The cafeteria was once again full of students. He looked around in agony, saying to himself the excuse that it was just to find an empty sit. There was plenty open but he kept looking, thinking that there might was a chance to find her in the crowd. If she was there he would spot immediately. Her light blue hair was always giving her away.
"Gray!" he heard a familiar voice calling for him from a distance. Who else would make such a noice? Natsu's waving hand seemed unexpectedly out of place. He sighed letting his disappointment out and started walking towards his friends direction. As usual, Natsu was sitting with Lucy.
"What were you doing?" Natsu asked him as he approached them but Gray didn't bother replying.
"Looking for that girl again?" Natsu continued ignoring the fact that Gray was not in the mood for teasing.
"Shut up already..." Gray dodged the question.
"Oh... In a bad mood, aren't we?" Natsu replied when Lucy hit him under the table, act meaning that he need to finally stop talking.
As if! "I haven't seen her all day... Maybe she didn't come..." Then silence.
There was no way she wouldn't come. Today was the second Tuesday of the month, meaning that she had laboratory practice at 17.00. She never missed that. But, he couldn't say that out loud to Natsu; cause that would mean that he knew her schedule and that would be weird to admit, especially considering that the still haven't learnt her name.
"Want to go for a drink after?" Lucy awkwardly broke the silence.
"No, I'll pass..." Natsu replied. "I have to finish an essay that's due tomorrow."
"Wha- the one we had a whole week to do? Why didn't you do it on time?"
"I had... things to attend.. It's not like I'm not gonna make it!"
"What are you going to do if you fail it? And anyway, what kind of things you had to attend that I don't know about?"
"I'm not gonna fail, geez..."
There they go fighting again... Gray thought. Natsu and Lucy have been dating for a year now. Who liked who first, who confessed, when did they get together, it was all a mystery. For Gray, the were never friends to begin with... The atmosphere around them was always suspiciously flirty. Now, they were the most popular couple in the whole campus. But they never seemed to bother the awkward glances of passing people or the rumors going around. It has been a month since they started living together as well. Sometimes he wondered if he would be able to have a relationship like theirs. And, as many times as he refused, deep down, he knew he was jealous of them. He sighed again. The food was not tasty and he didn't want to eat no more.
"I can't go out drinking tonight either. Lyon asked me to go home early." he interrupted the two.
"Huh? Didn't he day why?" Natsu asked him.
"I didn't ask..."
"I'm surprised you still manage to live with him... Though he definitely can't be worse than Lucy..."
"I'M RIGHT are easy to live with either... Gray, did you know? That guy has the habit to sleep with-" Natsu stopped her with a kiss. "That's enough" he whispered as he let her lips. Lucy looked down embarrassed.
"Geez... Stop flirting while I'm eating you guys..." Gray complained making her red of embarrassment. "Anyway, it's not about managing to live with him or not... He is my brother, i have to endure it. Plus, he pays the rent."
"Right, Lyon works at a big company already even though he is still a student. My, my, the younger brother is a fraud..." Natsu teased him.
"He is older. Plus, his university provides that opportunity for it's students." Gray ignored the harrassment.
"Ours does too, stupid. You are just no good enough."
"Anyway, I'm not hungry anymore..." Gray said wanting to stop the conversation. "I'm going to take a walk."
"Huh? Okay... Just don't be late. Class begins in half an hour" Lucy said as he stood up.
He walked outside. Looking around there were a lot of people today. Not one of blue hair. Was she alright? Not that he was worried or anything, it's not like they were friends, but it was weird for her to be absent. Maybe she wasn't feeling well... Yesterday looked pale, too. As a fellow student, and a human being, he couldn't help but worry. He took the long way to his class, the one that crossed the yard she was usually hanging around with her friends.
Without realising his steps were suddenly quicker. His pulse was rising and he felt hot. The day was unexpectedly hot today. Maybe she couldn't stand the hot weather and stayed home? That might have been the case... Anyway, there is no need to worry, he said himself. There were times that he hadn't seen her around in campus, but she was still there, usually in the classroom.
He stopped and took a breath. Some meters away her friends were sitting down in the yard talking and laughing, but she wasn't there. His heart started beating fast. Weird... For a second he thought to go and ask them, but he regretted that desicion immediately. After all, wouldn't it look weird if someone you don't know asked you about your friend who doesn't know you either? He could pass as a stalker or pervert.
The first bell rang meaning that he had to hurry and go to the classroom. He turned back disappointed. But, why feel that way? he asked himself. She didn't even know he existed. A glance or two from both parties didn't mean anything if there hasn't been actual conversation between the two. So, why bother? She wouldn't worry for me if I went missing in the first place... that thought slipped him mind.
How long has it been since he first met her? It was at the opening ceremony. I walked into the building with his usual salty expression, tired and bored. She passed by him. Her hair immediately taught his attention. It was light blue, curly and long. Who would dry their hair blue? he thought at that time. She must be trying very hard to gain attention... Yet she wasn't. She was quiet and peaceful, away from the crowd, always alone. Before he knew it his eyes were looking for hers. Why was it? Was it because he was fascinated by her courage to stand out? That attachment he had was weird, still he wasn't able to control or stop it.
The last bell rang, meaning he had to run. Whatever, it's not like I care, he thought as he climbed the stairs. A glance inside her classroom before entering him. Third row frow the end, five sits from the window. At the usual sit, her beautiful blue hair was once more making her stand out. She was looking at her phone calm, oblivious to everything around her.
"There you are.." he mumbled and walk into his classroom with a weird feeling of relief he couldn't be able to explain and a faint smile on his face he couldn't control, which was sure that would lead him be teased about by Natsu later.