First, thanks for the reviews and for taking time to let me know about the good and bad things :)
xxxxx
DarKxKunoichi: Oh, a friend o/ : I'm not a fan of stories like that either x) I'm not into AU stories in general (I mean, if I want a normal high school romance, I watch normal high school animes aha) and, even though I ship GraLu, I love Natsu and Juvia, so I don't like to see them as the "wrong guys." And even if I hated them, it is just impossible for them to be bad. Like I said, I don't like being OOC, and that's like the most OOC you could be. Sorry, I'll stop my ranting here ^^'
And thank you, I always forget the difference, I'll remember now that you clearly explained it to me (:
Portaphyro: Aha don't worry, I didn't take it the wrong way. ^^ I'm happy, that means it isn't hard to read, even though there is no dialogue in the first chapter. Hope you'll like this one too (:
xxxxx
Of course, I still don't own anything related to Fairy Tail, and will never do.
And now, here's the 2nd chapter. Hope you'll enjoy!
Chapter 2: How he deals with it.
It's been over a month since I had this damn revelation. And gosh, this is tiring to know that.
First, I panicked every time I saw her. I tried to hide it, and I think I did a pretty good job at it, but I'm sure some members have noticed. Thankfully, I don't think she noticed. She must know something's off with me, because she usually knows, but not the reason why. She didn't ask me, either.
Then, I calmed down and was able to be normal around her again, but only if we weren't alone. I always avoided being alone with her, but it still happened once or twice, and it was awkward. I couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she looked, and how cute her smile was, and how pretty her eyes were… Ok, I really have to stop. I'm becoming a lovesick puppy, and that is not me. Anyway, I had all those thoughts, and couldn't say a word to her, and if she talked to me, I wouldn't hear her because I was spacing out. And then, one of our friends would finally join us and end my misery.
I'm tired of not being able to be myself again around her. I'm tired of trying not to let her know how I feel. And to top it all, I'm tired of being freakin' jealous of that Firehead when he hugs her, and carries her around, and does all those things that now make me feel jealous. Me, jealous of that idiot. I can't take it anymore. Seriously, why?
Why did I have to think about it and find out that I was in love with one of my best friends? My life was much simpler when I only thought I found her really attractive. Because, let's be real, she's hot – there's no denying it – but finding her hot and loving her are two completely different things.
xxxxxxxxxx
By the way, I had the talk with Juvia. It had been a little tiring, too.
Here goes the flashback:
"So, Juvia, you know… About the thing you asked me last time…" I began, stuttering.
"What thing?" She asked me, oblivious, while making me goofy eyes. Gosh, I hated myself right then.
"You know… About making things clear and all…" I was not good at this. All I could do was stutter and awkwardly scratch the back of my head while looking away.
"Oh. OH!" She finally realized what I was talking about. She blushed furiously. "So, what about it?" She asked shyly, clearly hoping it would be a positive answer.
I so did not want to do that. "Hum, you see, you're a really good friend to me, and even though I do find you attractive –"
"Oh, Gray-samaa" She shrieked, happy I complimented her. She didn't even let me finish my sentence and was already celebrating. "He said I'm attractive. I knew Gray-sama wouldn't resist long and finally realize his feelings for Juvia..." And she went on like this until I stopped her.
"JUVIA!" I finally shouted. For once, she stopped her loud fantasies and looked at me.
"Gray…sama?" She seemed lost. It was the first time I yelled at her like this. But it was necessary; she had to realize how serious I was.
I grabbed her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes, "I'm dead serious here, so please listen," I started, "I do not see you like that. I cannot return your feelings, I'm really sorry. I should've realized it sooner."
First, she stared at me, bewildered. Then, it hit her. She suddenly kneeled and burst in tears, crying loudly. "Gray-sama rejected Juvia! Gray-sama doesn't love Juvia! What Juvia will do now? Juvia is saaad!" I tried to comfort her, but as soon as I said or did something, she'd cry even louder. So, I waited quietly until she calmed down. Which took a long time, since she had plenty of water to refill her tears.
Finally, she stopped, wept her eyes and stood up. "Okay, Juvia is fine now." I think she was more trying to convince herself that anything.
"I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say.
She looked up, and smiled, even if it didn't reach her eyes. "Don't be. I'm glad you've been honest with me. I'm sorry for all I did, that must have been inconvenient to you."
Oh no, don't apologize, I'm feeling guilty enough like that. "Don't say that. I'm the jerk here."
"Oh no no no! Gray-sama, I'm just happy to know you see me as a friend. Of course, I would have preferred to be with you romantically, and go on dates with you, and k–" She stopped her maundering, embarrassed, "Sorry. Anyway, you don't have to be sorry; you can't force your feelings."
Why was she consoling me? She should be the one consoled. Not me.
"Can I ask you just one thing?" She spoke up again.
"Of course."
"Why? I mean, did I do something for you not wanting to be with me? Was it because I was too forceful? I'm sorry, Juvia didn't want to be the clingy type of girl, but couldn't stop because Juvia just wanted to be with you and…–" I stopped her rambling by grapping her shoulders.
"It's really not your fault. You did nothing wrong. If I really didn't like how you acted, I would've told you. Truthfully, I got used to it and didn't really mind anymore. So stop blaming yourself."
She nodded calmly while looking at me. I released her shoulders.
"Do you…" She started, uncertain. "Do you love someone else?"
I froze, agape. I couldn't bring myself to answer. I couldn't possibly tell her I loved the one she considered her love rival just after rejecting her.
She smiled in understanding, and quietly spoke up. "It's her, isn't it?" We both knew exactly who she was talking about.
I merely looked down.
"You know, even if I don't act like I do, I still like her; she's also my comrade after all. So I won't start any more fights with her because of you. Well, as long as she doesn't hurt my precious Gray-sama, anyway. You've made up your mind after all; I can't do anything about it anymore."
I nodded, not knowing what else to do. I couldn't believe she was being so mature about it. Five minutes ago she was crying her heart out, and now she seemed totally balanced. She had every right to yell at me, to punch me, to do anything; but she didn't. She really was a wonderful girl.
She went on, "You know, I claimed she was my love rival only because I thought she was the only one who could snatch you away from me. I would have been a lot angrier if it was someone I wouldn't even have thought about." I smiled a little. "Come on, let's join the rest!" She declared happily, acting like nothing happened. I nodded, and followed her inside the guild.
Before we entered, I told her quietly "You're really a wonderful girl, Juvia. I'm sure you'll find the one right for you soon."
She smiled, and replied, "Of course, Juvia is very popular, you know? Juvia hasn't anyone in her life only because Juvia was devoted to Gray-sama. Now, Juvia will move on." I smiled genuinely, and we finally joined our friends.
Here's the end of the flashback.
xxxxxxxxxx
In the end, it didn't go as bad as I thought it would, and I'm really thankful for that. Plus, since we had this talk, we strangely became closer than before.
At first, she'd go teary every time she saw me and so started to totally avoid me, which I completely understood. A few days later, she went on a mission. When she came back a week later, she came to talk to me as if she'd never been interested in me. She seemed to have moved on. She also stopped daydreaming out loud about us, and stopped calling me Gray-sama. She called me Gray-san, but I told her to just call me Gray, since we were friends. She'd been really happy with that.
And before I knew it, I hung out with her a lot. As friends, of course; my feelings hadn't changed. She was really fun to be with once she wasn't on worshipping mode. Plus, since I now felt awkward around Lucy, I hung out less with our little group, and found myself talking more with Juvia, because being around her wasn't tiring. I'm really glad we can be like that.
Of course, the other guild members noticed something had changed between us. First, they blamed me for Juvia's being sad and not talking, and they had every right to. Erza had wanted to beat the crap out of me, but restrained herself since I'd only followed her advice. Then, they thought I'd finally "come to my senses", as they put it, and realized my feelings for her and that we started dating, because we were constantly seen together. We spent a whole afternoon explaining to them it wasn't like that, until they finally got the hint. While explaining, I automatically searched for Lucy in the room in order to see her reaction, but she only looked amused by the situation, and a little exasperated by our comrades. She didn't seem to care about me dating Juvia or not. Not that I expected her to. I knew she didn't care about me in that way.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Hey, Gray!" Lucy said cheerfully as she sat next to me at the bar.
I managed not to stiffen at the sound of her voice. I'm glad I finally stopped doing this, and was starting to become more like my true self around her again. "Hey, Lucy. How you doin'?"
Her cheerful face turned into an annoyed one. "Oh, don't mention it. Natsu dragged me into another crazy mission, and ended up destroying everything, of course. Why do I even keep going with him?" She complained while resting her head of the bar counter. Since the end of the games, we were very popular again and had a lot of requests.
I chuckled at her antics. "Don't ask me, I've never understood why you ever did." I took a sip of my drink.
"Probably the same reason we go on mission together with our group." She replied, smirking.
"Probably, yeah." I chuckled again. She was right, our group was crazy, and I didn't claim I wasn't either. A good part of the destroying was done by me when we went on mission. "I guess it's more fun than doing it alone."
"Well, at least we never get bored." We laughed knowingly. It was good to be able to be like that with her again. I kinda missed her.
After she asked Mirajane for the usual, she spoke up again, "By the way, where's Juvia?"
"Juvia? I think she's on a mission with Gajeel, why?"
"Oh, just because you seem to be together a lot these days. So I wondered why she wasn't there." She asked with genuine curiosity.
"Oh, right." I was a bit disappointed there wasn't even a hint of jealousy in her voice. Sure, I knew she didn't like me back, but you can't blame me for hoping a little.
"Is something wrong? Did you two fight?" She asked me, worried.
"Uh no, not at all, why?"
"It's just the way you answered; you seemed a bit down you know. But if everything's good, I'm glad!" She assured me. I chuckled. I realized I did that a lot while around her.
"Don't worry, everything's fine." I assured her.
After a few seconds of silence, she said, "It had been a while, you know."
"What?" I didn't understand.
"You and me, talking like that, just the two of us." She clarified.
"Oh. Right."
"I know you've been closer to Juvia and all, but I can't help thinking you're avoiding our group. You aren't, are you? I am only being totally paranoid, right? We didn't do anything you're mad about, uh?" She rambled.
"Oi, stop freaking out!" I held up my hands in order to calm her down, smiling. So she noticed, and thought about it, and was worried about me. "I'm not mad at anyone, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Yokataa." She replied, genuinely relieved.
I was about to speak up when two voices called from behind. "Lucy!"
"Natsu, Happy. Hey!"
They were now next to us. I rest my head on my hand, and said, "I'm here too, you know."
"Yeah, but we don't really care about you, Ice Brain." He provoked me.
I immediately stood up, "I don't care about you either, Ash Brain. But there's something called manners, you know."
"Well, 't seems I lack them, then."
"You do realize that it was my point, right? I knew you were stupid but not that much." We were forehead against forehead, ready to start a fight.
"Come on guys, calm down a bit." I heard Lucy plead.
And something weird happened; I calmed down. "Alright. After all, it's too early in the morning to deal with an idiot like you."
I saw Lucy and Happy looking at me with big-opened eyes. I must admit, it really was weird of me to do that. I mean, the only times I suddenly stop fighting with Natsu are when Erza threaten us. It was a mere survival instinct. But I'd never listened to Lucy before. So what, now that I knew I loved her meant that I'd become her puppet? Ugh, this was annoying.
"What did you say?" Natsu, on the other way, was still fired up. Literally.
"Come on, stop it. Being angry alone makes you look like a fool." I remarked boringly.
"Gray? Are you alright? Are you sick or something?" Lucy was now resting the back of her hand on my forehead. "You don't have a fever, though."
"I'm fine, Lucy. And do you really think an Ice mage would have a fever?" I mocked.
"Well, we never know, do we?" She answered, looking embarrassed.
"I never did, at least. So, stop worrying." I wanted to pat her head, like I normally would have, but I restrained myself. I'd become tomato red if I did that then, and I did not want that to happen in front of Happy and that burning idiot.
"But, Gray. You did stop arguing with Natsu before fighting, and without Erza around." Happy commented.
"Yeah, and it can't be because of me, you've never listened to me, no matter how many times I tried." Lucy added.
I tried to hide my embarrassment and replied casually, "Like I said, it's still early, and I feel lazy today, and it takes too much energy to fight with him." I sat down to prove my point.
Happy and Lucy eyed me suspiciously but decided to let it go. Thank god.
Lucy then turned to Natsu, who still looked pissed. I smirked. Not fighting was actually the best way to piss him off. "See, you should act like that too. Gray's been the better man here. Even if it's for a weird reason, he was. Now, calm down."
Hearing her saying this made me feel good. Maybe I should listen to her more often.
"Pff. It's just because it's not fun if he's not into it too." Natsu sat down and crossed his arms, pouting. He was such a kid.
When he finally decided to move on, that idiot spoke up again, "By the way, Juvia isn't there? I thought you were all buddy buddy now."
"I may spend more time with Juvia these days, but that doesn't mean we're glued to each other, you know." I replied, annoyed.
"She's on a mission with Gajeel." Lucy answered for me, while Happy flew in front of me, saying "You liiiiiiike her."
"I. Do. Not. Come on, I thought we were finished with that since like a week."
"Gray, your clothes." Mirajane who walked by warned me.
I looked down, "What? When did I..." Seriously, not the best moment to strip, buddy. Yeah, I talk to myself, problem?
"See. As soon as we talk about her, you strip. It's a sign!" The ash hole mocked.
"A sign that you liiiiiike her." Happy added.
"I told you I didn't! A sign, my butt. Like if I stripped only if I like someone."
"You're right. Sorry. You're not in love with Juvia. You're just a real pervert." I nodded; he'd finally got the point. Wait, what?
"Say that again!" I dared him.
"Fine. You're a pervert." He dared.
We then fought. Seems like it was inevitable.
"Guys! Please, stop it! Mou, I don't care anymore." I heard Lucy complaining. This time, it didn't stop me. I guess some things will never change.
xxxxx
xxxxx
A/N: I hope Juvia's reaction was believable. I almost made her go to Lucy screaming at her it was all her fault etc. but I wanted to make her a little more mature. Every character has the right to be serious once in a while, and that was her time to be. I still made her overreact at first, because, well, it's Juvia. And Juvia without overreacting isn't Juvia. That's why we love her, isn't it? x)