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 4: Dancing is Like Making Love
And you play it coy, But it's kinda cute.
Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.
- Everything, Michael Buble
...
Juvia Lockser wondered what she had ever done wrong to deserve getting stuck with a five-year-old goofball trapped in a hot basketball star's body. The times she tried to make a conversation, Gray would twist her words and insist that she liked him, which was obviously not the case. Okay, maybe. Maybe, she liked him a little bit. Also, she liked his body a little bit.
"Levy? Am I cursed?"
Juvia fixed her hair in front of the full body mirror. She pulled her blue locks into a bun, leaving a few baby strands astray.
"What do you mean?"
Levy emerged behind the counter, dropping a stack of magazine on top the marble counter. The young assistant huffed. A smoke of dust irritated her sensitive nose.
"Why do I have to be paired up with that guy?"
"You mean, Mr. Gray?"
My Star Can Dance's assistant writer stacked the magazines neatly on one side and took another set from below the counter.
"Don't call him that."
"Why not?"
Juvia turned away from the mirror and walked toward the young writer.
"It reminds me of that book."
"Which book? Oh!"
Levy blushed at the realization. Both Juvia and she read that book, not together though.
"Didn't you like Christian Grey?"
"Don't remind me."
Juvia rolled her eyes. Her mind wandered over the Fifty Shades trilogy she kept in her book case. That one made her reach for ice. The room's temperature shot up to a hundred. The steamy scenes from the book and the movie played in her mind in vivid images.
"Eh, a-a-anyway. Why was I even paired up with him? Is there no one else?"
"I honestly don't know."
Juvia grabbed Levy's shoulders and spun the surprised Shrimp to face her. She wanted to look into her friend's eyes to see if she was lying. Levy McGarden was telling the truth.
Juvia sighed in defeat and let go of the surprised, and honestly a little scared, Levy.
"Is it too late to change partners?"
"Probably…"
Juvia faced her with hopeful eyes. She would jump at the opportunity of getting rid of that Hoopster.
But Levy intentionally kept the answer hanging.
"No." she finished.
Levy let out a hearty laugh. It wasn't everyday she could tease the woman who kept calling her Shrimp in High School. Revenge of the Shorties.
Juvia glared at the woman. She was enjoying Juvia's misfortune too much.
"Why are you so against it? When I found out you were going to be paired up with Mr. Gray, I was so excited for you I screamed at my head writer!"
Juvia could see Levy's frustration. Well, she ought to feel lucky, shouldn't she? Considering that… Juvia wondered for a second. Should she tell Levy the truth?
"Well…"
"I even remember when we were in High School, we skipped class just to mmmnn…"
Shrimp's next words were shut by Juvia'a quick hand.
"Don't say it out loud!"
"What shouldn't she say out loud?"
The two women jumped in surprise. None of them heard Hoopsters footsteps. Gray was never that discreet. He made sure his presence was felt, one way or another. So, how did he manage to enter the practice room without detection?
"Mmmnnnmm."
Juvia was horrified. Did Hoopster hear anything? And if he did, to what extent? The surprised, and a little anxious, bluenette was so preoccupied with these questions that she did not feel her hand suffocating one show writer.
"Geez, woman. Release the poor girl."
Juvia only realized she was taking Levy hostage when Gray pointed it out. She immediately retrieved her hand that covered the writer's mouth and apologized.
"Was that a girl-on-girl thing you guys liked to do privately?"
Gray should be thankful, Juvia thought. He should be thankful that there wasn't anything within her reach. Otherwise, the ballerina would have grabbed the nearest thing, anything, to throw at the cheeky pervert.
...
The day of the preshow was drawing near and Juvia was still not confident about their routine. Bunhead was thankful that the self-proclaimed basketball superstar agreed to drive down her studio for practice, even on weekends. She politely asked Levy if she could keep that a secret from the show and the crew members for the time being. Their presence made it hard for her and Gray to concentrate.
"You just wanted to be alone with Mr. Gray." Levy teased which Juvia didn't seem to hear.
All her attention was focused on one thing – impressing her idol. Nothing else mattered.
Gray was all excited and giddy when he arrived at Juvia's dance studio. Finally, he could have Bunhead all to himself. No cameras, no audience, just the two of them. It was time to put on the charms and the moves.
Your savior has finally arrived! Was what Gray wanted to announce, kicking the door open. But he heard two people talking inside the practice room. He recognized the voices belonging to Juvia and Levy. He felt a pang of disappointment. So, they were not alone.
Gray recovered from the dismay when he heard the two talking about him. He pressed his ear against the door to hear more. He did not like how they talked about him anymore like he was some kind of plague Juvia would rather avoid.
Something sparked his interest though, when he heard Levy say something about skipping class in High School. He was hogging the door already when silence came and Juvia yelled at the other woman thereafter.
What shouldn't she say out loud?
"Hello, Mr. Gray."
Being alone with Bunhead? It was too good to be true.
"Hello, Levy."
"Good, you're here."
Juvia walked past Shrimp, sidestepping Levy. She acted so casually like she was not suffocating the other woman earlier.
"What? Afraid you can't trust yourself to be alone with me?"
Juvia knew exactly what he meant. She glanced at the innocent buffer she asked the previous night. Levy was more than happy to come. Better than waiting for death . Levy's Head-Writer to call. Bunhead was sure Gray would seize the opportunity to try something funny. She just did not trust the conceited Hoopster to be alone with her. If Juvia was being honest, she couldn't trust herself around him too.
"Afraid I can't trust myself not to kick your balls if no one is here to stop me? Yes."
How did Juvia maintain a straight face when she said that? She needed to impress Fiore's Prima Ballerina, Aquarius. That's it.
"Get ready, we'll start in five minutes."
Wow, not even a good morning?
Juvia disappeared behind a divider. Since Gray was already in his practice clothes, he decided that the best use of his five minutes was to interrogate the third wheel about earlier.
"So, Levy..."
As much as he did not appreciate Levy's presence, Gray was not rude enough to send her away. But he stumbled upon fascinating information and it appeared that Levy held the key to open it. Thus, Gray walked over to the counter where the writer stood behind.
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Nothing, Mr. Gray."
Levy was a bad liar. It showed on her face when she tried. So, she trained her evasive eyes at the flower painting on the wall behind Gray, not wanting them to give her away.
"Would you like some water?" She beamed at him, obviously trying to change the subject.
But Gray would not go down without putting up a fight. He ignored her offer and leaned over the counter, standing face to face with the fidgety Levy, their faces just inches away.
"Why did you guys skip class in High School?"
Gray has realized that women tend to become more honest when he looked straight into their eyes; like he was some kind of truth serum.
But something more interesting caught his attention. He easily recognized the GQ front cover photo sticking out the stack of Juvia's Dance Magazine collection. He pulled it out and beamed. How could he not recognize it when he had a large portrait of that sexy GQ photo hanging in his bedroom?
The curious cat spread the stack on top of the counter. His smile grew wider with every discovery. Juvia kept a fair share of his sport and health-related magazine covers. Maybe, even all of them.
"If you're done interrogating Levy, shall we start?"
The ballerina's approaching light steps painted a sly smile on Gray's face – one that reminded her of the cat in Alice in Wonderland.
"So…"
Gray raised a number of magazines in Juvia's face, intimidating her into admitting to the truth. What a stroke of luck! Gray was just asking for some recognition. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever imagine that that hostile little thing was actually a fan. Gray finally succeeded.
"Th-that's not mine!"
Almost.
But Gray wouldn't buy it. Her guilty blue eyes, and the overwhelming evidence in his hand, said otherwise.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with being my fan."
He dangled the evidence in front of Bunhead – taunting her. The number of copies was overwhelming. Some even dated back from when he was just starting making a name for himself. The magazines and their variety were definitely in the level of a collector's item.
Juvia, however, did not take the bait.
"They're probably Mary's. She's a fan."
"Mary only started here a year ago, Juvs. These looked like they were here for quite some time."
Juvia shot daggers at the traitor.
Really, Levy? Whose side are you on?
"Then, maybe, my mother's. So, can we start now, Sherlock?"
The insult in the end only grazed Gray's inflated ego. How could it be Olivia when the poor woman could not even remember him even if his giant billboard stared her in the face? Before he can retort back, Juvia was already at the center of the room, eager to start the practice. And drop the subject.
Gray replaced the evidence on the desk, retreating for now. He threw a glance at the writer behind the counter. She avoided his eyes almost immediately. Guilty as charged.
Gray put two in two together. This discovery was a gold mine: he was not going to let this go. The athlete-celebrity lit his imaginary cigarette in his mind. Oh, Sherlock was going to get to the bottom of this.
Gray moved behind Juvia's slender figure, falling on their opening position. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his open palms flat on her torso. When Juvia leaned her head back against his athletic shoulder, following the choreography, the raven-haired could not help but take in the scent of her fresh perfume – a combination of sweet and sexy and evasive.
Gray was supposed to dip his head against the ballerina's neck but his warm, soft lips brushing lightly against it ruined Juvia's concentration. So, she decided against it, much to her partner's dismay. They settled with Hoopster just looking straight ahead.
"Why can't you just admit it?"
At the first drop of the beat, Juvia lowered her body, sliding against Gray's, and stopped midway. Both her open palms rested on the athlete's strong hips for support. She extended her right foot forward, with toes pointing sharply outwards, and drew an arc on the floor before pulling it back to its original position.
"Admit what?"
The bluenette's skinny arms snaked around Gray's neck and her slender fingers interlocked behind it. Her back was still at him. Both her feet lightly brushed against the carpet when Hoopster spun Juvia once. She finished the sequence with her left leg held in a powerful en pointe.
"That you do know me."
"I never said I didn't."
"But that time…"
"Will you drop it and concentrate on the dance?"
Juvia missed a step in a turn and collided against the Hoopster. Something she has been getting really good at lately.
"I won't stop until you admit."
The bluenette fell on her opening position with her left foot – the working foot – pointed in front of the other with a space between them. She stepped and put all her weight on her working foot and ended her first turn with a passé by lifting her toe up and resting it on the side of her knee. She was too busy perfecting her pique turns to listen to Hoospter.
But Gray was not a quitter.
"Until you admit that you are a…"
Second pique turn.
Hoopster tailed the ballerina as she repeated the traveling turning step in a diagonal.
"Big."
Third pique turn.
"Fat."
Juvia got a little distracted and missed her landing in the final sequence. She was about to make contact with the floor when Gray's agile reflexes kicked in and caught her.
"Fan."
Juvia blinked at Hoopster. Blinked. Blinked again. She waited for him to put a stop in their awkward position but Gray had no intention in doing so. Not until he got the ballerina to admit to his suspicions.
"Will you stop it and just pull me up?"
"Not until you say it."
Juvia smiled at him but her eyes promised danger.
"Pull me up or I'll kick your balls."
Gray immediately complied. He wouldn't dare find out if that woman was kidding or not.
...
The date of the preshow came fast. It was a close-door event held at the Magnolia Amphitheater. The signed judges for the show would watch and comment on the contestants' performance before they go live. Some sort of a culminating activity in a dance camp.
Juvia's heart was racing. Not because she was nervous about the dance nor to dancing before an audience. She was already used to auditions and live performances. No. The reason why Juvia has been waiting in bated breath was because in any moment she would be standing face to face with her childhood dance hero, Fiore's Prima Ballerina – Aquarius.
She was so excited she didn't get any shuteye the night before.
Juvia paced Gray's dressing room, sitting and doing nothing would not help her calm down.
"Juvia, you are going to bore holes on the floor if you keep doing that."
Blue eyes glared at the man in front of the vanity mirror having his make-up taken care of.
"Wow, you have really good skin, Mr. Gray."
The make-up artist returned the sponge and foundation in her bag, deciding that with Gray's flawless skin loose powder would do the trick. It was like a woman's!
"Thanks, Laki. The secret is actually staying hydrated. I also take good care of my skin."
"It really shows!"
Juvia rolled her eyes. How could this weirdo think about beauty regimen when she was about to lose her mind just thinking about meeting Aquarius?
A slight knock on the door interrupted the talk about moisturizers and facial creams.
"Excuse me, Mr. Gray, Ms. Juvia. We'll come out in ten minutes. The judges have arrived. We'd like to introduce you to them before we start."
Juvia's heart somersaulted.
"Alright. Thank you."
Juvia felt embarrassed forgetting her manners. It was Gray who thanked him on their behalf.
Juvia spun to see Gray climbing down his sit. On the vanity mirror behind him, she could see that they both were wearing black. It wasn't anything fancy since this was just the preshow. The material hugged his body so fine and perfectly. Anything looked good on Hoopster. Even just a plain shirt and tattered pants. He looked heavenly walking towards her with giant smile on his face.
A heavy pair of hands landed on Juvia's shoulders.
"You ready?"
For the dance? Yes. In meeting her childhood dance hero? Juvia's mind went hazy for a moment.
"Let's go then."
She didn't hear herself answer. The excitement and anxiety of meeting Aquarius rendered Juvia speechless and made her lose all functions. So, Juvia let Hoopster push her outside the door and into the lobby.
Juvia would surely regret later how she let Hoopster take the lead and how she showed weakness today. For now, she let the Hoopster be.
The crew members asked the contestants to form a single line. The executive producer would be introducing each of them to the three judges – an up and coming danseur, a musical directress and the woman whom made Juvia fall in love with dancing.
Juvia's ears throbbed at the sight of Aquarius. She looked so beautiful and surreal. The whole moment felt so surreal. Juvia's heart hammered against her chest, hard. Was she dreaming?
The moment of the meeting arrived. Aquarius was shaking the last hand before she extended hers to Juvia. Bunhead did not hear what the executive producer just said. Her eyes were trained at the elegant beauty standing in front of her.
"I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Lockser."
Lockser? Was she talking to her?
"Oh… I'm sorry. I'm a big fan, Ms. Aquarius."
Juvia finally managed to spit out coherent words. Thank goodness.
"And I'm Gray Fullbuster. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Juvia saw Hoopster take Aquarius' hand, flip it and kissed the back of her palm. Juvia heard the woman let out a soft laugh. So did the others. She felt a bit jealous. Fullbuster was so suave.
"My, my. If it isn't Fiore Knights' miracle worker." She was referring to Gray's nickname in the basketball circle. "My husband's a big fan of Fiore Knights and yours, Mr. Fullbuster."
"Gray will do, Ms. Aquarius."
See? Even Fiore's Prima Ballerina knew him. Juvia Lockser was probably an alien for not knowing and not getting excited about his existence.
The other two judges, a man and a woman whom Gray had no idea who they were, shook his hands too. They made small talk with him before the executive producer led them to the next couple and to the last. Mr. Producer would not want to others to think that they were playing favorites.
The executive producer then led the group somewhere else and the contestants were told to go to the backstage.
Juvia lingered behind, her eyes plastered at the woman with the long blue hair.
"Wow, Ms. Aquarius looked really young for her age, doesn't she?"
Juvia ignored him.
"If she wasn't married I would definitely hit that. Oomph."
Juvia turned a heel and walked away so casually like she did not just elbowed Hoopster at the side.
"Geez, are you jealous or something?"
…
Gray nursed the shot of pain at his side. That woman has really turned violent. Well, maybe, he deserved it. He just made a pass at her childhood heroine.
His midnight eyes searched the waiting room for his attacker. They found the culprit standing at the opening that led to the main stage. Gray pushed himself up and walked over there.
"I didn't know you are such…" Gray heard she liked that BDSM book. "a sadist." He whispered.
"Aw!" He yelped. Now his other side throbbed in pain.
"Geez, woman. If I won't be able to perform tonight–" He started to make her feel guilty about her violence when Juvia grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to her eye level.
"You make sure we make it to this preshow or else…"
Remember, nothing pretty came after or else.
"You know that thing you are so proud of?"
Gray found himself unable to concentrate. Juvia was so close that he could smell her perfume. So intoxicating.
"What thing?"
Juvia did not answer his question. Instead, her sharp eyes drifted down south. Gray followed the trail, his eyes landing on...
Did she mean his thing?
"I'll cut it."
Gray jerked back, instinctively crossing his arms over his favorite part of his body. The threat against his manhood sobered him quickly.
"Y-you're kidding, right?"
"Do you want to find out?"
Hell no. The woman just threatened to castrate his happiness. Of course, he wasn't going to try to even find out if she was serious.
Because Juvia Lockser trying to impress her idol was dead serious and no one was going to stand in her way.
…
Juvia sighed. She sighed for the umpteenth time that morning.
"Honey, if you keep doing that all day, you are going to suffocate my plants."
Olivia finally voiced out her concern for her plants, which she meticulously grew herself around their kitchen. And if there was something that irritated the classy woman more than the indirect threat to her beloved pots was her daughter losing her table manners.
Juvia had both her feet up on the seat, crossed in an Indian sitting position. Her elbow was propped on the table to support her messy-bunned head. And she has not touched her breakfast.
"What's bothering you?" She slid in one of their expensive table chairs. "And will you put your feet down? Elbows off the table too."
The younger bluenette knew better not to argue so she politely complied, putting down her feet on the floor. She kept forking her sausage on the plate though.
"Are you nervous about the live show?"
Juvia nodded.
Concern flashed on Olivia's blue eyes, a shade lighter than her daughter's.
"Why?"
"You've seen our practice, Mom. Fullbuster is an okay dancer, to say the least, but we seem to be–" Juvia searched for the right word. "– uncoordinated." Just the perfect word.
"He keeps stepping on my foot. Then we collide against each other every chance there is. He even keeps dropping me."
Juvia massaged her left arm which was still sore from slamming against the floor.
"Plus, you heard what Aquarius had to say with our routine at the preshow."
Bunhead was still mortified. She came in that theater with one goal: impress Fiore's Prima Ballerina. Aquarius did pay her compliments with her skills in dancing but she said she wanted to see more, feel more. The shame of failing her hero miserably has not eased up even three days after the preshow.
Juvia whined at her mother when she mentioned about her weight and saying it was probably the problem. The ballet teacher maintained that she kept watching her diet and she weighed normal for her height.
Olivia Lockser chuckled at the way her only daughter was defending her weight. She teased the young Lockser who looked all flustered. Olivia cleared her throat, trying to gain composure. When the giggles died down, the older Lockser spoke in a more serious tone.
"Then, maybe you need to know your partner better."
Juvia was skeptical.
"What's that got to do with anything?"
Hearing her stomach complain, Juvia finally took a bite of her sausage. All those denying and defending made her hungry.
"I don't think the problem is that you and Gray are uncoordinated. The problem is that you are quite hostile towards Gray."
Juvia was offended. Of course, she denied the accusations. But her mother insisted that she was definitely mean towards Gray.
Was her mother taking Gray's side?
"Hypothetically, let's say that I am quite... unwelcoming… towards him." Juvia was careful in choosing her words, playing down her hostility. "How does it affect our dancing?"
"Dancing is like making love."
Juvia knew spit-takes were definitely not funny in real-life. But she did one however, spitting out the chunked pieces of her sausage. She wiped her mouth quickly. Only if she could wipe the redness of her face with the napkin too.
"I'm sorry. Wh-what?"
Olivia chuckled at how childish her daughter reacted to the word 'making-love'. She was already twenty five for goodness sake.
"Dancing is an expression of one's self. It reveals one's soul. We expose a part of our self in every step, in every move. Through dancing we relay a message, we tell a story."
Olivia's words were profound and enlightening. No trace of the bully of a mother she was earlier.
"Like making love, dancing unites not only the mind and the body but the heart as well. That intimacy between partners then translates into a move that reaches its intended audience and touches anyone who watches."
Juvia pondered over her mother's words. Same as what Aquarius said during the preshow. The Prima Ballerina did not exactly use the same words (especially the word 'making-love'. What is up with that?) but Juvia knew what she was driving at, that the routine lacked heart.
Dance to express, not impress.
"Honey, you're a great dancer. You don't have to prove yourself in that respect. And you and Gray? Well, you do look good together but you can't translate that chemistry through your dance because, like I said, you are hostile towards him."
Guilt hit Juvia like a pandemonium, over and over again. Was she really to blame? Juvia knew her mother wasn't pointing fingers. It was probably Olivia's way of reminding her to warm up to Gray a little.
Looking back at the first few days she has spent with Hoopster, all she did was argue with him. They never even had a decent talk. He was the one to blame. All that Hoopster did was test her patience and annoy the hell out of her. However, if Juvia was being honest, Gray was the more cooperative one between them.
Gray arrived before call time. He never complained about anything he was asked to do for the show. He wasn't a diva at all. Unlike those celebrities she worked with during the first season. In fact, they had that one moment, albeit brief, before the start of the preshow when Gray gave her a pep talk. Probably out of habit since he was the Fiore Knight's Team Captain. Still, Juvia felt a little relieved back then.
He was supportive too. When Juvia was overwhelmed with the thought of meeting her childhood hero, Gray stepped up and proved to be someone she could rely on. Someone she could trust. Juvia should start trusting her partner. To do that, she needed to open up to him, even just a little bit.
The faint screech of the chair's legs against the carpeted floor pulled Juvia out of her thoughts. Olivia was getting out of her seat to attend to her plants again. But before she did, she faced her daughter and left her one last advice.
"Keep that in mind, honey."
Writer's Corner: So finally we're on our last revised chapter. Now we can go with Chapter 6. Anyone else noticed how charged the air between the two are? So much sexual tension. It makes me consider if I should go down that path. Should I write down how Gray and Juvia did the deed? Thoughts?