Ray thought it would end perfectly. After all, his plan was perfect and his preparation excellent. The college boy had a crush on his best friend for a month before deciding to act. It was surprising he would be attracted to Leah, a slightly overweight girl wearing glasses, with braces and messy hair, while Ray was actually quite beautiful. He lacked the football players' muscles with a more lean and wiry figure, but more than made up for it by his pretty face and cute smile, that can be replaced by an expression of great yet inner strength whenever someone bullies another student in front of him. Many girls would have been delighted to date him, even though he was a dork. Ray was very adorable but not a coward like most geeks are portrayed to be.
He and Leah have been friends for a couple of years and they did almost everything together. She would go to the library with him at lunch and after school he would wait for her while she attended her piano lessons. They met at the beginning of their freshman year and were close ever since. It seemed nothing could separate them, and over time, Ray fell in love with her.
He asked the taller girl to study with him at the library after school, knowing most other students would be home at that time. Soon, the two of them were left alone. Ray quickly made his move. The pretty boy gently reached out with his hands to secure Leah's, clasping firmly but with care and love. "Leah, I want you to know that I think you are a wonderful person. You're sweet, kind and smart... and I want to tell you that I l l love you.." Leah was silent. She thought back to how Ray defended her as the cool kids tried to make fun of the girl the day they first met. Ray was so sweet yet strong in character, refusing to move when someone try to push him into doing something wrongful and against his code. Nobody else stood up for her the way he did. Sweet, kind, beautiful Ted. And she stood up and walked away from the table.
The lad felt tears rolling down his rosy cheeks. It was painful. Not the fact that she did not reciprocate his feelings but the manner in which Leah refused to even say something to him. After all these months together. Sighing, Ray stood up and left the library. The boy got home soon enough. He checked his phone, hoping against hope for a message from Leah. There were none. He stripped off the old clothes.
The young fellow shampooed his hair thoroughly, rubbing and scratching, inhaling the aromatic scent of strawberry and cleaning his body with slippery soap. Within six minutes, Ray got out. He went to bed naked, knowing his parents were out of town, not bothering to even put on a towel. Sleeping in the buff has always been his thing. No texts or calls from Leah.
Friday and Saturday were used for watching old movies again, and also watching them while butt naked, yet again. Boy, does he love it when his parents aren't home. Then he can walk around wearing nothing. This actually takes away from his sadness of Leah not wanting to be with him, so gratifying was walking around the house nude for him. He actually did not want to see her on Monday out of fear of things becoming strained between them at school. For the first time, Ray, many teachers' favourite, did not want to go to school. He eventually had to, though.
She did not even say hi, choosing to walk right past him at the school gates. Very well. Leah made her decision and he will respect it. Ray avoided looking at her as much as he could without behaving too weirdly. The last thing any college boy wants is to be seen as an idiot by his peers. Even little Ray does care a little about other people's perception of him. He only stared down at his feet when Leah glanced at him. Soon, it was the last day before summer break. There was nothing else he can do after the girl he confessed to refused to approach him for just over a few days time since his confession. Nothing his father or mother said helped.
Ray went home. He stayed in his bedroom until dinner, and went back in immediately after. The next day was the same, Ray only coming out for his meals. The lad didn't know what else to do anymore. So great was his disappointment that he decided, to hell with it, and asked out his neighbour, Elizabeth, who he was sure had a crush on him. Why was he so sure, you may ask? Elementary, my dear Watson. If a girl stares into a boy's bedroom window, using binocular, then she is either planning to kidnap him or is infatuated with him, or if she is a yandere, both. They went for ice cream the next day, and to his surprise and delight, she was able to help take his mind off Leah. The girl is extremely beautiful and Ray thought she was actually out of his league, but then again, Ray never thought highly of himself, when he had many reasons to do so. He did tell her about how much he loved Leah and that there is a part of him that will forever love her. Elizabeth accepted that and they got along pretty well afterwards. By well, I mean making out with Elizabeth always dominating Ray.
It did not feel long until college starts again. Ray went to the establishment. He did feel a little weird in his gut. The boy often had a gut feeling when things are about to go differently than he expected. Sort of like the spider sense, but without being able to backflip over cars. Sighing, the young lad entered the building. Walking through familiar corridors, he could hear snippets of conversations, ranging from :
"Who knew the nerd could become so hot"
"God, I want to bang her"
