WEIRDO BLABBS: Okay, here we go! The dinner party, yaay! I've been re-reading what I wrote (Another Shot at Love, specifically) and wow, compared to this one, that had more fluff. I'm sorry for holding back on you guys. I just didn't want the GraLu relationship to be too fast for my liking. I mean, after all, love doesn't come immediately but it's sweeter ad much more beautiful if it's taken slowly but surely. So then, go on and read.
NOTE: I was initially corrected that the twins, Gemi and Mini (yes, they are back), are actually male and female. However, in order to be uniform with the previous chapters (and partly also because I am too lazy), I will no longer change them in this fanfiction. I hope you will be considerate of this lazy writer. Forgive me!
NOTE2: Most of the songs in this fanfic might be just poems I whipped up. But if I do use real songs, I will make sure to give credit accordingly so please do not sue me!
-CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR-
Where Lucy needs to tell Gray something.
Breakfasts at the Fairy Tail dormitory during Fridays were usually cheerful and warm; Natsu would be his usual sunny and loud self as he would stuff his face with toast, eggs and bacon. He would talk loudly about TGIF things, sometimes about later schedules and interviews, as he gulps down glass after glass of orange juice. Morsels and bits would come flying toward Gray and Gajeel; the latter would cover his plate and sometimes just eat with his back at Natsu. There comes a point, however, when Gajeel becomes too intolerant of Natsu and he would just give him a friendly beating. Gray, then, would break them up as Erza joins them to talk about their schedule for the day.
Today, however, was not a usual Friday. In fact, today was a cold morning the ground outside covered in a few inches of snow that had accumulated during the night. The dining table in the kitchen was warm, though, in comparison to the temperature outside but the usual cheerful crowd of singers were unusually busy and even worrisome; Natsu, eating a ham and cheese sandwich fresh from the microwave, was peering at a notebook propped open beside his plate. It had scrawny scribbles and math equations, a lot of erasures and red marks. Beside him, Gajeel was also reading a History book, highlighting keywords half-heartedly and then sighing, annoyed, when he sees that he still had a few hundred pages more before he could finish. Gray, on the other hand, was busying himself in writing down on a small piece of paper, his guitar on his lap in front of breakfast.
Erza sat down and noticed that the three were preoccupied so much so that they seemed not to notice her entrance. She smiled and took a leather-bound notebook from her handbag and opened to a page that had the present date bookmarked. Her notes had been divided into four columns: event, time, description and contact. Today, Fairy Tail was booked for the whole day until 7PM when the three would go to a party hosted by the Heartfilias. Of course, the schedule did not include Gray (as he was suspended) and he was dressed today in his school uniform.
"First, we'll go to the studio to pick up some stuff," she said (the three did not seem to notice or mind), "and Cana will be waiting for us there as well.
"First, you'll have an interview at a morning talk show program then we'll hurry along to the radio station for your fan call; I hope you guys are ready to sing. We'll have a quick working lunch because Master Makarov wanted to meet you two about the contract transfer to Sabertooth.
"Then we'll have another quick meeting over coffee with some internet people who will be launching your official website before you two proceed to a photoshoot with them. Gray will be having his shoot when his suspension is lifted. After that, you guys need to write something on the fansite about the upcoming website, about Gray, too, if you can.
"After all of that you can go to school and train with Jellal with Gray," she ended and looked up, "Are you clear with that?'
"Yeah, sure," said Natsu, not even looking up at her but scratching his head as he drew a big 'X' on the paper to re-do the solution. Gajeel merely grunted.
"I see you are quite busy with school work," Erza expressed and stood, looking over Gajeel and Natsu's work. "Are your semi-final exams coming soon?"
"Next Monday," Natsu explained, stopping his calculation to look up at Erza. "They say 'semi-final' but it still comprises a quarter of our final grades. I doubt the finals would be worth as much."
"You two had better work hard, then," Gray sniggered, stretching his lazy arms. He put the guitar on the floor beside him and took a modest bite of the sandwich.
"You're quite confident, Gray," noticed Erza. She put her hands on her waist and looked at him, as though challenging him. "You're obviously not trying to study."
"I'm just writing some song," he said uninterested, "Besides, now that I'm suspended, I've more time on my hands to write songs and study and train." Gajeel and Natsu snapped their heads at him; he obviously was enjoying his punishment instead of trying to learn from it. One look at them and Gray would have thought that they wanted to be suspended, too!
"Well, as long as you're not doing anything destructive," the scarlet-haired woman said. "Come on, boys. Hurry up. We'll drop Gray off school before we go to the main office."
"No, it's okay. I've brought my bike here so I can go to school on my own."
"Are you sure?" Erza asked Gray. He nodded. "Well, then, if that's the case, you two get up now."
She took Gajeel and Natsu's plates ("Hey, I'm not finished with that yet!" yelled Natsu) and ushered them to the bathroom to brush their teeth. After a quick few minutes, the three of them scrambled out onto the cold front porch; the van started and Gray could hear it drive out into the street and out of earshot.
He smiled.
The mischievous teen immediately took off his school uniform and wore a casual white shirt and pants. Then, he dialled a number on his phone and waited before the person on the other end answered.
"I should really not agree to this," the man said. Gray could hear voices of others in the background and the tip-tapping of excited feet. "I mean, I'm you sensei and I'm allowing you to skip class!"
Gray smirked a thankful smirk at the phone; Jellal had finally agreed to him skipping class as long as he'd done the homework in advance, "Not a word to Erza, 'kay?"
"Yeah, yeah," Jellal replied in resignation. "Just give me your homework in advance… I could get sacked for this, you know?"
"No, you won't!" he answered, going out to the porch himself, his backpack slung on his left shoulder and his keys on his right hand. He had the phone between his ear and right shoulder. "I promise I've been studying and you see how hard I've been training! It's just one day, Jellal."
He could hear Jellal sigh on the other end, "Fine. Just come back here in your uniform by five thirty, okay?"
"For training," Gray answered, "Sure…"
He hung up, ignited the engine of the motorcycle and sped off toward the Heartfilia residence.
Ear muffs in place, Lucy sped down the entrance of the hotel in a hurry. She felt as if she had been free from the hall ten floors up, where everyone else was; as she looked up at the cloudy sky and the white of the snow around her, 'free' was indeed a correct term.
It was when she fascinated herself with the fog that came out of her mouth that she caught the sight of bluish-black hair under a blazing red cap. She tightened her grip around her leather sling bag and unconsciously fixed her golden locks—then messed it up again when she realized what she was doing.
Gray looked around before running close enough to Lucy and gave her a quick nod and a smile. "Hey."
"Hey—shouldn't you be in school?" Gray quickly asked her back the same question, to which she answered, "I've already asked permission from Jellal-senpai and he said 'yes'."
He grinned. "He gave me his blessing as well. I mean, you're not the only one he favors." He looked around again and pulled Lucy closer to the door. "How are things going with your dad? You guys talked?"
The girl shook her head. "Last night, after he arrived, he and mum talked and I shut myself in my room 'til this morning. When I woke up, all the other guys arrived and me and dad just didn't have the heart-to-heart talk you're talking about."
Gray just nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets half-heartedly and muttered 'okay' under his breath. About a full minute passed before Lucy spoke again.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"Y'know... I was just droppin' by, thought you could use some help decorating or something..."
"Thanks but I've already got a handful of guys up there at the hall so..."
"Oh... So you're sort of... getting out of the way?"
"No, not really..." Lucy smiled. Just then, two red-heads came laughing after each other, one clinging to Lucy's leg and one running up to Gray. "I'm on baby-sitting duty since Loki and Aries have their hands full right now."
Gray stooped down to carry the small boy, Gemi (or Mini), and hoist him up to his shoulders. "My hands aren't. Need any help?"
Layla took deep, long breaths as she played with the ends of her golden hair. She had never known she had met so many people in her life as to fill out an entire event hall—and now they were out there waiting for her!
The woman shut her eyes tightly and played with the tips of her strands faster.
"You know, you used to do that a lot before an audition or a performance," said a warm voice above her. Layla looked up to see that it was her husband, Jude, beaming affectionately at her. He sat beside her and took her hand. "Are you okay?"
"More nervous that I've ever been," she replied, "Well, as far as I could remember I've been..."
Jude laughed. "Don't be too nervous. Lucy and I will be standing right behind you..." he assured as he pressed her palm gently, "Besides, you've always been a smooth speaker. I'm sure you'll be fine..."
"I'm a good speaker?" she chuckled. "I find that quit hard to believe..."
"Well, you know... You were in broadway and voice acting..."
"Though I don't remember any of that..."
The man sighed. "We'll bring all of that back, I promise."
"How?" she asked. Layla looked up at him, eyes more hopeful than ever. "How can you promise something so hard to do so easily?"
"The same way I promised you 'Til death do us part'," he replied in a noble manner that made Layla flush slightly. "We're together in this, Layla. You and Lucy... I won't let you be alone anymore."
"What are you saying, Jude?" she asked him.
"Come with me abroad, Layla."
"What?" she asked. And as if Jude hadn't heard her the first time, she asked him again, "What?"
"I already booked tickets for us..." he explained, "We could get back to our lives... You can try to remember there, since there are more people whom you know there than here... And—"
"I... But what about Lucy? I... I promised not to leave her behind... Ever again!"
Jude held Layla's hands in his, "I made the wrong decision of leaving her behind here... And so... I want to make things right and take her with us, too..."
Layla shook her head, undecided, "I don't know... I want to but I'm sure Lucchan will be more reluctant to leave. I mean, she has a life here: friends and her music!" Layla looked Jude in the eye, "Jude, I don't want to leave her behind again!"
"Of course, dear, of course," he replied, smiling. "I'll go and talk to her, okay?"
The orchestra music was so pleasing to the ears that it made one want to go up to the center and dance. The white-and-pink decorated hall was now, in fact, filled with people who looked like they wanted to dance but that wasn't really Gray's concern. It was those people who hardly looked familiar: men and women in formal clothing who looked as if they were from a different time and culture. The very air they breathed reminded him strongly of royalty, of tea parties and ballgowns, princes, princesses and accents.
Unsurprisingly, though, Master Makarov knew people from every table and he stopped to be introduced to each of them before they could finally proceed to their own tables. It was terrifying now to imagine exactly how much influence the master had in the entertainment industry.
A few introductions here and there and they were finally off to settle down on their own tables. And they were just getting settled, Natsu looking around for Lisanna, when from the back of the stage up front, a man appeared. He wore a navy blue suit, his hair was combed neatly and regally to the back the same color as that of his goatee.
This man, Capricorn, approached the glass podium decorated with pink lace. He gave the microphone a soft tap before leaning in and finally speaking.
"We thank everyone in this hall for coming in here today despite the short notice," he started in a cool, confident baritone. "We are glad that so many of you have come, friends, family and colleagues of Lady Layla.
"Without further adieu, then," he said and gestured to the center of the stage, "Lady Layla Heartfilia with Sir Jude Heartfilia and their daughter, Young Lady Lucille Heartfilia."
Everyone clapped automatically when, after Capricorn's statement, two women and a man appeared from the backstage, all regally dressed and composed. Lucy stood by her mother's left while Jude stood, arm in arm, to Layla's right. The crowd burst into murmurs and mutters of excitement and hush; Layla smiled nervously at the crowd, her hand visibly reaching for Lucy's in an attempt to seek support.
The three approached the podium. Capricorn gave a small bow before he led Layla up for her speech.
"Well," she said nervously in a small, sweet voice, "it's quite surprising how many people I need to remember!"
Gray leaned in closer, watching, as the woman continued with her speech. But he wasn't looking at Layla. He was looking at her young girl who was obviously torn between liking and disliking the moment.
"Well, finally!" Natsu exclaimed as he grabbed a napkin and spread it across his lap. "That long and dramatic speech really took a while!"
"What are you talking about?" asked Gajeel, slapping Natsu's hand away from the platter and handing him a serving spoon, "You weren't even listening..."
Gray only rolled his eyes and looked at Layla, Lucy and Jude walk from table to table to meet and greet guests about an hour after Layla started her "long and dramatic speech." Though he wasn't one to complain, Natsu was right about the speech being lengthy and dramatic. Layla stopped every now and then to swallow tears and then continue talking with a quivering voice.
Not his focus, however. Because, every now and then, Gray would stare at Lucy as she glanced at her mother intensely, as if she was going to disappear. He could only imagine how hard it was for Lucy, sharing her mother with the whole world again when she'd only got a few weeks with her to make up for all those years of longing.
He watched and waited for his chance to talk to the girl. Two tables later, his chance came when Lucy excused herself from the conversation she was having and retreated outside the hall. Gray, without even touching his meal, stood up and followed her out. He caught her standing in front of a vending machine, her braided hair cascading smoothly just below her shoulders, her hands clutching her white cocktail dress and her eyes, melted chocolate orbs, staring blankly at the glass.
"Excuse me, are you going to take anything or not?" he asked in a fake voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I—Senpai!" Lucy said and smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. Have you been there long?"
"Just long enough to see you losing in a staring contest with your reflection," he shrugged. He led her to a lounge couch nearby and they both sat, just staring at the city view outside the glass window. "How're you, er, taking things?"
The girl smiled. "Fine, I guess. But this is definitely going to need some getting used to. Everything's so difficult..."
Gray coughed, straightened up and, in his most convincing voice, he said, "It would seem difficult at first; but everything is difficult at first."
"Pfft..." the girl laughed weakly, "That's a poor imitation of Miyamoto Musashi..."
"Hey, I tried..." he said, "At least I made you laugh..."
"Yeah..." she replied, "You did..."
"Now, wait a minute here!" he exclaimed at faced Lucy this time. "How come you're so down right now when you were so up-and-about just this morning?" Lucy smiled. "You're not worried about the exams, are you?"
"No, it's not that..." she started. "I just... There's something I need to tell you..."
WEIRDO BLABBS: Nope... Not satisfied at all... But wait! This is a preparatory chapter for chapter 45 which will be quite, in a word, dramatic? Wait for it, you guys! Meanwhile, I'm off to bake fudgy brownies for Christmas.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Acknowledgements are currently under repair. Will be working on it soon once my lazy bum gets off of the kitchen. I gained a few pounds! : ' (
Please support my collab fanfiction with WolfieAnne, The Last Celestial Mage, and maybe my other FT fanfictions: Another Shot at Love, Good Taste, Massage? and Girls and Shopping.
