Lonely Eyes [Norman X Ray AU]

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TW: Mentions of verbal/physical abuse and dysfunctional families. Please do not read on if any of these topics triggers or upsets you.

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3rd Person's pov

"Welcome back Ray."

The raven had never felt as sick as he did in that moment, like someone was tying knots in his chest, and prodding at his stomach viciously. His breath caught in his throat, eyes wide as he tensed up.

"Why hello there, are you a friend of Ray's?" Her sickeningly sweet voice directed itself towards the innocent young man in front of him. The albino's eyes hovered over the menacing violets that shot daggers at him; compared to his first encounter with her, she held this violent stare that shook him to his very core.

So this was the real Isabella Gracefield...

Norman stuttered, "O-oh, yeah hi- I'm Norman, it's nice to meet you again." There was an uncertainty in his tone, with eyes full of confusion and disbelief.

So his mother really was the school Principle?

Norman hummed; the information William gave him was spot on if that's the case. He reached his hand out to shake hers, which she did with a deceiving smile. "It's nice to see you again my dear, it appears you've settled right in to the school, I'm glad. And thank you, for taking such good care of my darling Ray for me."

The gratitude made Ray want to scoff and roll his eyes, but there was still a firm hand placed aggressively on his shoulder, it's grip strengthening with every interaction she made with the albino.

Norman's stance was awkward, and Ray couldn't blame him for that. The sinister smile, the strict aura, the intense eye-contact; anyone would have been on edge around her. She was dressed in her school attire, apparently she wasn't expecting to converse with anyone important that evening, as her hair was down and dropping down her back and side of her face.

"I'm happy to see that he's finally got a friend; I haven't seen him hang around people in years! He was always such a lone wolf, always on his own and isolated even as a kid." Norman glanced down at Ray's hands, that were clenched by his sides into fists. His skin was paling, and a sorrowful and fearful expression was loitering on his face.

Norman nervously smiled, "He's a good friend of mine; I like spending time with him, he's fun to be around. Actually... He's my best friend." That caught the Gracefield families attention, their eyes were wide by the time Norman had expressed his opinions on the teenager. Ray wasn't sure how to react; was it normal to feel so giddy, yet so sad at the same time?

Was he saddened by the term friend?

Or was he happy?

He shook his head, smiling lightly at the platinum blonde who's cheeks were tinted the slightest shade of red. Isabella stood quietly behind the two, and for a fraction of a second, Ray could sense a shift in her behaviour, before it turned just as quickly back to her bitter politeness.

"Best friend? Even though he's so shy? Well, it's relieving to hear." Isabella wrapped her arm around Ray's shoulders, dragging him closer with a forced smile quivering on her lips. Ray's thoughts averted back, his brows furrowing thinking of the punishments he would receive when he was home. The idea made him gulp, and his hands shake lightly in fear.