AN: I'm so so so sorry that I didn't update this any sooner but something came up and I was delayed. Anyway, Chapter 3 is here and is officially the longest one as a recompense for your patience; if you are still reading this of course. Enjoy!
*Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
The first faint rays of light crept over the closed curtains, which shielded the room from any exterior disturbance, signalling the end of the night's shift as a new day was ahead. At the same time an intermittent, high pitched sound from the alarm on the bedside table sheared through the silence. On the clock, with red, pronounced numbers, was read a six a.m., a definite warning that it was time to break away from the dreamland and the bed's comfort and face the day's new challenges.
None of the above seemed to have an impact on the room's resident, though. Juvia was long before awakened, her left arm resting leisurely on top of her head, eyes fixed on the ceiling. She moved her right arm in a slow-paced motion over the bedside table and deactivated the devilish machine, not even bothering to look at it.
It had always been like that, ever since she could remember herself. Every night she would go to bed, and instead of dozing off she would spend lots of hours thinking about her life. Or the lack of it, to be more specific.
Being an only child one would think that her parents would spoil her rotten, showering her with love and affection. But not in Juvia's case. For her own misfortune, being an only child in the Lockser's household meant meeting up with their expectations. That is, excelling in studies, languages, piano, ballet, tennis and any other activity included on the never ending list combined by them. The strict program, that consumed the majority of her time, was supposed to help her improve mentally and physically, being provided with qualities such as intelligence, intellectualism, perception, determination, flexibility, elegance, novelty, leading spirit and god knows what else, so that she would stand out from the crowd and make a big name for herself.
Juvia sought to be the successful daughter they wanted her to become. She never questioned them, she never fought with them while arranging her own future without actually having a say in it. Both her parents are distinguished Food Technologists running successfully one of the best laboratories in the country. So for Juvia following their path didn't even pose as a question.
Problem was, she absolutely despised everything that had to do with math, physics, chemistry, and biology. And as luck would have it, her career revolved around them. During her years in college, she broke her neck to pass her exams; she made an assiduous effort to find the slightest hint of interest for what seemed to be her main occupation in the upcoming years. But the more she studied them, the more she hated them.
Her parents were not pleased at all with her average grades and they kept hiring one tutor after another to figure out what seemed to be her weak point. Well, if they had asked her she would have told them what the problem was; no need to spend all these money on those uppish hawks that treated her like she was the dumbest person ever walked on earth.
Another crucial family meeting. Juvia hated those meetings more than anything else. It was the moment when they would meet at her father's office; her parents along with her current tutor would sit across her in a semicircle, while she would be sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. It looked much of a muchness like a trial without a jury. She would always feel like the world was shrinking around her and the air always became suffocating.
Another tutor telling her parents how effortless his attempts were. Their child simply panted at her incumbencies. They would have to deal with an average diploma; no letters of references from her professors, no accolades, nothing.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lockser, I was honored when you required me to provide my assistance to Miss Juvia but I am afraid my job here is done." The middle aged man pushed his glasses further on the top of his nose and let out a discontented sigh. "Miss Juvia here, although she possesses the fundamental knowledge of science, doesn't seem willing to evolve any further. Or to put two and two together, she lacks the perception to comprehend the complex depth that lies beneath the surface, the true beauty of science!" He spoke the last part with a dreaming voice like he himself was swimming in the depth of said beauty at the time.
Her father remained deadly quiet as he locked his eyes with Juvia but she was the first to lose the game and avoided his gaze. For a moment the only sounds in the room came from the continuous ticking from her mother's manicured nails on the surface of the oak desk and the irritated sighs that escaped her mouth. She suddenly moved her face towards the direction of her spouse so fast that Juvia swore something must have broken. "What are we going to do with her, James?" She narrowed her brown eyes and switched her look back to Juvia.
'What are we going to do with her, James?' Her voice trailed off as venom. Her. She felt like she was slapped in the face and her whole body became numb. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and her head was buzzing as her sweet mother's words echoed in her mind again and again.
But she wouldn't break down in front of them. They hated when she cried. Crying meant weakness and she didn't want to give them one more reason to pity her. She should have been used to the suffocating demands, the overcritical attitude and the harsh words by now. One would wonder how she could keep her restrained public mask on when such vulgar words were off like a shot towards her by her own blood.
She felt like a used up object that once reached its expiring date was of no use any longer and had to be thrown away. That's right. Useless. A failure. Or a useless failure, why not? Saves time and space and pretty much sums up her whole essence.
The train of her dark, ominous thoughts came to a halt once again by her mother who was now pacing from the one corner of the room to the other like a caged lion. She put her hands on her waist and tightened her jaw as she focused her attention on the person of interest that afternoon.
"What is wrong with you? Why are you always failing at everything? From day one we had every moment of your life planned with extra caution and your only contribution to the plan was to execute it, as simple as that." She threw her arms in the air and continued by pointing her index finger at her. "If you had half the wits the God had given to an oaf you would have been great by now. Respected. But no." She stopped the scolding and massaged her temples to ease her nerves, mumbling something only for her ears to hear.
Juvia wanted to leave that room right away. There was so much to take in and her heart couldn't take it. She wanted all of this to stop.
"Juvia." The stern voice of her father, who was unruffled until then, was now taking the lead. "Do you realize how ungrateful you are? We dismissed you from the trouble of stressing up for your future, by building one for you, before you. How many people out there would kill to be in your shoes? How many out there deal with uncertainty and fear that they will never have a content life, changing careers until they find their place in this world, if at all? But you had everything stipulated. I don't understand this mutiny of yours but if it's about that absurd artistic idea, for your own good call it quits before it's too late. This is my last warning."
With that, he stood up and exited the room without sparing another look. Her mother along with the mad scientist followed shortly after and she faintly caught a part of their conversation as her mother referred in total disgust that art is for the hippies while her ex-tutor moved his head in disapproval.
She didn't utter a single word, silently accepting all the accusations; not that her opinion was needed, that is. Juvia stayed in her spot when a drizzle dusted the large windows in front of her just like the tears that were now coming freely out from her sad, lifeless eyes. The bright sunny day went away and the gloomy rain came to keep her company once again.
Recalling all the sad moments in her life became her own lullaby at night; except that she couldn't sleep. Insomnia took the best of her before she realized it and every morning she would wake up with a tightening in her chest. It was like an unbidden pest that sheltered there for years, digging its invisible claws so deep that left her no other choice than to open her eyes abruptly sweating, taking sharp, quick breaths.
By the years she got used to it and didn't give it a second thought, no matter if it was eating her insides slowly but steadily.
Today was one of the same. She stood up leisurely to ready herself for her daily routine. She decided to skip breakfast again. A take-out coffee from the café across the lab would suffice. With that in mind, she looked at the mirror in the foyer one last time, carefully hiding her face under the veneer of normality and glee and stepped out to face the world.
Four hours into work and Juvia was already suffering a migraine. A large batch of olive oil samples that were under suspicion of being subjected to alternation had arrived and Juvia was in charge to run all the standard checks.
Apparently, her colleagues managed somehow to slope off from the dreary task leaving all the work to Juvia who waved them off saying that it wasn't much of a big deal and she could handle it.
'Way to go, moron, butter up their lazy asses, idiot.' She could almost listen Gajeel's sour voice singing about her sickening naivety and she laughed; the room was as lively as a cemetery so no one would be particularly bothered by the tittle of joy.
She felt a sudden vibration in her pocket which was now lit up from the phone's screen. She took off the gloves and fished her phone to answer the call. 'Speaking of the devil' she thought as the caller was none other than her best friend and her lips curled up into a smile.
"Hello there my little cupcake!" She teased him and she was sure that her comment sent a deep scowl landing on the man's face.
"Keep it that way and this will be the last time you hear of me" he growled from the other side of the line.
The muscular, tall guy with the long, jumpy black hair, the deadly red eyes and the metal piercing on his face could by no chance be described as a sweet cupcake. But you don't judge a book by its cover. Although he seemed like a delinquent that you would presumably not want to have any kind of business with, he was a big softie towards the people he cared about, Juvia included.
"You know you can't do that; you love me. And my cupcakes." She steadied the phone between her right shoulder and her ear as she turned back to check the results of the first tests. "Besides Levy would be mad at you. It's a double loss, cupcake." She knew she just added insult to injury but imagining the scowl on his face and his reddening cheeks worth it.
"Shut it you crazy woman, I didn't call to make small talk with you. We are playing with the guys tonight at Fairy Tail bar and you are coming. They are having an anniversary for the ten years' commission."
Juvia was about to protest but Gajeel was quick to catch the shift in her mood and talked before her. "When was the last time that Ι actually asked you a favor, huh? Plus Levy returned this morning and she wants to see you." Just for precaution, he added some more psychological pressure. "Never have I pressured you to come but tonight's gonna be big for us and I want you to be there"
There was a long pause before he heard a sigh. "Gajeel I can meet up with Levy tomorrow for coffee or lunch or something. And I know that you will rock tonight whether I show up or not. After all, the place will be crowded and-"
"Ok, hold it right there. I swear to gods, if you brush me off again don't bother to speak to me ever again and this time for sure." He knew that he overdid it a little but he wanted to shake her and what's better than a threat for a potential absence from her life?
"You don't mean that, do you?" The panic in her voice was evident and he knew that he was close to victory.
"I do actually. I am beside you every step you take or don't take but that's hardly the issue here, so I want you there for once. Physically, not mentally. And don't start with your crap 'I feel uncomfortable with so many people' 'These places are not for me'. Bullshit! You are twenty four years old with no social life, no boyfriend, you have three people to open up besides your uncle and you mould in a fucking lab surrounded by jerks who take advantage of you by letting you do all the job while they take care of number one." He was out of breath at that point but frustration took the better of him and he wanted to bite her head off until she finally opened her eyes.
"You don't hold back when you hit the others with the truth, do you?" He had been telling her for years to get a life and deep inside her she knew he was right, but she stubbornly turned a blind eye, sticking to the idea that it was too late for alterations.
"All the gang is going to be there and it's time you finally get to know them. They start to believe that I made you up or some shit. Good thing Shrimp and that Bunny girl backed me up otherwise they would have put a straitjacket on me a long time ago."
The vision of a menacing Gajeel tied up in a white robe was enough to start a turn of giggles.
"Yeah right, laugh your head off, stupid. You are like a phantom."
A man's voice came from the background and Gajeel replied. "Yo ice prick, give me a minute"
He turned his attention back to Juvia then. "Anyway, I need to get back to work before they harp on at me. Remember, if I don't see you there tonight consider us done. And don't reel some fucked up excuse off cause I won't bite, got it?"
"Yes sir, got the message loud and clear. I'll talk with Levy and Lucy to come together so I won't look that desperate."
"Good. See you tonight Ju."
He hung up the phone and Juvia started to think in how deep shit she was.
Gajeel talked her ear off to meet his friends and hang around with them since the first time she met him. Making friends and enjoying the night life and similar stuff that were considered normal for people her age, for her were an unnecessary inconvenience that made her feel like a fish out of the water. She had to go through this for Gajeel. After all, he was always there for her without asking anything back and, if anything, she would be forever grateful.
A fourteen years old Juvia stormed out of the car on her way to the tennis field. She had an all-nighter studying for her math test and looked pretty much like a zombie the next day. She closed her eyes for ten minutes to rest a little so that she wouldn't fall apart on the field but due to her weariness the ten-minutes turned into one hour before she realized it and she was now terribly late for her lesson.
'Juvia will be scolded again' she thought and her mood worsened.
Stumbling on her untied shoestrings, she lost her balance and fell forward hitting her head on something hard.
"Ouch! It hurts." She rubbed her forehead to ease the pain, still not looking on what she had fallen on.
"Watcha were going you idiot." It came out more as a groan rather than a voice and it was then that Juvia realized he was a human the one she had a frontal collision with and not a wall.
Her eyes traveled slowly from his shoes up to his head taking in the view. It was a well-built boy dressed in washed-out black clothes, just about two heads taller than her, not sure if they shared the same age, with bloody eyes, piercing, unusual long black hair and a scowl on his face.
She looked like a deer caught in headlights. She screwed herself up to concert pitch, sure that she got into trouble with some perilous rogue boy. She let out a shriek and tried to back off. He was quick enough to muffle her screams by putting his large hand on her mouth and held her still. There wasn't a single soul around to witness the scene.
He gave her a look that carried a good indication that he wasn't happy at all. "What the hell is wrong with you dumb? Screaming like you saw Jack the ripper or something."
Her eyes were still wide open and she was shaking. Her slumberous mind had yet to adjust to what was going on.
Letting out a sigh he softened his eyes and slacken his grip a little. "Look, ain't gonna hurt ya, 'kay? Just promise that you won't go nuts once I remove my hands."
She nodded slowly and the moment he released her she let out a breath she didn't notice she was holding until then. Just as she promised she played along with him, not having any wishes to vex him up any further. "Y-You are not g-going to hurt J-Juvia?" she asked with a shaky voice, little louder than a whisper.
Furrowing his brows he started looking around, clearly confused. "Who's Juvia? And what business do I have with her?"
She straightened her back a little and pouted. "Juvia is Juvia"
"Huh? You are Juvia? And why are you speaking in the third person?" He studied her a little and nodded his head. "You are crazy indeed, I knew it."
She crouched, losing her previous courage at the stranger's words. "Ιam in the habit of talking in the third person since I was a kid. My parents are annoyed with it and I-I tried to change it but it slips my mouth without noticing." She bit her lip and fought off some tears that threatened to fall. Speaking to him about that made no sense but she felt like explaining herself anyways.
He definitely didn't see that coming. "Why change it? If that's how you talk, then let it be."
She blinked a few times, not sure if she heard him right. "You don't think it's pesky?"
He shrugged. "It's just a little strange, that's all."
"Oh" That's all she managed to say. It was new to her that someone, a complete stranger who even thought ill of him at first, didn't make fun of her. Ashamed of her previous stance towards him, she felt the need to at least apologize.
"Umm," she avoided his gaze, sweeping the road with the front part of her shoe, "I'm sorry for earlier. You look a little like, umm, a badman, and I was, er, well-"
"I thought so. Everybody gets that idea. I don't really blame them but don't just pry about people you don't know."
"R-Right. What should Juvia do to atone to you-" She stopped mid sentence when she realized that she didn't know the name of the boy in front of her.
Catching up with her he introduced himself. "Gajeel. And nothing. We are not buddies crazy woman." He was about to turn on his heels and leave when he felt someone pulling him back by his shirt. "Oi what the-" He looked down and was met with a pair of puppy eyes.
"Juvia feels really bad for assuming horrible things for Gajeel and wants to apologize. I-If she's not being a bother that is."
"Gods, woman, let go, I said it's fine. You were heading towards the tennis field, so go play with the other spoiled brats. I'm not up to having a little talk with you" The grip on his shirt eased and was about to go, but it was odd that she didn't protest so he dared to look back.
Her face seemed overcast and she held on her tennis bag like her life depended on it. He suddenly felt a rush of guilt. He didn't mean to sound rude but, apparently, they belonged to different worlds and the whole 'best buddies' thing would just shrink into the bottom of the ocean before it started.
"Alright, me too much of an asshole, I get it. Don't be so down in the dumps though woman." He scratched the back of his head and almost regretted saying the next word. "Coffee?"
A small beam of hope shone upon her face. "Coffee? Like 'let's-go-and-grab-a-cup-of-coffee-like-friends' kind of coffee? Really?"
"You want to apologize, I want to skip the drama, so it's a win-win."
Juvia caved him into a tight hug and trailed a series of 'thank you's' while Gajeel tried to untangle her hands off of him. "Che, for a small woman you sure flex like a man. And don't oversell yourself you idiot, I said one damn coffee."
Letting him go she flashed a toothy grin, grabbed his hand and headed off. "It doesn't matter. Juvia doesn't have any friends and is glad that you want to accompany her, even if it's just for one time."
His stomach twisted at her words. As far as he could say the girl might seem a little bit unusual, but other than that, she meant no harm. "So, playing hooky? Didn't have you for that kind of person. More like the 'I'll-do-whatever-my-mum-says' girl.'
She gave him a sad smile. "Is Juvia that foreseeable?"
"Well, ya know, kinda thought that people like you had no problems in paradise. I mean, you have everything and stuff, so why be lonely?" Perhaps she wasn't the only one who assumed thinks about others.
"Sometimes having everything isn't that blissful." Her gaze fell ahead of her and she looked in deep thought. All at once, her eyes widened and she started laughing.
"What?" He pointed his index finger at his temple. "Seriously, I start to think that something really loosened in there."
With a crafty smirk, she said, "Juvia has never done this before." She brought her hands down her chin and squealed. "It's adventurous."
For the first time in his life, Gajeel felt warmth towards a person. Except for the dramatic start they shared, she didn't treat him like a scum. In the contrary, she didn't mind being his friend. He shut himself out to people and loneliness was something he was very much accustomed with. He got the same vibe from that peculiar girl who got on his way that afternoon.
Many more afternoons followed that one. Sometimes Juvia thought that Lady Faith worked her magic that day so those two met. Of course, Gajeel would laugh at her but deep down he knew what she meant by that. Their friendship eventually evolved into a fraternity. And in her gloomy days, she was glad that she had a shoulder to turn to.
"I didn't know you had fallen so low that you would actually beg people to come listen to you Metal head." Gray was lounging on the leather sofa in the far corner of the garage.
'Gajeel's', as the name reveals, is Gajeel's pride.
He never met his family; his mother had abandoned him in an orphanage when he was born because she didn't have money to raise him. He was an accident that happened on the backseat of a car when two teenagers got drunk. No one adopted him due to his looks so ha had to rely on himself. Gajeel had little love for studying, but fixing cars and motorcycles was his passion. Starting at the age of 9 as a legman at various garages he learned everything he needed to know, secrets and techniques not even the most fabled books in the field tell. At the age of 18 when he had made a name of his own and had gathered enough money and experience, he set his own place up. It was an abandoned warehouse with no value so the price was pretty low and within his budget so he didn't give it a second thought and made an offer. When he got it, he put up a lot of work to turn it into the place he always imagined and the moment it was finished it had Gajeel written all over it.
Along the way, Totomaru and Aria, two lads that he had worked with before and gotten along well, joined him. The garage stood out for its exceptional, quick and trustworthy work. It was also a man's cave and in every chance given their friends would gather there to grab a beer, watch games or just chill. Apart from cars and motorcycles the three of them shared the same zest for rock and metal music as well. They used to jam all the times before but one night when they were leisurely lounging at the corner, after a hard days work, drinking beers, Totomaru jokingly suggested they formed a group. One thing brought another and 'Metalicana' came to life. At first, they played only at their friend's parties, but their performances were electrifying and it wasn't long before a few bars showed lively interest to have them jam some nights and the group welcomed the idea. It's not that it got to their heads to become rock stars all of a sudden, but raring to do what they liked while earning extra money was a very welcome idea. 'Fairy Tail' was the first to help them be heard to a large audience of course as Gajeel was part of the gang since he was fourteen and every time they would give quite a show to return the favor. After all Fairy Tail had slowly become his family, apart from Juvia of course. Tonight was another one of those nights and the place was expected to be packed as always, especially since it was a celebration.
Gajeel scoffed at his friend's comment. "Please Fullbuster, if anyone would have to pay to get people listen to him that would be you." He turned around to grab a stool and sat down facing him. "Getting those chicks fall head over heels for your 'oh so deep' voice but once you catch a microphone I bet they would go off your cacophonous ass in a blink of an eye."
Amusement was spreading on Gray's face while listening to his friend's praises. "Good thing I didn't chase a career as an entertainer then, I would most likely starve to death."
"Nah." Gajeel fixed him a sly smirk. "You would do well as a stripper." Both men laughed at the comment. "Anyway, where do I owe the honor of your visit? Besides coming here to rile me."
Gray pointed his thumb behind his shoulder at one of the school's car. "You need to check one of the cars, the gearbox lodges at some points and they can't move the gear shift with ease."
The muscular man stood up and made his way towards the car that was parked outside of the garage, followed by Gray. "Give it a break, it gets harassed by all those unpracticed maladroits every day, it surprises me that it held on that long. And if they are women?" He huffed in annoyance. "God save us."
Gray chuckled. After all, he knew Gajeel's opinion about women driving, an 'unnecessary danger' as he calls it, and as a pig-headed as he was, Gray struggled to talk him over. "They are not that bad you know. Sure they need their time to get used to it, but once they do they tend to be more careful than us."
"I had my little share with women driving and one of them was a nightmare. Not even you could put her straight." A vivid image from his training session with Juvia popped in his mind and Gajeel almost felt his insides turning out. He shook his head to get rid of the unwelcome memories and changed the subject. "I'll have a look at that and I'll call Macao when it's ready. I give it a couple days total. As for tonight, we are having a live at Fairy Tail. Come by if you are in the mood."
He opened his arms and sneered. "When exactly have I missed the pleasure of listening to your melodic voice belting metal songs out?"
"Fuck you, Snowball."
"Yeah yeah." He laughed and turned on his heels to leave. "See ya later Metal brain."
Gray reached a nearby café and waited one of his co-workers who was in the area to come pick him up as they agreed. In the meanwhile, he checked the rest of his schedule and found a gap between five and seven o'clock.
His mind immediately drifted to Juvia and a small smile formed on his lips. They didn't make any arrangements for today but that sudden cancellation augured well for her to fill the gap. He searched through his contacts on the phone and stopped when he found hers. It called three times before he heard her voice from the other side.
"Hello?"
"Hey! Miss me?" He heard a soft laugh and he gave her extra points for that.
"It's not even twenty four-hours since our last lesson Gray-sama. Juvia is yet to recover from that ride; you traumatized her."
"Are you implying that my driving skills suck? Spread the word and my reputation will be blown out."
She gasped. "Juvia would never do that to Gray-sama." He could only imagine her shocked face as she was anguishing over to remedy her statement.
"Absolutely not. Where else would you find such skilled and handsome instructor? I'm a big break."
Intentional or not, his silly boasting eased off her so far wearing day. "Riiight. And why did my unassuming instructor hit me up?"
"Your realist instructor had a last minute's cancel and wondered if you would be free around five to seven today?" When she didn't answer right away he feared that she would turn him down. "You know what? It's fine, I called late so-
"Okay."
"Okay? Like yes?" Did she? Really?
"Yes Gray-sama, Juvia is coming. Surprised?"
A bright smile found its way on his face. "More than you know. So, where do you work? I'll come over. With a car, of course, no worries!"
"Come where? Here? No way." The last thing she wanted was to have people meddle in her life and Gray's appearance in a car with the most famous driving school's logo all over it was out of the question.
His voice was now distant as he greeted someone before speaking to her again. "Look Juvia, I need to go and we are not playing back the same scene as the day before. So can you please make this long story short? Besides, it's one of our canons."
Juvia's mind started working like crazy to find a solution that would save her the drama. She found the perfect spot, a bookstore few meters down the street; close to her workplace but far from anyone's condescending eyes. After all, she had never told him what she did for a living. Might as well think that she is a bookseller.
"Wasn't that difficult now, was it? I'll call you when I'm there. See you."
Juvia was hard at work in order to finish earlier than usual so she could go and wait for Gray in front of the bookstore before he arrived. Once out of the building she pedantically checked in every direction just to make sure no one saw her and she headed towards her destination.
Not long after, a white car with a blue logo on each side stopped in front of her. Gray was ready to call her when he saw her standing and he got out of the car sceptical.
"I said I would call you to come out. How long have you been waiting?"
Juvia responded sheepishly. "Just five minutes Gray-sama, not that long. It is the same thing waiting inside or outside." She proceeded to take the co-driver's seat but he stopped her.
She blinked in confusion. "What?"
"You are not riding shotgun from today on. You are driving."
Her whole body became rigid when his words hit her and she turned on the denial mode. "Are you crazy? This is a real road. With cars. Real cars. Not a random simulation game f-for kids!"
Luckily Gray's discernment saw that coming and he wasn't taken aback. "Juvia you'll need to get to first base at some point and the sooner you'll do so the better. I know that you can do it, and I also understand that every start is tricky but you can't avoid the inevitable for ever. So get in there and get over with it."
It was clearly obvious that Juvia was sitting on the fence while trying to decide her course of action.
a) Throw a tantrum and start crying to make him feel guilty? What are you, five?
b) Stand her ground and refuse? Like that would work on him. The man is more stubborn than her.
c) Give in and walk through the burning caverns of Isengard? Check.
With a surrender look, she made her way to the driver's seat while Gray rattled a 'that's the spirit' out if Juvia heard him right. She was more focused on controlling her shakiness. The moment she put on her seatbelt she wanted to jump out of the car and run.
"You look like you saw the Grim Reaper". He laughed and put his left hand on her right shoulder massaging it a little. "Relax."
Juvia gulped. That was his way of relaxing her? Not helping. "Umm, what is Juvia supposed to do?"
"What you did yesterday. You'll be simply following a route for the next ninety minutes to learn the ropes. Just stay in the right traffic lane where things are calmer. Ready?"
Oh, she was so not ready. "Like a sheep that's a killer heading to the slaughterhouse."
"Great. Now start."
After a brief revising, she finally kick-started. She made a few mistakes at first, mostly of her stress but with Gray's liberal help she found her pace. It was still intimidating but she was getting used to it.
"You don't seem so chicken-hearted anymore huh?" He nudged her with his elbow lightly and she yelped as she was turning right.
"Gray-sama! Don't distract Juvia unless you have testate!" She chastised him but he just laughed.
"I wanted to check your reflexes; you are gripping the steering wheel like you are planning to take it home. Its blood pressure is considerably high. Let it breathe." He said in a mock tone and for the first time today Juvia let out a hearty laugh.
Something inside him snapped and he felt his insides warming up at the sight. If he had taken a liking to her at first, he seriously developed a big crush now. "It fits you." He said staring at her.
"Excuse me?" She was still chortling, eyes fixed on the road as she stole a glance at him.
"Laughing. It suits you. You should laugh more often or I'll make you."
She felt her own cheeks turning red. Laughing. Now that happens once in a blue moon. Not even He had ever said that to me. Why you Gray-sama? She ousted the drear thoughts. Now wasn't the time for that. The sound of a guitar and a perky voice echoed in the car.
"I hope you don't mind the radio. I'll keep the volume low."
"N-No, not at all."
Within minutes she started humming along with the singer, it was one of her favorite songs and it didn't take long until Gray joined her. He then started singing, tapping his hand on his lap along with the rhythm. They reached a red light and she stopped. Gray may have a deep voice while talking, but singing? Better not. She just giggled and he grinned. The light was now green.
"Juvia?" She hummed to let him know she was listening. "Do I sound like Cacophonix when singing?" He remembered his latest argument with Gajeel.
She didn't want to sound rude so she simply said. "Gray-sama has a unique voice that he could save for talking. Singing doesn't, umm, suit you."
He snorted. "That's a delinquent way to tell me I suck. I appreciate it. Thanks."
"You are most welcome."
"So," he started, "I should never serenade you?"
"Well, it depends. You promised to make Juvia laugh." She turned to look at him and after a while of holding it in, they let out their laughter.
The rest of the lesson ran on without problems. At around six forty they were out of her apartment. Gray remembered the guys' performance later that night and decided to ask her to come.
"You know, a friend of mine is playing tonight with his band and I was wondering, you know if you'd like to come. I promise I'll stay away from the stage."
She bit her lip and gave him a guilty look. "Juvia is sorry Gray-sama, but she was already invited to another live tonight." When he gave her a suspicious look as if he didn't bite her excuse she went on. "No really, if she won't go she'll be in trouble. Sorry."
He sighed in defeat. "Fine. Another day perhaps. I'll call you for the next lesson from Monday, weekends are free. Take care."
"You too, Gray-sama." She waved him goodbye and got inside to get ready before Levy and Lucy arrived.
It was nine p.m. when the doorbell rang. Juvia managed to get ready quickly, not that she wore anything extravagant or outdid herself with layers of makeup and crazy hairstyles. Her casual look with the blue jeans, an oversized T-shirt, and her white converse served her plan of going unnoticed and fulfilling her promise to Gajeel right. Speaking of killing two birds with one stone, she proudly said to her reflection in the mirror.
When she opened the door, Lucy and Levy were standing there with their arms crossed down her chests. Lucy was wearing one of her mini skirts matched with a vest top while Levy wore an orange sunny dress that reached her mid-thighs. They were both stunning.
Lucy extended her arm to Levy, palm up and grinned. "Ten jewels please."
Levy groaned in frustration and served Juvia a strict look. "Seriously? You know that we are going to a bar and not for a walk in the park right? And where on earth did you find that." She pointed at her T-shirt, "I bet my diploma you purposely buy it just for tonight."
They entered the apartment and headed towards the bedroom. Juvia then noticed a small black suitcase that Lucy was carrying. "First of all, this T-shirt is super comfy and second, what's the deal with that suitcase? Are you having a sleepover?"
Lucy placed the suitcase on top of the bed and turned to look at her with sparkling eyes. "Nope. Unlike Levy here I knew that you would probably wear something," she paused and tried to find the best word to describe her friend's attire, "unsuited like that, so I came here armed and ready."
Juvia gulped. She had a very bad premonition on what was coming. "Meaning?"
Levy butted in and grabbed her by the shoulders and literally threw her on the bed; she may be petite but when she got angry she could be quite scary. "Meaning that you are not leaving this apartment until we bring your hidden sex appeal out."
The two girls hovered over her as Juvia sulked further down on the mattress.
Parking the car outside of the club they exited it; well the two girls did so while Juvia stubbornly remained seated on the back.
"If you don't come out on the count of three I'll call Gajeel to drug you. Now that would be a scene." Levy's threat hit her on the button of her weak point.
Damn it. Damn it all. This was not what Juvia had in mind. Damn. She pouted, checked to see if there was anyone around and stepped out. She tried to cover herself with the jacket she brought. Although it was the middle of summer and it was hot as hell she insisted that she felt a bit shivering. Not that the other two believed her of course but it was her desperate attempt to cover her body.
After the two women finished smartening her up, Juvia looked at her reflection in the mirror and gasped. The foxy woman there was most definitely not her. She was wearing a sleeveless wide strap red mini dress that showed off a big part of her generous bosom and hugged all her curves perfectly. Black single strap heeled sandals enveloped her feet whereas the outfit concluded with a black clutch, discreet jewels, her curled hair flowed on her back and a night make up that highlighted her cerulean eyes.
Her friends stared at her in awe but she felt utterly uncomfortable. Like a fake person.
They were now standing in front of the entrance and Juvia's heart was beating like crazy. She took a big breath, held on her clutch and made a timid step. Just before entering Lucy took her jacket off in a ninja move before she could utter a word and they were finally inside.
For Juvia that seemed like her walk of shame. The bar was almost full and she strategically kept her eyes on the floor praying that they would find a seat soon so she could go and conceal herself in a corner.
"There they are, near the bar," Levy said and walked towards it.
Them? How many are there? She was on the verge of crying but held it in. They already thought she was a phantom, no reason to further freak them out. The only good thing was that the light in the bar was dim and she hoped that no one had paid attention to her.
Reaching the bar she quickly found a spot that wasn't in plain view and stood there. She needed a moment before her friends started to namedrop.
Out of nowhere, a hand connected with her shoulder sneaking her up. Please God, better not that be a perverted wolf. Turning around slowly her breath got caught in her throat and her pupils dilated.
Fuck. My. Life. If that was a nightmare someone please wake her up.
"G-Gray-s-sama?"
AN: A part of Juvia's past is finally revealed. I also wanted to mention how Juvia's friendship with Gajeel started because BROTP xD Gajeel's life was also explained in this chapter.
I know it was Juvia who brought Gajeel to FT but if you haven't figured it out yet, I've reversed many of the original facts in this story.
I promise there will be more of Gruvia next part. Αfter all they found out that they attended the same event.
I also want to thank Liraz Nightray, IceGoddess05, Kyogan-Saori, TheRedSin, ariellemoon, Guest, Guest and Gruvfail for reviewing and all those who favorited and followed the story. Thank you guys I love you, it's really encouraging.
PS: I have two upcoming exams this month so the next chapter might take a while to come out and I'm sorry in advance.