Juvia

The next morning I didn't even manage to make it to the conference room before Erza pulled me aside. "I need to talk to you, Juvia."

Shit. "Okay, what is this about?" I asked as if I didn't already know, I saw the highlights of the game last night, everyone saw Gray kiss my hand.

"I was made aware that you and Mira were at the Victory game last night and met Gray Fullbuster. As you can imagine we are planning on reporting on this and I wanted to get your input before we run with the story." Erza's expression was unreadable, the woman was always so scary.

"What do you want to know?" Being vague was the only strategy I could think of in that moment.

"Well, how did you come to sit next to him? What did you talk about? And how well do you know each other for him to kiss you on camera."

She was playing hardball, I expected nothing less from her. "Well, I went to the game with Mira, and we didn't know who we would be sitting next to, so I was just as surprised as you are. We made small talk about the game but that's about it. I don't really know him, we just met."

Erza kept her eyes fixed on mine; it was definitely intimidating. "And the kiss?"

I shrugged, "I wasn't expecting that, he apologized afterward saying something about the fans wanting to see a kiss. It was just my hand, it's not like he actually kissed ME."

I watched as she processed my story, I had no idea if she was going to buy it. I didn't technically lie about anything, I just omitted a few key details, like that fact that we were dating. Just then she nodded as if she had just made up her mind, "I know how we're going to play this. I want you to take the spotlight tonight and recap your evening with him on camera."

"Wait, what?" I was stunned. I knew there would be repercussions from last night, but I didn't think my life would be turned into a special report.

"It's brilliant really, straight from the source. We'll sit down with Mira and the writers and work up an angle. I want you to be the one to present the story, it has a level of credibility that can't be denied."

Shit. Shit shit shit. This was the one thing I had hoped to avoid. "Are you sure we need to report on this? I don't think it's that big of a story," I wanted to sink the idea before it got out of hand.

"No, it's perfect," Erza barreled through my objections, "how often are we going to have reporters there to get firsthand information? It's a lucky break, really."

This was happening whether I wanted it to or not. "Lucky... right."

"Grab your coffee and meet me in the conference room in ten," Erza smiled, "this is going to be good for you, just wait and see."

"Great..." None of this felt good, but I wasn't about to let the network get carried away with my first-hand story. Ugh, even I was calling it a story now.

I needed to find Mira, by the time I found her it was time for the morning meeting to start and she shot me a 'we need to talk' look and I rolled my eyes. She'd see soon enough just how right she was. Max cleared his throat and glared in my direction; this was going to be a pain.

"Alright let's get started," Erza was down to business as usual. "We've got a full day today, so let's get to it. I want Juvia and Mira to sit with me and the writers to throw together the Gray Fullbuster hockey story before we shoot today's previews."

"So its true?" Sting asked, his eyebrows nearly shooting off his damn head, "did you get his number?"

"No, I didn't" I managed, this was embarrassing.

"I would have slipped him mine if I were you," he grinned. I could totally picture Sting doing just that.

"We have video from the game last night, it should be ready to go by the time we head to shoot, I want everyone to pull out all the stops for this. Hair, makeup, wardrobe all need to go the extra mile, I want Juvia looking her best for this, Mira too." Erza seemed to have a plan and she was just going to drag the rest of us along for the ride, and I for one wanted off. A sick feeling sunk into my stomach as a thought passed through my head, what was Gray going to say when he saw the show? This was exactly what I told him I didn't want to do.

I jotted down a quick note and slid it to Mira, I need ten minutes to make a phone call. Cover for me? She nodded. I didn't know how she would get me enough alone time to call Gray but I was counting on her to come up with something because my brain was frazzled.

Mira reached into her bag and pulled out a tampon, and handed it to me with a flourish, "Go ahead and go to the bathroom, I'll fill you in when you get back," she said entirely too loud. She turned to the rest of the table and gave a sheepish grin, "that time of the month."

Erza gave a knowing nod, "go ahead, I understand."

I grabbed my purse and the tampon and hurried out the door and down the hall to the bathroom locking the door behind me. It only took a second to fish my phone out of my purse and dial Gray. I didn't know if he could answer where he was but I had my fingers crossed that he could spare a minute or two. By the third ring I felt like I was going to pass out, but just when I was about to give up I heard his voice, "Hello?"

"Ohthankgod," my words came out rushed.

"Juvia? What's wrong?' I could hear the concern in his voice, I wanted to tell him that there was nothing to worry about, but I wasn't sure that was the case.

"I just snuck out of the morning meeting because I have to tell you that they have the footage from the game last night and they want me to do the special report." I could barely breathe as I powered through what I had to say, "I didn't want to have to do reports on my own life and I promised you I wouldn't share your personal life and here I am breaking all the promises we made."

"Calm down," his voice was soothing. "It was a hockey game, nothing private there, I knew someone was going to see me and report it. As far as you having to report on your own life, I am sorry, what are you planning on saying?"

"How are you so collected right now?" I knew I sounded completely exasperated but I couldn't help it, "I told them we just happened to meet there and only spoke about the game."

"Alright," he paused for a moment before continuing, "then go with that, I was the nice guy sitting next to you that explained the game and that's it. It's not a big deal, not to me anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"I trust you. Do what you gotta do and it'll be fine. I'll stick to whatever story you go with." I felt like I could finally breathe again as he spoke, "I gotta get back on set, text me if anything changes."

"Okay," I tied to relax, "thanks."

"I'll see you tonight after work, remember we have a date," I had almost forgotten.

"See you tonight," I heard the telltale beep showing he had hung up first and I gripped my phone to my chest. He was amazing, I was over here losing my mind and he somehow managed to calm me down with just a few words. Feeling much better I tucked my phone away and made my way back to the meeting.