Ray POV
   "Hey, Ray. It's time to go." I look up and see Payton's mom standing in front of me.
   "What happened?" I ask.
   "Well, you fell asleep. They are having charges pressed on your behalf since you're a minor and are getting a court date set. I gave them my number and said I'd take you back to my house until we figured out a more permanent solution." She smiles at me. "Ready to go?"
   "Yeah." I stand up and follow her out the door and to her vehicle. I get in the passenger seat next to her. "Thanks for coming to get me and taking me home."
   "It's not a problem, Ray," she says with a kind smile. We drive the rest of the way to her place in silence.
   Once we get to her house, we head inside quickly. She asks if I want to watch a movie before we go to bed, and I agree.
   She turns on Aladdin, which I like, and I manage to stay awake for the whole movie. When it's over, though, I'm pretty tired.
   "Do you want to head to bed?"
   "Yeah," I reply.
   "You can have the same room. Your clothes from last time are still in there. I hope you have everything you need, but if you don't, just tell me, and we can go get it in the morning. Sound good?" Joanne asks me. I nod, then yawn. "Sounds like you should be getting some sleep. Goodnight, Ray."
   "Goodnight," I tell her, then head off to the spare bedroom. I see my set of clothes still on the bed and smile, setting them on top of the dresser and crawling into bed. I plug my phone in and lay it on the nightstand.
   I roll around a few times before getting on my phone. I don't have social media, so I scroll through my texts. I decide on texting Noen.

Ray💛: hey Noen. How's you been doing?

Noen🥱: good. sorry to hear about Sam :/ how are you holding up?

Ray💛: I'll just have to get over it and hope the next time I start dating someone, they don't cheat on me

Noen🥱: does that mean that you have a crush on someone?

Ray💛: does what mean I have a crush on someone?

Noen🥱: you said the next time you start dating someone. do you have a plan for when that'll be?

Ray💛: no

Noen🥱: fine

Noen🥱: so what are you doing

Ray💛: laying in bed and about to fall asleep

Noen🥱: who's place are you at?

Ray💛: Payton's house

Noen🥱: ???

Ray💛: what does ??? mean?

Noen🥱: so you don't have a crush on anyone but you are staying at Payton's mom house after you called him?

Ray💛: he told you about the phone call?

Noen🥱: not what he said, and I just saw him on the phone. I figured it was you

Ray💛: okay. well, yes. I am.

Noen🥱: but you don't have a crush on him? I'm not judging you if you do. He'd be a good boyfriend.

Ray💛: you think he would be?

Noen🥱: yeah and I also think that the two of you would be a cute couple

Ray💛: shut up

Noen🥱: why? Are you blushing over Payton?

Ray💛: stop it

Noen🥱: so I'll take that as a 'yes'

Ray💛: it's not like he would date me anyway so it doesn't matter

Noen🥱: and why would you say that ray?

Ray💛: do I need to send you another picture of me?

Noen🥱: I mean you're gorgeous so sure

Ray💛: shut up you liar

Noen🥱: I know he likes you. Chaser knows he likes you. I'm pretty sure about everyone but you knows that he likes you. You'd have to be blind to not see it, Ray. I think you're actually blind.

Ray💛: you think he likes me back?

Noen🥱: do I need to send you the part about me knowing that he likes you again?

Ray💛: no

Noen🥱: so you like him?

Ray💛: yes?

Noen🥱: I love this so much

Ray💛: it'd never happen

Noen🥱: and why do you think that?

Ray💛: because I'm never going to ask him out?

Noen🥱: maybe he'll ask you out

Ray💛: maybe. well I'm going to get to sleep now

Noen🥱: alright. sleep well ray

Ray💛: Goodnight

I smile to myself and set my phone back on the nightstand, thinking about our texts. So Payton likes me, too? I fall asleep quickly thinking about Payton and wondering when I'll get to see him next.

Payton POV
   We head back to the hotel after that and start packing up to head to Albany in the morning. I haven't seen Sam since the beach, so I don't know if he's coming back.
"Hey." I look over from where I'm setting my bag against the wall. Noen is standing there looking at me.
"Hey," I reply, looking around. "What are you doing?"
"I'm giving you advice."
"I'm waiting for it." I cross my arms over my chest and lean back against the wall.
"It's about Ray. Dating her, more specifically," Noen says. I nod, paying more attention now. "Just ask her."
"Just ask her what?"
"Anything. Out on a date, to be your girlfriend, if she likes you. Don't just hint at it, or it's going to take you forever. Alright?" Noen asks with a sigh. I nod, and he begins to walk off. Right before he leaves the room, he turns back around. "One more thing. I know she already likes you back."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Ask her out already." Noen smiles and leaves the room. I look down at my feet and blush.
"She likes me."