Notes: Hi everyone. I had this idea and I decided to throw it down.

Just two small notes before starting: it's set in Italy and there will be many flashbacks (parts in italics), practically it will be a double story that will address the university present of Freed and Laxus, and their past in high school.

Hope you like it. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Enjoy the reading!

Back to Magnolia

If there was one thing he didn't expect, it was to see Bickslow so different. The last time he saw him he wasn't so full of tattoos, while he now even had one on his tongue, something that immediately caught the eye when the boy started talking. Besides, if possible, he had risen even more, and his hair had grown and he was holding it tied in a high ponytail.

"So, what's it like to come back here after being in Germany? Magnolia must be rather sad in comparison" Bickslow asked enthusiastically seated at the bar table in front of him. Freed smiled, pleased to see that despite the past three years apart, their friendship hadn't changed. Normal, since they had spoken on the phone quite often. One summer Bickslow had also taken the opportunity to take a trip and reach him. Freed had hosted him and they had spent two weeks together having fun. That apparently was enough to keep their relationship the same way it always has. Just like they had been friends in high school. Nothing had changed, and Freed hoped it was the same with Evergreen.

"Not really, I really missed Magnolia," Freed replied. He missed old friends more than Magnolia. Bickslow, Evergreen, Lucy, Mirajane… a little thought also passed to Laxus, but he chased it away before he could even stop.

"Do you do the last two years of university here and then go back to Germany?" Bickslow asked.

"That's the idea," Freed replied, stirring the coffee. Magnolia still had a good university, and if he could get a double degree in two different countries, so much the better. It would've given him a nice advantage.

"Well, then let's enjoy these last two years together. I don't know what Germany is like, babe, but we've a lot of fun here!" Bickslow exclaimed.

"Is there any news?" Freed asked.

"Well, actually Magnolia is always the same. Oh, the old bar we used to always go when we played hookie from school is closed. The owner went bankrupt and now there's a clothes shop".

"You know what I mean," Freed smiled, curious about old friends and where they had ended up. Bickslow began to giggle.

"Well, Ever and Elfman have something... I don't know what, because she's like a wall and she doesn't want to tell me anything, but there's something tender" he revealed. Freed frowned slightly.

"Elfman Mira's brother?" he asked surprised.

"How many Elfman do you know?" Bickslow asked in a laugh.

"Not many, just... it's weird," Freed commented, picturing the two boys together. He remembered that in high school they did nothing but fight. Evergreen hated him, and Elfman made her nervous all the time. He just didn't understand how they managed to be together.

"Yes, everyone says it. But they look pretty good together. Oh, and Lucy and Natsu are a couple. It's official, finally," Bickslow added.

"Well, those two would've ended up together sooner or later," Freed chuckled. It was since high school that the two were inseparable. He remembered how Natsu always dragged the blonde into her disasters, and how the two defined themselves as 'just friends' despite being always close to each other. Everyone made fun of them and everyone knew that sooner or later they would end up together. They practically grew up together, a bit like him and Laxus. As the thought came Freed pushed it out of his mind.

"Gajeel?" he asked taking a sip of coffee.

"Gajeel is super engaged to Levy. There was also a rumor that she got pregnant for a while, but it was bullshit. But many still bring up the subject of her and make fun of her for it," Bickslow said as he picked up the phone. He took a look.

"Uh, anyway, Ever just wrote to me, she wants us to go to the apartment so that she can show it to you and... um... so that she can introduce you to the other roommate," he said a little awkwardly. Freed nodded, not understanding why his friend was suddenly so agitated. Maybe the roommate was someone Bickslow was interested in? As far as he knew, Bickslow had never had a serious relationship, but it could all be and it would've made sense.

"You don't mind having another roommate, do you?" the boy asked. Freed looked at him curiously. It really seemed that Bickslow really cared about the two getting along. He shrugged.

"If he doesn't mind, that's fine with me" he then simply said to reassure him. If the roommate was friends with Bickslow and Evergreen, he certainly wouldn't argue.

"Oh good. Yes, very good," Bickslow commented still agitated. "Let's go," he said as he stood up and Freed picked up his suitcase again, starting to drag it through the streets of Magnolia.

They were not very far from the apartment, and in a few minutes they reached it on foot. They entered the elevator and went up to the second floor, reaching the door. Bickslow took out the keys and let him in.

"Ever! We're at home!" he screamed as he stepped inside. Freed entered looking around. The friend had sent him some pictures of the apartment but he had never seen it before with his own eyes. He had trusted. In any case, even though it was small for four people it was more than enough. There was a large sofa that looked comfortable, and a nice TV was positioned in front of it. Simple, but nice. There were also a couple of flower pots on the shelves that had probably been placed by Evergreen. From what he remembered, the friend had always been a plant lover.

Evergreen came out of the kitchen and the brunette smiled warmly at him as soon as she saw him. In a few steps she reached him and hugged him in a warm embrace.

"You're finally back in Magnolia! I hardly believe you're here!" she exclaimed. Freed returned the hug.

"In flesh and blood," he replied with a smile. They pulled away and Freed started to ask her how she was, but when he saw the fourth roommate come out the kitchen door, his words died in his throat.

A single glance at Laxus was enough to upset his whole stomach, filling his mind with old memories he wished he could forget. For a few seconds he couldn't take his eyes off the boy, painfully noticing how he had grown even more handsome. He had stood up a lot and had put on some muscles but his gaze was exactly as he remembered it. Intense to hurt, and beautiful to take your breath away.

Freed couldn't say anything for a couple of seconds, still surprised to find him in front of him after so long. Laxus didn't say anything either, just staring at him and perhaps studying Freed as he was doing.

"Um… well, how about putting the suitcase down? I'll show you the room, okay?" Bickslow asked a little agitated. Freed looked away from Laxus with a vague sense of melancholy and nausea.

He should have greeted him, at least that. Why the hell was he still so agitated in his presence after so long? It should have changed, right? A normal person after three years would have forgotten the crush he had had all through high school. A normal person would have pretended nothing had happened, greeted politely and, perhaps after some initial embarrassment, would have spoken forcing himself to be normal.

Freed could do it, he had done it for years in high school, and over time he even perfected the control over his face. He could pretend that nothing had happened, create an impassive facade and let no emotion shine through.

He just didn't want to do it.

He didn't want to start over like in high school. And as much as he could pretend on the outside, on the inside he already felt bad. Living with Laxus? Impossible, he couldn't. He already knew that if he stayed there, he'd hurt himself, because no matter how hard he tried to tell himself that he had forgotten, he knew it wasn't true.

"Hi Laxus" the greeting surprisingly came out as emotionless as he wanted. The blond didn't reciprocate, stared at him in silence with an expression that Freed couldn't understand. Maybe he was pissed off, or maybe he just didn't care.

Freed turned his gaze to Bickslow.

"You know, there's no problem with the apartment. I know there should be another one not far from here, and they should have a free room," he said in a controlled tone.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Evergreen exclaimed. "It will be like old times, we'll have a lot of fun," she said and started to take his suitcase. Freed tightened his grip, however, realizing that Evergreen and Bickslow had set him up there. Maybe Laxus was right too, or maybe not, judging by his expression. He honestly didn't care. He had to get out of there, and quickly.

"I'll look for another apartment," he said harder.

"But you just got here," Evergreen pointed out. Freed started to speak but Bickslow wouldn't let him.

"Ever's right. We've got your room fixed by now. And we made dinner for four," he insisted. Freed tightened his grip on the suitcase and noticed that Laxus was approaching. He was silent as his gaze ran back to the blonde, not knowing what to expect. Without even realizing it, he held his breath when he found Laxus in front of him, closer than he had expected. The blonde looked him in the eyes for a moment, then turned and walked to his room.

"Yes, go away," he told him harshly. Freed blinked for a moment in a daze, and his words hurt him more than they should have. "Again," Laxus growled, showing all his irritation. Then he entered his room slamming the door behind him.

The noise roused Freed, who quickly turned to the door and practically ran out. Bickslow followed him.

"Hey, wait," he told. Freed didn't listen to him and started down the stairs. But it was useless, he was carrying a suitcase and that meant he was slower than Bickslow. "Freed, can we talk for a second?" he asked. Freed stopped on the first floor and turned to his friend.

"You did it on purpose, right?" he growled at him.

"Listen Freed...".

"Why the hell didn't you tell me it was him?" Freed snapped.

"Because you'd never have accepted. Look, I don't know what happened between you two but..."

"None of your business!" Freed snapped.

"Okay, but you can talk about it, I know you miss him and..." Bickslow tried to say hastily, but Freed interrupted him again and raised his tone.

"You've no idea how I feel. And I tell you clearly, Laxus and I no longer get along and it's none of your business why we quarreled. I'm leaving" he said annoyed as he started down the stairs again.

"Freed, you'll never find an apartment now" Bickslow tried to dissuade him following him, but the undeterred boy reached the door of the building, and then went out quickly.

"It will mean that I'll go to a hotel".

"Freed!"

"Leave me alone," Freed growled, determined not to set foot in there again.

"Laxus, open this damn door!" Evergreen exclaimed. The blonde threw open the door exhausted to hear her screams and the girl jumped, probably not expecting it.

"Who the fuck was that idea? Your? Of Bickslow?" growled the blond, who had to vent his anger against someone. Against Freed maybe it would've been better, the asshole deserved it. Throwing a punch in his face would've been satisfying, but he was so surprised to see him again that the only thing he had done was staring at him. Only at the end he had recovered, growling at him.

And Freed was gone.

Again.

Without even saying anything. What was he surprised at? He had left three years ago without saying a word to him, what the hell had to change now? Just because three years had passed, did he think Freed would apologize or talk to him? Of course not, Freed had run away, throwing away their friendship as if all the years they had spent together were nothing. And Laxus was still sick after all that time? Pathetic.

"Both," Evergreen admitted. "Listen, can we talk quietly? I know something happened between you two, but now that he's here, don't you think it's a good time to resolve?" the girl asked calmly.

"No".

"Laxus…".

"No," Laxus interrupted, raising his voice, furious as ever. Why couldn't his friends have their own way? No, they had to continually meddle in his life. Everyone asked him where Freed had gone, why he had gone, as if he was having a good time in Germany, and Laxus didn't have a shred to tell them.

A little voice in his mind told him that it was also his fault but he chased it away badly. "Listen to me. You knew we had a fight. You and Bickslow knew it, and you got in the way anyway," he growled.

"I know but…".

"No but," Laxus interrupted her again. "I don't give a shit about why you did it. I don't want him here, I don't want to see him and what happened between us is our fucking business!" he yelled. Evergreen fell silent and at least didn't try to argue or remind him of the good old days with Freed. But she didn't need to do it, they came to him alone, along with all the melancholy.

"He doesn't have an apartment to stay in," the girl murmured.

"I don't give a shit," Laxus growled and started to go back into the room, but knowing full well the meddlesome nature of his friends he turned back to her. "And leave me alone. I'm not kidding Evergreen. Don't you dare put yourself in the middle of my life anymore" he warned her threateningly, hoping that the message had arrived. After that he locked himself in the room and threw himself on the bed, taking the headphones and turning the volume up to the maximum, hoping that it would help him not to think. The problem was that it didn't work at all. Freed's return had affected him more than it should have.

"How does it look to you?" Freed asked showing the two skateboards and Laxus smiled as he glanced over the two boards. Freed's was red, with lightning bolts drawn across the top. Laxus's was black, even that had lightning drawn on it. Under both was the word 'Thunder'. Freed had decorated their skateboards after they both decided to make them alike.

"Fantastic" smiled the enthusiastic blond taking his own with his free hand, turning it between his fingers and observing it. With the other hand instead, he was holding a half-smoked cigarette. He was already about to get up and skate around when his phone vibrated. A little annoyed, he took it from his pocket and remarked that it was Jenny. He snorted lightly.

"Who's?" Freed asked.

"Jenny, she probably wants to ask me to go to the cinema together to watch one of those boring fucking movies" he blurted out and put the phone back in his pocket, not wanting to talk. Besides, he had to think of an excuse not to follow her. The last time he was bored to death, the only fun part was commenting on the movie with Freed. But in the end the girl told him to turn off the phone and she was angry that Laxus refused to do so.

"Another one of those romantic comedies?" Freed asked as he got on the skateboard and tried to ollie. Laxus watched him and nodded, taking another drag on the cigarette.

"Probably yes. It will be a total bore," said the blond. "What excuse can I come up with this time?" he asked. He didn't even know why he kept dating the girl. Well, maybe because everyone said he was lucky. No one in their right mind would've rejected Jenny. She was beautiful, intelligent, nice to everyone even if a little vain, but she was something that took second place given her talking with which she dragged anyone into a good conversation. Only Laxus wasn't attracted to her, but it would've been weird not to be, and if he just had to go out every now and then to see some movies, it was fine.

"Tell her you've to help your grandfather fix the car," Freed replied, continuing to skate and try the ollie over and over.

"Yes, if I put my grandfather in the way, she usually doesn't complain. Hey, you fucking succeed." Laxus observed and Freed stopped taking the skate back in his hand, with a smirk on his face.

"I don't waste time watching romantic comedies," he teased. Laxus laughed and threw the cigarette on the ground, crushing it with his foot and then climbing to his feet on the table.

"I can too," he said trying it out himself. He had to do it a couple of times before it was perfect, but when he did, he was fully satisfied. He looked up at Freed, who had already left along the way.

"Whoever arrives last pays for a drink!" he yelled. Laxus smiled and pushed his foot to reach his friend, ready for a race to their favorite bar, where they would then spend the whole afternoon fooling around like they did every day. And those afternoons were definitely more fun than the afternoons he would spend with Jenny.