Chapter 4: The ask
A few days after the concert, Juvia was at home with Erza, Levy and Cana. As she was part of the ball organizers, Mirajane had left earlier with Lisanna and Kinanna. The others were at their jobs or hanging out; rumors circulated that Bisca was on a date with Alzack but she denied it. So, as the house was quite empty, the redhaired woman, with Juvia support, declared the day a cleaning day and forced the two others to take part of the chore.
Juvia was cleaning the windows of the common room but even standing on a chair, she had to tiptoe to reach the top with her rag. Cana, who was cleaning the furniture, scanned her and stopped on a particular area.
"You really have a nice ass."
"Cana-san!" Juvia exclaimed and put her hands on her behind as she turned toward her friend who laughed hard.
"Cana!" Erza scowled from the kitchen where she was cleaning the fridge. "Focus on your task not on your friends body parts."
"Yes Ma'am."
A ringing tone echoed in the room, and Levy went back to pick her phone on the coffee table.
"It's Lucy." She announced as she accepted the call. "Hello Lu-chan." But right then her face contorted in discomfort and she hold her phone a bit away from her ear as the other girls could heard Lucy's shrieking voice. "Calm down, Lu-chan, I can't understand what you're saying."
She listened attentively, the three other stopping what they were doing to watch her face which passed from a frown to bewildered and end with a delighted one.
"Okay Lu-chan. We'll be at your place in a short time." She hanged up and turned to her friends with a wide smile. "Don't worry, she's fine. But Lucy needs our help."
"Spill it out! I'm getting thirsty with the wait!" Cana pressed her.
"Natsu finally asked her to go to the ball with him." Levy revealed with a chuckle, earning multiple reactions from the others.
"No way!"
"Ah! I won the bet!"
"I'm so happy for Lucy-san!"
"We need booze to celebrate!"
"Mira is going to faint when she'll hear that!"
"But why Lucy-san needs help?"
"She doesn't know what to wear and she's freaking out about that's going to happen or not happen that night." The short girl explained with a giggle. "She wants us to go to her place to help in choosing her dress and give her some advices."
"Okay. This is a girl emergency." Erza announced with a stoic face as she picked up her car keys. "You're all discharged of your cleaning duty."
Levy and Juvia rushed to take their purses while Cana headed to the kitchen. "I am grabbing some beers and we're on our way!"
And a bit later, they were in front of Lucy's apartment door, ringing the doorbell.
Their blonde friend opened so quickly, Juvia wondered if she had been waiting just behind the door since her call. Lucy looked definitely stressed. Disheveled, with her hair pocking out of a messy bun, mascara smudging around her eyes, she pushed her friends inside as if there was a monster after them. Juvia took glimpses of a nice living room with a comfy sofa, bookshelves on the wall and a wooden desk in a corner before Lucy hurried the four girls in her bedroom.
On her bed, there were six dresses, each with different colour and form. And all beautiful and high-quality. Lucy was acting so normal with her friends that Juvia often forgot she was from a wealthy family.
"I can't choose which one I should wear." Lucy whined. "I need one that make me good-looking but nothing too sexy but not too prudish either."
Erza nodded with seriousness. "Yes, this is a major issue. A girl can't solve this problem alone."
Cana snorted at that but hid behind her beer when Erza shot her a death glance.
"We'll do our best to help you, Lu-chan." Levy affirmed with a smile. "Show us the first one."
Lucy raised the black one with sheer flowing sleeves before her and waited for her friends' remarks who contemplated the dress carefully as if it was a new specie cell under a microscope.
"Sure, black is very classy but it looks a bit formal." Erza commented after a while.
"Then this one?" Lucy immediately asked as she picked the midnight blue with a low neckline, golden belt and a slit on the side. "It's sensual with the side cut on the thigh but nothing too risky."
"I don't know, Lu-chan. The colour doesn't really match your skin."
With that sentence, Lucy thrust the dress into Juvia's hands to select the turquoise one. "So, something brighter?"
Her friends seemed doubtful. The dress had a heart-shaped neckline and stopped at the middle of Lucy's thigh.
"Humm… That colour is better, but it's a bit short, don't you think?" Erza observed. "It's more for clubbing than a student ball."
"Yes, you're right." The blonde girl changed for the purple dress made of satin with glitter on the collar. "This one is darker but with the light, it's shiny. And the length is just right."
"Look too expensive." Cana retorted. "Natsu might be uncomfortable if he didn't wear something that pricey to match and think he doesn't deserve you."
Lucy gasped with horror. "I didn't think about that!" She threw the purple one on a corner of her bed without care and picked up the two last dresses. The first was red and strapless while the other was a light pink dress with a bare back. "I have only these two then. What do you think?"
"Hum… They are both very pretty." Erza thought aloud. "And they have the same length. It'll be difficult to choose between them."
"Natsu is very fond of the colour pink." Levy suggested.
"Yeah but red is the colour of passion." Cana added after a gulp of her beer.
"Pa…passion?" Lucy flushed deep crimson. "Wait… We're not there. He didn't even ask me to be his girlfriend. We're going at the ball as friend."
"Yeah right." Cana snickered.
"Maybe you should wear them so we can have a better view." Levy proposed and Lucy didn't wait to be told twice to try the red one.
"I say alleluia to this one." Cana instantly announced and opened a second beer but Lucy waited for the others opinion.
"You look very attractive in this one but..." Erza considered. "I'm not sure."
The blonde turned to Levy who shook her head. "I'm like Erza. You're gorgeous but there something I can't figure out."
"Juvia? You haven't said anything since you arrived."
The bluenette was surprised to be asked for her thoughts. She had not spoken until then because she wasn't used to these girls talks and she was afraid to say something silly.
"Huh… Juvia…." She tried but then met Lucy's eyes. She seemed so lost that Juvia felt a wave of compassion. "That dress suits you vey well. The skirt is simple, but it's compensated with the naked shoulders. And the colour really matches your hair. However… Juvia doesn't think you should wear it for the ball."
"Why?"
Juvia felt uneasy. The reason was obvious for her. "Well… Because it's a date dress."
All the attention of her friends was on her and she blushed. That's it. She had said a silly thing. She wanted a hole to appear in the floor and swallow her.
And then Cana burst out laughing.
"Cana!" Erza scolded her, frowning, while Juvia's cheeks burned as her blush increased.
"Huh… Juvia's sorry. She isn't an expert…"
"No, you're right." Levy stopped her. "That's exactly what I couldn't determine. It's more appropriate for a date."
"Yes, I agree with Juvia too. At least now, you know what to wear for your first date with Natsu." Erza added with a teasing grin and Lucy's cheeks took the same colour as Juvia's.
"Okay. Then I'm going to try the last one." Lucy retreated in her bathroom to change. She came back some minutes later wearing the pink dress and twirled in front of her friends. "So? Your opinion about this one?"
Acting as one person, they all turned their head to Juvia.
"Juvia thinks it's perfect. She likes how it cross on the back and it flows nicely on your waist."
"Yeah. You look stunning in it." Erza approved as Levy nodded beside her.
"Cana?" Lucy asked apprehensively as she knew which one the brunette preferred.
"Well, since you apparently don't want to hook the guy that night, I give my blessing to that one."
"So, the pink one it is." Lucy concluded with a relieved sigh. "Thank you. I was so stressed!"
"It's perfectly normal." Erza commented with a nod. "It's a big step in your relationship with Natsu. Tell me if this idiot says or does something he shouldn't during the ball. I'll talk some sense into him."
"Huh…Thank you Erza but I'm sure he will behave." Lucy deadpanned at the menacing aura the redhaired released.
"Do you need help for something else Lu-chan?"
"Actually yes. Let me just put this mess away." She waved a hand toward the abandoned dresses on her bed.
It reminded Juvia of the midnight dress she had in hand. Looking down, she held it closer to her and unconsciously adjusted the clothe around her waist. Lucy had really pretty dresses, no surprise she had difficulties to choose between all of them. This one wasn't as fancy as the others, but it was elegant with the deep colour and the golden belt. Juvia ran her hands on the smooth material, amazed by its softness and unaware of Lucy's gaze on her.
"You seem to like this dress Juvia." The blonde stated after a while.
With a slight blush, the blue haired lifted her head. "Juvia's sorry. She couldn't help. This dress is so pretty."
"It's okay. You can borrow it if you want."
"Hey!? Ano…Juvia can't…" She tried to protest as her cheeks turned a shade darker. "She's not…"
"Do you already have a dress for the ball?"
"Huh… no but…"
"We have the same size, so it'd probably fit you."
"And the colour will suit you, Juvia. It contrasts with your fair skin." Levy added.
"Juvia's not sure. She had never worn something that beautiful before."
"You'll look definitively good in that." Cana assured her. "You have killer legs; the slit will enhance them."
"It's decided then!" Lucy concluded. "Now, what hairdo should I choose? Natsu likes when it's loose but…"
And the next three hours were about Lucy's hairstyle, her makeup, her jewelry and her shoes.
###
"It's over." Natsu whined as he slammed his forehead against the counter bar. "What came over me when I ask her? I'm going to fuck up our friendship."
"There, there." Loke pat his back in a comfort way. "Don't start with the defeatist attitude or you'll lose the girl."
Natsu groaned. "But I don't know what I should do! I never took a girl to a ball!"
"Take a shower before you go pick her." Gray chimed in, looking bored as always.
"No duh." Natsu raised his head and glared at the raven haired. "I'm not completely dumb, Popsicle."
"Oh yeah?"
"Guys, calm down." Loke sighed. "Oh, look who's finally showing up! Mysterious man!" He added as he saw Jellal coming inside the bar and spotting them at the counter.
"Sorry for the delay. What's the matter?" The blue haired man inquired as he took a stool beside his friends.
"Natsu asked Lucy to go with him to the ball!" Loke explained with a large grin. "That boy is growing up! I'm so proud of him."
"No really?" Jellal asked bewildered.
"Why is everyone reacting like I'd not have the guts?" Natsu roared. "I'm not afraid of Lucy!"
"Then, why are you panicking, Ash Brain?"
"Shut up, Ice stick!"
"Gray is right though, what are you afraid of?" Loke asked, a hand on Natsu's torso to prevent him to launch at Gray. "You have already done the hardest: asking Lucy for the ball. The rest should be easy."
The pink haired man mumbled something and made a sulking face.
"We can't hear you, Fire Head."
Natsu took a deep breath. "I said I'm not the prince she deserves. I screw up everything. I'm going to ruin something, like her dress or step on her feet or said something stupid and she'll hate me."
Jella put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't think like that, Natsu. You know Lucy for more than a year. You're best friends, you know her better than anyone, so you know she would never hate you for such things."
"Yeah." Gray agreed. "Remember when you spilled tabasco sauce on her white shirt or when you burned one of her favorite books?"
Natsu whined and slammed his forehead against the bar again while Jellal glared at the raven haired and Loke sighed.
"You're not helping, Gray."
"What?" Said man objected. "I'm only confirming what you said. He has already done worst things to her and she's still seeking after him, giving him loving gazes and blushing like a schoolgirl around him."
A moment of silence followed before Natsu turned gradually his head on the side with a hopeful expression. "Lucy does that?"
"Of course!" Loke assured. "Trust me. I'm a specialist in women and even when I play my most seducing and attractive side, Lucy looks only after you."
Natsu's face glowed a brief instant but then the hope dropped. "Maybe it's okay during usual days. But that night is special. It's classy and all. I don't know what's appropriate or not."
"It's a student party, Natsu, not a regency ball. But would you feel better if I train you how to dance and what to say until the night ball?" Jellal proposed.
As fast as lightning, Natsu whirled around and grabbed Jellal's shoulders. "You can do that dude?"
"Herm…." The blue haired man said, startled by Natsu proximity. "Yes. I learnt how to dance with Erza years ago."
"That's perfect!" Natsu yelled. "Yooosh! I'm fired up!"
"That's the spirit!" Loke said slamming a hand on Natsu's back and as Natsu asked more advices to Jellal, the orange haired turned toward Gray. "And you? When are you asking your blue beauty?"
"Never." Gray replied instantly as he took a sip of his drink.
"You're really dumb you know? You have a sweet and pretty girl totally in love with you and you're not making a move on her."
"I already told you. She's always around me. I can't date my stalker, it'd be insane."
Loke redressed himself and with exaggerated movements turned his head everywhere, as if he was searching something.
"She's a really good stalker then. I don't see her anywhere."
"You know what I meant." Gray sighed.
"And I know what you're losing."
"Look, dude." Gray said getting angry. "I don't interfere in your girl issues, so mind your own business, ok?"
Loke raised his hands in surrender. "Okay. I won't bring the subject again. But you know what I think."
"Yeah, yeah. Go back to the pink idiot, Jellal looks like he doesn't' know if he should cry or struggle the guy."
###
The ball was hold on Friday night, in three days and Mirajane was frantic with the final arrangements. The other girls were almost in the same state between shopping, hairdresser and romantic dreams.
Juvia had not been asked to go with someone and she hadn't asked someone either, but she was fine with it. She had pushed Gajeel to ask Levy and didn't regret it, even if the piercing man was texting her every day for advices. The petite bluenette wasn't so calm either and she and Lucy were exchanging advices and elaborating scenarios that would make a writer jealous.
To ease her dormmates plus Lucy, Juvia decided to make double-chocolate brownies for their movies evening. She got this recipe from her baker colleague from Yajima's shop and was eager to finally try it.
For the moment she was doing grocery shopping in the local shop to buy the ingredients she needed. She was deep in thoughts as she compared the flour brands, her colleague had insisted on its quality as the secret of the recipe success.
"So, you're also on groceries duties, hey?" A voice said behind her and she turned around.
"Hello Loke-san!" She greeted him with a smile which he returned. "Juvia didn't expect to meet you in this place!"
"Gray has practice today so it's my turn to fill the fridge."
Her stomach contracted at the mention of his name and she turned her focus on Loke's purchase. "And what do you plan to cook Loke-san?"
"Oh, we're not chef so it's the basics, you know? Rice, pasta, tomato sauce and frozen food."
Juvia wrinkled her nose. "That's not really healthy Loke-san."
"Well, if you're so concerned about our meals, I would not mind if you visit us sometimes to cook something better." Loke said in a flirty tone with a cocky smile.
For a moment, a shadow clouded Juvia's eyes, as she recalled the times when she offered home-made bento to Gray who politely declined. "Huh… Juvia doesn't want to impose herself." She thought she briefly saw compassion on Loke's face.
"Ah, you're afraid to enter in a bachelor territory?" He joked to ease the mood. "Don't be. It's cleaner than Natsu's place. Well, except for the clothes laying everywhere." She couldn't help but chuckled and Loke proudly grinned. "And you Juvia? What have you bought?"
She mentioned the girl night movies and the brownie recipe, earning pleadings from the man to taste it another time. Then Loke asked about her job, and they chatted friendly while they finished their groceries until they payed and exited the shop.
"Let me carry it for you." Loke offered as he bent to reach for her bags, but she moved them away.
"Oh, it's okay Loke-san. It's not that heavy."
"I'm a gentleman, I can't let a lady carrying any weight."
"It's really nice but Juvia is a grown woman and she can hold her bags by herself." She retorted with a tone a bit rudder than she planned and immediately hoped he would not take offense. Gajeel's attitude seemed to rub on her.
But Loke smiled. "Then, can I walk you home?"
She smiled back and nodded. For the first part of the way, it was nice. Loke joked a lot about his teachers who suggest to focus more on his studies than on girls and didn't like when he retort that he was taking seriously his studies of female population. Juvia switched between chuckles and smalls reproach about his lack of seriousness (in both studies and relationships).
And then he suddenly brought the sensitive subject.
"The ball is coming." Loke said nonchalantly as if he was talking about the weather.
Juvia nodded, looking down.
"He didn't ask you, right?"
She raised her head so fast she might have gotten a whiplash and her cheeks were burning.
"Huh… Juvia doesn't see what…."
"I know Gray can be a dickhead." Loke interrupted her. "He likes to play cold and distant. And aside from his hockey matches, he beats around the bush when he should act."
Juvia adverted her eyes. "It's okay. I didn't expect him to ask me." She lied in a murmur.
Loke glanced at her.
"So, you're not going?"
Juvia shook her head. "Oh no. Juvia won't spend her evening locked in her room! Juvia is going to the ball, even if she has no one to escorted her."
A glint shined in Loke's eyes and a sly grin rose on his lips.
"Well, do you want to go with me?"
End of the chapter
AN: I'm sorry for the delay. The boys talk part took some time to be written. I'm not completely satisfied with it but didn't want to make you wait longer. Please, let me know what you think in a review!
Buy the way, thanks to FbFlame94 to suggest pink for Lucy's dress!
Next chapter, it's finally the ball! It's not written yet, but I hope it will not take as much time as this one *crossed fingers*.