A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been receiving reviews that say that it's kinda hard for the readers when it switches to the natural story-telling from Lucy's POV and vice versa. I'm sorry for that. From now on, I will use the dots I normally placed in the past chapters to indicate that there has been a change of time but Lucy will still be the speaker. Then, if the POV in the next scene will no longer be Lucy's, I will use lines (-) instead. It will be demonstrated in this chapter. Sorry again for the confusions before! Now, here's the next chap! Enjoy~ ヽ(^o^)ノ

Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima is not my name.

Chapter 25

This is another day without Gray. I woke up wondering how he's doing, whether he's already awake and has already eaten and a bunch of other things. I looked at my clock and saw that it's already 7AM so he's probably up now, just finished his early morning jogging routine, and is sipping a cup of coffee or perhaps hot cocoa.

It's kinda funny but it's just been two days and I've been feeling like I want to see him again.

It's funnier because I think of him even if I know that he's not even thinking of me.

Suddenly, someone took out the blanket I've tucked myself in. "Luce!"

"Whaaa-!" I shouted. "Natsu?! What are you doing here so early?!"

I expected an answer but he just smiled at me.

I got up and started to fix my bed. "Seriously, what are you doing here?! Do you even go home?"

"Of course, what kind of question is that? I went here this early because umm—"

I stared at him with my morning face. "Because what? Today is my chance to wake up late and you just woke me up."

"Excuse me! I knew you were awake! I was not hearing snores anymore so I knew that you were already up." He crossed his arms and nodded his head.

Do I really snore?! And if I do, do I really snore that loud?! "Wha-whatever. I woke up because I smelled something alien; and I was right because it turned out that that foul smelling alien thing is you!" I stuck my tongue out.

"You're the one who's foul smelling! You haven't even washed your face and brushed your teeth yet!" he teased.

I threw my pillow at his face, "Shut up. You haven't answered my question yet."

"W-well, Gramps asked me to check up on you, that's why."

As if I'd believe that. I rolled my eyes and walked down the stairs when a knock was heard on the door.

"Nii-san? Is nii-san there?"

It's Romeo.

"Yup, he's here alright!" I looked at the guy who was on his way following me down the stairs.

"Y-yo!" he waved at his younger brother.

In response, the other guy looked like he was annoyed. "Gramps is asking where you are."

I knew he was lying.

The pink-haired forced a laugh and scratched his head, "Perhaps he forgot that he asked me to check up on the blondes? That old man sure is starting to have a bad memory. Ja` Luce, I have to go."

All I could do was shake my head. This guy's feet must be so itchy that he always comes here. "Romeo, why don't you go inside and have breakfast?"

"N-no, thanks…" he was trembling as he saw my brother look at him.

I smiled and led him inside, "Don't worry, my brother likes you, right, Laxus?"

"Well, compared to Natsu, this kid is waaaaay better than his older brother." He answered as he continued cooking.

"See, I told you!" I smiled at him. "Anyway, how is Gramps? Is it okay for you guys that Natsu is not coming home everyday?"

"Well, I guess so – I mean, it's not as if we can stop nii-san. He insisted that he will work for Gray though we're not sure what the reason is, I mean his job before was paying him almost as much as what he will get from the actor."

Now I didn't know about that. I thought the reason why Natsu changed his job was because it was not paying him well? "I see…"

"How 'bout you, Lucy? Are you okay there? Nii-san told me that your boss has sharp teeth and claws that glow at night. He sounds pretty scary to me…"

"W-what?" I chuckled. "Gray isn't really like that in person, I mean maybe he is like that on the inside, but he's actually very charming."

I turned to look at Romeo who seemed kinda creeped out from what I said. I guess my eyes had sparkled when I said the word charming. But I can't help it! He really is! "A-anyway, he actually has a younger sister and I bet you guys can be really nice friends if ever you get the chance to meet her."

"A-ahh, really?" I saw him blush a little. This little kid, unlike his brother, does not really go out so I guess he yearns for a playmate somehow.

"Oi, Romeo! What do you think you're doing there? Come on." Natsu popped once again.

The other guy stood up from his seat and I tried to make him stay (to know more what's going on with Natsu because I have a feeling that he's not telling me something), but Natsu insisted that Romeo can't go out if he's not with him.

I'm sure that's just another alibi because he knows I'm going to ask his little brother stuff about him.

.

.

I finished eating breakfast when a visitor suddenly opened our door again. This time, it was Levy.

"Lu-chan! How are you today?"

This is kinda odd. "I'm okay, why? Do you need me for something?"

She looked up, as if trying to find the right words to say. Oh no. I have a bad feeling about this.

"Well, umm…"

"What is it, Levy? You're making me nervous."

"Well, remember that annual thing that our place holds?" she forced a smile.

"What annual thing?" I tried to think of anything that would comply with what she suggested and unfortunately, something terrible entered my mind. "Wait, are you talking about the pageant?"

She nodded.

"Okay, what about it? Why are you—oh no, Levy."

She scratched her head while keeping her forced smile, "You know that my cousin, Laki, is the one who handles it, right? She's been looking forward to this event because it just happens once a year and it didn't even happen last year because not a lot of participants joined and that made her really sad. This year, she needed one more participant so… I kinda wrote your name."

"Levy, why did you do that? You have got to stop signing my name up for things!"

"Sorry, Lu-chan! It's just that, I don't want to see her sad, and you know what happens to her when she's sad right? She carves the wood in our house and I couldn't let her do that anymore! Come on, Lu… Please, for me?"

"But you know why I don't do pageants! Remember the last time I did?"

"Well, technically you weren't the one in the pageant before, you were just used in the talent portion…"

"Yeah, I can still remember you using me as the girl whom you'll cut the hair from. I thought you were quite a decent hairdresser, Levy—"

"Yeah, but I said I'm sorry, I just got nervous!" she forced a smile.

"Do you know how long it was for me to get my semi-shaved, semi-bald, semi-pretty hair fixed again?" I said as I touched my hair, remembering the horror Levy caused me.

"And that is why I want to pay you back by making you a contestant! Don't worry, the people won't remember again what happened to you once you join this! I got you, Lu-chan!"

"That was the same thing you said to me before it happened!"

"Okay," she sighed, "this will not be like the last time, okay? You will redeem yourself this time! And also, there will be a prize that I know you would like!"

"And that is?"

"I think the winner will have the opportunity to become the judge next year?"

"E-eh… not really peeks my interest-"

She laughed, "I was kidding! You're so serious today! Anyway, I think it will be a gift certificate for the newly opened bookstore across the main road, so that also made me think of you. I also want that thing but then I thought that it must be the time for me to kinda pay you back for the trouble I caused you. So, please?"

I don't really have a say in it that much anymore, do I? I can't really say no to my best friend. And besides, that GC's making me pumped up! "Okay fine but I need to know the details."

"The theme this time will be Halloween and—"

"What?!" I shrieked, "Halloween?! Ugh, no wonder you didn't want to enter the contest!"

"Relax, I said I got you, okay? Now, focus. The rules are still the same: whoever gets the highest score from the judges and applause from the audience wins. For the date, the usual Saturday became a Monday Night…"

"Monday?! You mean, tomorrow?!"

"O-oh, yeah! Never realized it's already Monday tomorrow!" She laughed.

"But I'll be at work tomorrow! Then I guess you really have to be the one joining the contest."

"I don't think so because according to the contract, you're allowed two days off in one month aside from your free weekends. I guess you could use it tomorrow?"

"Yeah, but the contract suggests that I ask for permission three days before!"

"That's okay, you have your phone and I think your relationship with Gray is rather well so I think you'll be fine!"

I crossed my eyes. "You really thought well of this, didn't you?" Unfortunately, all the complaining won't do me any better so I just took my phone.

I looked at Gray's number for five minutes – wondering whether I should still continue to ask him or not. But of course, looking at it won't be very progressive so I closed my eyes and called him.

It rang and rang and rang and rang. Every ring made my heart skip faster. Until finally…

"What do you need?"

"G-good morning, Sir! I know this is very sudden but something very important came up and I have to take the day off tomorrow."

There. I said it. Oh no. It's been three seconds and I'm not hearing any response.

"Don't you know how to read?"

"S-sir?"

"The contract."

"Oh, yeah, I know, Sir. But then, I really need to be somewhere tomorrow so—"

"And where is that somewhere?"

"U-umm…" Should I tell him that I'll be having a pageant?! I said it was something very important and this might make him think that I'm silly. What do I do?!

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"N-no, Sir! A-actually…" Here goes nothing. "It's a pageant, Sir." I mumbled.

"What?"

"It's a pageant b-but it's more than that! This is like tradition to our community so I really have to be there… I am so sorry that I won't be able to attend tomorrow (and see your beautiful face) if ever you let me…"

More seconds of silence.

"Sir? You there?"

"Don't talk to me so casually."

"Sorry."

"Tch— Do whatever you want."

And then he hung up.

I sighed. "I'm good to go, Levy."

"I knew it! Now, let's try doing your make up and let me contact someone for your costume! Since I got you into this, you wouldn't think I'd really let you handle everything, right?" she grinned.

"Alright! Another day with my sister! I will support you!"

"Well, would you want to support me by joining the competition also, Laxus?"

"I-I would if I can, but I can't cheer if I am a fellow contestant also so watching in the sidelines would be okay!" he laughed forcefully.

"Hello, Erza."

"What do you need, Gray?"

"I don't have anything for tomorrow night, right?"

"Hmm, I don't think so. Why?"

"…. Nothing."

To be continued…

A/N: Sorry if you see mistakes! I am currently on a break from school right now so I think I'll be able to update a few chapters on the following days. Anyway, I hope the dots and the lines helped! Hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to review! Thanks! \(◦'')/