For Him, I Stayed

Chapter 24: "Unfamiliar Faces"

Note:
"I decided to make Leo and Mary the new students because why not?..."

Warning:
Lovely Drama
Claire
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Chapter 24: "Unfamiliar Faces"

The day felt off from the moment Ray stepped into the school. He couldn't shake the weight of the past few days-avoiding Matthew, the constant ache in his chest, and the growing sense that everything was slowly crumbling around him.

As he walked through the hallways, he caught sight of Matthew, standing with Claire and a few of their classmates, laughing. Ray turned his gaze away before Matthew could notice him. It was easier this way. It was easier to just pretend everything was fine, even though deep down, he knew it wasn't.

He had to keep his distance. He had promised Claire that he would, even though a small voice in his head told him that doing so was hurting more than helping. But what was he supposed to do? Matthew didn't need him. Not anymore.

---

Later that morning, the PA system crackled to life, cutting through the buzz of voices in the hallways.

"Attention, students. We have some new transfer students joining us today. Please welcome them and make sure they feel at home."

Ray felt his stomach tighten. More new students? He couldn't exactly deal with that right now, not with the way his world had been shifting. But as he walked to his next class, he saw them.

Four new faces, standing at the entrance of the classroom, were introduced by Mrs. Hart.

"Class, this is Viviane Nicole Monroe, Leo Parker, Jarren Carter, and Mary Ann Clayton. Please make them feel welcome."

Ray stood in the back of the room, pretending not to care. He watched as the new students made their way to the front, exchanging polite greetings with the others.

Viviane was the first to catch his eye. Her hair was dark and sleek, her smile easy and confident, as if she already knew how to navigate this world. She gave a little wave as she scanned the room, her gaze briefly meeting Ray's. Something about her made him pause, but he quickly looked away, as if that might somehow make her less real, less present.

Leo stood beside her, a relaxed grin on his face. His slouch suggested a nonchalance that contrasted with Viviane's more composed demeanor. Then there was Jarren-Ray had heard about him, but it was hard to ignore how different he seemed in person. Tall, with messy dark hair and a sharp gaze, Jarren immediately struck Ray as someone who wouldn't put up with any nonsense.

And finally, there was Mary. She had a gentle air about her, her Brown hair falling in soft waves around her face. She wasn't as loud as the others, but there was something calming in her presence, like she was a breath of fresh air in a room full of noise.

Mrs. Hart gestured for them to sit, and the class slowly got back into their rhythm, but Ray couldn't stop thinking about the new students. He didn't want to care, but something about them felt different, like they were going to change things in ways he couldn't predict.

---

Lunchtime came, and Ray found himself alone at their usual spot. He was supposed to be keeping his distance, but that didn't make the gnawing feeling in his chest go away. He couldn't even enjoy his lunch. His eyes kept drifting over to Matthew, who was sitting with Claire and the others. Every time their gazes met, Matthew would look away quickly, but Ray could still feel the weight of those unspoken words between them.

Just as Ray was about to get up, Claire sauntered over to him, a smirk playing on her lips. She had made it clear to him a hundred times that he was a problem for Matthew. But today, she seemed almost too confident.

"Ray," Claire said, her voice dripping with sweetness, "I don't know if you've noticed, but you're really dragging Matthew down." She sat down across from him, her gaze not leaving his face. "He doesn't need someone like you holding him back. You've always been a burden to him, and you're just using him."

Ray clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He knew Claire's game. She was trying to manipulate him, trying to make him feel guilty about everything that had happened.

"I'm not using him," Ray said, his voice quieter than he meant it to be. "You don't know anything about me or Matthew."

"Oh, I know more than you think." Claire's tone was sharp now, her eyes narrowing. "He's been fine without you, you know. He doesn't need to be weighed down by someone like you anymore."

Ray's heart felt like it was breaking all over again. He didn't need to hear this from her. He didn't need to be reminded of how much he might've screwed everything up. But instead of responding, he stood up abruptly.

"Just stay away from me, Claire," he said, his voice firm. "And stay away from Matthew too."

Claire's smile only widened. "I'm just trying to help, Ray. You really should listen."

Ray didn't respond. He turned and walked away, but the sting of her words stayed with him the entire day.

---

Later that afternoon, as Ray sat in the music room, the door creaked open, and he looked up to see Viviane standing in the doorway, her expression soft.

"Hey," she said, stepping inside. "You okay?"

Ray didn't know what to say. He didn't feel okay, but he wasn't about to admit that. He barely knew her, after all.

"I'm fine," he replied stiffly, though he couldn't bring himself to smile.

Viviane didn't seem convinced. "You don't seem fine. I've seen people act like that before when they're trying to avoid something."

Ray sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe I'm just tired of pretending things are okay when they're not."

Viviane gave him a sympathetic look, but she didn't push him. Instead, she sat down beside him on the bench. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to, but if you ever need someone to listen, I'm here."

Ray didn't know why, but he felt an odd comfort in her words. She didn't judge him or make him feel like he had to explain himself. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to believe that maybe he wasn't completely alone.

"My name is Vivianne, you can call me Viv or Vivi," Vivianne extended her hand towards Ray.

"Ray... That's my name." He shakes Vivianne's hand. "Nice to meet you, Ray."

---

The next day, everything felt like it was shifting again. The new students were beginning to blend in, their personalities creating waves of change that Ray couldn't ignore. Even Claire was preoccupied with her own world, but she still made sure to throw a few barbed comments in Ray's direction whenever she could.

As for Matthew, well, Ray still couldn't bring himself to face him. He hadn't apologized yet, and part of him feared that it was already too late. But the more he saw Matthew interact with the others-especially Claire-the more he wondered if he had truly lost him.

But deep down, Ray knew that things couldn't stay like this forever. Not with the new students making their mark and not with everything inside him aching to fix things with Matthew.

It was only a matter of time before he would have to face the consequences of his choices.

To be Continued...