Author's note : I know Christmas is passed, but she's taking down her Christmas lights. I'm not really sure how long this story is going to be, but I guess I'll figure that out when I write the chapters. I've also been noticing that people have been giving me such nice feedback on my Jerza stories and I really appreciate that so much. I hope those nice reviews continue with my Gruvia stories. Thanks everyone, and enjoy :)
Now that the holiday had passed, Juvia needed to remove the Christmas decorations from outside her house. She had taken her tree down yesterday, and since it was now a little warmer out and a lot of the snow had melted away, she decided that today was the best time. She placed her freshly made cup of hot chocolate down on the coffee table by her couch, threw on a jacket and her boots then went outside to complete the task at hand.
"Juvia will start with the decorations on the ground, then get the lights on the roof," she said to herself. She walked to the back of her house to a small shed, then came back with a box where she kept everything when it wasn't being used. One by one the decorations came down; first the wreath, then the candy canes in her garden, then the plastic snowman. Then there was nothing left but the lights. Oh how she dreaded them. She wanted to have Gajeel come over and take them down - since he had put up the damn things in the first place - but then she remembered that he was still on holiday with his girlfriend Levy. She sighed, grabbed the now full box and walked it back to her shed. Moments later, she returned with a ladder to assist her in getting down the lights.
"Hello there Juvia," chimed a boys voice. Juvia looked away from the ladder she was positioning against her house to notice Romeo, her neighbor's son, "do you want some help?"
"Oh sure Romeo-kun. That's very nice of you," she responded to him. She stepped aside, allowing him to make his way up the ladder. She held it very still so he wouldn't fall and hurt himself.
"How was your holiday Juvia?"
"Oh it was fine. Juvia spent it with a few friends which was fun. How was your holiday Romeo?"
"It was awesome! Dad got me a 4-wheeler! However," his voice trailed off slightly, "I'm pretty sure there's a ghost in our house. In the middle of the night my X-box turns itself on, and so does my T.V. It's so freaky and I've tried telling dad but he doesn't believe me."
"Really?"
He nodded, "he thinks that it's all in my head. Last night though after I turned off my T.V. and X-box I saw the ghost walking down the stairs, it's a teenager, and before the disappeared he turned to face me. He seemed lost or something and I really want to help but I don't know how."
How odd, Juvia thought to herself as she listened to the young boy speak to her.
"He looked like he's your age, maybe a bit older but I'm really not too sure."
Funny. Juvia has been hearing things late at night, "can Juvia tell you something Romeo-kun?"
He got down off the ladder and handed her the strand of lights while he took the ladder in his hands and followed her back to the shed to put everything away, "sure."
"Juvia hears things at night in her attic, very late at night too, like footsteps and such. One time Juvia thought she heard glass breaking but Juvia wasn't sure."
"Maybe you have a ghost in your house too?!"
Juvia placed the lights in her Christmas box, then took the ladder from the boy and hung it back up on the wall where it belonged, "maybe Romeo-kun," she let her voice trail off into a whisper before she spoke loudly again for him to hear, "how about a cup of hot chocolate?"
"Sure Juvia! Thank you!"
"Oh no no, thank you. Without your help I would still probably be trying to take down the lights."
"It's no problem at all, I was glad I was of some help."
The boy followed his neighbor into her house for his hot chocolate. They both kicked off their shoes and removed their coat, hanging them up on the coat rack by the door. Romeo sat on the couch while Juvia grabbed her now cold cup, and then walked into the kitchen.
Romeo had finished his cup of hot chocolate and was now having a conversation with Juvia about her little ghost problem. That had been the only thing the two had spoken about ever since the boy mentioned the ghost in his house. Now Juvia really wanted to know if there really was a ghost up in her attic, and why they were there to begin with.
"Thanks again for the hot chocolate Juvia," Romeo said as he stood up, "I should probably get home though so dad doesn't start to worry. If I see the ghost again I'll be sure to let you know." He put his coat on and opened the door. He didn't leave yet, for he was waiting for her response.
"Okay Romeo-kun, have a safe walk home," she responded to him as she waved to him as he walked out the door with a small wave. The second the door shut Juvia heard a thump coming from her attic. Thump, thump, thump. It sounded as if someone was walking around up there. Slowly, Juvia stood up and approached the steps that led up the second floor of her house. Whatever was up there sounded very angry and it made her quite terrified to even consider going into the attic; it hadn't been touched since she moved into her house five years ago! Slowly, she approached the little crawl space door at the end of the hall and took a deep breath.
"GO AWAY!" Whatever was in there was pissed off and it was definitely a ghost, a male ghost.
"Wh-why? Are you upset?" Juvia asked from her side of the door.
She heard nothing in response, no moving around, nothing at all. Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door and walked into the small space and made her way up the stairs. When she reached the attic she saw a young male figure sitting down on an old chair, and it looked as if he was smoking a cigarette. Could ghosts smoke? However he didn't look like Juvia expected. Although he was a ghost, he actually looked like he was still living and breathing. His hair was raven black, and his eyes were dark blue pools that could pierce into your soul. He was attractive to say the least.
"You wouldn't understand," he sighed as he looked at her then looked down and then back at his feet.
"Juvia would like to understand. Please, explain to Juvia why you're here."
He sighed and stood up. He looked at her before he walked forward, "fine, I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything. First off, my name is Gray Fullbuster, and I can't cross over to the other side..."
Author's note: OH! I know, I'm a horrible human being for cutting it off right there but I had to make it be suspenseful of some sort. I mean really, it'll make you guys some back for more if I cut it off here, ya know what I mean? Anyway, let me know what you all think about this. I'm personally very happy with it, but your reviews mean the world to me.
