I do not own Fairy Tail, it belongs to Hiro Mashima.
I am sorry for updating so late guys, the college work load stopped me from giving you this chapter on time. Thank you for the reveiws and your patience, enjoy the chapter. :)
The next couple of days went like a blur to Juvia, she couldn't understand the reason behind Gray's avoidance and on several occasions she tried to talk to him but every time she got the chance he would either walk away from her or down right ignore her. She was starting to feel like he was already over with her. She wondered if all the things she heard about him in the past were true, like how he never settled for any relationship, how he never had a girl friend. Perhaps Juvia was just another one of those girls since she couldn't give him what he wanted, he got bored and decided to leave her.
Juvia then scolded her self for thinking such nonsense, those were just rumors, she knew Gray and she knew he was better than that, she could feel it that he was avoiding her for a rather emotional cause. His behavior towards her was indifferent and cold and sometimes she could see it that he was trying hard to keep away from her. And when she congratulated him about London he only glared at her and walked away, Meredy who was with her at that time was surprised too. But Juvia only smiled and assured her friend that it was probably because he was stressing over work.
She stopped bothering him anymore, he was not talking to her and Juvia decided to let it go, besides she'll only end up annoying him if she tried to force him into talking to her, she decided she would wait until he's ready to face her.
Meredy walked out of the kitchen and entered into her living room with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, she saw Juvia sitting on the couch quietly looking at the T.V screen but not really watching anything in particular. Meredy sat next to her and handed her the cup.
"Here you go, I thought this would cheer you up a little" Juvia smiled and took it with a nod. Meredy sighed and turned off the T.V before facing the blunette sitting beside her.
"So you wanna talk now?" Juvia glanced at her and shrugged.
"I am not sure how to say this"
"I think I can already tell what this is going to be about" she leaned back on the couch and let out a heavy sigh. "So any reason he's ignoring you, did you guys have a fight?"
"No, he's just been like this for the past week, I am not sure what happened"
"Hm...could it be that you both had sex and you left him unsatisfied?"
Juvia gasped and shook her head, going red all over her face. "That's not it...I mean we..." Meredy raised her eyebrow.
"What we?"
"We haven't done it yet..." Juvia turned her head away in order to hide her blush, her heart started to thump so loud against her chest, she was afraid it might explode.
"Really? You mean you are still a virgin...and here I thought you'd be the first to jump at him?"
"What…what made you think like that?" the pink haired girl shrugged, but then she knew Juvia was too shy to make the first move, no surprise there. "I think it's because he'll be leaving soon, he doesn't want to be with me anymore, Gray-sama is always so involved with his work, I am not surprised he'll choose his business over me...I mean we were only dating, it wasn't like we promised a lifetime or forever...it was suppose to end one way or another"
"But you did...you want a lifetime with him" Juvia looked away, her eyes dulled a bit and she knew she was about to cry any minute now. "Ugh, he's such a jerk, I am going to kill him next time I see him, no one hurts my best friend and gets away with it"
"No, I think he deserves it...this is a big step for Gray-sama and I don't want to get in the way of what he wants" Meredy gasped and couldn't believe her words.
"How can you say that when he is hurting you like this, Juvia you need to teach him a lesson, punch him, hate him do anything..."but then she stopped and looked at her friend's face, Meredy realized that Juvia was really hurt she was only trying to be strong when it was clear that that girl was feeling miserable from the inside. It felt as if everything was just going against her wishes.
A small laugh escaped her lips and that startled Juvia as she looked at her.
"I am such an idiot..." she looked up and Juvia was shocked to see tears in her friend's eyes."I never realized that hating on Gray won't solve anything, I am probably doing the same thing, Gray is going to London and I am leaving for Okinawa, I am leaving my best friend behind and I am so blind to see that you'll be all alone after that"
Juvia completely turned towards her and shook her head. "No, it's not that Meredy-chan, I am happy for you"
"No, I am so selfish, you should yell at me and hate me too, right now not only that bastard but I am hurting you as well" the pink haired girl sniffed and looked away from her. Juvia without a word hugged her and started patting on her head.
"You have no right to feel like this, I am so happy for you, I want you to go and live your dream, this is a huge step for Meredy-chan and I would rather die before getting in your way. You are not selfish, you never were"
With that Juvia hushed her up and told her not to say another word, both girls found comfort in each others arms, Juvia knew Meredy was like a sister to her, and it would be hard to say good bye, but sometimes sacrifices must be made if you want to see the person you love, happy.
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Gray found himself zoning out once again, he was sitting in his fathers study room, next to him sat Angel and her father, listening to him explaining some charts but Gray was lost in his own thoughts, he had dark circles under his eyes indicating that he haven't had a good sleep for days, he looked tired and he was a mess inside and out. He didn't care that he was being harsh to anyone around him and he had skipped three meetings this week, his father had yelled at him just yesterday that he was starting to act careless with work and he was tired of it.
Gray didn't listen to him even then, he just did what he felt like doing, he would stay up at night, he started drinking so much that he often found himself on the floor unconscious or waking up with a really bad hangover. He was angry at everything and everyone around him. Even though he kept ignoring Juvia, he just couldn't get her off his mind she has completely ruined him for anyone else, he loved her like a lifeline and he was unable to face her, because he knew he would suffer the consequences by being with her, he wanted to keep her safe from getting hurt.
"Gray, what's wrong with you?"
The raven snapped out of his thoughts as his father called him. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Nothing"
"Then would you mind answering me now?"
"Answer you what?"
Angel glanced at him from the corner of her eye with a concerned look. "I asked you a question, I am sure you heard"
There was silence for a complete whole minute before Gray got up. "I need some air, sorry" with that he left the study room, even when his father called after him. Angel looked at the door he just went through and stood up as well. "I should bring him back, why don't you and father continue" she saw him giving a nod and left.
Angel followed Gray who was going upstairs. "Hold on...Gray?" he turned and found her standing at the end of the stair case. His frown deepened and he turned away from her.
"I am not in the mood for you, go away"
She ignored him and walked up coming next to him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Look at me, you look like hell what's wrong with you?"
"It's none of your business" Angel let out a sigh, she knew Gray was pissed off particularly at her, that day when they had a fight she could tell Gray has developed a hatred for her, but she still cared about him and she wanted to help him. Gray shoved her hand aside and started to head upstairs she watched him quietly. He reached towards the last stair case and stumbled on his feet, she gasped knowing he would definitely fall, she ran up to him and grabbed him from behind, she stumbled as well due to his heavy weight but balanced herself on time.
"Gray be careful damnit, you are going to hurt yourself"
"I don't need your...help" he groaned, she came in front and wrapped his arm around her shoulder that's when she felt his breath on her face, it smelled of alcohol.
"Damnit, are you drunk...You were drunk this whole time?" he tried to protest but she ignored him and took him up to his room closing the door behind her.
Gray fell on his bed and groaned. Angel brought his legs up on the bed and straightened him up, and frowning at how childish he was being. Gray closed his eyes feeling a massive headache as Angel brought a hand to touch his forehead he slapped it away.
"Oh God, what have you done to yourself, are you that much in love with this girl that you are willing to screw yourself up"
He opened his eyes and glared at her. "You know nothing...it's your fault I am in this situation"
She sat on the bed next to him and frowned this time. "What are you talking about?"
He sat up and came close to her face. "You told my father and now he's sending me away so I would stop seeing Juvia, you already knew I was gonna leave Tokyo anyway, but he decided to send me to London, I can't see her at all now" Angel blinked at him, seeming unfazed by his harsh voice or his closeness. Gray looked away from her. "Get out before I kill you" she glanced up at him and Gray noticed her eyes carrying so much hurt, he didn't know what to say.
"I did say I'd tell your father everything..." she started in a soft voice."But I didn't" Gray looked away from her. The white haired girl stood up from the bed and turned away from him.
"You know I felt bad after fighting with you and after threatening that girl...I kept thinking after that and I realized that even though it hurts, but seeing you with her so happy I decided I should stop acting like a bitch and be a little supportive" she turned and looked at him and Gray was surprised to see unshed tears shining in her eyes.
"I love you so much but I can't be happy with you since you don't feel the same way. I know Juvia is important to you" she sat back down and took his hands. "You should hate me, I am not stopping you, but please believe me that I didn't tell your father, I didn't know he was planning something like that for you...I thought I'd be happy to see you leave Juvia, but I feel so angry now...at myself, I don't feel happy at all, because you are not happy"
"Angel..."
"All I can say is that I am sorry...I am so bad and I hate myself so much, and I am just...so sorry" at this point she had started crying looking down hopelessly. "I am sorry..."
Gray could see sincerity shining in her eyes and he could tell that this time Angel wasn't lying, despite all those threats she hasn't done anything and the fact that she was apologizing showed that she was feeling guilty. She whispered a small sorry one more time and brought her hand up to caress the side of his face.
"I want to help you, I can't see you like this Gray" this time he didn't push her away. His eyes were closing, his vision was getting hazy. She grabbed his shoulder and gently laid him down, pushing his bangs aside from his face. "Get some rest you are too drunk to listen to anything right now, but I promise I'll make it up to you" with that she placed a small kiss on his forehead and left the room turning off the lights. By the time she was gone Gray was already asleep.
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When Gray and Juvia bumped into each other the next day, Juvia knew this was her only chance to corner him and finally ask him what his problem was, she didn't let him pass and kept looking at him with hope in her eyes. Gray had that same distant look in his eyes and he refused to speak or look at her. He bent down and picked up his phone that had crashed on the ground when they bumped into each other.
"Gray-sama"
He looked her way and Juvia noticed the dullness in his eyes, hopelessness flickering in them.
"I am sorry" he murmured, but she heard him and after that he was gone, leaving her standing there all alone and broken. Just like always.
She tried hard not to cry, but her eyes shone from unshed tears and her heart felt like it had stopped beating. She knelt down on the floor and quietly started picking up her papers and files when she noticed another hand helping her. She glanced up only to find Loke getting her stuff up for her.
"Here..." he handed her the files and Juvia took it with a smile.
"Thank you Loke-kun"
"Don't worry, as long as you don't have a problem I am happy to help" she looked down and wiped her eyes. "Are you alright Juvia?" She looked at him again and gave a fervent nod.
"Yes...um, it's just I am a little tired that's all...I have to go and finish this before the deadline, thank you for the help" she walked past him ignoring the penetrating gaze he threw at her. Loke was just turning round the corner when he witnessed the whole scene that just transpired between that stupid Gray and Juvia. He didn't know much about what was going on with his love life and he dared not to interfere, but with the way Gray was acting he had no choice but to confront him with this.
I swear they have the most complicated relationship, I have ever seen.
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Natsu buried his head under his arms as the loud music blared in the room, his eyes cast up for a mere second only to find people dancing, bodies grinding and some other making out in secluded corners. He had no plans on coming here tonight, but after the fight with Lucy he finally lost it and decided to head to the nearest bar and drink himself to oblivion until the blonde girl comes and find him. But as he got there he decided drinking won't solve anything and so he decided to find a way of how to cheer his fiancé up. She looked hurt when he snapped at her and even though she had started crying he walked out on her.
And now he can't even remember what the fight was about, the only thing that was haunting his memories were her sad eyes and tears in her beautiful brown eyes.
He was really an idiot.
He slammed his head down on the table and let out a groan, murmuring the word 'idiot' like a mantra.
He heard a breaking noise somewhere nearby but ignored it, thinking it was probably just another bar fight taking place. A few shouts, a shrill scream and then someone yelled. Someone yelled in an all too familiar voice. Natsu raised his head up just in time and what he saw almost threw him off his chair.
No doubt he could recognize that mop of raven hair anywhere. Gray was currently throwing bottles around the bar and trying to dodge an incoming attack from the person standing next to him.
"What the...Gray?" He got up instantly and watched when he pushed several people out of his way and charged towards one man who was standing tall before him.
"Oh look, so the little girl wants to fight"
"Fight? Make your death wish you bastard I intend to bury you six feet under" that was Gray and that did not sound like him, sure Natsu was drunk, but not drunk enough so as to not notice his stupid best friend currently signing a death certificate for himself. He was wasted completely drunk out of his mind. Natsu knew he had to help him other wise Gray was a dead meat.
He charged forward without thinking and just as Gray was about to throw a bottle on top of the big guys head, Natsu blocked him and grabbed him from under his arms putting a stop to his actions.
"Stop Gray what the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I don't give a shit what happens until I kill this fucker right now..."
"Damnit Gray, stop..." Natsu took the bottle from the taller man's grip and threw it somewhere on the ground before holding him up by his shoulder. "Look at me you idiot, have you completely lost it?" But Natsu knew he was too wasted to care. While he was trying to prevent Gray from going into a death match, he felt the intense pain shooting down his back to his legs all of a sudden and the impact made him lose his balance. Apparently he took Gray with him and they both crashed on the ground. Shards of glasses dug into Gray's back and the palm of Natsu's hand hurt when he pressed them on the floor in order to support himself.
The man who had hit Natsu with a wooden chair barked a laugh like a maniac and this was it for the pink haired boy. He was ready to kill this man without a doubt.
But as he got up, a hand stopped him and he turned around to find Loke frowning at him.
"Take Gray out of here, I'll handle these bastards"
"You..."
"Just go before he kills himself"
Natsu decided not to argue against the older man and gave a nod, he grabbed Gray throwing his arm around his shoulder and left the bar with hurried steps before they got into anymore trouble.
Loke smirked at the huge man before picking up a nearby table and raising it above his head. "This is going to be fun"
"Damnit Gray, stay still"
"Let me go..."
"Like hell I would you idiot I need to get you home"
Natsu threw Gray into the back seat slamming the car door shut. He didn't know what happened to his friend and what he was doing in a bar drinking like that, but for now the only thing he cared about was to keep him safe.
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"Natsu...did you know you have pink hair?" Gray was currently leaning half of his weight against his shoulder when they entered into his apartment. It looked like the alcohol had taken its toll on him and now he was just talking crazy. "That's a girly color...are you gay?"
"Ugh, just walk with me jerk face"
"And you sound like a girl too..." Gray's hand came up to pull a strand of pink hair as he tugged it a little too harshly; Natsu yelled and dropped the taller man on his bed. Gray fell down head first and buried his face under the pillow. Natsu rolled his eyes and brought his legs up on the bed settling his limp body down before turning him and grabbing his collar.
"Snap out of it idiot...you are annoying" Gray's smile threw him of the second time that night, as he brought his hand up and tugged on his pink hair again.
"Girly...you are so girly"
"Ugh, you are pathetic; I swear I'll leave you here alone to die"
He was about to exit the room to get some water and aspirins for the bastard when his phone started to ring. Natsu stopped and checked the number. He froze on his steps when he saw it was Lucy. It was late so she must be getting worried. He let the phone ring for few more minutes before picking it up and pressing it against his ear.
"Lucy..."
"Natsu...baby are you okay...I am sorry I drove you out of the apartment..."
"Hey...hey, don't you dare apologize to me you idiot...it was my fault and I should be the one saying sorry" he heard her sobbing and it nearly broke his heart, how could he hurt her like this.
"Natsu, I just...please come back" Natsu glanced at Gray who was now looking up at the ceiling quietly, as if lost in thoughts, he sighed.
"Will you wait for me for a little longer...I am with Gray, he's kinda wasted and I can't leave him there?"
"Oh...is he okay?"
"He'll be fine just don't worry"
"Okay"
"Hey Lucy...I love you, don't forget that" he could feel it that she was smiling now and that eased his heart a bit.
"I love you too...I'll see you soon" with that they hung up. He'll make sure once he get home he's going to make so much love to her just to make it up to her. He knew he can't be upset with her for longer she was the only one who knew how to take all his troubles away. Natsu glanced at Gray one more time before exiting the room.
Gray was still looking up at the ceiling and tried so hard to drown out Natsu's voice as he was talking on the phone. It was all a lie, love like that does not exist, he knew Natsu and Lucy were just faking it they can't be in love with each other so much that they were willing to overlook each others mistakes, that they were willing to open their hearts to each other.
His experience with love was a disaster and he knew that love is nothing but shit talk, people claim that they are so much in love but in the end they only witness heart break.
He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes, feeling tears falling from them. Damnit he was so weak, why the hell was he crying? But he didn't care right now. Tears were already forming and he was in a complete mess, too drunk, too wasted to care, he removed his hands from his eyes and let the tears fall.
Juvia...I miss you.
Natsu walked in once again and Gray didn't move, he placed some aspirins and the glass of water on the bedside table and glanced at his face. He saw it, he saw the tears falling from his eyes. This was a first for Natsu to see Gray in tears but he dared not to say a word against it, he knew this would trample his pride and Natsu would rather be ignorant than use his vulnerable state against him.
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The first thing he noticed was the severe pain shooting through his back and his head that was about to explode in any minute. Gray glared at the white ceiling above his head and tried to sit up when a pair of strong hands stopped him from getting up. He looked up from his hazed vision only to find a familiar mass of orange hair.
Loke?
"Slow down there, or you'll break" he didn't have enough energy to glare at him so he just settled with a grunt for now.
"Yeah good to know your brains working" he replied handing him the glass of water and a couple of aspirins.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hm, well let's see...you drank your self to death, Natsu found you and dragged your ass here, I had to deal with a bunch of huge guys at the bar to clean up your mess, your back is injured, but Natsu fixed it, however you drank so much that you almost lost your senses and now you are going through a hangover...clear enough?" Gray looked down at his hands with a frown.
"I don't remember anything" his voice came out hoarse. He shifted and hissed when the pain at his back shot up yet again.
"That's what a hangover is idiot, Natsu fixed your wounds on your back, he's gone for now but he promised to visit" Loke seemed pissed off and judging by his tone Gray could understand he really caused a lot of trouble.
Gray remained quiet and finally remembered why he went to the bar in the first place, he wanted to drink so much and he wanted to disappear but apparently life does not work that way, Natsu and Loke found him and he was surprised he was still alive, he was so sure he was gonna die today.
"Damnit, Gray what are you doing to yourself...what's gotten into you?" Gray looked away unable to face his friend. "You are only hurting yourself, be a man and face your problems for once"
He let his head fall on the pillow once again he knew he was going to break if he opened his mouth right now. "You should have left me there...it would have been a lot better for everyone"
Loke didn't resist and grabbed his collar bringing him up and landing a punch on his face. "Stop talking bullshit you dumbass, just because you are acting like a girl and can't solve your own problems you decided to give up...is that really who you are, a coward huh?"
"You don't know anything Loke, just leave me here"
Loke left his collar and let out a sigh, Gray brought a hand up to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips.
"You wont get a second chance if you let this go you know" blue eyes looked into his and Gray never saw Loke this serious in his entire life. Loke looked down and ran a hand through his hair. "I remember when Aries died, I found her body laying on the ground...and I knew that was the last time I will ever see her...I kept blaming myself over that accident and I prayed for a second chance every single day...but then one day I woke up and I realized that I had lost her completely and there is no going back...no second chances, nothing"
Gray looked down and felt a surge of pain run through his heart, deep down he knew Loke was right, after all he is the one who has suffered a loss of a loved one, he knew how broken and miserable he was when his wife died, even after all that Loke still smiled and he enjoy his life, he stopped crying over his loss and he has moved on, that didn't mean his love for Aries has vanished he still loves her but he can't cling to the past forever.
"You still have a chance, she's still waiting for you and you can still fix this" Gray looked at him with a pleading look. Loke gave him a reassuring smile. "Juvia is going to take you back because she loves you and you need to go to her because you love her Gray, you can't let this opportunity slip out of your hands, it'll be too late and you will end up regretting for never taking this chance"
Gray let out a sigh and looked at him with a small smile. "Loke, I am sorry"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah...and thanks" Loke smiled back still a little surprised and placed his hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.
"It takes time to heal...I know, but running away from your problems only makes it worse, face them and you'll be alright I promise, the choice is yours, I know you'll make the right one because you are a real bastard" he gave a pat and got up from his chair. "Get some sleep...and take a day off, you can't work with a hangover" Gray quietly lay down and let out a small sigh, he heard the small click of the door, realizing Loke had left the room.
His hand reached under his pillow and searched for something until he found it, and brought it in front of his line of vision, the blue silk mask shone when the sunlight fell on it from the window. Finally for the first time after a long time he let himself smile. He brought the mask near his chest and closed his eyes, falling asleep in few minutes.
I promise I'll make everything right.
To Be Continued.
Lol, Loke just went all Shizou Heiwajima on the bar guys. XDDD (He's a guy from the anime series Durarara) and I am sure you guys are probably annoyed with the lack of Gruvia, but I promise you'll get it in the next chapter, in fact next chapter is all about Gray and Juvia so please wait for it. I am going to update the next one soon enough so you guys don't have to suffer for much longer.
Love you all, thank you for reading. ^_^