A/N: Whenever I write I always think my chapters are a lot longer than they actually are. I'll try to make them longer for you guys. If not I hope you don't mind the short-ish chapters. It's just easier to get updates out if I can write them short. :p So let's go. Ray and Stella's friendship is about to start emerging.

Disclaimer: I don't own Lemonade Mouth or any of the characters. If I did, Rayella would be on like Donkey Kong.

Stella felt really…weird. She didn't feel the urge to punch Ray much lately. And she actually found herself enjoying spending time with him. Jesus was she sick?

She felt better knowing that she was still annoyed by him though. It had been about a week since their performance and Ray sticking up for them. It had certainly caught her off guard. She didn't have to threaten him to do it. He chose to. Shouldn't he have laughed along with that Dean kid? Or at least ignore him? But no. Ray felt the need to step in and stick up for them. Well kind of. He did admit to Stella later on that he'd said that no one can make fun of their band but him. Whatever, it still counted. He was starting to make her feel somewhat better about lying to Mo.

She didn't like him though. No, never that.

And now they were all sitting outside at lunch, sitting in a circle on the grass. Wen and Olivia [as always] were sitting side by side. Charlie was sitting next to his girlfriend, Lulu, and the two were talking quietly. They were smiling and Stella couldn't help but smile too. She was glad Charlie found someone when Mo chose Scott. He deserved to be happy. Scott was sitting next to Mo with his arm over her shoulders and Stella was sitting between Ray's legs. She was leaning back against his chest, smiling to keep up their act.

However she had to admit that Ray was very comfortable. And he also had a very nicely toned chest. She wouldn't tell him that. She didn't need to fuel his ego.

He was still annoying though, and that helped calm her nerves. At least that hadn't changed. People kept staring at them, in awe over the 'hate turned love' story they had going on. It was starting to get on her nerves but Ray had been super annoying about it. Whenever they were alone he would blame her for all their new attention and complain about his lost popularity. To which she would respond get the hell over it, big guy and change the conversation.

That was another thing. They had hung out a lot in the last week. Sure, most of that time was with the band but some of it was alone. It was just the two of them; joking around or plotting against Patty. One day they just watched movies together. Kind of like friends.

They weren't though because Stella hated Ray Beech and would never be his friend, ever.

She snapped out of her thoughts when Ray started to play with her hair. She looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. He just shrugged, and continued to play with the strands. Whatever, if it kept him quiet it was fine by her.

"You know Ray, people keep talking about how sweet and awesome you are. It's all around school," Mo said, smiling at him. Mo smiled a lot at Ray lately. Stella was shocked.

Ray gave her a smile back [albeit it was fake] and shrugged "I was always sweet and awesome Mo."

Mo rolled her eyes and laughed" You were a total douchebag and you know it."

"Ah but I'm still a douchebag. I'm just a douchebag that's dating your best friend. And you're a snobby princess that's dating my best friend. I think we go together well," Ray responded, smirking. Now that was real. Stella didn't think Ray knew how to smile actually.

Mo raised an eyebrow at him before laughing "You're despicable." That was new too. Ray and Mo would bicker a lot, but it was good natured. Stella felt like once she started lying to Mo, she'd stepped into an alternate universe.

"I think Ray should come with us this summer when we play Madison Square Garden again," Charlie spoke up, smiling and nodding. That was shocking. Charlie had hated Ray. Stella couldn't blame him. Out of all the member of Lemonade Mouth, Ray had treated Charlie the worst. Stella would never regret spitting lemonade in his face in Charlie's honor.

Ray pinched Stella in the side, so no one could see, obviously caught off guard. Stella thought of something off the top of her head. "Oh Ray can't. He goes on vacation with his family every summer."

Ray seemed to stiffen behind her like she said the completely wrong thing. Charlie nodded though, accepting the answer and everyone went on talking about their own things. Ray didn't relax. Was he really that offended by the prospect of witnessing them perform at Madison Square Garden? Could his little ego not handle them doing better than him for once? Jesus why was he so arrogant and selfish? She would yell at him for it later.

She didn't even notice him standing up and grabbing his bag.

"Where are you going," She demanded.

Ray looked at them "I have people I have to meet. I'll see you guys later." He leaned down and hugged Stella quickly before walking away.

Well at least he was keeping up the act. But what the hell was his problem?

Okay he wasn't one to complain and bitch about his family. That wasn't him. He was more of a take it, pretend it never happened, and then take out your problems on dorks at school kind of guy. But sometimes it did bother him and he couldn't help but be- and he would never repeat this out loud- a drama queen about it.

Stella had just been trying to cover for him. The last thing he wanted was to go see them perform. His ego could only handle so much. It was a good save, it really was. But Ray's family never went on vacation. They never ate dinner together either or spent time together. Ray had the house to himself most of the time. The family only came together for holidays and even then, Ray's older brother Mason got most of the family's attention.

He wasn't going to blame his personality for that. He was a dick because he liked being a dick. He picked on people because that was the only way to maintain his reputation. It definitely wasn't because he had a lot of mommy and daddy issues going on. That just happened to be a coincidence, one that had no effect on how he acts.

So yeah, when Stella brought up a cute little family vacation it touched a nerve. He was about to go mad sitting with the Lemon Heads anyway. He needed a break. He needed more real friends. Hell who was he kidding? He didn't have any real friends but Scott, and he was with the band all the time.

It didn't matter. Out of the things Ray cared about, having friends was very low on that list. He learned to rely on himself and himself only. Otherwise he'd be facing a hell of a lot of disappointment. Ray liked to do what was easiest and the best choice for his life. He didn't want to be stepped all over or hurt [if he had feelings that is], so he chose to be an ass hole and not let his guard down. He wasn't stupid. The world was full of a lot of bad things, and bad people just waiting to tear you down. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He'd ignored a few messages already, but he figured he better answer soon. He pulled it out, checking his messages.

Evil Succubus

Are you trying to fuck this all up? Mo thinks we're fighting. And Scott's worried about you I can tell. Don't be a douchebag Ray.

He rolled his eyes. Typical Stella. Putting all this fake-dating shit on his shoulders.

Scott

U okay, man? I know family can b a touchy topic 4 u.

Ray sighed. Why did Scott have to be such a good bro? And why couldn't he spell words out.

Patty

Ray I know you don't really love Stella. Here's a picture to remind you why.

He raised an eyebrow, and opened the picture she'd sent. His eyes widened. Well when he'd seen Patty like that once before he'd been drunk. He tilted his head a little bit, looking her over. After staring for a second, he shook his head. He couldn't do this. He was trying to get Patty off his back, not encourage her. He deleted the picture and her message. There was one more message left and he didn't really feel like looking at it. He knew who it was from and he knew exactly what it would do if he read it.

Screw You

Yes, that was the name he had in his phone for his brother. So he was a little touchy, yeah. Whatever. The problem was that Mason actually wasn't a douchebag. He was just oblivious. He texted Ray a lot, saying hey or asking how he was. Ray tended to ignore him, just so he wouldn't feel guilty for hating Mason. It wasn't Mason's fault that their parents only cared about him but Ray had been subject to his parents' favoritism since he was a child. It left a mark. Even when his brother was out of the house, Ray was still inferior to his perfect big bro.

He simply deleted the message and stuffed his phone back in his perfect. He walked out onto the field like he was about to before he checked his phone. He just needed to kick the soccer ball around a little bit. Just get his mind off of his stupid family, his stupid brother, and his stupid fake girlfriend.

To say Stella was annoyed was an understatement. Ray gave her migraines. He'd been ignoring her texts all day and she couldn't find him anywhere. She just wanted to talk to him. She may have come off angry in her text but that was just her. Maybe she was a little bit worried. She hated to admit it, but when Ray got annoyed he would usually just pick an argument or be sassy. He didn't just leave, especially not with a look like that on his face.

She sat with Scott during study hall. It was just the two of them, so she had a chance to talk to him. "Can I ask you a question," Stella asked, looking at him expectantly.

Scott put his book down "Considering you never take no for an answer, sure. Go ahead."

Stella nodded "Okay. What's Ray's deal? Is he really pissed that we sang in Madison Square Garden and he didn't?"

Scott gave her a confused look, and shook his head. "No. No he's not. You might think Ray's petty and bitter all the time but he actually has problems, just like everyone else."

Stella raised an eyebrow "What kind of problems?"

"That's not you're business," Scott responded, picking up his book again. Stella huffed.

"C'mon Scott! I know you're his best friend but you can tell me. I won't tell anyone. Please. Please. Please. Please," She continued to say please, hoping to annoy him into it.

Scott put his book down again "Stella stop. I can't tell you, okay. Ray's my bro. It's his business."

Stella whined "But Scott. I'm just concerned is all."

Scott scoffed and shook his head "Somehow I doubt that."

Stella glared at him and shook her head. "I'm serious. I may seem one way but I can be the opposite sometimes too. Like you said about Ray. Just.. please Scott."

"Okay. Okay fine. But you can't talk to him about it or else I'm in deep shit, okay? Ray has family issues. Not just the kind where someone thinks they have a shit family when really they have it easy. No, Ray has it rough. Literally whenever I'm over there, his parents are nowhere to be found. They don't care about him, and that's really messed up. Ray doesn't admit it but I know it bothers him. He's got an older brother. Ray told me he gets their parents attention while Ray's basically ignored. I wish I could do something about it but there's nothing really," Scott finished, shrugging.

Stella looked at the table "Damn. Really? I never would have expected that. Ray seems like the spoiled rich boy who has loving parents."

"Well he doesn't," Scott snapped. When Stella looked at him, shocked, he sighed. "I'm sorry. People just don't get Ray like I do. Lemonade Mouth is my band and you guys are really good friends. But Ray is my best friend. Sometimes you guys forget that and trash him like there's no tomorrow. I get it. Ray's been an ass to all of you but he hasn't been that much of an ass to me. He's a good friend."

Stella nodded slowly. She was just learning a bunch of stuff about Ray she never knew before, wasn't she. "I'm sorry Scott. I'll lay off. Thanks for telling me."

Scott gave a nod, picked up his book and continued reading. Stella spent the rest of the period pondering what she could say or do to make Ray feel better.

He went home early, feigning illness. He just didn't feel like being there anymore. He was pissed off and frustrated, and he couldn't concentrate. He didn't see any reason in sticking around for the day.

The day went by pretty quickly after that. When he got home his parents were still at work and when they got home from work they were home for a total ten minutes before they were gone again. They didn't tell him where they were going and he didn't care much. He was used to being alone. It was almost nine, and he sat on his bed with his guitar in his hands. He strummed a few notes, but then stopped.

"Don't stop," He heard from behind him. He jumped, spinning around. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw it wasn't Patty. That would just top off his day.

"Jesus Christ, Yamada. Are you trying to impersonate Patty? Breaking into my house and everything," He cursed, sitting back down. He could practically feel her rolling her eyes at him. She walked in front of him, sitting in his computer chair.

She shrugged "Scott told me why you freaked out earlier. Sorry I said that. I was trying to save your ass but it was stupid."

Ray stopped listening after 'Scott told me'. He set his guitar down "I'm seriously going to kill Scott. I don't need your pity. I'm obviously fucking fine, alright? Scott should know that some things he doesn't need to share with his band."

Stella rolled her eyes, and held her hands up in surrender "Scott didn't tell the whole band. He only told me because I begged him to. So just calm down. I just wanted to apologize."

"Never thought you'd apologize to me," Ray replied, lying back on his bed.

Stella laughed once "Neither did I. Listen Ray I'm not trying to pity you. And I'm not trying to be your friend or get all Confucius on you but… it's okay to not be okay sometimes."

He supposed she was right. He was always hiding behind the typical 'I'm fine' and 'I don't care'. He never let himself break. He'd convinced himself that for him to break would mean he was pathetic. It wasn't manly or cool for him to cry so he never did.

As if she read his mind, Stella spoke up again "And just because you're not okay or upset doesn't mean you're any less of a man, okay?"

Ray sat up and shook his head "Okay we're done with the chick flick moment, Yamada." He had a smile on his face, the sincere kind that no one ever got to see. "Thanks though."

"I thought you said no more chick flick moment, Beech," Stella argued, a smile on her face too. "Now come on. Sing something."

He gave a nod "Fine. Only because it's better than you talking." He laughed at her eye roll, picked up his guitar again, and started to sing.

A/N 2: This one was longer! Yay! A little background on Ray's family life for you and some Rayella friendship