Zeref had been planted in front of the entryway of his intended destination for almost 20 minutes. The building looked almost like a barn with rustic wooden walls and a big sliding barn door that seemed to stay open. Inside it held most of the creative arts classes and projects and maybe she was inside also. His resolve had been so strong on his way, but within a few feet of his goal it suddenly died away leaving him immobile. He should've had Natsu come with him. With a defeated sigh Zeref turned to walk back to the cabin.

"I'm trying to decide if I want to go in as well." Freed was standing beside Zeref and the dark haired teen wasn't even sure how long Freed had been there. Freed exhaled softly and straightened the seams on his shirt, "They sent Laxus over here to help after he managed to anger the girl running the mess hall. I'm not even sure why I followed him here. I'm sure I must look like some crazy stalker."

Zeref looked down at his shoes, "I kinda followed someone here too."

Freed gave a knowing smile, "The young lady from breakfast?"

Zeref nodded, "I think keep waiting for some sign or reassurance that i should go in. I figure if I see fate leading the way I won't be as nervous but I've been here for 20 minutes and nothing has happened and that makes it worse." It was hard to explain to people way his anxiety would work against him. It was difficult when everyone expects anxiety to look a certain way. They never see the other ways it could manifest.

"I know exactly what you mean. You wait for that sign or that push you need. You actively look for even the smallest incident that you can create some assurance out of in your head. When you can't find that the warning bells go off. Maybe you weren't suppose to go on that trip or talk to that person. It can be exhausting."

"Yeah that's pretty much it. It sucks." Both boys sighed as they gazed towards the building. Zeref once again lowered his eyes to the ground. "That sting of the uncertainty is so clear."

"I know," Freed shook his head sadly. "I ask myself all the time how often do I let fear take the wheel and steer."

"Oohhh oh oh oh," both boys jump and turned to the singer, "It's driven me before and it seems to have a vague haunting mass appeal but lately I'm beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel. Whatever tomorrow brings i'll be there with opened arm and opened eyes yeah. Whatever tomorrow brings i'll be there, i'll be there."

They stared at the smiling girl, "Come on, you guys completely set me up for that. You had to of known you guys were trying to quote the song Drive by Incubus right?" The boys still stood dumbfounded. "You seriously don't know that song about facing your fears and showing up for your life?"

"I know the song but we were honestly just talking." Freed spoke for both of them.

"Wow must've been fate playing its little games then. I am Cana and I'm pretty sure fate wants us to be friends because that was some 80's movie type of setup we just had."

"Fate?" Zeref whispered mostly to himself but Freed heard and understood. The girl smiled at the boys as she dug through the small brown cloth messenger bag that rested on her hip. She wore brown drawstring capris and a blue tank top.

"So new friends," she finally found what she had been searching for, a black hair tie, she starting pulling her brown hair into a ponytail as she spoke, "What should I call you?"

"Oh I'm so sorry. I am Freed Justine and this…" Freed looked to Zeref to see if he should continue or if he wanted to introduce himself.

Zeref squirmed under the attention and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He did open his mouth to speak for himself which made Freed smile at the small step toward self improvement, "I'm Zeref."

"Freed and Zeref got it." She pointed to the arts building, "Not sure what you guys had planned but we are now heading there."

"The art building? That is where you are going? We were actually heading back to our cabin." Freed said as Zeref nodded in agreement.

"We, it's where we are going." She emphasized the we each time. "I told you fate set us up. Some power in the universe put you in my path so you guys are coming too. You don't mess with what fate set in motion. Also I'm hiding from my dad and he won't go near the arts building seeing as how he's the biggest klutz and the hippie told him to stay out after he knock a whole shelf of ceramics work over. For some reason he's scared of the tiny girl." She shook her head and laughed. Both boys glanced at each other they had wanted a sign and she was here and not taking no for an answer.

Zeref took a deep breath trying to settle his nerves. He had made every excuse not to walk in that building and run away. Now he had to actually do what he had set out to do. It made him feel terrified and hopeful at the same time.

Cana lead them up to the open barn door. Both boys seemed to freeze not entering the threshold. The brown haired girl rolled her eyes grabbed both boys by the hands and pulled them in after her, yanking both boys with a strength that seemed unnatural. Freed caught himself gracefully from the pull but Zeref nearly fell on his face. Zeref felt his face heat up as he straightened from the near fall. Thankfully no one seemed to notice and he took a relieved breath. Inside it was one large open room. There was shelves lining the wall to the right with all kinds of art supplies from different kinds of paint, canvas and paper, pipe cleaner, and all kind of repurposed supplies. Long tables stretched on the right side of the room also with kids painting and drawing or working on some other kind of project. The left side of the room seemed set up for ceramics or sculpting. It had pottery wheels, some stand alone tables, and in the back corner a small kiln. Freed also noticed some kids carving from from wood. Campers from the boys and girls side were scattered around the room chatting with each other. Some working together while others worked solo. All the kids were very focused on the work in front of them. It almost seemed like a place one could go and lose themselves or disappear in the mix.

The ridged teen scanned around the room taking it all in. Then he saw in the back of the large room a tall bulky blonde stood holding a large box. A much shorter girl with long fair blonde hair pointed seemingly directing the large man where to place the box. Freed watched Laxus stride over to one of the tables and drop the box on top of the table. The box was huge and must if weighed a ton yet the large man looked like it took no effort. The kids that stood in close proximity jumped and turned in direction of the sudden noise from the box being carelessly dropped. Laxus seemed unbothered while the girl shook her head.

Cana spotting the young blonde and started waving and called to her with a huge smile on her face, "Yo Mavis!" The young blonde smiled back and waved for Cana to come to her. Cana once again grabbed both boys by the arm and drug them along with her to where the 2 blondes stood. Both boy were prepared now and followed with out tripping.

Zeref filled and emptied his lungs rhythmically, counting the time of each inhale and exhale in an attempt to keep calm. His heart already thumping an urgent pace was still however manageable for the time being. Each step forward felt as if he was fighting a current to move onward. If it hadn't been for Cana helping to pull him along he was sure he wouldn't of gotten anywhere. He watched the concrete floor beneath him every now and then seeing a splat of bright colored paint end up behind him as they trudged along. He kept his head down and pushed forward until he felt a slack on the wrist Cana had been pulling. He lifted his head and found himself staring into the warmest smile accompanied by a set of bright green eyes. Once again Zeref couldn't help but melt toward the calming energy the girl seemed to give off. As he watched her mouth move he realized they were talking and he had completely zoned it all out staring at the girl on front of him.

"You can stay as long as you want Cana, just keep your dad out of here," the girls laughed.

"Thanks Mavis, I love that man but I get enough of the daddy/daughter bonding crap throughout the year. Summers suppose to be my break from him!" Cana threw her hands in the air in an exasperated manner. "Seriously he bought us matching track suits so I could help him coach. I'm not wearing a freaking track suit! That's not what I came for." They were all grinning and laughing now.

Laxus smiled as he shook his head, "So why are ya here then Cana if you're not playing daddy's princess? Are you telling me you had a choice to stay home this summer?"

The brown haired girl rolled her eyes, "I am 19 of course I had a choice. Gramps and my dad asked me to help. I'm leading 3 AA meetings a week. They thought it might make some of the kids open up more to have someone closer to their age. Make it more relatable."

Laxus chuckled, "So I guess the rumors are true. I heard you went and pussed out but I didn't believe it. No way was the only person who could out drink me gonna stop living life and become one of their puppets. Can't believe they sucked you in."

The brown haired girl's eyes slitted as she glared at the big blondes smug smile. Both her hands came to rest on her hips for a moment. No one spoke through the awkward silence. Freed swore he could hear her teeth grinding as she stood there and fumed.

Finally Cana stepped in front of Laxus and pointed an index finger into his chest. "You think I didn't hear about you Laxus? You think your so big and bad don't you? Well you are not." She stabbed the finger into his chest with each word, "You're. A. Selfish. Asshole."

Laxus growled. "Excuse me?"

Cana stepped back placing her hands back on her hips. "I did not stutter. A Selfish, childish, ignorant asshole. I know what you and your little punk ass friends did. Breaking into peoples houses and stealing the shit they worked hard for. Thinking you're entitled lazy ass had a right to just take from someone else."

Laxus folded his arms over his chest, "We didn't just steal from who ever. We took from people who had more than their fair share. Most of those people wouldn't of even missed the shot we took. Its fucking ridiculous how well off some of those snobs are. You know what it was like for us growing up. Before your dad got his shit together we use sit and watch all those rich kids get everything while we had the shit end of the stick. I just decided it was time to make things a little more even while you spent your time getting loaded. I don't need any lecture from some drunk."

"I may have been a drunk but now I'm a recovering alcoholic working to have a future that a younger me would be jealous of. You Laxus are still some little thief punk that can't seem to get over his daddy issues. I'm telling you that you're getting to that age where it's not sexy or mysterious it's just sad. I hope someone or something opens your eyes before it's too late because I don't want you to be one of those friends I wonder what if about. After you get sober you end up with a lot of those." Cana sighed sadly as she finished talking.

After a few seconds of no one speaking or making eye contact Laxus spoke, "I am born here for this bleeding heart and save the lost soul shit so keep it to yourself cause I don't want to hear it." He looked up and the storm rolling in his eyes was undeniable. Cana had defiantly hit a nerve but Laxus was going to try his damnedest to not show it. He turned to Mavis, "That was the last box so unless you got something else I'm heading out."

Freed looked at the larger man. Laxus was on edge Freed could tell by the way the muscles in his arms and neck seemed to flex almost involuntarily. He wondered about the blondes relationship with his father. Was it similar to the strained relationship Freed shared with his own father. He listened to Mavis tell him there was nothing left and she didn't need him any longer. The blonde was going to leave and he was the only reason Freed had came to this messy barn in the first place. He just wanted a few minutes to talk to the other man. To properly thank him for helping with his hair and getting Lyon off his case.

Laxus headed to the exit while Cana turned to talk more with Mavis. Zeref was oblivious again staring at Mavis who seemed to notice and would smile at him every few seconds. Freed decided he was not going to wait, he was the driver of his life and he turned to go after Laxus.

Freed took off after the blonde. "Laxus wait I wanted to talk to you pleeeee,"

Laxus heard Freed call to him. He wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone but he found himself turning to the slender teen. For some reason he didn't want to let him down. He watched as Freed waved a hand and ran after him. He heard Freed say he wanted to talk. However Laxus heard the girls gasp and his own eyes went huge as one of Freed feet landed in a wet paint spot on the floor. The usually graceful teen looked like a cartoon. Like Wylie E Cyote in an oil slick. Freed eyes went big as his mouth formed am O. Both hands flew in the air as he slid about 6 feet before coming to a stop crashing into a table holding a gallon sized bucket of paint. The table collapsed to one side with the paint falling and splattering all over Freed.

Laxus was the 1st to reach Freed with Zeref and the girls not far behind. Freed was shaking and breathing hard still in shock.

Laxus kneeled beside and was thankful to see no part of the table had landing on Freed. The girls were both talking at once while Zeref crouched down on the other side of Freed.

Laxus growled and told the girls to shut up so he could hear Freed. Cana huffed but complied with Mavis.

"Freed are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?" Any anger from before was gone from Laxus's voice and it now only had worry for the slender teen laced in it. "Freed please say something so we known you are ok?"

Freed turned to Laxus, paint dripping off his chin. He sniffled, "Physically everything is fine."

Laxus raised an eyebrow, "Just physically?"

Freed sniffles were much more pronounced now and Laxus could tell he was trying not to start crying. "I'm slightly germaphobic, with anxiety, and seriously OCD. I'm now sitting on a dirty floor, covered in green paint because I unceremoniously slipped and fell in front of the man I have a crush on."

Zeref stared dumbfounded at the fallen teen while the girls smiled like idiots. Laxus even grinned, "The man you have a crush on huh?"

Freed went ridged. Even through the layer of green paint Laxus could see his face go pale. Freed turned to Zeref and spoke quietly, "Did I say that out loud?" Zeref nodded slowly and Freed whimpered before turning back to Laxus. "Would you believe I hit my head at some point during the fall?"

Cana and Mavis smiled at each other.

Laxus stood up and reached out for Freed's hand, "Why don't we get you back to the cabin and get you cleaned up. Get all this green paint out of your hair and stuff. Then we can talk about if I saw you hit your head or not ok?" Freed only nodded and let Laxus help him up. Laxus spoke to Zeref next. "Zeref maybe you can help Mavis get this cleaned up? I'm sure she would appreciated the help." Zeref nodded his head rapidly making Cana chuckle.

Cana watched as Laxus guided the green covered teen out of the art building. Zeref and Mavis had already started cleaning up and the dark haired boy was actually smiling. She couldn't help but notice the dusting of pink on his cheeks. Cana reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a deck of cards. "Mavis I think I'm going to leave you guys to it. Fate and the universe are speaking loudly today so I'm going to take my cards someplace quiet and see if I can hear them."

The blonde girl smiled widely at her friend, "Ok Cana see ya later!"

The brown haired girl waved as she walked away. Mavis waved after her then turned back to Zeref. They didn't speak much as they cleaned the mess just smiled at each other when they made eye contact. Mavis also noticed the pink cheeks.