Grace had been acting different.

For a few days now...she hadn't so much as smiled.

At least nothing more than a fake tight-lined one.

Sting was beginning to worry. She was never one to get depressed over something so ridiculous, ironically, according to her.

He remembered the incident like it was just a few days

ago...because it was.

Sting watched the red head approach the man she'd had a crush on for a year now. He finally convinced HER to make the first move instead of waiting for HIM to do it.

"Um, hey James? Can I ask you something?" The 21 year old asked in a shy tone, something unseen from the normally fun and teasey girl.

The tall male with dark brown, shoulder-length hair and light blue eyes turned towards her with a questioning glance, "Yeah sure."

Grace took a deep breath and finally blurted, "Will you go out with me?!"

He was taken aback by the outburst, but realized what she had said and looked down to the ground in guilt, "I-I'm sorry Grace...I should have told you sooner but...I'm not...into..."

The female thought he was gonna say he wasn't into her, but what came next completely put her brain through a spiral, "...I'm not into women."

The red head blinked before her eyes widened, "Really?!"

The male nodded with a blush. Grace was shocked out of her mind. So much so that she absently turned around and slowly walked off.

Sting was furious with the guy, but Grace had told him not to hurt him, as it wasn't anyone's fault.

It wasn't James' fault for being gay, it wasn't Grace's fault for not noticing.

Sting was still miffed about it though. According to her, James was the only guy Grace had actually ever been into. And he goes and breaks her heart just because he's not into women?! If love has no boundaries then doesn't that mean that the sexual orientation of a human being doesn't even matter in the long run?!

Sting growled in anguish for his Hell-Fire-haired friend.

He looked up to see her still stirring the soda that Yukino had given to her half an hour ago, not having taken a single sip of it. He swiftly got up and waltzed over to the down-turned female. When she looked up he stated, "Ay, I'm taking you out."

Grace blinked, "...huh?"

The blonde repeated, "I'm taking you out to get something to eat. Take your mind off...him. You need some fun in your life, G. Let me take you to a bar, we'll have a few drinks and...let the night take us where it wants us to go."

The green eyed girl rose a brow, "Since when did you become all poet-y?"

Sting growled, "Since now, now come on! It's still happy hour the drinks are cheap until 6."

She looked the dragon slayer up and down and rolled her eyes, really not wanting to do this, "Sting you know I don't drink much."

He groaned, "Ugh that's why you should do it now. Look, Grace, you don't have to get black out drunk, I just want you to let yourself loosen up a little. These last few days you just...haven't been yourself. And I wanna change that. I want the old Grace back. The one who would challenge me on my strength and always end up proving me wrong by slamming me face first into the floor without even trying. The Grace that snorted when she laughed too hard. The Grace that would grab my ass every time she found herself behind me while climbing up a staircase! I want that Grace back!!"

The red head gave a dry laugh, "You're right...I want her back too. Ya know what...no balls let's do it!"

Sting threw his fist in the air, "Fuck yeah! There's the GG I know and love!!!"

The girl shook her head and rolled her eyes. They exited the guild and headed to Sting's favorite bar, Brian's Boobs and Booze.

Grace read the name and said, "Wow Sting...very classy."

The blonde scoffed, "Like you wouldn't have expected it from me."

She nodded, "True. You are a pervert."

Now Sting whipped around and smirked, "Oh I'm nothing compared to you, Little Miss Hell Fire! I've snooped around in your apartment. I've seen the erotic fanfiction you write!"

The girl growled, "You waht!!"

The dragon slayer realized his confession and slapped his hand over his mouth, "Shit! You weren't supposed to know that I knew!"

The red head pinched her nose, "You know what? Just forget it. There's no point in being angry. Anger isn't going to stop the fact that you've already seen everything."

Sting sighed in relief. She glared, "Don't you dare do it again, Blondie Boy. Or I'm comin for your cat, I'll make him love me more than you."

Sting gasped, "You wouldn't."

Grace's voice dropped dangerously low, and became raspy, like she was possessed, "Try me."

The blonde nodded in surrender quickly, "Good, now lets get drunk. I need to forget about all this."

He pumped his fist in the air, "Woohoo!!"