The boys made it to the mess hall after taking turning showering and changing. It was nothing out of the ordinary, long tables like you ate off of in school. There was a cold line with different cereals and a hot line with oatmeal or the day's special. Natsu had chosen the day's special and was currently on his 4th breakfast burrito. 2 he had been allowed and 2 Lyon had decided he didn't want. Currently Lyon ate a banana and sipped his milk. Zeref rolled his eyes as his brother pretty much inhaled the burrito.
"Gee Natsu I pegged you for a virgam bit after the way you deep throated that burrito maybe I was wrong," Leo laughed at his own joke. The strawberry blond had been in a great mood when he realized we shared meals with the girls camp.
Natsu smiled a cheesy grin, "I am a virgin."
"You are way too proud of that," Leo shook his head.
Natsu shrugged, "At least it doesn't burn when I pee." The entire table erupted in laughter. The insulted boy laughed as well he seemed to take nothing personally and everything lightly.
The laughter held Zeref's attention so well he hadn't noticed the person join their table directly across from him. It wasn't until Leo said something to her that he turned his head and saw her.
"Well hello there beautiful. I'm Leo and you are?" He gave her a slick smile and held out his hand.
She shook Leo's hand and gave a very genuine smile, "Hi I'm Mavis!"
Zeref found himself staring at the girl. She was beautiful. She had long light blond hair and huge doe like eyes. She gave off a light hearted hippie esque vibe which was polar opposite of the dark brooding emo vibe Zeref tried to portray to keep others away.
"Well it's very nice to meet you Mavis." Leo drew out the word very and hung innuendos in his words.
She just smiled unaffected by what he called 'his panty dropping charm'.
"Oh course it is," she replied then turned her attention straight to Zeref. "What's your name?"
Zeref dropped his spoon in the Fruit Loops he'd been eating and looked around to see if someone was behind him which earned the most adorable giggle from the girl. He swallowed his throat was suddenly very very dry. "Me?" His voice came out small.
"Yes you silly. I'm Mavis my uncle Makarov lets me help out Mira in the arts room during the summer." She smiled at him patiently but before he could talk Leo spoke again.
"So wait you are here by choice. You actually choose to spend your summer in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of issue ridden teens?"
"Yes I do. I would spend my entire life out here in nature if I could. Nothing makes my soul happier than being out here in the peaceful tranquility away from the city. Anyway I want to know about you," she turned back to Zeref leaving Leo in shock.
"Really you just sat here to talk to -Social because I'm sure I'm much better company." He sagged his eyebrows.
"He gives of an aura that I'm drawn to. Your aura actually rubs me the wrong way. It is nothing personal." Lyon laughed outwardly while the other boys tried to hold back. Leo put his hands in the air conceding defeat.
Once again this pixie, sprite, or angel, Zeref couldn't decide, had turned back to focus on him. "Um..I am..I'm Zeref."
Mavis smiled in a way that Zeref was sure if he focused on it alone he would walk through a New York City street with no problem. "It's very nice to meet you Zeref. I really hope I see you later in the ceramics class or the nature hike. I think we could be good friends." She then waved at the boys got up and headed out the door.
Zeref was still in shock at the entire situation. Natsu gave him a pat on the back, "Way to go big bro! You are for sure going to that ceramics thingy" Zeref smiled and went back to his Fruit Loops not really comfortable with the attention from the other boys. He did however notice a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach that he didn't hate.
The boys had mostly finished eating when Lyon excused himself to the restroom. Gray eyed him suspiciously to which Lyon just rolled his eyes.
"Chill I'm just taking a piss," he mouth to Gray as he walked away.
Lyon checked the other stalls for bodies before locking himself in one. He pulled a toothbrush out of his pocket before shoving it down his throat to induce the vomiting. He found if he used a toothbrush instead of his fingers he ended up a little less messy. A little less evidence to clean off his hand or clothes or whatever. He knew he had no real justifications for his actions but the sickness in his head wasn't logical.
Even though he was actually a little underweight his brain still told him he felt bloated and round. Even though the vomiting actually made his health worse his brain told him it was a way to let go of things and relieve the stress. And even though he was actually a good looking young man when he looked at the mirror all his brain could point out was the flaws and fat. Body dysmorphia was the term the doctor had used.
He gagged on the smell and sound of himself retching him the toilet. He hated it but at the same time felt he couldn't function through a day without the release it brought. He looked down at the white porcelain the once clear toilet water now cloudy with the disgusting chunks of half digested banana. After being sure all the small contents of his stomach had vacated he straightened up. He straightened his rumpled t-shirt and opened the stall then froze.
He hadn't heard anyone come in but leaning back against the wall arms folded over a muscular chest facing the stall he was exiting was the pierced cabin mate. Lyon didn't move for a moment sweat starting to bead across his forehead. The dark haired boy didn't speak but raised an eyebrow in anticipation of an explanation.
"Hey it's uh Gajeel right?" Lyon spoke slowly. The other boy just nodded his head, "Ok well not that I've pissed I'm gonna wash up and head out." Lyon started to walk to the sink but he felt the dark reddish brown eyes watching him.
"Ya know I use to listen to my mom puke her brains out when she'd come home drunk. I even held her hair back for her after a while. I know what someone losing it over a toilet sounds like. It's a sound you don't forget after it wakes you up a million times in the middle of the night." The pierced boy hadn't moved from the wall.
Lyon turned to him throwing the over confident egotistical mask from the night before back on. "So what then... You mom was a drunken whore and you'll feel better about your life if you tattle on me?"
Gajeel moved so fast Lyon was taken off guard. The pierced boy shoved Lyon up against the tiled wall and left a hand on Lyons chest keeping him in place and pulled a balled fist back. Lyon closed his eyes and tensed up waiting for the coming impact. Lyon was sure the kids fist would feel like iron against his face. However after a few seconds he opened one eye. Gajeel was still standing at the ready he hadn't moved though. He was breathing hard and staring at Lyon.
He spoke very low it was almost a growl. "Don't ya ever call my mom a whore again. I swear I will rip ya apart if ya do. Ya got it. She's got her issues but she's trying. She's not a bad person she just made some bad choices."
Lyon opened both eyes and took a breath. He put both hands on Gajeel's shoulders. "I get it and I'm sorry I implied your mother was a whore."
Gajeel actually growled, "You didn't imply shit, you said it. Don't try that manipulative crap on me."
"I'm sorry I called your mother a whore. I really truly am." He took his hands off Gajeel's shoulders as he felt Gajeel release him.
"Give me a good reason I shouldn't go tell that gigantic man nurse that yer in hear up chucking your food?" Gajeel leaned back against one of the stall walls and crossed his arms back over his chest. This seemed to be his signature pose.
"Because if you do I can't stay. If they find someone actually physically harming themselves they have to hospitalize them at the local hospital and contact the guardian to come get them."
"Do ya think maybe ya need a hospital if yer gonna be doing that shit to yerself. That shit ain't safe ya know. It tears down the lining of her esophagus and yer body doesn't get any of the vitamins and nutrients it needs making you weak over time." Lyon stared open mouthed at the other boy, "What I'm not at stupid as I look."
Lyon shook his head out of the shocked dazed, "Sorry I just did not expect you to be so knowledgeable on something like this. I'm asking you please don't say anything. I can't stand the hospital. Those places always make me feel worse. And I don't want Gray to know I promised him I hadn't relapsed if he finds out it'll really mess him up." Lyon pleaded with the other boy.
Gajeel sighed, "Fine but ya gotta try to not do it."
"Ok that seems fair."
"Ya know before my dad left and my mom started drinking she use to be a nutritionist. It helps if you know how to eat the good things and maybe keep a journal. It helps to feel in control when yer keeping track and have the right knowledge about what you're eating. This girl my mom use to help was like you it didn't fix her problems but she said it help her manage some. The giant nurse man would probably help ya if ya asked."
Lyon was once again dumbfounded by the pierced boys knowledge on the subject. "Wow ...um..I'm just not sure I want to go to him about this at this point. I really don't want to risk them deciding to hospitalize me or something but thank you I will take the suggestion into considerat-"
"Shuddup"
"What?"
"Just stop talking and making excuses you don't wanna go to them then i'll help ya out. I know the calorie count in most of the basic healthy foods and we can estimate a little we just need to stay in a healthy ball park range of 2000."
"Really I appreciate that but I couldn't impose like that," Lyon started to walk away.
"Listen you are a little punk and I'm not sure I like ya but either ya let me help or I'm telling someone. I can't have you passing out or something on my conscious so that's your choices," Gajeel stood off the way seeming to take a stance on the subject physically and metaphorically.
"Ok then guess I don't have much of a choice do I?"
Gajeel laughed at the sound of annoyance in Lyons voice, "Nope so make sure ya get a notebook to write down what yer actually eating the next couple days and then we can go over it together. They list the ingredients and calories on a poster on the wall by the serving lines. Ya want to stay around 2000 a day although I'm sure we will have to build up to that. So let's start with short term goal of an intake of 800 and work up from there."
"Fine, whatever. Anything else?"
"Yeah loose that sass I'm trying to help and if ya puke it up ya can't count the calories from it. So keep that in mind when trying to reach yer goal."
Lyon sighed, "Ok I'm sorry. Sometimes I just lash out." Gajeel nodded in understanding.
Both boys headed out of the bathroom Lyon looked a little lost after the whole they approached the table he whispered to Gajeel, "Thank you for not saying anything."
Gajeel just nodded and sat back down at the table. Lyon took his place beside his foster brother who looked at him questionly.
"What? You are staring," he spoke so only Gray could hear.
Gray whispered back, "You're gone for like 15 minutes and when you finally come back you and the metal head look all chummy. Just curious is all."
"Its nothing he was just talking about his mom. I decided to be nice and listen." Lyon turned away from Gray to gaze around the mess hall.
"You are lying but it's ok don't tell me but i'll find out."
Lyon scoffed, "I am not lying and why would you insinuate I am?"
Gray shook his head and smile, "Because you are a natural liar and you are not that nice of a person."
Lyon just smirked, "Fine i'll tell you when you tell me about you and the pink haired kid. I heard you guys talking half the night. And Gray I hate to tell you but he is not gay. I saw him eyeing Miras cleavage spilling out of her tank top when she came to kill Laxus this morning. You are setting yourself up for another heartbreak."
Gray stared at his foster brother for a moment then got up from his seat and spewed, "Why do you have to be such a jerk Lyon," before storming out of the mess hall.
The other boys at the table all turned to Lyon. Freed sighed, "What was that about?"
Lyon shook his head, "It was nothing."
Leo looked back at the door Gray had stormed out of, "Didn't really look like nothing."
"I assure you all he'll be fine. He just doesn't like the truth presented to him so bluntly and especially by me."
Natsu squinted at Lyon, "What truth would that be?"
Lyon laughed, "Wouldn't you like to know."
Natsu stared at the other boy a fire lit in his eyes, "What does that mean?"
"Nothing Pinkie. Now I've got places to be and I'm tired of the 20 questions about Gary's tantrum. If you want to know what he's upset about then go ask him yourself." Lyon grabbed his tray and the tray Gray had left and headed to dispose of the remains of breakfast. "I'll see you boys later I gotta go to therapy and see if I can scrounge up a notebook."
Freed shook his head and Leo just shrugged. Natsu however knew he wouldn't be able to let go of it so easily. He had a big heart and hated to see people upset. The other boys started to clean their spots they were sitting at ready to get on with the day.
Natsu turned to Zeref. "Hey I think I'm going to go try to find Gray make sure he's ok, you wanna come too?" The pink haired boy started walking to the trash can
Zeref looked down at his shoes, "Actually Natsu I thought maybe I would go check out the art building. See if there's anything I might wanna try." Zeref shoved his pale hands in the pockets of his black jeans.
Natsu smiled, "Really? Do you want me to go with you?"
Zeref shook his head no, "I thought maybe I'd try it myself. Step out of my comfort zone like the school counselor suggested. You want to go check on Gray anyway."
Zeref heard Natsu chuckle, "That's a good idea Zeref go broaden your horizons and i'll see if I can find Gray. Meet back here at lunch?"
The dark haired boy finally looked up and smiled, "Yeah i'll see you at lunch."
With that both boys walked out of the mess hall going separate ways. Zeref's heart was beating fast and he almost regretted his decision. Natsu was like his security blanket, but then he envisioned the blonde girl's smile and his heart was beating fast for an entirely different reason.
Natsu found Gray sitting by the lake. He had his knees pulled up to his chest and was gazing out at the water. Natsu walked up beside Gray, "Mind if I sit down?" Gray just shrugged.
Natsu plopped down and sat cross legged beside the other boy. He modestly started picking at the grass in front of him till he heard Gray chuckle. "You really can't ever sit still can you?" He turned to the other boy.
Natsu smile big, "Nope I told you last night, it is impossible!" Gray shook his head. "So you want to talk about why Lyon made you so upset?"
Gray looked back out at the water, "Not really."
Natsu just nodded then smirked, "Wanna race?"
Gray cocked an eyebrow at the other teen, "What?"
"I can't just sit here while you sulk and not talk about it. Lets race to that big pine tree over there and back." Natsu smile at Gray.
"Borning. Beside its not like you could beat me you're like 2 inches shorter." Gray smirked.
"First of all snowflake."
"Whoa what snowflake? Where the hell you come up with that?"
"Dunno just sounded right. Maybe it's the way you freeze up about talking about the big stuff."
"Well if i'm snowflake then you're pyro because you are always freaking lit."
Both boys laughed and smile at the ridiculous pet names they had giving each other.
"Anyway Snowflake as I was saying 2 inches isn't nothing and we can definitely make the race more interesting. Unless you're scared you will lose." Nastu grinned and waited for a response.
"Well you have my attention now."
Natsu stood up, "To the pine tree and back loser had to strip and jump in the lake."
Grays eyes went wide, "Are you serious there's people everywhere they will see."
Natsu shook his head, "I knew you couldn't beat me."
Grays eyes narrowed at the over confident boy, "You know what Pyro you are on."
Natsu smiled and started bouncing on the balls of his feet and Gray rose from the ground. The pink haired boy loved a challenge. He thrived on physical competition.
Both boys lined up Natsu started the countdown, "Ready, set."
"GO!" Gray shouted before Natsu and took of. The pink haired boy stared for a second taken by surprise but then smile and took off after his competition.
Gray was sure with his little head start and slightly longer legs he had this in the bag. He knew he was actually a decent runner from participating in a few track meets. However when he reached the pine tree to turn around Natsu was right on his heels.
Grays eyes went wide, "Shit." He started pumping his arms harder trying to push his legs to work faster. Both boys had a layer of sweat. Natsu moved his legs at a intense pace. Natsu was close enough he could of grabbed Gray by his shirt collar. Gray gave a last ditch effort to push himself harder but it was to no avail. He cursed under his breath as Natsu passed him just a few feet before the finish line.
Both boys fell to their feet breathing hard. Gray could help but notice how enticing Natsu looked out of breath and covered in sweat. He had to remind himself that a fourteen year old boy has no place with thoughts that deep.
In between labored breaths Gray spoke, "You are freaky fast dammit."
Natsu nodded, "Yeah its a gift." He smirked evilly at Gray.
Gray's shoulders slumped, "You are really going to make me follow through aren't you?"
"I bet it a bet and u think maybe your new nickname after this might be stripper."
"Oh joy for me," Gray groaned. He stood up kicking off his shoes, "However I'm really not shy." Gray peeled of his sweat soaked shirt then dropped his bottoms pants and boxers. He smirked when he heard Natsu squeak, shocked because he had expected Gray to back out.
Natsu recovered from his shock and laughed as Gray ran into the lake buck naked. His laughter roared louder when he heard bystanders laughing or yelling about the naked boy in the lake.
Gray swam put so only his shoulders and head shown. "Hey Pyro, the water is really nice! You should try it"
That was all the invitation Natsu needed. He stripped down leaving his own boxers firmly in place and ran out to join Gray for a swim. The dark haired boy smiled as the other got near.
"I'm just letting you know now I'm not calling for that it must of been a fish thing so make sure you keep it pointed that way buddy." Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and smile.
Gray nodded, "Got it," then preceded to splash Natsu. It was then as Natsu put it 'on' as both boys tried to out splash each other.