Chapter 10: Feel the music

"To freedom!" Cana exclaimed as she slightly clattered her glass with Gray's beer.

Natsu, Gray, Erza and Cana had come early to Lucy's place to help her set up for the party. Erza was bossing Natsu in the living room to move the furniture aside while in the kitchen, Cana was making a bowl of her secret cocktail and Gray was filling the fridge with beers.

They heard some noises coming from the entry and soon after Gajeel entered the room with many bags and boxes in his arms, with Juvia on his tail also carrying some boxes. He was looking more pissed than usual.

"Here. Take a drink" Cana comforted the scowling man as she handed him a pint.

"Damn right! I need one. I had to carry all of that! And I waited an hour for Juvia to change!"

Juvia let out a noise of indignation. "You're exaggerating: Juvia only took forty minutes to shower, dress and make her hair! And you ate half of the cookies while waiting, Gajeel-kun! You don't have to complain!"

She just earned a gruff sound from him before he left to join the others and she rolled her eyes. Gray watched while she disposed on the counter plates of cakes, muffins, cookies, and other stuff he didn't know the name.

"That's a lot." Gray remarked, amazed by the amount of pastries. "Working at the bakery is rubbing on you."

"Oh, Juvia likes to bake since her childhood! When she was younger, her dream was to become a famous baker!"

"And why did not you become one?"

She smiled sadly. "Well… for a long time, there was no one to taste her cakes so she didn't know if they were good. A teacher even said that as gloomy as she was, she would never sell anything."

He felt a blast of anger towards these people. "You're not gloomy anymore. No one can tell you what to be. If you want to be a baker, then, be a baker."

She blinked and then a brightly smile bloomed on her lips. "That's part of why Juvia loves Gray-sama so much: he's so open-minded. Don't worry. Juvia has over dreams now and she prefers to bake for the people she loves."

Feeling uneasy, Gray rubbed his nape. "And what's that?" He asked as she unwrapped a cake and started to cut slices.

"It's the brownie for Loke-san. Juvia told him about her recipe months ago and she promised to bake one so he can taste it."

"So, you made it especially for him?" He could not help but ask while feeling a knot forming in his guts.

"Well, it's not only for Loke-san. Everyone can take a slice but he would probably be the first to taste it!"

He took a gulp of his beer to wash the sour taste in his mouth. When he turned his head, he saw Cana smirking and he furrowed his brows, but she just smiled wider. The crease between his brows increased and he glared at the brunette.

"Hey Juvia! What do you want to drink? Beer, wine or my famous cocktail?" She asked as Juvia finished to cut the cake.

"Juvia's sorry. But she doesn't drink."

"Yeah, I think I heard you say that before." Cana remembered, looking surprised that someone did not like drinking. "But plain juice and soda are so not fun. Let me some minutes and I make you the best non-alcoholic breuvage!"

"Huh… Okay."

The bluenette watched as her friend mixed orange, pineapple and passion fruit juice, soda and sugar into a shaker with ice, while into a bowl she smashed raspberries with a splash of grenadine. After that she picked a triangular glass to pour the raspberry compote and then the blended fruit juice.

"Here. Try this."

Juvia eyed the mocktail suspiciously. It was really pretty, a mix of pink and yellow, shining with the light. She raised the glass and took a small sip. Her eyes widened.

"Oh, that's really good Cana-san!"

The brunette winked. "I told you so!" Just then Lucy called her from the living room and she sashayed away, taking a large gulp of a wine bottle on her way.

Juvia took another sip and closed her eyes to savor it, unaware of Gray's eyes on her.

"Can I try?" He asked suddenly.

"Oh sure, Gray-sama." With a smile Juvia handed him the drink while she fought the blush rising on her cheeks. They were alone in the kitchen and she felt suddenly aware of his closeness.

He held her gaze and bring the glass to his mouth. Then he did something she wasn't expecting. He placed his lips exactly on the spot where she had put her own lips. Indirect kiss! She wanted to scream as she felt her cheeks burning and chills running down her body.

She forced herself to calm down. She probably was reading too much into his action. He didn't do it on purpose. Why would he? He saw her as a friend, nothing more.

Yet, it was a bit erotic, she thought as she watched him pass his tongue on his lower lip.

"You're right. It tastes great." He said as he gave back her drink.

"Ye…yeah." She replied with a trembling voice. "Ah, Juvia thinks she heard Lucy calling. She probably wants some help. See you later, Gray-sama!"

And with that, she flew away, letting behind her a smug Gray. He meant like a payback for the weird inside reactions she caused to him lately, but he didn't except to be so fun to get her so flustered. Other guests came in and he moved to the living where the party was starting.

The evening went well, as he talked with many friends, didn't fight too much with Natsu, avoided Erza's kick and eat and drink all his content. The only bad thing was Loke's teasing since he learnt about Juvia's brownie.

First, he waited until Gray came back into the kitchen to pick food to bit into the pastry and moaned too loud not to be act. "Hum! The cake that Juvia cooked for me is delicious! I can tell it's made with love!"

After that, as soon as Gray has the misfortune to be close, Loke turned into a real pain in the ass. "After all that stress, we need chocolate to get energy back. I'm going to have another slice of that wonderful brownie Juvia cooked specially for me.", "Did you try the brownie Juvia has made for me, Gray?", "I hope it remains some of Juvia's brownie. It was so good!". It was like Lyon annoying side had rubbed on his roommate.

At one moment, he could not take it anymore and cut his friend.

"Look, Loke. I get it, okay? But first I'm pretty sure that's not the first time a girl has cooked for you, and second Juvia made a lot of meal for me over the past year, so shut up, 'kay?"

"Ah, I know but it wasn't something special. It was more like friendly gifts."

"You kidding, right? Valentine chocolate are friendly gift for you?" Gray remembered the moment perfectly. Juvia, all shy with rosy cheeks and trembling hands, handing him a box with his name attached on the blue band. Her chocolates were mint flavoured and he didn't tell her but he really liked them.

"Oh, Juvia's chocolates were really good!" Natsu commented, eyes glinting with the memory of food. "Lucy's were okay too, but she didn't make spicy chocolate like Juvia!"

"What?" Gray almost choked on his spit. "What do you mean by spicy chocolate?"

Natsu didn't seemed too understand Gray's outburst while Loke smirked mischievously. It was Erza who answered as she was occupied to enjoy a strawberry cake.

"Juvia made chocolate for everyone for Valentine's Day. She offered chocolate with strawberry to me, chocolate with caramel flakes for Lucy, coffee-chocolate for Loke, chocolate with liquor for Cana, chocolate with orange for Levy. I don't remember all, but even Bixlow and Freed had ones."

It took some seconds to Gray to fully comprehend what his friend just said. So… She has not made chocolate just for him?

There was the return of the weird sensation in his stomach.

And to pour salt on his wound, Loke seemed to read the way of his thoughts. "You look a bit down Gray. Here. Have some of my brownie by Juvia. Did I tell you it was delectable?" The glare the dark haired sent him only increased the grin on Loke's face.

Gray decided to take another drink. He needed a strong one. He felt like an idiot and a bit angry. But how could he guess that she offered chocolate to everyone? Did not she know that you only offer Valentine chocolate to your crush? It was common rule. He was not into romantic stuff, love was not his thing, but even he knew that.

He found the culprit talking with Lucy and Levy. It looked like Lucy complimented her on something making Juvia blush and wave her hand in denial. A sudden thought crossed his mind. Could it be his imagination? What if she did not have a crush on him? If he was just another friend? She was always blushing around him, but it wasn't like she wasn't blushing with others. The sour taste was back in his mouth. Vodka. He really needed a shot right now.

"How were your tests, Juvia?" Levy asked her.

"She can't tell. She had a hard time with chemistry, but physics should be alright. Juvia thinks she managed with thermodynamics and climatology even if it was bit complex with environmental subject and global warming."

"Natsu says you're good on that matter." Lucy added. "Your read scientific papers about it even if it's not on your list of recommended reading. I have an idea. It could be an interesting article for the next issue of FT newspaper. One of these days, I'm going to interview you."

"Heeey?" Juvia blushed and waved her hand to dismiss Lucy's idea. "Juvia's not an expert. She's not the one to be interviewed. She has so much to learn."

"Take it as a training for when you become a famous scientist." Lucy winked.

"Oh, you hear that, girls?" Cana shouted suddenly when some music started to play. "That's our song!"

All the girls gathered on the center of the room and began to dance in rhythm. Lucy grabbed Juvia's wrist and pulled her to join their friends, not listening the protests of the blue haired girl.

"But… But Juvia doesn't know how…" She hesitantly confessed when she was into the crowd of dancing girls.

"Don't worry! Follow me!" Lucy said as she released Juvia's hand and started to dance.

Juvia tried to copy her moves. Hands crossed above the head, right leg forward, then a step backward and then hands running down the sides, the left foot to the side and immediately crossed with the right, hands up, roll of the hips as you spin on yourself, left foot forward, right to the side, hands on the hips, left foot backward, hands up and all over again.

"Good, your hips now." Cana instructed from behind her as she placed her hands on Juvia's sides and guided her in swaying her hips. "And don't be so tense with your arms." As soon as Juvia took the hint, the browned haired woman let go of her.

"Pay attention now." Cana warned. "At my signal, jingle your boobs."

"What?" Juvia exclaimed, not sure if she had heard right.

"Like this." Lucy said at her side as she shook slightly her shoulders, making her breasts wiggle, just before Cana yelled "And now!"

Juvia laughed as she shook her upper body in sync with all the girls. She was so happy. She was having fun with her friends. As any woman of her age. She wasn't the weird girl with no friend anymore.

A second shot in hand, Gray watched them with a small smile. Their choreography was better now that Juvia knew the moves.
She was glowing with happiness, her wide smile matching the light in her eyes. It was clear that she was enjoying herself.

That girl was showing her feelings on her sleeves. You could not be mistaken with how she feels. Maybe she offered chocolate to everyone, but there's no way she acted with them as she acted with him. Maybe he should take her feelings more seriously. Not like he was falling for her; he didn't want to give her false hope. But he could consider her effort and do something in return. Like saying when he liked her gift. Or trying to know more about her past. Or…

"You should ask her to dance." Loke interrupted his thoughts making Gray jolt. His friend smirked with mischief. "You were fixing Juvia as if you were undressing her with your eyes."

"I'm not a perv."

"Hummm." Loke agreed with a nod. "So, where's your clothes?"

"Fuck!"

###

He was half asleep when he perceived a grunt and some muffled noises.

"Does Lucy-san need help?" He heard Juvia's whisper.

"No, it's okay. It's not the first time I have to put him in bed." Lucy said also in a low voice and with false annoyance and Juvia stifled her giggles. "Thanks anyway. See you tomorrow."

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Lucy carrying a completely smashed Natsu and walking despite the dead weight in direction of her room. Moron, Gray thought even if he was a bit envious of the pink haired man who was going to spend the night in the arms of the blonde beauty.

Other hushed sounds were heard, and he drifted his eyes to know their source. Juvia was gathering empty bottles, glasses and plates and putting some blankets on their sleeping friends. Then she made her way towards the kitchen.

He pushed Loke's legs from his stomach, earning a groan from the orange haired man and stood up from the floor. Everyone was lying around, in more or less comfortable posture, like Jet resting his head on Drow's stomach or Jella sleeping in a sitting position on the sofa, with Erza's head on his laps. Cana was in a corner, curling, and nursing a bottle.

His mind was blurred but Gray managed to reach the kitchen without stepping on someone or fall on them. But he stilled at the door frame when he spotted Juvia.

Her back was facing him and she seemed unaware of his presence. She was humming tunes from earlier and swinging her hips with the rhythm while doing the dishes. He smiled at the sight and let his eyes lingered on her creamy legs, entranced by the roll of her hips.

Silently he approached her and whispered in her ear: "You're really a neat freak, you know?"

She squeaked with a jump and turned to face him as he laughed openly.

"Gray-sama!" She reproached with a frown.

"Did I scare you?" He asked when his laugh slowed down.

She blushed and looked away.

She was cute when she was flustered. Like when he had taken a sip of her drink, deliberately setting his lips on the wet mark of her mouth. Her face had turned red and a glint of lust had passed into her eyes. He discovered he enjoyed seeing her like this.

"You're fun to mess with." He chuckled making her pout and he fought the sudden want to kiss her rosy cheeks.

Juvia let out a gasp when he circled her waist with his arms and rested his forehead on the crook of her neck. She tensed a little at first but relaxed after and put her hands on his naked back. Still a bit humid from the dishes, her fingers drew soothing circles on his skin.

"Gray-sama is drunk." She murmured after some time. "He should lay back down."

"M' fine here." He mumbled against her skin.

He felt her shiver and grinned. She had a crush on him with no doubt. He nuzzled his face against her neck. Her skin was very soft there, like he thought, and she smelled nice, her perfume mixed with the slight scent of sweat from the dance.

"You're very comfy." He muttered and this time she giggled.

"Juvia will give you a Juvia body pillow next time."

He jerked away and looked at her horrified.

"You don't dare!"

That only made her laugh more and he felt something squeezing in his chest with the sound. He observed her face as her amusement slowed down, a smile still playing on her mouth. He was suddenly craving for her plump lips.

He was on the verge of giving into it. He couldn't remember why kissing her was a bad idea before. It didn't seem wrong right now. Her lips were probably soft and maybe she would still taste like Cana's cocktail. And how would she respond to his kiss? Would she be timid or eager?

He gently bumped his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes. They were a bit hazed. His hands slid from her waist to her hips to bring her closer and she missed a breath. He saw her eyes lowering to his lips and a similar battle seemed to play inside her. She ran her cold fingers from his back to his collarbone and he restrained the moan caused by her touch. Her lips parted and he leaned closer, surrendering to his desire.

But she pushed him back softly. "Gray-sama should really go to sleep."

He blinked.

Huh?

He didn't understand why she pushed him away. His doubts were back. Did she not have a crush on him?

"Why?"

"You don't know what you're doing."

"Of course I know."

She smiled sadly and put a hand on his cheek.

"You're drunk Gray-sama."

"You already said that." He pouted.

"That's why you should sleep now."

"Don't want to." He whined.

She couldn't help the chuckle to pass her lips.

"You're really like a child Gray-sama. Come on, Juvia will put you in bed." She grabbed his wrist and led him out of the kitchen and toward the guest room. "Be quiet now Gray-sama. Lisanna-san, Levy-san and Freed-san are already asleep. Don't wake them up."

Within the darkened room, he spotted two figures lying on the bed and a third with long hair in one of the sleeping bags on the ground. Juvia coaxed him to lay into another bag and he complied, but when she tried to stand up, he grasped her hand.

"Where are you going?"

"Shhh…." She caressed his hair and he relaxed his grip. "Juvia will be right back. She just needs to change clothes."

"'Kay." He mumbled and let her go.

"Close your eyes, Gray-sama." He did so and felt a sudden warm spot on his forehead. "Sweet dreams."

AN : Here it is.
I had the scenes in my head for a long time, but mixing them together was harder than I thought.

Thank you to all who are still following that story. You truly have a lot of patience!

I'm just going to reply to a question that maybe more people want to know the answer: I don't know if I'll bring Bora in a future chapter; I mentioned him in the first chapter so he did had an impact on Juvia in this story, but as I already wrote an one-shot about him and his harmful effects on Juvia, I don't want to repeat that.
If a new idea popped and I like it maybe, but probably nothing with drugs or smoking; alcohol perhaps, so Juvia had a reason not to drink again, but we'll see.
So lower your expectations about that asshole.