For Him, I Stayed

Note:
"Again.. sorry if It's short. I tried my best to motivate myself into writing this."

Warning:
Drama?
______________________________________

Chapter 5: "The Spotlight and the Shadow"

A week passed, and although the tension between Ray and Skyler hadn't completely dissolved, something felt different. Skyler seemed quieter around his usual crowd, and while he still didn't openly acknowledge Ray, his dismissiveness had softened. Ray noticed it during the occasional fleeting glances Skyler sent his way in the hallways or the subtle way Skyler avoided any further comments from his friends about freshmen.

But this subtle shift wasn't enough to fix everything.

Ray was still the quiet, unassuming freshman-"invisible," as Matthew would sometimes joke-and Skyler remained the school's golden boy. Their lives felt worlds apart, even as Ray carried the secret of their bond like an uncut thread tying them together.

---

The cracks in Skyler's perfect image started to show during the school's annual talent showcase, a big event that drew students, teachers, and even some parents to the auditorium for an evening of performances. Skyler's name was on the list as part of a musical number with some of the seniors. Ray, as much as he wanted to skip it, ended up going when Matthew convinced him to.

"It's good for you," Matthew insisted, dragging Ray to the front rows. "You need to stop hiding in the library all the time. Plus, maybe Skyler will trip onstage or something. That'd be fun to see."

Ray couldn't help but snicker at the thought, though guilt tugged at him immediately after. Skyler never seemed nervous about anything, especially not something like this. Still, it wouldn't hurt to see him stumble for once.

The auditorium was packed by the time the showcase started. Performers took the stage one by one-singers, dancers, comedians, even a magician whose tricks fell hilariously flat. The crowd loved it all, clapping and cheering after every act.

Finally, Skyler and his group took the stage. They were performing a mashup of popular songs, with Skyler on guitar and a few others on vocals and drums. As expected, the crowd erupted into cheers before they even started.

Ray slouched in his seat, arms crossed. He told himself he wasn't jealous-what was there to be jealous of? Skyler had always been the charismatic one, the center of attention. Ray was fine being the opposite. Or at least, that's what he told himself.

The performance started smoothly, the group working together seamlessly. But halfway through, something unexpected happened-Skyler's guitar string snapped with a sharp twang, throwing the rhythm off completely.

There was a brief pause as the audience murmured, and the group exchanged panicked glances. Skyler's usual confidence faltered for just a moment before he quickly stepped aside, letting the others carry on without him. He fiddled with the guitar, but it was clear there was no quick fix.

Ray couldn't help but feel a pang of satisfaction. Maybe Skyler wasn't so perfect after all.

But then something surprising happened. Instead of sulking offstage or letting the mishap ruin the performance, Skyler grabbed a microphone and joined the vocalists, seamlessly taking over part of the song. His voice was steady, his stage presence undeniable.

The audience roared with applause, and Ray's satisfaction turned into something more complicated.

"That guy's a show-off," Matthew muttered, though he was clapping along with everyone else.

Ray didn't respond. He couldn't shake the feeling that Skyler had turned what could have been a disaster into yet another reason for people to adore him.

---

After the showcase, the crowd spilled into the hallways, buzzing with excitement. Matthew had disappeared to grab snacks, leaving Ray alone near the auditorium doors.

He didn't expect Skyler to approach him, but suddenly there he was, standing in front of Ray with a sheepish smile.

"Hey," Skyler said, his voice low enough that the crowd wouldn't overhear. "What'd you think?"

Ray raised an eyebrow. "You want my honest opinion?"

Skyler laughed softly. "Why not?"

"You're annoying," Ray said bluntly, though there was no real heat in his tone. "Even when you mess up, you somehow manage to come out looking better than everyone else."

Skyler rubbed the back of his neck, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "I didn't mean to steal the spotlight. It just... happened."

Ray narrowed his eyes. "It always just happens with you, doesn't it?"

Skyler's smile faded, and for a moment, he looked almost... vulnerable. "Look, I know I screw things up sometimes. Especially with you. But I don't want you to think I'm not proud of you, okay? Even if I'm not great at showing it."

Ray stared at him, stunned. "Where's this coming from?"

Skyler shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I've been thinking about what you said. About how I make you feel like you don't matter. That's not what I want. I just... I don't know how to do this. How to be your brother and keep things normal at the same time."

Ray's throat tightened, and he looked away, unsure how to respond.

"Anyway," Skyler said after a pause, his voice quieter. "You're not invisible to me, Ray. I just thought you should know that."

Before Ray could say anything, Skyler gave him a small nod and disappeared into the crowd.

---

When Matthew returned a few minutes later, holding two sodas, he frowned at the look on Ray's face. "You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Ray shook his head, taking one of the sodas without a word.

"What happened?" Matthew pressed.

Ray hesitated, then shrugged. "Nothing. Just thinking."

Matthew didn't seem convinced, but he let it go, turning the conversation to something else.

As they walked out of the building together, Ray replayed Skyler's words in his mind. For the first time, he felt like Skyler had let him see past the facade-the perfect, untouchable senior that everyone else knew.

And while it didn't erase all the frustration or confusion, it gave Ray a small glimmer of hope. Maybe Skyler wasn't as out of reach as he'd always seemed.