AN: Okay so I really did plan to update quickly and all, but then I found out I had essays to write and other things to do, so I've been a bit busy lately. With that being said, I'm really sorry. This chapter was a bit rushed, as I still have work to do, so I apologize if it's a bit weird. And so, we shall continue...
Chapter 3: Embarrassment is the Feeling of the Day
"Okay, so tell me more about this potion," Lucy said, looking to Mira and Cana.
The brunette nodded, her near-death experience already forgotten. "It lasts 24 hours, which I'd say you should be grateful for."
"I guess," the celestial mage replied. At least that meant for her that she wouldn't have to deal with this craziness for much longer. "I'll finally have my Erza back to normal," Lucy sighed, relieved.
"Wait, your Erza?" Cana grinned.
"Th-that's not what I meant! And we're just f-friends!" the blonde protested, but her statement didn't have much of an effect, what with her stuttering and the heat that quickly spread over her cheeks.
"My, my," Mira smiled, "I didn't know just how possessive you are of your friends, Lucy." She winked, showing Lucy just how much she didn't believe her.
"Ugh, you guys," Lucy groaned, turning away from them only to see Gray walking towards her. "Hi Gray," she mumbled, still painfully aware that Mira and Cana were laughing about her. Gray took in the scene, a bit confusedly when he noticed the girls' different expressions before remembering his purpose. "Uh, hey Lucy. I just thought you'd like to know that Erza's been pretty much staring at you."
Lucy quickly turned around fully, quickly spotting said girl who was indeed staring at her. Erza sat at a table several feet away, staring in her direction with a dreamy look on her face. Suffice it to say, Lucy was not prepared to see Erza looking at her like that. "How long has she been staring at me?" Lucy asked, wincing when she realized her voice had risen in pitch, most likely due to her increasing embarrassment. I might as well get use to the feeling, she thought bitterly, 'cause it seems that's the only thing I'll be feeling today.
She tore her eyes away from Erza to focus on Gray instead as he answered her. "I'm not really sure. I noticed a few minutes ago and waited to see if she stopped or looked away, but she didn't."
Lucy would've forgotten about her two other friends had they not chosen to speak up to tease her once more. "So your Erza is staring at you huh?" Cana smirked. Lucy ignored the remark, along with Gray's confused look at the word 'your.' Instead she glanced around the guild, careful to not look at the redhead again. Her eyes finally stopped upon another lovestruck gaze, but luckily this time it wasn't directed at her.
"Juvia's looking this way too, Gray," she said, noticing him start to blush as he suddenly found interest in the floor.
"Both of you are being stared at," Mira started, her inner matchmaker showing, "I suggest you two go talk to them. Or I'll have to make you go," she smiled sweetly, somehow managing to be intimidating and threatening at the same time.
"Yeah, go talk to your girlfriend already."
"She's not my girlfriend, Cana!" Lucy and Gray shouted in unison, their faces brightly showing their blush.
Despite their shouting, they walked off without another word.
Lucy couldn't help but see how similar Erza's behavior was to Juvia's. It's almost as if Erza likes me…
Shaking her head at that crazy thought, she took a seat beside the requip mage, who's smile only grew when she saw Lucy. Erza's seemingly genuine happiness at just having Lucy with her was almost too much for Lucy to bear; no one had ever seemed this happy to just be with Lucy.
"This is all so weird, isn't it," the blonde mused aloud, meeting Erza's bright eyes.
"What is?" Erza immediately asked, her excitement to be with Lucy showing clearly.
But the other girl merely shook her head. "Anyways, how are you Erza? Do you feel okay?"
Erza seemed to contemplate the question, before she answered. "I feel perfectly normal. Except for my overwhelming happiness at having you here with me, of course."
"W-what? E-erza you can't just go around saying things like t-that," Lucy stuttered. It had been an innocent question, since Lucy had just wanted to know if Erza still felt off as a result of the potion; she hadn't expected the redhead to say something like that, something to make her blush even more. That was pretty smooth though… Ugh what am I even thinking.
The redhead shrugged in response to Lucy's awkwardness. "I'm not going around saying things like that, as you said. You're the only person I said that to, Lucy. Was I not supposed to?" Erza asked, her confusion at Lucy's reaction evident.
"N-nevermind."
It's just the potion affecting her… I shouldn't pay much attention to what she says. Even if it is pretty sweet.
"Anyways…" Clearing her throat, Lucy changed the subject.
xxx
Cana laughed as she watched her two friends talking. It was obvious that Erza kept saying things that embarrassed Lucy, since the blonde would blush every now and then. Other than that, they seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Cana could see it in their carefree expressions and relaxed postures; she'd become pretty good at reading people, especially since she had Mira's help. Speaking of which…
"Hey Mira, what do you think'll happen?" the card mage asked curiously, since she couldn't help but be very interested in Erza and Lucy's friendship.
Mira, who and been cleaning the counter, stopped her work to answer Cana. She leaned closer to the brunette, resting her chin upon her palm as she did so. "I can't say for sure, but I know something's going to happen. They already have such a close relationship, but I doubt either of them realizes just how close they are. It would be very easy for them to become more than just friends," she finished, looking at the two who she had just been talking about.
"I feel bad about not telling Lucy though," Cana said, her eyes showing just a glint of guilt, "She should know about what the potion actually does."
Mira merely shook her head, eyes meeting Cana's reassuringly. "If we had told her, it would've freaked her out, because she wouldn't know how to react. It's better this way, so don't feel bad about it."
A thoughtful silence enveloped the two, only being broken by the arrival of Lucy and Erza, who were standing just a bit too close, with Erza's arm holding on to Lucy's. "Hey guys, so Erza and I are just gonna head out," the blonde told them, a small smile playing on her lips.
Cana couldn't resist the opportunity, "Both of you, together? And what're you guys gonna do?" she smirked.
"Cana, it's none of our business," Mira scolded, even though they all knew that Mira would get the details from Lucy eventually.
"No, it's fine Mira," Erza interrupted, a smug look on her face. "We are going to Lucy's place."
AN: Since I am uploading this quickly, I can't reply to all the reviews, but nonetheless they are all greatly appreciated. And many thanks to all who read this.