Welcome to the next chapter of Petals. This chapter will probably be the most developing chapter in the entire series. Okay boom! Enjoy yo chapter!

Today was the day that everyone was going to the aquarium. Nashi's confession made everyone take pity on her, so to brighten everyone's moods Gray planned a trip to the local aquarium.

Reiki, Gale, Nashi, Storm, Rin, Sylvia, Juvia and Gray were all the ones who were going. Gale brought a camera, because she wanted to capture every fish there. Her mother loves looking at pretty fish and identifying what species they are so Gale thought she would give her mother a little treat. It's the least she can do after all the things Levy did for her.

All the girls went with Juvia in her car, while all the guys went with Gray in his car. During the car ride, Nashi laid in the corner of the seat rocking back and forth, trying her best not to puke. Gale was doing the same. It seems they both have motion sickness, I wonder why? (hehe)

Sylvia was trying her best to comfort her best friends but that soon failed. By the end of the ride Nashi was passed out with Gale passed out on top of her. That's what friends are for, to pass out with each other.

Rin and Storm were fighting the entire time during their ride, Reiki was screaming at them to stop, while Gray drove the car very irritated. When they finally arrived everyone walked into the aquarian payed for the amount of people they had, and began enjoying their day.

Gale walked around taking a snap of every fish she saw, Rin followed her because he had nothing better to do.

Reiki and Sylvia decided to hang out because they assumed it would be fun. They are a couple afterall. No matter how much they hate it.

Gale stopped to look at some pretty clownfish, a smile was on her small face as she shot a picture of the fish.

"Why are you taking so many pictures. I understand taking pictures of some fish because you think they're pretty, but you're snapping a picture every chance you get" Rin asked, staring at the fish in confusion.

'It isn't even that pretty'

"It just something I'm doing for someone…. okay?" Gale replied, still taking pictures of the fish. "Your boyfriend?" Rin asked, a mischievous look on his face. Gale rolled her eyes at the blue haired boy.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend. Come on let's go to the next fish tank" Gale walked over to the fish tank placed next to the clownfish, she snapped a picture of each fish she saw in that tank.

Rin just stood next to her, watching her take a picture of each individual fish. He groaned in boredom.

"Oh hush." Gale said in response to Rin's groaning. Rin puffed his cheeks out, making him look like a elementary school girl. Gale and Rin were three tanks away from the pufferfish.

Nashi was standing pufferfish tank, a small smile on her face. The entire time they were there, she didn't move from this spot.

Storm, who happened to pass by, noticed Nashi standing there alone. Storm wanted to spend his day alone, because he figured he needed the time, but he couldn't help but feel bad for the small teenage girl.

So he tapped her shoulder, "What are you doing?" he asked. Nashi looked at Storm, smiled, and faced the tank again. Now Storm was confused.

"Why are you smiling so much?" Storm looked at the fish, they didn't seem that interesting. "It's nothing…." Nashi replied, her tone sweet and soft.

~Flashback

One day, when Nashi was five Natsu took her to this exact aquarium. The first place they went was to the pufferfish tank, Nashi insisted they go to this particular tank was because she loved the puffy look they had, she found it funny.

Natsu held the five year old's hand, they looked at the fish together. "Daddy!" Nashi exclaimed happily, pointing to one of the fish. The fish was super close to the glass.

"Yeah, Nashi it's a fish! Do you like it?" Natsu asked. Nashi grinned before replying with, "Yes".

They stared at the fish for a little while longer, Nashi completely entertained. Afterwards Natsu bought his small daughter a pufferfish plushie.

She had so much fun.

Natsu brought Nashi to the aquarium often, and everytime they would just stare at the pufferfish. It was something they both loved to do, it was a way for them to bond.

Nashi looking at the pufferfish now did nothing but remind her of Natsu taking her here, and letting her stare at the pufferfish.

~End of Flashback

"It has to be something" Storm said, he poked the side of her cheek. Nashi stood still. So he poked her again. She continued to stay still. So, for another time, he poked her. Finally she replied, "Stop poking me."

Storm frowned, "What's your deal-" he remembered something. Something very important. Nashi was in a deep despair and he was yelling at her. Right now he felt like a huge jerk.

"Sorry Nash-"

"Storm, you can get mad at me and you get be upset with me. I'm not a china doll, I won't break." Nashi said, not taking her eyes off the tank.

Storm smiled. "You're too tough for you own good" he placed his hands onto the tank, the same as Nashi. Their pinkies were barely touching. That caused a small blush on Storm's cheeks and shockingly Nashi's cheeks to.

Nashi, who didn't turn to face Storm, said something that caught him by surprised, "You're blushing". Storm rolled his eyes, "You're blushing to!".

"Am not" Nashi replied, she really didn't understand what blushing was, as you can tell she's very dense. Storm's face redden, as an angry facial expression was shown. Nashi, this time she turned to face him, smirked.

"You're blushing. Sylvia told me it's when someone's face gets hot and their cheeks change color-" Nashi realised something. Her face felt hot. That's a sign of blushing. Is she blushing?!

"So you realised, huh. You're blushing" Storm said, a devious look on his face. Nashi shared an annoyed expression. "Shut up Storm." she replied. She was about to turn to face the tank again, but her and Storm's hands were now placed upon one another.

When did that happen!?

Nashi just shook it off. It doesn't mean anything. Storm on the other hand was mentally panicking.

'Why is this happening?'

'I can simply just move my hand. But then she'll know that I'm flustered!?'

She was still face to face with Storm, causing him to blush even more. 'Why cruel world, why! This is the first time something like this has ever happened? Why is it happening?'

Storm for a split second stopped thinking. All he did was stare into Nashi's eyes. And little did he know he was leaning in. And she was leaning in. They both didn't know what was happening, if anything they felt like they were being controlled.

After a while, their lips were slowly placed onto each other's. Her soft and smooth lips against his rough one's. (You have no idea how much I was cringing at this moment. My face is bright red right now. ~Past Kenedi)

Gale, who was a few tanks down, looked over to her right to snap a quick photo, but instead she saw Storm and Nashi…. kissing. She quickly took a picture of the scene, in complete shock. Rin, who was standing right next to her, wasn't fazed by it.

Nashi and Storm's lips departed from each other, revealing both of their faces a bright red. "Why." Storm started, "Did." Nashi continued, "That happen" Storm finished. They both turned in the opposite direction, they didn't want to face each other. It was simply too embarrassing.

"Ummm… I have to go!" Storm yelled suddenly, he started sprinting into the other direction.

Gale walked towards Nashi, and tapped her friend on her shoulder.

Nashi turned around, her and Gale were facing each other. Rin just stood behind Gale, a bored look on his face.

"Nashi did you kiss Storm?" Gale asked, calmly, she wasn't trying to rattle Nashi up. Nashi sighed, and didn't say a word. If she told them what happened she would die from embarrassment.

"Did you?" Gale asked again, her voice trying to sound serious but calm at the same time. Nashi didn't speak, but she nodded. Her face flushed, she didn't look up at Gale, her eyes were glued to the ground.

Gale tried her hardest to not squeal. She did ship them afterall. "P-please d-don't tell anyone a-about this!" Nashi managed to say.

Gale giggled, "Sorry, no can do." Nashi had a look of worry on her face. She stopped staring at the ground and looked up, to face Gale. "What did you say?" Nashi asked. She prayed for this to be a misunderstanding, hoping Gale didn't just say that.

"I have proof you two kissed. Are you two gonna date now?" Gale pulled out her camera, she began looking through all the photos. "You did not!?" Nashi tried grabbing the camera from her hands, but Gale quickly shifted to the other side.

"These photos will stay with me forever. You'll never get them from me" Gale stuck her tongue out, and began sprinting away, only for Nashi to grab the hood of her outfit.

"Listen, I'll tell you something, okay? But please don't show those photos to ANYONE." Nashi purposed, Gale sighed but nodded. Rin just rolled his eyes and walked away.

"I can't tell you here though. How about we go sit on that bench near the shark tank, nobody's over there." Nashi and Gale began walking away, heading the general direction of the large shark tank.

They finally got there, and took their seats on the comfortable bench. Nashi sat on the bench thinking, 'This is the good type of benches. They're comfortable to sleep on'

Gale opened up the picture of Nashi and Storm kissing, just in case something goes wrong. She doesn't want Nashi to steal the camera and delete the picture.

"So, what do you want to tell me?" Gale asked, she placed the camera on her lap. Nashi's face was flushed, and what she was about to say wasn't coming easy to her.

"H-how do you k-know if you l-like someone?" Nashi stuttered, she was playing with her thumbs. Gale smiled, that's an easy question. "Nashi, you love someone when they give you a feeling nobody else gives you. You're filled with love and happiness when you see that person."

Nashi's face became beet red. "Gale, how d-do you know? Do y-you like someone?" Nashi stopped messing with her thumbs. She looked at Gale with a serious glare. It kinda scared her.

"Ummm… the person I like is already in a relationship…" Gale had a tint of pink on her cute little cheeks. "Who!?" Nashi yelled, she almost fell out of her seat from the excitement.

Nashi never would have thought Gale would like someone. "R-Reiki" Gale blurted out, her face was a dark red from embarrassment.

Much to Gale's luck, Reiki was standing on the other side of the wall, he could hear every word Gale said, while Sylvia was standing on the opposite side of Reiki, they both heard the entire thing.

Nashi was frozen in shock. "Nashi?" Gale waved her hand in front of Nashi's cute face. Nashi snapped back into her senses. That may not be a good thing...

"REIKI! YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY-" Gale put her hand onto Nashi's mouth. "Shut up!" Gale yelled, glaring daggers toward the pink haired airhead. Nashi realised her loud and outrageous behavior.

"S-sorry Gale…." Nashi mumbled shamefully. Gale sighed in relief and removed her hand from Nashi's "annoying" lips. "Nashi, it's not a big deal. And this isn't about me, it's about you. What are you gonna do?"

Nashi sighed, she really didn't know what she was gonna do. She pondered it, but she still couldn't come up with a solution.

"Why don't you just tell him you like him." Gale suggested, making Nashi shoot up from her seat. "No way! That's crazy!" she screamed, waving her hands back and forth. Gale frowned, "Well it's better than nothing."

She was right. It is better than nothing. "I think I'll just continue to be friends with him… If anything changes, that will be in the future's hands." Nashi said with a bright smile. Gale admired that. She was acting rationally, but this could cause damage. Someone will eventually get hurt…

"Good luck with Reiki! I'm going to go back to the pufferfish tank, bye." Nashi waved goodbye and sprinted off, leaving Reiki and Sylvia panicking, and Gale lonely sitting on a bench.

"Hmm what should I do now?" Gale thought at loud, she decided that she would just stay seated on the bench and have a nice thinking session. She needed that after all a lot was going on.

Reiki stood at the other side of the wall, trying not to scream. She likes him! She really likes him! But what is he going to do? Sylvia's his girlfriend, he couldn't just dump her. He wouldn't do that. That's the whole reason they stayed a couple.

They didn't want to hurt each other, they are both precious friends to each other. But that's all. Just friends.

Sylvia pulled out her phone, dialing Reiki's number, as Reiki did the same.

'I need to end this. Gale's feelings are on the line. And after all these years of liking her…. I think I should finally confess'

'Via's been afraid to break up with Reiki, she was always afraid that he would get mad or worse, heart broken. But now Via needs to break up with him, she needs to. Her best friend, Gale, needs her too.'

The Phone Call:

Reiki: SYLVIA I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING!

Sylvia: SAME HERE REIKI

Reiki: OKAY, MEET ME AT THE PUFFERFISH TANK!

Sylvia: OKAY, SEE YOU THERE!

The both hung up, quickly running to where the pufferfish tank was located. The sprinted to the tank, only to see Nashi standing there, looking at each fish with joy. They ignored her though, they just needed to speak with each other, not Nashi.

Arriving at the tank, they both took a deep breath. They were now face to face. It took a lot of courage, but it needed to happen.

"What did you need to say, Reiki?" Sylvia asked, Reiki gulped. "I…. I….. need to….. um….."

"Reiki….. Via thinks we should break up" Sylvia said before Reiki could continue his sentence. He was actually shocked at her request, but at the same time he was happy. She wouldn't be heartbroken if he broke things off with her.

"Yeah I do to. The truth is….. I like Gale" Reiki confessed, making Sylvia share a bright smile. "Really! That's great" Sylvia happily chimed. Now Reiki was really confused. He was happy, he could finally be with Gale, and Sylvia wouldn't really care but something seemed wrong to him. Why is she happy? She confessed to him, and he didn't do anything to give her a reason to break up with him. So why did she?

~Flashback

It was the second year of middle school Sylvia, Gale, and Nashi were all seated at their lunch table, chatting and enjoying their food. Then someone took a seat next to the three, "Hey, wanna play a game?" the boy who sat next to them.

Nashi, who was very confused, agreed to play the game. It's been a while since someone was nice to her, the way the boy was speaking to her was welcoming and calm.

"If Nashi wants to, then Via will play to!" Sylvia yelled, a happy look on her face. Gale, being the only one who hasn't agreed to play the "game" rolled her eyes. "I guess I'll play, since everyone else is."

"Okay that's nice. Now that we have players let's play." the boy said, making everyone nod. "What's the game?" Nashi asked, making the boy reply, "Simple. Would you rather?"

'Would you rather? Interesting….' "So, let's begin. I'll start Dragneel-chan, would you rather revel your biggest secret or would you rather kiss me?" he asked, a small smirk on his lips.

Nashi's eyes widen, a small blush was on her cheeks. "K-kiss? But I hardly know you!" the boy shrugged. "Then reveal your biggest secret" he said, causing Nashi to frown. She couldn't reveal her biggest secret, that's something she just couldn't do.

Nashi had a blush on her cheeks, "I w-would rather k-kiss you." Nashi mumbled, making the boy blush. "I thought for sure you would chose the secret, but whatever." he replied, even though he looked flustered and most likely uncomfortable.

"I-it's your fault!" Nashi screamed, Gale and Sylvia gave each other happy expressions. "Nashi's gonna have her first kiss." Sylvia whispered to Gale. Nashi, who has excellent hearing, flashed them annoyed looks.

"Anyways, let's hurry up and get this over with." Nashi said, she placed her lips onto the boy's cheek, afterwards she removed her small mouth. "There." she mumbled, her face bright red.

The boy's face had the same outcome, "A-anywas, it's y-your turn Dragneel-chan." he said, Nashi smirked. "Okay, Sylvia. Would you rather ask the boy out who talked to you last or kiss Gale?" Nashi asked, making Sylvia frown.

"What the hell, Nashi!?" Gale screamed, making Nashi laugh. "It's fine Sylvia, you don't have to do either if you don't want to." Nashi said in between laughs.

"It's fine. Nashi did it even though she didn't want to, Via guesses she'll do it to." Sylvia stood from her seat, "Via will be back." Sylvia said, sprinting away, towards the table Reiki was seated at.

When she was there, Sylvia screamed, "REIKI WILL YOU GO OUT WITH VIA!"

~End of Flashback

Reiki sighed, not understanding the reason why she broke up with him. "Why did Reiki sigh? Go talk to Gale, tell her you're feelings." Sylvia said, giving him a bright smile. Reiki nodded, walking away.

"I'm going to confess. I will confess" he chanted while walking away. Nashi, who was standing there next to Sylvia, smiled. "Good job Via. I'm proud." Nashi said, making Sylvia feel happy.

Sylvia smiled, it kinda hurt though. She kinda felt sad about it. He really didn't seem that hurt, after this entire time. "Via's gonna go, bye Nashi" Sylvia turned, running away.

Now Nashi was alone, staring at the pufferfish again. Her and Storm's kiss scene kept replaying in her head over and over. She wanted to forget it, but she couldn't shake it off.

"Just forget, Nashi. Just forget-" she was interrupted by someone bumping into her. She looked to the left, trying to see who ran into her. She caught a glimpse of a boy, he looked exactly like Igneel.

"Igneel?" she asked, the boy started running away. Nashi quickly chased after him, shouting his name. "IGNEEL! IGNEEL! IGNEEL!" She screamed, people glanced towards her giving her strange looks, but she completely ignored them.

The boy began sprinting even faster, making Nashi speed up. "IGNEEL STOP!" Nashi finally caught up to him, trying to place her hand onto his shoulder, but he completely disappeared, causing Nashi to fall onto the floor.

"Igneel?" she whispered, she looked up to notice a girl with pink hair smirking at her, then the girl was gone. She disappeared just like how the boy had.

"Was that Igneel?"

The end of the chapter.