2nd Chapter
General PoV:
It's was finally Friday and Cana and Lucy were getting ready for the party tonight. Lucy had stayed with Cana and Bacchus the last few days.
"Cana are you sure I should wear this? I mean…it is kind of…YOU."
"And what's wrong with that?" she asked innocently.
"Don't play dumb, I mean look at me!"
Lucy had borrowed some of Cana's clothes because she neither had the time nor the money to buy something new for the party. But the problem was…Cana's clothes were all quite revealing. Looking at herself in the mirror she couldn't help but sigh.
She wore a white shirt, which went only above her lower back. It was held closed by a band below her collar and a knot under her chest. It also exposed a black 'top' that looked more like a bra than an actual piece of cloth.
"Well I think you look stunning!"
"I knew you would say that." Cana herself wasn't looking that bad either. She wore her signature clothes. Brown jeans which went just past her knees together with a light pink belt and a blue 'shirt' that could also be compared to a bikini top.
Cana laughed before getting serious again. "Now let me do your make-up. I promise it will be simple and you will thank me later!"
"Fine! But you better behave tonight. No match-making or shipping how you call it! Whatever that is…"
"Okay!" she answered cheerfully after crossing her fingers behind her back. "…If you want I can tell you everything about shipping and fanfiction!"
"No thanks! After you told Bacchus he vanished for a whole week and it kind of changed him."
She shuddered. "Whatever Fanfiction is, I think I'm better off being left in the dark."
"Fine!" Cana groaned. "Now come and sit!"
While the girls were getting ready, Bacchus had checked everything downstairs in the bar for the big party. They finally came down and as he turned around his jaw almost hit the floor.
"You look amazing!" he shouted and whistled. Cana came up to him and kissed him passionately until Lucy cleared her throat. "Guys it's almost eight. Could you please behave and open up so that we can finally start drinking." She suggested.
Lucy hadn't always been fond of alcohol but what else could have been expected when you hang around these two. Cana separated herself from her boyfriend. "Good idea!"
Normally when Lucy helped out she would stand at the wardrobe, but the weather was nice which meant she would have the night off. Cana unlocked and opened the door, but fixed it so it would stay open. Outside she found Natsu, Gray and Erza already waiting. "Hey there, come on in and let's get this party started." She greeted them smiling. The others nodded and walked in after her.
It was still early and most people would come around eleven. That meant they would enjoy each other's company and chat. Later it would be drinking, dancing and joking around. Cana looked at the happy face of her cousin as she hugged Natsu. 'I guess this is just what she needed.'
It was around midnight and the party was bustling with people. Suddenly Cana spotted a familiar face in the crowd. "Loki!" she shouted over the loud music. He saw her and made his way over to the bar.
"Cana, great to see you. The party is a success I see." He greeted her with his signature smirk and hugged her over the bar.
"Jep." She grinned.
"Sooo, where is that beautiful cousin you told me so much about?" he asked without missing the mischievous glint in her eyes.
"She is over there, next to the cute couple. The blonde girl." she giggled, obviously a bit tipsy.
"Wait, is that Natsu…and, and Gray?" he looked stunned. "Wow and I thought they would never get together. I mean it was painfully obvious!" they laughed. "Alright, I'll try my luck." He said smirking, but before he could make one step into that direction he felt two iron grips on his shoulders.
He turned his head to the left and saw Bacchus serious face, looking to the left he saw Cana's murderous look. "Even though you're one of our best friends, we know you're a playboy. AND if you dare hurt her, you'll pay. Understood?" Cana sure is scary. Loki thought. He turned around to see Bacchus giving him a death stare. He sighed.
"You know my playboy days are over since the…well, Karin-Incident. I won't hurt her, alright? I promise." He answered honestly.
Both their stances changed instantly as Bacchus wrapped an arm around Cana's shoulder, both grinning. "Good." They said in unison as he finally made his way through the crowd.
Meanwhile with Lucy, Natsu and Gray…
"So Luce, how are ya?" Natsu greeted her with a goofy grin and one arm around Gray's shoulders.
"I'm fine really, what about you two lovebirds?" she asked, causing Natsu to laugh and Gray to blush.
"And well, I'm quite interested. Mind telling me you story, Gray?"
"I, uhm, sure but before that…I really wanted to apologise to you Lucy! I'm sorry for stealing Natsu! Please forgive me!" he blurted out.
It didn't surprise Lucy that her dark haired friend was feeling guilty but she wasn't concerned about it anymore, so she smiled warmly at him. "It's ok Gray, really. I'm actually very happy for the two of you. But honestly I'm curious, so spill." Gray sighed in relief and began to tell his story…
Flashback few weeks earlier…
Gray PoV:
"Hey Mom, Dad can…can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure kid what's up?" Ur, his mother said. They were both in the living room watching TV. I was standing in front of them determined to finally tell them my secret. "You once told me to always be honest with you, right?" "That's correct, we always encouraged you and your brother Lyon to tell us if something's bothering you." his father said. I had already told Lyon and he seemed ok with it so I guess my parents will accept me too, right?
"Alright…well, you see…uhm" "Spit it out already! You know I hate it when you are insecure like that!" my father's loud voice rang through the room. "I'm gay!" I exclaimed surprised by my own voice not wavering.
There was a long silence after that, both my parents looking rather shocked. "Honey are you sure?" my mother asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I'm pretty sure. You see there's a boy I like…" While my mother gave me a warm smile my farther looked rather angry.
"No, you are not! Don't be ridiculous boy! Stop fooling around. Gay? What a joke! Now go to your room and think about what you just did! You know I hate lying the most!" he exclaimed a bit too loud for my liking. I was shocked or rather hurt by my dad's words but didn't think twice before obeying. Looking at the floor as I made my way to my room, I only looked up once to meet my mother's eyes. They told me, that she'd come by later, when my dad was asleep.
And she did.
I sat in the corner of my room thinking. If my parents couldn't accept me, then who would? At least my brother had but that didn't mean much, considering he was just one person in this whole world.
My thoughts were interrupted by my mother entering from the door on the other side of the room.
"Hey kiddo, you alright? I know your farther didn't mean what he said. He's just…" she tried to reason my father's comments but it didn't change a thing as I just blankly stared at the wall.
"Mother. We both know that he meant what he said. Just stop please, you're only making it harder for me. The only thing I want to know is if you think so too?" She shook her head to my relief.
"The way I see it you're old enough to know what it is you like. Also I'll love you no matter what and having a homosexual son might not be so bad. Let's go shopping sometime, ne?" she smiled at me and I could only laugh.
"Alright, thanks Mom."
"Good, now go to bed and greetings to Natsu next time you see him." She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, whereas my jaw dropped. "I…I…"
"Sorry dear, it was painfully obvious." She giggled.
"Good night." She stood up and left me blushing.
If only Dad could be this understanding…after that I fell asleep, dreaming of who else but Natsu, that pink-headed idiot.
Only a few days later, without talking to Dad, I moved in with Lyon. To my surprise it was his idea. He had talked with Mum and they both agreed that it would be best.
The next day I got a strange text from my best friend/crush Natsu. We need to talk. 'It's important! And I want cookies!' How typical of him. So the next day we met at the park and I bought his favourite cookies with me.
As we sat on one of the benches in front of the lake surrounded by trees so no one could see us, I asked him what he wanted to talk about. "Well, I did a lot of thinking these past few days and…" Oh god, he's serous for once, that means it's really important this time.
"…well, it's about Lucy…" Tsk, of course.
"I just don't think she's the right one…you see. I like someone else…" Someone else…? I decided to play cool, so I smirked at him. "Well who is it? Don't tell me you're in love with me?" I laughed out loud. I didn't see the flash of hurt pass his face as he looked down at the grass. I only saw him ball his fists before…my mind went blank as I felt his lips on mine.
As he separated himself from me I was blushing madly…just like him. "I'm sorry…" I heard him say, but I didn't trust my voice and just nodded.
"I guess the cat's outta the bag, ne?" He gave me his typical grin.
"I understand if you don't feel the same, it's just that I…" I couldn't let him complete that sentence as I pulled him close and kissed him again…and again.
After our make-out session at the lake we sat in silence. "Guess that marks our coming out of the closet, ne?" he asked me grinning. "Yeah…but what about Lucy?" I had asked the most dreaded question, which I instantly regretted.
"Guess I should talk to her, it's just…I want my best friend back. I hope she understands."
"Yeah…" after that we sat in silence until the sun was beginning to set and we parted ways.
As I sat in my bed that night I was as happy as I could be. Natsu returned my feelings and no one could spoil my happiness now…guess I was wrong because the next day while Lyon was still in university my father showed up…
Flashback End, back in the bar with Lucy, general PoV.
"He wasn't happy with me and he thought a few slaps in the face would set things right. I haven't spoken to him ever since. We wanted to talk to you about it, but before that…well you saw us. The rest is history. Again I'm really sorry Lucy!" Gray ended his story.
"I think your story is sooo cute, well except for the father-problem, I mean. But I can relate to that. Ever since my mother died my dad hasn't been the same. He's stressed out and cold towards me the whole time, which is why I plan on moving in with Cana." She sighed.
"But don't let yourself down because of that. I think in due time he will understand and you're still his son. He'll come around, believe me." She smiled at him.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Gray, too, managed a small smile.
"You know what? Enough with the depressing talk. Today we party and tomorrow we'll be responsible again! Now I'll tell you what to do, so listen up! Gray, drown that drink of yours now!" Both turned to Natsu shocked. Gray nodded instantly. "Aye sir!" "And you Lucy, prepare yourself and talk to the hot redhead coming your way, understood?" "Aye sir…wait what?!" but Natsu was already on his way.
Just as she turned around she came face to face with no one else but Loki. Said male greeted her with a smirk. "Hey Lucy, so who's that hot redhead you were talking about?" Oh god!
To be continued…