Welcome to the 12th Chapter!
First of all, *****SPECIAL THANKS TO X. You said that your review was long, but it provided aspiration and a view as a reader of my writing. You have powered my thinking as a writer. Thank you.
*****SPECIAL THANKS TO JERZA FAN 4 EVA. Thank you respectfully providing an argument with X.
*****SPECIAL THANKS TO KASUMI YUKIMURA. You have supported my story for the very start. I deeply appreciate your encouragement!
Now, on with the chapter
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Blah blah blah. You get the point. Blah.
Silver closely watched his son as he talked. "The Scarlets' plan was very meticulously planned over the past 16 years and very different for the one we have for you, Gray. I have to be honest. Their plan is actually very good, and I know it'll lead the Scarlet girl into an amazing future when she grows up. If you get too involved with her, it's going to affect her for life. You wouldn't want that to happen to her, right?"
Gray's jaw dropped. His mind rewinded to last night and Erza's words. "Not wanting to disappoint them, I've tried to go down that road. But I realized that by doing so, I could never become your friend. It was the barrier that seperated the two of us. And if being a Scarlet is hindering my friendship with you, I am willing to give that path up."
Was Erza willing to give up everything she has? Gray asked himself. No. I can't let her entire life be ruined all because of me.
Mika added on to her husband. "All we ask from you is your cooperation, sweetie. Juvia is actually a great person, but every time she tries to show who she really can be, you shield yourself."
"We have two choices for you, Gray," Silver said. "You can either collaborate with Juvia and treat her like an actual person or. . .you can say goodbye to Sweet Ol' Magnolia." He chuckled. "Did you really think I was joking last night?"
Mika avoided eye contact. The boy could tell that his mother felt extremely guilty for putting her son in the current position.
There was a long pause before Gray decided to speak. "How much time are you giving me to decide?"
His father smirked at the question. "Three months."
Slowly, each hour passed. From teachers' lectures to essays, the long hours stretched out to days. Soon, the days combined into a week. After that, another week went and passed. Then another. Then. . .
"Stop right there!" Natsu screamed. Soon, three heads were turned his way. It was Erza, Gray, and Lucy. He heaved a sigh. "You cocky little brats. Pay a little more attention to where you guys are going. My house is right over there." Natsu pointed to a beige-colored condo right next to him. "Let's get going."
It was Friday, June 12th. . .and everyone was dead tired. Who knew that one Chemistry exam could drain so much energy and strength from them? Since everyone happened to be free during the afternoon, they've decided to crash by Natsu's place, since he was the closest to the school.
"Guys, the door is open already," a voice announced next to them. The redhead and the blonde shifted their gaze to the owner. Gray sighed. "I guess Natsu was too angry to inform us that he already unlocked it.
"You don't have to take off your shoes," Lucy said, as soon as the three entered the house. She saw Erza and Gray reaching for their feet.
The blonde chuckled. "Anyway. . ." she started strolling towards one direction of the house. They sauntered to a particular room and opened the door. Natsu was sitting in the corner, sulking.
"Aww, Natsu. Cheer up!" Lucy skipped to her boyfriend and placed her arms around him. "I'm sorry of my attitude earlier. Just know that I still love you." She quickly pecked the boy's forehead. Like magic, Natsu brightened up and started getting up from his corner.
Erza couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. It envied her that the couple could get along so well for so many years. Despite the many obstacles Lucy and Natsu have gone through, the two still have a very close relationship. As for Erza. . .things never went her way.
The redhead took a seat by the window. She was thinking of finishing her precalc project as her friends chattered the afternoon away. For her, there was no time to waste when it came to schoolwork. She unzipped her bag and started looking for her notebook. She took a hold of the book and fished it out. Then her eyes widened. Shit! I still have Gray's math notebook! Crap, what do I do? Erza eyed the dark haired boy who was looking through Natsu's drawers for food. She gulped. "U-um Gray," she squeaked.
The boy turned around. "First off, does anyone know where Natsu likes to hide the ramen from me?" Then he turned to the redhead. "And what's up, Eru?"
"Err. . .I had your math notebook for three weeks and I forgot to return it to you." The redhead instantly blushed as she remembered the content of the book. "I'm sorry." Erza heard Lucy choke. Natsu averted his gaze to his homework. Not that he was going to complete his essay anyway,
Gray's eyes went from Lucy, then back to Erza. He shrugged. "So?" He closed one of the drawers and started opening a cabinet. "I really had no important notes. That notebook was really old anyway. Lucy just happened to ask for it, so I gave it to her."
Erza raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't have anything important?" Her mind whirled back to the sketches, drawings, and lists.
"Yeah." He grabbed an ice tea bottle from a cabinet and unscrewed the cap. "Why?"
"You sure?" the redhead repeated.
The boy gave her a confused look. "I don't get. . ."
"Okay!" Lucy interrupted. She snatched the book from the redhead's hands and tossed it into the garbage can nearby. Erza's eyes widened with disbelief. She was thinking of reaching for the book in the trash, but it would back her seem very desperate in front of Gray. Lucy sympathetically placed a hand on Erza's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Eru. But all those pages were done by me. I was forging Gray's handwriting using the notes from the book. The plan didn't turn out as it was supposed to. I'm sorry, sweetie."
It took a moment for the blonde's words to register into Erza. When it did, her jaw slowly dropped open. "What?" She placed her hands on her cheeks. "No way." If it wasn't for that notebook. . .Juvia wouldn't think that I have betrayed her. Well, I still did. . . But she wouldn't get so aggravated at me when I went to the bathroom! And that book! I had my hopes up that Gray actually acknowledged my feelings. Crap! I knew everything was all a dream. I feel like such a fool! Erza dropped to the ground.
Gray furrowed his eyebrow, displaying that he was perplexed and befuddled. He watched the scene as he sipped his ice tea calmly. Girls are weird. That's all I have to say.
"And you! Gray Fullbuster!" The boy whipped his head around to see the blonde calling his name. Oh shit. I called the devil. This is what happens when you bad mouth girls in front of Lucy.
Lucy was a little hesitant to continue. But something was bothering her for the past few weeks, and she didn't want anything to slip past her. Yeah, she was nosy. But she was nosy because she was worried. "Is something wrong, Gray? I've noticed that you haven't been your usual self today."
Gray lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Then again, he shouldn't be too astonished. Lucy knew how to read him very well. Erza, Natsu, and Lucy perked up. Having three pairs of eyes that belonged to the people that were dearest to him was excruciating. He didn't want to hurt his friends again. He didn't want his friends to worry
Erza, Natsu, and Lucy perked up. Having three pairs of eyes that belonged to the people that were dearest to him was excruciating. He didn't want to hurt his friends again. Most importantly, what if he told them his answer? No, he couldn't stand watching his friends breaking down all because of him. More than that, he didn't want to hurt Erza again. . .
"Um. . .I have to go. I have some paperwork to do at home," he lied. Gray picked up his backpack, his ice tea bottle, and in split second, he was out the door.
The room was silent for awhile. . .until Natsu spoke up. "Hey! He took my ice tea bottle! That son of a b. . ." Before he could finish, a pillow was thrown at him.
"Natsu Dragneel! Can't you read the situation?!" Lucy scolded.
Erza felt something tugging at her chest. If her intuition was correct, something good isn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Erza-sama, are you sure?!" The maids were looking at her with sincere concern. Erza flashed a comforting smile as she nodded.
"Are you sure you don't need an escort?" a maid queried.
"I would like to be i-independent today," the redhead replied. She just wanted some fresh air for herself for a half-hour. It couldn't be that bad. . .could it?
Another maid clucked her tongue in disapproval. "If Mister and Mistress Scarlet learn about this, they will be utterly astonished. To know that their one and only daughter and heir was wandering the bustling streets of Magnolia would be extremely dangerous."
The redhead turned to the maid who just commented. "I'll be back soon. Don't worry." Erza slipped on her flats and slung a bag over her shoulder. "I have to go, Loki-san must be waiting for me."
The maids waved her goodbye as she walked across the front garden. She breathed in the fresh afternoon air. The afternoon son beamed down on her and she suddenly wished she was back at her A.C.-ed room. The weather forecast was not joking. It made her sad that summer was arriving so soon. The spring perennial flowers, which were her and her mother's favorite, would be wilting soon. Her parents were gone for a month already. Sadly, Mrs. Scarlet wouldn't be able to spend time with the beautiful flowers before they disappeared for the year.
"Erza-sama! I'm right over here!"
Surprised by the sudden call, the redhead whirled her head to the owner of the voice. "Loki-san!"
The driver was waving his hand. "Take your time, miss. There's no need to hurry. Traffic is going to hinder us anyways!" He opened the door for the lady to walk in before taking the driver seat. "Now, where's your destination?"
"Magnolia's shopping district, please," Erza resquested as she stepped into the car.
Throughout the entire ride, she remained silent as she longingly gazed out the window. She watched the shoppers at an outlet in the distance. Now that she thought about it, she haven't been to an outlet before. Or a movie theater. Or a simple restaurant. How did food from fast food restaurant taste like? A motorcycle that was weaving its way between the long lines of cars caught her attention. She realized that she never rode a motorcycle either. . . To have the wind blow against your skin as the warm sunlight shined down. . . It must be like heaven.
Soon, the landscape started to change. The occasional outlets soon turned to flashy buildings with all types of logos. The pedestrians were holding shopping bags from all stores around the district. Vehicles cruised the car lanes.
Erza's head turned from one side to the other as she looked for a particular store. She soon noticed that after five minutes that the car have still not budged an inch, which was common. "Loki-san, I'll take it from here."
He glanced at his mistress from the rearview window. "Are you sure, Erza-sama? It's rather hot today and the sun is quite relentless.
"U-um no. I-it's okay. I'll be fine." She unlocked the door and stepped out. She waved a quick goodbye as the driver executed a head bow.
She started heading to the shop. The chocolate shop, that is. She didn't like chocolate as much as she liked strawberry cakes, but she came for one particular person.
As she walked along the streets, murmurs immediately broke out.
"Omigosh! Look at that girl. Doesn't she look rather familiar?"
"Hm. . .Oh yeah! She's the heir to Scarlet Empire!"
Erza inwardly groaned. Not this again. But of course, more heads started turning to her after her family company was mentioned.
"Did someone just say she's Erza Scarlet?! That means. . .she's Titania!"
The more Erza walked, the more attention she gathered. Through the corner if her eye, she saw pedestrians fishing their phones to take picture or videos.
"If she's Titania, then doesn't that mean her parents invest in nearly all of the stores here?"
"Yeah. . .And one day, it's all going to be hers."
"Wow. That girl has so much potential in her future."
"Beautiful, isnt she? She looks like a fairy and a queen at the same time. Her name suits her."
The redhead wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't want to show disrespect. Besides, even though this was so frustrating, she got used to it.
She calmly walked into the shop she was looking for. Erza could see how surprised the store sellers were when she walked in. If she was in the same position, Erza knew she would feel the same. Some were gaping because "Titania" was five feet away from them. Others were amazed by the amount of people trailing behind the redhead.
Erza quickly bowed as an apology to the disturbance to the store. One worker quickly composed herself and walked up to her. "Uh. . .Welcome to Chocolate World, Miss Titania." The lady bowed. "What would you like to buy today?"
"W-what truffles d-do you have?" Shit. I'm stuttering AGAIN. I'm just talking to a worker of a chocolate shop, goddamit.
"This way." The worker gestured Erza to follow her. The redhead could tell that the worker was quietly beaming that she was meeting the heir of Scarlet Empire. The lady was rather jumpy and her squee was heard by the redhead.
When they reached the truffle section, she quickly scanned the rows of tiny bite sized chocolate. If I remember correctly, he liked dark chocolate and raspberry filling. She paused to think a little further. But he usually likes to try new flavors. . .so maybe I'll ask for hazelnut or vanilla lava ones.
The girl relayed her orders in stutters to the worker. But the lady was still bounding with happiness since she met the redhead, so she didn't mind that the girl's speech wasn't coherent. The worker promptly went to counter to fetch a gift bag and a marker.
"And who is this for, exactly?" the worker asked.
She had a marker at the ready to write on the beautiful, ornate gift bag.
The redhead smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It's for Gray Fullbuster."
I really have nothing to say. /DERP/. It's just that I'm really tired lately.
Till next chapter! ~CHS