"So, what do you need from me this time?" Erza asked the two idiots in front of her. "It better not be something illegal again."

Natsu and Gray just looked at each other, having a silent debate about who could explain this plan better. They always did that. She could read their faces like the back of her hand after eight years of dealing with them and their nonsense. They might've been two years younger than her, but they were by far her best friends – although she didn't have many friends to choose from. She was about eight when Gray moved into the house next door to hers, followed the next year by Natsu moving into the house across the street. Even back then they started at each other the same way, right before proposing the craziest scheme that boys their age could muster up in their pea-sized brains.

Every time they told her to meet them in South Gate Park, they needed something from her. Since they were kids, they would meet in the same tree house built in between two of the biggest sola trees in the park. Whatever followed these meetings usually landed them in the back of Igneel's police car.

Although this particular plan was mostly Gray's, he didn't fully trust himself not to start hyperventilating in the middle of his explanation. Erza had a way of getting under his skin. This topic was too important for him to stutter his way through. This needed the upmost level of professionalism. His thoughts must've shown on his face somehow because Natsu gave him a quick nod and turned to Erza.

"Okay, so our very best friend, Gray Fullbuster, has finally found a girl that he is interested in after almost sixteen years of living lonely and girl-less. He met some girl in the library the other day and -"

"Bullshit. What were you doing in a library? Do you even know how to read?"

"Erza! This is important!" Gray hollered out at her. She'd never seen him look so flustered. I didn't even know he could feel this strongly about anything. "She was the coolest girl I've ever met! And she was so good-looking. She had blue hair and long ass legs and she was funny as hell."

"Sounds like you have everything figured out. Why am I in this damn treehouse and not home watching Netflix?"

"Her stupid dad won't let her date. Not yet at least... Well he said not ever. I don't know. He's just in my way. Having real parents seems exhausting."

"I'm fucking confused. Are you asking me to kill her dad? That's not an option. I said nothing illega-"

Natsu cut in before Gray could go into another long ass tangent. "If either of you had let me finish, we could've been back home by now!" He looked between the two of them, daring them to open their mouths again. With an over-dramatic eye roll, he continued on. "Apparently within the 12 minutes that they had known each other, he brought up prom... And she not-so-surprisingly went home that night asking her dad for permission to go to the prom." He paused at the sound of Erza's chuckle.

"This isn't any quicker. Skip to whatever part I'm involved in."

Natsu just rolled his eyes before continuing on. "Well he said that she could go if her older brother goes."

"Not only goes, but asks someone to go with him. He goes to Magnolia High too. I think he's a senior, just like you."

"Gray, you had your chance. Shut up. Basically sis, we need you to use your not-so-feminine wiles to get this guy to ask you to prom, so Gray can go with his beloved Julia."

"Juvia. Her name is Juvia."

Why does that name sound so familiar? Erza sat there with her own thoughts, trying to put a face to that name. Did they really think she would do something like this? They weren't even in high school the last time Erza even considered getting involved with someone romantically. Stupid sophomores. Why are they even allowed to go to prom? And who the hell is this Juvia girl? She quickly gave up and faced them, ready to decline their ridiculous request.

"– really calling me stupid? This whole thing was your idea dumbass!"

"Did you finally freeze you brain over? The only suggestion I made was Erza!"

So it was Natsu's dumb idea to drag me into this.

"What a great idea that was! The only guys she talk to are us! We don't even know if she likes guys!" What the fuck, Gray. "I still think Lucy would've been a better bet."

"She's literally my girlfriend."

"Yea, well Juvia could be mine some day. She should be my girlfriend some day soon. If not that, then at least my prom date." Aww, he's blushing. He must really like this girl. "I would appreciate if you took this a little seriously. I really need you guys to help me. You know better than anyone else that I don't waste my time with girls and relationships. But Juvia's different. I need you assholes, so please stop screwing around and let's make a plan!"

All three of them were stunned into silence after Gray's rant. That outburst was unexpected to say the least. They didn't even know Gray cared about things anymore. Natsu looked over at Erza trying to see if he could sense whether she would agree or not. It's been a while since Gray had opened up like that, so he was sure if she wasn't moved by the speech, she might just be too surprised to think straight and agree to help anyway. If he had to guess, her face had him leaning toward the 'surprised into submission' route. He looked over at Gray and saw pretty much the same amount of surprise that Erza was wearing. 'Clearly he wasn't planning on sharing that much with us,' Natsu thought.

Natsu had been right. Erza didn't have it in her to deny Gray something that meant so much to him. As much as she liked to fuck with them, their happiness was important to her. She knew she'd regret it - probably right after agreeing - but that's basically how it went every time they met up in this big ass tree house. No matter how crazy their adventures were, they'd always come back, ready of the next one.

She couldn't let them know that she had a soft side for them though. So she threw her head back and let out the most theatrical sigh that she could muster up. "Fine Gray. Since you've resorted to begging... I'll seduce this mystery man so you can seduce his little sister. I refuse to be held responsible for the broken hearts that will lay in our wake at the end of this all." She finished the scene with her hand on her heart and her eyes downcast. End every line with emotion.

They both looked up with the most childish grins on their faces, completely disregarding the Oscar-worthy scene she just played out for them. While Natsu wore that smile a lot, it was something she rarely saw on Gray. It kind of warmed her heart, although she would never let them know that.

"Really Erza? You're gonna help me?"

"Yes, idiot. When do I ever say no?"

Natsu shot up and started to make his way out of the tree house. "Hell yea! Let's get the hell outta here and draw up some battle plans. This is gonna be out hardest mission yet. I don't think Team Natsu is gonna be enough. I'll have to send out for reinforcements."

"No dumbass! I don't want everyone to know what I'm going through right now. And stop calling us that!"

While Gray was struggling to get down to the ground to stop Natsu from calling anyone else, Erza stood in his way, taking into account the condition of the ladder that they carelessly climb so often. "Hey guys, how has this ladder lasted so long? This is the same one that has been here since I first learned how to climb."

Natsu didn't even take the time to look up at her from his spot at the bottom of the ladder. "Who cares? Focus on the task at hand!"

By the time Natsu hit the ground he had his cell phone out sending text messages to all of their closest friends. Gray couldn't make it down the ladder in time to stop him. Before he could tackle Natsu to the ground he felt his phone vibrate. He knew it was Natsu. He loved making group messages.

Natsu: Everyone get to my house right the hell now. Gray's in love!

Even Erza had to laugh out loud at the look on Gray's face. This is the most she's ever seen him blush. It was no point trying to go home now; Natsu would just drag her back across the street. He was already too invested in this. There was no stopping him once he put his mind to something, especially when it came to matter's of the heart. Tch, such a romantic.

On the walk back home, Erza was too preoccupied listening to Gray gab about this Juvia girl to even think about asking who the hell this brother of hers is. In the back of her mind she was still trying to remember where she had heard that name before.

Before they even approached his house, they saw all of the cars parked on their street. Natsu knew they would show up quicker if he put Gray on the spot. He couldn't even hide the mischief that was oozing out of his smirk. Natsu didn't even have to turn around to know that Gray was giving him the most evil face he could possibly make. He felt those dark blue eyes burning a hole into the side of his head. One look at Erza and Natsu knew that she felt it too.

Erza leaned forward past Natsu to look at Gray. She gave him an apologetic look, silently telling him to brace himself. This was about to be a long ass night.