They're going to be late. Again.
Juvia gnaws on her bottom lip, messing up the candy pink gloss she'd just applied. Every student wore some. In a month, they'll have an amulet and this transformation will take seconds, today it's taken up the better part of an hour.
At the dressing table Cana duly clips in her third bow and gives a sickly sweet smile when their eyes meet in the mirror, 'What do you think JuJuBee, too much, too little or just right.' Juvia snorts. They arrived two weeks ago, in that time one of their classmates has earned the scorn of their little group. The girl modelled herself after her favourite fairy-tale character, which to her, meant seeking drama or creating it.
'You know, this would go a lot quicker with two pairs of hands,' Cana says.
Juvia gasps, fake excitement radiating from her core. 'Would it really?' Still, she helps Cana with the finishing touches, looping a ribbon round her hips and smoothing her skirt as best she could, considering how the space under the bed functioned as Cana's closet.
Two minutes to the bell and they're finally ready. Juvia sighs, she can already hear the lecture on punctuality they're sure to receive. Cana links their fingers, a comfort to them both.
They step outside, only to collide with golden blur. Risley. She bounces back to her feet and pulls them up, hooking an arm around each of them. 'I had to wait till the halls were empty, hold tight!'