Ray ||l.h.||

2.0

(A/N: THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED.)

"Where has this been hiding?" Luke goads, pulling yet another piece of clothing from Ray's closet. This time it's a fuchsia sundress, strapless and long, barely touching the floor in Luke's hands.

Ray hastily snatches the dress, grinning despite her blushing cheeks. "In the back, where it's gonna stay." She hangs it up, pushing it further into the depths of her closet.

Not only is she accustomed to her predominantly black wardrobe, but she finds the pink fabric to be obnoxiously bright. She only has it because it was a gift from Aunt Toya.

"Aw, why?" Luke pouts at her, cupping her face. "You'd look gorgeous in it."

Ray's grin melts into a fond smile. "You say that about everything I have."

"That's because it's true."

Ray rolls her eyes, as if she's sick of Luke's endearing words. She doesn't think she ever will get sick of it.

"You're such a dork," She lightly mumbles, tiptoeing to press her lips to his.

He chuckles, lowering his hand to her waist to bring her closer, but doesn't get the chance to when Ray's bedroom door cracks open.

"We're doing--oh, gosh." Calum backtracks, squeezing his eyes shut and closing the door. Ray breaks away, laughing at her friend's dramatic reaction. Luke groans, reluctantly separating himself from his girlfriend. Ray thinks that it could have been way worse, so she can't be bothered.

She pats Luke on the shoulder, turning toward her door. "Well, playtime is over."

Luke's lips curl up into half of a smile as he shuts her closet. "We barely got to play."

Ray can't blame Calum for having accidentally killed the moment. The video game the boys were playing is turned up at a nauseating volume, and easily drowned out any implications that Luke and Ray weren't looking for company.

The both of them head downstairs, deciding they may as well go and see what all the hubbub was about.

Ashton, Calum, and Michael, who seemed engrossed in their game a few minutes ago, were now animatedly turned to each other in conversation. Calum is doing the story telling, and Ray wonders what he's saying until her and Luke get closer to the trio.

"They're like Troy and Gabriella, I swear." Calum is clearly talking about them, and Ray rolls her eyes so hard that she momentarily worries herself with the thought that they'd never roll back. Ashton and Michael guffaw, and Michael buries his red face into the back of the couch.

Ray looks up at Luke to gauge how ridiculous he thinks they are, and slightly frowns when she notices that his cheeks are similar to Michael's, but for a totally different reason, she's sure.

Since the other boys have yet to notice them, Ray slips her hand into Luke's and guides him towards her kitchen, hoping to save Luke any added embarrassment. Of course, that doesn't work.

"Rule number one, dude," Ashton starts, holding up his index finger in disturbing unison with the other two boys on the couch.

"Always lock the door." They all say, chuckling and high-fiving one another. Luke rolls his eyes, though his skin is still blooming pink, and ducks off into the kitchen without Ray. The girl starts to do the same, but doesn't make it under the archway again.

"Hey wait," Michael calls to her, leaning his torso over the couch. Ray stops and wheels around to her childish friend. She loves them all, really, but Ray does not think she can stay in this house full of boys for much longer. "Next time, at least put a sock on the door knob." Ray just barely makes out his words through his giggling, and shoots him a sarcastic smile.