Gray
Today is my sixteenth birthday. As I have the past three years, I head to a mirror to look at my neck. I never expect to see a tattoo, that way I'm not utterly depressed when I don't see one. With my heart already heavy, I look in the mirror. But then to my surprise, there is a tattoo on the right side of my neck. It is a snowflake. I joyfully tell my parents and show them. They cry tears of joy with me. I head out to school. I still wear my scarf because it has become part of my image. The first few weeks I had worn my scarf, my best friends Lisanna and Erza kept asking why I was wearing a scarf. After about a month, they finally gave up.
I head to the cafeteria for lunch. In the hallway, I bump into someone and all my books fall to the floor. I haven't put them in my locker yet. I kneel to start picking them up. Then someone else bends down. It's Gray Fullbuster, the coolest guy in school. "Did I bump into you? I'm so sorry." I say. "It's alright." Gray tells me as he grabs some of my books. We stand up and Gray hands me the rest of my books. "Thanks." I say. "You're welcome," Gray responds, "Maybe I'll see you later." I head to my locker with a lightness in my step.
I get some food and then join my two best friends, Lisanna Strauss and Erza Scarlet. Their boyfriends and soul mates, Natsu Dragneel and Jellal Fernandes, are with them. Erza is the lead cheerleader and Jellal is the head of the debate team. They are both upperclassmen. Lisanna is in charge of the fashion club and Natsu is considered the hottest guy in school. They're both in my grade.
"Hey, (name), nice of you to finally join us." Natsu says sarcastically. "Natsu, be nicer. You know I consider (name) a sister." Lisanna scolds her boyfriend. "Sorry, (name)." He says. "It's okay. I bumped into someone on my way to my locker and I had to pick up all my books." I tell my friends. "Well, you're here now. And that's what matters." Erza says.
School is over, so I start heading home. But then several girls block my path. I recognize them as the girls that hang around Gray. I don't know why they do since they have destiny tattoos. "Hi, girls. Don't mind me. Just heading home." I say, hoping they'll leave me alone. One girl steps forward. It's Juvia Lockser, leader of Gray's "fan club". "You bumped into Gray this afternoon." Juvia growls. "I said sorry and Gray said it was okay." I tell the girl. "Don't care. You're going to pay for bumping into Gray." Juvia says. I start backing away as the group of girls comes closer. I hit a wall. I close my eyes and put my arms in front of me.
"Hey! What're you doing?!" Someone shouts. I open my eyes and breathe a sigh of relief. "Gray! This isn't what it looks like!" Juvia says, panicking. "Oh, really? Because it looks like a gang of jealous girls about to beat up one girl." Gray says. "Gray-" "Don't even. Scram and don't bother (name) again." Gray tells Juvia and the other girls in an icy voice. The girls quickly run away. I sink down against the wall and hug my knees. Gray walks over to me and offers his hand. I put my hand in his and he pulls me off the ground.
"Are you alright?" Gray asks. "Just frightened. You stopped them before they did anything. I don't what would've happened if you hadn't." I reply. Gray pulls me into a hug. "It's okay now." He says in a soft gentle voice. I start crying onto his chest. After a few minutes of crying, I pull away and wipe any remaining tears. "All good now?" Gray asks. "Yeah," I respond, "Sorry about soaking your shirt." "It's okay. It will wash out. Now I'll walk you home. I have a feeling those girls would try to ambush when I'm not nearby." Gray says. "Thanks. That's a big relief." I tell him.
The sun begins to set halfway into our walk. "I have a question." Gray says. "Go ahead." I tell him. "Why do you wear that scarf?" Gray asks. I bite my lip as I ponder whether I should tell him. "(name)?" Gray says. "Promise you'll keep it a secret." I say. "Uh... Okay." Gray responds. "My destiny tattoo didn't appear on my twelfth birthday. So, I've used this scarf to conceal the fact." I tell him. "Oh." Gray says. A silence settles between us.
"So, do you still not have one?" Gray asks. "Oh, no. It finally appeared this morning." I reply. "I guess I should tell you happy birthday then. May I see your tattoo?" Gray says. I unwrap my scarf, exposing my neck. "A snowflake. Just like mine." Gray murmurs. "Wait. Like yours?" I say. "Yeah. Here, I'll show you." Gray responds. He takes off his high-collared jacket and shows me the left side of his neck. There, the exact same snowflake stands out upon his pale skin. "Well, then I guess we're soul mates." I say. "I guess so," Gray says. "So, will you be my girlfriend?" "Yes." I reply. Gray smiles and says, "I'll walk you to and from school every day. My "fans" will be extremely jealous of you from now on." "Thank you." I tell him.
-Eleven years later-
"Isa and Frey, get down from there!" I shout at my twins. I would pull them down if I wasn't holding my youngest, Lia. "Here, I'll get them." Gray says as he comes from the kitchen. He grabs our four-year-old twins and sets them on the ground. Then Gray kneels in front of them. "Isa, Frey, we've talked about listening," he says, "Do you like it when your mother yells at you?" "No, Daddy." Isa replies while her brother shakes his head. "Then don't do things you've been told you're not allowed to do and listen to your mother." Gray tells them.
Gray stands back up and gives me a kiss. He also gives our one-year old daughter a kiss. "I'm going to get back to making dinner." Gray says. "I wanna help!" Frey exclaims. "Alright. But you have to listen." Gray tells our son. Frey nods his head. The two head into the kitchen. "Isa, why don't we make some pictures for Uncle Natsu, Aunt Lisanna, Aunt Erza, and Uncle Jellal?" I say. "They coming?" My oldest child asks. "Yes, Isa. They're going to have dinner with us." I reply. "Yay!" Isa exclaims excitedly.