Opposites (NORRAY FANFIC) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 03

Ray's POV

I ended up winning Uno 6/8 times we played today. Emma whines about sucking at Uno as she picks up the cards and shoves them into the box. After that, we just chat and watch TikTok until Emma is sadly forced to leave because her dad wants her home.

So after that, I draw a little bit, scroll TikTok some more, and stare off into space. Until my mom yells "Ray! Dinner!" I make my way to the dining room table and sit in my normal chair. "How did tutoring go?" my mom asks. "Fine," I murmur. She smiles "Glad to hear it." I take another bite off my plate. "Dad is still at work?" I ask her after I finish my bite. She nods gently.

After dinner, I don't have anything else to do so
I wind up lying on my bed. I State at the progress pride flag that's on my ceiling. I remember when I told my mom that I was gay. I think it'd be weird if I didn't. I was 14 and I was in 8th grade. We were at Walmart.

/flashback, 3 years ago/

Walmart. The sound of carts and people chatting as they throw stuff into their carts. Me and my mom. Shopping together as usual.

"Hey, Mom can me and Emma go see a movie on Sunday? At the downtown theater?" I ask her. "Like a date?" she asks. "Uh- no," I reply. Why do people always assume I like her? "It's fine if it is Ray! Emma is such a nice girl so funny and polite. She-" My mom starts. "Emma is a lesbian!" I blurt out. My mom stops talking because of my interruption. "And... uh. I'm... gay," I mumble as tears well up in my eyes. Why am I crying? Why is it this so scary?

My mom wraps me in a hug. A tight hug but I don't mind. I just cry on her. "I love you no matter what," she comforts me. I pull away and run my eyes. "I'm sorry if you thought you couldn't tell me, Ray, I love you so much and you being gay wouldn't ever change that," she smiles at me.

/end flashback/

She bought me a pride flag and even brought me and Emma to the pride parade that year. It was a pretty cool year. Sleep comes easy tonight because warm memories ease my brain into a calm. Before I know it, I'm knocked out.

Norman's POV

(rewind about one hour)

I'm grateful for the snack I had at Rays because at my house there is barely anything to eat. A few spare pizza rolls and a gallon of milk. I split the pizza roles between me and my mom and my little sister so I only get two. I pour myself a half glass of milk.

It's also pretty cold tonight so I snuggle up with a blanket and work on homework and book club meeting plans on my school Chromebook. Someday I'll make lots of money, I'll help my mom and sister out. I'll have a nice house, I can almost picture it.

I made 50 bucks tutoring Ray. I gave it to Mom when I got home. She kissed me on the cheek and thanked me. She said she'd go grocery shopping tomorrow after work.

I can remember my friends bullying Ray. It was pretty awful actually. I remember being afraid because I don't know that I'm straight. Honestly, I don't want to think about it. Being gay is the least of my worries right now. If I am it'll just cause more issues that I don't have time for. Also, I'm not dating until after high school because it's just a distraction. Dating has never seemed like that big of a deal to me. I've never really had a crush on a girl like most of my friends have. Not having a crush on anyone makes it really easy to not date.

I stay up late finishing work and then I snuggle up under a few blankets and try to sleep. After a while (which feels like forever) I drift into a gentle sleep.

When I wake up to my alarm it's early. I do my usual to get ready for school except with no breakfast.

School goes by as usual until science anyway. "you'll be doing a partner project wit the person sitting next to you," The teacher explains. I sigh because I hate partner projects. At least it's just Ray though, it could be someone more annoying.
The teacher continues explain what to do and then sends us off to do work.

"So which section do you want to start with?" I ask Ray. He shrugs while looking at his phone. Of course, he doesn't care. I sigh and start filling out a part.

"Well don't do it yourself," he mumbles. I give him a glare "at least one of us has to do it," I quip back. He slides his phone into his pocket and sighs. "I feel bad making you do all of it. What should I do?" he asks. I smile, it's nice having a partner who actually does work. Usually I all the work myself.

We work for a while and then the bell rings as I pack up to leave for my next class I ask him "How's your essay going?"  he shrugs in response and leaves for his next class.

I hate his I don't care attitude. It makes me so angry. Later that day I see him in the hall and as we brush past eachother he monotonously says "see ya Thursday."

—————————————————————————-

950 words!