Pretend to Love Me ~Norray~ (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 5.

Norman stared at his dad, then looked nervously at Ray. Norman sighed. "Yeah, I and Ray are dating." He grabbed Ray's hand. Ray blushed and leaned against Norman. Norman's dad stared at them. There was one thing Norman didn't tell Ray, how his father was homophobic.

His father wasn't the type of person to see a gay couple and yell at them for being gay. But he obviously saw something wrong with it. Norman remembered one time when he was twelve, he was just learning about the LGBTQ+ community, he was playing the sims. He had a boy sim marry another boy.

He didn't see anything wrong with this. Then his father asked if he was trying to tell him something. Norman shook his head and said no. Out of curiosity, he asked if there was something wrong, with being gay. His dad's exact words were, "No, I just don't want you doing it."

Norman never forgot that. He never will. So to be standing here, with a "boyfriend," scared him. His father stared at them for a while. "I see." That was all he said. Norman looked at his and Ray's hand. He squeezed Ray's hand, which made Ray look at him.

"Let's go on a walk," he whispered. Ray smiled and nodded. Then Norman dragged him outside. "You could of let me get my coat," Ray said. "Sorry," He replied.

They held hands as they walked. There was a brisk morning wind, the sun seemed to have just woken. "Are you okay Norman?" Ray asked. He had noticed the worried face Norman had been wearing ever since he answered his father.

Norman sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's— complicated," he said. Ray furrowed his brows. There was barely anything he didn't know about Norman. And for the first time, he wasn't sure what was wrong.

"Norman, please tell me," Ray pleaded. Norman looked at him. "Remember when you asked why my father didn't like you?" Norman asked. Ray thought about it. "That was last year," he said. Norman nodded.

"Well... he says he doesn't hate you— it's just— he says he's uncomfortable around you," Norman explained. Ray tilted his head in confusion. "Don't you get it, Ray? My father's homophobic..." Norman said.

They both stopped walking. Ray was confused about why Norman never told him this. He felt bad for Norman. He could have helped. "I'm sorry Norman," he said.

Norman looked at him. "Don't apologize, you didn't do anything," Norman said. "Exactly! I didn't help you." "You didn't know," he said. "But I should of," Ray replied.

Norman ruffled Ray's hair. Ray blushed. A smile sneaks onto his face. Norman loved seeing Ray happy. The rare smile from the black-haired boy. It was like a little present in a pretty box.

He pulled Ray into a hug. Ray was shocked at the sudden movement but didn't protest. Norman warmed up Ray's cold arms. "Sorry I didn't let you get a jacket," Norman said.

Ray chuckled slightly. "You're much better," he answered. There was a silence. A comfortable silence. "Can I do something?" Ray asked looking up at Norman. "Do whatever you'd like," Norman said.

Ray gave Norman a light kiss. Only a short one, afraid to get any more intimate. Norman smiled. "So shy," he said. Ray rested his head on Norman's shoulder. "Do you really not mind..?" Ray asked. "Of course, I don't," Norman said.

Ray closed his eyes. "I don't want to force you," he said. "I'm the one who offered, remember?" Norman reminded him. Ray nodded. There was a pit in his stomach. He figured that feeling was guilt.

'Just a little longer won't hurt' He thought. "Come on, we should go back before you get sick," Norman said. "Okay."

They walked back to Norman's house. Norman held Ray close to keep him warm. "We should go on a date," Norman said. Ray looked at him. "Like— me— and you—?" Ray asked.

Norman laughed. "Who else?" Ray couldn't hide his smile. "Yeah, okay," he said.  They made it back to the house. Norman and his father didn't speak. It was an awkward atmosphere. Ray could tell why Norman was so eager to leave earlier.

Norman went up to his room to get his wallet, then he came back down and took his dad's keys. He grabbed Ray's jacket and gave it to him. Then they went outside.

"Doesn't your dad have work?" Ray asked. "Not today," Norman replied. Ray just nodded his head. They both got in the car, Norman in the driver's seat and Ray in the passenger seat. It was a grey Ford truck.

"I don't think I've ever been in your dad's truck," Ray said. "Really?" Norman asked. "Yeah, weird," He said. Norman started up the truck and pulled out of the driveway.

"Where are we going?" Ray asked. Norman smiled. "It's a surprise," he said. Ray looked at him. "You know, I normally don't like surprises," he said. "You'll like this one," Norman replied. "How do you know that?" Ray asked. "I just do," he said.

Ray looked doubtfully at Norman. "I don't know, what if I hate it? Huh?" Ray asked. Norman laughed. "Do you have no faith in me?" He asked. "I do," Ray replied.

"Then just trust me."