NorRay-emo loser-

Norman's pov

TW: violence, anxiety

I woke up tired and scared. I felt like I physically couldn't move from my bed, but eventually I got up and ate a bagel. I went through the rest of getting ready for school wishing I was doing anything else. At least I'll get to see Ray. I took a deep breath and walked out the door.

The school day was pretty normal, and by that I mean living hell. I managed to keep it similar to how it usually is, because whenever I saw one Keith's gang I aggressively walked away before the could notice me. Lunch with Ray and Emma was alright, but I think Emma's getting suspicious of what really happened yesterday. She was acting weird. I tried to ignore it, but it stayed in the back of my mind. Still, seeing Ray made me feel a bit more okay. When the day ended, I was relieved, and half ran out the door. I took a breath when I got outside. 

Now I can go home. Maybe it'll be alright, and I can just go on like this. Maybe R- I froze in my tracks. Keith, Braxton, and a few of their friends were waiting for me, smirking.

"Oh, look, the emo losers friend can't talk anymore either, huh," said Braxton, his face mostly healed.

Next was Keith, "Seriously, what's wrong with you? I heard you cry at anything."

I clenched my fists. I was so brave when I was about Ray, but now... My vision was blurring(Author here, Melanie Martinez is playing in my head, we needed a crybaby moment)

"Shut up, just let me past," I managed. I was kind of impressed with myself that I said this without my voice breaking.

"And what will you do if we don't, exactly? Don't have your buddy with you now," said a new voice, who I recognized as Zach.

"I-" I started, but Keith shoved me down, and I grunted.

I tried to get up, but he just shoved me down again. I tried to form words, but I couldn't get them out. I was going to cry. This was too much. I gave up and curled up into a ball. I felt them kick me sometimes, but I was just focused on pretending I was anywhere else.

SWITCHING POVS

Ray's pov

The school day was boring, but Norman seemed really sad and tired and worried. I tried calm him down at lunch, but I wasn't sure how to communicate ✨️ calm vibes ✨️,  and I get really flustered super fast around him, so I think I failed. Apart from that, though, everything was normal. After school, I walked home, deciding I'd take the long way so I could, like, think, I guess. Then, I heard Braxton's voice and stopped right away, hiding behind a tree.

"Hahahaaa, just look him, he's so fucking pathetic."

Keith was there too, "You gonna get up or are you just gonna cry?"

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck this is baaaad please don't be Norman they're talking about. I looked past the trees and almost yelped with horror. There was a circle of guys, Braxton and Keith close to the middle. And in the center, what everyone was looking at was Norman. He curled in a ball as they kicked him. Fuck no. Without a second thought, I ran, more sprinted over to the circle.

"FUCK OFF." I yelled, pushing past them to stand over Norman.

Everyone just sort of stared at me, but freshly bandaged Braxton looked nervous.

"Go on."

Braxton stuttered, "Er, we were j-just about done here anyw-ways. Huh, guys? Y-yeah, let's go"

His group sort of shrugged and strode off.

Once they were gone, I hugged Norman, "What happened?" I whispered.

He just sort of shivered and whimpered.

"It's okay, they're gone, it's me, Ray. Please, Norman, what did they do?"

"S-sorry," Norman choked out, his voice cracking.

"It's okay, just take your time."

"No, it's really dumb, I overreacted and you're worried, I'm sorry," Norman said, still not looking up.

 "Norman.... shut up."

He laughed weakly, "I just got overwhelmed from the pushing me and talking, I'll be fine."

I shook my head, "No no. The answer to that is not 'I'll be fine', it is 'I now give Ray permission to kill those jerks.'"

Norman was quiet for a moment, and then looked me in the eyes, his face still showing that he'd been crying, "I love you."

I was shocked for a moment. Then I kissed him.

Author's Note: As I said earlier, my best works come from the the wee hours of the morning. This is so fun to write frfr. No one likes you Braxton, you are comparable to a fucking pigeon. Anyway, this is my favorite chapter. BYE BYE