~~~Chapter 5: Juvia's Q&A's~~~
(AN: And as the curtains close on Flip Flop, we get to the good stuff and see into the after effect. ^.^ I'm sorry if Lucy is really ignorant. I have decided to rewrite this chapter and the rest of the story so things aren't as horrible. Writer's block and working with characters I don't usually work with are kind of the worst of combinations apparently. :D ~Dragon)
The next day at the guildhall, I had to second guess as I saw Gray and Juvia come in hand in hand. Something had to have happened in the future, unless I was going insane and imagining things. Everyone crowded around them with even more questions than the ones from the night before, but Gray pressed past them. Eventually, the crowd broke off as they realized that no answers would come their way. The duo sat side by side at the bar, looking relieved at the lack of people as they departed.
"Hey," I greeted, joining the two by sitting next to Juvia.
"Hello, Lucy-chan!" Juvia greeted.
I looked surprised, "-Chan? You never called me that before."
Juvia shrugged, "Juvia is very happy today, is all."
I playfully asked, "This wouldn't happen be because of Gray, would it?"
"Who's to say?" she replied, looking to Gray who returned her soft gaze.
"Your lovey dovey stuff is gonna make me sick," Gajeel groaned from behind.
"Yeah? Then go somewhere else, Metal-Face," Gray returned.
Gajeel snorted, "Was gonna. Oi, Mira!"
Mira smiled her usual caring smile (that was even more bubbly because of the obvious shift between Gray and Juvia) as she gave Gajeel a mug. He grabbed it and disappeared back towards his lone table. Though the Dragon Slayer was rude, I kind of had to agree. It was so weird to see Gray actually show Juvia his feelings towards her. He'd been running away from them for so long that it seemed almost impossible that he just gave in randomly like that. It looked so strange.
Gray interrupted my thoughts as he asked, "Hey, Lucy. What's up with Flame-Brain? He seemed fine yesterday but he hasn't even looked at Jet and Droy's brawl. Is he sick or somethin'?"
I answered, "I don't know, really. He's been like this for a few days now. I think he's upset with me or something."
"How so?" Gray asked as Juvia inquired, "What happened?"
I hesitated before pulling the two away into the library. I was embarrassed as it was. Although, I had to be glad that they were back to tell what happened. I could tell Gray and Levy anything, and now that Juvia was cool I could trust her just as much too. It still wasn't easy, but there was a way around that.
"Okay," I sighed. "Well, Mira set up this spin the bottle game in Fairy Hills and I was stupid enough to go. I never had my first kiss before. After I spun, I just froze and I couldn't do it. A few days later, Natsu started acting weird but he only does it every once in awhile."
Gray looked serious, "You spun him, didn't you?"
I admitted, "Yeah. I didn't mean to offend him, though! And I don't even know if that's why he's upset! I didn't think Natsu would react to something like that!"
"Natsu has kissed every new female member into Fairy Tail, but Cana and Levy, first during the games. It's kinda hard to explain, I guess, but he does kinda care about this kinda thing. I mean, ah, it's hard to explain," Gray informed.
I sighed, having already figured that stuff out. Juvia added, "Natsu-san cares very much about you, Lucy-chan. When you declined, he probably thought that you didn't care. Lucy-chan just has to talk to Natsu-san about it."
"Well, yeah, but he won't talk to anyone," I said. "I tried before, but he just freaked out and ran away on a job. He didn't even get to the job site before coming back, but still he won't talk."
"I'll talk to him, Lucy," Gray offered. "Maybe I can get through his thick head?"
"W-Wait…" I called, but Gray was already gone behind the door. I didn't even realize that I was jittering until Juvia set her hand on my shoulder to try and stop it.
Gray knew Natsu better than anyone. Though nothing could block out that deep pit in my stomach that made me believe that Natsu would never forgive me. He was my best friend. I didn't want him to go anywhere, even if he was still going to be in the guild. I want him to stay my best friend forever.
It was ridiculous how I was acting. He kissed most of the girls I know and yet all I can think about is whether or not he'll forgive me. I was pathetic, really. Why couldn't I hold that against him? Then again, why would I? Just because he has a history, apparently, that shouldn't change anything between us. Just because I didn't want to kiss him shouldn't change anything between us either… Yet apparently it did…
Juvia grabbed my hands in hers to stop them from shaking and announced, "Juvia wants you to tell her the truth, Lucy-chan. Just for Juvia, and Juvia will tell you anything she can about the future in return. Can you do this for Juvia?"
"Y-yeah, sure. What do you want to know?" I replied. She was so serious, and the tension didn't help my anxiety at all.
"Tell Juvia why you didn't kiss Natsu-san. Truthfully why," she demanded.
"What do you mean?" I returned.
"Was it because there were so many people around? He's just your best friend and nothing more? Tell Juvia," she pressed.
I answered, "It's my first kiss."
She huffed, "That's not an answer, Lucy-chan. First kiss or not. You didn't want to kiss Natsu-san for a reason, and Juvia wants to know why."
Looking down I said, "I don't know. I didn't want anything to change between us. What if I kissed him and, I don't know…"
Juvia finished, "And you fell in love with him?"
"Maybe…"
"What's so bad about falling in love with your best friend, Lucy-chan?"
"I don't know… Everything'll change."
"How? What are you afraid of? Change, or is it something else?"
"Afraid of…? I… Just…" I stuttered. My voice whispered almost incoherently, "Maybe that he won't love me back."
Juvia sympathised, "Lucy-chan worries that he won't like her back? Juvia knows what that is like, but you shouldn't limit yourself. If you don't think that Natsu-san will return your feelings, then you don't have to do anything, but you'll never know if you don't try it."
I suppose she was right. Though this is Natsu we're talking about. The one guy that's denser than metal. It's not like he could get the idea if I didn't just come out and say it. That would never happen because it's embarrassing enough to not kiss him… Let alone even think about saying anything to him…
Juvia smiled and asked, "Now, what does Lucy-chan want to know about the future?"
I replied almost instantly, "What's Levy up to?"
"Busy being a mother and hard at work with research missions."
"Seriously? I guess you won't tell me with who, would you?" I questioned and Juvia shook her head.
The news brought a small smile on my face. Levy was married and had a child, and no doubtedly happy. I wonder if anyone else is in the same situation as her. Surely many years into the future everyone has to have found someone at least. I hope. I don't want to be alone. Then again, confessing…
I saved asking about myself for Natsu. I had to know. He had to be happy too, right?
"Natsu-san was married and Gray-sama and Juvia just found out that his wife was pregnant," Juvia replied, studying me for a reaction.
"Th-That's nice," I gulped. He was happy, that's all I could hope for, right? I croaked, "What's she like?"
The bluenette gave thought and said, "Smart, very caring, responsible, though a little brash at times."
My stomach dropped. That sounded an awful lot like Lisanna. I know they were best friends as kids but… They were just friends. They made that clear to each other… Right? Though, in the future I guess anything can happen… But… I couldn't even get my head around the marriage part, let alone the pregnancy…
My voice cracked, "What about… Me?"
"Happily married and hard working on your latest novel in between the jobs at the guild," Juvia answered easily. She seemed more confident with knowing about me.
"You can't tell me who, I guess… Wh-what's he… Like?" I asked nervously, unsure if I wanted to know the answer.
"Full of energy and smiles that can light up the room," she replied. Vague as ever, as that could be anyone if they were happy all the time which sounded like about everyone in the future.
I supposed that that was as good of an answer as I would get and continued, "And Erza?"
Juvia's face lit up as she cheered, "The proud master of the strongest guild in Fiore. Not to mention, extensively pregnant. Turned out that having a very hormonal Erza didn't really help the amount of brawls in the guild."
I hummed in amusement. It's only funny because it's so believable. Erza starting fights that no one can fight back in because she's the master, plus pregnant. It seemed like everyone in the future was forming families of their own. I've always wondered what it would be like, but… Okay, getting that out of my mind…
"How many years into the future did you go?" I asked.
"Four," was her simple answer.
"Four years and so much happened? Everyone's married and having children by four years?" I confirmed, a little shocked. "Who would have thought that within four years Natsu would grow a pair?"
Juvia skeptically inquired, "You don't think that he'd love someone?"
I blinked and answered, "Well, it's just a little far fetched."
Juvia questioned, "Don't you think that falling in love is a good thing?"
I defended, "Of course I do. It's just, love and Natsu don't really seem like they'd go together in the romantic sense."
"Lucy-chan…" Juvia sighed but was distracted as Gray and Natsu crashed into the room with Gajeel pearing in and Levy curiously behind him. "Gray-sama? Natsu-san? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Gray groaned, getting up as he rubbed his head where he bumped it against the ground as he flew inside.
Natsu exclaimed, "What the hell, Gray?!"
The raven-haired male returned, "What do you mean 'me'?! The hell with you?! You can't just give up like that! Who cares about your pride or whatever you want to call it?!"
The pinkette was quick to retort, "Yeah?! Well how's about you be in my spot and then tell me what the hell I should do! Then maybe I'll actually listen to ya, Ice-Freak! Stay outta my business!"
Gray replied, "You made it my business when you punched me in the face, Fire-for-Brains!"
I blinked confused at their brawl. What about pride? What business are they debating about? Why is Gray trying to tell Natsu what to do about something? He just said that he would go talk to Natsu about what happened. This most certainly was not talking!
(AN: Thanks to the following people: 31 and Crimsonlink310)