Onto Chapter 36 for Secrets Can Kill!
We are onto Ryetsu land! Thanks to the suggestion from a certain reader about Nicole. And someone wanted a description of what she looks like…. SO here you are!
Height: 5 foot 7 inches (the same height as Lucy, if you want to say that)
Weight: Between 120-135 pounds
Hair: A golden brown- gets darker in the winter. Natural light-blonde highlights. Cut to right about her shoulder blade. Wears in ponytail, but has her hair down for formal events and when she feels good.
Eyes: Small eyes, brown around the pupil, but mixed blue and green around the edge.
Face: Rarely ever wears make-up, has long bangs she tucks behind her ear. Has earrings- normally silver studs. No freckles!
Body: Less busty than Lucy or Juvia, but still proud of how she looks. Not like she wants to show people, though. Long legs- long, long, long legs.
Outfit: Normally black leggings and tall black boots with silver/green design, a black strapless top and a green jacket. Silver belt. Refuses (most of the time) to wear anything skimpy. Rarely ever wears dresses/skirts.
Fun fact: Has a eye disorder called nystagmus, allowing her to twitch her eyes (Evergreen turned it into a magic power). Eats mostly meat, can get picky.
Personality: Stubborn. Strong and determined, but can almost easily be embarrassed. Hates public humiliation. Loyal. Good at lying or hiding secrets. Deadly smart.
I hope that sums it up. Enjoy the chapter :) If you have any other questions, tell me in a review!
Chapter 36: Ryetsu Land
Nicole's POV
"I said, no."
"But come on! This will look so good on you!"
"No means no, Lucy."
"It would look rather flattering on you, Nicole. You should give it a go."
"No, no, and no, Erza."
"Have a little fun! Flaunt it!"
"No thanks."
"I think you would look good in it, Nicole-san!"
"How many times do I have to say no? And no formalities, Wendy, please."
"I bet Gray would enjoy it!…"
"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT IDEA?"
"Let's ask what he thinks!"
"You'll have to get me into it first!"
"Not a problem!"
"No, Mira, I didn't mean you!"
"See? It looks gorgeous."
"Get this off of me! I look so weird!"
"You look amazing!"
"Beautiful!"
"Awesome!"
"Let's see what Gray thinks!"
"NO!"
And that is how my trip to Ryetsu Land began, in the women's change room. The ladies refused to let me wear anything else. Eventually, I knew I had no choice. But because I was stubborn, I took a white wrap and tied it around my waist. I was nearly transparent, and you could see the lime green bathing suit bottoms underneath. I swore inwardly. But Mira had threatened to take pictures of me while I was sleeping and send them to Gray if I didn't cooperate, so I did.
Yeah, my crush on Gray is pretty obvious to the guild now. Crap.
Trying not to draw too much attention to myself, I crossed my arms over my chest and nervously followed Lucy, Erza, and Wendy into the waterpark. Wendy instantly bonded with a pink-haired girl from Lamia Scale named Chelia. Many other guilds were here as well.
Squirming uncomfortably, I glanced around. It truly was beautiful. There was a huge water slide with a heart at the top called 'The Love Slide'. There were pools, sunbathing chairs, and more.
"Whee!" Natsu cried like a happy child as he hopped on a train in the water, only to pass out from his motion sickness a few seconds later. I sighed inwardly at his sheer stupidity.
I avoided Gray as soon as I saw him enter the park. I ducked behind a rock and crouched, only to find myself face to face with another couple.
"Elfman? Evergreen?" I asked in disbelief.
"I- Um- Well-" Evergreen stammered.
I giggled. "Your secret is safe with me."
The duo visibly relaxed. "That's very manly of you," Elfman sighed.
"She's a woman, dolt!" Evergreen whacked him upside the head.
I quickly got away.
Gray's POV
"Gray. Gray. Gray. Earth to Gray."
I snapped my eyes open. Erza stood over me in a yellow bathing suit, glaring down at me. The wav of panic that I had done something wrong and she was about to kill me set in, and I scrambled back. "Erza!"
She smiled. "It's fine." Plunking herself down in a chair next to mine, she turned to me. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," I lied quickly. "I'm fine, fine."
"Liar."
"No!"
"It's obvious, Gray. Now stop lying to me and tell me what's wrong."
Slightly scared, I sighed. "Fine," I scowled. "It's the girls." My face slowly heated up as I waited for Erza to laugh.
But to my surprise, she didn't. "Oh, Juvia and Nicole?" I nodded warily. "What about them?"
"Well," I muttered uncertainly, "I don't know, it's just…"
"Juvia loves you," Erza explained quickly, "And Nicole obviously has a crush on you, Lyon loves them both, and you want to figure out which one you like."
My jaw dropped. "Nicole doesn't like me! Why would she? And… I mean, I like them both, but…"
Erza sighed. "Get it through your thick skull. Look at Nicole." She gestured to the Ice Dragon Slayer, who was dressed in her lime green bikini and a white wrap. She looked embarrassed, cute, and was wildly searching for someone with her eyes.
"And?"
"Idiot," Erza grumbled, slapping me in the head. "She didn't want to where a bikini mostly because she was afraid of what you would think." As I started to shake my head no, she spoke again. "Her 'little' crush is obvious. They both like you, one more willing to show it than the other, and I think you need to decide. You can't leave Juvia hanging."
She was right. But what one did I like?
I was under the impression Nicole only liked me as a friend. Well, according to the girls, she actually likes me. Like, like-likes me. Juvia loves me and isn't afraid to show it. Lyon seems to like both of them, while both of them like me. So… I guess whoever I chose, the other one gets Lyon. We're all similar- Juvia is a water mage, Nicole is an ice mage- but I can't stand the thought of either of them with Lyon. But I'm dragged up out of my chair before I can think more.
"Come on, Gray-sama! Let's go on the love slide!" Juvia squealed, tugging me to the stairs of the slide. Reluctantly, I followed, only because Erza looked like she would murder me if I didn't. I looked around for Nicole. She was being tugged by Lyon.
"Lyon, really, I don't want to, go look for Juvia-"
"No, my lovely! Come with me," My rival exclaimed. Nicole broke out of his grip and spotted me. Although her cheeks flushed, she raced over to me and Juvia.
"Help me," she gasped dramatically. I grinned. Juvia fumed. Lyon gawked. Although bickering, we all eventually made it to the top of the Love Slide.
"All right, let me down the stairs, I'm not going," Nicole declared, still crossing her arms over her chest. Juvia nodded for Nicole to go. I grabbed her wrist at the same time as Lyon.
"Stay, Nicole!" Lyon gasped dramatically.
"Lay off, Lyon," I snapped, whacking his hand away.
"Gray-sama! Go with Juvia!" The bluenette whined.
I blushed. "I, um, no-"
"No!" Nicole jerked away from a desperate Lyon once more, causing her to slip and fall back. She twisted away from the slide and clutched the edge, resulting in her swaying on the side, clutching the side with one hand. "I'm fine!" She called. "Just slightly terrified!"
"I've got you." I lunged forward with hesitation and grabbed her wrists, hauling her up. She perched on the edge of the slide, where a fuming Juvia was waiting. "Thanks-"
"AGHHHHHHH!"
That was when the Fire Dragon Slayer flew though the air and smacked the heart on the top of the slide.
All four of us tumbled down slide together.
Now, naturally, four people on one slide is not good. Nicole squirmed around at the front, and turned her head up to face me. "Mountain!"
I didn't understand what she meant at first, but she grabbed the edge of the slide and swung herself over. I did the same, leaving Lyon and Juvia on the slide by themselves.
"Yay," she said with a laugh, gripping the edge of the slide with one hand. "That was fun, but Juvia may have kicked my wound." I looked to her stomach, but there was no bandages. No sign of a wound.
She caught my stare and grinned sheepishly. "Mira's magic. She made the bandages blend in with my skin tone."
I nodded along, and then glanced at the slide. I saw Levy and Gajeel sliding together, Erza and "Jellal", Evergreen and Elfman. Natsu and Lucy seemed to have been stuck together.
"Whoa," Nicole whispered after a moment. As we hung side by side, she grinned at me. "Drop?"
"Drop," I confirmed, and we dropped like stones together into the rest of the slide.
Tightly wrapping my arms around her, I felt my cheeks heat up. She was squeezing her eyes shut, and trying to control her motion sickness. I squeezed her tighter.
Then we bumped into Lyon and Juvia.
"Ice brat!" Lyon spat. "Ruining my moment!"
"Oh, yeah?" I countered. "Well, eat this!"
And this resulted in everything being frozen, then everything being destroyed because of Natsu. Typical.
But when we landed, Nicole was still clutched tightly in my arms, sighing in relief at the idea of no more movement.