A/N: So I got this idea from a Friends With Benefits trailer (GrayLu style – it's on Youtube, check it out!) My friend and I both agreed that Justin Timberlake actually fit Gray pretty dang well, and Mila just made Lucy sound a whole lot more mature. So I was terribly low on muse and desperate for something with a planned out plot when I realized – bingo! I loved the idea, and there was plenty of material for me to work with! I hope you guys like it :3

P.S – Suggested media: The Friends With Benefits official soundtrack, and the movie itself! :D OOCness is to be expected as I very closely follow the original plot.

Genre: Romance/Humour/Friendship/Drama

Rating: M (could be considered T, but I'm basing this off the movie rating)

Pairing: GrayLu (Gray x Lucy)

Synopsis: Lucy is a successful, rich head-hunter (though she prefers executive recruiter). Gray is the art director for a small, internet-based company. One day, she is tasked with recruiting Gray for GQ. Shortly after, they agree to start a totally physical relationship, no strings attached. But these two friends soon find that you can't have intimacy without emotions coming into play. AU

Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, except perhaps some of the writing.

Don't know where we'll be tomorrow,

but we'll beg and borrow everything we need.

"Okay, let's see where we are."

A dark-haired, lanky young man was standing in front of an interactive screen, dragging several pictures out of the way and placing them to the side. Behind him was the rest of the company, a small but fun bunch. As he removed the items, he commented on them too.

"Uh, we don't need this." That had been a black-and-white photo of a fairly attractive model, in a coy pose. "Get rid of that." He'd been remarking on a picture of an Asian couple. "Kill that." An overly colourful, warm-toned photo of a middle-aged couple. "That kind of freaks me out," Now that was a neon picture of a man, not unlike what one would look like through heat detection cameras. "Don't need her." A brunette dressed in leopard print. "Uh, we can get rid of that..." Military style for the Civilian man, the off-white picture screamed.

"Okay, we can start with this." Using his fingers to scroll down, he pointed out an article titled 'IMMIGRATION REFORM'. Underneath was the statement, 'Who's kidding who?' Making vague gestures at the screen, Gray continued. "I know it's a hard hitting piece, but, come on you guys. It's the internet – we need traffic, traffic. What d'ya got?"

"How about this?" One of the employees asked, turning to her computer. With a few quick keystrokes, a new picture popped up in the place of the man next to a bed, which had formerly taken up that space. Up came a woman dressed suggestively in a faux maid outfit, her posture being especially lascivious. Though she appeared to be cleaning, everyone in that room knew that it was just some model dressed for a lewd photo. Gray pointed at her and smiled.

"Perfect. Now look at her, doesn't she look smart and knowledgeable about immigration reform?"

"Yeah!"

Everybody chorused the same affirmative answer, only the slightest hesitation in their voices.

"Yeah, yeah she does right? I'm fucking with you people! This isn't a porn site; what are we, nerds trying to look at boobies?" The others laughed nervously, though most were relieved. After all, if their boss was a nutcase … well maybe they would be okay. Or not. Suddenly, Gray's cell phone rang and he went to pick it up, leaving the others to keep working. "Come on! Keep looking."

At least, he would have answered his call, had he not just spilled water all over his pants.

"Gray – your pants?"

"Shit!"

Answering the call, he gestured frantically at one of the male employees while holding up a conversation with his girlfriend.

"Hello?"

Meanwhile, a pretty golden-haired woman was walking in the streets, dressed casually for a date. A phone was stuck next to her ear, and she was chatting animatedly away to her boyfriend.

"Hey! Baby, where are you? Are you still at work?"

"No! Not even close." Gray looked around, wondering what to do now.

"The scene of the movie starts in ten minutes." Lucy was starting to get more agitated now, though she tried not to show it. Glancing at her gold-plated watch, she continued walking down the street, passing by several high-end stores.

"I know!" Dropping his voice so that it was barely a whisper, he lifted the cell slightly away from his face and gestured at the male employee again.

"Give me your pants."

"What?"

"I'll buy you lunch tomorrow, come on."

"No."
"I'm your boss, give me your pants."

The man could only stare at the irked Gray before relenting, standing up and starting to pull his pants down.

"Please try not to be late, I really hate missing the movie's beginning." She was approaching the theatre now, was he going to be there?

"I know, I know." The man had pulled down his pants, exposing his bare butt to a certain pug, courtesy of one of the female employees. Naturally, the dog started panting and sniffing, as its instincts compelled it to. Staring at him, Gray mentally disapproved and turned to another co-worker, this time requesting the same thing. "Give me your pants." The other male looked up, disbelief etched on his features. However, the black-haired man had directed his attention back to his cellphone, insisting that he was on his way. "I'm coming, baby."

"I'm almost there!" Barely avoiding slamming into the elevator doors, Gray was just pulling up his pants as he entered the lift.

"How far away?" Lucy was cautious, gently probing but feeling a little mistrustful. Her voice was soft and she'd checked her watch for what was undoubtedly not the last time.

"I think I see you!" Jumping into his silver car, Gray sped off, tires screeching on the road.

"Where are you? I'm here." She was standing right outside the cinema, the lone person in front of it. Everyone else had already went inside, she was sure.

"So am I. So many people. What are you wearing?" He tried to reassure his girlfriend that he was already there, though truthfully he was still driving to the place.

"I'm wearing the only clothes outside the theatre; because I'm the only person outside the theatre." Lucy was clearly exasperated, having thrown up her free hand in despair. Her boyfriend could be so insensitive sometimes.

"I love that outfit! You look so sexy in that." Still in his car, he was desperately trying to salvage what was left of his facade.

"You know that I love this movie. It has a prostitute, and a ruthless business man, and they fall in love. And anyone can." Little Woman, that was what the movie was called. The blonde did adore it, if only because it bolstered her hopes. She was irritated now, because her boyfriend obviously didn't care enough about her.

"I know it means a lot to you, which means it means a lot to me." Gray was out of the car now, running towards the scheduled meeting place.

"Apparently, it doesn't." Hurt was clear in her voice, and Lucy's throat felt tight. Why now, of all times?

"I'm looking at you right now, I can see you!" Still running, he felt like his time had just ran out.

"Lucy!" A deep voice called to her, and a dark, pink-haired man walked towards her. One might say that Lucy had strange taste in men, but he had been her friend first and well, it was the personality that counted.

"Hey!" Putting the cellphone back into her bag, she smiled and went towards him.

"Hey."

"Aw, you made it."

They kissed as Natsu hastily put away his phone.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Uh, sorry I'm late."

"It's okay. I brought us sandwiches. For you: turkey, no cheese, gluten-free bread."

"You sure this was prepared in an air-free facility?"

Nodding solemnly, Lucy resisted the urge to laugh at this ridiculousness of his statement. Air-free facility? Was he kidding?

"Yes. I'm fully aware of your allergies."

With Gray, what had happened wasn't so different. He'd rushed over to the Pantages Theatre, on Hollywood Boulevard. They were showing John Mayer tonight, which his girlfriend just happened to love. Reaching a navy-haired woman dressed in a light blouse and holding a cellphone, Gray tried to appear indifferent. Her expression was indignant, half-way to the point of being furious.

"We missed Your Body's A Wonderland."

"Okay, only one song, that's not so bad right?"

"It was fucking Your Body's A Wonderland."

"Well the good news is, he has so many … good ones."

"Here's an idea. Next time, instead of being late, just shit on my face. 'Cause that's kind of the same thing as missing Your Body's A Wonderland."

Gray almost couldn't believe it. Was his girlfriend really this upset over a single song? This was truly unbelievable. In fact, she looked so angry she could almost cry. And then that really would be bad news; he was a sucker for crying women.

"Okay, come on, we really have to go in. Julia Roberts is about to put on her really tall boots." Lucy was about to head in, when Natsu caught her hand.

"Um. We need to talk."

A poker face, uncomprehending what he had just said. And then alarm bells set off in her head. How could he say that while smiling?

"I think we should take a break." Juvia said this, dead-serious. And when she was serious, she really meant it.

"I just feel like we should chill for a while, you know?" Natsu obviously wasn't used to having to dump somebody, but here he was. Breaking up with this beautiful girl.What is wrong with him?

"You're doing this." Lucy could only stare, not wanting this to happen. No. No!

"You're breaking up with me?" Now it was his turn to be indignant.

"You said I was your soulmate."

"I did? When?" Oh he was so dumb sometimes, she just wanted to rip that stupid little face off.

"When we were at that bed and breakfast, having sex."

"Well you know, that doesn't-"

"That doesn't what?"

"Count."

And there she went, with her famed Lucy Kick. Nobody made a fool out of her and got nothing out of it.

"I was tied up at work. I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should care a little less about work, and a little more about the girl you are dating," She was spiteful, he could understand that. But this? It wasn't like he could be there for her every minute, right? Gray did try to make time, he really did. But sometimes he just couldn't help being a few minutes late here and there.

"'Cause last time I checked, work doesn't reassure you that liking a finger up your ass doesn't make you gay."

"I never said go up, okay?" Gray made a ring with his index finger and thumb, poking it with his other index finger. "I just said lightly around – it's like, like a little button." He could see Juvia making a 'I-could-care-less-about-what-shit-you-say' face, and he stopped, then sighed. "You know what? Not your shoe anymore."

"Is this why you were late? You were worried about how to break up with me?" Lucy could feel herself tearing up, and no, she would really hate to show herself to be vulnerable right now.

"Oh, no no, I was trying to decide what to wear."

"So you went with sneakers and a hoodie."

"Yeah." And he was smiling! How dense could he get? Why did she ever even consider dating a guy like him?

"What are you, gonna take the SATs after this?"

"Don't lash out, okay. You're better than that."

"I'm reeaally not." Lucy narrowed her eyes, supremely annoyed. This was terrible. Her life was just terrible.

"I think we're heading to different directions." Juvia shook her head, trying to explain her reasoning.

"Yeah. You to the John Mayer concert and me to not. Thank you for doing this before the concert, by the way. Best breakup 'ever'." The last word he simply mouthed, not bothered to say it.

"He is the Sheryl Crow of our generation!" Now she was just plain mad.

"Let me just ask a quick question. And just know that I am not at all crushed by this breakup. So be honest. Why?" Lucy tried to keep her tone even and calm, but inside she was struggling to prevent herself from crying and beating Natsu. He only nodded, thinking back as to the reasons why he had broken up with her.

"Is this a trick?"

"No. Just pure anthropological research."

"Okay. You want someone to sweep you off your feet, but you're more interested in getting swept off your feet than the someone who's doing the sweeping. You seem like you got it totally together, but you're actually really emotionally damaged. Also, you have really big eyes; and that freaks me out sometimes."

"Thank you. That's enough." Lucy was now feeling very self-conscious, and doubtful of her beauty. Surely she was still attractive, though? Frowning severely, she wondered when their relationship had become so rocky.

"It's not you at all."

"Of course it's me! You can't say that, you're breaking up with me!"

"It's not! It's me! I don't like you anymore." Gray was astonished. This was so stupid. He should just walk away, right now.

"This is my fault. You deserve better than me." Lucy knew that already.

"You're a great guy." Nodding blindly, he was oblivious to her words.

"A little too emotionally unavailable, if you ask me."

"I didn't."

"I really want to stay friends." She was so weird sometimes.

"Let's stay friends."

"Sure." Lucy had been raised well, but the woman also didn't know how long this could last. All she wanted was to get back home and drink her sorrows away. Or rant. Preferably both. She smirked deviously at him.

"Totally." Attempting to be sincere, Gray smiled at Juvia, really unsure why she'd dyed her hair blue. Not that he had ever wondered before, since she pulled the look off, but still. Why? In response to that, Juvia gave him two thumbs-up. They both knew the other was fake. Then she turned her thumbs towards the concert, indicating that she would take her leave now.

"JOHN FUCKING MAYER!"

"C'mere, you."

Natsu hugged her, and all of a sudden Lucy found herself immersed in his pink hair. Why was his hair pink? So maybe it was a little red, too, but why would he dye his hair salmon? Was he gay? Maybe that explained it. "You're going to get through this."

Close your eyes now

Look inside now

Let the sound

Take you away

/ And I'll leave it there! I would add more but right now my fingers are a little tired from typing so much – there's a whole load of rewinding and dialogue I've got to do, but no worries, I'll be sure to update ASAP! (Probably today, even) I'll be taking a mini break from my other stories until I get up to at least Chapter 3 here. Or that's the plan anyway, unless I get a muse boost c;

Ciao!