For Him, I Stayed

Note:
"Short chapter, I'm feeling sick... I'm so sorry!!"

Warning:
DRAMA!!!(always.. I'm serious)
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Chapter 10: "A Line in the Sand"

The weekend couldn't come fast enough for Ray. After his conversation with Skyler and the whirlwind of emotions with Matthew, he needed time to breathe. But even in the quiet of his room, with music softly playing in the background, his thoughts were anything but calm.

He stared at his phone, debating for the hundredth time whether to text Matthew. It had been radio silence since Ray's message asking for space, and the absence was suffocating. Matthew wasn't one to leave things unresolved, so Ray knew it was only a matter of time before he'd confront him again.

The thought sent a pang of anxiety and something else-something Ray didn't want to name-through his chest.

---

On Saturday afternoon, Ray found himself wandering through the park near his house. It was a small, quiet spot with a trail that looped around a pond. He used to come here all the time to clear his head, but now it only reminded him of Matthew. They'd spent hours here after school during their first year, talking about everything and nothing.

Ray kicked a pebble along the path, frustrated with himself. He hated how much power Matthew seemed to have over his emotions. It wasn't fair.

"You're really hard to track down, you know that?"

Ray froze at the sound of Matthew's voice. He turned to see him standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. He looked tired, like he hadn't been sleeping well.

"How did you know I'd be here?" Ray asked, his voice sharper than he intended.

Matthew shrugged, taking a step closer. "Lucky guess. I figured you'd be somewhere quiet, thinking."

Ray crossed his arms, trying to put up a barrier between them. "What do you want, Matthew?"

"I want to talk," Matthew said, his tone steady but firm. "And I'm not leaving until we do."

Ray let out a frustrated sigh. "I thought I made it clear that I needed space."

"You did," Matthew said, nodding. "But I think we've had enough space, don't you?"

Ray didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the ground.

Matthew sighed, stepping closer until he was standing directly in front of Ray. "I get it, okay? You're scared. You don't want to let me in because you think it's safer to keep everything to yourself. But, Ray, I'm not going to stop caring about you just because it's hard."

Ray's throat tightened. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come.

Matthew's voice softened. "You're not the only one who's scared, you know. But I'd rather face that fear with you than let it keep us apart."

Ray looked up at him, his heart pounding. "Why?" he asked, his voice barely audible. "Why do you care so much?"

Matthew smiled faintly, his eyes warm but serious. "Because you're worth it, Ray. You always have been."

---

The silence between them stretched, but it wasn't the heavy, uncomfortable kind. It was something else-something fragile yet full of unspoken understanding.

Finally, Ray let out a shaky breath, his defenses cracking. "I don't know if I can do this, Matt," he admitted. "I don't even know where to start."

Matthew took a step closer, his hand brushing Ray's arm in a gesture that was both comforting and grounding. "Then we'll start small," he said. "We'll figure it out together."

Ray stared at him, the weight in his chest slowly lifting. For the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe-just maybe-he didn't have to carry everything alone.

"Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Matthew smiled, and for the first time, Ray allowed himself to believe that things could get better.

---

The two of them sat on a bench by the pond, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the water. They didn't talk much, but the silence between them felt different now-less like a barrier and more like a bridge.

As they watched the ducks paddle across the pond, Ray found himself stealing glances at Matthew. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, he felt like he might be ready to face it.

Whatever came next, they'd face it together.

To be continued...