It had taken Juvia a lot longer than she thought to get in to see the dean for more than just 'she was busy'. She spent all of her days at Mavis's office and thus any good hour to see the dean was during her employment. She finally got a time she could take off from Mavis's firm, but found the dean wasn't even in the office that entire day!

Then there was the fact that, since most of her days were taken up doing paralegal stuff, she was quite, yet unintentionally, ignoring her roommate and friend Aquarius. Thus, whenever Aquarius had a free morning or afternoon, Juvia took some time to spend it with her too. Not that spending time with Aquarius was a bother...they had fun utilizing the university's pool which Juvia didn't get enough time in!

Days passed before she finally got an interview with the dean and a letter from Mavis to help her cause. Juvia was beginning to feel like she would never get in and do what she wanted to do: find a capable replacement for her dear employer! But after almost a week and a half of dawdling around, Juvia was finally getting her chance!

She spent extra time that morning cleaning up and looking very presentable. She tried to style her hair the most professional way possible and make sure her best dress was free of wrinkles. She donned a pair of nice heels and observed herself in the bathroom mirror. "Aquarius-san!" She called out. "Does Juvia look presentable enough, do you think?"

Aquarius's blue head stuck around the corner, giving a quick once over. She moved from the hallway for the living room, a thumb up sticking in for a second where her face had been. "You look good enough for a CEO position." She answered. "Now get out of here and go knock 'em dead cause you have about fifteen minutes to get across campus."

Juvia squeaked. "Juvia has spent that long getting ready?!" She hurried out into the living room. "Why didn't Aquarius-san let Juvia know sooner?"

Aquarius's brow raised. "We have a clock in the bathroom you know..." She drawled, going back to watching tv. "I just assumed you were using it."

Juvia grabbed her purse and threw the door open. "Juvia is leaving now!"

"Good luck."

It wasn't Aquarius's fault that she was spending so much time trying to look perfect. Juvia was instantly frustrated with herself, having wanted twice the amount of time to make it an easier walk across campus in heels. She hated not being punctual and this meeting was so important that she actually wanted to be ten minutes early. "Juvia is an idiot! Think about how this will look to Mavis-sama!" Juvia resisted the urge to bonk herself on the head and muss the butterfly pins in her hair.

Juvia tried to walk as quickly as possible without getting too sweaty. She had showered specifically so that wouldn't be the case this morning! She hurried into the business and law college, jogging to the elevator and seeing one open. "Please hold the elevator for Juvia!" She called out, picking up the pace. Thankfully, a hand shot out and did as she requested. Juvia practically dove into the small space, panting when the door slid closed. "Thank you...for...holding...the door..." She managed.

"It's okay. Are you alright?"

Juvia managed a nod, still looking down. She leaned against the wall, feeling them go up and suddenly realized that she hadn't selected a floor yet! She whirled around, hoping they hadn't already passed it, before finding the button already pressed. Juvia blinked, but sighed in relief. She leaned back against the wall and finally looked over to the other occupant. Her eyes widened, a smile gracing her face. "Ah! Clive-sensei! It's been a long time."

Professor Clive smiled her way. "It has Juvia. How is your internship going?"

Juvia managed a quick bow. "It has been the best job that Juvia has ever had so far! Mavis-sama even hired Juvia to be her paralegal a few months ago."

Professor Clive's brow rose. "Heeeeh? That's good. I've talked with Ms. Mavis before concerning certain business matters. She's a very good attorney."

Juvia nodded enthusiastically. "Mavis-sama is the best attorney and has been very good to Juvia!"

Professor Clive held the door open when it dinged and let Juvia out first. Juvia took initiative, sheepishly smiling. "So have you decided on business law yet? I still think you'd be a natural at it."

Juvia held the office door open for him and let professor Clive pass. "Hmmm, Juvia still doesn't know. She does have to help her father out with his business when she goes home. That's why Juvia is here to study law after all."

Professor Clive turned to look at her, looking interested. "Oh? I didn't know that. I just figured you were going to take over his business and that's why you added the business minor to your law major." A finger stuck out between them as his face turned a little playful. "All the more reason to choose business law as your specialty!"

Juvia chuckled at his attempt at a joke, smoothing her hair behind an ear. "Juvia will consider it." She finally conceded, if only to appease her professor.

Professor Clive lightly padded her shoulder for a second. "That's the spirit! You do need to have something that we can write to that diploma of yours after all! Well...it's been good to talk to you again Juvia. I miss having you in my classes. Maybe you'll come and do a sit-in and talk with my lower level students one of these months before you go. Convince some of them to add a law minor or something."

Juvia smiled. "Juvia would love to visit Clive-sensei's class again! Clive-sensei has been such a big help to Juvia in the past. Juvia would love to help him out any way she can!"

Professor Clive nodded and turned for his office. "I'll talk to you later about it if you're still here." He stopped and turned around. "Say...why ARE you here? You didn't just walk me all the way to the main office did you?"

Juvia smiled and shook her head. "Juvia has an appointment with the dean."

Professor Clive nodded and continued on his way, raising a hand to wave goodbye as he departed. "Well, good luck! Stop by when you're done!"

Juvia waved, though he couldn't see her and looked around. She hadn't even noticed what was going on around her and she worried she had been too loud to someone that may have been on the phone! She turned and noted a middle-aged woman at a huge desk as the only occupant in the room. She quickly bowed, thankful the person wasn't on the phone. "Good morning! My name is Juvia Lockser. I have an appointment with the dean of this college. I apologize for taking up so much of Clive-sensi's time and possibly being late."

That woman smiled and waved her off. "Not at all dear. It happens." Juvia moved to a chair as the woman went to a phone and dialed the dean. The woman spoke briefly and then hung up. "The dean will see you now."

Juvia stood and nodded. She went to the hallway and paused. "Um...which room is he in? Juvia is sorry, it's been a while since Juvia has been in this area."

"Ah...well I'd love to show you, but I'm supposed to stay up front for the guests." A finger tapped the woman's cheek as she thought. "Hmm, I thought he was in...where did he go? Did he take a lunch? He could always take you there I guess..."

Juvia blinked in confusion as the woman muttered, mostly to herself, and wondered what to do. The dean was waiting for her and she was wasting his precious time! "Um, who is this 'he' that you're talking about?"

"Are you talking about me? Did you need me for something?"

Juvia's eyes whipped to the hallway in shock, wondering how she didn't hear someone approach, when she froze. 'Oh...my...wow...' Juvia knew she was blatantly staring at the newcomer to their conversation, but she couldn't help herself! She was just relieved her jaw wasn't on the floor right now! Black hair, blue eyes, great physique from what she could tell under his t-shirt. He looked fairly serious, but approachable at least, although Juvia was so flustered at this second, she didn't think managing a conversation with him would be possible.

"Yes Gray. Please show our guest to the dean's office."

Gray took a step back into the direction he had come from, hand slightly extending in invite. "This way miss."

Juvia forced her legs to move, seeing that she was making this fine specimen of a human being wait. She snapped to and walked around him, barely feeling his fingers brush her back. Juvia's skin goose-bumped, but she mentally squealed that he touched her and tried to keep herself looking professional. She was here for the dean! The dean...yes...the dean... Not Gray...not this gorgeous, well-built, chiseled jaw...beautiful haired specimen... Juvia mentally shook her head. 'Get it together Juvia! Think about this Gray-san later!'

Gray's voice shook her from her thoughts when turned and stopped. "Here's the dean's office." Gray blinked and looked Juvia up and down. "Are you another business major or something? I heard you say something about not having been here for a while."

Juvia met Gray's eyes, trying not to blush. "Oh no...Juvia is actually a law major...Juvia just chose business for a minor to help out her degree for when Juvia graduates." Juvia finally broke eye contact, unable to handle it any longer.

Gray's brow rose. "Oh? Same as me then."

Juvia's eyes widened as she looked back to Gray. "Gray-san is the same major as Juvia?"

Gray nodded. "Yep. Second year currently. Yourself?"

"Ju – Juvia is fourth year!"

"Ah, that means you're doing the intern stuff, huh? How is that going?"

Juvia conveniently forgot where she was for the delectable person standing in front of her asking her questions. She was thrilled that he was taking an interest in her and it took some willpower for her to look him in the eye. His good looks were almost too much for her to take! Her hands clenched in her exuberance, looking at Gray. "Mavis-sama is the best mentor any law student could ever ask for! Mavis-sama is the best teacher for Juvia and has taught Juvia so much!"

Gray was suddenly silent for a second before his head tilted to the side, brow raising. "Do you always talk about yourself in the third person?"

Juvia blushed and looked down. "It's a...habit from where Juvia is from..." She murmured, fingers clasping together nervously. "Does Gray-san think it's...bad?"

Gray's head shook, although she didn't see it. "Naw, it's not bad. I just haven't heard someone speak of themselves as such before. It's...cute..."

Juvia's face turned beet red. Cute... The word echoed in her head with his voice. Juvia's heart thundered in her chest. She wanted to fall to the floor in a simpering puddle! A gorgeous man with a beautiful voice who was also doing the same degree program as she was had called her speaking habit cute! It was almost too much for her to take!

"Well, I've taken up enough of your time. Good luck with the dean for whatever reason you need to see him."

Juvia snapped back to her original mission. Her fists clenched again, feeling renewed determination of a different level this time. "Yes! Juvia will persevere to win the dean's trust and gain access to this fall's intern list for the sake of Mavis-sama!"

"Yea...definitely good luck with that." Gray's brow rose. "You'll have a hard time convincing him to give it to a student."

"Huh?" Juvia blinked. "Juvia is Mavis-sama's paralegal." She answered. "Mavis-sama gave permission for Juvia to select a capable intern to help Mavis-sama next semester."

Gray thoughtfully hummed and took a step back. "Well...anyway...good luck. You'd better get in there."

Juvia suddenly realized she was taking up way too much time and felt ashamed of herself for getting side-tracked so easily...even with who was standing in front of her! "Y – yes!" She quickly knocked and opened the door when a muffled voice came from the other side. She watched Gray out of the corner of her eye and a thought came to her. "Oh! Gray-sama!"

Gray stopped and turned. "Sama?"

"Would Gray-sama help Juvia find Clive-sensei's room after this? Clive-sensei wishes to see Juvia as well."

Gray nodded. "I'll be around here somewhere. Probably in the front."

Juvia smiled. "Thank you Gray-sama!"

Gray watched Juvia walk past the doorway and heard the gushing of apologies even after the door clicked closed. He stared at the barrier to the muffled noise for a second before a hand scratched the back of his head. He turned and meandered back to the front to see if there was anything else for him to do for the day to get a few extra hours in and pad his wallet for the eventual defeat he would suffer at Natsu's hands sometime this week.

Gray finally thought back of the latest, well-dressed visitor he had seen in the business college this last month and how weird she was as well. 'This place just keeps getting more full of oddballs the more I stay here...' He contemplated. Not that Juvia or Lucy had been horrible people, but their personalities were sure out there. Lucy had economical class changes and Juvia talked about herself in the third person a lot! 'A habit where she's from, huh?'

Gray looked out the window above him and looked at the sky. It matched Juvia's hair almost exactly and he suddenly realized her hair was blue and he didn't even think about it till now! Not only that, she was really pale! Like, china doll pale! She actually was pretty gorgeous, just like Lucy, but in a more exotic way. Was it because she was from a different country? A finger tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'What's a foreigner coming all the way to Magnolia University just for a law degree anyway?' Sure their university was pretty top notch and had lots of various colleges all clumped on one huge campus, but was Juvia's country that small or something?

"Gray?" Gray shook himself from his thoughts when the secretary's voice sounded in the quiet. He looked over. "I'm going to go take my lunch. Can you handle the phone for the hour for me please?"

Gray nodded and headed over to the main desk after it was vacated. "Have a good lunch." He absently wished, already pulling out some books to study with. This was the best part about working for the college; when times were slow like this, he could hang around and get paid to study! That was good because he had a test in criminal law soon and he wanted to pass it with a perfect score.

If ever there was a class that he wanted to excel in, it was criminal law! That had been his goal ever since he figured out what he wanted to do with his life. Well..that wasn't quite right...it was more like fate had thrown his life into the wood chipper and spat him out the other side! Gray stared at the textbook, not really seeing the words as his eyes hardened and his mind wandered to the past. He glared at the law book, hand gripping the pen and dangerously bending it.

Gray jumped when the phone rang. He shook his head to bring himself to the present and took a deep breath to compose himself before answering the phone. He eventually connected the caller to a professor in the building and hung up. With a heavy sigh, his hand dropped the pen with difficulty. He had gripped it so hard that his fingers had somewhat stuck in that form and he massaged the poor digits with a grimace.

Once his fingers could move without difficulty, Gray rested his head in his hands, not caring for a second if someone saw him. He let the faint sounds of the other teachers in the back reach his ears and bring him fully to present before he felt able to attempt studying again. He finally picked up the pen and worked through a few more pages of notes before the sound of heels clacked on wood.

"Ah! Gray-sama! You're still here!"

Gray looked up and focused on the beautiful woman in front of him. He knew studying any more was a pointless effort with her in front of him, looking quite flustered for some reason, and thus resolved to hit the library or the lunchroom up later. "Ah yes, Juvia. You wanted to see professor Clive right?"

Juvia nodded quickly, stepping away from the desk as Gray moved out from behind it. He remembered! She was thrilled that he not only called her by her name, but knew what she was here without having to remind him. "Yes...Juvia needs to see Clive-sensei. Clive-sensei is still here, yes?"

Gray nodded. "I don't remember seeing him leave and I've been here the whole time." Gray looked to the main door and then the phone. Someone would have to just leave a message or wait for a minute while he used Juvia's presence as a way to distance himself from his past.

'Use...Juvia...?' Gray stopped before they could get to Clive's door and suddenly grabbed one of Juvia's hands. 'That's it!'

"Gray-sama?!" Juvia looked to their hands in shock, heart racing.

"Hey Juvia!" Gray took a step closer. "You're ahead of me by at least a year...do you think you could help me out in criminal law? There's a test coming up soon and I want to ace it!"

Juvia could've swooned. Handsome Gray-sama was asking for her help!? Who did she thank first for this glorious opportunity to be able to spend more time with him? This was fate! Had she been early today, she may have totally missed out on this chance to meet one of the underclassmen and chat with him! She would have never had the pleasure to find out that she was his senior and able to aide him in his studies.

"C – c- crim...inal...law?" She stuttered, trying to pick her brain up. Her fingers trembled and tingled where their skin met. "Um...yes...J – Juvia has experience...with it... Mavis-sama...taught Juvia well...about some details..."

Gray smiled. "Great! Do you mind helping me out today with a little study session?"

He was really close and he probably didn't even realize it. He was definitely making thinking and breathing a problem. Juvia couldn't pick her mind up to form proper words in her ecstatic state. This was turning out to be the best day ever! "J – Juvia...doesn't mind...helping Gray-sama...w - with Gray-sama's class..."

Gray tried to look Juvia in the eye, but she had not looked up since he turned her way. His brow rose and he looked down at what had captivated her attention so when he realized he was still holding onto one of her hands. His eyes widened and he quickly let go, taking a hasty step back. "Sorry!"

Juvia felt cold, although the distance helped her immensely. "No...it's okay. Juvia...didn't mind."

Gray had the decency to blush. He looked to the hallway and to professor Clive's door. "Ah...well...we're here." Gray swept a hand a few feet away for the door. "This one is professor Clive's. I'll let you go for now. I should get back up to the front and see if anyone is here." He perked up a bit. "So...when do you think we could get together and study?"

'Get...together?' Juvia had read way too many romance novels in the recent years to not read that statement the wrong way. She blushed and looked to the carpet, feeling a little giddy.

"Ah...um...well...Juvia...Juvia is free...for today...but tomorrow...Juvia must work for Mavis-sama all day..."

Gray nodded and walked around her. "Do you think we can arrange a meeting somewhere on campus when you're done in there?"

"Y – yes..."

He grinned and took a few more steps away. "Great. Thanks again! See you in a bit."

Juvia watched him disappear around the corner and then she was gone. Not hearing anyone in immediate earshot, Juvia covered her mouth with her hands and squealed into it. "Ah...Gray-sama...!" Hands covered her cheeks, feeling how hot they were, as she swayed a few times. "Gray-sama wants to g – get together with Juvia..."

The door suddenly swung open, jarring Juvia from her heavenly bliss back to earth and exactly where she was. "I'm happy for you Juvia...really. But don't forget that these walls aren't the thickest in this building. Sound travels."

Juvia flushed from the tip of her forehead down to her neck. She stared at professor Clive's grin for a second before she scooted under the arm holding his door open and into the room. She ignored his chuckle and took a seat in front of his desk, trying to feel less like wanting to crawl in a hole and die. She had to get through this so she could get to that study d – date with Gray-sama!