Note:
"The chap for today is short... Btw WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE COLLEGE ARC!!!"
Warning:
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Chapter 42: "New Beginnings, Old Tensions"
The news of Ray and Matthew dating didn’t take long to spread among their friends. Some were thrilled, others were shocked, and of course, Claire… well, Claire had her own thoughts.
“Are you serious?” Claire’s voice was a mix of disbelief and frustration as she cornered Matthew in the hallway a few days later. “You’re actually dating him?”
Matthew exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Yes, Claire. We’ve been over this.”
She scoffed, crossing her arms. “You could’ve done better.”
Matthew’s eyes darkened, and for the first time in a long while, his patience with Claire was running thin. “You don’t get to decide that.”
Claire opened her mouth to argue, but someone stepped in between them.
“Claire.”
Ray’s voice was calm but firm as he stood there, meeting her gaze head-on. There was no fear, no hesitation—just quiet confidence.
Claire narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”
Ray tilted his head slightly, a small, almost amused smile playing at his lips. “Nothing. I just figured if you have something to say about me, you should say it to my face instead of through Matthew.”
For a moment, Claire faltered. This wasn’t the same Ray she had bullied before—the one who avoided conflict, who shrank under her words. This was a Ray who no longer feared her.
“Tch.” She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Don’t come crying to me when this all falls apart.”
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving Matthew and Ray standing in the hallway.
Matthew let out a breath. “Well, that was… something.”
Ray smirked. “She doesn’t scare me anymore.”
Matthew chuckled, wrapping an arm around Ray’s shoulder as they continued walking. “Good. Because I don’t plan on letting her get between us again.”
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That evening, Ray sat on his bed, flipping through college brochures. Skyler had sent him a whole stack, promising to help him with applications.
Matthew, lying beside him, propped up on his elbows, glanced over. “Have you thought about where you want to go?”
Ray sighed. “Not really. I just know I want to be somewhere where I can keep growing, you know?”
Matthew smiled. “Wherever you go, I’ll be right there with you.”
Ray turned his head, meeting Matthew’s gaze. “Promise?”
Matthew nodded. “Promise.”
Ray exhaled softly, a warmth spreading through his chest. For the first time in years, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
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To be Continued...
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For Him, I Stayed
RomanceTitle: For Him, I Stayed shi0shi_ (This was originally named as "Love Her, Not Me") "He searched the world for love, never seeing it with him all along." Ray and Matthew met as freshmen in high school, instantly bonding over shared interests and a...
