For Him, I Stayed

Chapter 25: "A Fragile Silence"

Note:
"Okay okay, this might be the best part yet🔥"

Warning:
Best friend Drama
Overthinking (???)
Drama
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Chapter 25: A Fragile Silence

The days passed in a blur, but the tension at school was anything but ignorable. With Ray still avoiding Matthew and the arrival of the four new transfer students, the school's atmosphere buzzed with curiosity and change. Each of the new students carried their own unique presence, and while most people were eager to befriend them, Ray found himself watching from the sidelines, unwilling to let anyone in-not even Matthew.

---

Morning in the Classroom

Ray sat at the back of the classroom, head down as usual, his notebook open but blank. He tried to focus on the teacher's voice, but his thoughts kept drifting.

Up front, the new students seemed to be settling in. Viviane was quick to make friends, her sharp wit and easy laugh drawing people to her. Leo, on the other hand, was quieter, though his calm confidence seemed to attract its own circle of admirers.

Jarren and Mary, however, were less straightforward. Jarren's aloof demeanor made him seem almost unapproachable, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. Mary was quieter, content to observe rather than engage, though her kindness was evident in the way she helped classmates without hesitation.

Ray couldn't help but notice how seamlessly they blended into the school's social fabric. It wasn't long before Matthew struck up a conversation with Viviane and Leo during break. Ray tried not to watch, but his chest ached at the sight. It was ridiculous-Matthew had every right to make new friends. Ray had been the one to create this distance, after all.

But that didn't stop the hollow feeling from settling deeper inside him.

---

Lunch Break

Ray sat alone under the large oak tree outside, his usual spot. He was grateful for the silence, the way the rustling leaves seemed to drown out the chatter from the cafeteria. But the peace didn't last long.

"Ray," a voice called out, sharp and familiar.

He looked up to see Claire standing a few feet away, her arms crossed. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes carried that same cutting edge he'd come to expect from her.

"Why are you still skulking around like some kicked puppy?" she said, walking closer. "Don't you get it? Matthew doesn't need you anymore."

Ray's jaw tightened. He turned his gaze away, focusing on a patch of grass near his feet. "What do you want, Claire?"

"I'm trying to help you, believe it or not," she said, her voice dripping with mock sincerity. "It's pathetic, watching you pine after him like this. Just let him move on. You're only holding him back."

Ray's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You don't know anything about me or Matthew."

Claire laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "I know enough. And I know that he's better off without you dragging him down."

"Then why are you so worried about me being around him?" Ray shot back, his voice low but sharp. "If he's so much better off without me, why do you keep showing up to remind me?"

For a moment, Claire's mask slipped, her expression flickering with something that almost looked like insecurity. But she quickly recovered, her smirk returning.

"Just do us all a favor and stay out of his life," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "You'll save everyone a lot of trouble."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Ray alone with the weight of her words.

---

In the Cafeteria

Meanwhile, Matthew sat at a table with Viviane, Leo, and a few other classmates. The new students were already fitting in, and their conversations flowed easily. But Matthew's attention kept wandering to the empty spot where Ray used to sit.

Viviane noticed his distraction and nudged him gently. "Hey, you okay? You've been zoning out a lot."

Matthew blinked, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

Leo raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his calm gaze sweeping across the room. "Who's the guy you keep looking for?"

Matthew stiffened. "What?"

Leo smirked faintly. "The empty seat. You've been glancing at it all lunch."

Viviane tilted her head, curious. "Oh, that seat. Who used to sit there?"

"Just... a friend," Matthew said quickly, his tone dismissive.

Viviane didn't press, but the knowing look in her eyes made Matthew uneasy. He tried to shift the conversation, but his thoughts remained stuck on Ray. The distance between them was suffocating, and he didn't know how to fix it.

---

After School

Ray lingered near the music room, his fingers itching to play the piano, but he didn't go inside. Instead, he leaned against the wall, his thoughts swirling.

He hated the way Claire's words lingered in his mind, poisoning every interaction he had with Matthew-even the ones that never happened. Part of him wanted to believe she was wrong, but another part of him couldn't shake the fear that maybe, just maybe, she was right.

As he stood there, lost in thought, he didn't notice Jarren approaching until the other boy spoke.

"You always look like you're carrying the weight of the world," Jarren said, his tone casual but observant.

Ray glanced up, startled. He hadn't spoken to Jarren much since he transferred, but there was something about the other boy's presence that was both unnerving and oddly grounding.

"Just thinking," Ray said quietly.

Jarren leaned against the wall beside him, his hands in his pockets. "Thinking doesn't usually look that painful."

Ray let out a soft, humorless laugh. "You'd be surprised."

Jarren didn't reply immediately. Instead, he studied Ray for a moment before speaking again. "You're avoiding someone, aren't you?"

Ray stiffened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What makes you say that?"

Jarren shrugged. "Call it a hunch. You've got that look-like you're running from something but don't know how to stop."

Ray didn't respond. He didn't owe Jarren an explanation, but the other boy's words hit uncomfortably close to home.

"Well, whatever it is," Jarren said, pushing off the wall, "you can't avoid it forever. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it."

With that, Jarren walked away, leaving Ray alone once again. But his words lingered, gnawing at Ray's already fragile resolve.

---

Evening at Home

Ray sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day played over and over in his mind-Claire's cutting words, Jarren's blunt observation, and the way Matthew looked so at ease with Viviane and Leo.

He felt like he was being slowly erased, like his place in Matthew's life was slipping away. And the worst part was, he wasn't sure if he was supposed to fight for it or let it go.

The only thing he knew for certain was that something had to change.

Because the silence between him and Matthew was becoming unbearable, and Ray didn't know how much longer he could take it.

To be Continued...