I'm terribly sorry for the long wait. I got distracted by college, friends, family, and video games. None of the characters are mine except my OC. Enjoy.
Chapter 2: Julia
"I want to order another of my usual, please"
"Right away, miss" The waitress jointed down the order and rushed to the counter to hand in the order. At a small table, outside of an ice-cream parlor sat Julia with three empty bowl of ice-cream in front of her. Use the spoon in her right hand, she scooped the last remaining ice-cream in a bowl in her hands and swallow it down.
She let go of the spoon, resulting the spoon made a 'clang' sound before putting the bowl on the table to join its three other sisters. Julia took a deep breath and let it out.
SLAM!
"Miss, here's your triple scoop….Miss! Are you alright? What's wrong?" the waitress who just got back from the counter panicked when she saw one of their loyal customer suddenly slammed her face onto the table. She put the bowl of ice-cream onto the table and begin to shake Julia rapidly.
"Help! Someone! Get a doctor!" Miss! Please wake up! Eeep!" the said waitress gave a small shriek when the 'passed out' customer's right hand surprisingly grabbed her arm. Julia's face slowly lifted to reveal a flow of tears running down her face.
"WHY? WHY IS HE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO NICE?" Julia's grip strengthens and now her left hand grabbed the waitress' other arm. "I don't understand?" "OF COURSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" "Please miss. Not so loud. My name is Jade Kuora. What's yours?"
"Ju *sniff*ju*sniff*lia. Julia LifeHeart." Julia managed to say out her name in between sniffles while trying to get the tears out of her eyes. Julia then told what's been bothering her to her new friend. From everything about herself and to her teammates and the thing that caused her to ran away from them a few minutes ago. Jade, being her nice and caring self, listen with full interest.
"Then. He asked her to come with on a mission with us just because her rent almost due. My rent almost due too." "Oh my. I can see what's going on here." Julia's eyes widen and leaned closer to Jade. "Really? What is it? Is Caleb sick or something?" Jade just giggled and shook her head. "No. That's not it. You're just jealous. You like this Caleb guy, don't you?"
SMASH!
Went Julia's half-eaten bowl of ice-cream sundae as it fell to ground. Shattered into millions of pieces. Jade looked dumfounded at the destroyed bowl and lifted her face to only meet the face of heavily blushing Julia. "What are you talking about? I don't love Caleb. I only see him as a friend. I was only protecting him from girls like Lucy from using his kindness towards their advantage." Even after that lengthy explanation, a sly smirk made its way on Jade's face. "I never say you love him. Though, I can really see the big picture now."
Julia's ears now completely letting out steam as she tried to keep her mind straight and cursing it due to making her say such weird things. "AHHHHH! I HATE YOU! TAKE THIS AND THIS!" Julia repeatedly hitting Jade with her hands as the latter tried to defend herself while laughing heartedly. "Hahahahaa…I'm sorry. Sorry. Julia!" After a while, Julia stopped and sadly slumped on her seat. Jade lovingly rub Julia's back and said in a sisterly voice. "Everything's going to be fine. You're a great and beautiful girl. He will see how an amazing girl you are eventually. Trust me."
Julia looked at Jade in disbelieve and without warning, pulled the girl into a tight hug. "Thank you." "No problem. Hmm?" Julia let go of the hug and looked around her. "What is it?" Jade shook her head, "It's nothing."
"There she is Caleb onii-san" came voice and footsteps coming towards them.
"Romeo-kun?" Julia stared at the boy as the latter with the two of her teammates made their way towards her. "Told you Caleb, that someone would manage to recognize her." Zero proudly admit. "Of course somebody would. Only you would draw her like that. I said that you shouldn't draw her like that" Zero shrugged his shoulder, "Whatever. It counts."
Jade looked at the two newly arrived boys and whispered at Julia, "That must be Caleb. The dark haired one? He's cute and he looks very nice. Now I know why you like him." Julia blushed at this and quickly asked her teammates. "What are you two talking about? What drawing?"
The boys looked uneasy. Well, Caleb's the one looked uneasy, while Zero smirking like a sadistic maniac. Zero hand Julia a piece of paper with a drawing and some words on it, written in pen.
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
JULIA LIFEHEART
REWARD: ANYTHING ON US AT THE MOMENT
WARNING: SHE MIGHT BITE
If that do not manage to anger Julia, a terribly drawn picture of her might will. Right under the written words was a drawing of her. Sadly, the drawing turned out to be more of a blob with multiple colors on it and four sticks poking out of the four corners.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE!?"
Romeo quickly hid behind Caleb with Zero still smirking away at the sight of his teammate's rage. "Now. Jul, it's not what you think." "Thanks for helping us find her Romeo. For your reward. Lucky. I got some candy. Here. Now, run. Things going to get bad." Zero told the little six-year-old. Romeo nodded as a gesture of appreciation for the candy before run like hell towards the guild. 'I got to warn the others' thought Romeo.
Caleb look at Jade and smiled at her. "Hi, I'm Caleb Hunter. This is Zero Dalgado. We're her teammates and these two don't actually get along. I advise you to get somewhere safe." Jade blushed at Caleb's politeness and nod before ran back into the ice-cream parlor.
"Zero. You're asking for it." Julia's hand dive into her pockets and pulled out a few cards. "I don't need magic to take you down, girl." Zero taunted her before getting into a fighting stance. "You guys! You two are causing trouble for the guild." Caleb plead fell onto deaf ears as he looked at the townspeople. They all rushed back into their houses and shut their door tight.
"Someone get Master Makarov!" "No time! Their starting!"
"Here I come! Card of Lighting! Heaven's Strike!" Julia lifted a card into the air, the card glows and lighting emits from it. The attack charge towards Zero. Zero easily dodged the attack by jumping into the air, causing the lighting to strike a lamppost. Due to excessive voltage, numerous light bulbs exploded and causes the shards to fly all over the place.
"NO!" Caleb frantically stretched out his pointer and middle finger and immediately the earth come to life as it become a shield for him and the townspeople. "Is everyone okay?" "We're fine. Thanks mister!" Caleb sighed of relief and quickly turned to his friends.
"Tchh. You're got lucky!" Julia then picked up another card, but before she could use it, Zero appeared behind her and kick her back. Sending her front, hitting the ground. Hard. "I told you not to fight me"
Zero took a step towards his opponent and Julia secretly pulled out another card. As she was about to use it and Zero's decision to punch her, a wall of earth struck out of the ground and hit their hands simultaneously. "Ouch! That's hurt! Caleb!" the two wined simultaneously continue to sit on the ground while rubbing and blowing their hand to make the pain go away.
"That's enough! You two cause nothing but trouble."
Unknown to Caleb, it's like a thousand knife went through Julia's heart. She clenched her hand and thought to herself, 'Why? Why does it hurt so much? This is not the first time Caleb's mad at us. Why is it so different now?'
"Julia?"
"Huh?" the girl lifted her head to see Zero extending his hand to her, while looking away and rubbing the back of his neck. Julia smiled and accepted her friend's gesture. He help her up and she quickly dusted her skirt. "Now that wasn't so bad. Right?" Caleb tried to lighten the atmosphere and the two just smiled and nodded.
"STOP RIGHT NOW! YOU BRATS!"
A voice thundered through the streets and the townspeople began to whisper among themselves.
Out of the blue, a short figure appeared out of the crowd. The trio's eyes widen as the figure stared them down with no sign of mercy. "Master Makarov?" Julia squeaked out.
"You two never fail to the guild trouble. I swear you two are like another version of Natsu and Gray." "I don't think that's a compliment guys." Zero pointed out.
"Caleb, my boy. Thank you for stopping them from doing any more harm to each other. I think you deserve a reward." Caleb was shocked due to the news and frantically try to decline the 'reward' without offending his beloved master. "That's okay, Master. You don't have to. It's my duty as a team leader and a friend to make sure these two from beating the hell out of each other".
Zero scowled at the statement. "Each other? More like me beat the hell out of her and Julia will start to cry like a baby." "You take that back!" "Make me!". Another fight almost broke out, but they just realized that they was in the presence of Master Makarov and quickly decided to put the fight on hold for now.
"Let's go back, you three." Master Makarov smiled lovingly at his 'children' before start making his way to the guild. Just before they follow him, footsteps can be heard from behind them and Jade appeared. "Sorry for disturbing you guys. Can I talk to Julia in private for a while?" "Sure. Come on Zero"
"Be careful. She bites."
Julia growled a little while Jade just giggled at the man's antics. After the two boys left, Jade spoke up. "You have really nice teammates." "You mean really nice leader. I don't see anything nice about Zero." "Is that his name? Come on. He maybe tease you a lot, he still come to help you in any situation, right?"
Even though Julia don't want to admit, it's true. Zero is strong and a really reliable friend. When she was sick last month, Caleb and Zero brought almost every guild member to her house to check up on her. Caleb and Zero stayed the longest, even though Zero keep telling her how her illness would never heal and she might die sooner than she thinks and how he and Caleb might have to bury her at somewhere far away so that her spirit won't haunt them.
"I guess. Caleb might like it if Zero and I begin to get along." "He might even will start to notice you." Julia's face turned red in an instant and look at Jade with a glare that could make even Mirajane terrified. "I hate you so much." "I love you too." Jade replied with a smile. They waved at each other before Julia start running towards her teammates, mentally thanking her new found friend.
Caleb and Zero was walking to the guild and they were munching on a piece of pizza that they bought along the way.
"Zero?"
"What is it Cal?"
Caleb flinched at the nick name. He hated it when people call him 'Cal'. Knowing Zero, that nick name won't go away anytime soon. Nope, he will call him 'Cal' for the rest of his life.
"Why do you always pick fights with Julia? She had been nothing but kind to you ever since you two met." Zero Continue to bite his pizza and started into space. "I don't really have an explanation for it. Julia. She's a great girl. By teasing her and pick fights with her is the only way for me to show that interested to have a friendship build with her."
Caleb looked at his friend and start to feel ashamed of himself. 'Zero really like Julia. I can't really say as a friend or something more than that. Also, I'm not in a position to ask him. At least, now I know. He care about her. I must help them in any way I can. Caleb. Do your best.'
As Caleb was too busy monologue to himself. He feel a pat on his back before Julia come into view from behind him. They smiled at each other before they both sprinted towards Zero. The trio walked together with a smile on their face. Caleb walked in between them as they Julia wrapped both of her arms around Caleb's right arm while Zero put his right arm on top of Caleb's and Julia's shoulder.
They laughed together and completely forgot about the dramatic fight that occur not more than fifteen minutes ago. They continue their walk, ignoring the weird look the people gave them.
"You two ready for our job tomorrow?"
"Yeah" "Totally. Let beat some dark wizards up!" replied Julia and Zero respectively.
There you have it. The second chapter. Please review, especially on your thought about Julia's and Zero's fighting scene. I try to write better. Until then, bye for now.
