. I sighed, rubbing my temples.

I turned back to my friends, not really caring to explain the situation. It wasn't like they'd understand anyways, and Ray? Well, he's the exact guy Nigel told me to stay away from.

My dilemma. I knew Ray. I trusted Ray. I don't know Nigel. But why would he lie to me? What if my life really is in danger? I glanced at the black haired boy, who was already glaring at me. "H-Hi," I stuttered out, shuffling back to my seat in between Emma and Norman. He caught my wrist, harshly. The look in Ray's eyes reflected Headmaster Isabella's in that memory.

Anger. Frustration. Disappointment. But the way his eyebrows furrowed when our eyes met showed me he was scared. Fearful, Sad. But for what? What could he possibly be thinking right now?

It probably wasn't the right time, but I remembered those three words. The feeling I felt for this stupid, black haired idiot.

"I love you."

Was it a feeling I was allowed to feel? Was it something it was okay for me to have? A love? I found my gaze wandering down his pale face, to his lips, those soft pink lips which had almost met mine last night. Until Nigel so rudely interrupted.

If Isabella was really hunting me, then at least let the one who takes me be Ray.

"Let go of me," I muttered, trying to pull myself away. But his grip was strong, an increasing frustration growing in his eyes. "If I let you go you'll just run back to him." My heart skipped a beat, as it always does with Ray. His teeth, which were grit in anger, had now softened into a very embarrassed frown. He turned pink very easily. And I liked that too. "Ray, I'm here to eat breakfast. I'm not going anywhere, and definitely not back to that flaming asshole." His grip loosened, allowing me to slip my hand back into my pocket. "Are you sure?"

God, I love the way he talks. I love the way his lips move, I love this cute embarrassed side of him. Ugh, I have to stop thinking like this!

I smiled. "Yeah, Ray. I'm going to eat every meal with my best friends."

He frowned at that, sending a wave of uncertainty through my chest. My heart ached, but out of pain. That's right. All I was is a friend. Ray needs to steal someone else's heart. Someone he loves, apparently. Whats wrong with me and unrequited love? Why does this always happen to me?

I stopped a sigh from escaping my lips.

Everything hurt too much. Zack's curse. Isabella's hunting. My crush on Ray.

But if anything could take my mind off of death, love, and more death, it would probably be a good old story from our hearty Professor Lucas.