Those peaceful days tick on and on. They were the days that passed by in a flash, the ones you forget what happened by the next day. Those are the most precious. Those are the ones you don't appreciate until they become nothing but melted snow in your hands.
Gray sighed as he checked his mail. It was empty today too.
"Gray-sama! It's cold! Are you coming in?!" Juvia called from the door. Gray sighed once more, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah!" he walked into his house where Wendy happily greeted him. Gray checked his calendar. It was late february by now. He knew he should be patient, but patience just wasn't doing him any good right now. Him and Juvia didn't need to work today so he worked on his homework until there was a knock on his door. Natsu and Lucy stood there.
"Sup Gray!" Natsu grinned.
"Why do you keep coming to my house?"
"What? Am I not allowed onto public property?" Natsu asks with fake hurt.
"This is private property you dimwit."
"Sorry for coming, Gray," Lucy smiles apologetically.
"It's fine. You're a friend Lucy, come by any time you want."
"Wait! And I'm not?!" Natsu feigned shock.
"It's up in the air right now. Come on in, it's not gonna do me any good shutting the door now," Gray said, beckoning them in.
"Hey Juvia! Hey Wendy! Long time no see!" Natsu says when he enters the house.
"Long time no see, Natsu," Juvia giggled, knowing they had seen each other about an hour ago during study.
"Alright here's the deal guys!" Natsu announces, jumping over the back of Gray's couch and standing on the cushions. "I have my big game this saturday! Like really big champion game! Like tv coverage and everything! I want to see every single one of you there!"
"Why? So I can boo and jeer at you?" Gray snickers. "Plus Juvia, Wendy, nor Lucy know the game."
"Just... Cheer for me, alright?" Natsu sighs.
"Juvia still doesn't understand the game..." Juvia says. Gray had spent the entire ride trying to explain it to her. Luckily Wendy and Lucy seemed to understand it after the first explanation. Sadly still Juvia didn't understand as they walked through the parking lot.
"For the last time, a team throws a ball into their net. Ball goes in, they get a point depending on how far they are from the net. Ball doesn't, the other team has a chance to get it in their respective net."
"Juvia is still a little confused..."
"How?! Know what? I'll explain what's going on in there, got it?" Gray asks, Juvia nods. The four enter the stadium. "This is the championship game so there's gonna be a lot of people," Gray looked around, noticing people from their school as well as the rival school. Wendy's face seemed to light up and she starts tugging on Gray's sleeve.
"Gray! Gray! Is it alright if I explore? I promise to be back before the game," Wendy grins.
"Sure, be careful and don't get lost."
"I will! See you later!" she waves and rushed off into the crowd.
"Wendy seems excited," Lucy smiles.
"Well it's her first time at one of these things as well," Juvia comments.
"Gah!" strong arms grasp around Gray's neck. The two girls quickly turn around.
"Gajeel!" Juvia gasps.
"Yo! Imma borrow stripper here for a few seconds," Gajeel grins, showing his pointy teeth. Lucy looked a little uncomfortable and stepped back. Gajeel drags Gray back outside and to the parking lot.
"What's your problem Gajeel?!" Gray shouted, shaking himself from Gajeel's grasp.
"Gajeel, you shouldn't treat people so roughly, even if you say they are your friends," a small, yet strong voice chastises him lightly. Gray freezes, he hadn't noticed that he had been dragged to Gajeel's car and he certainly didn't notice the girl leaning against it. She closed the book in her hands and tucked it under her arm.
"Stripper this is shrimp, shrimp this is stripper," the girl lightly elbowed Gajeel in the stomach, making Gajeel laugh. "You want some shrimp?" he ruffled her hair.
"Gajeel!" she complained, batting his hands away. When Gajeel stopped his attack, she held out her hand for Gray.
"My name is Levy McGarden, pleased to meet you," she introduced herself.
"Gray Fullbuster," Gray shook her hand. A shiver went down his spine, her hands were freezing cold.
"So here's the deal stripper, Metalicana took shrimp in so she lives with us. Long story short, shrimp's been asking to meet you."
"Meet me?"
"And your other friend, Natsu," Levy adds. "Now shoo, Gajeel. I need to talk to Gray alone, so go inside and save us some seats," Gajeel groans, but turns around and walks away anyways.
"See you two inside!" he waves. Levy waited until she was sure Gajeel was far away then she took a deep breath.
"Gray, how long have you known Gajeel?" Levy asks. Gray scratches his head.
"Gajeel? I don't know? Couple of years maybe?"
"Exactly how many?"
"The beginning of high school I believe so around four years? Metalicana, is friends with Natsu's foster father so I think Natsu's known him for slightly longer."
"I see... Does he ever mention anything from before he met you?"
"Not really. I've never really asked so he never really told."
"I understand now. Gray, Gajeel considers you and Natsu to be friends. Please continue to be friends and look after him no matter what happens."
"Um, alright?" Gray honestly had no idea where any of this was coming from. He had just met her and she was already talking a bit strange. Or perhaps she was talking normally, but Gray has been around so many strange people recently that he forgot how talking to someone normal felt.
"Let's go inside. The game is starting soon. I heard how Natsu commanded Gajeel to come," Levy giggled.
"Levy, are you Gajeel's girlfriend?" the girl immediately blushed.
"Wha-What?! O-Of course not! He's just like a roommate! I-I couldn't possibly be his girlfriend!" her face was bright red. Gray shrugged, deciding not to push it. He was just curious, after all it wasn't everyday that Gajeel listened to somebody.
"Gray! Where were you?! Juvia was so worried!" Juvia almost cried when he came back inside. Gajeel watched the two and laughed.
"S-Sorry Juvia," Gray responded.
"Who's this?" Juvia looked at Levy. Levy's eyes were wide as she looked between Juvia and Lucy. "Wait, don't tell Juvia! Is Juvia being replaced?!"
"How did you jump to that conclusion?!"
"My name is Levy," she finally spoke up. "I live with Gajeel and Metalicana."
"Oh!" Juvia looked very relieved about not being replaced from who knows what position. "Juvia is my name! Nice to meet you Levy!"
"I'm Lucy," Lucy smiled, "I have a feeling we're going to get along well."
"Nice to meet all of you," Levy smiles. "Gajeel, I thought you were going to find us some seats?"
"Oi, not my fault this woman assaulted me, looking for her Gray, when I came through the door," Gajeel growls.
"Why don't we sit together as a group?" Lucy suggests. "That way Natsu won't miss us and we won't have to deal with his complaining for a week."
"That's a great idea Lu-chan! Ah! Is it alright for me to call you Lu-chan?" Levy asks.
"It don't mind! It is a cute nickname!" Lucy smiles, waving her hands in front of her. The group made their way into the court. Luckily they found a big enough spot for all of them.
"Will Wendy be able to find us here?" Juvia asks, looking around for the small girl.
"Wendy? Who's Wendy?" Gajeel asks.
"Wendy is Juvia's little sister. Natsu commanded her to come as well," Juvia said their excuse like it was nothing.
"Ooooh I see her," Lucy smirked. She had caught sight of Wendy happily talking to a boy around her age. "Looks like Wendy made a little friend."
"Where?!" Juvia craned her neck, trying to find her pretend sister.
"Let's leave them for now, we can get her after the game," Lucy patted Juvia's shoulder.
"But Wendy said she'd be back!"
"Let's leave them," Lucy stated once more. She turned to face the court when the muffled voice of the MC announced the beginning of the game. Both teams took their place on the court, including Natsu. His bright pink hair and red jersey called many eyes upon him. A rare look of seriousness had been carved into his face. The referee tossed the ball into the air. The orange ball climbed through the air. Both sides moved, reaching out their hands.
This was the start, and there was no turning back now.