Dating can be a complicated and fickle thing. It's difficult to date someone and you never know what might be the right move to make. Even if you are in a band, it can be difficult.
"Don't kill me!" Natsu said as he came running in their studio with Erza chasing him.
"I will! I will kill you!" Erza called out. Levy saw Erza chasing Natsu around and she did not look happy. When Erza does not look happy, it just isn't safe.
"Whoa! Wait a minute!" Levy said as she got between the two of them. "What is going on?"
"She's crazy!" Natsu said. "I did her a favor. I helped her out with something. I didn't even mean to do it. So what does she do? She decides she wants to KILL ME!"
"Why? What happened?" Levy asked.
"Simple. Natsu set me up on a date." Erza said.
"I didn't mean to." Natsu said.
"Hold on a minute. Start from the beginning. Why is it a bad thing that Natsu got you a date?" Levy questioned.
"Because it's with the one guy I have a hard time being myself around." Erza said. "It's with Jellal."
"Jellal? You mean the boy you were crushing on when you were kids?" Levy questioned. "The same guy that moved away years ago. Are you saying he's back?"
"Yes! Here is what happened..." Erza said.
...
Flashback
Natsu and Erza were walking through the streets and grabbed some lunch. It was just a regular day for them.
"So our tour is coming closer and closer? Where do you think we're going to stop first?" Natsu asked. "Maybe Miami!"
"Natsu, Miami is on the other side of the country. We live in California. We're going to stop somewhere closer." Erza said. The two of them kept walking with their burgers until Erza accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry."
"That's oka..." Erza stopped when she saw a few traits in this guy's appearance that she knew. "Jellal? Jellal Fernandez?!"
"Erza?!" Jellal said. "I can't believe it! It's really you! How could I forget that pretty red hair?"
"I...I can't believe this! You're back?" Erza said.
"Oh yeah! Jellal!" Natsu said. "We went to school with you back when we were kids, but you're family moved away. In fact, around you was the only time Erza acted like an actual girl."
"Shut up!" Erza said as she punched him right in the arm. "I just can't believe you're really back."
"Well, I came back for sentimental reasons, but I'm also starting to look at some colleges." Jellal said. "I'm thinking of applying to the one here. Still, it's great to see you again, Erza. It's been so long since we've seen each other."
"Maybe you two should go on a date or such to catch up." Natsu said as he passed it as a joke on Erza.
"Natsu!" Erza said. "Ignore him. He just likes to act and speak without really thinking."
"Well, actually..." Jellal said and that's when it began.
End of Flashback
...
"Jellal actually asked me out! I can't go out with him!" Erza said. "When I'm around him, my mind turns twisted and I'm too afraid to do anything."
"Aw. I remember you use to have a crazy little crush on him." Levy said. "I guess you never really got over it. Jellal was pretty cute when we were kids."
"Erza, I did you a favor." Natsu said. Erza just growled at him like a wild tiger ready to pounce on him. Natsu always did had a slight fear of an angry Erza.
"If I may, I have an idea that might help." Levy said. "Just go on a double date." That caught Erza's interest. "A double date will take some of the pressure of a regular date off. This way, you also have someone to help you out when you need it."
"That's actually a good idea." Erza said. "Thanks, Levy. I already know who is going." She grabbed Natsu by the neck so he wouldn't escape. "You got me into this. So you're going to help me get out of it."
"But I don't even have a date." Natsu said.
"I already know who can help with that." Erza said as she switched to his arm and dragged him along. Natsu could see where this was going.
"No, Erza. I know who you're thinking. Let's talk about this." Natsu said as he held her by the arm to stop her, but his heels were just dragging against the floor. "Wow. You are freakishly strong." Erza dragged Natsu all the way to the rehearsal space and spotted Lucy on a couch and playing with her keyboard.
"Hey, Lucy. I need your help with something." Erza said.
"What's up?" Lucy said.
"Do you remember Jellal? He's in town and he actually asked me out." Erza said. "However, I'm pretty nervous about it and Levy thinks it be a good idea if I go on a double date. So do you think you can come with? Natsu already agreed to and he needs a date."
"Don't drag me into this." Natsu said.
"Sure." Lucy said. Natsu couldn't believe she actually agreed to go.
"Great! We got some shopping to do. I need your help to get ready." Erza said. She finally let Natsu go and the two of them headed out. Natsu just stood there dumbfounded.
"What just happened?" Natsu said.
...
The Girls
Erza and Lucy headed out and was doing some shopping. Erza wanted to look great for when she meets up with Jellal. You can tell she's really nervous about this date.
"How about this?" Erza said as she held a lovely black dress.
"Depends. Are you going to a ball for your first date?" Lucy said.
"No. We were going to catch a movie and some dinner." Erza said as she felt embarrassed by picking the dress.
"Let's try finding something more casual." Lucy said.
"Yes. Casual is good." Erza said as she went to a different part of the store and was looking through them.
"Erza, what is going on with you? I've never seen you like this before." Lucy said. "You must be really into this guy if you're acting like this to try and impress him."
"I don't know what it is." Erza said. "There's just something about Jellal. I just want things to go well between us."
"I'm sure things will. You just need to relax." Lucy said. "You've told me about this guy and I think he might be interested. Why else would he agree to go on a date with you?"
"You're probably right. I guess I should also apologize to Natsu." Erza said. "I was just upset with him for getting me into this. I was embarrassed and nervous about this whole thing. Lucy, you really don't have to go on this date, if you don't want to."
"No. I want to help you out. Everything is going to be fine." Lucy said. Erza just hopes so.
...
The Next Day
It was date day. Erza was still nervous and Natsu was a little nervous himself. Gray and Gajeel walked in the studio and met up with Levy.
"Hey, Levy." Gajeel said.
"What's going on? We just saw Erza acting...girly." Gray said.
"Get this." Levy said as she told them on what was going on.
"Get out!" Both of them said as they couldn't believe this was really happening. As for Natsu, he walked over to Lucy as she worked on her keyboard. He might be nervous, but he was actually looking forward to this.
"Hey, Lucy. I just want to say that I think it's cool you agreed to this double date." Natsu said.
"Yeah. Anything to help Erza." Lucy said. "She really likes this guy and I have a good feeling about those two. So do you know what's going with this date?"
"No." Natsu said.
"We're going to see a movie and grab some dinner together." Lucy said. "I was thinking of seeing a horror movie."
"A horror movie? I didn't think you were into that kind of thing." Natsu said.
"It's perfect." Lucy said. "When the scary parts come, Erza will cling to Jellal for comfort."
"Erza will? This is Erza we're talking about here. She doesn't get scared, she invokes fear." Natsu said.
"Not when she's around Jellal." Lucy said as she was acting a little sneaky. "Plus, after the movie, she might never let Jellal go until we get dinner. During dinner, Jellal can spend the time comforting her and they'll have plenty to talk about."
"Nice." Natsu said. "Wait. What about you and me?"
"We're the backup. We step in if we think we have to." Lucy said.
"You really planned this out." Natsu said. Now he's really looking forward to this because if Erza acts like that, he can only imagine how Lucy is going to be.
...
The Movie Theater
As the day went on, the time for the date soon came. Erza was still nervous about it and Natsu took some satisfaction in seeing her squirm.
"Relax, Erza. Everything is going to be fine." Lucy said.
"It's just a movie. You won't even have to talk to him for a while. So you won't look like a fool." Natsu said with a chuckle, but Lucy smacked him in the arm for that comment.
"Here he comes." Lucy said. They saw Jellal come over and Erza was getting anxious.
"Hey." Jellal said.
"Hi. I hope you don't mind, but I invited my friends to join us. I thought we could make it a double date." Erza said.
"Of course. I don't mind. So what movie are we seeing?" Jellal said.
"I already have one picked." Lucy said.
"How you and Erza grab us some seats and Jellal and I will grab some snacks." Natsu said.
"Nothing large. We're going to dinner later." Lucy said as she and Erza went into the theater and Natsu and Jellal went to get some snacks.
"You really don't mind me and Lucy being here?" Natsu asked.
"Not at all. I could tell Erza was nervous about this. So if she invited you two here to make it easier, I don't mind." Jellal said. "I'm just glad I get to hang out with Erza while I'm here." Natsu found that interesting as they paid for their snacks. "Let's go."
"Right behind you." Natsu said as they headed inside.
"Hey, Natsu." Gray said.
"Hey, man." Gajeel said.
"What?!" Natsu said as he was surprised to see them. "What are you two doing here?!"
"To see your date." Gray said.
"We made a bet to see who to see if you could even make a move on Lucy." Gajeel said. "FYI, we have a separate bet with Erza. That's to see if she can actually make it."
"Are you nuts? At least Levy isn't here." Natsu said.
"Hi, Natsu." Levy as she came up to him. Natsu was surprised to see Levy here most of all.
"You're here too?" Natsu said.
"It was my idea. My money is on you." Levy said. Natsu couldn't believe this.
"Better hurry. Don't want to keep your date waiting." Gray said as he grinned with him and the others having some amusement from all this. Just like that, Natsu wasn't so happy about this date anymore. Natsu went on inside and found Jellal and the girls while the others sat somewhere they could watch them.
"Candy bar?" Natsu offered.
"Thanks." Lucy said as she took one. As for Erza, she was still anxious with Jellal being so close to her.
"You okay?" Jellal asked.
"Yeah..." Erza said, but she was still tense. Then, without warning, Jellal grabbed her hand.
"It's fine." Jellal said and Erza was starting to feel like things were. That was when it got dark and the movie was starting. It was just a simple horror movie. There was some sort of monster or crazy villain and there was a surprise at every second. The audience waited and looked ready to have heart attacks. As the movie went on, people got scared from it and it worked to the guys' advantage. Erza clung to Jellal's arm and Lucy buried herself in Natsu's chest as she looked away. Jellal held Erza's hand the whole time and Natsu made his move as he placed his arm around Lucy.
"Ha! You both owe me five bucks!" Levy whispered to the guys. Her victory was short as she got scared from the movie. It soon ended and people felt relieved.
"Oh man. That movie was scary good." Natsu said.
"You doing okay, Erza?" Jellal asked.
"Yeah." Erza said as they stood up, but Erza was still holding Jellal's arm.
"You still hungry?" Jellal asked.
"I could eat." Erza said as she left and was still holding on.
"It looks like everything worked out." Natsu said.
"Yeah, but that movie was scary. You were right. Horror movies aren't my thing." Lucy said. Natsu tried to make Lucy feel more at ease himself as he grabbed her hand and both of them were smiling. As the four of them left the theater to continue this double date, things have gotten easier and they all had a great time. A double date sure did make things easier and it was a lot of fun.