Jellal, who didn't expect the ball to be flying his way, stood there as he watched the sphered object zoom through the air. He was too late when he realized that the ball was heading straight towards him. The basketball had slammed his face, and Jellal thudded onto the floor. Jellal was cursing to himself. He decided that today was the worst day in his life. He felt as if a bull just slammed into him, not a basketball. Not only that, but his buttcheeks ached when he fell. And the pain was rather excruciating.

Gray was watching from where he stood. He was partially gloating that Jellal was hit in the face. Serves that bastard right! But part of him felt guilty for what he just did. However, Gray was not planning to apologize. Maybe he can get his butt away from Erza, then I'll forgive him. But then Gray realized that the entire gym was wide-eyed after seeing what Gray did. And Gray just stood there, with an apathetic face. His schoolmates were waiting for something to happen.

Oh fine, whatever. I'll just apologize to Jellal and get this over with. He started taking a step towards the blue-haired boy. He sighed before saying, "Hey, are you alright?"

Wait. Something was wrong. That wasn't his voice. His sight readjusted to see who said that. And when he did, he immediately wished he hadn't.

It was Erza. Erza Scarlet.

When Jellal smelled a light perfume, he was reminded of his mother, who always cared for him whenever anything good or bad happened. And suddenly, he wished that his mother was here to help him again. Too bad she was five hundred kilometers away.

When Jellal heard someone call his name ever so gently and quietly, he was sure he was in heaven. The angels were probably trying to welcome him to the next life. Oh well. But when he heard his name being called again, his eyes fluttered open. He saw a familiar ceiling. It was the gym. I never knew that in heaven, there's also a Fairy Tail Academy gym.

Then it occurred to him that he wasn't dead after all.

He wiped his face with his hand and winced at the pain. Yup, he wasn't dead. But he grimaced when he realized blood was smeared across his palm. Oh, I'm never going to look at myself in the mirror ever again.

Jellal took another whiff of the air. The perfume smell was still here. Oh my god! Don't tell me my mom really IS here! He searched for his mother frantically. When he heard the angelic voice asking if he needed any help, he suddenly realized who was by his side.

Right in front of him sat the girl, her red locks tumbling down her shoulders, her chocolate-colored eyes full of worry, and her eyebrows knotted with concern. It was Erza Scarlet. She pressed a handkerchief on his nose. "H-hold still," she stuttered, her voice so sweet and calming. Probably I really am in heaven, after all, Jellal thought and chastised himself for thinking that.

"T-Titania," Jellal said, his voice hoarse. As the girl tenderly cared for him, he wiped his bloodied hands on his uniform, leaving red tracks on the cloth. "Why are you here?"

She gave a small smile. "I'll answer your questions later. First, take care of yourself. You're bleeding." To be honest, Erza didn't know how she got here. She was just watching the basketball game until she saw the raging fire in Gray's eyes. Knowing Gray for so long, she could tell the dark-haired boy was up to something. When Gray slammed the basketball towards Jellal, Erza instinctively ran towards Jellal. She didn't know why, but it just felt right to do so.

She just didn't feel that it was right to watch someone get injured and just watch the person suffer. Now that all eyes were watching her once again, she realized that she was in oh-so-much-trouble. She didn't even think of an explanation for her actions. She didn't know how to explain to all of the students, to Jellal, or even to herself. But what bothered her even more was that she would have to explain to Gray. That's when it occurred to her she had to make something up. . . fast.

Gray watched, his jealousy levels rising. If there was a competition for the person who can glare the best, he could've won the award easily. Gray was actually rather shocked. He didn't expect Erza to be nearby. But now that Erza saw what he did, he knew that he was screwed.

Suddenly, Jellal spoke up. He was pressing his nose against a tissue to stop the bleeding. "You should go away. I can take care of myself," he said.

Erza shook her head. "Not until you stop bleeding first."

Actually, Jellal was glad that the redhead stayed. Just her presence soothed him. But now that Gray was watching, Jellal felt uncomfortable. Yup, Gray was going to kill him for sure.

But what disturbed Jellal further were the memories that suddenly came back to him. The memory of that summer in Magnolia a few years ago. He still remembered meeting the cheery girl and her friends. And then a horrific thought popped up. What if they recognize me? Oh shit, they're going to think I'm pathetic all over again.

And that was what made the blue-haired boy push Titania's hand away. "Excuse me," he mumbled. "I think I'll be leaving." He didn't care that the entire gym was watching him. All he cared about was getting away from Erza. He stood up and maneuvered his way past the crowd. He didn't dare to look into anyone's eyes. He remained silent as he slipped out of the gym, down the school hall, and out of the building.

But as he slipped on his motorcycle helmet and started heading home, he felt little bits of regret. Maybe he should've stayed with Erza. . . Maybe.

By the time it was lunch, the entire school heard about what happened at the gym. Jellal and Gajeel vs. Gray, Gray slams the basketball into Jellal's face, Titania runs to Jellal, Jellal abruptly leaves. This was news for all the students.

"First of all, who would want to challenge Gray? Gray is like the master of basketball."

"Well, it had to be someone out of their right mind. But it can't be Jellal, right? He's the nicest person. . .um, EVER."

"Next, Titania is saving Jellal? Woah, she only saves Gray, right? When did this ever happen?"

"Hey, do you think something is going on between the two?"

"No way. Everyone knows she's head over heels for Gray. Everyone also knows that Gray is head-over-heels for Titania. I'm still curious why they are not an item yet."

"A person runs away from Titania? It's more like Titania running away from the students, not the opposite! What has this world turned into?!"

Erza was busy tuning in to what the students were talking about. She sat at her normal lunch table at the corner, munching at her salad. Everybody was present, except for. . .

"Where's Gray?" Natsu asked. He tore off a piece of his cookie and handed it to Lucy. "I haven't seen him at all today."

The blonde shrugged. She pointed to Erza. "Why did you just run after Jellal? Don't you understand your actions have hurt Gray? Why didn't you apologize? So you just decided to come to leave without saying a word to him? I have to admit, Erza, that's not really nice of you."

The redhead sighed. "I tried to find him, but he just. . .disappeared."

"Him?"

"Gray, I mean."

"Then why didn't you apologize?" Natsu asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like, before you decided to flee. Or were just a bit. . .guilty?" The pink-haired boy started fiddling with the cookie crumbs on the table.

And that's when Erza's defensive side clicked on. She slammed the table with her hand as she stood up. "I'm guilty? Well, I'm not the one that decided to throw the ball at someone's face, you see. I was trying to help someone! And that person was bleeding. What was everybody else doing? Watching! This isn't supposed to be some sort of movie, this is real life. It's happening right before your eyes. I'm not just going to watch. That's just inhumane. . ."

"Well, you should've. . ." Natsu started. But he was cut off when Lucy forcefully stepped on his foot under the table, and a yelp escaped his lips. He took a glance at his girlfriend, who was glaring.

"Now," the redhead said, oblivious to what just happened. "I'll be going to the library." Erza just wanted to take a walk to cool herself off. Now, not only would she have to apologize to Gray, but Natsu too. Even though she stormed away from her friends, she realized what her pink-haired friend said was right. I guess I do feel a little guilty, but I'm just too stubborn to admit it.

Back at the cafeteria, Lucy was strangling Natsu. "Look at what you did to Erza," the blonde hissed. She was tugging on Natsu's pink hair. "You idiot, can't you detect the mood? You really want to die, don't you?!" Yeah, this is how quickly Lucy can change.

"No," Natsu squeaked.

"Pah! Erza's warm heart is what she's known for! People call her Titania for something! You got a problem with Erza, you tell me!"

"I'm so sorry!"

"Why are you apologizing to me?" Lucy pulled on Natsu's hair with more force. "Go. Find. Erza. Or you are so dead."

"Y-yes!" Natsu said, his voice barely audible. He tried to avoid eye contact with the blonde, whose brown eyes were probably an inferno now. As he started rushing towards the stairs, a thought popped into his mind. Lucy may constantly be very strict, but I guess that's what keeps me tamed. He chuckled. I guess that's what I love about her so much. Lucy, what will I do without you?

Meanwhile, Erza was on the third floor. She skipped the idea of going to the library. She was just going to roam the school aimlessly. Maybe she could clear her mind while doing so. Well lately, Erza felt herself acting weirdly lately, but she just couldn't place her finger on her what.

"Yo, Titania!"

The redhead swished around. It was Cobra. Realizing that it was a bad boy of the school, she shot a glare.

"Oh, Titania. Did anyone tell you you're so adorable, dear queen?" Cobra walked up to the redhead and smirked. He placed a hand on the redhead's left shoulder. But Erza brushed it off. She ignored him and continued her walk down the hallway.

"Titania! So you're not going to say anything to me?!"

Just walk away, Erza told herself. Pretend he's not here. This was the drill she practiced for twelve years.

But it was no use. Cobra was still following her. He sighed. "Not only do you look cute in the front, but in the back too." He chuckled to himself as he admired the sway of Erza's hips. "I just love how your red hair swishes so swiftly around your back." He took a peek at Erza's face, which showed her pissed off emotion. "Someone's getting annoyed, huh? Why don't you tell me to stop? I want to hear your beautiful voice."

Erza abruptly changed direction to walk down a different hall in an attempt to show that she didn't want Cobra's presence. Cobra got the message alright, but continued to pester the redhead. "You really want me to go away that badly? Then tell me to stop. Well, Titania?"

The redhead remained silent. She started to quicken her pace and was about to reach the stairway until Cobra blocked her. "Don't just leave me hanging." He reached out for the redhead's chin. "Ha, look. The almighty Titania is all under my control!" He let out a sinister snicker.

Cobra decided to bring up the topic of the morning. He knew that Erza was sensitive when the topic had to do with Gray. "You were amazing this morning, saving a damsel in distress. But too bad you did all of this in front of. . .Gray. I thought that you, being Juliet, would wait for your Romeo. Oops, I forgot. Romeo and Juliet never ended up together anyway. Both die in the end."

The redhead felt her eyebrow twitch. It wasn't my idea to call Gray and me, "Romeo and Juliet."

"Haha. Maybe Gray won't forgive you, ever. Besides, you did betray him. You decided to help another guy right in front of his face. Oh, poor Gray." A smirk formed on Cobra's face. The redhead's lips were pursed into a thin line. He knew that Titania was annoyed, and he had fun watching her like that. "Don't you have something to say, oh queen?"

And that's when Erza decided to give up. She was tired of people calling her queen and following her around. She opened her mouth to start talking but was cut off when a figure slapped Cobra's arm away from Titania.

Erza could recognize that figure from anywhere. It was Gray. He was sternly staring at Cobra, quietly warning him to stay away from Titania. The redhead held her breath as she realized how amazing and cool Gray's profile looked like when he was determined.

"Who said I wouldn't forgive Erza?" Gray's deep voice hissed. He placed his arm around Erza's waist. "Haven't you heard that the two of us are dating for a semester by now? I know she wouldn't betray me. Besides, so what if Erza's trying to help others? She's called Titania for a reason." He could feel the stunned silence from both Cobra and Erza.

Gray was in shock himself. What the hell did he just say? But Gray was so desperate for Cobra to stay away from Erza that that was the first thing that came to his mind. Besides, he was just looking around for Erza after he went to the library to finish a project, and that was the best excuse he could come up with. Gray knew he would have some explaining to do to the redhead. But first, he had to control his heartbeat before it would burst.

Meanwhile, Erza was as flustered as ever. Oh my God! Does this mean I'm Gray's girlfriend now?! And Gray's arm is wrapped around my waist! My heart is pounding a mile a minute, I swear! It's like a drum. . .What if Gray feels it. Oh no, what will he think of me then?!

And Jellal felt a strange pain in his chest. Actually, he winced, but standing in the corner at the end of the hall, no one heard, and he was thankful for that. He was also thankful that no one was looking his way and spotted his blue hair amongst the white painted walls.

But he was not thankful at the time he came to school. He was supposed to be home, resting after he was injured. He was supposed to be flipping through a catalog, looking for a job. He was supposed to be at his kitchen, learning more things to cook besides scrambled eggs. But he had made his way back to Fairy Tail Academy.

Why? To thank Titania for helping him. But he came at the wrong time. Gray and Erza were acting all lovey-dovey and felt so stupid watching this. He should be walking away, allowing some privacy for the two. But for some reason, he was glued to the ground.

"Psh, you call this a relationship? I never heard of this until today." Cobra said as he raised an eyebrow. "Unless you are lying, of course."

Gray could feel sweat beads forming at his forehead. But he still acted as confident as he could. "You know how Wednesday's Magic Day? There's no school then, so I'm going on a date with Erza." He pulled Erza's body closer to his, and he could feel the warmth of her body. Or was that his own body burning up? Gray turned his head to the redhead. "Am I right?"

Please say yes. Please say yes. Gray silently prayed.

Erza was suddenly tongue-tied. How should she answer? She looked in Gray's dark eyes for answers. But instead, she saw a pool of mixed emotions gleaming in his eyes. Realizing how close she was to the boy, her face turned red. Plus, she was more than sure that Gray could feel her pounding heart.

"Yes," she finally squeaked. Realizing what she agreed to, she felt her face turning heating up even more.

Jellal felt even sicker watching the scene unfold. As the pain worsened in his chest, he cursed his bad luck. He decided that probably thanking Titania today would be a little too awkward for him. Jellal watched Erza from the distance, who was obviously captivated by Gray's charms.

I have a headache. I need to take medicine when I get home. Jellal thought. He started heading towards his nearest stairway. Maybe I'm just sick because this scene is just too romantically stupid. Oh God, help me.

Meanwhile, Cobra made one more smirk before opening the door to the staircase. Just before he slipped past the door, he suddenly remembered what he told the queen when he first encountered her today. "Did anyone tell you you're so adorable, dear queen?"

Jellal was staring at his pencil.

He's been doing that for quite some time now.

He got up and took out a magazine. He half-heartedly flipped through the pages. He took out his homework and blankly stared at a math equation. He turned on the TV. He watched, but he wasn't paying attention.

All day long, he was twitchy, runner-ish. All day long, he kept asking himself. Why did I do that? Why did I have to run away from Titania? Maybe if I never ran away in the first place, none of this shit would've happened. But he knew why. He just did not want to say, not even to himself. Thinking back to that summer day three years was loathsome. But no matter how much he tried to push the thought away, the smell of the crispy Magnolia beach rushed back to him, along with the sight of the clear blue sky.

Trying to keep that thought at bay, he turned to the clock. 4 o'clock. That most likely meant that the club winner was announced and that Erza was home. . .or not, since she's now dating Gray.

"UGH, MY LIFE SUCKS!" He shouted as he forcefully slung his backpack onto the floor. But then again, why should he be angry? Why would he care that Erza is now hitched up with Gray? Wasn't this all part of his elaborate plan to mend his horrible past in Magnolia?

Suddenly, he heard his phone ring. He fished it out of his sweater pocket. Without looking at the caller ID, he swiped the screen. "Hello, Mom. What do you want from me?" Jellal said, his cranky attitude lingering around in his words.

Jellal heard a loud laugh from the other line. "So I'm your mom now?"

Jellal let out a sigh. "Sorry. Now, what do you want now, Lyon? I want to get on with my life."

Lyon chuckled on the phone."Woah, Jellal has a life? Hahaha. . .just kidding."

"Shut your trap. Just tell me what you want?"

"I need your help."

The blue-haired boy sighed before sitting back on his armchair. "Nope. I already let you copy enough homework. It hasn't even been a week since I transferred, and you asked for my homework nonstop."

"Listen, I'm very sorry. But this is something crucial."

Suddenly interested, Jellal paused for thought before saying, "Go on."

"You wanna help me stalk sometime next week? I know a very attractive target."

Jellal fell silent. It seemed very wrong to try to figure out someone's private life. But who in the world would Lyon want to stalk? Lyon is a professional at stalking, right? He was able to follow Titania's tracks back to her home. So why would a professional stalker need a rookie's help?

Lyon, thinking Jellal didn't hear him, repeated "Do you want to-"

"Lyon Vastia, I heard you the first time. I'm not deaf. At least not yet." Jellal snapped.

Curious, Lyon asked, "Well, what do you-"

"I'm busy all of next week. I still have a job to find. Plus, why would you want my help?" Jellal interrupted.

It was Lyon's turn to be speechless. His reason was so stupid, but honesty was the best policy anyway. "Well you see, the target's a very difficult person to reach and contact. . .except for you," Lyon admitted sheepishly.

Jellal thought for a moment. Well, it was better than spending his entire next week full of stress. It's nice to have some fun every once in a while. "Okay, whatever. I'll go."

"Yay! Jellal's going! Now guess who we're stalking?"

"Truth be told, I ain't got a clue."

"Hahaha! We're stalking Erza Scarlet. Titania. Our prized Fairy Queen. Well, Jellal?"

Jellal was about to choke on his own spit. "Say what?" Turned out he agreed a little bit too fast. He couldn't believe his ears. Or should we say his cell phone.

"Geez, Jellal. You sure you're not deaf? I said we were stalking Titania-" Lyon didn't finish, for he was cut off by Jellal once again.

"When is this happening?" Jellal asked.

The blue-haired boy was suddenly eager for details. But why would I care about Titania? Jellal asked himself for the billionth time this week. But something provoked him. He could feel that something interesting was floating in the air. Anyways, maybe Jellal and Lyon could stalk the queen for the fun of it and to forget that she and Gray are in a relationship.

"Wednesday. It's Magic Day when there is no school! I've heard from Cobra that they are going on a date," Lyon excitedly proclaimed.

Now Jellal was really choking on his own spit. He suddenly wasn't interested in the stalking plan anymore. Nothing in his life ever seemed to go his way.

"Uh, about that. . ." Jellal started.

Now, it was Lyon's turn to cut off people's sentences. "Of course you want to go, Jellal. Besides you already agreed. Don't tell me that you want nothing to do with Titania. Listen, I'm not an idiot. I bet you ran away from Titania this morning because you were too embarrassed to-"

Jellal didn't hesitate to press the "End Call" button. It sometimes creeped him out that Lyon knew him so well in a matter of days. It was partially his fault since Jellal does talk a lot about himself.

Without wasting another moment, he sauntered to his closet. He was rather giddy, all of a sudden. Maybe because talking with his friend refreshed him. Or maybe because the weekend was right around the corner. Or maybe he just couldn't wait for Magic Day.

Now, he thought as he took out a plain shirt. What do people wear when they want to blend in with the crowd?

Phew~! Another chapter done! This time, I tried to focus on Grayza and Jerza at the same time.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing the fanfic. If you guys have any questions, comments, or suggestions, I would love to hear them! I love to hear what readers think about my writing.