The 7 Stages of Love

Stage 1 – Whispers

A/N: In this chapter, the italicized words mean whispers.

Summary: And she never will like him. He has a bad attitude.

WARNING: Please understand that this is based off the old Fairy Tail. However you vision how old I meant, it's up to you. But please do know that I'm not updated about Fairy Tail's latest chapter/episodes. Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: Kleia does not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.

What should she do now?

All of the hiding places are taken.

And Natsu was halfway in his counting, and he might even be peeking!

Where should she go where should she go where should she go where—

"Pssssst," someone said from the bushes, causing Lucy to jump a bit and turn to where she had heard the call to find Gray's head popping out of the bush, a hand cupping the side of his mouth. Lucy suspiciously turned her head left and right, checking if the coast was clear, before tiptoeing towards the indifferently molded statue, which was Gray. "You're gonna get caught by the police if you stay there." He pointed out in an undertone, his eyes flat.

"Yeah, I know, but I don't know where to hide!" Lucy retorted in the same whisper, inching nearer to his face as she furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance.

"Hide with me, c'mon," he urged, "but go around the bush or we'll get caught."

With that, Gray had disappeared within the space behind the bushes, and Lucy was left standing there, dumbfounded. Hide with Gray? She barely even knew who he was! She was even certain he didn't know her name! But she didn't want to lose in the game—

"Eight…!" Natsu counted aloud.

Lucy panicked. She breathed in and out, putting on a determined face upon exhaling. Then, she ran around the bush and into Gray, who stumbled backwards and landed on his bottom. Lucy staggered some forward until she was able to regain her balance, rubbing on her throbbing arm. Gray, meanwhile, gritted his teeth and grumbled as he rubbed his sore bottom. He winced at the pain and glared up at Lucy. "Ouch…!" he exclaimed in a low voice, quite angry at Lucy's clumsiness.

"I'm sorry, okay?" she exasperatedly said, rolling her eyes some before peeking through the bush. The moment she saw Natsu running around and catching people, she jerked away from the bush and hid behind Gray. "The cops are out…" she whispered against his neck, earning a low sigh of irritation from Gray.

"Yeah? You better keep quiet then…" he mumbled, folding his arms over his chest as he crossed his legs irritably.

Lucy blinked from behind him, anger slowly rising from her stomach. She was starting to dislike Gray. And she never will like him. He has a bad attitude. She scooted away from Gray and faced her own corner, blinking away tears of ire.

"Man, I'm getting bored…" Gray whispered aloud to himself, gaining Lucy's attention.

She turned her head to him, eyed him for a moment before snapping her head away from him and huffing. "You shouldn't have played with us then," she answered, harshly crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was talking to myself," he whispered back.

She turned around. "So you—"

"I think I hear something over there!" one of the cops exclaimed, hushing Lucy and Gray and making them frozen in place.

Gray snapped his head toward Lucy, an icy glare on his eyes. "I told you to keep quiet, now they're after us!" he accused, pointing a blaming finger at Lucy, causing her to flinch unknowingly at how irritated he was.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Gray beat her to it, since he got up, puffed out his chest—

"What are you doing?" Lucy exclaimed in a low tone, getting up on her knees and crawling to him. "If you run out, you'll get caught!"

Gray sighed through his nose. "Duh, I know what I'm gonna do,"

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Why don't you want me to do it?"

"Because you're gonna get caught!"

"I know that, okay? I—"

The bushes started to rattle, making the two cease their hushed argument and turn their heads to the bushes, eyes wide in terror. They were frozen on their spots, anticipating for the cop who has come to arrest them—the two thieves.

Natsu suddenly popped out of the bush, pointing a triumphant finger at the two, laughing in authority. "I got you two!" he proclaimed in a mock authoritarian voice, planting his free hand on his hips. He then wiped a tear of joy from the corner of his eyes. "This was too easy! I'm king of this game!" he exclaimed in victory, before pointing at Lucy and Gray. "Bow down before me, peasants!" he laughed maniacally.

"He looks more like an idiot than a king…" Gray whispered to himself, but was still audible enough for Natsu—who immediately grumbled and stomped his feet—and Lucy—who giggled to herself—to hear.

"Yeah? Well who looked so pee-in-my-pants scared when I caught him?" Natsu fought back, taking a step forward toward Gray, who comically glared at him and stood up.

"Who has pink hair?" They bumped their heads together, and Lucy thought she saw Gray's blue aura and Natsu's red one colliding.

"Who has droopy eyes?" Natsu grabbed his own eyes and pulled them down. "Droopy droopy droopy!"

"Yeah? You have weird squinty ones!"

"At least my eyes don't droop!"

"At least my hair isn't pink!"

"Hey! Take that back!"

"Too late! I already said it a while ago! Stupid!"

"Stop fighting!" Lucy shouted between the two boys, pushing them away from each other. They both clamed up, staring bewilderedly at Lucy, who stomped her feet and folded her arms at them. She then looked at Gray, who blinked at her in curiosity. "You buy me ice cream." She demanded, brown eyes sharp and glinting malevolently.

"Ha?" he gasped exaggeratedly. "Why would I do that?"

She stomped her feet again. "Because we lost!"

"It's just a game…" Gray mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and averting his gaze at Lucy.

"Hey I want ice cream too!" Natsu volunteered from behind them, spritely raising his hand and jumping just as well.

"Then why don't we buy each other ice cream!" Lucy offered, sticking her finger up in the air.

Natsu raised his thumb and grinned toothily. "Count me in!"

"Count me out," Gray bluntly said, earning boo's from Lucy and Natsu.

The former then went in front of Gray and clasped her hands together, giving him the best puppy eyes she could ever pull. "Please please please please pleeeeeaaaassseee, Gray?" she pleaded in a whisper, forcing her own tears to come out her brown eyes as she observed how Gray was fighting the urge to look directly into her eyes.

He sighed.

"… Fine."

A/N: Child Lucy and Gray, woot! Hope you're beginning to like this! (And my comeback after a loooong time of writing for FT. I'm not even updated, wth.) I'm sorry my writing isn't really like this. Just writing from a child's view, mehehe. Anyway, stay tuned!

HAPPY GRAYLU WEEK! Lovelots!