Note:
"WAHHHH THIS TOOK LONGER THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE!?"
Warning:
Claire existing
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Chapter 20: "Cracks in the Glass"
The days bled into weeks, and while the rift between Ray and Matthew seemed to mend on the surface, there was an undercurrent of uncertainty. Their friendship wasn’t quite what it used to be, and both of them could feel it, even if neither dared to say it out loud.
Ray couldn’t shake the feeling that Matthew’s sudden determination to patch things up was born out of guilt rather than genuine understanding. And Matthew? He was grappling with feelings he hadn’t yet figured out how to name.
---
A week later, in the cafeteria.
Ray sat at their usual spot, stirring his drink absentmindedly. Across the table, Matthew was telling a story, something about his math teacher’s overcomplicated explanation of the simplest formula.
“And I’m just sitting there, thinking, ‘How is this supposed to help me in real life?’” Matthew said, grinning.
Ray gave him a faint smile but didn’t respond.
Matthew’s grin faltered. “Ray? Are you even listening?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah,” Ray said quickly, though it was obvious he hadn’t heard a word.
Matthew frowned, leaning forward. “Okay, what’s going on? You’ve been weird all week.”
Ray shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just tired.”
“Ray—”
“Drop it, Matt,” Ray said sharply, cutting him off.
Matthew blinked, startled by the edge in Ray’s voice. He opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it.
“Fine,” Matthew said quietly, leaning back in his chair.
The tension between them was palpable, and for the rest of lunch, neither of them spoke.
---
After school, at Ray’s house.
Ray sat on his bed, a notebook open on his lap. The words on the page blurred together as his thoughts spiraled.
He hated the way things were with Matthew. He hated the uncertainty, the way every interaction felt like walking on eggshells. But most of all, he hated that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop caring.
A knock at the door broke his train of thought.
“Come in,” Ray called, his voice flat.
The door opened, and Skyler stepped inside. His older brother’s presence was always calming, and for a moment, Ray felt a flicker of relief.
“Hey,” Skyler said, sitting down beside him. “What’s up? You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Ray sighed, closing his notebook. “It’s nothing. Just school stuff.”
Skyler raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that? Because last time I checked, school stuff didn’t make you this quiet.”
Ray hesitated, then shrugged. “It’s just… complicated.”
Skyler nodded thoughtfully. “Complicated like ‘I can’t figure out this math problem,’ or complicated like ‘I have no idea what I’m doing with my life’?”
Ray couldn’t help but smile at that. “Somewhere in between.”
“Well, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me,” Skyler said, ruffling Ray’s hair. “And don’t forget—you’re stronger than you think, bean.”
Ray’s smile faded as Skyler left the room. He wasn’t so sure about that.
---
The next day, before class.
Claire intercepted Ray in the hallway, her smile sharp and predatory.
“Ray,” she said sweetly, falling into step beside him.
Ray’s jaw tightened. “What do you want, Claire?”
“Relax,” she said, her tone syrupy. “I just wanted to chat. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Matthew lately, haven’t you?”
Ray stopped walking, turning to face her. “What’s it to you?”
Claire’s smile twisted into something more sinister. “I’m just saying, maybe you should back off a little. Matthew has more important things to worry about than babysitting you.”
Ray’s fists clenched at his sides. “What’s your problem, Claire? Why do you care so much about what Matthew does?”
“Because he doesn’t need someone like you dragging him down,” Claire hissed, her mask slipping completely. “Face it, Ray—you’re nothing but a burden to him. You always have been.”
Ray’s heart clenched, but he refused to let her see how much her words hurt.
“You don’t know anything about me or Matthew,” he said coldly. “So maybe you should mind your own business.”
Claire scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Whatever. Just remember—he doesn’t need you. He never has.”
As she walked away, Ray felt a mix of anger and sadness swirling in his chest. No matter how hard he tried to brush off her words, they clung to him like a shadow.
---
That afternoon, at the music room.
Ray sat at the piano, his fingers gliding over the keys. The melody was soft and melancholic, a reflection of the storm brewing inside him.
He didn’t hear the door open, didn’t realize he wasn’t alone until Matthew spoke.
“That’s beautiful,” Matthew said, leaning against the doorframe.
Ray froze, his hands hovering over the keys. “What are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you,” Matthew said, stepping inside. “Claire said something to you, didn’t she?”
Ray’s jaw tightened. “Why does it matter?”
“Because I care about you, Ray,” Matthew said, his voice firm. “And I’m not going to let her mess with your head.”
Ray shook his head, standing up from the piano. “It’s not just Claire, Matt. It’s everything. It’s... us.”
Matthew frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ray took a deep breath, his hands trembling. “I don’t know how to do this anymore. I don’t know how to be your friend without... without feeling like I’m breaking apart.”
Matthew’s heart ached at the pain in Ray’s voice. “Ray, I—”
“Don’t,” Ray said, cutting him off. “Don’t say anything unless you actually mean it. I can’t handle any more empty promises.”
The room fell silent, the weight of Ray’s words hanging between them.
“Then let me prove it to you,” Matthew said quietly. “Let me prove that I mean it. That you’re not just someone I care about—you’re someone I can’t imagine my life without.”
Ray’s breath hitched, his walls crumbling just a little. “Why now, Matt? Why are you saying this now?”
“Because I’m done being afraid,” Matthew said, stepping closer. “I’m done pretending I don’t feel the way I do.”
Ray looked at him, his heart pounding in his chest. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to hope.
“Okay,” he said softly. “But don’t make me regret this.”
Matthew smiled, the sincerity in his eyes making Ray’s heart ache. “I won’t. I promise.”
---
To be continued...
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Love Her, Not Me
عاطفيةTittle: Love Her, Not Me shi0shi_ (This was originally named as "Seriously, Again?") "Three times I confessed, Three times you declined. Yet somehow my heart still chose you, defying reason, defying pride." Ray and Matthew met as freshmen in high sc...
