Petrichor
. .
Juvia had never really had any friends, or been close enough to someone to even call them that. The past people she dared her heart to label as friends left her alone eventually once they got tired of her gloomy presence. They called her an Ameonna, or the rain woman, given the fact that she always carried an umbrella handy with her everywhere she went, and the dull expression she wore.
She had very few "friends" in the past who claimed they tried very hard to put up with her and be friends, and ended up ending whatever bond they created in the end. No one liked a constant rain and a blue woman that stood in the mid of it, red umbrella in her hands and empty eyes fixed on the ground in front of her feet.
But did they ever stop and think just for a moment, that maybe they were the reason she wore this expression? That it was constantly raining in her heart? No, they didn't, and they never would. Juvia gave up hope on herself long ago on finding a friend. And not just any kind of friend, a real friend. Someone she could be comfortable around and not worry about eventually being rejected one day out the blue, and left alone for the storm clouds to drench her. Someone that would make her smile and be her go-to when something was bothering her. Someone that would greet her in the mornings and join her at her house just to hang out.
Someone, someone—
"Oh no, she's here today."
"Did you bring an umbrella? It might start raining today."
"What? No way! It's already summer."
—someone she could be herself with.
Juvia pretended to not hear the whispering that was scattering across the room as she walked in and set her umbrella in the stand by the door, then proceeded to remove the button up jacket she was wearing despite the obvious hot weather. She felt every cold and hard stare that was piercing into the back of her head as she walked across the room to her seat in the corner of the back row by the window. The chair gave out a soft squeak as she pulled it out and gently took her seat, placing her elbow on her desk and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. She faced the window and away from the class, eyeing the storm clouds that were moving in from the distance, and would undoubtedly be here by schools end. The rest of class seemed to take notice of them as well, and she heard many sighs of irritation coming from multiple directions around her.
She couldn't help it.
Didn't they know that?
She gave up on trying just like they did.
The teacher came in and everyone took their seats. It was a small class and not every seat was filled. Most of the empty ones surrounded her, but she figured that was to be expected with her status with the people here. It was a large school, but very few students attended. It was always raining, and Juvia one day concluded that the reason students kept leaving and moving schools was because of her. Inside her desk were multiple rain dolls that she made during and in-between classes. Sewing became a talented hobby for her, if she were to say so herself. Not that anyone cared, but even just a little, she was proud of it.
They never worked no matter how many she made. But it was the only thing she felt she was allowed to do around here for herself. She had no one to talk to or show her creations with.
Maybe she wanted someone she could show them to, and maybe they would be amazed and praise her work. She had imagined a situation like that over and over in her head, but the 'friend' was faceless. Though, faceless or not, thinking about it made her happy. But like that would ever happen.
Juvia softly shook her head, closing her eyes to feel the gentle brush the ends of her bangs trail along her lashes, and then slightly turned her head to face the teacher as he announced something about a transfer student that would joining them shortly.
Surprising, she thought, but she knew she wouldn't get any of her hopes up about this new classmate. It would not take them long to join the rest of them and loathe her on sight. So Juvia turned her head back to the window when the classroom door was slid open and the classmate walked in.
"Class, this is Lucy Heartfilia, and she will be your new classmate starting today," The teacher introduced, giving the few students a stern look, "Treat her well."
Juvia nudged her chin up in response as the classed all chimed in a 'yes, sir' as Lucy bowed and was told to take an empty seat. Juvia sighed and eyed the distant clouds again, a part of her hoping they wouldn't roll in and down pour on them, but the other part of her knew they would, not matter how much hope that part had. She reached a hand in her desk and fingered one of her rain dolls just as a chair squeaked next to her, followed by a few gasps and whispering.
"May I sit here?" Juvia whipped her head around to find a girl standing over the seat next to her—who she assumed was the new classmate, Lucy—giving her a warm smile, but her eyes held a kind questioning her mouth had just voiced. Startled, Juvia furrowed her brows and gave the blonde a nod, and sat up straight and stiff in her seat, "Thank you."
There was a soft 'thump' as Lucy took her seat and scooted her chair back into place. Juvia watched her place her elbow on her desk and lean her head into her palm from the corner of her eye, and sigh.
The only thing going through Juvia's thoughts right now was the question, "Why is she sitting next to Juvia?" There were plenty of empty seats around the room and nowhere near her, so why did this girl pick the one right next to her?
"Alright . . now that Lucy is situated, I'll go ahead and take roll," Their teacher announced, seemingly as confused as Juvia and the rest of the class.
Juvia could not get comfortable for the rest of the class hour with Lucy sitting next to her. She would take occasional glances from the corner of her eye, but would then quickly look away before she was noticed.
When was the last time she was this close to someone? Everyone had started avoiding her long ago when the nickname "rain woman" was set upon her, and it has been that way for as long as she could remember.
But here—here Lucy was not even within arms length of touch. If she wanted to, she could reach out and tap her shoulder with ease.
But Juvia could never do that!
Juvia wondered, taking another glance at the blonde and noticing the background scowls from their classmates, how long it would take until this one will come to loath her.
As class carried on, Juvia found it rather difficult to focus. She chewed on her pen and crossed her ankles under her seat, and nibbled on her lip as she tried her best to write down the notes the teacher was writing down on the board. It was a study hour, since exam season was coming, and questions were being yelled out across the classroom, and their teacher was having a hard time answering them all at once.
"Shut up! One at time!" The teacher snapped, the nerve on his temple thumping. A few scoffs came from a few of the boys in the back of the room, but they fell on deaf ears as the teacher called one student out at a time for questions.
Juvia's done, she thought, closing her notes and pushing them to the top corner of her desk. She dropped her pencil in her bag and leaned back in her seat, stretching out her legs and folding her hands in her lap.
Lucy seemed calm beside her, quietly taking her notes and raising her hand occasionally when there was something she didn't understand, and Juvia was amazed at how well socializing came to the blonde. Just one tone of her voice was enough to grasp everyone's attention, unlike Juvia, who just seemed to be a dark corner or an empty seat that no one wanted to sit in. Juvia felt a little jealous of the girl, but knew she had no fault in her issues or her social standing.
"Uhg! I knew it'd rain! It always does!" A single girl from a nearby group yelled in irritation towards the rain that was pattering outside the school. Juvia stood ways behind them balancing herself on one foot as she slipped on her shoes from her locker, pretending to be deaf to their words.
Juvia softly brushed passed them and stepped outside, noting the way they scowled from the corner of her eye, and pulled her umbrella from her bag. With a simple click and a sudden gust of air, her umbrella flung open in front of her, startling a couple that was standing in front of her.
"Rain is so depressing."
"Don't you think it rains way too much here?"
"Uhg! My shoes can't get muddy!"
"Damn that rain woman."
"Ooh! It's raining!" The new voice that came up beside her surprised her, causing Juvia to turn her head just as she moved her umbrella over her. Lucy came up beside her, a look of surprise on her features on her face as she gazed up at the sky, "Good good, the plants were looking a bit dry," She smiled and Juvia found herself giving the blonde a tense expression.
No complaining? Not one rude remark? Juvia did not know how long she was staring at the gleaming girl, but the moment she was knocked from her trance was when the blonde already had her rain shoe covers on her feet and her own umbrella over her head. Lucy made a noise of acknowledgement and pointed to Juiva, startling her enough to take a few steps back. Her back made soft contact with the school window as Lucy walked towards her, Juvia mentally preparing herself for whatever was to come.
"You're Juvia!" Lucy exclaimed, her face brightening to the point of Juvia flinching. Her outburst caught the attention of multiple of their school mates, and Juvia was starting to feel smothered under all their stares, "You sit next to me in class. You're rather quiet that I never got to introduce myself to you."
"Ju—Juvia has to—" Her attempt to escape was stopped by a hand that whipped out in front of her, a kind gesture the blunette found the blonde giving her. But Juvia gripped the metal bar of her umbrella before slowly inching her hand into the girl's palm, gasping when Lucy closed her fingers around her own pale hand, her warm touch engulfing her.
"I'm Lucy! Thank you for letting me sit by you this morning," Lucy shook their hands between them, her rambling continuing, "I partly wanted to sit by you because you seemed excluded, but also because everyone else seemed rather shady for my taste."
A few gasps of protest came from around them, and Lucy looked behind her to the group of girls who had happened to be listening to their mostly one-sided conversation. Their expressions looked like her words had offended or hurt them, and Juvia realized they were from their class. Their names she did not know, she never cared to remember, and it was not like they would care to tell her.
"Juvia . ." She spoke up, soft, her dark eyes on her hand that was still covered by the warm and gentle embrace Lucy was giving it. Lucy, after she finished apologizing to the girls out of minor guilt, turned to her with curious brown eyes, not realizing that she was still holding Juvia's hand, "Juvia would like to admit . . that she was happy Lucy sat by her, but she was more confused than anything."
"What's with that?" Lucy smiled and tilted her head to the side, slowly releasing her hand from Juvia's, "I have to go to my part-time job now. I'm glad I got to speak with you a little, Juvia! You're really nice!" Juvia's eyes widen and her lips parted to say something, but her words died on her tongue as she watched Lucy take a running start into the pouring rain. The surroundings disappeared around her as she listening to the patter of Lucy's shoe's as she splashed into the mud and ran through the school gates, disappearing around the corner moments later. Only after the blondes head was no longer visible to her eye did everything come back to her, and Juvia was aware of her dumbfounded position.
Ignoring the murmuring around her, like she always did, Juvia covered herself with the protection of her umbrella and stepped out into the rain, pleased at the way the cool mist ran up her legs. She walked slowly from the time she left the school gates to the time she was nearing her neighborhood, her thoughts circulating and her eyes glued on her hand, which she had curled against her chest. She was so focused on the lingering feeling of Lucy's warm and friendly touch that, for a moment, she forgot she was walking, and was painfully brought back to reality when the rim of her umbrella was forced back and her nose smashed into a lamp pole.
Juvia whimpered and rubbed the sore spot, her eyes watering just a tad bit from the pain.
"Oh man, did you see that?"
"Sheesh, that had to of hurt!"
Juvia paused and looked to her left to a group of boy's exiting the convenience store. The one that had just spoken was snickering behind the palm of his hand along with a few cackles coming from the rest of the group. Juvia frowned and felt her cheeks flush from embarrassment and ducked her head under her umbrella. She dug the toes of her shoes into the muddy gravel beneath her feet and turned to leave; wanting away from their taunting laughter, but another voice halted her.
"Quit laughing you assholes, it wasn't funny."
The voice was deep and sent the hairs on her arms to their ends, and Juvia wanted to blame the bite in the air, but the moment she tilted her umbrella up to find the one who stood up for her, her heart stuttered. She found two concerned eyes staring at her the moment she revealed herself from her covering; his height leaned down to meet her own. The first word that popped in her mind was "handsome" and that was just about all she could use to describe the being that she found before her. He is beautiful, Juvia thought, feeling heat move its way up the back of her neck. His uniform tie was loosened and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone. The rain weighted down his hair, sticking it to his cheeks and dripping down his neck. She became so engrossed in taking the sight of him in that she barely noticed he had asked her a question.
"Huh?" Juvia blinked, taking a slow step back.
"Are you alright?" The male asked again, his eyes flickering between hers and her swelled nose, "You hit the pole pretty hard." He grimaced.
The heat from her neck rushed its way to her cheeks and Juvia instantly raised a hand to cover her nose. She nodded, eyes averting away, "J—Juvia is fine. She will pay more attention next time."
"Here, wait a second," His knuckles brushed over her shoulder as she turned to leave, and Juvia was sure her heart was about to jump right out of her chest. He rustled through the plastic bag he was holding and pulled out a cold water bottle, "Use this until you get home. You should keep something cold on it to let the swelling go down."
Juvia shyly held her hands out in front of her, biting her lip when he settled the cold beverage in her palms with a small smile adoring his lips, "Juiva is grateful . . . for the kindness." She murmured, her eyes still straying far from his.
"Pay more attention to your surroundings next time, alright?" He said, backing away towards his group of friends. Juvia finally allowed her eyes to look at him once his back was turned, watching him and his group of friends huddle through the pouring rain.
She gently pressed the bottle to her sore skin, feeling the soft burn of the cold surface blossom across her warm cheek.
Juvia didn't even ask for his name.
Juvia rounded the corner of the second floor to her class, brushing passed a few groups that were gathered there. They barely spared her a glance of acknowledgment before they returned to their bustling conversations about things she would never have the chance to understand. She had her umbrella folded in her hand and her sweater wrapped around it. The temperature was higher than it was yesterday, and even she couldn't bear to the extra layers. Though she was used to and more comfortable covering up even in the summer time, today the humidity would give her nothing but a load of sweat and dehydration.
The sky was especially clear today, almost not a single cloud in sight, Juvia noted, taking a long glance out the windows as she slid the door open to her classroom. She was nearly fully through the threshold before she noticed something at the opposite of the hallway, huddled at the top of the other staircase farthest from where she stood. A small head of yellow peaked out from it, and it didn't take long for Juvia to see Lucy's stiffened figure emerge from the group and back up against the wall. The crowd that surrounded her, mostly male but a few females were visible, circled around and caused her visible discomfort. She had her hands up in front of her in effort to keep her personal space.
Juvia turned back to the classroom but felt her legs stop her from proceeding. She remembered the kindness Lucy showed her the day before, the feeling of her voice and hand warming her like the rising sun in the mornings. It had been far too long since Juvia had felt such affection, and she swore she could still feel the palm Lucy had held tingle.
She bowed her head and practically sped right up to the group, her hand flying out and grabbing a hold of Lucy's wrist and yanking her beside her. Lucy made a noise of surprise and stumbling on her weight as her feet looked for their balance, her free hand flinging up to grip Juvia's shoulder for support.
"Juvia?" Lucy murmured.
"Lucy is uncomfortable." Juvia said sternly, scanning her eyes over the group. Each and every one of them, faceless, nameless, she didn't know. And neither would she ever care to know. They all looked upon her with scowls and their clear disgust of her showing on their faces, not one of them giving the little effort in hiding it. She held their gazes for as long as she could before she was turning, bringing Lucy with her, and running down the stairs. Lucy followed without a single complaint or question about it, and Juvia was grateful.
๑
Juvia sat with her head laid between her folded arms on the desk, facing the window beside her. Half-lidded eyes watched the classroom curtain softly caress the wall with every gentle gust of air that blew against it. Her body felt tired, but she couldn't find it in her to try and nap. Her cheek pressed against her finished class work everyone else was still in the process of working on, even Lucy, who she heard softly writing beside her. In her desk was a small carton of juice that she found with a note taped to it. She hadn't touched it, or rather, she pretended not to notice it. It was an obvious guess that it was from Lucy since Juvia could tell the girl has been taking short glances at her since the start of class.
The gesture itself made her stomach warm.
Juvia turned her head over towards Lucy, who had her eyes glued in her notebook, occasionally making quick glances to copy what was written on the chalkboard. She lowered one hand in her desk, grazing the tips of her fingers over the cooled container before slowly pulling it out into her lap. Being as silent as she could without being noticed, she carefully peeled the tapped paper with her nails, watching Lucy turn to her from the corner of her eye. The note revealed in neat handwriting and a smiley symbol, and Juvia couldn't help but smile right back at the ink-drawn face.
This is a small thank you for your help.
I owe you one, Juvia.
XXX – XXX – XXXX
– Lucy.
Juvia flickered her eyes towards Lucy, meeting eyes for just a second. They both quickly averted their attention away from the other, Lucy going back to her class work, and Juvia placing her head between her folded arms, facing towards the opened window.
The air from the outside was warm.
Juvia slowly peeked through the classroom threshold where Lucy was seen enjoying her packed bento with two other classmates, a small smile adorning her face. Juiva herself had her own packed lunch, but with Lucy sitting so close, she became nervous to eat next to her. So having had scarfed her lunch down alone in the courtyard, with the juice box Lucy gave her in hand, she planned to thank her in person, but the sight of other people around the blonde was holding her back.
Lucy turned her head in her direction, and Juiva gasped and hopped backward, inwardly praying she was not seen. With her back pressed against the wall, she merely stood there for a second or two before quickly walking for the stairs that led down to the first floor. The moment her back disappeared around the corner, Lucy's head popped out from the classroom, looking left and right, and frowning when the person she wanted was not found.
Juvia eased her way down the stairs and picked up a slow jog through the hallways, knowing she would be scolded if she ran. Many people she passed stopped whatever they were doing to stare at her and even started murmuring, but she didn't care. It was nothing new. She pushed herself through the courtyard doors and slowed her pace as she approached the vending machine, scanning the many flavors with her hand extended out in front of her. None of the juices available looked pleasing, and not even the one Lucy got her was in stock.
Strawberry.
Forgetting the idea of purchasing a beverage, Juvia sprinted back inside and headed for the cafeteria, ignoring the yells of a teacher she passed and ignoring the odd stares she was receiving. The bread lady standing behind the counters, startled from Juvia's fast approach, yelped and pressed a hand over her poor shocked heart as Juvia slid to a stop in front of her.
"Sheesh! You manner-less youth are going to give me a heart attack one of these days!" The woman huffed, and Juiva bowed her apologies.
"O—One strawberry cream bread," Juvia panted, still finding her lost breath, "please?"
The elder woman complied to her request with only mild complaining.
๑
The chances to give Lucy the bread came and went, and Juiva was found sulking with her face down on her desk, both her arms hanging limply beside her. She found it better to stick the bread in Lucy's shoe locker while no one was around, and was scolded by the teacher for coming back to class late. Lucy kept sending her worried glances since everyone returned from their lunch break, and Juiva could feel the warm stare on the back of her head.
"I'm surprised it didn't rain today," One of the girl's commented, and Juvia knew she was being watched. She pouted as a few others chirped in agreement.
When the teacher dismissed them all, Juvia sluggishly stood from her seat and gathered her things, glancing up at Lucy as she walked out of the room, sharing eye contact for just a moment before she ducked her head.
Juvia hopes Lucy likes the bread, Juvia smiled a little at the thought, brushing passed many socializing groups as she made way for home.
The shoe lockers grew quite upon her entering, but Juvia carried herself calmly. There were no whispers or pointed fingers that she could see, only on looking eyes in a steady trance.
The atmosphere felt unreadable.
When Juvia stood between the school gates, she shyly turned her head towards her shoulder just as Lucy was seen unwrapping the plastic bundle. A couple curious girls peeked over her shoulder as to what the mystery gift was, mouthing the two little words Juvia left on a small note inside. A smile spread across the blonde's face when the sweet bread was revealed, and Juvia felt a somewhat familiar feeling.
A hot gust of wind blew the leaves into the air and brought a dry rain scent with it. The clouds parted above her and Juvia raised a hand above her eyes to shade them from the light, and Lucy seemed to glow right with it.
