A/N: Guess who's back from her hiatus~? Yup. Me and my lazy ass! T_T Okay. I'm hoping to get this story finished by the end of term break to prevent any more years' long cliffhangers so let's do this!
I already have an ending in mind and I think this story will be end in at most, for 5 more chapters. Please bear with me! :)
And without further adeu! Here is Chapter 13!
The way back to Magnolia was a long and quiet one. Well if you excluded Natsu's constant barfing noises… It was relatively quiet. Everyone was on edge and didn't dare to bring up the events that transpired during the last day of the test. Erza stood up unable to take more of Natsu's wailing. She walked towards an attendant and prompted to rent a berth for Natsu to sleep on while she gestured me to tend to him. I gave a quick nod and carried Natsu on my back, leaving the rest of the crew sitting at a booth near the end of the train. The expressions on their faces are strained except for Elizabeth, who carried herself in an unusual composure. It was almost as if she was just a doll sitting across them. I gave them one final look, attempting to lock eyes with her, but she simply stared blankly into space. I sighed in defeat, adjusted the dragon-slayer on my back and started following Erza. I guess it'll take more than just saying sorry to patch things up.
"I'll handle him. Go back to the others." Erza ordered me as soon as I set Natsu on the bed.
I shifted uncomfortably on where I was standing, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Umm... why don't I take care of Natsu instead?" I asked her quietly.
Erza sighed and stood up to open one of the compartments above the bunk. "You can't keep running away from her you know." She said as she drew a blanket.
I kept quiet still holding my place. "I don't know what to do."
Titania placed the blanket over Natsu before sitting down next to his sleeping head. She looks at me straight in the eyes, shaking her head slowly. "I'm afraid I can't help you, Gray." She then shifts her gaze towards the window "I'm also inexperienced with the matters of the heart." She said smiling bitterly.
I sat myself down on the floorboards with my legs uncrossed. Holding up my right hand, I made a snowflake, trying to distract myself from helpless thoughts. Erza fell silent in her seat observing my actions carefully. She sighed wistfully once more before finally speaking "Alright. You take care of Natsu."
I continued playing with the snowflake in my hands, my chest aching from the thoughts that ran through my mind. The events of what had happened kept replaying in my head. The sad and disappointed look she gave. The words she spoke. The things that I wish I did but didn't.
'And I suppose that you liking me was also part of the act as well?'
No. It wasn't an act. That wasn't the case.
I crushed the snowflake in frustration. Holding my head in trembling hands, I cursed under my breath. If I told her that it was the first time in my whole life that I have ever felt like this to anyone, would she have believed me? Tears began prickling my eyes as I continued to hold my head down. Shit. This is so fucked up. Did love always hurt like this? I thought love was supposed to be the greatest thing in the world?
I wiped the tears that begrudgingly fell on my face. I'm confused. I'm terrified. I'm scared to approach her. Scared that I hurt her once again.
What's a guy to do?
We arrived in Magnolia an hour past noon. Trudging Erza's belongings on the cobble pathway was no walk in the park, though this time I have Natsu and Lyon to help me. Crazy right? Lyon, helping me with manual labor? "Glad to see you off your high horse for a change." I mockingly told him as I carried one suspicious looking sack that looks almost like a human being was stuffed in it. "Joke all you want but if this gets me out of talking, I'd gladly do it." He shrugged off. He puts a hand on my shoulder and leaned closer "I'm scared of her." He admitted in a whisper, pointing to the lightning mage behind him. I discretely looked at Elizabeth, she was holding the straps of her backpack, while blankly staring up the sky. I swallowed hard. I passed the sack towards Lyon and gestured him to move along. Collecting what's left of my dignity, I walked up to her. "H-hey. You need help with that?" I awkwardly asked.
"No." She muttered still staring at the sky.
I followed her gaze upwards. "Anything up there we should be worried about?"
"No." She replied dryly.
I gave out a defeated sigh, combing my hand through my hair. "I heard Mirajane prepared a feast for us today. We should get going before Natsu eats up everything." I joked.
"I'm not hungry." She replied, but this time she was looking at me. She's still being aloof but I guess looking at me while talking already progress.
"Alright, what do you want to do?" I asked, trying to get a conversation out of her.
She just stared at me blankly for god knows how long. Her eyes are devoid of emotions. "I'll leave you alone if that's what you want." I told her dejectedly and started walking away.
"Wait." She suddenly spoke up.
I instantly spun around all too quickly, giving myself a small headache. "Y-yeah?" I stuttered trying to hide my excitement.
"I want to speak with you." She started fiddling with her fingers, like a lost child. It's so freaking cute! Okay, calm down Gray. Calm down. Keep your cool, man.
"S-sure!" that sounded too eager. Let's crank it down a notch. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Yesterday." She quickly responded. "I'm sorry for lashing out." She said looking at the ground.
What the heck? Why is she the one apologizing? We were the ones who kept her in the dark and started this whole fiasco. "Elizabeth, I – "
"Wait let me finish.." She cut me off.
"I wanted to tell you that, I'm just so sick of Master Makarov underestimating my capabilities. I took out my frustrations on you. I know you just did what the Master ordered so it's not your fault." She began, her gaze still on the ground. "And also.." she was beginning to stutter. Her face and neck getting redder by the second. I titled my head sideways, not knowing why she was so embarrassed. "I-I.." She stammered, now looking straight into my eyes. Her face was flushed, tears forming on the sides of her eyes. I began to panic. "What is it?! Don't cry!" I instinctively held her in my arms. She didn't push away. But I could feel her heart beating faster against mine. I now realize what situation we were in and started to feel embarrass myself. "I'm sorry! I didn't know what got into me!" I cried out, and began releasing her. "Wait! This is perfect.." She suddenly hold on to me. "This way I won't see your face." She told me.
We stood there in each other's arms for quite some time. I dare not to say another word. "These past few days.. I've been feeling this pressure on my chest." She broke the silence.
"We should let Mirajane take a look at you. She might have some medicine that could help you with that." I worriedly told her. Did she have a long standing heart condition she didn't know about? What if it's fatal?! I began to panic again in my mind.
"No. You misunderstood me." She quickly corrected. I scrunched my eyebrows together. Then, what did she mean by that?
"I don't know what it is. It's the first time that I've felt this way. But.. I've been feeling this way whenever I'm around you. It's weird isn't it?" She trailed off.
Heat definitely made its way towards my face, my heart began pounding in my chest. Is she saying what I think she's saying?!
"It's weird. I shouldn't feel like this to anyone I've just met. You can't fall in love with someone like that. So maybe it's just a crush? Or maybe I am beginning to like you." She began confessing.
My mind is about to explode! My throat was dry, I couldn't speak. I wanted to pull away from our embrace to look her squarely in the eyes but she didn't want to let go. She just hugged me tighter. "No. I don't want you to see me like this" She protested.
"A-are you sure about what you're feeling?" I had to ask. I couldn't believe what I'm hearing and just had to check.
"I've been thinking about it hard and it's the only explanation I can come up with." She whispered shyly. "I like you, Gray."