Pretend to Love Me ~Norray~ (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 6.

Ray smiled. "Okay, I trust you," he said. Norman smiled. He drove them to a small shop. "Eh? What is this place?" Ray asked. "Come on," Norman said.

They both got out and went into the shop. There were books everywhere. Not only on the shelves but stacked on the floors and tables. "How have I never known this was here?!" Ray asked. Norman chuckled. "They just opened last week, I found them while walking around here," He said.

Ray smiled. "This is awesome Norman!" Norman was glad he could make Ray light up like that. They went over to the counter to order some coffee. A boy their age came out from what must have been the back room. He was just a little taller than Ray but shorter than Norman. He had shoulder-length, chestnut hair that was half up. Deep green eyes behind thin black glasses.

"Hello welc— oh hey Norman!" The boy said. "Hey Mathew," Norman smiled. Ray looked back and forth between the boys. He was confused about how they knew each other. How did Norman know him? When did they meet? Why didn't he know Mathew? Did he go to their school? No, that couldn't be it. Ray knew everyone at school. He wasn't friends with all of them but he knew everyone.

"Oh right! Mathew this is Ray, Ray this is Mathew," Norman said grabbing Ray's hand. He still got butterflies every time Norman touched him in any way. "Nice to meet you, Ray," Mathew said. Ray nodded. "Uh, sorry, how do you two know each other..?" Ray hesitantly asked.

"Oh! My parents own this place, Norman was our first customer. We started talking and became friends. I go to school in a different district." Mathew explained. "Oh okay!" Ray smiled.

Norman and Ray got their coffee then sat down with Mathew and talked some more. "The movie sucked though right?" Ray said. "Absolutely! Terrible!" Mathew answered.

Norman smiled seeing Ray talk about things with someone besides him. Mathew took Ray on a tour of the shop. Norman sat there looking at his phone, and drinking his coffee. He was looking through photos of him and Ray.

'I thought I knew him better than anyone..' He thought. 'But I didn't even know he liked me...he's kept it from me all this time..what else don't I know?' His thoughts were overwhelming. All these what-ifs. But the one that scared him most: what if Ray moved on and left him?

He didn't want to think about things like this, but it was hard not to. They were on such thin ice. Cracks all over. One misstep and it was all over. They'd fall through. Everything gone.

Norman knew he could never let that happen. He'd go to the ends of the earth for Ray, for their friendship. To him, it was all he had. That's why he was doing this. That's why he'd do whatever Ray asked of him. Ray had a power over Norman he didn't even know.

Norman sighed and put his phone away, then he went and looked for Ray. He found him with Mathew they were talking about some book. Norman smiled then went over and hugged Ray.

Ray's face flushed. He could feel Norman's hot breath on his neck. "Hey," Norman said. He was completely calm, he had hugged Ray many times and thought nothing of it. Ray on the other hand was freaking out.

He tried to calm himself down. He didn't want Norman to see him red as a tomato, freaking out, just because he hugged him. Mathew stood there with his arms crossed smirking.

"Why won't you look at me.." Norman mumbled laying his head on Ray's shoulder. Ray's stomach flipped, and he couldn't get any words out. He could barely breathe. Mathew laughed silently at this and figured he should give them some alone time. He walked away back to the front counter.

Norman made Ray face him. But Ray still looked at the ground embarrassed. "Is something wrong Ray?" Norman asked a bit concerned. He was still holding Ray's waist. "Hey..this is what you wanted right? For me to treat you like we are dating?" Norman asked.

'Like we are dating...' Ray thought. It was like he was awakened from a dream. He had to remember the reality. Norman didn't like him. He was only doing this because he felt like he owed Ray.

Ray grasped Norman's arms. He didn't want to cry. He wouldn't cry. Norman looked at him with pity. He hated that. He hugged Norman tightly burying his face into Norman's chest. Norman sighed and held Ray's head close.

They didn't speak. They didn't need to. Ray closed his eyes as he listened to the beating of Norman's heart. Ray took deep breaths to calm himself down. He unconsciously synced his breathing with Norman's.

"I'm sorry..." Ray whispered. "I'm sorry," he repeated. Norman kissed the top of Ray's head. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry about," Norman said. "I do," Ray whispered.

Then he let go of Norman and backed up. "Are you okay?" Norman asked. He didn't want to pester too much, but he needed to know Ray was okay. Ray nodded slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine now, thanks," he said.

Norman didn't quite believe him but he accepted the answer anyway. He decided to change the topic. "So did you and Mathew get along?" He asked. Ray smiled. "Yeah! He was cool we actually made plans to hang out here tomorrow," he said.

"I'm glad." Norman smiled. Ray returned the smile and they walked back to the front together. "We're gonna get going now, see ya later Mathew!" Norman said. "Oh see ya guys! See you tomorrow Ray!" He smiled. "See ya," Ray said waving.

Norman and Ray left in the truck. They drove around town and got something to eat. Then they walked around the park. They were laughing and talking. It was much better than the sullen atmosphere at the bookstore.

"The sunset is pretty," Ray said. Norman looked at the colors that blended making a sunset. It looked like something straight out of a painting. "It is," he replied. Ray smiled, and Norman looked at him.

"You never used to smile like this," Norman said. Ray cocked his head. "Hm? I smiled," he replied. 'You smiled...but were you ever really happy..?' Norman thought. He grabbed Ray's hand holding it tight.

"I'll make you smile like this every day. I promise."

Authors note: sorry it's taking me so long to get chapters out 😭 I'm busy with many things and I will try to be more efficient! If you have stayed with me this long thank you!!! Hope you liked this! Bye now 👋