Love Her, Not Me

Chapter 3: "A Day in the Spotlight"

Note:
"I apologize if this is too short... I am busy with tons of work, I have a competition tomorrow, and I have to practice 24/7."
"Please enjoy."

Warning:
Cringeness
______________________________________

Chapter 3: "A Day in the Spotlight"

The days at Ridgeview High seemed to follow the same predictable rhythm for Ray. Classes blurred together, the cafeteria buzzed with the usual noise, and the library became his haven during lunch breaks. It wasn't glamorous, but it was manageable. That was, until Skyler's presence at school cast an unwelcome spotlight in Ray's direction.

Ray knew the rules: keep his head down, avoid attention, and never-under any circumstance-let anyone find out that Skyler, the charming and athletic senior everyone adored, was his older brother. Skyler had made it clear from the beginning that secrecy was for the best.

Ray wasn't sure he agreed, but he went along with it. After all, who would believe they were brothers? Skyler, with his confident demeanor and perfectly styled hair, looked like he belonged in a magazine, while Ray's acne and thick glasses screamed "awkward freshman."

That morning, however, the unspoken rules of their secret relationship were put to the test.

---

The day started with an unexpected announcement over the loudspeaker:

"Good morning, Ridgeview! Don't forget, today we'll have the senior-freshman mentorship program kickoff during lunch in the gym. Seniors and freshmen will be paired up for activities and mentoring sessions throughout the semester. Attendance is mandatory!"

Ray groaned inwardly. He had completely forgotten about the program. The idea of being stuck in the gym with a bunch of seniors-and possibly Skyler-made him want to disappear.

"Hey, you're not skipping this, are you?" Matthew asked, nudging Ray as they walked to their first class.

Ray adjusted his glasses and shook his head. "It's mandatory. Not like I have a choice."

"Could be fun," Matthew said with a shrug. "Maybe we'll get paired with someone cool."

"Yeah, sure," Ray muttered, already dreading the whole ordeal.

---

By the time lunch rolled around, the gym was packed with students. Seniors stood on one side of the room, chatting and laughing, while freshmen huddled nervously on the other. Ray's stomach twisted as he scanned the room. Skyler was there, of course, standing in the center of a group of seniors who hung on his every word. He looked completely at ease, like he belonged there.

Ray, on the other hand, felt like he might shrink into the floor.

"All right, everyone!" boomed Coach Davis, clapping his hands to get their attention. "We're going to pair you up randomly. Seniors, take a card from this box. Freshmen, take one from this one. Find your match and get to know each other!"

Ray shuffled to the front of the line, grabbing a card with trembling hands. He glanced at it: #27.

He looked around nervously, holding the card up, and froze when he saw who was holding the matching number.

Skyler.

Ray's heart sank. This was the last thing he needed.

Skyler's eyes widened slightly when he saw Ray, but he quickly schooled his expression into one of casual indifference. He walked over, his usual confident swagger on full display.

"Well, looks like we're paired up," Skyler said, keeping his voice neutral.

Ray shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. "Yeah. Lucky me."

Skyler leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Relax. No one knows, and I'll make sure it stays that way. Just play along."

Ray nodded reluctantly. "Fine."

---

The activities were simple icebreakers: sharing favorite hobbies, discussing future goals, and building towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows. Skyler kept their interactions professional, treating Ray no differently than he would any other freshman.

But Ray couldn't shake the feeling of being under a microscope. Every time someone glanced their way, he worried they'd notice the resemblance or overhear something that would give them away.

"Hey, Skyler," one of the seniors called as they walked by. "Your freshman looks terrified. What'd you say to him?"

Ray's cheeks burned as Skyler laughed it off. "Nothing. He's just shy."

The comment stung more than it should have.

---

By the end of the session, Ray was emotionally drained. As the gym emptied, he lingered behind, pretending to organize his things while he waited for the coast to clear.

"You okay?" Skyler's voice cut through the quiet.

Ray looked up to see his brother standing a few feet away, his expression softer now that they were alone.

"I'm fine," Ray muttered, shoving his notebook into his bag.

"You didn't look fine earlier," Skyler said, crossing his arms. "Did someone say something to you?"

"No. It's just... this whole thing," Ray said, gesturing vaguely around the gym. "It's hard enough being at the same school as you without getting paired up for something like this."

Skyler frowned. "Ray, I didn't ask for this either. But it's not a big deal. No one knows, and no one will find out unless you tell them."

Ray hesitated, then blurted, "Do you ever think it's weird? Pretending we don't even know each other?"

Skyler looked away, his jaw tightening. "It's not about pretending. It's about giving you space to figure out who you are without people comparing you to me all the time."

Ray stared at him, unsure how to respond. Skyler's words made sense, but they didn't make him feel any better.

"Look," Skyler said, his tone softening. "If this is really bothering you, we can talk about it later. But for now, let's just get through this program without making things harder than they need to be. Okay?"

Ray nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

---

That night, as Ray lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't stop replaying the day's events in his mind. No matter how much he wanted to stay out of Skyler's shadow, part of him couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if people knew the truth.

Would it really change anything? Or would it just make things worse?

For now, he didn't have the answer. But one thing was certain: keeping secrets was far more exhausting than he'd ever imagined.