We walked into the Guild Monday morning and directly into an argument. I really shouldn't have been surprised, but I was.

"There's no way you can dance!" Natsu exclaimed. He was toe to toe with Laxus. They stood in the middle of the guild and it seemed that half of the guild was behind Natsu and the other behind Laxus.

"Did I hear right? Did Natsu just say that Laxus can't dance?" Lucy sweat dropped.

"I think so Lucy," Levy replied.

"We've been gone for less than two weeks and this is what they get into?" Ersa said in distaste. Juvia and I shared a look. This was the guy I was interested in?

It was Mirajane that saw us first, "Hey girls! What's up?" It didn't completely defuse the situation, but the shouting that had been going on suddenly stopped. In the quite the guild stared at us. It was pretty awkward. With us as the focus the guild burst out with a cacophony of questions and demands that we chose a side.

"Enough!" yelled Ersa, "The only proper way to settle this is to have Laxus dance. We shall make it a competition: Natsu, Laxus, and Vijeeter will compete. Natsu for he is the challenger, Laxus so he can prove he can dance, and Vijeeter for comparison."

"Wait," Mirajane interrupted, "What kind of dances are they going to do?" Vijeeter seconded her question, and soon the whole Guild was talking. Once again Ersa had to quite them down before she could speak.

"What did you have in mind Natsu?" Ersa turned the heat on to Natsu. He pulled at his scarf uneasily and said, "Well we were joking about Vijeeter's dancing and then Laxus said that I couldn't do any better and then I said that he couldn't dance at all."

This is where I decided to speak up, "Why not have two rounds: one of modern dancing and one of partner dancing." Ersa turned to me and put her head in her hand while she thought it through. After a moment she nodded and said, "We'll need three judges: Mirajane, Master Makarov, and me. There will be two rounds which will include one modern interpretation of dance and the second will be a partner dance. Whatever kind of partner dance you choose." Unfortunately she once again had questions thrown at her, "Who will be the partners? Does it have to be only one? When will it be held?"

Ersa sighed and belted out, "You have till Friday; Natsu will dance with Lucy, Laxus with Aiyana, and Vijeeter with whomever he chooses for he is our base line. Mirajane," here she turned to Mirajane and said, "Please have the Guild ready by Friday. We will discuss the criteria for a winner tomorrow." And with that the crowd dispersed.

Lucy and me stood in shock. Us dance, with those two klutzes? "I think I need a drink," I said. She nodded in agreement and we walked towards the bar. We sipped strawberry (Lucy) and green (Me) smoothies as we discussed what we had just been volunteered for.

"I've danced before, but never like Vijeeter!" Lucy fretted and I nodded sympathetically, "I mean, I've only ever done ballroom and clubbing."

"Relax Lucy! You'll be great. What was all that dancing at our training trip for then? Did I teach you nothing? They never said what kind of partner dancing, so you could totally do ballroom. I would personally add some flares to it, but simple might be best," I comforted her. After a moment I said, "Let's see what the two block heads want to do?"

"Sure. Do you want to walk home with me?" Lucy asked as we got up to look for the said block heads.

"Of course! If I'm not by the front doors in half an hour go without me," I said and we parted ways.

I found Laxus in the usual corner with the Thunder God Tribe. I took a moment to wonder why the heck they were called that before approaching them. I walked up between a green haired man and one with what looked like a helmet on. Both Laxus and the woman sitting next to him clearly saw me, but nether acknowledged my presence.

Clearing my throat I said, "Excuse me, Laxus we should probably talk about the dance we are doing." They turned and stared at me. It was hard not to fidget under their blank gaze. "Uh we only have a few days to decide on a song and theme so we need to get a move on," I stuttered.

"It can't be that hard, it's just dancing. I'll pick something and you can just follow along," Laxus shrugged nonchalantly. I could tell none of them wanted me to be there, and quite frankly nether did I. But I had to get this done because there was no way I was getting on stage in front of the entire guild and making a fool out of myself due to Laxus's poor planning skills.

"But-"

"Why does he have to dance with you?" the woman cut me off, "Surely Laxus needs a real woman to ballroom dance with him."

"Oh," I said. Trying to formulate a response that wouldn't start an argument. After a second I decided that I needed to stand up or myself. Glancing at Laxus I tried not to let sarcasm creep in my voice, "Anybody can dance. The best dancers I've seen are men. So," I rushed on, "you decided on what style of dance you are going to do? No? Good then I recommend finding a slow waltz it will give you-"

"We can take it from here Miss," the green haired man cut me off. Really this was getting tiring. I didn't want to dance with Laxus anymore than they wanted me to. I might have a crush on him, but I had standards when it came to humiliating myself. I looked around the table. Laxus had the decency to look uncomfortable and wouldn't meet my eyes, the woman had a smirk and I could swear a condescending look behind those glasses, and the green haired man kept his expression neutral but he pushed at me with his eyes. The man in the helmet with his arms crossed and body splayed over his chair, as if it were the most comfortable thing, looked amused by the conversation.

"That's right kid we've got it covered. So scurry back to the other children," the woman said. That was it. I would no longer have people call me young!

"I don't have to deal with this. The charade is over. I'm over 300 years old damit! and I refuse to be treated like this. If you don't believe me talk to Guild Boy here or the Master. I'm disappointed in you Laxus. After what we went through and what you learned about me you think I would sit here and take it? That I would quietly walk away? This is the last time I will step down. Do whatever the Hell you want." I said louder than I probably should have.

I walked over to Lucy and said, "I need to call an emergency meeting of the girls. And isn't it time for another shopping trip?"

.^Levy^.

I looked over to Juvia and Erza after Aiyana had walked over to Lucy. Erza was sitting alone eating her cake and Juvia was not so subtly trying to watch both Grey and Aiyana. They both had concerned looks. Juvia looked a little confused too. I had no idea what had just happened, but it didn't feel right. I glanced at Gajeel and he looked disinterested in everything. Lucy walked up with a glint in her eye.

"It is time for our monthly shopping trip. Oh and Aiyana will be late," she said.

"I'll get the others," I said with a smile.

Soon we us except Aiyana were at Lucy's sitting in a circle. "Lucy tell us your cunning plan" said Hadwin. He had just been conducted into the group. With a dramatic stance Lucy began:

"Are we are all agreed that Aiyana should hook up with Laxus?" she paused to wait for our nods, "Good then we need to work to get them together!" Erza looked a little unsure and I was right there with her. After what we just saw, things between them didn't look so good and trying to set them up now could be disastrous.

"Is it wise to push them together after what happened today?" Erza asked.

"Yes now is the perfect time to put Laxus and Aiyana together! Aiyana may not be on the best terms with Laxus right now, but it is perfect time for them to work it out," Lucy said, "Now we need to get ready for tonight," Lucy finished as the doorbell rang.

It was Aiyana. She was trying to play it cool, but we could all tell she was upset. Oddly enough she looked strangely liberated to me.

Erza, blunt as always said, "Are you alright Aiyana?"

She deflated. She drew in a long breath and said, "I guess. I'm glad to finally have the truth out there, but Laxus was being kind of an ass. I know that I'm the new one and it'll take time to get along with his friends, but he seemed off.

"What did you say to him?" I asked. She sighed and sat down.

"Well I wanted to talk to him about the whole dance competition. I went to ask and he just said he'd pick something and I could follow along! You all know I'm not OK with that. I tried to tell him, but one of is friends interrupted and basically told me to 'run along'! They treated me like a child! I'm tired of him doing that, of anyone doing that. So I basically told her off and walked away," she explained.

"Oh," I said, "It sounds like you two need to talk alone. And really talk. Don't let him talk over you. I had to do that with Gajeel."

She thought for a moment and said, "All of you are saying that. Guess I can't put it off any longer. When I see him next I'll talk to him."

"Alright!" Lucy cheerfully said, "Let's go shopping now!"

An: Hi guys! This semester has been a lot harder than the Fall one. So here is the chapter I worked on instead of doing final papers! I'm having trouble with the next part. Hopefully my job and summer classes wont be too much of a strain and I can get another chapter up soon.