Page 34 of The Merciless

“Breakfast a foreign concept to you, Storm?” Angel asked from behind her, and she turned on her heels, her brows furrowed,

“No.” she looked at the toaster, “A toaster is.” She mumbled.

“Well,” he clapped his hands and walked over to stand beside her and began placing the hot bread and egg in the plates. Ray remained frozen at the sight, just watching him work until he turned with the plates in both his palms. He smiled at her, completely at peace with her frozen stance as he walked past her and placed the plates on the counter before taking a seat on one of the chairs on the other end. Ray’s breath seemed to stop in her throat when he tilted his head, and softened his eyes, and–

“Coffee.” She managed to say before turning to grab two mugs. She heard his soft chuckle and couldn’t help a smile of her own, “Hot or cold?” she asked.

“Hot please.”

She hummed and waited for it to brew.

“Hey Ray,” came his soft voice from behind her and Ray turned in the silence that followed. Bit her tongue to keep herself from running over the counter andengulfingthis boyin her arms as he put his face in his hands and grinned at her,

“Get used to this.”

Fuck.

Ray hummed again, her breath stopping in her lungs as she turned to get the two mugs. She walked back slowly and placed the mugs before him without saying a word.

Angel looked up at her through the locks of his hair, his cheek in the palm of his hand. She saw the twinkle in his eyes, caught an expression she’d never seen before and suppressed a smirk.

Just leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

Angel froze, and she let her grin slip free. Kissed him again on the other side and sat back down with a satisfiedoomph. She cleared her throat and turned to her plate to pick up the bread and took a bite out of it before turning to look at him. Almost spat out the bread at the offended yet surprised look on his face. A laugh left her lips as he scoffed loudly and turned to pick up his mug of coffee angrily.

“Get used to this.” She whispered as he took a sip of the coffee. Angel’s shoulder’s bunched and she could see he was trying to gulp and retort when–

Thud!

“RAYLENE WALKER!”

Angel choked on his coffee beside her as Ray jumped away from him in surprise, almost falling off her seat with the loud voice that blared through the calm atmosphere.

Angel coughed violently as she righted herself and heard a pad of footsteps echo through her room. Her eyes narrowed into a glare when Neera and Cameron strode through her doors, Ira and Akash following in tow.

Everyone’s except Ira’s eyes narrowed in their direction. Ira just ran to Angel and started patting his back,

“Thanks–”cough, “kid.”Angel wheezed as the other three walked closer. Ira turned to peer at Ray instead of responding, her gaze curious,

“Did you and Angel sleep together?”

That had Angel erupting into another row of coughs beside her. Ray winced and glared at the younger girl,

“Christ Ira,” she said as Angel groaned and put his face in his hands,

“Fuckin’hell,”she heard his hoarse reply as Ira cackled evilly and turned to face Akash and Neera. Cameron was standing behind them, his hands crossed as the other two looked between Ray and Angel.

“What?” she snapped and got off her seat, “How the hell did you evenknow–”

“Nope.”Came Akash’s whiplash of a response before Neera grabbed her hand and hauled her to the nearest room. Ray scoffed loudly but not before she heard Ira say to Angel solemnly,

“Come on Angel,” she said, “Your friends are waiting for you downstairs. You can go without seeing her for five minutes.”

“Iwillstart hating you, Ira Walker.” Came Angel’s wheezing response as the door shut with a loud slam and all three of her friends stepped closer to her. Ray chuckled a bit nervously and crossed her arms,

“What?” she asked again.

Neera’s eyes narrowed, “You did something.”

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