The painful Pitter Patter of the heart

Summary: Juvia decides that if you truly love someone, then you would put their happiness before your own. But can she really do something that she's dedicated her whole life to?

Chapter 2: Stop being confusing

Ever since that that day, the blue haired mage continued to occupy herself with missions; missions on top of missions, two missions at once even—especially if Gray was present in the guild. She would run to the billboard then grab a poster and ran back out of the guild. She knew it was over exhausting her body, but it was worth not feeling the pain of her heart. She was trying to forget her love for the ice mage.

Mirajane looked on worriedly at Juvia after her eighth mission that week. Gray had also gone on a mission that day, so Juvia decided to have a break at the bar. Kana was busy chugging down a large keg of alcohol, and Natsu and Lucy were having their usual weird conversations and fights. The guild was a bit quieter than usual, and Juvia rested her chin on the wooden counter, embracing the silence.

"Juvia-chan, I think you should have a rest" Mirajane said and passed her a cup of cinnamon tea.

Juvia eyed the cup of cinnamon tea warily. "Ah, Juvia thinks she'll be alright, how else is Juvia going to get stronger for her guild?"

Juvia raised the cup to her lips, and sighed. It wasn't as nice as her usual earl gray tea. She looked sadly at the white ceramic tea cup.

"Is the tea not to your liking, Juvia-chan?" Mirajane was about to reach for the cup and refill it up with the usual she ordered. "Do you want your usual?"

The water mage's eyes widened and quickly moved the cup away from the white haired beauty's reach.

"Aaaahhhh, it's quite alright Mira-chan, this- erm- it tastes great."

The blue haired girl gulped down her scolding hot tea, (to which Mirajane winced) and handed her the empty mug.

"Thank you for your time," Juvia quickly thanked her.

Juvia got up from her seat, bowed gratefully and waved goodbye to her friend. She walked to the billboard always flooded with missions of all sorts and scanned them quickly.

Which one should Juvia do today? She gloomily thought and reached out for the closest one, with a reasonable amount of reward money written on it.

Another hand shot out and tried to grab the same poster, and that snapped Juvia out of her gloomy state. She looked up to see whose arm it was...

Only.

To.

Meet.

a.

pair.

Of.

Familiar.

Eyes.

Her clear eyes widened; she started stuttering and spluttering incoherently. All that time she was trying to avoid him, and he happened to show up. She wasn't prepared for the confrontation. His warm hands were on top of hers. Juvia felt as if she was going to pass out soon.

She quickly tore off the poster, pushed it onto him, grabbed another random mission, and bolted out of the guild as fast as her legs could carry her.

Meanwhile Gray stared at the retreating girl, and then examined his hand which was over hers. It felt warm, but he felt...annoyed.

She was avoiding him?

He growled confused, and then sighed. What was going on? Was she sick? And more importantly, why did he care?

Gray thought to himself. She was probably being weird again, but a different kind of weirdness? Was it because she and Gajeel had a thing with each other? His face slightly fell, and then walked out of the guild, passing Gajeel. He gave him a glare, and the metal dragon slayer returned it. He was baring some sort of detest towards Gajeel? Why was that?

Juvia finally thought she's gotten far enough, away from him. She sighed and looked at the mission she was currently holding.

WANTED:

Part time worker, at Winston's maid cafe. Extremely good pay, pay must be negotiated.

...

Juvia's eyes widened. What kind of mission was this? It wasn't a mission, it was a job request! Of all the missions she could've picked... She was feeling annoyed at herself for reacting that way, but she also knew that her emotions always managed to get the best of her. She decided to walk back to the guild and grab another mission.

Juvia gave a long sigh, and started her long way back. Not without any fun, though.The water mage waved her hands around gracefully and began conjuring random water shapes, which hovered in the sky. Her lips curved into a smile despite her earlier dilemma.

Gajeel, though he had left the guild earlier, had forgotten his mission poster and walked back to the guild to retriece it. While strolling back to the guild, he spied a certain blue haired water mage peering into the entrance of the guild. He sighed, and continued walking towards her and yelled out a greeting.

Juvia jumped and turned around quickly, but then calmed down at the sight of her good friend.

"Why are you back to being stalker girl?"

"NO! Juvia wasn't doing that; Juvia was just going to exchange this mission for a new one!"

Gajeel smirked at how much she was denying herself. He looked at the girl in front of him and a piece of paper caught his eye. That must be the mission.

"What could be so bad about the mission you've got now?"

Juvia blushed and fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

"It's a job that Juvia definitely cannot do!"

The metal dragon slayer raised an eyebrow and then quickly snatched the piece of paper from her hands. Juvia looked at him with horror. What sort of mission can't the famous water mage do? He quickly scanned the mission and a smirk found its way onto his face.

"Give it back!"

Juvia who was thoroughly embarrassed, tried to nab back the piece of paper, but Gajeel smirked and lifted the paper way above the water mage's head. She jumped at the dragon slayer with all her might, but was unable to retrieve the piece of paper.

A certain ice mage looked over to the scene and crossed his arms in annoyance. He eyed the two mages with aggravation, and then gave a lengthy sigh. What was wrong with him?

"Hey, Bisca, those two look pretty close..."

"Ah, yeah but what happened between Juvia and Gray?"

Gray watched Bisca and Alzack turn around and caught him looking at them. They both turned back around at the same time and scurried off. A scowl was set on his face, as he turned his attention back to the 'couple' in front of him.

"What a cute couple!" he heard Lucy cry excitedly to Levy.

Yeah as if...

"I don't think so..." Levy murmured but loud enough that Gray heard. He looked at the bookworm with interest. She looked different from her cheerful self, and was staring at Juvia and Gajeel with dejected eyes.

Gajeel, unaware of the attention on him and Juvia, suddenly pulled the water mage towards a telephone near the bar as she struggled with all her might. He dialed the number on the job request and seconds later a voice was asking him what he wanted.

"I've decided to inform you that someone will be taking up that job offer."

Juvia's face distorted into an embarrassed/horrified/surprised expression and she desperately tried to pull out of Gajeel's steel grip.

"...You sound like a man."

Gajeel wanted to face palm himself and ignored Juvia's constant pulling. "I'm calling you for someone of course!"

"AH, alright, is the person you're calling for cute?"

"Well it depends on you," he rolled his eyes.

Juvia suddenly turned her arm into water and went through his hands. She shot him a teary eyed glance, and ran to the telephone cable.

"Alright interview scheduled at 12 am sharp tomorrow; see that person tomorrow."

"It's Juvia, and she'll see you ther- bzzt"

Gajeel placed the receiver down gently and gave Juvia the biggest smirk she's ever seen and the water works began.

"Gajeel-kun is sooo mean to Juviaaaa~~!"

"You'll thank me for it; it'll get your mind off you know who."

Juvia's eyes softened and cried even more. Gajeel was her closest friend even if he sometimes appeared mean and rough. She rushed up to him and gave her friend a tight hug, burying her tear-filled eyes in his shirt.

"Ahh, stop crying! You'll flood the whole guild!"

"Juvia can't help it! Gajeel-kun is such a good friend!"

Gajeel pushed the blue haired mage away and waved the piece of paper in her face. That caught her attention and she began staring at it and eyed Gajeel carefully.

"No matter how much you glare at it, it won't burst into flames"

"Gajeel-kun give it back!"

"I think I'll keep it as a souvenir," he smirked, and Juvia wailed.

A hand shot out and grabbed the piece of paper. Juvia's eyes widened and Gajeel stared stunned, as the hand passed the mission back to her. The same hand gave the Juvia's blue hair a ruffle and then walked out of the guild so casually, Juvia had to blink a bit before registering what had happened.

She could feel a blush flooding her cheeks as her own hand softly touched the spot where he had touched her hair.

"What was all that about?" Gajeel asked bluntly glaring daggers outside the doors.

Juvia's glazed eyes stared at the retreating figure of the ice mage while she was trying to calm the pitter patter of her heart. She hugged the piece of paper close to her and sighed.

Gray-sama, stop confusing my already confused heart!

I'm sooo glad of the positive responses that I've received for this story! I'm equally glad that there are that many Juvia and Gray supporters! I love you guys and you'll be seeing a new chappy next Thursday! :D Please keep reviewing if you want these weekly updates, thanks and see you next chapter.

Marina~~