Meanwhile Gray was trying to look for someway to make enough money for the camera he wanted to buy for Ur. Unfortunately there were no jobs available at the moment, at least no jobs available that would pay him the amount of money.
"Hey Gray." Called Natsu who was coming back from surfing.
"Oh hey Natsu."
"What are you doing today?"
"I'm trying to earn some money and fast."
"What's the hurry?"
"Well my foster mother Ur is coming back from a trip and I've decided to get her a welcome home present. I want to get her a new camera but new cameras cost big bucks."
"No kidding. Why not get a job?"
"Because Ur will be here next week and no available jobs will pay me enough money to buy the camera in time. I don't know what to do."
"Why don't you try the juice bar? They're always looking for hired help and they pay well."
"Alright I'll ask. Thanks Natsu."
"No problem dude. Hey um before you go can I ask something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Gray you hang out with Juvia and her friends a lot right?"
"Yes."
"And Lucy is a friend of Juvia right?"
"Last I checked she was."
"So that means you're around Lucy alot right?"
"I guess but I wouldn't say that we're close. Why do you ask?"
"Well I was wondering if maybe you could tell me if something's bothering her."
"Why do you think that something might be bothering her?"
"Because after our disastrous date she told me that she wasn't ready for a relationship, that she had too much to deal with right now and I respected that but then the other night she kissed me. And I mean she really kissed me so now I'm confused. Is she interested in me or not?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"Come on Gray do you actually think that she would tell me what's really going on with her?"
"No. No I don't."
"I understand if Lucy doesn't want to have a relationship with me but I want to know for sure if that's the case."
"Like I said Lucy and I aren't that close. I wish I could tell you but I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Gray you were there when Lucy was acting so differently that night. I think you know what's going on with her."
"There's nothing to tell. I don't know anything and even if I did it's not really my place to tell you her secrets."
"So you do know something?"
"I never said that."
"You know what I don't understand is why she's always with you and why she trusts you with her secrets unless...Are you two dating?"
"No! No way!"
"Then why does she trust you with her secrets and not me."
"She hasn't trusted me with anything. As far as I know, she's just a good friend who's keeps secrets from me just like she keeps secrets from you."
"Fine but you would tell me if you two were dating right?"
"Yes I would but I'm not dating her. She's not even my type and I would never date my best friend's crush."
"Alright. I'm sorry."
"So you believe me?"
"Yes I believe you."
"Good now if you'll excuse me I have to get some cash."
Gray really did want to tell Natsu about Lucy but he had promised the girls that he would never reveal any secret they had to anyone and when he made a promise he always kept it no matter what. Once he finished his conversation with Natsu he went down to the juice bar to ask about a job there but the manager explained that he already had enough hired help. But Jellal happened to over hear Gray's talk with the manager.
"Hey Gray." Jellal greeted.
"Hey what?" Gray replied feeling annoyed that he was talking to him.
"I hear that you need money."
"Jellal please, right now I don't want to hear about how you never need money because you're so rich and blah-blah-blah!"
"Relax I haven't come to gloat. Listen Gray I know we haven't always seen things eye to eye in the past."
"Whatever you want the answer's no."
"All I want is to help you with your money problem."
"Wow you must really think that I'm stupid. As if you would ever help me or anyone for that matter."
"Just hear me out. You see I want to make a video of myself windsurfing like my dad used to do when he was younger and I want to break his record but the problem is I don't know how to work my dad's equipment."
"And this involves me how?"
"I can't work this advanced techno stuff but you can. In other words you can help me achieve my goal."
"Me doing you a favor? One problem I don't like you."
"But you like money don't you? Help me with my video and I'll give you fifty bucks."
"Fifty doesn't work for me. Make it a hundred and you've got a deal."
"Fine. Meet me here at the docks tomorrow morning."
"Well hang on if you're going windsurfing, shouldn't we meet at the beach?"
"I won't be windsurfing at the beach. My dad windsurfed around Tendrou Island making him one of the best surfers in history. If I can beat his record it'll be an incredible tribute to him."
"Alright I guess that's- Wait a minute did you just say Tendrou Island?"
"Yes."
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"Why is that?"
"Because...Because...Because recently it's become a shark breeding ground."
"I'm not scared of sharks. Are you?"
"No I just I hope you realize that by doing this you're in danger of becoming shark chow."
"I understand the risk and I don't care. Look if you're too scared to do this then I'll just find someone else."
"No. I'm not too scared."
"So I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah. You will."
"Great."
Gray would have declined but Jellal was going to Tendrou Island weather Gray helped him or not so he figured that it would be better if he went with him because he could keep him from finding the girls's hideout.
"Are you nuts?!" Lucy said when Gray told her and the girls what he was palnning to do. "You can't take Jellal to Tendrou Island, what if he finds something?"
"Look who's going out there with or without my help so it's better that I go so I can make sure that he doesn't find anything."
"Right and the fact that he's paying you a hundred bucks to help him doesn't have anything to do with it?" Erza asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's just a small bonus for me. I mainly doing it for your safety."
"Yeah right."
"I actually think it's good that Gray is going with him." Juvia said. "I mean it's better that Jellal has someone with him who will protect our secret then someone who won't. Have a little faith in Gray."
"Thank you Juvia." Gray said. "You don't have to worry, I'll do whatever it takes to keep him away from your private hang out. Oh and by the way I ran into Natsu earlier, I think you should talk to him Lucy."
"How come?" She asked.
"He wants to know what kind of relationship you want to have with him."
"I already told him that I'm not ready to start dating anyone right now."
"Yes and a few days after you told him that you made out with him."
"What?" Her cheeks turned blood red. "When was that?"
"Full moon." Erza reminded. "You did some crazy things while you under it's influence."
"Oh right. I still can't believe that I did that."
"Because of that kiss you gave him he's confused about how you feel and he's coming to me for answers." Gray said.
"You haven't told him anything have you?" Lucy asked.
"Of course not but I don't like lying to him and if you don't give him an explanation soon he'll keep trying to get something out of me. I won't tell him but if he finds out I'm keeping something from him he might end our friendship and I don't want that."
"Alright I'll think of something to tell him. But in the mean time you better not tell him or Jellal anything."
"Yeah because if you do you'll know what it's like to sleep with the fishes." Erza said.
"Duly noted." Gray said.
Once that conversation was finished Erza and Lucy left for home.
"They don't trust me do they?" Gray said to Juvia.
"Well...I can't say for sure." She said.
"It's okay I know thay don't trust me. They probably think that I would sell them out for anything."
"I trust you." She said placing her hand over his.
"Really?"
"Yes. I trust you more than anyone else I know. and I know that you would never reveal our secret for anything. Don't take it so hard Gray. It's only because they haven't known you as long as I have. Give it time, eventually they'll know that you can be trusted."
"Thanks. That means a lot."
"You know I wanted to tell you my secret."
"You did?"
"Yes and I was so relieved when you found out. Lucy and Erza didn't think you would understand but I knew that you could be trusted."
"Why do you have so much faith in me?"
"Because that's what friends do. They trust each other no matter what."
She smiled and he smiled back. It hurt him a little that Lucy and Erza didn't trust him but knowing that Juvia did and always would made him feel much better.