rayemma oneshots & other

Pained Eyes

• Oneshot

Spoiler warning for chapter #181: mentioned events

Request from veranae

Note: I'm sorry if this one feels rushed. I hope you enjoy still :')

Ray dreads the moment they pass her by in the halls.

He unwillingly has an entourage of overenthusiastic guys that follow him from behind, and him, being the only one in the group who has never had a single girlfriend throughout three years of college, is of course chosen to be the subject of their embarrassment ritual.

A familiar head zips through the departing 2 PM crowd of students, and since she sticks out like a sore thumb, of course the boys notice her. Ray can already feel the sweat on his back and his jaw clenching up. Don, Nat, and even goddamn Norman immediately burst into howls and laughter, calling her name.

"Hey, orange girl! How was last Saturday with Ray? Huh? We're dying to know!" Don jeers.

"Are you dating yet? Marrying yet?" Nat asks with a cat's grin.

"Ray's a lost cause! You better tie the knot quickly, or he might just run away!" Norman nudges Ray in the side.

Ray turns away, tries not to look at her, and he doesn't really have to, considering that her expression never changes. The same cordial smile with the slightest awkward tilt, and these incredibly pained eyes.

"Ah, we didn't do anything! He politely declined. And that's okay!" Emma says.

"Huh?!" Nat gapes. "But- but you invited him to dinner, didn't you? You even waited for him, he said!"

Norman turns to Ray looking dreadfully disappointed. "You left her waiting? Ray..."

"Sorry," Ray says plainly. "Something came up. Sorry, Emma."

"That's some bull! Give her a better apology! I know you weren't doing anything that day, make it up to her!"

"Are you gonna be alone for the rest of your life?! We won't let that happen! None of us will! You need to find love, Ray!"

"We'll be your cheerleaders, Ray, we solemnly swear. She's perfect for you, you can't deny it-"

Emma raises her hand, and she manages to silence the boys. "It's okay, really! Ray doesn't have to explain his reasons to me! I just thought it would be a nice way to get to know each other, but if he doesn't want that, it's okay!"

Don looks at her dumbly. "Nah, man..." he then glares at Ray. "This angel is way too good for you. You haven't even done anything to deserve her. You better make this better."

Ray scoffs, and starts to walk off. "If you think she's so great, then you should date her."

"You're telling me to leave my own angel?! Ray, that's a low blow! Come back here and fight me!" Don runs after him.

Norman and Nat stay behind a moment for small talk with Emma, then they jog to catch up with the other two.

"You know we're doing this because we want to see you happy, Ray." Norman gives a smile. "But, you know... with the way you two met... it just seems like a match made by the heavens."

"Don't remind me," Ray dismisses him. "I don't take that day personally. She confused me with someone else, that was all."

"No way, that was totally meant to happen," Nat argues. "You step out on campus. Cute girl screams your name. She runs into your arms, she cries over you, she wails and wails about how much she missed you... heck, she even said 'I've finally found you' like you were two movie protagonists! Ray, that was destiny, you don't know how good you've got it!"