Locking the door and isolating himself in his room was the closest Ray got to crawling into a hole. Refusing to socialize for almost 24 hours was probably not good for his health but he didn't care about that right now.

Even almost 24 hours later he still was mortified. His very first voice crack was in front of Emma. Emma. Emma!!! It could have literally been in front of anyone else, Don, Gilda, Violet, hell even Lani and Thoma! But nope! Life decided it was gonna be in front of Emma.

Why does he even care so much that it was in front of Emma! He shouldn't care—He doesn't care!!

Ray groans in frustration as he rolls over on his back on his bed and slams a pillow on his face.

He knew this was going to happen, just not in front of Emma. He never wanted her to hear that happen to his voice. And when she did, she started laughing—laughing! Even just the memory of her stupid cute face breaking into that smiling face he loves made him want to—

'Wait—What?'

A muffled knock from his door drew him out of his thoughts. Ray quickly sits up, purposely trying to ignore and get rid of the heat on his face. He swings his legs over the bed and walks over to the door. Figuring that it's either Yuugo or Lucas, or even both.

Yuugo and Lucas had knocked on his door many times but he refused to even let them he was alive. He decided to keep himself locked in this room with his stupid cracking voice, and then one day he'll die. That was his plan. Keyword was.

He needed to clear his mind from... Whatever the hell that was. He refused to acknowledge his thoughts. So turning the knob he opens the door.

"I'm fine Yuugo. Just leave me alon—"

Emma stood at the door, a concerned look on her face. And Ray swears he just had a tiny mother f-ing heart attack.

'I... Hate my life.' He thinks to himself. Where's a demon when you need one, damn it.

Ray's eyes avoid her's, and he looks away. His cheeks heat up just from her presence alone. What the hell is happening to him?

"Oh, Emma. What're you doing here?"

Was he always this awkward in front of her?—Wait why does that even matter?!

Emma laughs nervously as she scratches her cheek.

"Yuugo told me that it was rude for me to be laughing at your voice cracking. He said it was, "Something normal. And not a laughing matter." Though, I don't fully understand what he meant." She says.

'She's way to innocent and pure for this world!!'

Emma puts her hands behind her back as she leans forward slightly, Ray takes a step back. She smiles.

"So, I wanted to apologize for last night!"

Ray stares at her as he quietly sputter nonsense. But he gets a hold of himself and looks away.

"A—Alright."

'Why. Am I. Stuttering?'

Emma leans back and her expression changes into something more soft and meaningful. "So, I'm sorry I laughed."

She says it in almost a whisper. And it feels like Ray just got punched in the chest. He feels nervous, his hands feel clammy, his mouth dry. What should he say? What should he do? Should he—

Ray suddenly slams the door in Emma's face.

'WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??? WHY DID I DO THAT???'

"Ray?! Are you okay?"

Ray nods to no one in particular.

"Yeah! I'm fiNE—"

Ray's hand flies over to his mouth and he curses to himself. He hears a quiet muffled laugh from the other side and glares at the door. He did it again. Embarrassed himself in front of Emma. Letting his voice crack despite knowing that he has no control over it. He hears Emma laugh get a bit louder from the other side of the door. Why does it always have to be in front of Emma!?

This is so stupid! Why should he care if his voice cracks in front of her?! She's just his friend that he's grown up with, if anything he shouldn't be embarrassed of his voice cracking in front of her! He should be annoyed!

This only makes him ask himself, why is he so nervous? It's Emma! She's always been by his side! She's the most important person to him, he would do almost anything to protect her! To stay by her side! If anything happened to her, he would be crushed. He wants to protect, stand next to her, hold her hand, hug her, let her know that no matter what he'll always be there for her—

Ray's thoughts stop for a second. His glare slowly softens as his eyes slightly widen and he leans his head against the door. A fuzzy feeling fills his chest.

'Oh... That's why...'