Previously on Miss Raindrop...
"What happened to your face?!" any holds bar that she had earlier evaporated once she saw her face. She towards her bed to where she was sitting to get a better look at her blossoming bruise. Juvia could only guess that it was worsening since her ice melted and she hadn't bothered to leave her temporary room since she had gotten back. She wasn't really the one for vanity and saw no point in keeping up with her looks or the fashion trends that girls her age would be so keyed up about.
"Nothing, just an accident." she quietly answered, wanting nothing more than to be left alone.
"That was definitely not an accident! How did that happen," Yukino moved closer to get better look at the bruise, causing Juvia to jerk back from her. She could feel her ears begin to burn, "Oh, I need to get you some ice." as quickly as she sat down, she got back up to go get the ice.
"Why...why are you being so nice to Juvia? We barely know each other." Juvia asked with her words tumbling out of her mouth, causing Yukino to pause and look back at her. She sighed lightly and gave her a light smile.
"Kindness is not always transactional."
"Juvia is such a bright student and doing exceptionally well in all her classes. She does have the potential to skip grades if you all choose to do so."
"The compliments are much appreciated, however me and my husband are very busy people. If there is no other reason as why we are here, isn't safe to say that this meeting is finished?"
The teacher lightly sighed in order to conceal her ire. These parents by far are beginning to become one of the most difficult that she has interacted with. When they first entered the classroom, she had a gut feeling that this meeting was going to be a pain in the ass. Might as well get it over with. She clasped her hands on top of the desk and let a grin grace her face. The woman in front of her was making her feel uneasy. She's a pretty woman. She could see where Juvia got her looks from. Light blue hair tied back into a low ponytail, thin lips covered in rich red lipstick, red bottom Louis Vuitton shoes, and strikingly cool blue eyes that were currently challenging her.
"It has come to my attention that Juvia doesn't really interact with any of the other students. She did have that one student as a friend and now that she has transferred, she has secluded herself again." Juvia's mother let out huff that sounded amused. The top leg of her crossed legs started to swing slightly. Her husband beside her took an inaudible exhale through his nose and didn't even attempt to look the teacher's way. The man didn't seem intent on speaking and looked like he was going to keep it that way. What a punk, the teacher thought.
"I don't see what the problem is. Juvia has always played so well by herself, and that student's transfer has not altered her mood as of late. Ms. Spete, I think that you are looking too hard into something of no substance."
"With all due respect Mrs. Lockser, I do believe that you aren't looking hard enough. Juvia doesn't interact with any of her peers, she sits alone during lunch and free periods-"
"Isn't that her choice to do so? She doesn't have to interact with other students and has proven to be just fine being on her own. As I said, I don't see what the problem is. Although, it appears that there wasn't any respect there to begin with."
"Ma'am, that was not meant in disrespect, it is simply facts. I've found her crying her eyes at lunch after Lucy transferred. She said she wanted to disappear and never come back. She asked me why does everyone she knows goes away. She said that she's never happy. This runs deeper than simple loneliness, this could potentially become a bigger problem. Juvia is showing signs of depre-"
"I don't think you are qualified to make those calls, Ms. Spete. My daughter is fine, and if she is as "sad" as you claim her to be, she'll get over it."
She leaned against the brick wall that sat on top of the roof with a huff. She could finally find herself alone, purely alone. She had been on this roof for about an hour and about 30 minutes before classes started. She shivered and gripped her blue zip-up jacket closer to her body. She left Yukino's home early in order to get a head start away from any potential run-ins, including Gajeel. The thought of Gajeel being mad at her is something she did not want to encounter, and she would rather not talk to him when he was in a mood. She thought back to Yukino's words from last night. She didn't know what to make of them. She didn't even want to dwell on them and let her mind blank out.
This is pathetic. Juvia is pathetic. Who gets kicked out of their own house?
Everything is pointless now. Juvia has nothing left.
"Enough." she bumped her head lightly against the wall and closed her eyes. Her bruised areas were starting to throb again. The ibuprofen she got from Yukino only lasted throughout the night and she rushed out before she thought to tske any.
At the moment, she had no plan. Granted, she's not homeless, but the variables started to calculate in her head. Her parents handled almost everything in her life, but luckily all her important documents were with her, except for her birth certificate. However, she isn't as worried as she thought should be about that. Her college plans were also set by her parents. They had their sights set high for Fiore University since she was a child. It was one of the most prestigious universities on the continent and is infamous for having fifteen percent acceptance rate. All her energy was poured into having a pristine record. Now that they axed themselves from the picture, she wondered should she even keep trying.
She got up from the wall and walked up to the front of the roof. The front was blocked off by a wall that ended at her waist. She placed her hands on the surface and looked down. She could see the students below as they started to head in through the gate. The ground was covered in cement, and it made her wonder something.
She wondered how long it would take for her fall from the roof? The building she was standing on was around 25 feet tall, so it would take about six seconds to fall. Would it hurt or would she be gone in an instant? Would this fall have been faster than if she had fallen down that cliff in the forest. The thoughts flurrying in her head were all too tempting. She almost cursed Natsu for catching her, she wasn't something necessary to save. She thought she had something to lose, but now maybe she didn't.
She inhaled a breath through her nose and hacked up a cough. A thick, bitter smell wandered right under nose, causing her to cough more. She recognized that smell from Gajeel and hated it. He would smoke but tried to keep it to minimum around because of her parents. He even asked if she wanted to try some to which she promptly declined. It wasn't for her and thought it to be beneath her. Her parents also thought so, but that left Juvia spiraling. Were her parent's opinions also her opinions? Coughs other than her's began to register in her ear. The first class bell had just rung. She needed to leave before someone saw her and misunderstand. The end result wouldn't be as forgiving as last time. Was there even a point in even going to class now? She was so caught up in her thoughts again that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her get closer or the thick smoke wafting towards her.
"Glad to see that you're alive." a very familiar voice greeted. Juvia felt her heartbeat kick in gear. She knew that voice, it was of the voices that could move her heart with every utter, sigh, and tone. She jolted and turned around to see the object of her affections. She saw the mirth in his eyes and his signature chill smirk. The only difference she saw the blue and purple bruises fully bloomed around his cheekbones and near his eyes.
Oh crap, she thought. Gray seemed to have noticed that she was looking at his bruises and let out a sound that resembled a laugh.
"You got quite the shiner there as well." he gestured to her face.Juvia hopes she didn't say that out loud, she thought as her hand reached up to her own bruised cheek. He walked up beside her and that's when it hit her.
That smell definitely came from him. Then, he cursed under his breath and dropped the joint on the ground to stomp it out. If there was one thing she didn't know, she didn't know he smoked weed. Oh, he definitely didn't mind cigarettes because too often in her free time in observing him, she saw that he favored Mavis Lights. The weed smoking was beyond her. He spoke again.
"You okay? You took quite the punch from Laxus. I, for sure, didn't expect you to run up on Laxus like that. Gajeel absolutely lost it and rocked his shit. So did Natsu, which isn't uncommon for him. He loves a good fight..." he paused and gave her a glance. "But, it was like he had a fucking vendetta though."
"Juvia sees." well, that sure did explain the bruises and cuts she saw Gajeel when stepped into the infirmary yesterday. Goodness, she hopes Gajeel will just talk to her. He didn't even text or call her last night. She surely hopes that she didn't get punched for nothing.
She didn't know what to make of Natsu though. She didn't see the reason why he would defend her. Well, although, he claimed to want to become her friend. Thinking about that was a sure onset of getting a headache. A bit of her felt guilty for almost outright dismissing him, but he was too much for her to manage. Her brain would explode trying to compute him. However, she guesses it was nice of him. She'll leave her thoughts of Natsu alone. At least for now.
"From what I've seen, Gajeel can hold his own pretty well. I've been on the receiving end of his fists before," she felt like a record screeching to a stop. Gajeel fought Gray? She wanted to know when that happened? His anger towards her felt somewhat unjustified to her now. Now, she wanted to punch right into one of his pierced eyebrows.
"But why did you jump in front of him? Laxus isn't quite chivalrous, you know." he now was looking at her. She could almost feel his eyes on her. The thought of that made her heart start to steadily hammer in her chest. She couldn't face him. She might as well combust right then and there. But, she realized he may still want an answer and tried to compose herself.
"Juvia would do anything for Gajeel-kun. Simple as that. " she may be a bit irritated at him at the moment but that wouldn't change the fact of the matter. Then, the thought came to her. Would this turn Gray away from her? She cursed herself for the shortsightedness on her part.
"That metal head means that much to you? Didn't think you all were that close to each other." he said in slight disbelief. Was he going to misunderstand get friendship with Gajeel too? Natsu did, well he teased her about it to be exact, but it still had the implication of his assumption. There was also the fact that she didn't like the nickname he gave him, but she supposes she could let that go.
"Of course, Gajeel-kun is Juvia's friend. He would do anything for her, so she would do the same. Even if he doesn't quite agree with it," she added softly towards the end. She'd said too much than she was willing to share. The bell rung, saving her the embarrassing aftermath of what she shared.
"Juvia must head to class now." she pushed herself off from the wall and headed towards the rickety door. She paused as she heard him speak up again.
"What you did yesterday was really stupid but it was really gutsy. You're just full of surprises, Juvia."
She couldn't turn around. She didn't want to and continued towards the door.
Juvia tuned out everything.
Her AP Calculus teacher's droning voice. Her classmates obvious stares. Their whispers and gossips. Their everything. They were nameless faces for awhile until some days ago. Tuning them out become easier again.
She already knew course material. His lectures were useless for now. She thinks everything is kind of pointless at the moment. She briefly wondered if she even show up to class anymore. There's nothing tying her down to attend.
A hand on her shoulder pulled her away from her mind's monotony. She looked up and almost jumped but quickly steadied herself. The notable red hair made her calm herself.
"Erza-san?" she just smiled at her and held her books in front of her. Even with just a smile she was intimidating. Had she not seen how she dealt with delinquents in passing, she might have thought otherwise.
"The lunch bell just rung." Juvia looked around and indeed the classroom was cleared out. She'll just go to her and Gajeel's usual spot and hope he was there.
"May I steal some of your time?" Erza asked politely. Coming from her, Juvia didn't want to object out of fear. Gajeel would have to wait.
"Of course." Erza's smile widen. Juvia grabbed her backpack from the seat and followed her. She followed her outside to the back courtyard and sat under the huge oak tree. Juvia didn't bring anything for lunch. She was still too nervous to step outside her room in fear for running into Yukino or any of the staff members. Yukino's parents weren't arriving until tonight so she knew her solitary days were numbered.
"How are you feeling? You were down for a couple of hours after you got hit."
"Juvia's fine."
"Gajeel was rather frantic when you were unconscious. Eventhough an all-out brawl broke out, he ultimately did Laxus in. No one could pull him off of Laxus, save for Levy,"
Gajeel frantic? That was a worrying thought. Levy stopping him? She'll leave that thought for later.
"You and Gajeel share such a close bond. I was surprised by how deep it was. From what I've seen you are quite brave." Erza turned to her and grinned in good nature. Her smile made her feel unnerved. She looked down to her lap instead. She's used to smiles, fake smiles. Her mother was the queen of fake smiles and fake niceties.
Wanted to placate a middle aged man yelling at the top of his lungs? Just smile. Upturn both of the corners of your mouth, flash a little teeth, lighten your voice, and add a little sparkle in your eyes. Gone was the booming voice, in with the lecherous smile and appraising eyes.
Her mother did it so well. She's quite the actress.
Erza's almost seems real. Juvia wonders if she has an agenda behind it.
"Gajeel is Juvia's friend." she simply said. She wasn't in the mood to expound upon it. Erza must've picked up on it and changed the subject.
"I also wanted to apologize," this got her attention. She turned to Erza in confusion. "I hate that your first time at Fairy Tail has forever been marked by such pain. I can assure you that what happened to you won't happen again. I'm sorry again." her sincerity certainly seemed genuine. It felt genuine for once, it reminded her of better days. Well, any day without her parents were marginally better.
"Erza-san, you don't have to apologize. Juvia doesn't need it."
"Can I implore you to come back today perhaps? We would love to have you back."
We? Why? Now, Juvia is super confused. Why would they want her back? She didn't even know them.
"Juvia isn't so sure-" before she finish, a deep rumble cut in.
"Raindrop." It was Gajeel. She felt her heart start to ease up. She didn't realize that Erza was even gathering her stuff.
"Gajeel-kun?"
"I'll leave you two to it. Just think about it Juvia? I must go, I believe I have to straighten out a couple of hooligans." Erza got up, gave Juvia a smile and Gajeel a pat on the shoulder. Gajeel took over Erza's spot with his arm strung out across his knee and leg spread out. Typical Gajeel style. He was finally here, but couldn't find the words she wanted to say.
"Don't ever do that shit again." he looked her dead in the eye. Juvia was compelled not to look away. It was one of his no nonsense stares. Other people would've cowered under the weight of his stare, but she knew better.
"Gajeel-kun-" he huffed out his nose and shook his head.
"I don't care what happens to me-"
"Juvia does!" she hated when he talked liked that. He always acts like he is unexpendable, but he isn't and has been proved so in a rare occurrence, i.e. Laxus. He can't just get up and almost throw his life away again. She wouldn't allow it, not again. She refused to see his blood the ground or a car seat again. His life has much more value than hers.
"Juvia he knocked you the fuck out cold. I done bout made him kick fucking rocks. You can't be doing shit like that. The next time someone puts their hands on you, it's a fucking wrap." he was dead serious. He looked at her expecting an answer.
"Juvia hears you loud and clear."
What doesn't kill him will make him stronger, she supposes.