Chapter 25: What Friends are For
Tuesday 4:05 P.M.
Time Till Dance: 4 days, 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 38 seconds.
He placed his backpack over his shoulders and stalked out of the schoolyard. His salmon color hair swished with the wind as it blew eastward, covering his black orbs from the sun. He halted in front of the street, waiting as the cars passed by. He gazed over at the trees in wonder, hoping that someday he would be as lucky as trees…care free and content. He spotted a female squirrel resting her nuts at the inside of the tree, as a male squirrel came hopping along and crawling up the tree to the other squirrel. At that point, the squirrels took a nut each and began to eat their late lunch or early dinner with one another. The boy stared at them for a moment in silence and contemplation.
-SPLASH-
He glanced down at himself in wonder then rage as he gazed at the water that had splashed all over himself and his clothes. He growled lowly to himself and set his gaze at the car before him.
"Eucliffe," he hissed in low anger.
Sting smirked at Natsu with which Natsu felt to punch off his face.
"Well, well…how's it going, Dragneel?" He examined Natsu smirking evilly, "Did you have an accident?"
Natsu growled.
"You know, maybe you shouldn't go to the dance…you may end up leaking your punch out everywhere."
The Salmon hair boy hissed at him, "Shut up, Eucliffe. You know you did it."
"Did I? Huh, clumsy me, but maybe you should re-consider going to the dance anyways…wouldn't want MY Lucy to get mad at you would you?"
Natsu's fury began to raise more inside of him.
Did he say MY Lucy?
"Think about it Dragneel," he sneered, "And you may want to consider bringing an extra change of clothes…" he chuckled as he drove off.
Natsu spat and muttered, "It's no wonder he was held back…he's a real idiot."
He kicked a stone with his foot hard and marched across the street, taking a final glance at the squirrels before turning a corner to his house.
Gray's POV
I can do this…no pressure. Just our entire friendship is in the hands of Juvia and I…
I gulped and knocked my fist against the door. I waited.
I can't afford to mess this up. This is important. No yippers, jokes, Doctor Time space and the Continuums, or ice cream sandwich until I fix this…Okay, maybe ice cream sandwich …Great. Now I'm hungry.
The blonde haired, violet eyed, girl better known as Lucy, answered the door and stared quizzically at me.
"Gray? What are you doing here?"
Did she expect no one or perhaps Natsu…?
"Uhh," I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, "C-can we talk?"
I could tell she was thinking on it for a moment.
She finally replied, "Sure."
I gave a toothy grin and came inside the house.
She let me in, that's progress.
She closed the door gently behind me as I sat on her family's couch. She followed not long after and we both sat there in silence for a few seconds, taking in what has been happening and the situation.
I could tell that she could guess why I was there. Yet, she still asked-
"So, what is it you need to talk to me about?" she wondered.
"Well…where do I start…?" I thought on it as she kept her eyes on me.
How am I going to put this?
"Why?"
She gave an odd look and raised her brow.
Very odd and not descriptive but that's what we all were thinking this entire weekend. Why aren't we all friends? Why am I so mad? Why won't she forgive me? Why won't I forgive him? What's the point in all this? Why stay mad? Why stay sad? Why did this have to happen? Why did I do that? The question 'why' could never end in our minds…yet she still wondered-
"Why, what?" She cocked her eyebrow at me.
I didn't move my blue eyes from Lucy's brown.
"Why are we fighting?" I just picked the main question I had been dying to come to an answer for.
She sighed ever so lowly, "I don't know."
She didn't know? How could she not? I decided to take this opportunity to let her know what I knew about some of the situation…even if by the off chance I ended being called "nosy" once again. I needed my answers. I wasn't 'sort of' a detective for nothing.
"What do you mean you don't know? I mean, I did over hear you and Juvia talking and you said 'if only it were that easy' but what did you mean?" I questioned.
"You heard that?" She asked in surprise.
I gave a nod in response, as she blushed a bit.
"Sorry…I guess I can be kind of loud sometimes…"
I wanted to just tell her that I was listening on purpose, so she wasn't actually being too loud but I concluded not to. She was being honest and on my side-at the moment-I couldn't afford to have her think I was being nosy…or even just call me that again. I am not nosy!
"It's okay, Lucy, so…what did you mean?" I repeated my question.
"Can I be honest with you?" she looked me straight in the eyes.
Her eyes seemed to be a bit upset, like she wanted to tell someone something and it was killing her slightly. She seemed confused as well.
"Yes."
"You PROMISE you won't tell Natsu?"
I nodded, "I promise."
She said Natsu, but she didn't say anything about Juvia or anyone else…
"You can't tell anyone either. Not Juvia, Natsu, Jellal, Erza…no one."
Crud!
"Yes, you can trust me Lucy
"True," she giggled a bit.
Did I make her laugh? AM I FUNNY? Okay, moving off topic, sorry. I KNEW I WAS FUNNY-anyways…
I awaited her to talk and she only sighed.
"Gray, I wish-wish we never had this stupid fight. I miss our friendship. I want us all to be friends, and I hate pretending to ignore Natsu. He has always been my best friend-no offence-and I didn't mean to hurt him. This thing has gotten so out of hand. When I was saying to Juvia that, 'I wish it were that easy' I meant would he ever, or any of you, forgive us for holding such a big grudge. I was so mean to you guys and I'm not sure what came over me, and I was afraid that if I went to you guys saying sorry it would only make things worse," her eyes filled with tears of sadness and possibly some relief.
My mouth gaped.
"None taken," is all I could say.
I was speechless.
I wonder how long Lucy has been feeling like this? Why couldn't she have said something sooner? Why hasn't she mentioned any of this to Juvia?
"So, why did you keep it going for so long? Was it because of the girls?"
"No…, I guess part of me was still furious a-and heartbroken," she answered.
"Heartbroken?" I echoed.
She nodded slowly.
"So, why were you mad?"
"I guess I felt mad, upset, and bad that Natsu said no to me…and lied. I don't know why but it was tough to get over. Probably because of how Yukino is…"
Yukino...No further answers to that. We ALL know how she can be, except maybe most of the guys in school that are seduced by her charms and beauty, Natsu (maybe), and a few girls...with which she had become friends with and didn't despise...yet.
"I understand, but I need to know something else Lucy."
"What is that?"
"Do you like Natsu?"
She bit her lip with her teeth.
Juvia's POV
I searched all about my room.
Where is it?
I examined my closet then peeked into my drawers and found only clothes. I threw some of my clothes onto the floor but what I was looking for was nowhere to be seen.
"Minerva, did yah take Juvia's magazines?" I frowned with my hands on my hips.
Minerva walked into my room and set her gaze at me, "No, why would I take your magazines girl? I got my own, and wouldn't bother in stealing baby magazines," she rolled her brown eyes and walked out again.
That girl gets on my nerves sometimes…but she's still my sista and Juvia loves her. No matter how rotten she used to act towards her. She has been better.
I got down to the level of the floor and planted my knees on the carpet. I stuck my head under the bed and smiled warmly.
"There they are," I spoke to myself as I clutched the magazines with my hand.
"There what are?"
Immediately, I thumped my head upward on the bed. I took my head back out, rubbing it with the back of my palm.
I glared a bit to myself, "Geez…" I glanced up at the Brit that had spoke.
"Juvia, you should be more careful," he chuckled slightly as he offered his hand to me.
I rolled my dark orbs at him and grabbed hold of his hand. He pulled me upward to his level once again, as I rubbed my head a final time.
"Juvia wouldn't have to if you had knocked."
"Sorry, Minerva let me inside and told me I could find you in here."
I nodded in understanding.
"So, why did you call me over here?" Jellal wondered.
Here we go…
"Thought we could get some catchin' up done, baby," I patted his back with my hand in a friendly way.
He stared at me for a moment, "I was kind of surprised to hear that you wanted to see me…"
"Why is that, boss?"
"…With…all that has been happening, I was thinking you switched sides."
"Nah, Jellal, Juvia could never go back on her word and her friend."
He smiled slightly and nodded a bit on comprehension.
"Look, Juvia just wishes for us all to go back to bein' friends and putting this thing behind us. This fight is just getting out of hand for no reason."
"Erza has a right to be mad at me, I shouldn't have let Ultear come over…then she wouldn't have kissed me."
"We all make mistakes, except Juvia," I smirked playfully at him.
"Uh huh," he replied sarcastically, trying to humor me.
I rolled my eyes once again.
"I don't think Erza is going to take me back…"
"Why do you think that?"
He sighed lowly to himself, "Because I hurt her, and she won't even listen to me."
"Boy, don't you know nothin'? If she won't listen to yah, yah have to MAKE her listen and hear every word you gotta say."
"I don't know, I think everything would be a lot easier if I didn't try hounding her anymore. We're over."
I sighed to myself low so he wouldn't hear.
That's not what Juvia wanted to hear. You think he wouln't give up that quickly and easily, but he never once begged for Ultear to come back.
"Are yah sure Jellal?"
He nodded slowly and I could tell he was disappointed in himself for giving up.
I knew he was right. If he kept pressing, it could just make matters worse.
"Then would yah except still bein' friends?"
"I don't know, Juvia, but if we were at least friends then I could maybe at least get to be around her if she even would let me."
"You don't know unless yah try."
He set his gaze into my eyes and mine in his.
"What's that?" he pointed to a book on my desk. It was a very dark blue and cherry red with a tiny bit of white.
"That's nothing; just Juvia's Journal," I responded.
He went over to the book and picked it up.
"Fool, yah better put that book down," I stared at him hard.
"Is there something you don't want me to read?"
"No…but that's Juvia's personal business so-"
He flipped through the pages with his fingers and examined the inside.
"Jellal…"
"How long have you had this?" He asked not leaving his eyes off the book.
"Since Juvia can remember. Now give Juvia her journal!" I demanded.
He smirked as he flipped through more pages, "Dear Journal, Juvia-"
"Jellal!" I stood to my feet and stalked over to him.
He hopped quickly on top of my bed, "Wow, so that's why Gray has some issues with clowns…"
"Boy, you better give that back, fool!" I shouted at him.
He hastily bolted out the room and down the stairs as I flew after.
When I get my hands on that fool he is SO dead!
I darted down the stairs to the living room where he was. He had stopped behind the sofa and I was on the opposite side of it. He glanced down at the book and widened his eyes.
It was too late. Juvia just knows what he had read. He now knew the truth.
He slammed the book shut quickly and tossed it to me.
"Here, s-sorry," he had a small smirk plastered on his face as I caught the book.
"What did you read, fool?" I demanded with a frown.
"Heh," he chuckled nervously, "Well…" he stopped in mid sentence.
I raised a brow at him, "What?"
"Have you been crying?" he pointed to some used tissues on the sofa.
It was actually my mama's tissues. She always enjoyed soap operas and stuff that made her cry; French soap operas that Juvia doesn't really understand. Why did he think JUVIA was the one that had been crying? Oh great, it is probably Gray. Since he doesn't know Gray has switched to Juvia's side, I had better play it cool. Humor him.
"Those are just some tissues-"
"Juvia, what happened to you?" he questioned.
What?
"What are you talkin' bout?"
"You used to be so strong, and now I've heard of you crying? How did you get this way?"
I sighed, "The day you left in Outer space."
The room had gone into an awkward silence.
"Look, things changed whenever you left. Things were getting more and more depressing and then Natsu was taken it kind of hard, Lucy was less cheery, and if it wasn't for Gray ,Juvia doesn't know how she could have gone through it alone. She missed you."
He cleared his throat and gazed at me, "I missed you guys too."
"Juvia knows, but she had to take care of everyone for quite awhile and then Juvia got to be in charge of moon base…" I trailed as I glanced down at the carpeted floor.
He watched me and listened intently on all my words.
"Everything just got more complicated. Juvia has always tried to be strong, but ever since then…Juvia always wondered if we would ever see you again and if you were alright. I guess things did change as we got older…"
"I guess so…but you really haven't changed much," he smiled a bit.
I repeated his look, "Thanks, boss. Look, about what you saw in that journal-"
"I won't tell anyone you like Gray," he stated.
I blushed slightly, but luckily, it wasn't noticeable under my blue cap.
"Yeah…thanks…"
"No problem, Friends?"
"When weren't we?" I teased.
He shrugged, "Good point."
"Yeah, we're friends. Now we got others things to fix though."
"What's that?"
"The rest of the gang; our friendship," I answered.
Gray's POV
"Go away, my sister doesn't want to talk to you," Sol spat and slammed the front door in my face.
I frowned.
I hate Sol. Even after Juvia got him decommissioned, he was still an annoyance and jerk. Anyways, I need to talk to Erza! If only Sol would-Actually, I think I have an idea…
I banged my fist against the door once again. Sol opened the door with a frown.
"Are you still here? If you don't leave, I'm calling the cops!" He threatened.
I had to act fast. I grabbed a good hold onto his arm and pulled the beaver toothed, annoyance out the house.
"Ah! Hey, you touched me! NO ONE TOUCHES ME! DON'T EVER-!"
Before he could finish his ranting, I sprinted into the house and locked the front door behind me.
"Hey! You better open the door!" He screamed in rage.
I smirked and made my way up the stairs, ignoring Sol's cries.
Gray: one Sol: zero.
I carefully opened Erza's room door to see Erza looking down a bit sadly at one of her schoolbooks. I knocked on the inside of the door anyways.
"Uhh, Erza?" I chuckled nervously as I stared down at her.
She glanced up at me with surprise in her eyes.
Why are girls always surprised to see ME at their houses?
"Gray, what are you doing here?"
Told you she was surprised.
"I wanted to uh…talk to you."
"If it's about getting back together with Jellal the answer is still no. We're done, and if he thinks he can just send his friend-"
"He didn't send me. He doesn't even know I'm here," I spoke truthfully.
She saw the truth in my eyes, "Oh."
I nodded.
She shut her schoolbook and placed it over on her desk, "Then what do you need?"
I set my gaze at my feet as they moved back in forth.
Here goes…
"I want us all to be friends again."
She didn't reply but stared at me in silence.
"Look, I know you hate Jellal right now-"
"I don't hate him."
"Well, still, you should know that he would never lie and that he wouldn't do something like that to you. You know he wouldn't and he got over Ultear."
She sighed, "You don't know that and I don't know that. He was off in space most of the time and didn't get back not to long ago, he could have changed. He could still have feelings for Ultear."
"Jellal wouldn't lie though, you know it."
"Look, Gray, it's nice of you to do this but be honest, don't you think he could change; anyone can. Ultear changed and we all have changed at least a little …and with us living in this teenage environment there's no telling."
"You're right. Anyone can change, but I don't think Jellal would change that much. He's my best friend, and he has been since Kindergarten. You've known him since you guys were young yourselves, you know he isn't like that. Just think about what I'm saying before telling him and I no, okay?"
She sighed lowly and nodded a bit, "Fine."
"Look, Erza, I know we haven't always been the CLOSEST of friends but, I just want all of us to be friends again. That's what we all want and I know you do too. Why don't we just stop the anger and if you don't want to take Jellal back…fine, but have to at least be friends with all of us again."
I awaited for her response as she contemplated hard on all of my words.
"I think being around Jellal now might make things awkward…"
"It might, but you guys will get used to it. At least you'd still be friends."
She thought on it, "I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask."
She looked down a bit as I headed towards the door. I was on my way to leave when I stopped in my tracks, "Oh, that reminds me…"
She looked up at me, "What?"
Juvia's POV
"Juvia thinks it's time to let it all just go; time for everyone to stop their fighting."
Natsu thought hard on it. Not hard enough to kill his brain though or atleast what was left of it.
"Lucy hates me and said she didn't know if she could forgive me."
"Yeah, well, she said she didn't know. Now we're trying the best we can to get the whole group of friends back together."
"Wait, who's we?"
My eyes widened.
Juvia wasn't supposed to mention Gray and her. Juvia's gotta act fast. It's time to go off subject...
"It's about time we forgive and forget. Just we're kids at heart doesn't mean we gotta fight like kids all the time to."
He scratched his chin a bit as I rolled my eyes.
"Look, baby, Lucy might possibly want to be friends again. Juvia thinks she thought she overreacted."
"Yeah, and now she's going to the dance with that jerk, Eucliffe," Natsu huffed.
I couldn't help but smirk.
Natsu is jealous of Lucy's date. Juvia figured he would be, but why would he care if-?
"Why should you care? Thought you were goin' with Yukino? May Juvia remind you, that's the only reason she's going with him 'cause you turned her down and lied and now she's still upset and mad."
"That makes two of us…" he muttered under his breathe.
I shook my head sadly at my friend.
"Look, you still wanna be friends with Lucy don't yah?"
"Yeah…"
"Okay then, so you want ALL of us to be friends like before?"
He only nodded in response.
Two for two.
"Then Juvia's gonna make sure that happens, but you got to stop acting the way you're acting…"
"What am I doing?"
"Stop yelling, say your sorry, stop being stubborn, and no more talking about Sting…she's Lucy's date just like Yukino is yours, but you don't see her mouthing Yukino off do you?"
Natsu smirked in a daze, "Sadl-I mean, no."
I cocked my eyebrow at him in wonder then shook it off.
He seems like he's hiding something…
"You sure you're wanting to go to the dance with Yukino?"
Natsu sighed in frustration and didn't say a word but nodded.
"Okay…then."
"Good, now can yah go now? I'm kind of busy."
He set his eyes down at the comics he had been reading. I rolled my brown orbs at him.
"Shouldn't you be studying?"
He just stared.
What was Juvia thinking? Him? Studying?
"Sure, but one other thing…" I handed him a piece of paper.
"What is this?" he picked it up and looked at it.
"Read it."
Gray's POV
Erza glanced at the paper before her.
"Lucy and I earlier planned a…special event for t-tomorrow evening…"
"What kind of event?"
"Bob's….funeral…" I sniffled.
"Oh," she rubbed the back of her neck nervously as she set her eyes downward.
"I still kept him from after the accident and he's at a shoebox at home…tomorrow we're going to bury him at sea…" I looked down sadly.
"Aww Gray, I really am sorry. I know it was partly my fault with stepping on him and all. I didn't mean for him to…you know," I could tell from her eyes that she was truly sorry.
"It was fine. It wasn't your fault, it was just his time," My eyes watered a bit, "At least he's in heaven eating chilidogs, playing yippers with his buddies, watching Dr. Timespace and the continuums, and resting in peace…"
Erza nodded, "Bob's probably happier this way…"
"BOBBBBBB!" I cried.
She patted my back in sympathy.
Juvia's POV
"A cruddy funeral? For that cruddy lizard?" Natsu asked, baffled at the paper before him.
I nodded, "Yeah…We're inviting everybody. It was Lucy and Gray's idea. Jellal's going, Lucy is going, Gray wouldn't miss it for the world, and Juvia bets Erza will go since she kind of did it to him…"
He rolled his green eyes, "Well, I'm not going to some cruddy funeral for a stupid lizard! He's just a lizard for Gray's sake!"
"Gray's? Don't yah mean Pete?"
"We're talking about Gray's lizard, we'll worry about this Pete guys' some other time."
I rolled my eyes at him stupidity.
"So your not gonna go?"
"No way, and I don't even care if everyone is going! He's just a lizard!"
"He's not JUST a lizard, Natsu. You come so you can support Gray; after all, it was mainly YOUR fault."
"Why are people sticking up for this lizard and blaming me? What's so important about Bob?"
"BOBBBBBB!" they heard echoing outside of the window.
Natsu and I glanced at one another with quizzical looks then shook them off.
"What's important is that lizard meant everything to Gray. It was his best friend."
"It's a cruddy lizard!"
"You don't get it do yah? You don't get why he's so upset?"
"…Because he's a nerd that needs a life and better pets with cooler names?"
"Yes...but no. That lizard he got a long time ago. His DAD gave him to him before he-"
"Wait, what did you say?"
I nodded.
"Yeah, fool, his DAD gave it to him. And you know good and well he loves his dad and misses him."
Natsu looked down in guilt and sadness, "I-I didn't know…"
"Well, now yah do."
"I screwed up didn't I?"
I nodded once again as he sighed.
"Fine. I'll go to the cruddy funeral for the cru-I mean, the lizard. I'll say sorry to Gray too."
"Let's just hope that helps."
Natsu rubbed his temples.
"Hey, just don't beat yourself up about it, okay?"
He sighed, "Okay."
"See yah tomorrow, baby."
He waved a bit at me, looking down at his comic books in silence as I fled out the door.
Perfect.
I smirked to myself.
Gray's POV
"BOOOBBBB!" I tried to wipe my tears away.
"I know, I tell you what Gray? I'll go…"
"Y-you will?"
Erza nodded a bit as I smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
We heard a thump and gazed over at the beaver toothed boy that had climbed into the window, breathing heavily, "Now, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND LEAVE MY SISTER ALONE!" he snapped.
Erza frowned, "Sol."
He turned to her.
"Go do your homework."
He huffed and gave me a dirty look as he left the room.
"Thanks again..."
She shook her head sadly at her brother, "He's got some issues," she chuckled, "You're welcome."
Now everything was starting to go good. Tomorrow we would have the funeral, and every one of our friends was to come.