21: Was It Not Obvious?

❝ You wanna hear me say it, I know I kept you waitin' just a little, just a little, all night long ❞

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Ray and I stepped out of the front door as Sam waved goodbyes and kisses from Susan's arms. She had teary eyes, and mumbled a quick thank you to me, making me promise that I would come back to visit them very soon.

I slipped into the passenger seat of Ray's rented truck, as he fumbled with the ignition.

The engine roared and tires led us down to the main city, with the river glistening in the moonlight to my right. The air was cool, and breezy; my hair refusing to sit in one place. We glanced at each other from time to time and goofily smiled. Sometime, after a few minutes, Ray's right hand inched towards my left and I eagerly intertwined our fingers together.

The night was cold, the air felt young and everything around me amplified. The surroundings magically became beautiful, and the silence wasn't awkward. It was calm, and peaceful. I had never been more happier in these few months, than I was now.

My phone screen displayed 11:09 pm as we pulled outside my house.

"We're here," Ray broke the silence as he turned to me. I nodded and played with my fingers, not knowing what to say anymore. My tongue was suddenly tied, because I desperately wanted this moment, his company to be with me longer. I wasn't yet ready to leave this all behind and mull over it all night. It was too overwhelming.

Suddenly, two hands cupped my face and turned it towards him. His eyes were clear, sincere and genuine.

"Stop overthinking. As much as I'd love to be with you right now, we've promised your mom to have you home safe." A chaste and fast kiss was placed on my lips. "Sleep tightly, I'll pick you up tomorrow for school, okay?" The wonders his words did to me was surprising. The thudding of my heart slowed down a little, and I smiled.

His thumb rubbed my cheeks as his eyes roamed over my face, stopping a second more at my lips. The adoration on his face had my insides melting, and my eyes shut on their own accord at his soft touch.

Satisfaction.

It all clicked to me now.

A huge weight seemed to have lifted off my shoulders. It seemed I was living on a constant edge these few months, but right now, in this moment, I was happy. It was obvious that Ray had made a place in my heart from the day I met him. And now that everything had fallen into place, did I understand why was I feeling the way I was.

His hands fell down and caressed mine, as my left hand inched slowly farther to let go. Sighing, I opened the door and reluctantly got out, as Ray's door opened too.

Hands in his pockets, he leaned on the car door, with his legs crossed as I stood in front of him.

There was something not right. My heart was beating frantically, as I waved him a goodbye to which he nodded and smiled. His eyes had a glint to them, and I wondered was he as nervous as me?

My feet dragged on slow as the front door came closer and closer into my line of vision. My heart was hammering against my rib cage. I turned around to see him still standing there, his jaw clenched as if he was holding back. I could faintly see the veins protruding on his arms; it was obvious that he had clenched his hands in his pockets to form fists.

Fuck it.

I ran towards him as his eyes widened in surprise. My body crashing onto his, and trapping him between the car and me, I smashed my lips onto his.

It was rapid, passionate and fast. He responded almost immediately, his hands squeezing my waist, caressing my cheek, running through my hair while mine played with the little strands of hair along his nape.

Our tongues lapped and clashed, desperately trying to take control. His lips were soft, full and so fucking gorgeous. My heart melted and fell into my stomach, while butterflies swarmed around.

After what felt like hours, we pulled back, gasping for air, forehead to forehead. I pulled him even more closer as if he already wasn't meshed with my body.

"You'll be the death of me" He said slowly, catching his breath a few times. The feeling was mutual, as I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his waist. I only reached a little above his shoulders, as he rested his chin on my head.

I didn't want us separated. I needed him close to me now that I finally had him. It seemed to good to be true, and it felt like he would disappear now that I closed my eyes to sleep.

When had I gone from hating him to wanting him so fast?

"You should go now." His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, as we left each other's embrace slowly. His hand caressed my cheek and he jut out his chin towards my house, motioning me to go in.

Placing a soft kiss on his lips, I walked backwards, still not ready to let go. The wooden door met my back, and my hand wrapped around the cold metal knob. He still stood there, watching me with a small smile playing on his lips.

Sighing, I opened the door and stepped foot into the house, the warmth engulfing me immediately, but not as warm as Ray's arms. With a quick peek in mom's room to find her asleep, I ran over to my room to look out of the window.

He was still there, his gaze holding mine as I waved him goodbye. He smiled and sat in the truck revving it up to life. Glancing up at me one more time, he left.

Not even bothering to change my clothes, I threw myself on the bed, clutching a pillow close to my chest and sighing.

Everything happened so fast. We both had confessed to each other and kissed. The flashbacks of meeting Ray for the first time played in my mind, dusted a light blush on my cheeks.

I had found him so attractive while I had cleaned up his wounds on the staircase. I felt hot when he had sat himself beside me in the econ lecture, his gorgeous thighs making mine clench.

I was never afraid of him, I realized now, that I thought about it. I was curious—curious as to why he was the way he was. I'd heard of bad boys, and the notion itself was cringey, because there's no excuse—not even trauma—if a person treats you like shit when you absolutely don't deserve it.

But Ray's eyes begged someone, anyone to see the guilt and regret he carried on his back. He was desperately waiting for someone to notice the person he was, and not what he made everyone see.

He came into my life, changed my perspective and taught me that I could care for someone so much, that even if they hurt me, I'd be willing to give them another chance.

Emotions are sometimes scary—atleast to me. I was afraid of placing my heart in hands that had the power to destroy them. Stefan was a lesson, but I don't think I ever gave him my heart, for which I was thankful.

But what exactly are relationships? You give the other person the power over you, your emotions and with the constant risk of being broken. But what is different between two people? Trust. You trust them, and that is why you willingly give them the powers.

The whole idea was scary to me, but if Ray was willing to try, I was too. This thing between us was very powerful, electric and most importantly—sexually frustrating. Sure, he was attractive and handsome, but I didn't want to be with him because of that, I wanted to be with him because of the person he was. And I really hoped he thought the same of me.

I slept to the thoughts of him that night.

××

As we drove to school together, the main problem I mulled over was how was I going to confront our friends.

I was sure that Katie would let the whole school know, and Jake would cry happy tears. Simon would be over dramatic about the whole thing, and Olivia and Jason would never stop teasing us about how they knew we would eventually end up together.

Of course, lying wasn't an option and nor was hiding.

"I think we should just straight up tell them," I glanced over to look at Ray while he just had a smirk painted on his face.

"About what?" He asked, as he turned to me, looking like he was genuinely curious.

"About," I cleared my throat "us?" My cheeks were definitely red.

"What about us?" I didn't understand whether he was being sarcastic or just blunt. It made things more awkward.

I realized that we might've confessed and kissed but we never discussed a...relationship. He never asked me to be his girlfriend, maybe he wasn't ready for a relationship?

"Uh, no, nothing. It's okay." My mood was suddenly sour. Sure, I knew that he didn't want a relationship, but then he should've told me so yesterday. The kiss definitely had me imagining things.

A scoff escaped my lips, and I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked upto my locker, not waiting for Ray. Katie waved me over and interviewed my well being. Olivia kept it short and told me everything was going to be okay. Simon just smiled a im-so-sorry smile at me and patted me on my back.

Oh, they really didn't know anything. I was about to tell them, but then it was of no use. I didn't even know what we were.

Dragging my feet to the first class, I somehow survived half of the day and ran as fast as I could to the lunch table. The whole group—including Ray—were laughing and joking. Slipping into an empty seat beside Olivia, I silently listened to them conversing about the school's football game.

"It looks difficult for the eagles this year. Ridgefield High will probably win over us," Simon rolled his eyes, sighing loudly.

"No, we're pretty strong this year. Austin from freshmen year is our new add and damn is he good." Jason supplied.

"June, what's up?" Jack questioned as all eyes flitted over to me.

"Nothing, just a rough day." Managing a smile, I went back to eating the tasteless salad while Katie nudged me below the table asking me if I was fine.

Was I ever fine these days? Nope.

The sudden scraping of chair beside me brought me back to my senses as I saw that Olivia had switched seats with Ray, and now the guy, that had managed to let me only sleep for two hours yesterday, given me hoards of butterflies and toe curling kisses was seated beside me.

An arm was thrown over my shoulder. His warm breath fanned my throat as he placed a wet, soft kiss on my cheek.

The table gasped.

Tables around us gasped.

The cafeteria gasped.

I gasped.

"Are you okay?" His deep voice questioned.

Was I okay? Hell no.

"What the fuck just happened in front of my eyes? Am I fucking dreaming?" Simon dramatically rubbed his eyes, while Jason had his jaw wide open through which I could see the veggies. Olivia was simply smirking and Katie looked like she'd seen a whale and a shark mating. Jack was blinking at a rapid pace and seemed profusely confused.

"What? Can't I even kiss my girlfriend now?" A simple sentence from the mouth of the school's "it" boy had the entire silent cafeteria bursting into oohs and ahs, hoots, screams and groans from heartbroken girls and claps from the over enthusiastic.

"Sure you can." Olivia looked like she knew this was bound to happen and winked at me.

Ray turned to look at me and smirked, as he pulled me even more closer.

"Congratu-fucking-lations. About time it happened." Simon seemed like he just solved the biggest mystery ever, and nodded to himself.

"I need air." Jason stumbled and ran outside.

"He'll come around. As dramatic as ever, that shithead." Ray spoke, as calm as ever.

"When did I become your girlfriend?" As happy I was to hear that, the open confession in the cafeteria was a little...overwhelming.

"Yesterday, when I told you I like you. I thought it was obvious enough?" He looked genuinely curious and fucking adorable with the little pout playing on his lips.

Where was the bad boy Ray? I only knew softie Ray.

"You're supposed to ask the person out, silly!" I hid my face in his chest in embarrassment, as he chuckled.

"This is me asking you out. Would you like to be my girlfriend?" He looked like he was scared, and a little bit afraid.

"Yeah. I would love to be your girlfriend." A big smile broke on his face, and I melted yet again. He then kissed me quickly as Simon gagged.

"Can you not be gooey in front of us?" Jack requested politely.

"Fuck that. I need the details, June. D - E - T - A - I - L - S." Katie whisper shouted.

Everyone broke out into laughter at that.

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I'm a simp for #Rayne 🥺 Lmk in the comments if you are too! Also, what is an ideal date according to you?