Summary: Gray Fullbuster is a player both in love and in life. He plays Professional Basketball and is being groomed to be in line with Basketball Legends Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. There's just one problem, Gray Fullbuster is a play-ah. His life is a giant mess of crazy parties, waking up with random women and waking up in random women's apartments. Just living the life.

The opinion of the public on him is waning. To save the million-dollar endorsements in the verge of disappearing, Gray needs to change his image. Therefore, Gray Fullbuster, Fiore Knight's Team Captain and Most Valuable Player, will be in the next season of "My Star Can Dance".

There's another problem: it seems like his star isn't that bright since his partner, one of Fiore's prominent ballerinas, doesn't know him? His billboard is hanging in front of her dancing school! And it was a good billboard since all he was wearing was his six-pack and an Aztec bandana. How come she didn't notice?

She's In Your Court Chapter 3: He's a Man, She's a Woman

'Cause I try and try to forget you, girl
But it's just so hard to do
Every time you do that thing you do

- That Thing You Do, The Wonders

...

Few weeks in practice and Gray Fullbuster was nowhere near his goal. Had he lost his magic?

"No!"

Gray was mortified. There was no way he had lost his magic touch.

The My Star Can Dance crew members froze on the spot. Some almost dropped the expensive equipment they were handling. It would have been bad. But the basketball superstar just screamed at them no. Was he mad about something? Was he not satisfied?

Levy McGarden, the My Star Can Dance's assistant show writer, tried to control her trembling when she stepped towards Gray.

"M-m-mr. G-gray. Is anything not i-in your l-l-liking?"

Fear slurred her speech. She had clear instructions from the show's producers and her head-writer. Gray Fullbuster had to have everything he wanted – whenever, wherever. He was a basketball god and he must be treated as such. If word got to the show's big people, Levy would not only lose her job, she would lose her not-so-budding career too.

Gray saw something blue at the corner of his eye. It confused him why the show's writer was bowing in front of him, spitting out apologies everywhere. He couldn't make out the words she was mumbling.

Wait. Did he just say out loud what he was thinking?

All eyes were on Gray. It wasn't all new to him but why did they look like they were expecting something from him? He looked around, to the mortified crew members holding their breath, to the Bunhead with a scowl on her face then back to the short girl hanging her head low.

"I-i-if there's anything y-y-you don't like, we, we…"

"Anything I don't like?"

Apparently, he did it. He said his thoughts out loud. Gray needed to recover from this embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Gray calmed himself first. He couldn't loss his cool like he did before. "I was reacting to… a different news." He covered.

Gray noticed the writer expel a relieved sigh. Good, he thought. The other crew members were relieved too. They returned to what they were doing. Juvia, however, was still judging him. Her sharp blue eyes were narrowed at him, questioning.

He broke the eye-to-eye stand off when he felt his phone vibrate.

Saved by the vibration.

"How's the show going?"

Gray grimaced at the question. He couldn't say it was all good. Because it wasn't. His gaze landed on Bunhead who also returned to her own task.

"Are you still there, Gray?"

"Yes, mother."

So, Mika was on the other line, asking about the show.

What could Gray say? That there was a woman in this universe who did not know nor acknowledge him? It ticked him off and that was all he could think of.

"Everything's fine, mother."

No it wasn't.

"I hope you're on your best behavior. I couldn't stress enough how–"

"–yes, I know, mother." Gray cut in.

How could he think about his image when his ego, and manhood, was being stepped on and crashed with Bunhead's long and sexy legs?

"I got this."

Gray was not only talking about the show. He needed to fix this, whatever weird hocus pocus this was. Even if the ignorant Bunhead was not a fan of sports, she ought to know Gray. His name and gorgeous face were all over the news. He became an instant celebrity after the last national basketball games where his team won.

Was Juvia a monk? Was she living under a rock this whole time?

"I got this." He told himself after he cut the call and turn off his phone.

"Here you go, Gray."

The only high of his day was talking to the graceful Olivia Lockser, Bunhead's mother. Not only because she actually has a good sense of humor but mostly because she was very welcoming. Unlike the hostile bluenette she shared an uncanny resemblance with, who only welcomed him with animosity. His carefully prepared plan stumbled on a dead-end too and just when he finally caught her off-guard.

"Tea is good for the body. It rids of the toxins."

She brought Gray tea and offered the whole crew too.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lockser."

Olivia Lockser was a calming presence. Gray wished Juvia would take after her.

"Olivia will do."

She then left to offer her daughter a cup of tea. Gray couldn't help but notice how doting of a mother Olivia Lockser was. And thanks to her, Gray was able to get a glimpse of a smiling Juvia. The younger Lockser beamed at her mother's display of affection.

"Like a child."

"Who's like a child, Mr. Gray?"

Gray almost shrieked out of surprise. Levy was so short and her steps were so light that no one could see when she was coming. But over the weeks, the writer was able to grow out of her shyness and would now look into Gray's eyes when talking to him. He just needed her to drop the 'mister'.

"You scared me there."

It was true. Gray had to calm his heart down. They should really put a bell on Levy.

"Mr. Gray is really jumpy."

That was also true. He should really stop talking to himself alone.

Not only did Levy gained confidence, she could now also freely tease him. Gray was able to recover from the shock when Shorty giggled.

"Juvia is an only child."

At the mention of her name, Gray's curious eyes landed on Bunhead once again.

Only child huh, he thought.

"Mr. Gray should really start reading profiles."

Shorty's words stung Gray. He had not even thrown a glance at Juvia's profile. It made him look really self-centered. He reminded himself to take a look at it later.

"Like I said I want to know my partner on a more personal level."

"And how does Mr. Gray plan to do that?"

Levy's eyes shone with pure and innocent curiosity. Gray could not answer the curiosity though because he, himself, had no idea how to break that ice cold woman who seemed like had no other plans but dance all day.

Of course, he could not admit to that. Gray Fullbuster could not admit defeat. So, he hid his doubts with confidence. Which, in all honesty, was beginning to take a hit.

"You'll see."

He wasn't just telling Levy. He was also trying to convince himself that he was going to get through that woman one way or another.

Gray checked his designer watch. He was a tad early than call time. There was no sign of the show's crew members everywhere, except for the hard-working assistant writer, Levy.

"Oh, Mr. Gray. You're early again today."

Gray greeted her with a smile.

"Early bird catches the worm." He said.

Gray did believe that. In the past years of his training he always came first and left last.

"Juvia's just finishing her class." Levy gestured to Bunhead who was already grinning wide as she sent her students home. "The crew will be here in thirty minutes." She informed.

"It's alright. I can wait."

Feeling sorry and embarrassed to make a man like Gray wait, Levy asked him to take a seat. Shorty excused herself and stepped out of the room to make a phone call. She was going to ask the crew to come fast, fly if they needed to.

In all honesty, Gray was not in a hurry. It gave him some time to observe his partner. Gray did not take a seat. Instead, he walked toward the wall of painting he already saw yesterday and the days before that. He pretended to check them out.

The room cleared quickly, save for a few guests who lingered. Gray threw the unsuspecting bluenette a glance then casually returned his attention to the art piece when she looked his way. He would, again, cast a side glance when he felt like she wasn't looking anymore.

If anyone saw him, they would think he was about to steal the art piece with the way he was stealing glances at the owner of it.

Mary, Juvia's young and pretty assistant, handed her a bottle of water and a clean towel. Then, she walked toward the pretending athlete and offered him one too.

"Have some water, Sir."

Gray returned her warm smile, collecting the beverage the petite woman offered. He said his thanks casually as if he didn't have a little panic when the assistant turned his way and approached him. He ignored the small giggle the young girl stifled as she walked back to her desk.

The Pocari Sweat was still cold in his hands. He unscrewed the cap and took a few gulps from the bottle, emptying it in half. At the corner of his eye, he saw Juvia's small figure move.

Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back.

Gray did not even put up a fight and easily gave in to his curiosity. As if caught in a daze, he watched Juvia mesmerize him with every move.

The petite bluenette just had a sip of her cold bottle and replaced the cap immediately. She clutched the clean towel and dabbed off the sweat on her forehead.

Gray's curious eyes followed her hand as she slid the towel down her cheeks and then to her neck. Her eyes were closed shut, her lips were slightly parted and the way she tilted her bare neck on the side made it hard for Gray to swallow. Suddenly, the room temperature shot up to a hundred degree.

"When did it get so hot in here?" He asked himself in a small voice.

The flustered athlete adjusted his shirt collar that started to suffocate him. He was wearing a v-neck. His midnight eyes never left Juvia. He quickly regretted that as he watched Juvia's towel dab at her bare and prominent collarbone and slowly approached the zone he could not look away from. Gray was so preoccupied he did not notice his grip tightening around the plastic bottle. He also did not notice the girl who emerged behind him.

"Good news, Mr. Gray."

Gray jumped in surprise, accidentally spilling the water on the floor and some on him too. He immediately looked away before the ballet teacher caught him gawking at her.

"Oh my gosh! I scared you again."

Levy felt it was all her fault. Good thing Juvia's assistant was quick to respond. Mary rushed to him with a towel in hand.

"Don't worry about it. I have extra shirts in the bag. I'll just change–"

"–what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Juvia's panicked words stop Gray midway.

"You can't just strip in here. Especially not in front of women!" Juvia sprinted towards Gray, who was in the middle of a strip tease, and pulled the hem of the shirt down to cover the lower half of his exposed abs.

"What's wrong with it?"

Of course there was nothing wrong with Gray taking off his shirt in the middle of the room, even with an audience. It was a usual request from directors, photographers and producers. He was not only famous for his devilishly good looks but also his rock hard six-packs. Most of the times, the six-packs was part of the contract.

So why was this grandma so surprised?

"What do you mean what's wrong with it? Are you out of your mind?"

The two argued so loud that Gray did not notice two pairs of round eyes, one set was mortified and the other was quite excited.

"I'll even turn around, see?"

Juvia would not be able to stop Gray for taking his shirt off completely because for Gray it was normal. Totally normal.

But Juvia's heartbeat was not.

Suddenly, she found herself staring at an athlete's bare chest. His muscles were flat and refined. Juvia have only seen them on television or on paper. They did not do him justice. Interest hit Juvia in a speed of light. And something else just below her stomach. She wondered how his skin would feel beneath his fingertips.

"Are you taking this?"

The words snapped Juvia back to reality. She belatedly realized the inappropriate things she was thinking. With that man of all people!

But it wasn't strong arms that grabbed her shoulders and shove her against something hard. Instead, they were slender and short pair of arms – Levy's.

"You guys, we're a friendly show! You can't film this."

Juvia could feel the warmth Gray's body was emitting. It was clouding her usual rational thoughts. Worst of all, Gray's warmth was inviting her in.

Logic and decency peeled her off the half-naked athlete.

"Levy! You can't use me as human shield." She bellowed.

"And you!" Juvia turned around to face the stripper.

That freaking chest was at it again, teasing her, inviting her, challenging her. So, she grabbed the clean shirt on Gray's duffel sitting next to him and threw the damn thing at his really, really tempting chest.

"Put on something!"

Juvia marched to the other side of the room, eager to put distance between Gray and her. Also, because she did not want Gray to see how he affected her. If anyone asked, she'd say she was fuming red. But Juvia knew the truth.

All she saw was his chest, what more when her darkened eyes drifted down his abs?

Alas, it was too late though. Because Gray saw how Juvia's facial expression changed. She liked what she saw, he could tell. Most women did when Gray was stripped down to nothing in front of them.

The day wasn't a total waste because Gray realized that Juvia was still a woman and half-naked gods still had an effect on her.

Juvia shuddered at the thought of how she and her body reacted to Gray yesterday. So, she convinced, more like ordered, herself to get used to his presence in the studio, or else… Juvia was not sure herself what she would do. It has been awhile, like really awhile, since she rolled in bed in heat with a man.

So when Gray Fullbuster came to her studio, dressed in his gym shorts and fit white tee, she had another think coming.

The famous athlete strutted toward the center of the room, stretching his arms and tilting his head from side to side on the way. Then, he began his formal warm-up exercise starting from the shoulders.

"You're an early riser, Mr. Fullbuster."

"Yeah?" Gray said distractedly. He purposely flexed his well-defined biceps in front of Juvia just to show off. "Like I said, early bird catches worm." Flashing Juvia a dubious smile.

Which worm was he talking about?

Blue eyes wandered over the figure bending over at the center of her studio. She watched him extend his right arm to touch his toes on his left foot then his left hand with his toes on the right foot. When Gray rose to his full height, she could not help but trace a sinful trail starting from his broad, athletic shoulders, down his perfect V-shaped back. And when he reached down for another stretch, Juvia's mouth ran dry. His perfect and glorious ass demanded her attention. She easily obliged.

A sad realization hit the twenty-five year old ballerina; Juvia has not been in a relationship since she started teaching at the studio. She slapped her palms against her burning cheeks and whirled away to avoid detection. If he's back side could send every cell in her body into a frenzy, then how much more the front?

Her hazed mind wandered to yesterday, to a picture of Gray's hard, bare chest. Her cheeks burned. And the man was not even fully naked. Juvia shook her head to get rid of those inappropriate thoughts. She convinced herself that she was reacting to his body and not Gray. But could you really separate a man from his body?

Juvia needed to busy herself or else she'll keep thinking about Gray's sinfully tempting build and the things she could do with it. Bunhead proceeded to the handle bar and rested her left leg on it so in case her nosy assistant came asking why she was as red as a tomato, she'd have her reason.

"Gosh. You really are flexible."

"I hope that's not as dirty as it sounds."

Because everything he says sound sexual to Juvia now thanks to yesterday's strip tease.

"Hey, you're the one thinking dirty here."

Juvia put her leg down and glared at her disrupter. She has not even calmed her heart and her hormones yet and the bastard had the balls to lean against her hand bar and chat with her with that very, very sexy smug on his face.

"Let's just get started, okay?"

"M'kay."

There was something about his smile and his mood that she could not point out exactly. Like he knew something she did not. Juvia brushed it off. She had already wasted thirty minutes fantasizing about the Hoopster. Not good, Juvia.

"Fullbuster–"

"–Gray would do."

"Fullbuster,"

Gray narrowed his eyes at the woman who wouldn't listen.

"I need to know what I'm working here with." Juvia switched from a blushing schoolgirl to a serious businesswoman real quick. "I need to know your capacity in dancing."

"You've seen my dancing."

"Vijee thought you basic steps. If we want to impress the audience we need to add some star factor to it."

"I am the star factor."

There was no trace of humility on that man.

"Show me."

"My dance?"

Juvia nodded.

"Okay. Here it goes."

Gray Fullbuster smiled at himself. Easy-peasy. He looked up to the ceiling to call for Michael and, whether it was the King of Pop or King of the Hoops, he always made them proud.

"Prepare to be amazed."

He threw an imaginary fedora on his head and kept his hand poised there while his free hand was positioned on a place Juvia avoided to look at. He started humming the chorus, spun around ala Michael Jackson and glided his feet backwards like he was walking on air. It had a cute mix of goofy and sexy. But sexy won over when Gray executed his steamy pelvic thrust.

What's wrong with the air-conditioner in this room, Juvia wondered.

"Well, Golden Boy, we're going on a TV show not a strip club."

Juvia needed to know if this pelvic-thrusting guy in front of her had a potential as an actual dancer, and if he did, to what extent. She showed Gray some of the basics in ballet, pushing the image of him rocking his hips like a rock star at the back of her mind – way, way back there. Surprisingly, he was learning fast.

Of course, Hoopster could not cram the four years worth of studying and practicing ballet in just one day. Maybe a year or two if he practiced daily. But time was not a luxury.

The professional dancer settled on just going with the basics. She was looking to mix basic ballet with modern dance for entertainment value. She needed to impress the Chief Judge. Juvia just had to use his well-defined build and strong figure to her advantage.

"Lift you?"

"Yes."

"So I'm just like a prop? A stunt-man?"

"Well… not exactly."

Gray squinted at her in an attempt to intimidate her into admitting that in her eyes he was just a chair or a ladder she could step on.

"Then what exactly am I?"

A nuisance who was converting her into a real pervert.

The two of them were so uncoordinated that he slams into her in every turn. And even in a simple lift and carry he was always dropping her.

"How much" Puff. "do you" Puff. "weigh?" Puff.

"Don't ask a woman her weight!"

"Well Mr. Star Player, you're late again."

Briar, the sultry Fiore Knights' team-manager, chided Gray for being late. His teammates were already thirty minutes in on their morning drill. She made sure that the warning in her voice was on point too. But it did not seem like the Star Player heard it because he just walked past her, dropped his duffel beside him and sunk on one of the bleachers.

Gray was tired – dead tired. His body was aching all over. He even had to request the company chauffer to pick him up and drive him to the gym. It was freaking Saturday and he had to drag himself to practice.

The grumpy raven-haired listened to Briar's tall heels tap on the gym floor. He frowned beneath the towel he covered his face with, knowing the foxy manager was approaching him. His suspicion was confirmed when Briar grabbed the towel away and the gym's remarkable lighting system bombarded his vision. It took his pupils a few seconds to adjust to the sudden brightness and, just as he guessed, the tough manager already had her hands crossed against her generous chest. A disapproving expression plastered on her face.

"Get up."

"Just give me a minute."

"Get up or I will haul your ass there."

Gray raised both his hands in surrender. Experience told him not to get on the woman's bad side. So as soon as the team jogged past where he was sitting, the Star Player insinuated himself within the group.

This year's Most Valuable Player could jog up and down the bleachers for thirty minutes minimum and make it look so easy-peasy. He could finish the standard number of jogs in his sleep. Today, however, his legs gave up on the second lap.

Coach Macao, Fiore Knight's resident instructor and strategist, granted him a short break before finishing his remaining laps.

"We don't want to lose our Star Player, do we?" He would say, obviously lenient towards Gray.

It did not take the Team Captain long to jump at the opportunity. With both feet rested atop the back of the seat in front of him, Gray made himself comfortable on the bleachers. He was just about to shut the world out to take a short nap when a big hand slapped him on the shoulders and startled him awake.

"Bunhead?" asked Natsu Dragneel, the country's best point-guard and the most annoying best-friend Gray has ever met.

"I hear you, brother."

Gray's team, not wanting to miss out on anything juicy, had just joined in on the chitchat.

"I dated this one chick in college. She was in dance sports or something. Man, never stopped until I passed out."

"What? Lucy did Dance Sports in college? What category?" Loke asked, surprised to know that Eathland Sports' newscaster had that talent.

"Shut up, you pervert."

Gray threw a towel at his Point-guard's face to shut him up. What did he need to give to get some sleep around there?

"Besides, if that's what we're actually doing, I'd be glad."

No. Not even close. The reason why his body was sore, and not the good kind you get after a fun night, was because he and Juvia had been practicing for three days straight. They still both keep messing up the choreography. And by 'them' he meant he.

"She is just too demanding."

He was half-right. Juvia kept making him do things.

"It's like she's trying to impress someone."

"If you have time to chat you have time to squat. Now, go!"

Briar was a no-nonsense kind of woman when it came to managing Fiore Knights. She would not start becoming lenient on them. Not now that they were going to the big leagues. There was so much on the line.

"You, too, Star Player. Hit it."

Gray grunted. In this gym and in that dance studio, Gray Fullbuster, basketball god, was being ordered around by women.

Gray could not catch a break.

Author's Note: What's up beautiful people? I've revised this chapter. Please send some love and comments. See you at the comments section. Muah