Erza was getting prepared for a sleepover. Jellal was hanging out with his college friends that night. The party hostess was mentally going through the list of items to be prepared. Comfy pajama - check. A bunch of unhealthy yummy snacks - check. Alcohol and non-alcohol beverages in a fridge and a huge mattress with lots of cushions and blankets in the living room - check and check.

It took her a lot to convince Juvia to come to her place and Erza hoped she'd be able to persuade the blue-haired musician that Lucy was not a heartbreaker, but the redhead was still nervous and not sure if a sleepover would not turn out disastrous. The doorbell rang twice and she hurried over to her front door to be greeted by Lucy and Levy. They had always been quite close to each other and became inseparable after moving together. Levy used to live with her step-brothers, Jet, and Droy. Lucy used to live with Juvia after graduation, and they were getting on quite well together. No one could have predicted it would end in such a catastrophe.

'Is Ju-chan here?' Levy chirped.

'Not yet. Come in!'

Juvia was late, but she couldn't force herself to hurry. When she finally reached Erza's house, she stopped right in front of the entrance door and fidgeted hesitantly. She knew exactly why her famous friend had invited her. Gajeel was hanging out in a bar nearby, ready to rescue her any moment she called. But hey, Lucy still was a friend, and after Juvia cooled down, she decided that her ex-roomie deserved a benefit of the doubt. So, she braced herself and rang the doorbell.

'Oh, if it isn't our rock star!'

Erza tried to cheer up her friend, but once Juvia joined everyone, the lively chatter ceased and an awkward silence took its place instead. The bluenette looked at Lucy nervously and forced a smile.

'Hi, girls! Juvia's a bit hungry after her shift, and she has brought some good stuff with her. Anyone here could help me in the kitchen?'

~Couple of hours and almost a bottle of whiskey later~

Juvia had to admit Erza was right by inviting everyone to her place. Making sandwiches and cocktails together somewhat helped to release the tension between the friends, and the bluenette could almost relax while all of them were eating, drinking and talking about different things, except for boy topics. Juvia still wouldn't talk to Lucy directly, yet the initial awkwardness disappeared. Gajeel would text her here and then, checking if she was doing fine and Juvia considered letting him go home, as the sleepover seemed to be shaping out nicely after all… that was until drunk bossy Erza happened.

'Let's play truth or dare!'

'Erza, noooo!' The other three women whined.

'I am a hostess! You must obey! If you do not, I'll force you anyways.'

Her friends gasped as the redhead started the first round, pointing to Lucy, 'I dare you to take Juvia to my bedroom and have a proper talk!'

'Not fair, I didn't even get to choose a dare! And it takes two of us to complete it!' Lucy protested. However, Juvia got up and said curtly, 'lead the way, Ms. Seductress'.

As both of them disappeared in a bedroom, Erza and Levy high-fived each other.

There was almost no light in the room, save for the dim night-lamp, and if Juvia didn't know better, she would think they were going to play seven minutes in heaven. Especially when Lucy stepped closer to her and laid her hands on the bluenette's shoulders.

'Juvia, I know you hardly believe me, but I really don't see Gray in that way. Cross my heart!'

'I... don't care anymore. Juvia's glad to be… free, and she is sort of grateful. Even if nothing happened that night, seeing the two of you gave Juvia the courage to put an end to…' Juvia sniffed, unable to finish. Lucy pulled her closer and hugged her sobbing friend. The bluenette didn't try to break free.

'Juvia, dear… I do know what it is like to be in a dysfunctional relationship. I'm actually happy for you. Don't get me wrong, I never wanted Gray, but you're better off without him. Trust me.' Juvia hesitantly hugged her friend back and wiped her tears.

'So... you don't love Natsu anymore, huh?'

'How- I mean why do you ask?'

'You mentioned a dysfunctional relationship.'

'I... um, I meant my ex...'

'I see.'

Lucy was thankful to the dimly lit room because she felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. She suddenly felt like telling at least someone about her own predicaments.

'Natsu… isn't that perfect either. I wish he'd be less troublesome and more responsible', the blonde sighed. 'I don't know what to do anymore. He's not employed and not even trying!'

Juvia thought for a second before saying hesitantly, 'I think I can help with that. We're looking for a shop-assistant at my workplace...'

By the time the two women emerged from the room, Erza and Levy were almost dying from curiosity and anxiety. However, seeing Lucy and Juvia standing next to each other and smiling, they both felt relieved.

'So, are we still playing this childish game?' the blonde woman asked.

'No, I have a better idea! Let's ask each other embarrassing questions! Lucy, who was your first?'

'Erza, please! Like you don't know that already! And why is it always me you pick for bullying?'

'Boo, you're no fun! Levy?'

'Erza-chan, don't you know my story of being a hopeless bookworm having two overprotective brothers before I started dating Gajeel? Or... were you too busy to notice because you were hiding your own relationship with Jellal from us?'

Erza pouted.

'Bo-ring! Juvia, your turn.'

'Huh?'

'Who was your first?'

'Um… Can I please not answer that?'

Erza's eyes lit.

'Ooh, finally we're getting something juicy! Girls, tickle attack!'

'Kyaa!'

Juvia fell down as her friends hurled themselves at her and started to tickle the poor bluenette everywhere they could reach.

'Hahaha, stop it, please! Oh, fine, I'll tell, I'll tell! It was Gajeel!'

The women stopped tickling Juvia at once and slowly moved away. The room suddenly got silent, then Lucy hesitantly said, 'I never even knew you two used to date each other…'

Juvia sat up as she started to speak. 'Well, you've never asked. We had been dating for over a year while going to Phantom. We kind of clicked together. It…' Juvia paused before continuing, 'escalated after I had quit the school rock band. Didn't work out though. We didn't even talk to each other for a while, then we met again in the Fairy Academy and we've been just friends since then.'

'Who happen to live together,' Levy added icily, 'when he never invited me in.'

'Levy, we used to date, as in the past. Oh, sorry, I have a call… hello… yeah, I'm fine… I'll call you later, k?'

'Tell me if it wasn't Gajeel,' the petite bluenette was on a verge of crying, feeling both jealous and miserable.

'So what? He just called to see if I am fine.' Juvia suddenly felt irritated. 'That's what friends do!'

'Really? So, he's calling to check up on you while he hasn't called or texted me today at all! You're even on his speed dial! And you have the nerve to accuse Lu-chan of boyfriend-stealing!'

'What if Gajeel is worried about Juvia because she had her heart broken by the person she had loved for years and was supposed to meet her triumphant love rival? Erza, Juvia's sorry but she's leaving!'

With that, the busty bluenette burst out of the room. Erza went to see her friend off, apologizing on the way and trying to convince Juvia to stay, but the latter was adamant about her decision to leave.

'Gajeel, Juvia's so sorry for ruining your evening!'

Two friends were standing next to the bar where Gajeel was killing time while waiting for Juvia (and where he had spent another half an hour trying to calm her down, and yet she was still sobbing). It was two in the morning and the street was dark and empty. The taxi they had ordered was taking forever to arrive.

'Cheer up, woman, that shitty hole wasn't that bad…'

'But you will have another fight with Levy because of Ju-... I mean, me.'

'I'll survive.'

Indeed, Gajeel had numerous arguments with his girlfriend because he would always refuse to move in together, and even more, after she found out that Juvia had become his new flatmate. Juvia felt immense guilt because of that, yet at the same time, she was somewhat mad at Levy for not trusting Gajeel.

'She thinks I'm trying to steal you from her.'

'And she knows it isn't true.'

'She… she wasn't aware of the fact that we used to date. It was a shock to her. When she found out, she started accusing us of being too close to each other.'

'Well, that does make things complicated. I can't deny your being close to me.'

'Sorry, I-'

'Splatter, stop apologizing, for fuck's sake,' Gajeel cut her off. 'I'm fine. Look, our taxi.'

Juvia shot a glance at her friend, but he looked away and didn't seem to be fine at all.