19: Under The Night Sky

❝ It's you, it's always you, met a lot of people but nobody feels like you ❞

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"Oh, um, Hi Mrs Rutherford." I smiled at her as she took my hands in hers. Up closer, she was even more beautiful.

"Hi sweetheart. What's your name? Are you a friend of Ray's?" I glanced up at Ray to see him clenching his jaw. Great. He didn't like me meeting his mom.

Also, he obviously didn't like me.

"I'm June and I go to the same school as Ray. I just came by to drop him off." I decided to settle on a safe answer.

"I'm sorry my son caused you trouble. Come in, maybe for a cup of coffee or so?" Her eyes were waiting in anticipation and I felt bad for her. But I couldn't stay.

"I'm sorry but I really have to go. Besides I don't think Ray will be comfortable because we aren't even friends." Rays eyes snapped up to mine and a curious but hurt expression settled on his face.

"No, of course not!" She said, waving her hands in the air. "Don't you worry about him! Come on in then!"

"I don't think I shou—" I was cut off.

"Just come on in for fucks sake!" Ray hissed, as his mom shot him a warning glare.

"Language, son! You don't get to talk like that!" Ray nodded meekly and disappeared inside the house. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in!"

His mom dragged me in lightly by her hand as I stepped inside Ray's house for the second time. Making me comfortable on the sofa, she assured me she would be back quickly with a cup of coffee.

Ray was sitting in front of me on a chair, his leg bouncing up and down as he got lost in his own thoughts.

"Here you go!" His mom chirped, handing us both mugs of coffee. "Now tell me about how you became friends with my idiot of a son here," She smiled, grinning at me.

Holding in a small smile myself, "Well, I wouldn't call us friends but yeah, we do know each other."

"My son would've never agreed to let you in if you were not a friend. He has never brought someone home, and you coming till our doorstep is a big thing in itself!" My eyes widened in surprise as Ray groaned.

"Mom! Can you just not, please?" He was rubbing his forehead.

"Shut up, you don't know for how long I've waited to invite your friends over. Let me have this moment to myself." His mom's voice went soft and he fell silent at that. But then he stood up and walked up the stairs, finally disappearing.

"Call me Susan by the way. Mrs Rutherford sounds way too formal." Her eyes held deep emotions as she sighed. "I know Ray can be a handful but he really has gone through a lot. With his dad passing away early, he had most of the responsibilities on his shoulders. I am not even at the house for days, I cannot even accompany my own son when he has to go for check ups. I know it takes a load on Ray and his social life," Susan looked up and stared into my eyes, almost begging me. "But believe me when I say June dear, Ray's not a bad kid. He always has his reasons." Tears crept up as she wiped them. In an instant I was beside her and trying to calm her down as she shook her head.

"I'm just so happy that he has someone in his life he can count upon. I'm so thankful for you June." I just nodded as millions of thoughts raced through my mind.

Ray was not a bad kid, that was for sure. He held immense love for his family and put his best foot forward to support them however he could. I saw the love and care he held for his little brother, and how he gave in to every word his mother said. He loved them with all his heart and that just told me he was worried for his family and trying his level best to hold them all together.

He didn't have any outlet for his frustration, for his pent up anger. There was absolutely no space to let it all out at home and that is why he was so closed off. Whoever came at him, got a dose of his pent up emotions. And that is why the fights Ray went to were rumored to be gruesome and bloody as hell.

I figured one thing though. He didn't know how to communicate, how to express his emotions. I understood his feelings to not let any kind of burden fall on his mom, but sometimes, talking about even minor issues like friendships with your parents makes you light. It helps you understand the situation from a third person perspective.

My feelings somehow shifted from anger to disappointment for Ray. He kept showing me he was strong, that he was capable of not caring and giving a fuck, but everytime I saw his vulnerable side, it left me confused. I knew he wanted to talk, he wanted to feel, he wanted to care. But something seemed to pull him back and I was determined to know what.

Because he seemed too guilty about what he said about me a few weeks back. If he meant that, he wouldn't spare me a second glance.

"I'm always there, Susan. I'll always be here." She pulled me in for a hug and patted my back. Susan reminded me of my own mom and that had me scrambling to my feet in an instant. It was already starting to get dark outside and my mom would be worried if I came in late.

"I should get going, my mom would be worried."

"Oh cmon stay for dinner!" Susan pleaded as she held me by my hand. "Sam is about to come back too. He'd love to meet you."

The thought of the little boy had me reconsidering my decision. I sighed and nodded in defeat as she grinned.

"Great then! I'll be onto dinner. You can hang out with Ray if you want to. His room is the second one on the right, upstairs." She put on an apron and started to prepare. "Oh June dear, give your mother a call, and let me know if she wants to talk to me. I'll assure her to bring you back home safe!"

I nodded and ringed my mom who happily allowed me to enjoy the dinner with my friend.

I finally sat down on the couch after Susan had pushed me out the kitchen door despite my strong attempts at helping her with the food. She simply waved me off and told me to let her do her thing. She clearly enjoyed cooking.

I admired her. Working at a bar, as a waitress, as a single mom must be so hard for her. We all know what the environment is like at bars so it was a no brainer to figure out that she must've had tough times dealing with men who couldn't keep their hands to themselves, drunk people who couldn't care less about the bar and dirty it. She had to be the one to clean it and she had to come home to her kids and act like she wasn't tired from all that hard work for hours.

I could see it from how her shoulders slumped forwards and how she rubbed her forehead whenever an utensil clattered loudly. She clearly hated loud noises and yet she had to work with loud music, people, and places. But she still had that gleam in her eyes, that hope that maybe one day, her hard work would pay off and that she and her kids could live a life filled with happiness.

I thrived to be as strong as a woman she was when I grew up. If I made myself even half of what she was as a person, I'd had succeeded and completed my mission.

Bored, I strolled around their living room, stopping and looking at the numerous pictures set up on their mantle. Ray was slim and tall as a little boy, but even in those photos, I sensed him sad—contrary to the ones where he was with his dad. His dad had picked him up on his shoulders and he was smiling widely as his father grinned. That picture was everything. I couldn't come to a decision whether the setting sun on the brink of the ocean was more beautiful, or the smiling, happy faces of the father-son duo.

Ray definitely took by his dad. Tall, sturdy, wide shoulders and those piercing hazel brown eyes. His mother's were a deep ocean blue and Sam's were too.

A soft breeze blew across my face from the open backyard door and like a magnet, I got pulled towards it. The flowers were enticing a fresh smell and I breathed heavily, taking all of the beautiful things at once.

This was peace. Nature was peace. I always found myself exploring the nearby hills, river sides and small forests whenever I could. I had taken a course in the various types of flowers used for making scents and perfumes and had been fascinated by them after that. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and I wondered what it was. Ray, or my life in general? Or the betrayal by Stefan? I couldn't say, but it was very refreshing.

Faint voice of the river flowing fell on my ears every passing second and I just sat there, with my knees folded close to my chest, and my chin on my knees. My eyes closed on their own, yet my mind was wide awake and processed the things around me by hearing senses.

I reminisced, I remembered, I just lived in the moment. The wind continued to blow my hair out of my face and I gave up the attempts to tie it in a firm knot behind. Who cared, I would just tie it off later.

Footsteps echoed behind me but I didn't turn back. I knew it had to be Ray, because of course it couldn't be anyone else. But I didn't acknowledge him as his scent wafted up my nostrils and formed a storm of butterflies inside of me. I enriched and soaked in the happiness and hope mother nature was providing me and hell would I lose it for Ray.

I figured he was sitting beside me so I let him be. After a while, I opened my eyes when I had enough, to see him lying flat on the grass and gazing at the sky which was littered with stars.

Just like that night.

His gaze never flitted from the sky to look at me and it stayed up there.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He whispered after a while, a tinge of surprise in his voice as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing was real.

"Yes, it is." I replied back, as I laid down beside him and stared up at the sky. It was truly beautiful. I think that the sky is the solution to every problem you have. It doesn't say anything, it doesn't judge you, it just looks down at you and gifts you the most beautiful little lightening wonders to look at. To look at, and think about your life. To look at and think about the words you said or should've said. To look at and think; realise what you could've done or what went wrong.

And then you get your answers almost instantly. You just know what to do. And I think Ray was contemplating over his life right now so I let him be.

"I'm really sorry about what I said." He said after a while, finally looking at me.

I just smiled and nodded, for I knew he meant it. But of course, it didn't do much to the hurt which still resided in my chest.

"I really am," he sighed. "I just—I was too much of an asshole to admit that maybe, for the first time in my life, a girl meant something more to me than an one night stand."

Shocked at his words, I turned to look at him to already see his eyes on me. Shifting uncomfortably, I sat up. His warm, rough but gentle hand flew to mine to make me stay put almost instantly.

"Hear me out." He pleaded, and I nodded meekly.

"I'm not used to these intense emotions. I've always been closed off and my only goal in life was to protect my family. I've never put a step forward than that, and then you just simply waltzed your way into my life and then into my mind and now into my..." he gulped "heart."

I gasped, as he squeezed my hand.

"When Olivia threw all those facts at me, I still wasn't ready to accept it. I still wasn't ready to admit to myself that I liked you. And in anger of being exposed, I spoke what I spoke. And that absolutely doesn't justify my mistake but all I've got to say is that, I didn't mean it and I instantly regretted it after seeing the pained look on your face. It killed me on the inside."

He paused for a while as I stayed quiet.

"This is hard for me, but I want to try. I really want to. And believe me when I say I do care for you and that you are the most beautiful and smart and crazy person I've met. You bring the playful side out of me which I never knew existed. You bring that possessive and jealous side out too. I'm sorry for hurting you but I hope you atleast reconsider our friendship. "

A sad look crossed his face as his hand went limp in mine.

It took everything in me to not look at him and twine our fingers tightly yet again, without blushing. I could see his surprised gaze on me, but I steered clear of his eyes which seemed to make me drown in them.

"Its okay," I muttered softly before looking at him. "I was hurt, yes, but I've come to a conclusion that you must have had a reason. A reason you're not telling me, which I respect, but I hope you trust me. I'll never leave, Ray. I'll always be here."

He nodded and pulled me onto his chest and after so many days, I sighed in relief. I missed him, no doubt, but I missed this side of him, this vulnerable, truthful Ray, who seemed to need love and care. And I wanted to be the one to give that to him.

His arms wrapped around me and mine around his waist as we stayed there, soaking each other in and listening to the sweet voice of our heartbeats.

I pulled back, but my wild flowing hair stuck to his woolen jumper as his forehead stayed on mine. His eyes conveyed everything I wanted to know and I hoped mine did too for I wanted nothing more than to join his lips with mine.

He leaned in and in an instant his soft, wet lips were on mine, kissing the hell out of me. It was passionate and demanding as his hands held my waist tightly while mine played with his locks. He nibbled a little on my lower lip and I almost groaned in satisfaction when his tongue met mine.

It lapped like a water wave with mine, soft and wet and like everything I'd imagined it to be. He slowed down a bit and we just kissed slowly, lightly, getting to know every crook of our mouths and the feel of our lips.

Breathing heavily I pulled back, still in his arms, my fingers still knotted in his soft locks. He rubbed his thumb along my lower lip and caresed my cheek softly. The look in his eyes was full of care and warmth, and I closed my eyes at the feel of his warm hand on my cheek.

"I like you. So fucking much." He whispered in my ear before placing a sloppy kiss on my earlobe. I shivered and pulled his face in front of mine.

"What?" I still couldn't believe it. It had to be a joke.

"I like you, idiot. I've been dying to tell you this, okay?" He grinned and I did too.

"I never thought you would. I always thought you hated me to my guts."

"I never hated you. Its safe to say that you had me from the moment you helped me on the first day. I was so enticed by you. I couldn't believe that some one could be this beautiful, yet so kind and smart. You've always been perfect to me June." The genuinity in his voice had me rasped.

I hugged him in an instant as my heart swelled with nothing but pure affection for this guy while my eyes welled up with tears.

All my life, I'd been doubting myself and kept knocking myself over the mere words of people who only cared about money and looks. I'd even thought that was true and that I wasn't pretty but I always believed one day, someone would like me for the way I was.

"Thank you," I kissed him lightly on his cheek.

"For what?" He gingerly asked.

"For making me believe that I'm everything I have to be and that I am enough." He smiled and pulled me closer.

"Ive always told you. Never let a guy determine your worth. You're perfect just the way you are, okay?" He gently pushed the flying strands behind my ears and I nodded, smiling at him.

"Are you kids done? Sorry for interrupting but I'm hungry!" Susan's voice roared behind us and we were up in an instant. She chuckled and motioned us to come in.

Ray's hand slipped into mine and I just stared at it, wondering how could this simple hand, which did nothing but help me work had the capability to make me blush in just a few seconds? What nerves did it have down there to electrify every touch of Ray's?

"Come on in." He urged, smiling.

And I followed him hand in hand, happy and giddy than I'd ever been.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Finally! The chapter y'all were waiting for is here 🤪 + Don't forget to vote :(((