Chapter 24: Missing You

"So, yesterday didn't go as well as Juvia had hoped."

"Yeah, I know," I chuckled nervously.

"But how did today go with yall?"

"Well…"

HOURS EARLIER

It started out like an okay day…

-BEEP-

The sounding alarm clock echoed throughout my room. I yawned ever so loudly, and stretched my arms upward to get myself awake. I dreamed of a ice cream sandwich that night…mmmm…so good.

"Uh, Gray?" Juvia wondered.

"Huh?"

"Can you kind of get to the point that actually matters! We don't have all night, boy."

"Heh, sorry…"

Gray's POV

Id like to lie and say that I entered the school independent, confident, and ready for whatever came my way but…it wasn't that way.

I was sore all over, from the tips of my toes to the very top of my head. I felt miserable, after being at the beach all day yesterday I had gained blisters, sunburns, and an intense, aching pain all about my body. Sure, you may think I didn't do so much but with all the heat and excerption I was worn out and bruised.

Not to mention exhausted from all the fights that had been taken place all weekend long. Just last weekend we were laughing and having fun and now…we are all so confused. I'm not even positive WHY we are all fighting. It's all just a blur in the back of my cranial…uh sorry…mind. All of this fighting was just non-sense to me. Why did we all have to fight? What was it that made everything that was so great turn into nothing but memories? I didn't know…but I was sure today to help fix that. We were all best friends once…it's not necessary to act like we weren't now.

Wow. I feel like my back got spanked by Count Spankulot a hundred times in a row…it stings…I just hope-

"Hey mate," Natsu smiled as he came toward me and slammed his hand onto my back.

"YEOWWWW!" I winced.

-no one touches me…oi.

"Geez Gray, what's got into you?" He wondered.

The pain from my back was so intense that my whole body tensed up and I felt like it was screaming of soreness.

"I've got sunburned!" I cried as he stared quizzically at me for a moment.

"Oh heh…sorry about that mate," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously with his strong, but looked sore, hands.

There was a moment of silence as my back began to loosen its stiffness and throbbing pain.

"So…have you talked to the girls lately? Or…uh..seen them?" he wondered.

I studied the frankness in his words and felt obligated to answer…but didn't. Instead, I just shook my head slowly and stalked over to my locker.

I finally spoke, "Why do you want to know?"

He looked at me abit in surprise. Maybe he just didn't expect a reply or the question, or, perhaps; he was thinking I was dumb for even mentioning it. Maybe I was dumb for asking it, but I wanted to be sure of my thoughts.

"Well…" he trailed.

I kept my blue orbs on his black ones…waiting for his answer.

"Just wondering," he answered as he moved his eyes from mine to his locker; not making anymore eye contact.

I knew he was lying. I could see it. I could see it well and for years I knew he had feelings for Lucy and he cared about her…he just didn't want to admit it until last week; unexpectedly, he told me the truth, or atleast some of it. I knew there was more to it, but I never asked more of it.

As I opened my locker I noticed Natsu's eyes bulge. I cocked my brow at him.

"What are you staring at?"

He pointed his finer in the direction of the hallway. I followed his gaze and my eyes widened.

There. In the hallway, walking like normal…was Juvia…wearing my goggles.

Natsu began to burst into fits of laughter as I stared at Juvia curiously.

I knew she took my goggles but why is she wearing them?

Natsu continued to laugh as I rolled my eyes at him. I decided to take a chance and ran up to Juvia.

She set her gaze on me as she halted.

"Gray?" she questioned.

"Yeah…why are you wearing my goggles?" I frowned with my hands placed on the end of my hips.

"The same reason I have them," She replied honestly.

"What? Was it a dare?"

She nodded.

"But Juvia don't know how you can see through these darn things, they too dark."

"No they're not!" I cried.

"Yeah they are. Juvia cannot see hardly anythin'."

"Then take them off," I told her.

"Cant. Gotta keep them on until the end of school."

"THEN will you give them back to me?"

"Maybe, baby," she answered with a smirk.

I frowned abit but smiled slightly at her.

No matter what was on her she made them look cool, and the thought of her acting like her normal self again was driving me up the walls inside. She seemed no longer angry, and I was very much static about it. The real question was: would the girls be?

Her hair swayed with her as she passed me to get to her class.

I missed-

"Gray."

I missed the-

"Gray."

I missed the way-

"GRAY!"

I whipped my body around to face Natsu, "What?" I asked rather annoyed.

He noticed the annoyance in my words and frowned.

"What?" I repeated.

"You're gonna be late for class."

I gazed around the hallway in realization; Natsu and I were the only students left in the hall.

"Ah! I'm going to get a tardy!" I hastened over to our classroom door then took a final glance at Natsu, "Are you coming?"

"Nah," he answered, "Not in the mood."

"When are you EVER in the mood?"

He shrugged, "Plus…it's Ms. Decker's class…that woman needs to be put in jail, if she even IS a woman."

I rolled my eyes at him.

He never liked Ms. Decker. She always yelled and picked on him…I almost don't blame her or HIM for that matter. She was mean, meaner than a lion, bear, giant rainbow monkey, Father, and a Mushi combined. No matter how much you'd TRY and stay on her good side it wouldn't matter. She'd still end up calling you a kiss up, teacher's pet, or brown noser for it. Either way she hated you. BUT she hated Natsu the most.

"You know you're going to get a detention."

"Yup," he replied short and sweet, not really paying much attention.

"Then see you later."

He nodded as he leaned against the lockers in thought.

I nodded back and walked into my classroom.

Natsu never really cared for going into class anyways. Periodically he'd just skip a day, a class, a week…whatever he felt like skipping he did. But, he got in trouble for it. That's why so many teachers and the principal hate him…he's what people may call…bad. Okay yeah, not a very good name but that's what he was, bad. He fought other guys at times ,skipped school, and never did what he was told. He was bad, yet, he was my friend and he always would be…I should hope.

"Yes, M-Ms. D-Decker, I'll make sure not to be late again…"

She cut me a very disturbing, murderous look, "See that you do Fullbuster, or I'll have to see that you get expelled."

"Expelled?" I cried, fearfully, "B-but I didn't do anything but be late acouple times!"

She grew an angrier look that scared me.

I never got why she was a teacher. She was so mean; so scary that I could not figure out why the principal or the school didn't just fire her. I understood why none of the students try to tattle on her…their could be trouble for that student if the school knew and didn't care, but with Ms. Decker knowing…you'd might as well be dead.

There were certain rumors about how she was in prison or something. She taught at another school before this and then murdered one of the students-maybe more-for just talking back to her. All the rumors got even more insane and ridiculous that I just try and ignore them. There was never any REAL story to believe and no one would dare ask her.

Ms. Decker never seemed to really bother me as much. I just tried my best to obey and if I had to…kiss up once or twice. She slightly admired my optimism for school and how well I did my work but she couldn't forget me being Natsu's friend. She hated him.

"Look, you're a good student Mister Fullbuster so I'm going to give you a small piece of advice."

My eyes grew at that moment.

I didn't know what she was going to say, but she never truly answered me about how I didn't deserve to be expelled. It kind of worried me. Why would she give advice? I finally knew after she gave me a hardened look and glanced out the door at Natsu, who was not paying any attention at the time, and looked back at me. She did not want me to see him.

"A descent boy like you shouldn't be hanging with delinquents like Natsu Dragneel…and if you know what's good for you. You best leave him alone or you could end up as bad as he is. Heed my advice. Don't. . Dragneel." She wanted to make her words clear.

They were clear alright; but I had no intention on listening to them. What I did want…was lunch.

"So, what did Ms. Decker want?" Jellal questioned me with his brow raised as he took a bite of his sandwich, "I saw you and her talking."

Natsu set his gaze on me as well.

"She told me that if I kept getting there late she'd get me expelled!"

Natsu growled lowly to himself, "Figures…"

Jellal rolled his orbs at Natsu then glanced back at me, "She won't do that, you're the only student she has ever admitted to admire. She won't let you go."

"What about egg boy?" Natsu hissed, "She got HIM expelled just for asking a question."

"He asked her why she looked more like a man then a woman," I stated.

Natsu began to laugh, "I keep wondering the same thing."

I couldn't help but chuckle myself. That woman DID look similar to a man. I could tell though from across the table Jellal wasn't laughing. He was simply moving his drink back and forth in abit of boredom.

Natsu noticed him to, "What's got into you?"

Jellal shrugged, "Nothing. Just can't help but think of Erza. She liked making fun of Ms. Decker."

Jellal had sunk. He was dead in love and I couldn't help but feel pity for him.

"Did you talk to her yesterday?" I wondered.

He nodded slowly, "She said she didn't want to talk. She just wanted to go home. So I let her…." He sighed, "I don't think the girls are going to change their minds. They're done with us."

I didn't believe that. Not for a moment, but kept silent.

"Maybe you're right." Natsu threw in, "But who needs them."

I gazed at him in slight shock.

"If they want to be stubborn and not forgive us…we shouldn't have to mope around about it. We tried to say sorry several times and if they want us back they can just talk to us themselves," he spoke.

"What happened yesterday?" I looked at Natsu in wonder.

He didn't respond. I knew he didn't want to talk about it, but I couldn't help but over hear from the table behind me. There sat: Juvia and Lucy eating their lunch alone to themselves.

I listened intently on them.

I wouldn't think of it as eaves dropping, just getting some answers that I needed to solve a case. I wasn't a detective for nothing. Okay, I wasn't REALLY a detective but I had a hat…which is at home in a box, up in the attic because it got to small for my head …but in my mind I still have the hat. Technically.

I took a bite of my ice cream sandwich and eaves dro-I mean, listened to the case.

Mmmm this was a good ice cream sandwich. So tasty and juicy. I just want to-

"What happened last night, girl?" Juvia questioned Lucy.

I stopped my daydreaming on my ice cream sandwich and paid close attention.

"Come on, you can tell me anything, and Juvia KNOWS something's not right."

"Well…you know how all of you left me and Natsu at the beach last night?"

"Yeah…Juvia remembers."

"Well, he said he wanted to talk to me so I decided to go with him…he tried to apologize."

"That's great girl. So did you forgive?"

"No," Lucy answered.

"What? Why?" Juvia cried.

I could tell Juvia was not happy, but disappointed and upset. I was too.

"I just…I'm just SO mad and…still hurt by what he did. I can't…"

"Girl, maybe it's about time we get over this thing. We've been fightin' for too long now."

Lucy rubbed her temples then sighed a heavy, upsetting sigh, "I know…but…if only it were that easy…"

I pondered on her words and they echoed inside of me.

What exactly is that supposed to mean?

"Come on baby, now what is that supposed to-"

Lucy but in, "I don't want to talk about it."

Juvia nodded in understanding.

"So, after he tried to apologize what happened?"

"He said, 'I love yo-' and stopped himself then he told me he loved my nuts."

I couldn't help but glance back at Natsu with a quizzical look.

What does Lucy have to do with nuts? Lucy doesn't even have nuts. Unless her mom owned a nut company as well as working at her own. I like nuts…Almonds, Pecans, Peanuts, and Cashews; so tasty and salty. I always preferred the salty ones but could withstand the-

"He said what girl?" Juvia gave an odd look and thought she had misunderstood.

Lucy only bopped her head in response.

Juvia was silent for a moment as she took in what she had heard.

"Wow…well, Juvia thinks you guys make the PERFECT couple. After all, you love walnuts, and he loves your nuts. You could both run a nut factory together," Juvia chuckled.

I couldn't help but want to laugh but I stayed quiet.

Lucy didn't find it funny and glared at Juvia; then she set her gaze to her lunch and looked awfully upset.

"Oh, Juvia's just kidding, it's alright baby. You know Natsu he's always mixing things up and sayin' stupid things. It don't mean nothing."

"…But for a split second I could have sworn he was going to say…" she let her words fade.

Juvia awaited her to finish, "Say what?"

"Never mind, it doesn't matter anymore. He said what he said, end of story."

For the next few minutes I watched them, hoping that they'd finish their conversation…but they never did. My ice cream sandwich was getting cold so I turned back to the table and ate the last bite.

Not even a ice cream sandwich could make what happened this past weekend feel better. The only thing I could think of that would repair this feeling…was repairing our friendship first.

Natsu slammed his locker shut and slid from it to the floor of the hall. Some students gave him weird looks, others walked on trying not to cause conflict because they knew better, and others had paid not the slightest bit of attention. I did.

"How are you doing?"

He didn't answer for a moment then answered, "OK."

OK? I'm pretty sure that's in the middle of good and bad.

"Just okay?" I questioned him.

He nodded.

A student peered down at him and Natsu snarled.

"What are you looking at?" he snapped at the guy.

The guy widened his eyes in fear and raced down the hallway; he was stopped by non other than Ms. Decker.

"Running in the hall? Tell me, boy, why were you running? Are you hurt? In trouble?" She sneered.

"N-no sir-I mean, ma'm," the guy stuttered.

Poor teenager…

"It's Ms. Decker to you," she glared, "Now if no one is in trouble or hurt then why are you running? Are you a hooligan, boy? Are you getting influenced by Natsu Dragneel?"

She spoke his name. It wasn't a big shock…her and Natsu have to much conflict…or just her, but then again, there were times when he pulled pranks on her. Even when someone ELSE pulled a prank on her it didn't matter. She always assumed everything led up to him. That he was poisoning student's minds as well, but he wasn't.

The student gulped, "N-no Ms. Decker, j-just trying to get to class."

"Then I suggest you walk along and don't be running anymore in these halls or you'll be hearing from me again, understand?"

He didn't answer.

"Understand?" she hissed.

He nodded and stalked down the hall.

"…AND NOT SO SLOW!" she screamed, and went back into her classroom.

I set my eyes back on Natsu, "I heard what you said to Lucy yesterday."

He didn't answer.

"Are you going into class?"

"Probably not."

I looked down at my feet then back at him, "Her nuts?"

That's all it took and he sprinted up like a kangaroo.

"She told you about that?" he frowned.

"Actually, I happened to be in hearing distance-"

"Eaves-dropping?"

I frowned and placed my hands on my hips, "It was not eaves dropping!" I protested.

He ignored me and set his mind in thought.

"What were the nuts about anyways?"

He sighed as I stared at him in hush.

"Well, I was going to tell her something else, but then I started thinking about the Volleyball game."

"So? What does that have to do with nuts?" I wondered.

"Then I thought about all the other sports I would have rather played, like soccer or baseball."

I gave a nod in signifying that I was listening but wanted him to go on.

"…And then I pictured myself going to one of those baseball games, and there is where they serve all that good food and peanuts…"

I finally began to understand. Natsu had a strange way of going off the subject in his mind but it made sense since it was Natsu.

"Then I felt like eating some peanuts and I just love those nuts at baseball games…and that's what I was thinking."

Natsu almost blew my mind, and if it hadn't been for the fact that I was used to this sort of thing by now…I would have been shocked at his small stupidity.

"That kind of makes sense…for you it does anyways."

He nodded slowly then leaned against the lockers once again.

"Still not going in?"

He actually appeared to be considering it but turned me down with a shake of the head.

He told me he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts and didn't like doing them in a classroom. I 'sort of' understood and left inside my own class. Which is where I noticed someone I had been meaning to talk to for some time now. Juvia Loxar.

"Juvia," I whispered next to her.

She rolled her dark orbs and replied softly, "What?"

I was ready to talk to her, and this could be the only time I got a chance, so, I took it.

"I heard what you and Lucy were talking about over lunch."

Juvia cut me a disapproving look, "Boy, you been spying on us? You being nosy again?"

I repeated her look and wanted to yell out then and there in protest to her reply but thought it best not to get in even more trouble today.

"No…I was doing some investigating."

"Riiight," she answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

She shook her head sadly at me, "So, what did you hear?"

I quietly whispered what I had heard from lunch to her and she only nodded slowly in response, keeping her eyes on the teacher.

"So? What do we do?" I wondered, in a low whisper.

She only sighed and rubbed the ends of her temples abit.

"Juvia don't know yet. She's thinking."

I awaited another reply but she had said enough for the moment.

"So…anything else I should know?" I whispered.

"Boy, you really are nosy."

"Stop saying that," I snapped in a whisper, "Now can you answer?"

"Erza got abit upset today," she sighed sadly.

"What for?"

"You know Mira is the one she hangs out with in lunch right?"

Of course I knew. I guess I'll always be a 'stupid boy' to her. She still yelled at me, and plenty other guys and she had certain moods…but she's been getting better over the years. She was still a boy hater but better.

I only bopped my head slowly in response, not making any eye contact or there would be trouble.

"Well, your never gonna guess who Mira was sitting with THIS time."

"Ultear?" I took a wild guess.

"Nope, Laxus," she answered straight up.

My eyes widened in surprise.

Laxus? She doesn't mean-

"Laxus? OUR Laxus? Laxus Dreyar? Master Makarov grandson". I asked in thought.

She nodded, "Yeah, that Laxus."

"Why? Were they talking about something? Are they, all of a sudden, friends? You know, those two hate each other."

"Juvia knows, but it appears…they're both going out and Erza is acting abit depressed about it. It's 'cause she has no one now and every time she looks at them she thinks of her and Jellal."

My mouth gaped open in shock.

Them? Dating? How, just how, could MIRA STRAUSS be dating LAXUS DREYAR? They HATE each other, no, LOATHED each other back.. Now, they're DATING? What in the world?

"Mr. Fullbuster, have anything you wish to share to the class?" the teacher wondered with a frown.

"Uh, n-no, I'm good."

"Then I suggest you stop catching flies with your mouth and pay attention."

I closed my mouth in hast and sneaked a glance at Juvia.

She shook her head sadly, "That's what happened. Now don't go being so nosy anymore, fool. You gonna get us BOTH in trouble."

With those words, I returned my gaze to the teacher and didn't say not another word to Juvia.

"So, then I said to her, 'Who do you think you are talking to?' and she was like, 'Uh…you.' And I was like, 'I don't think so,' Yukino gossiped to her friends in the hall.

"Wow, I can't believe she said that to you, girl. She has no right," replied one of her friends.

"I know right? She was being such an idiot, and like O. M. G. I can't believe she would talk to me like that. It's like she doesn't know who I am. Nail file me."

The blonde, blue eyed girl by the name of Chelsea handed Yukino her nail file and gasped, "O. M. G. Is that a broken nail?" Chelsea cried, as peered down at her own nails.

Chelsea began to hyperventilate as her friends gasped and screamed.

"We HAVE to get you to the girl's bathroom IMMEDIATELY before someone sees!" One of the other girls, Victoria, shouted in fear and hast.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

All this fuss over a broken nail? Really? NO ONE in their right mind would be crying over a broken nail…Or atleast that's what I thought.

"You girls go fix Chelsea's nail QUICK, I have to go talk to acouple of people," Yukino stated as the girls nodded and rushed through the bathroom door.

Yukino came toward my direction but didn't acknowledge me.

At first, I felt abit upset that she cared not one thing about me. I always thought she was rather pretty but she had no idea that I existed; which is NOW good. After giving a lot of thought on Yukino I realized she was nothing but a big poser, conceited, and didn't care whatsoever for any girls or average guys she came in contact with.

She had only come a few weeks ago and already she had taken over the school. I contemplated on that fact. Why was she here? Why did her parents even move? More importantly, where did she learn to be such a dictator and actually get people to listen to her? She ruled most of the school already and it was an amazement to me. At first, I couldn't help but find her hot and in-genius, but really; she wasn't more than just looks and knew how to handle people.

Last week, she even asked me to help her with her homework and I could carry her books, I accepted, and come to find out that she had been doing the same with other nerds-I mean, smart students like me. I was pretty hurt, but now I'm over it. The next time she asked, I had turned her down and she hasn't talked to me since.

Right now I just felt bad for Natsu. He was being roped into all her nonsense and seduced into it all, but Natsu was smarter than that. Sure, Natsu was stupid but he knew better for looks and he never once gave Yukino a second glance. Why Natsu had accepted to take Yukino instead of Lucy to the dance when Yukino hadn't even asked him yet but Lucy did, was a mystery to me. A lot of stuff was a mystery to me, and intended to get to the bottom of it all. I just hope Natsu really doesn't feel that much for Yukino; otherwise, he'll probably be crushed to find out that she only likes him for his looks…most girls did; also, his toughness, rebellions, and-not to mention-him SUPPOSEDLY playing hard to get. We all know Natsu wasn't playing anything though.

Yukino leaned against a locked and batted her eyelashes. She beamed, showing all her pearly whites.

"Hi Natsu," She grinned.

Natsu looked over at her with a frown, "What?"

"Well, I'm just so excited that you decided to take me to the dance and I was wondering something…"

"What's that?"

"What color dress should I wear?" she pulled out a magazine and pointed at some dresses, "Which one goes better with my precious, blue eyes?"

I could tell he wanted to laugh at that moment abit but he tried not to show it and did not laugh. I guess the thought of her eyes being "precious" and having to go with her dress was something to laugh about.

"Uh…" he glanced at the magazine and pointed to a random dress.

He knows nothing of dresses. I would have gone with a turquoise dress to match her eyes and fit well with her complexion, but that's just me.

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Natsu! We're going to have SO much fun!"

He only gave a grimace look and stared, "Yeah…sure…whatever."

He turned back around not really caring and Yukino walked off to where Lucy was.

Uh oh.

"Tell me, Kuli, how does it feel to not have the hottest guy as your date?" Yukino smirked.

Lucy scowled but said no word.

I thought I heard her murmur "It's Lucy" but wasn't so sure.

"What's that? Oh, I know your jealous. Who wouldn't be jealous of me," Yukino gave a cackle and stalked off.

It might have seemed like a giggle or possibly a chuckle but it seemed more of a cackle to me.

Lucy sighed sadly and went over to her locker in silence.

I wanted to go over to Lucy and comfort her abit and make her feel better but I figured I shouldn't.

To me surprise though, I spotted Natsu glancing at Lucy with slight look of compassion but he shook it off.

Lucy sighed once again as she stood in silence.

Natsu sneaked a glance over at her again as Lucy did the same to him. Their eyes met in silence then they quickly turned back to what they were doing before.

Lucy held her books tightly in her arms, getting a good grip and started to walk down the hall. At the same time, Natsu was walking toward something and they collided, falling to the ground. I probably would have laughed as long as they were alright and it was a normal day but I decided to keep my voice away from their encounter.

Lucy began to pick up her books she had dropped, "Uh sorry about that Natsu, "She blushes slightly.

Natsu nodded as he picked up one of her books and handed it to her. She looked up into his black eyes and said nothing for a moment as she put her book in her pile with the others.

"Thanks…uh see you around," is all she said as she fled off.

Natsu stared after her, closed his own locker, and walked off slowly. I watched him walk off and proceeded to my own day.

"Another day, another horrible day off PE," I sighed as I changed into my shirt.

"Oh, are you kidding, mate? It isn't THAT bad," Natsu tried to brighten up my spirits I think, or he REALLY thought it wasn't that bad.

"Says you, you like doing sports; where as, I like doing all my hard work on inventions and missions."

He rolled his eyes, "Well, it really wasn't all that bad today."

I didn't want to talk about this anymore so I tried to change the subject.

"So…what's the deal with you and Yukino today? For your date to the dance you sure weren't very happy to see her," I observed.

He frowned, "Is all you do lately is being nosy?"

"I'm not nosy!" I objected in rage, "I'm just trying to figure this all out."

"Right, nosy…" he mumbled.

I frowned.

"I saw Ultear," Jellal threw in.

"Really? What happened?"

"She wanted to talk to me alter but I told her I was busy."

"With what?" I wondered.

"We have another mission tonight," he answered.

"This better not be a false alarm!" Natsu cried.

"It won't," Jellal said as he finished changing.

I sat on one of the benches in silence then cried, "Heey! You never answered me, Natsu!"

He rolled his eyes once again, "She's just not my favorite person right now."

"Then why are you going with her to the dance?" I questioned him.

He looked down then up again, "You really want to know why?"

Jellal and I nodded in unison.

"Well, the trust is…the reason I'm going with Yukino is-"

A few guys came running in: Sting, Steve (Sting's best friend), and another random boy.

Sting and Steve were going on and laughing about something.

"I'm telling you, Steve, this dance is going to be a night I'll never forget," Sting conceded.

"I believe it."

"Lucy and I are really gonna-" Sting glanced at us, particularly Natsu, and smirked.

I glanced over at Natsu who was nearly burning a hole in Sting's head, while Jellal was scowling to himself. I couldn't help but want to glare as well.

"Dragneel," Sting had a grimaced appearance on his face and nodded slightly.

"Eucliffe," Natsu replied with a glare.

Sting made no further contact and left with Steve out the door.

You could feel the tension in the room, but still, I really wondered why Natsu didn't just pounce on him then and there. Why he didn't just beat him up any other time they approached one another. They loathed each other and I knew that Natsu loathed him more than even Ms. Decker, Father, and even Jaime combined in one person. That sure was a lot of hate he was carrying in that tiny brain of his. I should know, I saw his brain once when me, Jellal, and Juvia went inside of him at age 10 to retrieve a Brussels sprout, but that's beside the point.

The boy came over to one of the lockers in the locker room and we all just stood in silence for a moment.

"Crud, I hate that Sting Eucliffe," Natsu cried in a low growl.

Jellal only sighed slightly.

"What's the matter with you?" the boy asked Jellal.

"Just stressed," replied Jellal, rubbing his temples, "I got dumped earlier this week," he admitted.

"Oh sorry about that, I know how it feels…I got dumped not so long ago too with a person I loved, like really did; the names Kevin, by the way, Kevin Bob Anderson."

"BOBBBBBBBB!" I cried as I cuffed my hands over my eyes.

Kevin looked at be weirdly, "Yeah Kevin Bo-"

"BOBBBBBBB!" I exclaimed once again trying to not let my tear fall.

Natsu and Jellal rolled their eyes at me.

"What? All I said was-"

Jellal put his hand over Kevin's mouth, "Don't say that word. Gray lost his pet the other day and was heartbroken about it."

Kevin nodded and Jellal put his hand back to his side.

"Why you care about that cruddy lizard anyway-" Natsu began, but I cut him off.

"BOOOOOOOOBBB!"

Jellal shook his head sadly at me then frowned at Natsu.

"What?" Natsu questioned Jellal's frown with one of his won.

Jellal shook his head and sat on the bench with me.

Bob was my very best friend. Sure, he was a lizard but I loved him all the same. We did everything together and he was the best pet in the world. I got him quite a long time ago and now he was gone. It was so heartbreaking. Every time I hear his name I think of all the good times, chilidogs, and jokes we used to share. Once, I even wrote a paper on him for school. Natsu just thought I was stupid and Juvia suggested I should have wrote it on Jellal or Natsu. I wanted to write in on Bob though. He meant the world to me and now I could never see him, hold him, or talk to him ever again. I miss him so much….-!

"OBBBBBBBB!" I cried once more.

Jellal placed his hand on my shoulder in comfort and sympathy. Natsu just sat on another bench and did nothing but stare.

He didn't like Bob.

"I know how you feel I lost me a pet one time too. His name was Buster and he was a dog," said Kevin.

"…But mine wasn't a dog. He was a lizard."

"Oh, but I'm sorry about that," he sat in between Jellal and me.

We glanced at him then down.

"It's so hard when you lose someone so close. Whether it dying…and you getting dumped."

Jellal and I nodded in agreement and sighed.

Natsu just stared at us like we were too pathetic for him to include himself in the conversation or, even, know us.

"Erza dumped me cold and won't even talk to me or give me a chance to talk at all," Jellal said.

"I didn't even get to say good bye to…" I sniffled, "Bob."

"I know man, best thing that ever came my way and now gone," Kevin, huge and muscular guy, wrapped his arms over on our shoulders and began to weep.

We did the same.

Natsu rolled his eyes and slapped his palm over his forehead as we all cried.

"ERZA!" Jellal cried.

"BOOOOOOBBBB!" I wiped at my eyes.

"LARRRRYYYY!" Kevin wept.

My eyes widened, and narrowed themselves as I glanced over at Jellal. Jellal stared over at me with a weird look plastered upon his face. I copied his expression and gazed over at Kevin, who was sobbing with his arms around our shoulders. I carefully, took his arm from over my shoulder and released his grip, as Jellal did the same. Once we were free of his grasp we just stared at him for a moment in silence and glanced at one another with weird looks.

Natsu just had abit of wide eyes and carefully and slowly got up, making his way out the boy's locker room. Jellal and I slowly stepped back and out the door, whistling abit.

Later that day, many girls came over to me crying and exclaimed, "Gray the magnificent, we need your awesomely and hot self to help!"

I took the last bite of my ice cream sandwich and-

"Okay, Gray that's enough!"

NO POV

"W-why? I was just getting to the good part," I whined abit.

"Shoot, boy, you know that never happened!"

"Yes, it did!"

"First, your bein' nosy and now you're lyin," Juvia exclaimed.

"I'm not lying! That really happened!"

"Riight."

Gray frowned.

"Look, Juvia was just wanting to know how it went today is all. Ain't gotta narrate everything baby."

Gray nodded in response.

"So, now what do we do?" Gray wondered.

Juvia pondered on it for a moment, as Gray waited patiently for her answer.

"Well, you know, you and Juvia agreed yesterday after the whole beach incident that we were both cool and that we'd try to get our friends back together again."

Gray nodded once again in remembrance.

"Well, like Juvia said, she's sorry for what happened."

Gray smiled, "Oh, it's fine. I knew you really didn't mean it."

"Juvia was just trying to not be stuck in the middle…but she don't know what she was thinking. All this mess over some stupid misunderstandings…"

"I know, and it's not even necessary anymore, but for the record, I'm sorry too."

Juvia smiled warmly, "Juvia just hopes this'll all get straightened out."

"Yeah, so….Juvia?"

"Yeah baby?"

"Umm….about the dance, I know what I did with Natsu was wrong but I was hoping…"

"Oh, sorry Gray, I can't go with yah," Juvia declined abit sadly.

"What? Why not?" Gray questioned in persistence.

"…'Cause Juvia already got a date," She chuckled, "over a dare too."

"W-who with?"

"Steve."

"Steve? Our Steve? Sting's best friend?"

Juvia bopped her head slowly in reply, "Look, Juvia's sorry she has to leave yah but it wasn't like you really wanted to anyways, right? It was just a bet between good friends…"

Gray looked down then up again, chuckling nervously, "H-huh right, just a bet."

Juvia looked at him alittle sorrowfully then shook it off.

"Juvia thinks she knows what to do."

"What?"

"Juvia thinks we should talk to them. Since we've got plenty of talking down already, Juvia'll talk to Jellal and Natsu while you talk to Lucy and Erza."

"…But what if they don't want to talk to me? What if they don't want to listen? Lucy might but Erza I don't know too well…"

"Look, Lucy probably will but as for Erza, you're gonna have to make her listen. Juvia's sure she can get through to Jellal and probably Natsu too."

"So, tomorrow I'll talk to the girls after school and you talk to the men?"

Juvia nodded.

"Good luck. Natsu's being pretty stubborn now."

"Aww Juvia can handle him. It's YOU that's gonna have abit of trouble."

"So, deal?"

"Deal."

They shook handles and sealed it. Tomorrow they would talk to their friends and try make things right