DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN FAIRY TAIL
CHAPTER EIGHT
OPEN YOUR EYES
Lucy was sitting in the garden chair, smoking a cigarette. She looked at the mess in front of her, taking every detail since there was nothing left for her to do. She stopped drinking an hour ago. Natsu was snoring on the floor inside the living room next to his girlfriend, Laxus occupied the whole couch and Cana fell asleep, saying that she was too tired, upstairs with Levy. Where the others were, she couldn't less and Erza and Jellal probably ended up in another room. It was one hell of a house party, fun, but not the same ones like the parties at Crocus- especially Loke's.
Sleep was impossible for her. She can't even close her eyes without feeling funny in the head or all over her body. Lucy zipped up her jacket, feeling the cold, when Gray appeared. They were the only ones left and he was still drinking a bottle of beer. He smiled and sat across her.
"Can't sleep?"
Lucy only shook her head and offered him a cigarette. "Mmm. You?"
"Same here."
Gray wanted to ask her things. He wanted to ask about her, he wanted her to tell him everything. He tried before but she always managed to dodge his questions without answering him directly. And right now he wanted to ask her again. They were practically "safe" anyways since everyone passed out so there was no harm in talking.
"Hey, Lucy."
"Hmm"?
"Why the secrecy?" He hesitated for a while, "I mean what's wrong with them knowing about us? I know we're not together but you know. They're my friends and you're pretty much a part of the group now."
"Yeah, Gray. And tell them what? That we've been fooling around? I don't think so."
"Is this what it is to you? Fucking around? God, Lucy. I didn't you were that..."
She glared at him. "That I'm what, Gray? I may have been fucking around with you but I can assure you that I'm no slut!" She snapped, wondering why they were even fighting.
He was surprised at this, at her. One day she's all daisies and shit then the next she's bringing a hurricane with her. He sighed. "No. I didn't mean it that way. I was just wondering why."
"We can't. I can't. I mean, I barely even know you that much."
"I know but why are you always talking in riddles? You can't what? Why? Look, can we just drop the whole 'stranger' thing and forget about it?"
And then what? Lucy was almost too afraid to ask but much to her dismay she blurted it out loud. Gray was not Loke. They were both different.
"Start again? Do I have to spell it out, Lucy?" He said shyly, scratching the back of his head.
"You're so cliche," She sneered but then laughed, seeing the subtle blush on his cheeks, "but I don't think so. I mean, we already know each other."
"Yeah. In bed." He smirked when she rolled her eyes at his remark.
"So, tell me. What am I dealing with?"
"Trouble, Gray. Loads of it."
"Bring it on, Lucy," he grinned, "and one more thing."
"What?"
"You're not allowed to have a sleepover at my brother's room."
Lucy laughed and shook her head. "So I take it that you were jealous. Lyon's like a brother to me just like how Laxus is. Wait, why? It's not like your my boyfriend or something."
"Don't push it."
"What about your room, then?"
"I guess that's fine."
"Asshole."
"So you and Gray, huh?" Cana teased her over dinner.
"We're not together."
It was true. She made it clear to him. Sure, they both liked each other it was more like they didn't want to acknowledge how mutual their feelings were and Lucy was just playing so hard to get without even realizing it herself. She knew that Gray was a good catch and she can't deny the fact that he made her happy. Every day he would wait for her morning class to end and take her out for lunch and the gang knew that they were becoming an item. The fact that Laxus didn't even say anything about it was proof enough that he approved the boy for his "little sister".
"Then what?" The brunette pushed. Lucy sighed in an early defeat. Hell, even Mira was teasing them all the time.
"Nothing. Look, whatever. We're just dating, going out, call it what you like but he's not my boyfriend."
Cana scoffed. "Dating? Going out? It's the same thing, Lucy. So, tell me. How's Gray in bed? Sensual? Aggressive?" Then she gasped, "Oh my golly banana! Don't tell me that you're both in a literal 'fucking' relationship?"
"Cana!"
She laughed at her cousin, stabbing a soft piece of steamed dory with her fork. Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Speak of the devil."
The younger girl rolled her eyes and went to open the door. Gray would sometimes come over unannounced after dinner and they would watch movies and sometimes just hang around. Last night she fell asleep on his lap while he was drafting a blueprint. But wait- isn't that what boyfriends-girlfriends do? To say that she didn't like it one bit was a total lie but she can't just afford to go along. With a laugh, Lucy opened the door.
"Lyon? What brings you here?"
He smiled. "Can't I visit my favorite girl?"
Lucy tried not to look disappointed. "Sure. Come in. We're almost done with dinner."
"Were you expecting someone else?" He asked, noticing the look on her face and followed after her.
"No. No. Of course not."
Cana greeted him and cleaned up after Lucy announced that she was done. "We'll be in my room."
"Be good. You two." Cana said in a singsong voice.
Lyon made himself comfortable and sat on her bed while she excused herself for a moment to brush her teeth. Done, she went back inside her room and noticed that he was nervous. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just came over to see you give you this." He took out a ticket from his pocket and handed it to her. Lucy looked at it for a while.
"It's for an event this Friday. Loke gave it to me."
"Aww, you could have given it to me at school." She placed the ticket on her desk and sat on the chair. Lyon moved to the couch.
"No biggie. I wanted to see you."
Lucy laughed.
"Hey, Lucy. Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot." She said and opened the window beside her so she can smoke.
"Are you and Gray... uhm," he cleared his throat, "you know."
What's with today? First Cana then him. "No. I don't know. I'm not his girlfriend if that's what you're asking me."
Lyon smiled and looked at her. "So, I think I still have a chance then?"
Oh shit.
FLASHBACK
He felt like shit. When Lyon saw Sting kiss Lucy he felt like his world crashed. He didn't know anything and Lucy never told him that she's dating Sting. Heck, he didn't even knew that she liked someone. He felt as if he was betrayed but he knew that it was his own loss for being a coward.
"They look good together, huh?" Rogue said beside him. Lyon almost forgot that he was not alone.
"Uh. Y-yeah. I guess."
Lyon felt left out not that it bothered him but the fact that hovered right in front of him that Lucy can no longer be his made him want to scream out loud. He stopped himself from wanting to pull her out of Sting's embrace. But Lucy looked so happy. How can something change so much drastically? Her usual shy smile was now replaced by what looked to him as the most beautiful thing ever and it ticked him that he wasn't one responsible for making her smile like that. He had never seen her smile like that, never heard her laugh as if she was singing. He walked out.
"Oi. Where are you going?" Rogue called after him.
"Home."
No. Lyon didn't go home that night. School came the next day and the new couple was the talk of the town. Girls were filled with envy, gossiping and whispering in hushed tones how Lucy don't deserve Sting. She was, after all, just a bullied loner in their eyes and that she probably used her situation to seduce him. Lyon felt like giving them a piece of his mind for talking about Lucy like that. It was too late now. He can't be with Lucy, he can't protect her. Sting can.
Lyon was already at the bar when Loke arrived. They agreed to meet that night since Lyon said that he wanted to talk to him about Lucy. Loke knew that his friend had harbored strong feelings for the girl even after she started dating Sting. It was pretty obvious from the start but Lucy can be dense sometimes and she only saw Lyon as a friend, like a brother even.
"I told her man. I asked her out." Finally. Loke grinned slyly at him, eager for details.
"What did she say?"
"She said she'll think about it. But I doubt it." Lyon sighed and ordered a drink. Loke waited for him to continue.
"She's been seeing my brother, man. I knew it. At first I had my doubts but they pretty much came out in the open now. Yet she told me she's not his girlfriend but who is she kidding?!" Lyon hissed.
"Wait, you have a brother?"
Lyon laughed dryly at him before nodding his head. Loke sighed. He knew how Lucy can be, especially after she gained her reputation at Sabertooth when she started sleeping around with him but he debated whether to come clean or not.
"I suggest you back off, dude."
"And here I was hoping you'll lift my spirits up."
"Shut up. We're not high school girls, dude. I think you should know but..." Loke said, "Lucy and I, we used to fool around."
"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Lyon was surprised. He felt angry again but the other boy calmed him down and told him to let him finish.
"Like I said before, Lucy was a mess after Sting died. I can't tell you how, so don't bother asking me. It's not my story to tell. She came to me and she needed someone and I was the only asshole around who was there for her. Lucy pretty much made the first move. We were both drunk then she kissed me. You know how it is. One thing led to another. I don't have to paint the whole fucking picture. Literally. But it wasn't just a one-time thing. Bottom line is that she used me, I used her: no feelings involved. It was more of a companionship of sorts until we started experimenting with other... stuff. That is, until I got busted. I had no choice but to leave Crocus. My dad told me i was a disgrace in the family and threatened me so I left to save Lucy. I didn't want to put her into trouble. She was already drowning in her own ocean of shit and didn't want to add my own shit into hers."
Lyon was at loss for words. He felt like he lost his tongue and what other stuff? Sure, they used to experiment before but they never dared to touch hard drugs. Weed was...fine. Loke continued. "I don't know anything, I don't know anything about your brother. I haven't even seen him but let's just hope that they don't have the kind of relationship that Lucy and I had. That girl needs to wake up. Don't get me wrong. I love her, as a friend of course, but I'm still worried about her. After I got caught we decided to stop. I had still had a month left before I had to go away for my rehab but Lucy pretty much stopped going out. I heard she stopped talking to Rogue and Yukino as well."
Lyon wondered if Gray had any idea about this. It was all up to him now. He can play the villain but he didn't want that. And then there's Lucy. She's not a bad person. He knew that. She just got...lost. Lonely even. He wondered if he can still save her.
The group was having lunch at a family restaurant, occupying a large table to fit them in, plus the amount of food that they ordered. The male population can consume a buffet-sized table if they wanted to, especially Natsu. Erza on the other hand was already on her second cake and Cana, well, she can't live without liquor. Across Lucy was Mira who kept on throwing in knowing looks at the blond girl and the boy beside her. Lucy only sweat dropped. Gray was right when he said that she was already one of them. It didn't take a long time for her to get used to how noisy the group was. It was totally different from when she was still in Sabertooth. Rogue hated the noise and Loke, well, he's Loke. Flirting around and all then there's Sting...Lucy shook her head.
After the messy and noise-filled lunch, the group left the place and walked as a pack back to the university. Side by side, Lucy and Gray lagged behind the group and were both engaged in their own conversation when Lisanna suddenly squealed. Out from nowhere, a flash of blue hair sped towards them, breaking the group in two. Gray was thrown back and fell on the ground. He opened his eyes, complaining about the pain, when he noticed that someone was clinging to him, her weight pressing his body to the ground.
"J-Juvia?!"
TBC
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