A/N: Guys, I'm so sorry for the late update. Last weekend was crazy because this Monday I had both a science fair project and an essay due. Trust me, writing this is way better than all the homework I've been doing lately.
Chapter 7 – Shock
Gray hadn't meant to get cotton candy stuck in Erza's hair. It all started with Natsu's stupid dare on the day they went to Ryusetzu Land.
Lucy stood awestruck at the entrance, taking in all the colorful buildings, the sheer amount of rides, and the overwhelming crowds.
"Come on Lu, we haven't even gone on one ride," Natsu complained as he tugged on her arm. "See, I made a list of roller coaster we need to go on."
Lucy glanced at the crumpled piece of paper he held out to her. She read aloud, "Number one, all of them. That's the craziest idea ever; it would take us all day. Look at the lines, they're massive!"
"Actually Natsu, she's right. Remember the last time you went on one? For the next week Gray and I had to nurse you back to health. I forbid you from going on any of them." Erza nodded at her own words, acknowledging the fact that she could boss everyone around.
"Yeah Natsu, it's too bad. I would love to see your ugly mug again as you go down and up," Gray smirked. "I on the other hand, am a master at roller coasters. I ain't scared of nothing."
Natsu crossed his arms, "Oh yeah? To prove you're expertise, I challenge you to a friendly wager. You are going to stuff your face with cotton candy and then go on three of the scariest rides. If you can keep your food in after those rides, then I won't pull pranks on you for a year."
Gray stroked his chin like the actors in the movies who try too hard to be serious. Hmm that would be nice. No more searching for stolen shirts, and no more awkward encounters with Juvia. Like at last year's Christmas Party.
"But," Natsu continued, "If you lose then, I get to order you around for a full 24 hours, effectively starting when we meet up later."
"You got yourself a deal. Just don't cry too hard when I win." The two shook hands while all Erza and Lucy could say was, "boys."
"Lucy, let's go do something else while we wait for Gray's suffering."
Natsu grabbed Lucy's hand and in an instant they were lost in the crowd. Erza swore she could hear Lucy's squeals of protest to slow down.
Erza turned to Gray, hands on her hips with a pretty brow raised. "That was the stupidest bet ever. You're gonna lose."
"Hey," Gray protested. "Have more faith in me. Ya gotta help me find some quality cotton candy." Erza just shook her head and followed Gray to find the perfect cotton candy.
Ride 1 – 'The Stomach Churner'
The coaster moved in a jerky fashion but otherwise it was very anti-climactic. They got off the ride with Gray feeling like a boss.
Ride 2 – 'Intense Pain'
"This is too easy," Gray happily told Erza as they got off the second ride. "The name is laughable; all I got was an intense side ache from laughing."
Ride 3 – 'Little Tyke'
Gray leaned back in his seat, wishing he could prop his feet up, "Natsu doesn't know what he's doing." He munched on his 5th bucket of cotton candy while he waited for the coaster to start.
"You're gonna regret stuffing yourself like a chipmunk," Erza dryly pointed out. She was tired of Gray's cocky attitude.
Gray retorted "Yes mother," as he rolled his eyes and took a bite of an even bigger piece of fluff.
"Can't you do anything right?" screams the woman I hate the most in the world. "Erza, I just bought that expensive vase and then you, or your friend, just had to wreak it while practicing baseball. Why can't you be like your brother?"
I try to sound my toughest, but in the end my hands were still shaking and my knees were knocking together. "It was my fault; she had nothing to do with this mess." I nervously wait for her reply; there is always no telling what she will do when I get in trouble.
"Just for confessing, you will stay in your room for the rest of the day with no dinner," my mom says coldly.
Gray's face was literally green. What looked like a simple roller coaster turned out to be the highest, most terrifying ride he had ever been on. At times he felt suspended in the air and then gravity pulled him back down. He felt like any minute he would slip out of his seatbelt.
He felt something coming up, and the more he tried to keep it down the more it got worse. He turned to the left and vomited outside of the car. Once done he looked at how Erza was faring. She seemed to be sick too, albeit for a different reason. They both staggered out and made it to a bench, people moving out of the way as both of them looked completely drunk.
This is ironic; Erza wasn't tired at all when we rested at the ice ring. Now she looks worse than me. Gray's stomach was slowly but surely untwisting itself.
"I've got a huge headache and I don't know why." She rubbed her temple and leaned her aching head on his shoulder.
Gray silently smiled and looked affectionately over at Erza, who fell asleep as soon as her head hit him. He took a mental picture of this moment, determined not to forget it.
After 10 minutes he gently shook her awake. "Let's go find Natsu and Lucy." He sighed, "Can you leave out the fact that I lost?" He waited for an answer until he realized she was asleep again.
After another 10 minutes he finally managed to wake her up, only to have her shout in a confused daze, "Die you masochistic freak!" She then proceeded to use his arm as a punching bag until he managed to slip gum in her mouth. He concluded the peppermint restored her to her right senses.
Erza was slightly embarrassed she she walked next to Gray, "Sorry for what happened back there, is you arm ok?"
Gray just shook his shoulders. "It's all good." He then pointed to two familiar looking contours, "Look, it's those two, it figures they're at the food court. Whit, it' not too late to lie and save my hide."
She dashed to where they were, all embarrassment forgotten. He jogged over and heard the last part of Erza's grand tale. "And then at the end he puked his guts. In a very gentlemanly manner," she added as she saw him coming closer.
"You give me too much credit. So what will you have me do o great one?" he asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Actually you seem like you've had a rough day, so Lu and I have decided all you have to do is take Erza on the Ferris wheel," Natsu explained as he and Lucy high-fived each other. He seemed to want to say, 'This is your big chance Gray!'
Mixed feelings rolled in his already fragile stomach. Oh Natsu, you know I've wanted to have this moment happen so badly but…
"Sweet I've always have wanted to go one!" Erza said excitedly. She was usually smart about these kinds of things, but this time she missed the obvious set-up. She realized what was happening while sitting with Gray, alone. A slight rosy feeling climbed up her neck and it traveled to her cheeks.
"Whit, look at that magnificent sky. Before my dad passed away he would always tell me to never miss a sunset. No matter what happens, it reminds you that a new day is just ahead. To not get caught up with what happened in the past." His voice caught at the last sentence, "It's so hard to do that though."
Without thinking she grabbed his left hand and interlocked it with her right. His whole body tensed, but it gradually relaxed as time went on.
Looking at him, with his black hair reflecting the fading light, she realized that he meant a lot more to her then she admitted. She couldn't describe why she knew, but she knew why she had suppressed it. Erza wanted to run her fingers into his hair and look into his eyes, to find out what was to become of them. Before she could say or do anything, the ride was over. As they were exiting she had this feeling that she had missed the wrong road, and she wanted to turn back time.
They strolled along the pier hand in hand for a few minutes, and for the first time she couldn't say what was on her mind.
Erza felt a familiar presence before she even saw who it was behind her. "Jellal?" she asked tentatively, wishing that she had imagined the whole thing.
"It's been a long time," a cool, smooth voice replied.
"What so you want," Erza asked with such animosity someone could almost touch it.
"It's about Gray."
A/N: All I can say is I tried to pack in enough Grayza fluff because it's definitely gonna be different from here on out. But hey, there're always a light at the end of a tunnel. Anywho, here's the shout-out corner.
WinterWaltz - Yes, preach! Juvia and Lyon deserve each other. No need for a freaking love triangle. Mashima give us back our Grayza!
PsychoticFreak8080 - Remember in that one episode where the Team Natsu was in a play? That's where I got the scene of Erza blanking on stage. My fav part is where two members from FT are like "Gray and Erza are eloping?!" or something along that line. xD
GrayzaLover - Haha yeshhh, Gray singing would actually be the best thing ever. And with a guitar, ahhh even better!