Raye didn't expect him to act like that.
One moment, he was quiet, leaning against the counter like the weight of the world had just eased off his shoulders, and the next—he was scowling at her like she'd just announced she was leaving forever.
"You're going?" Kyle's voice came low, almost offended.
She blinked, glancing at the time on her phone. "Yeah… I promised Jane I'd come over. She said she had something to tell me."
He folded his arms across his chest, the muscle in his jaw tightening. "You just got here."
"I've been here since yesterday and this is almost twelve ," she said with a small laugh. "That's not 'just got here,' Kyle."
He looked away, muttering something she barely caught—something like 'still not enough.'
She raised a brow. "Did you just—Kyle, are you throwing a tantrum right now?"
He glared. "I don't throw tantrums."
"Mhm," she teased, stepping closer. "Because this definitely doesn't look like one. Pouting, arms crossed, guilt-tripping me—oh yeah, totally mature."
His expression softened for a fraction of a second, then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I just… don't want to be alone right now."
Her teasing smile faltered. The honesty in his tone made her heart twist. She touched his arm gently. "You won't be. I'll come by later, okay?"
He looked at her like he didn't believe that for a second, but after a pause, he gave a small nod. "Fine. But if you don't come back, I'm driving to your apartment."
"You wouldn't dare."
Raye said rolling her eyes while chuckling.
He tilted his head. "Try me."
Of course he would .
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"Yet you still love me," he said under his breath.
The quiet weight of that sentence lingered in the air. She felt her chest flutter, cheeks warming, but before she could reply, he pressed a kiss to her forehead—short, soft, and completely unfair.
"Go," he murmured. "Before I change my mind."
Raye made her way down the hallway of their apartment, her fingers still tingling from Kyle's kisses and her head spinning from the emotional whirlwind of the past few days. But one thing was clear:
She needed her best friend.
She banged on the door three times ,sighing she checked her bag for her key , finally seeing it she opened the door , walked in without waiting. "Jane. Jane. I need therapy, sugar, and maybe a taser for emotional defense."
From the kitchen, Jane peeked out holding a bowl of popcorn and wearing an oversized hoodie that wasn't has .
But Raye was too tired to notice .
Shw slumped dramatically on the couch closing her eyes with a satisfied smile .
Life wasn't so bad this days .
"Well well well, look who survived her dramatic love spiral," Jane said with a smirk, plopping onto the couch. "Come, spill. You and Loverboy finally made out and confessed under moonlight, didn't you?"
Raye dragged herself onto the couch, head landing on Jane's lap. "He kissed me. I cried. Then I massaged his head and he fell asleep on my stomach. I think I blacked out emotionally."
She rambled with a grin cupping her face while Jane chuckled shaking her head slowly.
"Ugh, hot," Jane muttered. "So you're a couple now?"
"I guess so. He hasn't drawn up a contract yet but… yeah."
Jane squealed, tossing popcorn in the air. "About freaking time! I was this close to locking you two in a janitor's closet."
Raye giggled "you wouldn't _" she paused mid sentence, her eyes zooming to the hoodie Jane was wearing .
That wasn't hers .
Jane eyes snapped to what Raye was looking at ,she quickly used her hand to cover the front of the hoodie as if that would do anything .
The hoodie was like an oversize dress on her .
"Wait. Whose that for ?? , went shopping ???"
Raye narrowed her eyes with a frown as she raised her head up from Jane thigh . "Jane."
"I can explain."
"Explain what, exactly?"
Jane tried to act casual, brushing invisible crumbs off the hoodie. "Okay fine. So Rod here and it for him and I may or may not have… kissed. A lot. Last night."
Raye shot up. "YOU WHAT?!"
"Shhh!" Jane looked toward the door. "He's in the shower, don't scream like I committed a crime!"
"You kind of did! You're dating Rod?!"
Jane's cheeks turned the color of microwave strawberries. "He showed up at my apartment with this stupid bouquet of wildflowers. Said they reminded him of me because they were chaotic and impossible to ignore."
Raye gasped. "No he didn't."
"Oh he did," Jane said, grinning like a teenage girl in a K-drama. "Then he just blurted out, 'I can't stand the thought of anyone else making you laugh like I do and that he also said sorry for yelling at me at practice "
Raye melted. "Oh my God, you're a rom-com."
"I KNOW!" Jane grabbed Raye's shoulders. "Then we kissed. And he stayed over. " Jane almist choked wuth laughter when Raye eyes widen further .
She quickly added .
"On the couch, calm down."
Raye smirked shaking her head .
This was too much information
But she was happy Jane .
"He stayed over, huh?"
Jane gave her a warning glare. "Not like that! Well, not yet. But now we're officially dating and I can't stop smiling like an idiot."
Raye pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this. Someone who sees the madness and still picks you."
Jane smiled weirdly not knowing whether to take that as a compliment or an insult " Yeah sure "
Raye sighed dreamily. "We're in the 'soft launch phase' of our lives."
"And we didn't even need Instagram to do it," Jane joked.
Just then, a wet-haired Rod strolled into the living room, towel over his shoulder and shirtless like he owned the place.
He first did a retreat when he saw Raye , but when he didn't see any sign of shock on her face . He decided to stay .
"Morning, Raye," he said scratching his hair , grinning. "You want waffles? I make them aggressively romantic."
Jane rolled her eyes. "He thinks putting strawberries in the shape of hearts makes him a chef."
"It does," Rod declared, flexing for no reason. "And your friend needs carbs after all that emotional cardio with Kyle."
Raye laughed and leaned back into the couch. "This is the weirdest and most wonderful breakfast I've ever had."
Sunday afternoon.
Raye met Kyle outside a small tucked-away rooftop café that overlooked the city, all gold sunlight and slow music. She wore a casual sundress, but it still made his breath catch.
"You're stunning," he said before she could even say hi.
Raye blushed, smoothing the fabric as she cleared her throat to hide a grin "You're just saying that because you're trying to soften the blow before telling me we're doing homework."
"We're not," Kyle said chuckling. "But you do still suck at math."
She smacked his arm.
They ordered milkshakes, fries, and shared a pizza like every stereotypical couple, but Raye swore the way Kyle looked at her over the table made her stomach flutter like she was in a movie scene.
This was her second date , she could still remember how she wished he was the one sitting with her when Joshua was there ...and now its happening.
And gosh it felt good and more better than her thoughts.
At one point, he reached out and touched her fingers. "I still can't believe you said 'I love you'."
She leaned in with a small mischievous smile . "Don't get used to it. I might snatch it back."
"You won't," he said, voice low. "You're stuck with me."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh no. My worst nightmare. .
Later –
They strolled slowly toward Raye's house since she insisted Kyle shouldn't bring his car that evening . She could feel the shift in his mood—the way he got quieter, more serious.
Finally, he sighed and said, "I probably won't be in school for two days or so "
She paused. "Wait. Is this about the fight? Oh yeah your suspension"
Kyle nodded.
He stopped walking and turned to her, hands slipping into hers.
Raye wondered why he was looking at her like he wanted to tell her a bad news .
She hoped he didn't beat somebody up again she thought biting her lips trying to hide the anxiousness .
"Raye… while I'm gone—just… stay away from boys, okay?"
Raye did a back track _.
Wait ...that was it
Her brow arched. "Excuse me?"
"I'm serious." His jaw clenched a little. "You're too soft sometimes. I don't trust people around you."
She laughed. "You don't trust me, you mean."
"I do," he said immediately. "I trust you more than anyone. It's everyone else I want to fight."
"You want me to carry pepper spray through school?"
"fuck yes , I want you to wear a 'Property of Kyle' tag until I get back." he said with a serious face which Raye tried to laugh it off.
He being overprotective was really funny .
"Okay, psycho," she teased. "What happens if I flirt with the cafeteria guy?"
"I break out early," he said without hesitation.
She grinned, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. " But Kyle when u get back you have to promise me . No more fighting I don't want you to get expelled ."
Kyle snuck his hand on her waist pulling her closer "Rod told you that . I am going to kill that guy " he muttered the other part to himself while Raye chuckled placing her hand on his cheek to bring his attention back to her .
"Promise Kyle and I promise to behave too ".
Kyle growled loudly before nodding slowly as Raye dropped two light kisses on his lips to coax him .
"Fine , fine I promise to behave and you better too " he said kissing her deeply before tucking a piece of strand behind her ear
"Don't worry, I will be on my best behavior "
He pulled her close by the waist. "You better be. Or I'll haunt the school walls."
She whispered near his lips, "You're dramatic."
He kissed her—slow, warm, and way too addictive. "You love it."
They stood there, not wanting to say goodbye.
He pressed his forehead to hers. "Don't miss me too much."
"No promises."
Then, almost shyly, she said, "Text me when you get home, okay?"
He smiled. "I will. And Raye?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget I love you."
She smiled, brushing her finger along his jaw. "I won't. Now go before I cry and ruin my cool-girl image."
He kissed her one last time, then walked backward down the steps.
"Stay away from boys!" he called out.
Raye stuck out her tongue. "Stay away from fights!"
He grinned—and she knew she'd miss him every single day he was gone.