A/N: I finally have had a stroke of genius when it comes to the plot line. So the story's mostly mapped out! Let's now hope that I don't forget all of it xD Why such a low-vote of confidence on my part? It's cause everyday I'm not able to remember where I put my phone 5 minutes ago. It's a problem.

Chapter 19 – My Best Friend Is A Smart Ass

The chill night air feels welcoming. It envelopes me as I briskly walk out the MAM's back entrance. I don't know where I'm going. It feels as if the physical and emotional sides of me have split, and right now I have no energy to piece them back together.

Shivers run down my spine as make my way towards Magnolia University. I realize I should've dressed in warmer layers than just a thin, long sweater and rolled up jeans. With my head down and arms crossed to vainly keep me warm, I barely notice the route home. The sidewalks blend together along with streetlights that dimly shine on well-worn roads.

I love living in Magnolia. With a population of about 700,000 it was considered a major city, but it wasn't as big as the capital Crocus that had 6 million or so. It has the reputation as being the music capitol of Fiore. Any day you can find free concerts with musicians hoping to make it big. Of course that's not all it has. Cozy coffee shops and major retailers line the streets, and it's a major hub for many young adults such as myself because of the excellent colleges and relatively low crime rates.

Smiling slightly at the sight of campus, I proceed to make my way to Magnolia Fountain and sit on its border, my back faces the fountain while my legs dangle over the edge. I close my eyes and listen for a second to the rushing water that soothes my thoughts. I can finally think.

I hear Gray's words echo in my mind, "I think you literally rewrote some of you sad memories." I unconsciously shake my head at his suggestion. I'm an idiot, I think to myself. I should've stayed and asked him to explain more. Kagura, lying, going to my hometown- I understood none of it. So instead of replying I left because I didn't want to deal with him. I guess I'll ask him when I see him again, or maybe it's best if we stopped seeing each other.

I open my eyes with a start, the thought slipped in so naturally I immediately feel a sense of guilt. My hands grip the stone under me until my knuckles turn white. When have I become such a monster?

I pump two fists Natsu style into the brilliant sunlight that greets me with a winning warmth as I walk out of Advanced Physics class. Getting a 94.8987 was practically unheard of in Professor Aquarius's class. What's with the decimals you might ask? Well this particular prof likes being difficult, ask anyone who's had her and they'll tell you she's such a hard-ass. True story.

Brimming with excitement I can't wait to see Lucy's face at when she hears me tell the great news. Everyone in our class knows Prof. Aquarius has it in for Lucy. There's a rumor her long time off/on again boyfriend is a blonde, and since Lucy is the only blonde in the class, she gets targeted whenever the prof needs to let off some steam. Sometimes I stand up for her, other times I'm a bad friend and just watch- it can get really entertaining.

Looking up, I squint my eyes to check the time on the imposing clock tower that can be seen wherever you're on campus. It's a phenomenon in its own right; of course everything is when it comes to the builder of the clock. Lucy adores the great architect Zeref and says she'd marry him in a heartbeat, I'm always the one to tell her he lived like 100 years ago. In her defense she says he lives in her heart.

The time says 11:33, I have about an hour before lunch with Lucy. As I weave my way though the passing students to my room I think about what to do next. Homework? Naw, maybe I'll check out that new doughnut shop on 133rd Street, or maybe I'll- My next idea is cut short as I notice a suspicious looking character out of the corner of my eye.

I don't have time to run, so I full on dive to the side and ungracefully land in a one of MU's many decorative bushes. Peering through the leaves, I see a confused Gray stare directly at my direction, then shrug and walk away.

That was close, too close. I grimace at my cowardice, not to mention the twigs digging at my sides. I decide to be a loser and stay in the bush a little longer, a) to make sure Gray doesn't see me and b) to contemplate life. I've never done it before so I might as well try now. It's a great story to tell the grandkids.

It's been a two weeks since that night at the museum. It's still the same with Lucy and Natsu, but with Gray, well as you can see I've been avoiding him. It's not usually my style to hide, but honestly I'm scared about what to say to him. The times we talk we always end up hurting each other, so what would be different this time around?

Later that same night when I got back to my room I listed what I knew was true about my past in order to tell Gray the next time I saw him. 1) My parents both died in their photography studio because of an unexpected fire. That's all my other parents (technically my aunt and uncle) would say. 2) I stayed with Jellal's family for about two weeks in foster care while my parents were in the country of Minstrel. 3) I remember my biological parents were nice but everything before is really hazy, even my brother Sho I don't remember that well. He left to military school when he was 15 and I was 5. He sends letters, but I haven't seen him since then. He loves travelling around the world and there's nothing I wish more for than to see him again. At the start of college he sent a letter saying he wouldn't be coming back like he said it would. It might be another 5 years…

Brushing off that depressing thought, I carefully look to make sure a certain Fullbuster isn't around and all ninja like I crawl out of the bush. Other kids give me strange looks, but I just smile and wave all casually like everyone dives into bushes for fun.

The girl with the infectious laugh is indeed laughing at me right now. Usually I join in too, I swear Lucy could be a comedian, but I was actually trying to tell her a serious story.

It had started off well enough, I got to be smug and see the priceless look on her face when I told her about my test grade. Then it all when downhill from there. While staring (and waiting) at the conveyor belt in order to grab our favorite sushi, Lucy was able to pry out of me my status with Gray. I honestly wanted her to give me advice about him, but after hearing about me and the infamous shrub she went hysterical.

Currently she's doubled over in the booth across from me laughing her heart out. In indignation I stuff her favorite sushi that she has waited 10 minutes for into my mouth.

"Are you serious, did you leave a dent mark?" she asks amusedly. "You have to show me when we get back." Only after was she done with her second fit of laughter did she notice what I had done. "Omygods why did you eat that? Erzaaaa," she whines as she throws an ikura egg at me.

I deftly catch it in my mouth and smile at her. "Sharing is caring," I say sweetly and add, "If you don't tell Natsu or Gray about that little incident then I'll get you a dozen fresh doughnuts from that new shop." Almost as an afterthought I request, "Oh, and I need advice on Gray. I won't feel so guilty for not talking to him if you would've done the exact same thing if you were in my position."

My best friend perks up at the word doughnuts. Besides our motto 'sisters before misters' we thought up one of our own, 'doughnuts before bronuts" We think it's pretty clever.

"Well you're not gonna like what I say because I'm pretty sure I've told you this before but, why don't you just talk to him? Don't make it a big deal; tell yourself it's just a conversation. You know Gray's a chill dude, he would never hate you. So what's there to lose? If you work things out great, if not then you still haven't lost me and Natsu," Lucy says thoughtfully.

I look at her and give her a small smile. "Yeah, that's a good way to look at it. If we're gonna be friends again it will happen, and if it doesn't then it's not like the end of the world." It might possibly be though, we've shared so many memories over the years, I think darkly. "I may have made this way too big of a deal. Dang Luce, when have you become so wise?"

"I have another wise idea. If you don't want to be alone with Gray I can always hide in the bushes." Lucy barely holds her laughing in when she delivers the last line.

"Gods don't start this again," I say half serious, half jokingly. Something tells me she's never gonna let me live this one down.

Getting back to a more serious voice she says, "Also if you and Gray are disagreeing about your past, why don't you call your parents so they can clarify things?"

I stare at her blankly for a few seconds. Why didn't I do that at the very beginning? I fake hit my forehead on the table a couple times. "This is unbelievably dumb. Can things possibly get any worse?"

With a deadly somber tone, a tone you only use when you tell the news of a close relative or friend's death, Lucy deadpans, "Well, you have bush twigs in your hair."

A/N: I left Erza's reaction up to what you guys would imagine xD Also... Special shout-out to Absolute-ZERO999 for being the 100th reviewer! Ok, it's not like I'm this review-hungry author but I just thought 100 is kinda a special number. Reviews are just kinda this nice extra bonus to the authors who have worked hard on their story and a good way to receive feedback. I try to read/review your guys's stories too whenever possible :)

Thanks for the fave Shemar893 and Thirteen Hadley! And thank you for those who followed.

FairyTailErza12 - I know right? For a hw break I'm thinking I'll read this one fanfic and then 2 hours later I wonder what I have done to my life o.O

BridgeBurn100 - I'm glad you thought it was great! haha you're awesome too :)

IceBerry266 - I wait for the new volumes to come out, but on Tumblr I came across it & thought I'd incorporate that in there. It's so sad cause they're so cute together

PinkKoala213 - Thanks so much for binge reading! :) haha I usually don't do it myself or I start feeling really guilty about all that time...