Chapter Nine — Saphira
I watched Skye closely, making sure she wouldn't try to pull anything else like that for the next few minutes. After a while, my mind was put at ease when I saw her talking to Gray. She obviously had a thing for him, so I knew I was the last thing she'd be thinking about.
"Why did you get pushed into me exactly?" Natsu asked as I adjusted myself.
"I don't know" I said trying not to stutter. "Skye is trying to get us together I think."
"Oh," he said blushing.
"Yeah, I don't know why," I said and focused on unwrapping a cupcake.
"I know why," Natsu stated.
"Why?" I asked as my heart started racing.
"Cuz we'd be one of the most awesome couples ever," he said with a smile. "How cool would a dragon slayer couple be?"
"That would be pretty awesome," I said trying to conceal my smile.
"Plus, anytime I touch you, your hair catches on fire," he stated. "So they think you like me."
"Not every time," I said putting my hair in pigtails. "If that were the case then when she pushed me into you my hair would've caught fire."
"Yeah, but what would happen if we took off your necklace?" I heard Skye's voice behind me and then off came my necklace.
"Give it back!" I scolded and held out my hand.
"Hmm...I don't think so," Skye said and ran off.
"Get back here!" I yelled and chased after her.
Gray walked over and stood next to Natsu. They both watched in amusement as I chased her around the Guild Hall.
"Give it back!" I yelled as my hair caught fire.
"Nope!" she yelled back. "You have to catch me first!"
"So help me God I will burn you," I said and plowed past Elfman and Evergreen, who were looking awfully cozy.
"That's how you run like a real man!" he exclaimed watching me chase Skye around.
"Got you!" I exclaimed as my hand found her wrist.
"Damnit!" she cursed and tried to pull away.
"Nope! Give me my necklace!" I said tightening my grip.
"Fine, but on one condition," she said and dangled the chain in front of me.
"What is it?" I asked trying to grab it but she pulled it away too fast.
"Come with me to Lucy's tonight," she stated.
"Uh, can I please not?" I said feeling awkward.
"I'm not super sure how much I want to got to Lucy's after what happened with Natsu and I," I thought as I watched her put the necklace back in her pocket.
"Why not? Lucy is a sweet girl," she said sounding more like she was taunting me than pleading with me.
"I-I just don't know her that well," I responded trying to find a way to get out of it.
"So? You slept in the same bed as Natsu in the first week you met him," she stated and smirked as my face flushed.
"I slept on the floor, thank you very much!" I said trying to stop my face from turning red. "I also didn't have a choice; I was handcuffed to him!"
"I don't know if I believe that," she teased and watched my hair burn brighter as the conversation went on.
"It's true!" I said trying to calm myself down.
"I like when you don't have the necklace on," she laughed.
"Why?" I questioned.
"Your hair gives away all of your emotions!" she laughed harder.
"Fine. I'll go!" I said and ripped the necklace out of her hand.
I put it back on and dreaded the inevitable future awkwardness. I knew that before I got here everyone was absolutely certain that Natsu and Lucy we're going to get together. I felt bad for having any feelings for him because of that. She was there first and I wasn't sure how to go about making the feelings stop.
I walked back over to where I was previously standing and resumed unwrapping my cupcake.
"Did you have a nice run?" Natsu teased.
"Shut up," I pouted and licked the icing off of my cupcake.
"You've talked to us without your necklace before. Why does it matter so much now?" Gray asked and grabbed the pendant.
"No reason," I said and went to reach for another cupcake.
"So I hear you're going to Lucy's house later?" Natsu said seeming intrigued.
"Yup," I stated and glared at the empty plate where the cupcakes once were.
"You don't seem excited about that," Gray said and looked me.
"Where did the cupcake go?" I said and stood up.
"You ate them all," Gray stated and grabbed my wrist pulling me back down. "You are avoiding the question."
"Do you want me to go get more?" Natsu offered.
"Yes please!" I said with a smile and watched him walk off.
"Could this have something to do with Natsu and Lucy having a thing in the past?" Gray asked.
"Why would I care?" I asked avoiding eye contact.
"Cuz you like him," Gray said.
"Do not," I said glaring at him.
"You don't kiss someone you don't like," Gray stated.
"How do you know that?" I asked taken back a bit.
"Oh, I didn't," he responded with a smirk. "You just confirmed it."
"You tell no one!" I demanded hating myself for falling into his trap.
"I wont tell anyone," He said chuckling. "Except Skye."
"Don't you dare tell Skye!" I responded.
"Tell Skye what?" Skye asked once again from behind me.
"Would you stop that!" I said and grabbed my necklace trying to protect it from her.
"She and Natsu kissed and didn't tell us," Gray said before I had time to stop him.
"Oh, and why would you not tell me this?" Skye demanded.
"It's not gonna happen again." I stated.
"Yeah sure," Gray said sarcastically. "You keep telling yourself that."
"When are we going to Lucy's?" I asked trying to change the topic.
"Whenever you're ready to leave," Skye stated.
"You wanna go after Natsu gets back?" I asked.
"Sure. Why do we have to wait for Natsu to come back though?" Skye questioned.
"He's bringing back cupcakes," I said enthusiastically.
After we got the cupcakes and said our goodbyes, we went off to Lucy's apartment. I was overwhelmed from everything I had been through in the past few days and couldn't seem to focus on what was going on. Between having flashbacks to being with Natsu and thinking about Luna, I couldn't keep a conversation with Skye to save my life.
"You okay?" Skye asked as I trudged along behind her, gazing off into the water absentmindedly.
"Yeah. I miss Luna," I stated.
"That's your exceed, right?" she asked looking back at me.
"Yeah. They still have her," I said wishing I could go get her back.
"Don't worry; you'll see her soon enough" Skye said.
"Yeah, I hope so," I said as we knocked on Lucy's door.
Lucy opened the door and peered out at us. She was dressed in pale pink Pj's and had her hair down around her shoulders.
"Hey girls!" she said with a bright smile. "C'mon in."
"Thanks!" Skye replied brightly and pulled me through the door.
Erza Scarlet and Cana Alberona sat on the floor dressed in various different shades and patterns of Pj's. Another girl with short blue hair sat next to Erza.
Even though Erza and I have never been formally introduced, I remember a lot of information about her from when the Maire guild was planning its attack. She's an S-Class wizard and among the strongest members of the guild. Her infamous Requip magic was a major concern for the success of our plans.
Cana I knew less about. I had met her at the bar in the guild hall, but I didn't have very much information on her. All I really know is that she's a heavy drinker and uses card magic. I read that there was supposedly a connection between her and Gildarts Clive, but the Council didn't have very much solid information on that.
"Hiya!" Skye exclaimed.
"Hey!" they all returned. Everyone but Cana replied. She was too busy chugging away at her barrel of booze.
"I'm Levy McGarden!" she introduced herself and extended her hand to me. "Lucy and Skye have told me everything about you."
"Everything?" I asked with a concerned look as I sat on the ground with the rest of them.
"Relax," Erza instructed. "Fairy Tail is big on second chances."
"Take Gajeel for an example," Levy explained. "When he first came into contact with Fairy Tail, he hung Jet, Droy, and me up in a tree. And nowadays he has friends and goes on jobs just like the rest of us."
"Friends isn't the only thing he has now," Cana taunted.
Levy's face gained a subtle pink tint. "I don't know what you're talking about!" Everyone except me burst out laughing. There was obviously some joke that I was not a part of. I glanced out the window and barely saw something quickly back away from the glass.
"Be social," Skye whispered and elbowed me in the arm.
"Ow, hi." I turned back toward the group and rubbed my arm.
"You guys wanna play a game?" Lucy offered.
"Yeah!" Levy said.
"What game?" I asked attempting to be social.
"Truth or dare?" Lucy suggested.
"That sounds intriguing," Erza approved.
"I'll go first!" Skye exclaimed. "Truth!"
We all waited as Lucy contemplated over what to ask my twin. She donned a mischievous smile as she turned to face Skye.
"What's going on with you and Gray?" she asked with a grin.
Skye's eyes opened wide as her cheeks turned a bright pink. "N-nothing's going on," she stuttered quickly.
"That's a lie," I concluded aloud. "It's called truth or dare, not lie or dare. You have to answer honestly."
"Uhm." She closed her eyes and collected her thoughts. "I may or may not have kissed him while we were in the forest. After Natsu ran off after Saphira," she finished with a weak smile. My jaw dropped in amusement.
"See? That wasn't so hard, was it?" Lucy asked.
I glanced back at the window to see the silhouette of a blue-haired woman. I closed my eyes and let my senses drift outside.
"Why did Gray-sama not tell Juvia about this? How dare she kiss Gray-sama!" I heard a voice say.
When I refocused my attention inside, the girls were once again giggling. "Who's Juvia?" I asked without thinking.
"She's a water mage from Fairy Tail," Erza explained.
"She's OBSESSED with Gray," Cana added.
"Blue hair? Speaks in the third person?" I questioned.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Lucy asked.
I leaned into the center of our little circle. "I think she's outside. And she's not exactly happy about Skye's little secret," I whispered to the girls.
Skye's face went blank. "Shit," she muttered.
Lucy raised a finger to her mouth in an attempt to silence everyone. She stealthily tiptoed to the window and opened it abruptly.
"Juvia?!" Lucy exclaimed. I saw the blue haired girl lift her head sheepishly in confirmation. "What are you doing out there? You said you weren't able to come."
"My plans changed," Juvia nervously rambled.
"Then why didn't you just knock on the door?" Skye asked. "We would've let you in."
I could vaguely hear Juvia mumbling under her breath about a "love rival," but I couldn't make sense of her insane whispers. "Juvia really must go now!" She turned and maneuvered her way out the window and down to the street.
"That was weird," Levy chimed in.
"Yeah, I agree," Lucy said and closed the window. "Your turn Skye."
"Saphira, or should I say Sapphire?" Skye taunted. "Truth or dare?"
"Uh, truth," I replied sheepishly.
"Do you like anyone at the guild?" she asked with an evil smirk.
"No," I stated unable to make eye contact with her.
"That's a lie," she mocked. "This is truth or dare, not lie or dare. You have to answer honestly."
"Fine, I kinda do," I stated refusing to look at Lucy.
"Is it Natsu?" Lucy asked teasingly.
"No no no, y'all get one question," I said and looked at Lucy. "Truth or dare."
"Truth," she said excitedly.
"Who do you like?" I asked, praying she wouldn't say Natsu.
"Kade," she said and tried not to look at me.
"Ew, why?" I asked imagining her with the bird loving idiot.
"He's cute, and he's really sweet to me," she said with a smile.
"Well he certainly has a thing for busty blondes," I remarked.
"Okay, Erza?" Lucy asked. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth," she stated.
"What are the juicy details about you and Jellal?" Lucy questioned.
Erza stared blankly at Lucy for a couple seconds. "Uhm…" she began. "Nothing definite has happened. I don't entirely understand it or him." Everyone giggled at Erza. "W-who wants cake?" she asked to divert our attention. She and Lucy ventured off to the kitchen and returned moments later with a decadent strawberry cake.
"Here you go, Saphira." Erza handed me the first slice.
"So what do you think of Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked me.
"It's weird," I attempted to explain. "I love the guild, and all of you guys are wonderful, but something just doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean?" Levy questioned in a concerned tone.
"I feel like our adventures aren't over yet. Like the craziness has just begun." I shrugged and returned my focus to my cake.
"You started hanging around Natsu. The craziness is never over. Trust me," Lucy agreed.
I took a bite of my cake and started to think. The path ahead may be challenging, but now I have Skye, Natsu, and the others to help me through it. Things are changing, but one things for sure; I finally have a family.