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Ray flips open his phone to see a message from Illi. He’s walking home from school, trying not to dread the grade on his science quiz and instead trying to think about playing some guitar. He pauses on the sidewalk, adjusting his backpack slung over one arm and inspects the message.
illi: come ovr plz
That’s all it takes for Ray to turn, going down towards her and Mikey’s house instead of his own. On the way, he wonders why. Is she just bored? Does she want more of the sour patch kids hidden in his bag? Or is there something wrong? Is Mikey in trouble?
When he reaches the McMillin residence, he turns the knob to find it’s already unlocked. He steps inside and shuts the door behind him before toeing his shoes off and heading towards Illi’s room.
The door is closed, so he knocks.
“Illi?” He says quietly.
“Come in.” He hears her voice come through the door. But there’s something off about it. It sounds raspy and broken.
When he pushes the door open, he knows why.
Her nose is more than bleeding, a deep red covering her nose and mouth. There’s a bruise forming around her eye and scratches on her cheek. She’s sitting against her bed and holding a useless tissue covered in blood.
“Dude! What the fuck happened?” Ray urges, shutting the door with his foot as he drops his bag and sits down with crossed legs in front of her.
“Y’know. Got jumped.” She shrugs, her free hand fiddling with the seam of her gray uniform pants.
Ray groans. He hates this damn school. He hates this damn town. No one lets anyone else exist peacefully. All violence and hate.
He reaches into his bag to find more tissues. “What happened? Who?” Ray presses.
“On the way home.” She sniffles a little. He pulls out the tissues and makes eye contact with Illi. She just looks tired. “The usual. Those stupid jock boys.”
“Ugh.” Ray vocalizes his disgust as he dabs at the blood, trying to clear the fresh bits from her skin.
“I was just minding my business. Then they started yelling after me. Also the usual. Called me a fag.” She sighs. Ray grimaces at the word. “Before I could protest they were beating my ass.” She grunts.
“I’ll go beat their asses.” Ray grumbles, disposing of a tissue and grabbing another.
“Ray…”
“I’m serious!” He pauses, looking into her eyes again.
“You’ll just end up like me.” She stares at him, serious.
Ray huffs a sigh. He knows. He’s strong, but definitely not as skilled or muscular as those athletic freaks.
“You hurt anywhere else?” He asks as he removes the last of the wet blood from her face. They’ll need some water or wipes for the caked on stuff.
“They got a hit to my stomach. Not too bad, though.”
“Okay. Maybe take it easy the next couple days, ‘kay?”
“Yeah.” She agrees.
Ray throws another tissue into a nearby trash can before looking back at Illi. He lingers on her face. It looks bruised and broken. He hates seeing her like this.
He slowly brings a hand up to her face and grazes his thumb across her cheek. She looks a little confused. Her big doe eyes are blinking up at him with concern.
“I… I wish you didn’t get hurt like this.” He whispers. He realizes how close he is when he feels his own hot breath reflect back to him.
“It’s just how it is.” Illi shrugs, looking away from him.
“It shouldn’t be.” He emphasizes. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
Illi stays quiet, looking away.
“Did you tell Mikey?” Ray asks.
“No. He shouldn’t know. He shouldn’t have to deal with my problems.”
“Illi, come on. You shouldn’t have to deal with your problems.” Ray argues, bringing another hand to her face and forcing her to look at him. “Look at me. You don’t deserve this.”
“I kinda do.” She blinks.
“No, Ills, you don’t.” He groans. “You don’t deserve any of this. No one does.”
“I’m an asshole, I act like I’m much stronger than I am, I provoke them, how could I not deserve it?”
“Because they still shouldn’t. No matter how much you provoke them. They shouldn’t get violent.”
“Whatever.” She sighs.
They stare at each other for a moment. Ray brings her head down and leaves a kiss on her forehead.
“What was that for?” Her eyes are wide as her head raises.
“Uhh,” Ray feels heat spread through his cheeks. He didn’t even really mean to do that. “You looked like you needed it.” He blinks.
“Oh.” She exhales. “Thanks.”
There’s a pause. Tension hangs in the air as their eyes are locked together. Ray tries not to jump as he feels Illi’s hands slide up his torso.
For just a moment, Ray’s eyes flick to Illi’s lips. They look soft, despite the blood dried near them.
In a matter of milliseconds, those lips are on his. Illi pulls him closer, hand dragging up to the back of his neck. It’s quick and messy and inexperienced. But it’s perfect. Ray couldn’t wish for anything more.
They lean back at the same time and smile. The two lean back in as Ray scooches even closer, trying to invade as much personal space as he can. He grips her face tight as their lips glide against each other. Ray pushes a hand back into her hair, guiding her clos—
“Hey, Illi— Oh! Gross! Nevermind!” Mikey’s voice comes from the door.
Ray and Illi snap their heads up frantically as Mikey slams the door behind him, leaving the room just as he entered.
Ray gapes, jaw dropped open. He turns back to Illi and they make eye contact. She looks shocked, but smiling.
“You should get a lock.” Ray says simply.
Illi bursts out laughing. So does Ray. They double over into each other and let out cackles that hyenas would be jealous of.
Ray’s stomach hurts by the time they’re done, lying back on Illi’s carpet and holding his stomach, sighing deliriously. Illi wipes her eyes, leaning back against her bed and smiling.
“So,” Ray clears his throat and sits back up, “What do you say we finish cleaning you up, get you some ice, then watch a movie? I’ll let you have my sour patch kids.”
“Oh, yes!” She grins. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s?” Illi suggests.
“Classic, yes.”
And just like that, it feels normal again. A normal, average hang out. Ray hopes it’ll lead to a little more.