REPUTATION STAINED

Two days after the Juvia's party, the cast of 'Romeo and Juliette' gathered at the theatre for rehearsal. "Gray, Lyon! Fight scene, from the top!" Chantelle called.

"Romeo the love I bare thee can't afford. No better term than this, thou art a villain!" Lyon said, the slight feeling truth in his words enhancing his performance.

"Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting. Villain I am none, farewell I see thou knowst me not" Gray replied, fitting the character of Romeo perfectly.

"Calm dishonorable, vile submission" Natsu said, joining Gray in the confrontation.

"Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up" Gray said. Natsu and Lyon performed the choreographed sword fight they had worked on earlier.

"Why the devil came you between us? I was slain under your arm" Natsu said whilst his character died in Gray's arms.

"Thou, wretched boy that did consort him here shalt with him hence!" Lyon exclaimed before commencing the fight sequence between him and Romeo. Lyon, overcome with anger and jealousy of Gray, strayed from the choreography, the pretend fight turning into a real one. "Faggot!" Lyon shouted as he pushed Gray to the ground.

"What the hell did you just call me?!" Gray shouted back, shooting ice-make magic at Lyon.

"You heard me!" Lyon said as he deflected Gray's attack, parrying it with one of his own before diving on top of him, wrestling him on the floor and swinging fists at his head.

"Get off him Lyon!" Juvia screamed. Lyon got off and stormed out, followed by Chantelle and the rest of the cast, leaving Gray and Natsu behind.

"What the hell was that about?" Gray asked Natsu angrily.

"Why should I- I don't know.." Natsu said, unconvincingly.

"Natsu..." Gray said, his hands on Natsu's shoulders, staring him in the eyes

"I... I..." Natsu stammered, breaking out in a sweat. "I kinda... toldhimtheothernight.." Natsu said extremely quickly and quietly, slurring the words together.

"What? You're kidding, right?" Gray said, shocked and angry.

"I'm sorry! I just couldn't keep it in! You know how hard this is for me!" Natsu said, fighting back tears.

"What? Are you out of your mind?!" Gray said before walking towards the door. He stopped , "Jesus Natsu". Gray punched the wall, then turned back toward Natsu, who was standing slumped, like all his confidence had been squeezed out of him. Tears were sliding unwillingly out of his eyes.

"Gray, we can get through this! We can deal with it and it won't be a problem!" Natsu said, his voice cracking.

"No.. no! Natsu, this will always be a problem!" Gray said seriously

"What are you saying?" Natsu said in disbelief

"This... us... whatever... Natsu, it needs to stop". Gray left Natsu alone in the room.

Natsu couldn't find the energy, or the will to move. He just stood there. Gray was his everything, had this really just happened? What happened to always being there? There was not a chance in hell that Natsu could stop his tear flow now. He just stood there and weeped. What the hell had he done?!

HOLIDAYS

It was the end of the year, and at this time, all the guilds take three weeks of holiday leave. Some people were going to holiday houses at the beach, others the snow. Gray was at the train station, along with other guild members. He was planning to spend his holiday at the snow where he grew up. Juvia was with him, saying goodbye. Natsu wasn't around. The train pulled up, and Juvia gave Gray a kiss as he boarded the train.


That's the end of the first half of the story - Act 1. Let me know if you like it and I'll write the second half by the end of next week! :)