Pretend to Love Me ~Norray~ (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 4

Norman sat there, Ray in his arms. He didn't know what to do. His best friend was sobbing and it was all his fault. He didn't know if he should say something or just let him cry. He was scared of what this would do to their relationship.

Ray cried for about five minutes, but it felt like an eternity. He calmed himself down by taking deep breaths. He couldn't bear to look at Norman. "I'm sorry," Ray said quietly. Norman just looked at Ray. What was he supposed to say?

Ray began to move and Norman realized Ray was trying to leave, so he pulled Ray into a hug. "Don't go." Ray didn't know how to react. "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to tell you," Ray said. There was a silence. Ray just wanted to run away, he wish Norman would let him leave.

"How long have you liked me?" Norman asked finally breaking the silence. Ray looked up at him. He stared at Norman before answering. "Since the 6th grade. A little before I came out to you," he said. Norman nodded. "That long and I had no idea..." he said.

"You weren't going to tell me?" Norman asked. "Well, no.. I mean, you're my best friend and I didn't want that to change," Ray replied. Norman pressed his lips together in a thin line. "I don't want that to change either, so, can we just go back to being best friends?" Norman asked. Ray looked down.

"No."

"No? What do you mean no?" Norman asked, he was obviously worried. "I mean no Norman. Four years. That's how long I hid my feelings. How long I've lied to myself. I can't do that anymore. If I'm with you I can't get over you..." He said. It was quiet. "I don't want to lose you, Ray..." Norman whispered.

Ray looked up. "I don't want to lose you either, but you don't love me as I love you... and it feels like I'm pretending when I'm around you, being someone else. I hate that. I just want you to love me..." Ray immediately looked away after saying that. 'God could I be any more selfish and desperate?!' He thought.

"Ray." Norman made Ray face him, by holding his face with one of his hands. "What are you—" Norman cut him off by kissing him. Ray was stunned. Was this really happening? Maybe it was a dream, maybe he never told Norman he liked him. Norman broke the kiss.

Ray was flustered and confuse. "I— but— you don't like me?" He asked. "You said it right? Why don't we just pretend I do..." He replied before kissing him again. Ray knew it was wrong. He knew Norman didn't love him. So why did it feel so right?

Ray knew it was selfish, but he had been waiting for this for a long time. He kissed back. He had imagined this a million times, but the real thing was better in every way. His eyes closed on instinct. It took a second but soon their mouths were in perfect sync.

Norman didn't know how to feel while he was kissing Ray. He had never thought of Ray like this. He knew pretending to love Ray wasn't the best option, but he figured soon Ray would find someone else and everything would be okay.

They broke the kiss looking into each other's eyes. "I'll do anything you want Ray," Norman said. Ray felt bad, but this was all he ever wanted. He hugged Norman, burying his head in his stomach, and Norman held him. Norman played with Ray's unexpectedly soft hair.

Norman really did love Ray, just not romantically. Maybe that's why he felt like he needed to do this for Ray. They lay on the bed for a while, Norman playing with Ray's hair.

"Ray?" Norman said. Ray didn't move. 'Is he asleep?' Norman thought. Norman sighed. 'I'll let you sleep..' he thought. Norman closed his eyes. About 10 minutes later he fell asleep too.

"Norman, I'm home!" Norman's dad called from downstairs. "Huh? Is he already asleep, normally he stays up late on the weekends.." his father mumbled to himself. His father decided to go check on him and went up to Norman's room.

He opened the door. "Nor—," he started to say but stopped when he saw them. Norman's dad shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He didn't know what to think about a boy sleeping on top of his son.

He knew Ray because he was his son's best friend. But right now looking at them, Norman's dad doubted that they were only friends. 'I didn't think Norman was like that... I'll have to talk to him about this.' He thought. He closed Norman's door, then he called Isabella letting her know Ray was spending the night.

In the morning Norman woke up startled to see Ray on top of him, but then he remembered what had occurred the night before. "Hey, Ray, wake up," Norman said. Ray was still sound asleep. Norman smiled and shook his head.

"Come on wake up," he said nudging Ray. Ray groaned and finally opened his eyes. His face flushed when he saw he was on top of Norman. "Sorry..!" He said quickly getting off of him. Norman laughed. "It's fine."

Norman got out of the bed and went to his closet. He got a t-shirt and shorts and threw them at Ray, who caught them. "Thanks," he said. Norman smiled. Ray got up and went into Norman's bathroom to change.

Normally Norman wouldn't think twice about Ray wearing his clothes, since Ray had done it so many times before. But now knowing Ray likes him he started picking up on the little things. Like how Ray would never change in front of him when Ray would get nervous whenever he touched him, how if Norman got too close Ray wouldn't let him see his face.

Norman thought about what would happen if Ray really did move on and found someone else. What would that mean for them? Ray wouldn't leave him, right? Maybe he would. Maybe Ray would act like Norman didn't even exist.

Norman shook the awful thoughts out of his head. Then Ray came out of the bathroom. "You okay?" Ray asked. Norman looked up at him and smiled. "Mhm!" Ray smiled and walked over to him. "Thank you," he whispered as he hugged Norman. "For what?" Norman asked. Ray didn't answer.

Norman sighed and just held Ray. "We should go eat breakfast," Norman finally said. Ray nodded and they headed downstairs. Norman's dad was sitting at the table. "Hey dad," Norman said as he walked downstairs. Ray was behind him. "Hey Norman, Ray," his father said.

Ray felt an uneasiness when Norman's father looked at him. "Where's mom?" Norman asked. "She went to work early today," his father answered. Norman nodded and went to the kitchen, Ray stayed close by him. "I actually have a question for you two," Norman's father said. "Hm? What is it?" Norman asked.

"Are you two dating?"