Chapter 3
As the night continued, another friend of Erza came which made the night even more interesting. Juvia Lockser, the only daughter of Mizu and Airi Lockser, owner of the water plantation in Magnolia. She grew up in France but returns back to Fiore to study for College. As she spends time in Magnolia, she gained new friends, Erza, Jellal, Lissana, Natsu, Gajeel and Gray, the man of her dreams. Being in an influential family, like Natsu, the family of Juvia has made conversations with the Fullbuster's regarding marriage. But this hasn't changed the lives of the two yet, since they were friends.
"Juvia!" Erza called as soon as the blunette was in view who was walking towards them. Standing up from her boyfriend's embrace, the scarlet haired woman immediately hugged her friend making the girl yelp in surprise.
"Erza-san…You seemed so please to see me" Juvia said as soon as they pulled away from one another. As a response to Juvia's comment, Erza nodded her head and began to tug her to follow, "Well of course! I missed my friends. Being in Magnolia is totally different compared to France."
"Hai, I agree to that Erza-san" Juvia smiles at her friend before side hugging her, "Magnolia friends are the best…"
Hearing Juvia give a nickname to her friends, the group couldn't help but laugh at her remark. As they laugh, the group began to drink again, celebrating their friendship.
Being familiar to her group of friends, Erza finally realizes that Juvia hasn't greeted Gray yet ever since she came. It was odd because she knew how Juvia is deeply infatuated with the raven haired man. So, to end her curiosity, she cleared her throat and pointed at her friends, "Is there any problem between you two?"
Gray suddenly stiffens as he was asked by his very strict friend. Thinking if he was going to answer, he glanced at Erza who just gave a raised brow, waiting for him or Juvia to speak up. Deciding that there is no point of lying, he sat up straight and was about to answer when suddenly a soft voice spoke.
"No, Erza-san…why would you think that?" Juvia tilts her head to convince her friend who still doubted the response. "Juvia, I know you. You like seeing Gray. So I don't get it, why you haven't greeted him or even tried to embrace him."
"Eh?! Juvia does not do that!" Juvia suddenly blushes as she side glances at the said calm man next to her. Gray just rolled his eyes as if telling her, yeah right. " A-and Juvia have greeted Gray-sama already."
"I have been talking to you since you came here and I have never heard you say hi to him." Erza suddenly stands up and stands before her blunette friend who was shrinking herself as if possible to avoid her intense gaze. "Mind to explain Gray?"
"What? Why me?" Gray retorted as he shifted in his seat and tried to avoid the deep stare. Trying to ignore the feeling, he glances at Erza but then she just stood before him and gave a raised brow.
"There is nothing to be worried about Erza-san. Me and Gray-sama are in good terms." Juvia said as she tries to get Erza to let go of the issue. But then it just made the situation even worse because Erza began to glare at Fullbuster, "Gray Fullbuster, start explaining before I let my fist hit your face."
"I didn't do anything to Juvia! I swear!" Gray said in exasperation as he sees Erza exercise her knuckles. Glancing at the blunette beauty, Gray realized how Juvia looked pissed as his comment. Unable to control her self, Juvia began to point at Gray and slightly shouted at him, "That's not true! You ditched me the other day when you practically asked me out for dinner!"
"Wha-…I didn't mean to-!" Before Gray could even finish his sentence, a strong impact came in contact to his face and made the raven haired man yelp in pain. "Gray-sama!" Juvia exclaimed as she sees Gray's body lie down to the couch.
"Why would you ditch your own dinner plan?! And out of all girls it had to be Juvia!" Erza shouted as she stood up straight after punching the man
"OW!" Gray shouted aloud as he held on to his soar cheek and sat up straight as he was thrown sideways after being punched. Erza crossing her arms across her chest and glares at the injured man, "Now do you mind of explaining?"
"I fell asleep okay? and I woke up late." Gray reasoned out as he held on to his cheek. Feeling bad for her friend, Juvia took a table napkin and wrapped some ice from the beer bucket. As Gray held on to his cheek, he suddenly felt his hand being tugged away and a cold feeling replaced it. Looking at the source of the coldness, he sees Juvia holding an improvised ice pack to his cheek. After a quick glance, he took the ice pack from her and looked back at the scarlet haired woman.
"Did you even call Juvia and tell her you're sorry about it?" Erza asked still annoyed before glancing at Juvia and wait for a reply. Juvia suddenly bites her lip before she shyly answered back, "He did not…"
Hearing the truth, Gray quickly countered to save himself, "It was 11:30 that time when I woke up. I didn't want to disturb her sleep, so I didn't call. The next morning, I totally forgot again. And it is only now I remembered that I was suppose to do that."
Giving the defensive man a curious look, Erza looked back at Juvia and asked another question, "How many times did he ditch your dates?"
Left being speechless and scared for Gray's well-being, Juvia couldn't decide whether she was going to tell the truth to Erza or was she going to save the man she's been in love with. "I…I don't think it matters anymore Erza-san. It's done…right?" Juvia smiles sweetly as she tries to convince the woman but then Erza is still seemed to be in doubt.
"Again Juvia, how many times did he di-" Erza widens her eyes as she asks but was quickly cut off when Gray spoke for the blunette, "I don't know how many times but I'm pretty sure a lot this year"
And before anyone could blink, they all saw how Erza punched the man again. And this time, it hit Gray's nose, making the blunette next to the man shriek in surprise.
"Gray-sama your nose! It's bleeding!" Juvia cried out before she quickly tried to find another table napkin and get some ice. Seeing that the ice was no longer in solid form, she stood up and walked past the injured man. "I'll just get some ice, wait here Gray-sama" and with that Juvia walked away and disappeared in the crowd.
Holding on to his bleeding nose, the boys couldn't help themselves but to snort at Gray who looked pitiful. "Serves you right!" Natsu shouted as he held on to his beer and laughed himself to death. As they all waited patiently for the blunette to return, more friends came, Gajeel, Loke, Aries, Levy, Lissana, Mira and more. And all of them laughed at Gray, after all he was a jerk for ditching Juvia.
After Cana and Lucy trailed Juvia as they entered the bar, the two secretly escaped the blunette since someone knew their blue haired friend. Lucy and Cana went straight to the bar counter and took their seats. Feeling so much excitement, Cana couldn't help herself to howl.
"WOOOH!" Cana then laughs at her actions making her blonde haired friend laugh as well. Seeing how much fun her now purpled haired friend is, she couldn't help herself but to laugh as well. "You seem to enjoy this." Lucy remarked at Cana who just nodded while trying to slow down her laughter.
"Yes, Sarah. This is how fun looks like." Cana grinned which Lucy returned, "So that's my name for tonight?"
"Yep! And I am Zondra…don't forget that!" Cana pointed to Lucy before tapping aloud the bar table, "Hey Bartender! Can we have shots here?!"
"Coming right up!" the bartender answered as he nodded to Cana, "Thanks!"
Lucy just shakes her head in disbelief as she keeps her gaze to her friend. Trying to stay focused, Lucy places her arm to the bar and leans down to it, "You know your hair is really distracting…I mean come on, purple?"
"So what? This is just one night, no one will remember this…" Cana said as she opens her arms and smiles wickedly at Lucy. Soon enough, the bartender places four shot glasses in front of the two ladies, "Here you go ladies…"
"Thanks!" Cana replied as she took two shot glass and handed the other to the now black haired woman, "Bottoms up!" Cana shouted before drinking the whole alcoholic drink. Copying her friend, Lucy swigs the whole drink and slightly places the glass too hard back to the table.
"AHHH!" Lucy shouted then hissed as she tasted the lingering taste of her drink, "Oh my goodness Zondra, what drink is this?!"
"Its totally obvious that you don't drink!" Cana laughed at her friend but Lucy just ignored as she turns herself to face the bartender. Calling the attention of the drink maker, a blunette suddenly came who seems to be in a rush and panic.
"Excuse me! Bartender! Can I have a bucket of ice? Thank you" Lucy and Cana then leans down to look at the girl and there they saw their blunette friend.
"Juvia!" Cana called making the called girl look at her, "Hey! What's up?"
"Ca- I mean…Zondra?" Juvia asked as she steps closer to the two girls, "Hey Juvs! Here drink." Cana then hands a shot glass which Juvia stared at first before doing a bottoms up. Seeing Juvia did what she did, Cana couldn't help herself but to cheer at the blunette. "Oy, look Sarah, this girl knows how to drink!" Cana pointed at Juvia while wrapping an arm to her friend's shoulder, "Ju-Juvia doesn't really drink hard…I'm just a little panicky right now."
"Why? What happened?" Lucy asked as she leans closer, "Oh, Gray-sama was punched by Erza."
"The guy you've been in love with?" Cana asked making the girl blush. Taking that as a hint Cana nodded and looked away as she drank her drink.
"Who's Erza?" Lucy questioned making Juvia look at her, "Oh, Erza is a friend. She's a daughter of my parent's friends."
"Ah, no one wonder she sounds unfamiliar to me…" Cana stated as she turns to look at her friends once again, "No you met her before in college, the girl with red hair?" Juvia tilts her head in wonder, "Ah! That scary woman!"
"She's scary?" Lucy asked amused after hearing how Cana describes the woman. She knows that Cana is not the kind of girl that gets scared or intimidated by somebody easily. So hearing Cana say that the woman was a scary girl, she knows that the red haired girl is extraordinary.
Before the three girls could even chat more, the bartender suddenly butts in and hands the small bucket of ice to Juvia. "Here's the ice."
"Oh, right! Arigato!" Juvia bows her head as she took the bucket from the bartender. Turning her attention to the two girls, she smiled back at them, "I have to go, Gray-sama needs these ice."
"Alright, see you around" Lucy said as she waves good-bye to her new gained friend. As Juvia was about to leave, Cana suddenly called Juvia again.
"Yes?" Juvia replied as she turns, "Who are you with? Can we join?" Cana asked
"Sure… they wouldn't mind, after all were all friends!" Juvia chirpily said, "And you'll enjoy their company, Dragneel is here, he is very quirky"
"Dragneel? As in…" Lucy said as she trails off as Juvia nods in excitement, "Yes. As in the heir for the Dragneel Art Corporation"
"Oh…Nevermind! We'll enjoy ourselves here." Lucy began to wave even more making Juvia curious but then she just waves back, "Alright, drop by anytime."
"Oh, wait!" Lucy called again making Juvia stop from her tracks. This time, Cana raised a brow at her original blonde haired friend seeing how odd her friend has become, "Um…Don't tell them you have friends here in the bar area…okay?"
"Uhh...okay?" Juvia said as she finally turns around and walks away from the bar area. Lucy, no longer seeing her new friend, she turns herself and looks at Cana. Surprised to see her face, she just looked away and calls for the bartender for a cocktail drink.
"What is with you? What's with Dragneel?"
"Nothing…" Lucy replied as she gave a quick glance to Cana then back to the bartender
"Nothing? Oh come on, I know you Sarah…" Cana then gives a friendly bump to her friend, "Spill…"
"Zondra, they are our competition…You don't what your enemy to know anything about you." Lucy said as she finally turns to look at Cana while holding on to her newly made drink, "So, no…We are not going to join them." And with that Lucy turned and faced the shelves of alcoholic drinks
"But you know that there is a saying, keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer… And besides they won't know that its us"
"What?" Lucy asked, confused, she looks at her friend in a confused look, "I don't get you…"
"Well, thanks to our disguise, they don't know our real identity." Cana then smirks wickedly at Lucy who just smiled wider in realization, "Oh you little bitch."
The two then shared laughter as they both clang their drinks together. As their laughter dies down, Cana suddenly stands up, "Okay, before we go…I'll just go to the ladies room." and with that, the purpled hair woman disappeared in the crowd.
"Gray-sama here is your ice" Juvia sets down the bucket and takes the table napkin to wrap some ice and place it to Gray's nose.
"Oy Juvia! That man ditched you already, so you should dump him!" Gajeel remarked as he slightly pushes the injured man before laughing
"Gajeel-kun!" Juvia reprimanded the long black haired man, "Don't be mean." Juvia then returns to her task, taking Gray's hand away and placing the ice to his bleeding nose. Gray somehow flinched to the sudden contact of the ice but then relaxes quickly. Placing his hand to Juvia's, which was holding the ice, he looked at her and gave a small smile, "Thanks Juvia."
"You should be mad Juvia-chan!" Levy shouted as she sat next to the other blunette. Knowing that Juvia wouldn't listen after seeing her face red, she just slumps herself down to the couch and drinks her lady's drink. "Oh, Juvia…why is it so hard to control someone who is in love…"
"Hey, anyone who wants beer?" Natsu suddenly asked as he places his now empty beer. Jellal and Loke then raise their hands as they finish their drink. Erza noticing that Natsu has drank more than his usual number of beer, she stood up and stopped the pink haired man, "No you're not having anymore beer. You've had enough."
"Come on Erza…Just a few more. Promise" Natsu then raises his hand as he swears to her friend. Erza giving up to the man, she nods and lets him walk past her.
"One buck of beer coming right up!" Natsu shouted as he walked away from his friends. Too late to realize what Natsu said, Juvia suddenly snapped out of her trance and gave a wide eyes to Gray. Wondering what was Juvia so surprised about, Gray just kept his gaze to his friend. Couldn't understand what was happening, he just shrugged it off as soon as she hears her mumble, "Oh no…"
Walking towards the bar, Natsu realizes that he is indeed somehow drunk because he knew he was slightly swaying already. So as soon as he reached the bar, he leans down to the bar and calls the bartender.
"Yo! A bucket of beer please!" Natsu shouted and sees the guy nod before disappearing behind the curtains. Waiting for the bartender to return, he turns himself and watches the other people party. Some were dancing, some were already making out at the dark corners of the place and some were just alone. Noticing a black short haired girl drinking alone, he turns himself and greets her. "Hey"
The girl gave a glance, but then turns away quickly as if she was surprise to see him and that she wants to avoid him. Natsu being intrigued by the girl's action, he stepped closer and tried to lean more to see the face. But the more he tried, the more the girl turns away. "Have we met?" Natsu asked as he gave up trying to see her face.
"No." The girl quietly answered without looking
"I can see that…you are practically not looking at me so yeah, we definitely haven't met." Natsu feeling his tiredness, he took an empty seat next to the black haired girl. Seeing that the man was walking towards the empty chair, the girl turns her head away from him and hides her face to her hair.
"Alright I get it, you don't want to show me your face. Not pressuring you…" Natsu silently chuckled to himself as he notices that the girl has stiffen to his remark. "Why are you even hiding your face?"
"…because my face is dirty."
"Dirty? Then let me help you clean it off. You wouldn't be able to see if its gone." Natsu began to tap the girls shoulder but then she just shrugged it off, "No its okay, I can handle myself."
"No I insist." And without hesitation, Natsu grabbed the girl's chin and made her finally look back at him. To his surprise, the girl he was now staring at was the girl he thought he knew. That brown eyes that made his heart beat faster a few hours before suddenly came back. He felt like he was staring at the same woman he was with in the art gallery. But there was something wrong, she wasn't blonde.
"Uhhh…you…you don't have dirt in your…face" Natsu tried to say as he reminded himself that this could be a different person and that he should begin to talk. Realizing that he was still holding the girl's chin, he retracts his hand and hides it inside his pants pocket.
Lucy who was totally surprised to see the same guy she was talking to in the art gallery has suddenly appeared. Despite trying to avoid showing her face to the man, the pink haired guy was able to make her look at him. Staring at his dark onyx eyes once again has made her breath hitch and suddenly forget to breathe. Hearing him reply, she mental shook her head and tried to come up with an answer, "…yeah, cause I was able to clean it."
And with that she quickly stood up from her seat and left the man. Without looking back, she continues her walk and avoids being bumped by other people. Without knowing where she was heading, she was surprise to see herself outside the building. And with that, she stood quietly outside and stared at the almost empty street.
Natsu shock at the sudden walk out of the girl, he was unable to comprehend what just happened. Seeing her disappear to the crowd, he was left to just exhale out loud. "Why does she remind me of that woman in the art gallery?" Natsu said to himself as he just kept his gaze to the crowd, "that can't be her…The girl in the gallery has blonde hair. Though, her eyes…"
"Sir here is your bucket of beer. Sorry for keeping you waiting." The bartender suddenly said making the pink haired man startled a little. As Natsu took the bucket, he suddenly asks the bartender, "Hey, do you have an idea what is the name of the girl who was sitting here? She had short black hair?"
"Oh that girl…I'm not quite sure with the name but I heard the name-"
"Zondra." A hand suddenly appeared in front of Natsu making him look at the person. And there he sees a purple haired girl smirking at him. Noticing the girl, the bartender suddenly states something making Natsu somehow excited, "that girl knows the girl your talking about. I think they are friends" Before Natsu could even reply back to the bartender, another costumer has called his attention and soon left them. "Nice meeting you…and you are?" Cana said as she kept her hands in air waiting for him to shake her hand and smirked at the man, "Natsu…Natsu Dragneel." Natsu said as he took the hand and gave a firm shake.
TO BE CONTINUED…