It's been a while, so I hope this is worth the wait! How will Natsu and Gray get out of the mess they caused? Read and review, suggestions always make me happy!

~GJGJGJ~

"Juvia, wait!"

She was only a few feet ahead but she was fast, and Gray found himself struggling to catch up to the girl as rained pelted him from above. The girl ducked into the town's central park, Gray catching a glimpse of her teary eyes as she turned the corner. This was a mess- a big mess. Gray wanted to kick himself for screwing up so bad- how could a game have caused so much trouble? No, it wasn't the game- it was Gray who had caused all the trouble.

Juvia had just been trying to talk to him, and he had yelled- pushed her! It wasn't her fault he was mad and it was wrong of him to have taken his frustration out on her. This game had turned him into a man, but not a gentleman.

The rain woman finally slowed and came to rest beneath an old oak tree, leaning back against the damp bark and rubbing her equally damp eyes. Gray froze a few feet before her, taking in the pitiful girl as she was slowly soaked by her rain and her tears- now that he had caught her, he didn't know what to do.

"Juvia, I-"

"Go away!"

The girl sobbed out from between the fingers shielding her face. Gray hesitated again, rubbing his neck- Juvia had a right to be angry with him, but he didn't want things to end this way. He couldn't imagine leaving the girl here to cry by herself- and he obviously had a lot of mending to do if she thought he didn't value her friendship enough to stay. Again Gray took a step closer to the girl.

"Juvia, give me a chance to apologize-"

"Leave Juvia alone!"

She screamed and suddenly a jet stream of water blasted Gray back, sending him tumbling to the ground. It had taken the ice mage totally by surprise, who sputtered

"Juvia, what are you doing!"

Gray saw that even Juvia was somewhat surprised by what she had done before quickly composing herself again. She raised a hand and slowly the raindrops around Gray gathered and consumed him in a bubble of water, lifting him off the ground. He struggled in the water, her words muffled from the outside as she explained with as much anger as she could muster

"Natsu has taught Juvia to be impulsive! Juvia is doing what she wants!"

Gray would've scoffed if he could breathe. Of course Natsu had somehow convinced Juvia of all people to beat him of all people up- but somehow, he wasn't so mad to see her acting this way. Juvia never seemed decisive about her feelings; Gray had seen her spend hours trying to choose a job to take, even after expressing her interest in one. If Juvia was mad, she deserved to beat him up- but still, it made apologizing difficult…

The bubble disappeared, slamming Gray to the ground. Surprisingly, Juvia looked just as hurt as Gray when he hit. Juvia obviously was working hard to stay mad at her 'true love,' and seeing him slammed around seemed to break her momentarily.

"Gray-sama, why don't you fight back!"

Juvia cried; Gray had to hide an amused eye roll at how in-character she seemed again, the hearts in her eyes all too familiar. He took this opportunity to speak truthfully, sitting up to look at her.

"I don't want to fight you, Juvia."

She seemed to hesitate at his sincerity, before quickly gaining back her composure, fists clenched.

"Why not?"

She yelled at him through the rain, which seemed to pour harder now.

"That fight on the day Juvia and Gray met was the closest Juvia and Gray ever were- Gray saved Juvia from falling and let her see the sun for the first time, but that was the last time Gray ever paid attention to Juvia!"

The tears flooding Juvia's eyes told Gray she wasn't working to be upset anymore- and this was about a lot more than what had just happened.

"That's not true..."

He found himself saying- quieter, as if he had lost all momentum. Was this really how Juvia felt? Did she really believe he hadn't paid her any attention since their battle all that time ago? Gray's stomach was knots to think he had been such a bad friend that Juvia truly felt they were closer when they were enemies.

Dissatisfied by his answer, Juvia continued heatedly

"Juvia knew about the dating game- she was only a table away that day! But Gray didn't notice! And when it is time to choose a date, Gray chooses Lucy! Did Juvia not even come to mind?"

Gray gulped, feeling more and more terrible the more Juvia spoke. How could he answer that question? Juvia had crossed his mind, but only for a moment before being dismissed- why? Did he not want her going crazy when it was only a game? Still though, unlike with Lucy he was guaranteed a date with Juvia which meant from a competitive point of view she was the best choice- but somehow, using Juvia like that to win felt wrong. Not when he knew how strongly she felt…

"Gray-sama always overlooks Juvia! Juvia works so hard to be perfect but Gray never notices! Gray knows how Juvia feels, yet he still ignores her- if Gray does not like Juvia, why can't Gray-sama say so?"

Her lips were trembling as if she wanted to take the words back, but they were already out. She was looking at him with teary eyes, afraid her trampled heart was about to be torn in two by the man she loved while he could only look up at her without words. What was there to say? Gray was pretty much the worst friend on the planet. Knowing he could never find the right words to say he decided to say them all, hoping Juvia would spare him the never ending patience she seemed to have that he did not deserve.

"You're right…about everything. I've been ignoring you- but I didn't realize it was hurting you this way. Since the beginning you've been so…forward about how you felt, I didn't know how to react so I just kinda pretended that I didn't notice your feelings. And then… as we got closer and you joined the guild, I sort of just got used to you being around. I liked the way things were, especially since coming up with an answer to all your hinting seemed too hard… I really didn't think about how you felt, and I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be ignored. And about the stupid dating game- that time, I wasn't ignoring you. I didn't want to drag you into the game because I didn't want you to get hurt- with Lucy its different, she doesn't put her heart into everything the way you do."

By the end, Gray's cheeks felt hot. He didn't even know what he was saying anymore. Was any of this making sense to Juvia? Suddenly he was knocked to the ground again, but this time he realized it wasn't a water jet's doing when arms wrapped tightly around him and squeezed.

"Oh Gray-sama, this is the nicest thing ever said to Juvia! Gray-sama does care!"

Gray could only roll his eyes at how quickly the rain woman recovered, but was relieved to have it this way. Today was the most upset he had ever seen Juvia, but after hearing her out she had every right to be. Gray hadn't realized what a jerk he was- but after today, things would be different.

Juvia didn't deserve to be ignored, and just by explaining how he felt Gray was already feeling lighter. Juvia's boldness with her feelings may make him somewhat uncomfortable, but ignoring them just made him and Juvia miserable. Spilling his guts wasn't his thing, but just speaking up right now had made things better. All this time Gray just wanted to avoid hurting Juvia's feelings, but he could see now that by not talking to her he was hurting her even more.

"And Juvia is so sorry she hurt Gray-sama! And Juvia is so sorry she yelled at Gray-sama! And Juvia is so sorry she got Gray-sama all wet with her rain!"

Gray decided to put an end to her blubbering before she worked herself up again and stood, brushing himself off.

"It's fine Juvia, no harm done. Now let's go get changed."

He offered the girl his hand and her heart seemed to be thumping out of her chest as she took it, allowing him to pull her up. Gray felt a little awkward suddenly, as if unsure whether to release her hand or not- where was their relationship now? In some ways this fight had left him feeling more confused than ever about Juvia, but it was for the better if he had saved his friendship with her. Friendship? Gray finally took his hand back- with a look of disappointment on Juvia's part- using it instead to rub at his neck sheepishly. They set off together from the park, both more happy and confused than when they had entered, Gray walking Juvia home- much to her delight.

This dating game had caused more trouble than Gray ever could have imagined, but he couldn't really say that it was a bad thing. He had gone on his first date- and had his first kiss. It had caused him to fight with Juvia, but it had been for the better: Gray knew they would be better friends now because of it.

Friends…

The dating game had caused this confusion, too. What was Juvia to Gray- and what did he want her to be? Finally Gray decided as he said goodbye to Juvia that he couldn't think anymore on it today- he was drained. Emotionally exhausted with a spinning head and dripping clothes, Gray finally headed home.

~GJGJGJ~

Everyone satisfied with Gray and Juvia? If not, try to keep in mind both are very new to talking things out like this… especially Gray. :p So! What will Gray do with these new and confusing thoughts on Juvia? And how will Natsu apologize to Erza for what he has done? Learn this and more in the next chapter coming… sooner than usual?