A few more arguments later, the group's attention turned to the pink-haired boy.

"How long are you planning to stay here, Natsu?" Levy asked, followed by an approving glance from Gajeel who had his arms glued around her shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe awhile." Natsu answered honestly.

"Means we have to make an impression on the dumbass." Gray said, to which everyone agreed.

"Let's make it clear, pinky;" Gajeel began, grinning, "Koharu's—hands down—got the best vodka."

"That's what I'm hearing." Natsu grinned, "We'll have to see though."

I sighed; he had unconsciously turned the conversation violent for himself.

Erza sprang up, "Hey! Don't you fuckin' insult Koharu vodka!"

Kagura sighed, dragging Erza's shirt so she sat back down, "Just…don't say anything negative about the vodka here, Natsu."

"Not in front of Ms. Scarlet and Lockser anyway." Sting warned.

"Don't even argue with them in general." Rogue added.

"As if!" Gray scoffed, smirking, "I've been friends with these two for ages and I'm still alive."

"Barely." I muttered.

"Natsu's gonna challenge Luc-" Sting burst out but was interrupted by Gray.

"Shut the fuck up, Sting."

"Oh.." Sting murmured, "Right."

"What?" Natsu cocked an eyebrow.

Juvia decided to intervene to cover for Gray, "Nevermind those two dumbasses; are you free this weekend, Natsu?"

Natsu grinned, "I feel an invitation coming."

"You're right," Kagura confirmed, "Erza and I have offered our apartments this weekend."

"You better show." Erza barked out, followed by Minerva's 'death with a hint of persuasiveness' glare.

Natsu laughed, "Okay, okay."

"That's Erza, Natsu." I faced him, "Don't piss her off."

"I probably will."

I laughed, "Yeah, I know."

Sting sat silently, eagerly watching Mirajane prepare the cakes.

"Sting," Erza barked, "Give me a cake."

Sting nodded, either having gotten smarter or he was too tired to get scared of her death glares.

Mirajane—as if on cue—strolled to the table, a beam plastered on her face, she had managed to carry five cakes.

"Here, Sting." she eyed the blonde boy, placing four cakes in front of him, "And I assume Erza's already threatened you, so I'll save you the trouble." She placed a slice of strawberry shortcake in front of Erza—much to Kagura's and Minerva's dismay.

"Thanks, Mira." Sting said as he began to shove a cake down his mouth alongside Erza. Mirajane smiled and strolled back to behind the bar.

Yukino sighed, "Sting, you're going to send poor Mira to hospital one day."

"Doesn't Mira have a boyfriend?" he cocked an eyebrow.

"Not for pregnancy, you dumbass. You're tiring her out; making her prepare cakes every day."

"And Mira doesn't have a boyfriend." Lisanna puffed a cheek.

"She really should." Levy commented.

"We really should set her up with someone." Gray suggested.

"Eh, Laxus is out of town so he can't ask her out yet." Yukino commented.

"When will Laxus ever be in town?" I asked to no one in particular, "For, like, more than five minutes?"

"Sooner or later, the only reason for him to get back in Koharu is for petrol or something." Gray joked.

"Who's Laxus?" Natsu asked, earning looks from everyone.

"Hmm, who is Laxus?" Juvia repeated, "He's kinda hard to describe."

"He's Makarov's grandson." Gray pointed to the short man seated in the barstools, "He's the old geezer over there."

"Laxus is a college guy. Older than us. We've known him for a while." Lisanna added.

"He's basically having a late emo phrase. I suppose it's all the energy in him; he can't keep it all bottled up. So instead, he's spent it on travelling a few places outside Koharu." Juvia informed as she took a sip of her Cola.

"He makes us sound like we don't have the energy ourselves." Gray scoffed, "I've got as much energy I need. I'm just conserving."

Juvia frowned as she faced him beside her, "You fought with Gajeel in Kmart over a fuckin' lamp just last week."

"It's a twenty dollar beige lamp. What the fuck was I suppose to do?"

"What is a twenty dollar fuckin' beige lamp worth to you?" she asked.

"My life."

"What the fuck?"

Kagura intervened before they could create an argument about interior decorating, "Anyway," she began, "He's just emo right now as usual. Living life to the fullest with his Rainjinshuu Squad."

"Who are those?" Natsu cocked an eyebrow.

"His personal bodyguards." Erza answered, "They just love him as much as Gray loves his lamp."

"Bickslow, Evergreen and Freed." Rogue introduced the three, "They're lively people."

"All of them are probably doing something illegal right now. Like, ambushing McDonalds." Lisanna sighed.

"We're more likely to do that," I corrected, "Laxus and his gang are probably likely to actually do real illegal crap."

"They could join the mafia if they wanted." Minerva laughed.

Gray shuddered, "Italy will never be the same country if those four get involved."

"I'd say Erza, Kagura and Minerva could join the mafia." Sting grinned, "And instead of money, Erza would just ask for cake in return."

I laughed, picturing in my head the three girls in black suits with snipers and machetes, but inside a bakery.

"They'd be broke by the end of their illegal careers." Rogue added.

"At least they're not starving." Sting argued.

"I'd say you still haven't seen the real side of Magnolia Academy, Natsu." Kagura faced the pink-haired boy, "There's a crap ton of people still missing who really would've made your entrance even better."

"Well, where the hell are they?" Natsu asked.

"Everywhere." I said, "The Academy has this one-year trip all around places in America."

Natsu's eyes widened, "An entire year?"

"Not to brag," Gray began proudly, "But the academy does have more money to wave up in the air than most schools around."

"So they just decide to send students to America?"

"Pretty much. A lot of our friends last year got to go. And it's not entirely just for kicks either."

Juvia continued for Gray, "Since Magnolia Academy is an international school—quite a prestigious one too—people in the American trip try to recruit students from different schools."

Natsu laughed, "You guys are just hauling people's asses to the school?"

"Aggressive, aren't we?" I smirked.

"I'm so fuckin' excited for this year's recruits," Juvia squealed, "I'm going to drown them in vodka and see how they go."

"What the fuck, woman." Gray sighed.

Juvia suddenly whipped her head to look at Natsu, her eyes sparkling, "Which reminds me, Natsu; at Erza and Kagura's, we're going to test you out."

"What?"

Gray sighed whilst Gajeel laughed heartily. Everyone eyed Natsu; ranging from looks of suspense and pity, to excitement—mainly only from Juvia and Erza.

Gray faced his pink-haired friend, "HMVSCD."

"Wait, what?" Natsu asked, still blatantly confused.

"How Much Vodka Someone Can Drink." Gray explained, eyeing his friend sympathetically, and I knew he was reliving the night of his own experience with Juvia's mischief.

"What the fuck."


Sorry if this one was a bit short, but since I'm updating everyday, this is my average; all considering school work, art work and whatnot.

I just thought about the story arcs and how I'm planning to end them individually and I just realised I need more chapters to finish off this arc even though I had unconsciously planned to end it early. I had planned to end this arc on a nalu note but guess we're gonna have to attend a partayy.

Everyone is freaking out about Lady Eileen but I'm still wondering if she's going to be incorporated in this fic. Might, might not. I wouldn't have a clue how introduce her without the specifics in the manga. So I guess we'll have to wait.

Other than that; thank you for reading!

Till then,

Ice

Incandescent; (adj.) Emitting light as a result of being heated. Full of strong emotion; passionate.