Hey Minna! New fic here! I've been listening to a lot of Swan Lake lately, and this idea just came to me! Oh and by the way, this fic is super AU. Ages and places and all.
Anyway, Disclaimer! I do NOT own Fairy Tail! All those rights go to Master Hiro Mashima! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
"Come on! One more time and plie…. and releve… and pirouette and bring it into fifth. Ok that's fine. You can all go home now everyone! Except you Gray, can I speak to you for a moment?" Every dancer quickly made their way to their designated changing rooms, whereas I trudged to my ballet director, Alistair Goodwick. I've been here since six in the morning and it was noon now. My feet were throbbing and my calves were killing me. I just wanted to put my shoes away and go home and take a shower. I hoped that whatever Alistair had to tell me was going to be quick.
"Yes sir?" I replied.
"I need you to come in tomorrow morning for some final choreography for Swan Lake, okay? I know our premiere is in two days, but I know you are capable of mastering the steps I have for you. Okay?" I nodded. He gave me an arrogant smile and shooed me off, putting his hands a little too close to my butt for my comfort. I walked to the men's locker room and opened my locker. I undid my shoes and delicately put them in my bag and then I began to strip from my tights, leaving my white t shirt on. Some of the guys stared at me, but I ignored them. I was too tired to care anymore. I pulled on my most comfortable sweatpants and tugged on my jacket. I then pulled on my socks and shoes and headed for the door.
"Oi, Gray! What'd Alistair want?" I looked over to the source of the voice and saw Hibiki staring at me. He gave a dashing smile as he pulled on his own pair of sweatpants, giving me his full attention.
"Just saying he wants me to come in the morning tomorrow for some final choreography changes. No big deal." I shrugged my shoulders, reaching for the door knob.
"Oh wow, I thought we had the day off tomorrow. That really sucks," Eve Tearm jumped in. I sighed and turned around, knowing I'm not going to be able to leave yet, no matter how much my bed was calling me.
"Well Gray is the best dancer. No one said being the best was easy," Hibiki replied, shouldering his bag. I looked at him tiredly.
"Are you guys going to talk all day, or can I go home?" I asked, hand reaching for the knob behind me.
"Well sure, no one's stopping you-"I didn't hear the last part for I was already out the door, the frigid winter air hitting me like a wall of bricks. But it was the best feeling I've ever had. I walked along the sidewalk, snowflakes starting to fall on the snow-covered ground. I looked around the city of Magnolia and sighed in relief as I walked away from the Blue Pegasus Ballet Studio. I looked around warily, checking if anyone I knew saw me walking out of the building….. Nope, didn't see anyone, but I didn't let my guard down until I was half way home.
I was walking through the park when I heard an overly ecstatic voice shout, "Yo Gray! Over here!" I glanced over to the person and saw Natsu and Lucy waving me over under a leafless tree. I waved back and slowly walked over to them.
"Yo, where've you been all morning? I thought you weren't a morning person?" my pink haired friend commented, grinning widely.
"We've been calling you. There's a party tonight at Mirajane's place. Haven't you looked at your phone yet?" Lucy asked. I shook my head, hair sticking to my face.
"I left the gym about ten minutes ago. " It wasn't a complete lie. "I was going to check my phone when I got home before getting some shut eye."
"Oh, I'm sorry. We'll let you go then. But just so you know, be at Mira's at eight and don't be late. Wear something semi formal and be prepared for food. Mira started taking a new cooking class with Erza and she wants everyone to try everything they made for the past week. So come with an empty belly too," Lucy informed me, grabbing a reluctant Natsu by the arm and dragging him away. I stared after them for a few seconds before proceeding home. The snow was now becoming heavier, sticking to my eyelashes, making it hard to see. But I didn't mind. In fact I felt refreshed as the wind began to pick up, blowing the snow in my face.
When I got to my apartment, I was frozen to the bone and wet. And I've never felt better. I passed through my living room to my bathroom and turned on the water and stripped down quickly. Once the water heated up slightly, I stepped in and washed myself of all the sweat and water from the snow. When I finished, I dried off and went out to my room naked, grabbed a pair of boxers and snuggled under the covers of my navy bed, forgetting everything, including my dread of the food I was most likely going to be forced to eat at the party tonight and the amount of exercise I was going to have to do in order to work it off.
…..
Meanwhile
"Shit, wind's starting to pick up," I said a few minutes later. Lucy nodded next to me, pulling her hood over her head, tucking in her blonde pigtails.
"Let's go into a coffee shop and get some hot chocolate, my treat," she said quickly when I gave her a pleading look. We walked a few more minutes before we saw a Starbucks. Once in there, Lucy paid for the hot chocolate and we sat down, stripping from our winter wear. I sighed and took a sip from my beverage.
"So, how are you and Loke?" I asked a few minutes later. She shrugged.
"Fine, he's all unpacked, and settled into my apartment."
"Do you guys share a bed?" I asked, grinning mischievously. She only kicked my shin under the table and glared at me as she took a sip of her hot chocolate.
"HOT!" she exclaimed. I laughed at that.
"Wuss," I said. She kicked me again, making me grimace this time.
"Is he coming tonight?" I asked.
"Yeah, albeit reluctantly. He's convinced that Erza is a bad cook and she's going to force feed him terrible food that will make him as sick as you when on transportation." I rolled my eyes.
"I guess we'll just have to find out," I replied, taking another sip.
"What about you? Got any lovers?" she asked, giving me a mischievous look. I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up Lucy. Don't tease me about my love life when it took you three years to get together with Loke." She shot out her leg again, but I dodged it quickly and took another drink.
"See, it's that type of behavior that made Loke reluctant to ask you out."
"Can we please move on to a different topic!" I chuckled, but didn't press further.
A ding came from the front door. I looked past Lucy and saw a familiar scarlet haired woman wander in to the counter. When she finished ordering, I waved over to her to get her attention. Spotting me, she waited for her drink before sauntering over to us.
"Hey Erza, what's up." Surprised, Lucy turned around and saw the scarlet beauty pull up a chair next to her.
"Just finished the morning shift. I came here to grab to coffee before going to Mira's to prepare for the party tonight," she replied taking a sip of her steaming cup.
"Will Jellal be there?" Lucy asked. Erza nodded her head.
"And I assume Loke will be too?" she asked. Lucy nodded her head nervously.
"Good. Did you find Gray and tell him about the party?" I nodded.
"Good, well then I should take my leave. Like I said, I have some planning to do with Mira. Remember, eight o'clock, don't be late. And make sure you get Gray. He's been doing a lot of sleeping and forgetting lately. Yesterday he slept all the way to three in the afternoon and forgot to meet up with Mira about a match up. Oh." The realization came at her. "Never mind, I don't think he forgot, but still, someone go check up on him. Something's up with him."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"Well it looks like he's been getting a lot less sleep and is growing a lot more stressed. And he's looking a bit skinnier than usual. I don't know, it might be nothing, but just be on the lookout." I nodded and so did Lucy as Erza stood up and left the store. I raised my eyebrows at Lucy, but she just shrugged and took another sip.
It's a little slow in this chappy, but things will get moving next chapter, I promise. Honestly, I was actually a little nervous to put this up! I hope it was good! So review, like and if there's anything I can do better, do tell! I hope you enjoyed this new fic! Until next chapter! Scarlet out!
