How To Kill A Demon; for DUMMIES | tpn x reader

ARC I-ACT III

"Noah! Come on man, we're about to start!" Janesse called out, jogging up to the spot the boy was sat at. Though her excited smile died when spotting you. "Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt something?"

"Nah." The boy chuckled, slowly standing. "I was just chatting. Anyway, is everyone ready?"

"Yeah, just waiting on you."

"Ah, my bad." He laughed again, turning to send you a smile. "I'll be off then, have fun reading."

He was so cheerful that it was almost contagious, but you only nodded, letting him run off before turning back to the sea of words in front of you.

The sun was bright, warming up the kids that ran around happily - chasing and tagging each other. It wasn't long before they begun to sweat and stop for short breaks under the cool shade of the tall trees. Emma and Norman had decided to hide in some large bushes near the edge of the woodland, quietly catching their breaths. Their senses were high and focused on seeing if they could hear any rushing footsteps of the chaser, so it's understandable when they shrieked their lungs out at the sound of the bush being pushed around and another figure just slightly smaller than them hopped in.

Emma whipped her head to the new person, her eyes wide and frightened, but deadpanned when seeing the smug smile of Ray who snickered at his two friends.

"Ray?!" She whisper shouted, smacking his shoulder. "Don't scare us like that!"

The boy shrugged, looking at Norman who shakily ran a hand through his hair. "You two weren't hiding very well to begin with, do you blame me?"

"What do you mean?! This is a great hiding spot!" Emma cheered quietly.

Ray's face fell to an unimpressed look before pointing to her hair - the long strand of iconic hair that stood on the top of her head sticking out the leaves to wave wildly in the open.

She frowned and pulled it down into the shrub.

"So, why are you here?" Norman asked the ravenette. "You're always reading under the tree by the house."

"Yeah well that was the plan but Y/N is there."

Emma perched up at this, her green eyes shining with excitement. "They're out of the library?! Let's go sit with them!" She cheered, attempting to step out if it were not for Ray who grabbed onto her shirt and pulled her back into the bush. She whined and glared at the boy.

"I don't know about you guys, but Y/N gives me a weird feeling."

"Why?" Norman tilted his head, looking his friend up and down. "They're nice - quiet but nice."

"I don't know what it is but it always feels like they're hiding something from us." Ray frowned, turning back to Emma who squirmed in his grasp. He quickly let go of her shirt. "Like they're just so... I don't know."

Norman hummed and tapped his chin in thought. "Well, do they make you uncomfortable?"

Ray shook his head.

Emma smiled and giggled, catching their attention. "Then is this about last night?"

"Last night?"

"During dinner!" She smiled. "You were asking them why they don't like to get out of the library and we're acting all grumpy." She mimicked the boy; balled up hands on her fists and a silly expression on her face.

He rolled his eyes and pushed her shoulder. "No, it wasn't about last night."

"Well," Norman laughed, watching Emma mimicking the boy some more. "what was last night about? You usually never have a problem with them staying in the library."

Having been caught, Ray shook his head, deciding now was the best moment to drop the subject. "Never mind. You still wanna go say hi to them?" He turned to Emma who happily nodded her head, climbing out the bush with the ravenette following after her.

Norman watched Ray leave, his back turned to him. He wanted to ask why he was so concerned with what you chose to do, but didn't get the chance to. Quickly, he climbed out and rushed after them. "Wait for me!"

Hearing the nearing of rushing footsteps, you hastily tore your eyes away from the book - already a few chapters in - and turned to the three who raced each other to get to the tree first - (with Emma obviously winning.) the  ran up and placed her hands on the bark of the tree. "I win!"

"As always." Ray huffed, rolling his eyes at her before digging his hands into the pockets on his pants.

Norman snickered at the two as Emma immediately became defensive, bickering with the boy. "Hey Y/N," he greeted, taking a seat beside you - mindful to keep his distance unlike Emma who plopped down on your other side and laid her head on your shoulder with a wide grin. "Hope you don't mind us - we just wanted to say hi."

I am minding you - is what you wanted to say with a bitter tone. The story was just getting to the good part and now these three had to come and stop your reading; Emma grabbing the book and skipping through the pages as you grimaced at the fact you had forgotten which page number you were on. Truly, a nuisance, but still - you hummed and shook your head, grabbing the book from Emma's hands as she only beamed at you. "Not at all."

The redhead hummed a tune and sat up straight, giving your now aching shoulder a rest. "Why aren't you at the library? I mean - I prefer you being outside but what made you come out?"

"Jake." You replied, opening the book to look for the page you were on. "Noah wanted Jake to play with you guys but he wouldn't leave the library unless I came with him; so here I am."

Norman laughed, feeling Ray sit beside him. "You don't sound too excited about that."

"Sorry." You frowned. "I'm not a big fan of hot weather and today," you motioned with one hand to the clear sky and scorching sun. "is really hot - would've preferred it inside."

"Why don't you go down to the field then?" Emma chirped, watching a cloud race past the sky - she had her bets placed on the cloud that looked like a heart beating the cloud shaped like a chicken leg but by the looks of it, the chicken leg cloud would win the race in her mind. "I mean, the trees make it cooler there."

You hummed and nodded. "Yeah - I guess you're right. More shade and stuff, but won't I get in the way of your games?"

She shook her head and turned to you with her award-winning smile. "Nah, just stay near the edge and you'll be fine."

"She's right." Ray muttered - slightly surprising all three of you as you turned to him. "It's cooler and you'll be able to be closer to Jake."

"Jake?" You repeated, tilting your head. It was a thoughtless statement but still... odd?

"Yeah." He hummed, turning to meet your gaze. "You want to keep an eye over him, right? You want to protect him."

Emma and Norman awkwardly turned to give him a displeasing look, but you only held the eye contact with him. It was as if he could read through you - something you didn't doubt he could do but hated regardless.

Reluctantly, you nodded. "Yeah, ok. Let's go."