A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews! I love feed back and ideas so if you have any, lay em on me! Enjoy ^.^
It had been 2 weeks since the incident at the beach house. Spring break was over and school was back in session. Erza had not spoken to Jellal or Lisanna since that fateful day. Natsu, Lucy, Gajeel, Levy, Gray, and Juvia were all still going strong within their relationships and have gotten closer.
It was lunch time on a Friday and the girls were sitting at their new usual table, it was far in the corner, away from where the boys usually sat. The girls knew Erza probably didn't want to be around Jellal, but they also didn't want her to be by herself. As a result, this had been the new arrangement for the past few weeks. None of the guys complained, understanding what was going on.
Lucy, Levy, and Juvia were all cheerfully talking amongst themselves until Erza said something that caught their attention.
"Let's go eat with the guys." She said coolly.
There was a silence, the girls were all shocked to say the least.
"A-are you sure Erza? You know Jellal-"
"I miss Natsu, Gray, and even Gajeel." She said cutting Lucy off.
It was true, although she met Jellal first, she had basically grown up with the other three. They had done pretty much everything together since childhood. She considered them the brothers she never had, and Lisanna was her supposed sister. She didn't want to think about her right now though. She refused to let what they did ruin her other friendships too. She refused to let the hurt stop her life. Erza was strong enough to keep moving, and Jellal knew that as well.
"Besides." She continued "Who know how much fighting there's been without my presence."
The girls had to agree with that one. Those boys fought so much they wondered why they were even friends at this point.
Before they knew it, Erza had gathered up her things and was already walking towards the boys table. The girls quickly got up and followed her.
When the girls sat down, the boys were shocked. All curious wondering what this could possibly mean. As they all drew their own wrong conclusions, the girls were already talking amongst themselves, acting completely normal.
The girls were all sitting next to their boyfriends while Erza sat in a new seat at the end of the table, away from Jellal.
"So guys, what's been going on, it's been a while." Erza asked directing her attention to Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel. She never looked at Jellal but she could feel his eyes on her from the other side of the table.
Natsu shrugged, deciding to go along with it. "Since football is over we decided to join the schools MMA fighting league."
"You should join Erza" Gray added
"Yeah, a monster like you- I mean someone with your talents would be a terrific addition to the team" Natsu quickly corrected himself, not missing her beatings in her absence.
Erza smiled. "Hm, maybe I will. Can I use my swords?"
Everyone deadpanned. "Probably not."
Erza laughed "I'm kidding, who's the top fighter there now?"
"Me, Gajeel, Gray, and Jellal are at a stalemate at the moment." Natsu waved off casually.
Gray scoffed "Please"
"Do you have something to say." Natsu glared
"Stalemate my ass." Gajeel banged on the table "I can kick all your asses."
"Please" Jellal interjected "I've beaten each of you at least once"
"You don't count! You've spent more time training with she monster than any of us." Natsu argued
"Please" Jellal waved off "You grew up with her, you've had just enough time."
At that comment, an all-out argument broke out with Natsu pleading his case and bringing Lucy into it to back him up. Gajeel and Gray soon started doing the same thing. Usually Erza would break this kind of thing up but she couldn't help but smile at her friend's antics. She hadn't realized how much she missed them. But at long with that realization, she realized she missed him too.
Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel were like her brothers but Jellal was a best friend and so much more. She couldn't deny that she missed laughing with him and talking to him. Before she knew it her eyes had drifted to him. Their eyes immediately locked, as he had been staring at her the entire time, lost in his own thoughts.
She missed being held by him, and kissed by him. She missed his presence. Simply put, she missed all of him. But then she remembered why she couldn't have what she missed and desired so much. Images that she didn't want to see flooded her mind, and in that moment, she realized she couldn't do this.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom." She said, making sure to keep her voice even.
The girls however, already knew the truth. Erza sent them a group text stating that she was going home and needed some alone time. She instructed Lucy to run student council in her absence.
Shortly after Erza left, Jellal followed her. Everyone decided it was best not to question him.
From a distance Jellal saw Erza pass the girls bathroom, quickly headed towards the school's front entrance. Already knowing what she was trying to do, Jellal quickly went to his locker, grabbed his keys, and made his way to his car. He knew she had rode to school with Lucy that morning, and he also knew that her house was not walking distance from the school.
His thoughts were confirmed when he saw Erza walking down the street, already having had made some distance from the school. He pulled up next to her and rolled his window down.
"Can I give you a ride?" He asked, his voice coming out a little more nervous than he had planned.
"No thank you" Erza continued walking keeping her eyes forward, trying her best not to glance in his direction.
"Come on Erza." Jellal groaned "A 15-minute ride vs. an hour walk."
Erza stopped walking and Jellal stopped his car beside her.
"Fine." She sighed getting in the car.
The car ride had been silent for 5 minutes straight and Jellal couldn't stand it.
"Come on Erza, when are you gonna talk to me?" Jellal sighed. "I haven't heard from you in weeks since that day…"
"Yes, the day where I learned the details of your… fling" She muttered sharply.
Jellal winced. "I know you're probably sick of apologies..." He said quietly. "All I think about is you Erza. I'm ashamed of myself for the way I hurt you. I regret ever lying to you. I'll do whatever it takes for a second chance"
Erza sighed and glanced out the window, noticing they had passed her neighborhood a little while ago.
"Where are we going?"
"To my house." He said simply
Erza frowned, she knew she shouldn't have gotten in the car. "Jellal no-"
"Just for the weekend" he cut her off quickly. "Just hang out with me for the weekend. We have a lot to talk about; I don't want to lose you Erza. If you still want nothing to do with me on Sunday, I'll leave you alone."
Had this been any other person, Erza would have already knocked them out and taken control of the car. She hated despite everything he had done, she still had a soft spot for him.
"Fine" She sighed.
Jellal was relieved that she agreed so easily. He was prepared to do a lot more convincing. He was also prepared to take her home if said convincing didn't work.
It was now Saturday and Jellal soon found out that Erza didn't plan to do much talking during their weekend together. She had been acting perfectly normal, acting casually as if they had never dated. This bugged Jellal to no end.
They were sitting on the couch watching a movie. Erza seemed really into it. Jellal picked up the remote and turned the tv off.
"Hey!" Erza protested. "I was watching that."
"We need to talk about this Erza." Jellal said seriously.
Erza visibly stiffened "There's nothing to talk about."
Jellal groaned "Come onnnn Erza, we can't just pretend we never happened."
Erza said nothing, she just continued staring forward at the blank TV screen.
"Erza, I know I made a mistake, but I love you. I remember when we first met, I remember the bond we shared as kids living in the same situation, I remember being reunited, I remember forcing myself to work up the courage to ask you out. God, I just miss you Erza!" He suddenly exclaimed. "I miss our talks, I miss holding you, and kissing you, and loving you and-"
"Don't you think I know that." Erza sharply cut him off. "How do you think I feel?! I lost both my best friend and my sister because they were too selfish to think of me before doing what they did!"
Jellal winced at that comment but kept quiet. He had finally got her talking about the incident and he didn't want to mess that up.
"What makes it worse is that it was her of all people" Erza chuckled darkly. "Lisanna was always the pretty girly one who everyone liked while I was just the monster." She felt the tears prickling in her eyes but fought hard to hold them back.
"Lisanna has always been able to have any guy she liked. All the boys liked her and were always too scared to approach me. Any crush I had went right for her. No one saw me as a girl, or a woman for them to desire for that matter. Just the she beast who could kick all their asses, and when we got older and finally developed, I was the hot she beast who could still kick all their asses…"
Jellal stayed silent, seeing a side to Erza he had never seen before. It only made him feel worse, he had no idea she felt this way. Erza was usually confident and very self-assured.
"When we were reunited 7th grade, Lisanna had her eyes set on you. You probably don't even know that because you never noticed… You were the first boy to ever ignore Lisanna for me… You were the first boy to ever see me as more than the girl you should be afraid of… You were the first boy I couldn't intimidate… you were the first boy to want me for me… with a simple smile you completely melted my tough exterior… And you were the first boy I knew she couldn't have… because you were supposed to me mine…" At that, Erza couldn't help but let a tear fall.
Jellal watched silently as it glided down her perfect face. He truly felt terrible.
"You were supposed to be mine. No matter how easy or attractive or alluring Lisanna happened to be… You were supposed to be mine." She said again, letting the tears fall freely from her eyes. "How could you?" She said, barely above a whisper, trying to contain the sob in her throat.
Erza buried her face in her hands, completely breaking down. She hated that she had let him affect her this much, but not more than she hated the fact that he was the only person who could; and he knew that too.
Before Erza could react, Jellal pulled her into his lap in a tight embrace.
"Let me go Jellal. Just want to go home." She said struggling against him.
"I'm so sorry Erza." He said, ignoring what she said while keeping her in a tight embrace. "I thought I understood before, but I was wrong. I never knew you felt this way." He said honestly.
"You weren't even supposed to hear most that. I shouldn't have spoken my thoughts so freely." She wiped her eyes trying to regain her composure. "Besides, that's how it's always been. Lisanna always eventually gets what she wants. Sometimes without even trying." She spat struggling against his tight grip.
Jellal didn't budge in the slightest. He didn't like what he was hearing at all, but then again what could he expect. It still hurt knowing that Erza regretted sharing her feelings with him. Not because she was wrong to feel that way, but because he was the reason she did.
"I guess if I had to choose between pretty perky easy Lisanna and she monster prude Erza..." Erza trailed off, not finishing her sentence. Jellal knew exactly what she was implying though.
She eventually stopped struggling, knowing Jellal had no intentions to let her go.
"Erza… please don't say things like that." Jellal said after a long pause. "My regrettable actions are in no way shape or form a reflection on how amazing you are. You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Lisanna has nothing on you, and I mean that in every single way."
"Whatever." She sighed "You still fucked her, so I can't be that great. Not great enough to wait for I suppose."
"Erza… It was a mistake. I wish I could turn back time and undo it-"
"But you can't" She cut off
"But I still have the facts. From your scarlet hair, to your perfect face, and not to mention unrivaled perfect body, any man would be crazy to look at you and not want you immediately. But your beauty doesn't stop there. You're the smartest woman I have ever met. The most determined, the most caring, and the strongest. Both physically and emotionally. You have strong morals and you stick to them. Many girls aren't like that. You're loyal, and dependable, and have the most beautiful mind I have ever come across. I can literally talk to you for hours and never be bored…"
Erza had tears streaming down her face, once again, at Jellal's confession. He always made her feel emotions she never thought were possible for a girl like her. Just looking at him made her knees weak. But he had also made her feel pain she never thought was possible, and in a way, destroyed her self-confidence and pride. She had no idea what to do.
"I love you Erza, not her, never her. I can't say I'm sorry enough. I've broken your trust in the worst way possible and I understand you no longer wanting to be with me."
"That's what makes this so hard Jellal… I never wanted any of this…" she said sadly.
"Please give me another chance to redeem myself baby… I love you more than anything in this world. I'll do anything to fix this." He said in a quiet husky voice that always made her heart melt.
There was a long silence, but then Erza said something Jellal never thought she would.
"Ok"
A/N: I'm sorry this is so short. The next chapter will have more of the other couples in them. Jellal may have gotten his chance, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy! Till next time
Roxy
