“Is everything alright?” she asked, swiping her white bangs off her face as she peered down at Ira before looking at Ray’s face. Her eyes only widened when she noticed how close she was to Angel.
Her head snapped up, a look of surprise and confusion entering her stance as Angel grimaced and smiled back sheepishly.
What the hell are you doing?She seemed to ask him and Angel’s hands on Ray’s arm tightened by a fraction.
I have no fucking idea,he conveyed back and saw her scoff.
Ray must’ve noticed their interaction because she seemed to still in his arms. Angel’s attention snapped back to hers and suddenly, all he could hear was her heart pounding dangerously in her chest.Or maybe it was his,he couldn’t really tell. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, scared and relieved at the thought of her moving away.
But when she did try to move an inch further away, Angel made sure to keep his grip on her hand to keep her in place.
Her breath hitched audibly, and he forced himself to look back up. Forced himself to let go of her hand before he did something stupid. Orstupider.
Ray didn’t move an inch.
And somehow it made it all the more worse.
“So.” Angel managed to say, barely catching the tremor in his voice, “Where to next?”
Christina had her gaze narrowed in his direction, but no one else seemed to notice their secret distance. Ray cleared her throat in front of him and straightened her shoulders. He grit his teeth as the expanse of her back touched his chest. Swore when she took a step away.
“Anywhere except the roller coasters.” She said, and looked over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling with something like gratitude. Angel couldn’t help it, he leaned down, shivering at the warmth of her skin as he pressed his hand to hers. Grinning as she did the same.
“Youhaveto get over that.” He said softly and Ray rolled her eyes in front of him, turning to face Christina with pursued lips. Christina noticed her glance and chose to spare Angel her glare by smiling back at Ray.
“Did you get your hair done?” she asked and Ray smiled back, swiping a hand through her hair.
“I did.”
“Looks fucking great. Let’s not get you to any roller coasters to ruin them.”
Ray nodded her head vigorously, shooting Angel a glare over her shoulder, “Exactly.Thankyou.”
Christina laughed at her response and looked down at Ira, whose eyes were volleying between Ray and Angel.
“Where’d you wanna go to next?” she asked and Ira hummed, grabbing a French fry and chewing on it in thought. A part of Angel melted at her thawed exterior. It hadn’t been long since Ira had come under Ray’s care, a day to be exact, but he could already see the life rushing back in her cheeks. Could see the warmth in her eye. She was still careful, was still wary, but Ira was growing slowly. Was getting out of her shell.
“The Ferris wheel?” She asked, her question aimed at Ray, “And we can get cotton candy on the way?”
Ray blinked at her question, and Angel had to take a step beside her to see her expression when she responded, “Sure.Let’s do it.”
Cameron, who’d been standing around for a while clapped his hands, grabbing his burger as he moved to get up.
“Not finishing your drink Cameron?” Angel signed after grabbing his attention. He’d meant the question honestly, but Cameron’s eyes just narrowed into a glare aimed specifically at Neera, who was blissfully drinking her own drink.
“I hate long island.” He signed back and Angel bit back a grin as he pushed past the huddle of people and strode out without a backward glance.
“Childish brat.”
Ray shook her head from in front of Angel and shook her head, grabbing her drink as she did so. He watched her gulp the entire glass in a large swig and reach for her burger. She extended it in Ira’s direction,
“Want it?” she asked, and Ira nodded, grabbing the burger out of her hands immediately. Angel saw Ray’s smile, saw the way she stepped back as Christina ushered them all out. Neera got up from her seat as well, sparing Ray a glance he couldn’t really read before she walked after Ira as well. They both stood, waiting for the rest of them to file out the restaurant in silence.
Angel might’ve started speaking if it hadn’t been for his phone. The loud vibration surprised both, him and Ray, who jumped away from him, glancing over her shoulder in question. Angel shrugged in response but removed his phone.
The message popped up,
Doc: He’s in the ICU.
