Chapter 5: Like Cinderella
One more time, Juvia watched her reflection in the mirror.
Lucy's dress fit her perfectly, showing off her cleavage and flowing down on her legs. She had chosen to tie her hair in a loose bun and to wear a light make-up with golden-brown eyes shadow and a pink lipstick. She looked nice, she thought. But will Gray notice her?
A sight escaped her lips at the same time her phone beeped. It was a text from Loke. He had just parked his car in front of the dorms. She put her black heels on and picked up her clutch and a coat. Even if it had been warmer these past few days, she'd need a coat at the end of the party.
When she exited the dorms, her coat draped on her arm, Loke whistled. "My, my! You're so gorgeous. I have no regret for asking you to the ball."
She could not help the slight blush that tainted her cheeks with his compliment. "Thank you, Loke-san. You're really well-dressed too." He winked and offered his arm to led her to his car. During the drive to the ball, Juvia wondered once again if she had made the right choice in accepting Loke's offer. Despite all his flirting manners, he was not trying to seduce her. It was just a part of his personality. They were just friends, no doubts of that. But still… was it right?
Loke stopped his car at the parking lot of the campus. The ball was hold in the hall usually reserved to the ceremonies. Mirajane and her crew had decorated it with lighting garland, balloons and colored streamers. In the back, long tables were full of food, glasses and various sort of drinks. On the other side, there were round tables with chairs and a bar not far away for the alcoholic beverages.
Loke and Juvia handed their coats to the student in charge of the coat check room and walked inside the room, looking around if some of their friends were already there. They spotted Erza, Jellal, Natsu, Lucy and Cana near one of the long tables with appetizers.
"Hey! You two!" Cana raised her glass to greet them; apparently, she was already tipsy. "You look cute together."
"Thanks." Loke said with a sly smile. "Where's your partner?"
The brunette returned his smile and almost smashed her drink against his nose. "My true partner is right there. And the other went to bring more."
"I see…"
As Erza joined the two to reprimand Cana about her drinking issues, Lucy approached Juvia and placed a soft hand on her shoulder.
"You look beautiful Juvia!" The blonde complimented her and Juvia returned her smile.
"Lucy-san too. How is it going on with Natsu-san?" She whispered not to embarrass her friend.
"Same as always." Lucy sighed. "I could tell he was nervous when he picked me earlier but that didn't last." She added with a glance at the pink-haired who was stuffing his mouth with appetizers. "I think I put too much hopes about this night."
"Don't say that Lucy-san! Natsu-san needs time to express his feelings but Juvia knows he cares about you."
A small smile lifted Lucy's lips. "Yeah, you're right. We didn't fall for the smartest guys, huh?"
Juvia was taken aback by Lucy's words but before she could press the subject with her blonde friend, Loke turned toward her.
"Do you want something to drink, Juvia?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, thank you. A juice or a soda will be perfect."
Loke winked at her and when he was a bit away, Juvia turned to Lucy to pursue their conversation but Cana wrapped her arm around Juvia's shoulders.
"That's not the spirit Juvia! This is a student party! You have to drink alcohol!"
"Juvia's sorry but she doesn't hold alcohol very well."
"But you won't have an excuse for a hot make out session with your date then!"
"Juvia's date? Oh, you mean Loke-san?" She asked with a glance at the said man who was talking to Natsu while picking glasses. "He's not Juvia's date. We're just friends. Loke-san took pity on Juvia because no one ask her."
"Hummm…" Cana seemed thoughtful. "Pity's not a trait of Loke. He probably has something planned on his mind."
Feeling uneasy with that statement, Juvia wanted to ask more but the brunette chose to tease Erza then and Juvia thought it was safer to put some space between her and anything that can be used as weapon by the red-haired woman. Lucy looked like she had the same reasoning as she walked away side by side with Juvia.
At the same moment Loke returned with drinks and handed her a glass of juice with a charming smile. "There's your drink, my lady."
Juvia thanked him with a gracious smile but her attention was quickly drawn by Natsu. The pink haired man looked almost shy as he approached Lucy.
"Herm… Luce? Are you thirsty? I mean… I got you a drink." He mumbled with rosy cheeks as he offered a glass to the blonde woman.
"Oh! Thank you Natsu! That's sweet of you." Lucy smiled brightly and Natsu visibly relaxed while Loke gave him a thumb up discretely.
"You're going to turn into Mirajane, Loke-san, if you play matchmaker as well." Juvia teased him and he chuckled.
"Ah, what can I say, my lady? My friends aren't as talented as I am with woman matter and they need a little push."
They were joined after that by more friends, as Jet, Droy, Levy, Gajeel, Lisanna, Bickslow and Freed arrived some minutes later. Apparently Elfman and Evergreen were already there but they couldn't see them as the hall started to be fill with people.
For the following minutes, they joked, drank, complimented Lisanna for her hard work with her sister for the decoration, drank, talked about the upcoming soccer match when Jet and Max would face one of the five best College team and drank more.
"Dickhead!" Loke hissed suddenly between his teeth and Juvia glanced curiously at him. He was sending a death glare at someone. She followed his sight and her heart squeezed hurtfully when she saw Gray entering the hall with a woman at his side. She felt the want to rush to her and scream "Love rival!" but she took control other it and scrutinize the unknow woman instead.
She had shoulder length black hair and was wearing a nice green dress, curiously with a lab coat over it. She didn't look like she was enjoying herself, but Juvia had to admit that she was pretty.
"Who is she?" Juvia asked as she had never seen this woman before.
"Her name's Daphne." Loke answered with a frown. "She's crazy. And not in a good way. She was after Natsu at the beginning of our first year and act like a bitch with Lucy. Can't believe Gray asked her of all the women in the campus."
Juvia's face should have shown sadness because Loke sighed and added with a soft tone. "Don't worry. He's going to regret his decision the moment he sees you."
Slow music started to play then and most of the couples gathered at the center of the hall used as a dancefloor. Erza and Jellal joined them, both faces as red as her hair. Lucy grabbed Natsu's hand and even if he warned her he might be sick, he was eager to hold her close.
Juvia watched them with soft eyes.
"May I have this dance, my lady?" Loke curtsied a little before her and extended a hand.
"Hum… Ano…" Juvia stuttered. "Juvia…"
"It's just a dance Juvia. You're not cheating on Gray." Loke smiled and then leaned to whisper in her ear. "And maybe he'll get jealous."
Juvia felt her cheeks turning deep red. Even if she thought that Gray's jealousy was highly improbable, Loke's insinuation made the beat of her heart going faster. She took his hand and followed him in the center of the dance floor.
"Hum… Juvia has never dance before." She murmured shyly. "She's going to embarrass you."
"Don't worry." Loke reassured her with a wide smile as he placed a hand on her waist. "I'm a great dancer and as a gentleman, I never let a lady embarrass herself."
That seemed a bit presumptuous but after the first steps, Juvia had to agree. Loke was a great dancer and he taught her the basic steps. She quickly relaxed in his arms and enjoyed the dance as he twirled and spun her around. At one moment, from the corner of her eye, she caught Gajeel and Levy dancing, both looking shy. She smiled internally, seeing all the couples making progress.
Then, the music changed to a song more rhythmic and the crowd grew around them, as the atmosphere became more of a nightclub. After three other songs, they decided to take a break and join Lucy and Natsu, seated at a table not far from the dancefloor.
"I'm impressed Natsu." Loke praised his friend, who had a greenish complexion and was resting his head against the table. "You lasted longer than I thought."
Said man raised a shaking thumb up but let out a painful groan. Half-chuckling, Lucy rubbed gently his back in comfort.
"Did you see Elfman and Evergreen dancing?" The blonde asked and they talked about the relationships of theirs friends until Gajeel and Levy walked to them. The former was a bit green but not as much as Natsu.
"I beat you, Salamander!" He exclaimed as soon as he took a seat in front of the pink haired man. "I hold one danse more than you!"
"Gajeel! That's not a competition!" Levy scolded him.
"Still. I'm better than him."
"What did you say, metal face?" Natsu tried to growl but it ended in a whine and his face fell back on the table.
"Would you excuse me, my lady?" Loke asked Juvia with his charming tone. "As a knight, I have to help some women abandoned by their date."
"And that's not what you are doing presently?" Lucy remarked while he sauntered away after Juvia had nodded. "That Don Juan…" She sighed, shaking her head. "So Levy, what books did you read this week?"
They nicely chatted for some time, Natsu and Gajeel recovering slowly from their sickness and bickering right away. When a new song started, Natsu grabbed Lucy's wrist, pulling her up.
"Yosh! I'm fired up! Come on, Luce! I need to beat Gajeel!"
"Like hell, Salamander!" Said man roared. "You and your cheerleader can't overcome Shorty and I!"
"Ah, wait Gajeel!" Levy protested as he hoisted her with one arm. "Ju-chan is going to be left behind."
"It's okay, Levy-san." She reassured the little blue-haired with a small wave of her hand as her friends mingled with the dancing people.
But despite her words, she immediately felt the old feeling of loneliness and her happy mood shifted to a sadder one. Even if she had people she can call friends, even if she had gain confidence in the last months, it was time like this that she felt out of place.
Didn't know how to act or what to do. Just standing and looking at the others. She wondered if she looked as awkward as she felt.
The rainwoman.
###
Why did he come to this party?
His close friends were all dancing, except Cana who was currently having a drinking contest – no surprise here - and he couldn't spot the others. And Mirajane was probably still mad at him. Gray grimaced at the thought.
Earlier he had saw Laxus dragging out Daphne who looked angry and a bit disheveled. She had probably gone after her new crush and the meeting didn't go well. Gray had sighed then. He didn't care much about the woman, but he knew he was going to be blame for the ruckus she made. Oh, how he was right. Just when he had turned his head, the She-demon was an inch away from his face.
"If anything else goes wrong this night, I'll hold you responsible for that." She threatened him, a murderous glint in her eyes as he almost saw dark aura radiating from her and he could do nothing but nodded.
He shuddered in reflex. Mira was very committed with romantic stuff and as the organizer of the party, if the night did not benefit her ships like she had planned, she was going to express her wrath on someone. That someone being Gray.
Another sight escaped his lips. He was going to take a last drink and then heading home. It was a safe solution.
As he made his way to the bar, he saw Loke flirting with a girl with brown hair. Gray frowned. What was he doing there? He should be with Juvia.
To say the truth, Gray had been surprised to see them earlier on the dancefloor. Juvia had looked happy, with cheeks slightly pink and a smile grazing her lips. He had felt a weird feeling in his guts then but he had pushed it away.
Loke leaned toward the girl's ear and whispered something that made her giggle.
"What are you doing?"
The orange haired glanced behind him. "Hey Gray. I'm talking with this charming woman as you can see."
Gray glared at him. "Should you not be with your date?"
Loke's eyes glimmered with something and Gray could not help but thought about a lion playing with its pray. "I can return the question. Where's the bitch?"
The darkhaired man groaned with annoyance. "Yeah, yeah. I knew you would say that."
"From all women, Gray… Why did you pick her?"
"I didn't pick her, okay? She just came to me yesterday and asked if I was going with someone. Then, as I had no one, she said we could go together. It was an easy option." Gray shrugged.
Loke sighed. "I pity you. You're a hopeless case."
"What does it mean?"
"Nothing. So, you ditched Daphne?"
Gray cleared his throat. "Sort of. Where's Juvia? I saw you with her earlier." He asked looking around and missed the wry smile on Loke's lips.
"Yeah. I asked her for the ball a few days ago. Since a tsundere didn't, I took the opportunity."
Gray knew his friend was talking about him but chose to let it slip. "I'm surprised she said yes to a guy like you." He retorted to sound nonchalant.
"She didn't complain. I was a perfect gentleman and made her dance and laugh. She seemed very happy to me."
"Hum, yes, I could see that."
"Is someone having a taste of jealousy?" Loke wiggled his eyebrows making Gray scoffed. "Don't worry, Juvia is completely immune to my chivalry as surprising as it may sound. I have no effect on her. She sees me only as a friend."
"That's why you abandoned her? I thought you were more persistent with women."
"I didn't abandon her. She's with Natsu and the others." The womanizer waved in direction of the round tables and immediately turned to the girl at his side who seemed a bit annoyed with his lack of attention.
Gray's sight followed the direction and after a few seconds, he found the said woman sitting alone at one of the tables. His frown returned.
"She's all by herself."
Loke looked up and concern appeared on his face soon replaced by a mischievous expression.
"You can keep her company then."
"I'm not her date." Gray replied a bit too fast.
"But you're her friend, aren't you?"
"Humph…yeah."
"So, you won't let a friend alone, right?"
They maintained eye contact for a moment and then Gray sighed.
"Okay, I get it." He said as he turned his heels and walked away.
"Your shirt, Gray." Loke deadpanned as the girl at his side flushed red.
"Fuck."
He retrieved his shirt and made his way towards Juvia. As he approached her, she turned her head and he saw her eyes widening. He expected her to jump on him, but she kept sitting properly, with her hands on her laps. She had decreased the fangirling these past weeks, he had noticed, but it still surprised him.
"Good evening Gray-sama." She greeted him as he took a seat beside her.
"Hi." He waited a moment, he thought she would be delighted by his presence and babble about the ball or his looks or something else but as she didn't say anything, he decided he would be the one to talk first for once.
"Why are you sitting alone?"
"Oh, Loke-san is flirting somewhere and Lucy-san and the others are dancing."
"They let you on your own?"
"Juvia doesn't mind!" She replied with too much hands gestures, Gray didn't buy it but said nothing. She played with her bracelet for a bit looking hesitant before asking. "And why is Gray-sama also on his own?"
He shrugged. "I didn't make the best arrangement for tonight. The girl I went with left to go after another guy and it turned out bad and now everyone is acting like I'm a traitor for coming with Daphne."
"It's not fair. Gray-sama has the right to come with whoever he wants." Juvia straightened on her seat. "They can't be mad at Gray-sama for something like that."
"Tell that to Mira. If something else happens, she'll kill me."
Juvia opened wide eyes as she heard about the thread on his head. "Don't worry Gray-sama! Juvia will protect you from Mirajane-san!"
Gray stared at her serious face for a moment before chuckling. "Thanks. Even if you have very little chance against the She-demon, I appreciate the offer."
Deep red bloomed on Juvia's cheeks. "Gray-sama is welcome." She murmured shyly before turning again her gaze on the dancing crowd.
They stayed like that for almost half an hour, chatting a little and watching the dancers. But at one moment, turmoil sounds filled the hall and all the people turned their sight to the dancefloor.
"That's happening?" Gray wondered out loud, his eyes scanning around in search of the enemy… he meant Mira.
Juvia was standing on tiptoes to look above the crowd. "Huh… It seems like Natsu-san and Gajeel-kun… didn't handle the dance well."
"What, they're fighting?" He asked with hope, there was a chance Mira was going to take out her anger on them instead.
"No… They…Huh… spilled out their stomach's content all over the floor."
Gray paled and rose on his feet. He needed to be out of Mira's fury range. Quickly.
Without thinking he grabbed Juvia's wrist and headed for the exit. On their way, they crossed Max who was running in the opposite direction with mop and broom in hands.
It was only when he was at the university gates that he remembered the blue haired girl who had not made a sound of protest with his behavior.
"Ah… Sorry." He apologized as he released her wrist. "I don't know why I pulled you with me. I didn't mean to be rough. It was just… survival instinct?"
Juvia giggled softly.
"What is it?" He frowned, unsure of what could have crossed her mind. Maybe she had taken that for a sort of proposal or some shit like that.
"Ah… Nothing. It's just… Gray-sama looks a bit like Cinderella running away from the ball before midnight."
Gray was taken aback. From all the crazy things she could say, she had to pick a damn fairy tale?
"What are you talk…" He started and looked downward when her amused gaze slid on his torso. "Fucking shit!" That only made Juvia laughed more.
Fighting against the rising heat on his cheeks, he debated about walking back and risking his life to retrieve his shirt and jacket.
"Gray-sama can wait here. Juvia is going to go back and pick Gray-sama's clothes and her coat." She offered when her laugh had died down. "After all, Juvia promised to protect him." She added with a smile.
"You're playing the Prince Charming then?" He joked and felt a bit of revenge when her cheeks flushed deep red.
She mumbled unintelligible things before turning away in direction of the hall. "Juvia will be right back!"
He didn't wait long before her return with their things and when he was fully dressed, he walked her home.
"Gray-sama didn't have to do that." She said as she pulled out her keys.
"That's the least I could do to thank you. And it's not every day that Cinderella walks the Prince Charming home."
And despite her flaming cheeks, she let out a chuckle and wished him good night. Maybe it had not been wrong to accept Loke's invitation.
AN: I am sorry for the delay. I rewrote that chapter twice and it's still not like I pictured it in my mind, but I thought you waited enough. I hope it's fine nonetheless.
The good news is that I managed to write parts of futures chapters at least, so those last months weren't completely waste. I'll try to update sooner for the next chapter.