Originally this was a drabble for an anonymous request, but I have IDEAS for it. So enjoy! Terrible puns and jokes included at no extra charge.

Chapter 1: Mail Performance Anxiety

Tiptoeing across the tiled entranceway to the school, Juvia quietly entered the building with her small wrapped package held tightly in her hands. Juvia prayed that her sweat slick fingers weren't crumpling the delicate paper she'd spent so lovingly wrapping the night before or the letter carefully affixed to it. But even more than that, she hoped that she was early enough that no one else would be around to witness what she was about to do with it.

Luckily, there weren't too many club activities meeting at this hour in mid February - too cold and dark for the outdoor athletes who comprised the bulk of the early-risers. Juvia glanced around, checking for any observers. Feeling secure when she spotted no one, she unconsciously straightened her spine and walked with renewed purpose, rapidly closing the remaining distance to her destination.

The shoe cupboards.

Juvia peered at each of the numbers, reciting the one she wanted under her breath like a mantra. Soon she found it, a delighted smile spreading across her lips.

Gray Fullbuster's indoor shoes sat there, proof positive that he hadn't arrived at school yet. Perfect. All Juvia had left to do was place her gift, and go to the rooftop after school where Gray would show up, full of love in his eyes and her love letter in his hand, the wind would be blowing and the sun setting behind Juvia, and the birds would sing and-

The sudden creaking of the school's doors opening sent a jolt of lightning through Juvia's veins, and she hurriedly stuffed the gift into the cupboard on top of the shoes before scurrying off. She didn't flee very far, as she still needed to change her own shoes which rested a row over.

Which unfortunately gave her a great view of the tragedy she'd just raised the curtain on.

Peering around the corner, she watched as an older student entered the building and made for the shoes. Juvia's stomach dropped to her toes as recognition swept through her. Blond hair and an unkempt uniform marked the student's identity as clearly as if he were holding a neon sign above his head: Laxus Dreyar, grandson of the school chairman, a third-year, and a delinquent extrordinaire. Music blasted from headphones around his ears, giving Juvia some hope that she'd gotten away unnoticed by the ruffian.

A hope which shortly turned to despair as he approached the very locker she'd placed her gift in for Gray. Cold dread settled in her bones as he pulled out the Valentine's Day chocolate. Bewilderment written clearly across his face, he glanced around in search of who had left him the gift.

Juvia ducked back behind the safety of the shoes and held her breath. After a count of five seconds, she peeked back around the corner.

He was opening it. Now he was reading the letter!

Juvia frantically searched her memory. Did she remember to address the letter to Gray...?

Dammit, she hadn't. But she didn't recall signing it with her name, either, so that was a small relief. So Laxus wouldn't be able to hunt her down and threaten her for wasting his time with her gift.

Strangely, though, he didn't seem upset with the letter. Or the chocolate, which he had already begun to eat with one hand while he changed his shoes. In fact, was that a... small smile...?

Clearly it was a trick of the fluorescent lighting. There was no way that THE Laxus Dreyar was happy about receiving anonymous chocolate and a love confession telling him to go to the roof after school and-

Oh no.

Juvia's mind raced as she ran over the possible outcomes of this. The choices before her were... not great.

On the one hand, standing him up would paint a target on her back of the worst kind. Laxus may not know her identity right now, but it wouldn't be too difficult to find out if the older boy put his mind to the task. If there was one thing Laxus Dreyar had in spades, it was the ability to diligently and viciously hunt down those who had done him wrong.

But then her other option was meeting him up on the rooftop and admitting the mistake, that his sudden arrival had caused her to panic and put the chocolate into the wrong shoe cubby, and that she had wasted his time and played with his feelings.

And then there was the fact that he'd already started eating the chocolate! There was no way she could give it to Gray now!

What should she do?

What should she do?!