All day Chelia followed Juvia around the marine park with her camera ready to take any interesting pictures. So far she didn't see Juvia do anything interesting that is until she stopped to get a snow cone and lost track of her for a moment. When Chelia caught up with her she spotted her from a distance, talking with Jellal. She could see them but she couldn't hear them.
"Oh hi Jellal, what are you doing back here?" She asked him.
"I heard about your dolphin friend Dudley and I decided to do a little research on dolphins and I think I have a theory on what's wrong with him."
"Really? What's that?"
"I think his problem isn't physical. I think it's emotional."
"Emotional?"
"According to the book I read dolphins are very social and very emotionally attached. Maybe something's upset him and that's why he won't eat."
"I never thought of that. I'll inform Mr. Neekis on your theory right away. Wait why do you want to help Dudley?"
"Let's just say that I have a soft spot for dolphins."
"Well your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you."
She moved to walk away but she accidentally slipped on some wet rocks that were used for decoration. She fell forward and right into Jellal's arms when he went to her aid.
"Whoa are you okay?" Jellal asked.
"Yes I'm fine." She said getting back to her feet. "I've always been so clumsy."
"You sure you're alright?"
"Yes I am. Thank you."
He was just stopping her from falling but from where Chelia stood it looked like an embrace. She took a picture and then went back home to show them to Juvia's friends.
"I guess it's true." Lucy said looking at the picture.
"This isn't right!" Gray said. "She must be delusional! Or sick! Very sick!"
"Or maybe she just likes him."
"How? How could she like him? What could she possibly see in him? Besides his money."
"Come on Gray, you know Juvia better than that. She would never go out with someone just for their money."
"Well what other reason could she have for dating him?"
"Well he's not bad looking." Erza said. Gray and Lucy looked at her like she had been replaced by some freaky clone. "What? He's a rude and arrogant jerk but you have to admit he is handsome."
"You have a point there." Lucy said.
"So she's dating him because he's good looking? Well what about other more important qualities? Like a brain?!"
"I don't agree with her tastes in men but it's her life." Erza said. "If she wants to date him who are we to stop her."
"He's gotta be using her for something." Gray said. "Jellal just does not date girls like Juvia."
"What do you mean girls like Juvia?"
"You know sincere girls who are kind and thoughtful and caring. Girls who aren't fake and pretentious and nasty like Minerva. He's too dumb to appreciate someone like that."
"So Juvia's too good for him? Is that it?"
"Yes."
"Wow Gray I didn't know you thought of her that way."
He blushed and made a look as if he had said too much.
"Well she's my friend...My longest friend and I...I just don't want to see her get hurt."
"Right."
"As much as I hate to stand in the way of Juvia's relationship I think we should try to talk her out of it." Lucy said.
"What do you mean?" Erza asked.
"Well Jellal is looking for us. Dating Juvia might bring him closer to discovering our secret."
"Oh yeah I didn't think about that."
"We'll talk to her about it tomorrow."
"Okay and while you two plan for that I will inform Ur of who Juvia's new boyfriend is." Gray said.
"Why?" Erza asked.
"Because Ur doesn't like us being around bad influences and Jellal is the very definition of a bad influence. I guarantee you once she learns that Juvia is dating Jellal she'll forbid her from seeing him."
One hour later...
"What do you mean you support their relationship?!" Gray shouted in shock upon seeing Ur's reaction to the news.
"I'll admit he's not exactly my first choice as a boyfriend for Juvia but I've met his parents and they're nice people. I'm sure he's a very decent boy." Ur said.
"No he's not! He's made my life miserable since third grade!"
"You mean he's that boy who was always picking on you?"
"Yes."
"Huh...Are you sure that it's him who Juvia's dating?"
"Yes."
"Strange. Why would Juvia go out with someone who bullies you?"
"I don't know! But that's what I want to know!"
"Hmm..." She thought. "I don't think she would do something like that but I will talk to her when she comes home."
"You will?"
"Yes but only because recently she's been neglecting her chores and school work to hang out with him."
"Good and when Jellal comes by you can tell him off."
"Now wait just a minute. I'm just going to talk to her about working out an agreement where she can still date him but her school work and home work come first. I won't forbid her to see him."
"Why not?"
"Gray she's sixteen. She's entitled to have a romantic relationship if she wants to, she's not a child. Also it's none of your business who she dates and frankly I don't like you meddling in her dating life. Now why don't you go on and get started on your chores?"
"Fine." He groaned.
Later that afternoon when she came home Ur pulled her aside to have a little talk with her.
"Have I done something wrong Ur?" Juvia asked.
"No it's just that recently you've been neglecting some of your chores and school work lately."
"I know. I'm sorry but I promise you it's for a good reason."
"I understand it may seem like a good reason right now but education and work must come before romance."
"Huh? What do you mean romance?"
"I mean you and your boyfriend."
"What? What boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend."
"Juvia there's no use denying it. I have photo evidence."
"What photo? I'm telling you I don't have a boyfriend."
"Then where have you been going early in the morning and late the evening? What has you so distracted that you're neglecting your priorities?"
"I've been taking care of a sick dolphin."
"Now Juvia don't lie to me. You know how I feel about lying."
"I'm not lying."
"If you're not going to tell me the truth then I'm afraid I can't allow you to do as you please. You're grounded until you're ready to be honest."
"But Ur-"
"Not buts. Now I want you to go to your room and you may come out when you're ready to tell me the whole story."
"This is crazy." She said before going upstairs to her room. Just then her phone started ringing, it was Mr. Neekis. "Hello?...Oh hi how are things?"
Chelia was walking by and decided to listen in on the conversation.
"Sorry to bother you Juvia but Dudley is sick. He has a high fever."
"Oh no."
"Would you mind coming down to the marine park?"
"I don't know I... I'm a little indisposed of at the moment."
"I've already called the vet and he thinks that Dudley might need surgery."
"Oh really? Do you think he'll be able to perform it?"
"Perform what?" Chelia wondered.
"Okay I'll come over right now...You want me to meet you at the dolphin exhibit or the infirmary?...Okay the exhibit. Don't worry nothing will keep me away."
Confused, Chelia opened the door only to find Juvia gone and the window wide open.
"Uh-oh! Ur! Gray!" She called running downstairs.
"What is it?" Ur asked.
"Juvia's gone."
"What do you mean she's gone?" Gray asked.
"I mean she's run away to meet with Jellal. They're eloping."
"What?!" Gray shouted in horror.
"Now calm down." Ur said. "Chelia there must be some misunderstanding."
"I heard her on the phone. She talked about some guy being able to perform and meeting with Jellal at the Marine park and she said that nothing could keep her away. It's elopement."
"Alright that's it!" Gray said heading toward the door angrily.
"Now Gray don't do anything in haste." Ur said.
"Haste?! I'm not going to do anything in haste! I'm going to take all the time in the world to beat Jellal to a pulp!"
And just like that he stormed out.
"Oh dear. This won't end well." Ur said.
Back at the Marine Park Juvia had run into Jellal and convinced him to come with her to explain to Me. Neekis about the information he found on dolphins.
"You think Dudley's problem might be emotional?" Mr. Neekis asked when Jellal told him his theory.
"I'm not a marine biologist but if I had to guess then yeah." Jellal said.
"What could be upsetting him?"
Juvia glanced to the side and took notice of a second dolphin that was in a tank next to Dudley's.
"Hey when did that dolphin get in?" She asked.
"She's a rescue." Mr. Neekis said.
"She?"
"Uh-huh. We brought her in around the same time we brought Dudley in."
"Really? Mr. Neekis would you mind putting them in the same tank?"
"Why?"
"It's just an experiment and I think it might provide us with the solution to our problem."
So Mr. Neekis moved the female dolphin into Dudley's tank. Instantly he perked up and started to playfully swim with her.
"You cheeky fella." Mr. Neekis said.
"Oh isn't that cute. He wanted a girlfriend." Juvia said with a smile. "Aren't they gorgeous together?"
"I have to admit they are cute." Jellal said.
"You know if it weren't you we probably would never know what was wrong with Dudley."
"Nah. You're a smart girl Juvia. You would have figured it out eventually."
"Thanks. You know you can be really nice when you want to be."
"Don't tell anyone okay."
She giggled and rolled her eyes. Then one of the dolphins swam by splashing the water, in her haste to avoid getting wet she accidentally knocked herself into Jellal causing them to fall over with him on top of her.
"What's the matter with you?" He asked.
"I'm sorry!" She apologized. "Uh oh I think your hair is caught in my necklace."
"Ow!"
"Hold still I'll get it out."
At that moment Gray arrived and when he saw Jellal on top of Juvia with his head seemingly in her neck, his anger reached the point of no return.
"There we go." Juvia said once she untangled his hair from her chain.
"You need to be more careful." Jellal said standing up.
"I know." She said doing the same thing. She then saw Gray bolting toward them. "Gray? What are you doing here?"
But instead of answering he punched Jellal right across his face and tackled him which sent them falling into the water. However that didn't stop him trying to beat Jellal up.
"Gray!" Juvia screamed. "Gray what are you doing?! Stop it! Stop it!"
"Get off of me you freak!" Jellal demanded.
"I can deal with you insulting me everyday and throwing me in the dumpster! But this! Oh no! You're gonna pay this time pretty boy!" Gray shouted.
"What did I do?! Ow! Stop it you idiot! You're drowning me!"
"Good because I can't reach your neck to strangle you!"
No matter how hard Juvia pleaded, Gray wouldn't stop and a crowd soon formed. Eventually Mr. Neekis jumped into the water and broke up the fight. When Juvia explained everything to Gray he apologized to Jellal and Jellal accepted it after he gave Gray a punch in the face but that punch was nothing compared to Juvia's anger.
"I can't believe you did this! What were you thinking?" She said.
"I'm sorry. I misunderstood."
"Then why couldn't you talk to me about it instead of doing something like this? Do you have any idea how humiliating that was?! You embarrassed me! And Jellal!"
"Okay I went too far but after what Chelia told when she watching you-
"Watching me?!"
He covered his mouth when he realized his mistake.
"You had her spy on me?"
"No!...Yes...I uh...I can explain."
"How could you?! Do you not have the courage to talk to me about anything?! You just have to spy on me?! Violate my privacy?!"
"Juvia I'm really sorry!" He said with sincere guilt.
"I never wanna speak to you again!" She cried before running off in anger. Leaving him soaking in water and regret.