Wanting to learn more about what had happened to them, Lucy and Erza decided to go swimming in the ocean. They went to a remote spot on the beach where they knew they couldn't be seen by anyone. Together they stood in their bathing suits just a few inches from where the tide met the sand.
"I'm not so sure about this." Lucy said.
"That's alright, I am." Erza said.
"That doesn't exactly give me confidence."
They held hands and proceeded to walk toward the ocean. Just like the last time they got wet they turned into mermaids and set off to swim in the ocean. Under the water they could breathe and swim at an incredible speed but what they found the most amazing at all was that they could actually see the fish, the reefs, and all other sorts of sea flora and fauna. It was way better than any nature documentary they had seen tv.
When they came out of the water Juvia came down the beach to greet them. In her hand she carried a basket and in her other hand she carried a few towels.
"Good morning." She said with a smile. "I brought you some towels."
"Thank you." Lucy said.
"And some breakfast."
She opened the basket which contained warm and tasty cinnamon rolls.
"Sweet!" Erza said licking her lips. "I haven't had one of those in years."
Juvia handed one to Erza and she took a bite.
"These are good." She said.
"Thank you, I made them myself."
"Really?"
"Yep. Juvia is a great baker." Lucy said helping herself to one of the rolls.
"So how was your swim?" Juvia asked.
"Incredible." Erza said. "I swear what you see about the ocean on television is nothing like this."
"It was beautiful." Lucy said. "So full of life it's... It's unreal and we can actually breathe underwater."
"Juvia you have to swim with us. You gotta see this."
"No I can't."
"Why not? Are you just inching to try out your tail?"
"No I'm not."
"You don't know what you're missing."
"Hey Juvia are you over here?" It was Gray. Lucy and Erza quickly swam to hide behind some rocks so when he came down he was only able to see their heads. "Juvia there you are."
"Gray what are you doing here?" She asked.
"I could ask you the same. But it's Porlyuscia, she wanted me to tell you not to make any plans because she has to go to a meeting tonight so we have to stay home and watch Chelia and Romeo."
"Alright."
"So I answered your question. Why don't you answer mine? What are you doing down here?"
"I was just bringing Lucy and Erza some breakfast and extra towels."
"Hi Gray." Lucy and Erza said waving to him.
"Hi. Well I might just join you all for a swim then."
A panicked expression crossed both Lucy and Juvia's face. Erza quickly thought of an excuse.
"We're naked Gray." She said making the young man turn red in the face.
"Oh...So uh...A quick swim then?" He joked while trying to hide how red he was.
"Goodbye Gray." Lucy said.
"Right! Sorry! I...I crack jokes when I'm nervous. Excuse me ladies."
He ran out of there as quick as a bullet being shot out of a gun.
"Phew! That was too close for comfort." Juvia sighed.
"No kidding." Lucy said.
"That aside, you sure you don't want to come in the water with us Juvia?" Erza asked.
"No." Juvia said irritated. "I'm sorry but I've never liked the water and I never will and I don't want to talk about this anymore! I need to go anyway."
She left after that.
"What's her deal with the water?" Erza asked Lucy. "I know she's scared but why?"
"That's right you just moved here so you don't know."
"Know what?"
"About eleven years ago a tsunami struck Magnolia, it almost destroyed half the town. Juvia was at the beach with her parents when the tsunami hit. The authorities managed to get to her in time but her parents drowned. Same thing happened to Gray's parents too. That's how they both ended up in foster care."
"My God."
"With time Gray was able to get passed it but Juvia has been afraid of the water ever since."
"I am a horrible person." Erza said.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am. I was trying to make her go swimming when in actuality I'm trying to make her relive childhood trauma."
"She won't hold it against you. You didn't know."
"So she's an orphan?"
"Her, Gray, and pretty much anyone in Ur Milkovich's Home For Lost Children. Except maybe Romeo."
"Who's he?"
"He and Chelia are two younger kids in the system. Chelia's an orphan but Romeo's just living there while his father is in the military. He was drafted and he didn't have any living relatives who could look after Romeo. He can't wait for his dad to come home and he's really bonded with Gray and Juvia."
"What about the other one? Chelia?"
"Oh well...She means well and I get along with her but she really likes pester Juvia."
"I know where she's coming from. I've got a younger sister and she can be pretty annoying but she's alright."
"You know I've kind of envied Juvia for having Gray, Romeo, and Chelia in her life."
"Why?"
"Because when I was little I always wanted brothers and sisters to play with. Especially after my mom died."
"Your mom died?"
"When I was eight she had cancer and despite all of what my dad spent to keep her alive it just wasn't enough."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"So you've only got one parent huh? Finally something we have in common aside from being mermaids that is."
"You only have one parent too."
"Yeah. It's just my mom."
"Small world. Come on let's get dry before someone sees."
The next day at school everyone was very excited because Minerva Orland announced that she was having a party this weekend. Minerva Orland was one of the most popular girls in school and a lot of people liked her even though she was mean spirited and stuck up snob who's favorite pass time was to bully who she considered less popular than her. Erza happened to be her favorite target.
"I'm sorry Erza." She said faking pity. "But I'm not supposed to bring trash to the party."
"Well you would know a lot about trash wouldn't you Minerva?" Erza snarked.
Minerva glared at the red head then turned to Lucy and Juvia.
"Lucy, Juvia, listen my mom says that I have to invite you two because you're as she says 'Nice girls who would have a positive influence on me.' Just don't do anything lame." She handed each of them an invitation.
"Gee thanks." Lucy said.
Minerva then walked off to finish handing invitations.
"Well at least we were invited." Juvia said reading the invite. "Oh no."
"What?" Lucy asked.
"It's a pool party so we can't go."
"Good." Lucy said grabbing her books from her locker. "As if I would be caught dead at any party thrown by that snob. I mean there is nothing on this earth that could convince me to go."
She turned to head to class but ended bumping right into Natsu Dragneel. A surfing athlete, one of the best in Magnolia. He was a real nice guy who was a friend to everybody. And he just also happened to be the love of Lucy's life.
"Natsu!" She cried nervously. "I'm so sorry!"
"No, no, no. It was my fault. Here let me get your books."
He quickly gathered up her fallen books and handed them to her.
"Thank you." She said.
"I'm kind of glad that I bump into you."
"You are?"
"Yeah. No wait! Not like that! I mean I'm not glad that I bumped into you I'm glad that I got to see you. I haven't seen you around lately."
"Oh... Really? You've been thinking about me?"
"Yes. No I mean...You've come to my mind a couple times." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously then glanced down at the invitation in Lucy's hand. "I see that you got invited to Minerva's party, I guess that means I'll see you there."
"You're going?"
"Yep."
"Okay. See you there."
"You too."
Once he had left Lucy looked over to see Juvia giggling and Erza with a teasing expression on her face.
"What?"
"So nothing on this earth that could convince you to go to Minerva's party huh?" Erza grinned.
"Well Natsu is one of the few friends Minerva has who's not a jerk and he...He needs someone decent to talk to at the party."
"Yeah right."
"Lucy you've had it bad for him since elementary school." Juvia said. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, he's a great guy. He's honest and sweet and tries to be a friend to everyone."
"Sounds like you might have a crush on him too." Erza said.
"Me? No. He's just a very good friend of mine and besides there's someone else."
"Really?" Lucy said. "You never told me. Who? Who is he?"
"It's a secret."
"Oh come on. You know you can tell me."
"Nope. It's my own deep dark little secret."
"Please no more talks of crushes." Erza said.
"Haven't you ever had a crush on anyone?" Lucy asked.
"No. Boys are all the same to me. Immature and egotistical jerks who eventually grow up to be good for nothing men that will ruin your life if you give them the chance. Or at least that's what my mom says."
"I know plenty of decent boys." Juvia said. "There's Romeo-"
"That doesn't count he's eight, he hasn't hit puberty yet."
"Well what about Gray? And Natsu?"
"There's no such thing as a decent boy. Trust me. So are you two actually going to Minerva's party? You know that spells big trouble for us."
"Not if we avoid the pool." Lucy said. "Besides despite being a total witch, Minerva does throw good parties. Right Juvia?"
"Actually I've never been to one of her parties. Or any high school party for that matter."
"Seriously? But I thought you were invited to one last year."
"They just wanted me to help with the catering. That's kind of why I wanna go. I mean this is the first time I've been invited."
"I think it's a bad idea and that you two are taking a very big risk." Erza said.
"We just need to be careful that's all." Lucy said. "And prepare ourselves for any emergency splashing. We can do this."
"Uh-huh. Anyone else smell a catastrophe coming?"