(Original published 10/3, updated published 10/7)
[[NOTE: if you have not read chapters 8 & 9 since October 7th, please reread them before continuing with the story. They had been redone to fix issues with pacing. Thank you]]
Okay, this is a new version of this chapter. I decided I didn't really like how I had paced the old versions of chapters 8 and 9 so I rewrote them. None of the plot elements are being removed, they're just being rearranged and combined with new material to make the pacing work better.
Again, thanks to all my lovely reviewers.
I realized that I never actually mentioned the name of the tailor/clothing shop the Strauss siblings own… whoops.
Shivering, Lucy pushed open the door to Sew Be It, the small bells along the frame chiming. Swinging the door shut behind her to block out the cold autumn wind, she glanced around the shop, face lighting up when she found the object of her search.
"Juvia! That dress looks fantastic on you!" The blue haired woman blushed as she twisted her torso to see Lucy. She was standing on the dressmaker's stool as the two Strauss sister's pinned the hem of the pale blue evening gown she was wearing.
Carefully avoiding tripping over Mira and Lisanna, Lucy walked a circle around Juvia, admiring the dress. It had a draped neckline that connected to a high back, which was covered in intricate cutouts that reminded her of waves and ocean currents. It was a pale blue for most of its length, darkening to a deep navy by the bottom, with tiny silver and white crystals scattered across the skirt. The Strauss siblings had really outdone themselves. "Obviously the dress is almost ready. How are the other preparations for the show going, Miss Painter?" she teased. Juvia looked down.
"Ju-Juvia thinks it isn't fair for Lucy to tease her like that! Lucy is a popular writer with more experience in these sorts of events!" she cried, fidgeting with the front of the dress until Mira scolded her.
Lucy patted Juvia's arm consolingly. "And that's why I'm here to talk to you about what's going to happen at the gala. You'll be so prepared you'll feel like you've done it all a million times," she said, soothing the distressed artist. She nudged Mira's shoulder, asking "Mira, can I steal Lisanna after you guys are done with the fitting?"
Mirajane glanced up at her, saying "I don't see why not. I'll just get Elf to help me clean up. Speaking of which…" She stood up, patting Juvia on the shoulder. "You're all ready to go, dear. Go ahead and change. Just be sure to take the dress off carefully! Don't want to dislodge any pins." Juvia nodded and swept into the changing room as Lucy helped Lisanna up from floor. As she brushed herself off, the youngest Strauss looked at Lucy inquiringly. "So, where are we off too?"
The blonde giggled at her. "Lily's, of course! It's coffee time!"
Laughing, the three women pushed each other in through the door of the café. Despite it already being late afternoon, there were still plenty of people at the bar and tables. Spotting an empty table near the bar, the three of them shrugged out of their coats and sat.
Lucy rubbed her hands together in excitement. "Obviously we're going to talk about your expo and gala… but first it's gossip tiiiime!~"
Lisanna and Juvia both squealed. They all loved gossip. Lucy smirked at Lisanna. "So, how's it been going with Bixlow?" The white haired woman flapped a hand at her. "Same old, same old. Trust me… you really don't want to know the details." The other two shuddered. "Oh, one funny thing though – you know how there are community craft fairs all the time? Well, one time, when Laki wasn't able to runt Seidhr Cedar's booth, he tried to run it by himself. They didn't sell ANYTHING! Apparently kids were terrified of him…"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, the face and tongue tattoos, crazy hair, and weird habits tend to do that."
Juvia turned to Lucy. "Anyway, how have Lucy and Natsu been? They've been dating for a year or two now, right? Any… hmmm… new developments?" Lisanna giggled, "I still can't believe you guys waited so long because you thought I liked him!"
Lucy blushed scarlet at their teasing. "No, nothing new. He still comes in through the window, even though he has a key. Hell, at this point, Happy spends more time at my place than at his." She smirked at Juvia. "Besides, if anyone can be needled about waiting, it's this girl! You and Gray waited, what, 3 years to start dating? You guys should be married by now!" Lisanna nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Speaking of married, Lucy, how's your brother? Isn't Aries expecting?" Lisanna asked. Lucy nodded. "Yeah, they just found out. She's about a month along. They're doing well, even if everyone else at Zodiac Models is constantly teasing them."
Juvia suddenly clapped her hands together, stars in her eyes. "OOOOH Juvia can't believe she almost forgot about this!" The other two turned to her, confused. "Forgot about what?"
Juvia beckoned them closer, a finger on her lips. Still confused, they obeyed and leaned in. The blue haired woman looked around furtively, then leaned down and whispered, "Juvia heard this from Gray… for the past week or so, Jellal has been taking longer lunch breaks than normal… Gray has been wondering what it is that could distract him from his beloved cakes, so a few days ago, while Jellal was in the back changing back into his work clothes, Gray peeked inside Jellal's bag… and guess what was in there?"
Lucy and Lisanna, entranced, shook their heads.
Quietly, Juvia squealed, "Engagement ring catalogues!~"
The other two felt their jaws drop.
"Ohmigod he's going to propose to Erza?"
"That's so adorable! Though, honestly… never would I have expected the Demonic Titania of Magnolia Martial Arts to be tamed by a quiet baker like Jellal!"
Their excited whispers were cut short by a familiar voice. "Hey guys! What are you whispering about?"
Lucy looked up and smiled. "Kinana! I didn't realize this was your shift." Remembering the question, she answered, "Oh, just some gossip about a certain red headed terror."
The purple haired woman put her hands up in defense and backed up. "Don't tell me. Please. I'd like to continue living." The three at the table laughed.
"Anyway, what would you like to order?" she asked, pulling out her order pad.
Lisanna struck a dramatic pose. "For autumn… it must always be pumpkin! Pumpkin pie! Pumpkin lotion! Pumpkin flavored unmentionables! And especially…" She thrust a fist in the air. "PUMPKIN SPICE LATTEEEEEEEEE! OH YEAH!"
The entire restaurant turned and stared at her.
Kinana blinked. Then she turned to the bar.
"Lily… I'm assuming you got that order?"
The big man chuckled and gave a thumbs up. Turning around to make it, he called "One super pumpkin PSL, coming right up."
He opened the cabinets where they kept the drink supplies and froze. Oh no…
Noticing his sudden immobility, Lucy frowned and called over, "Lily? You okay over there?"
Lily swiftly closed the cabinet and yanked his cell phone out of his pocket, punching in a phone number. Putting it up to his ear, he waited for a response then bellowed into the mouthpiece, "CODE ORANGE. I REPEAT, CODE ORANGE. SUPPLIES OF PUMPKIN ARE CRITICALLY LOW. MUST REPLENISH IMMEDIATELY." In a normal voice, he continued, "The mall, which has all the stores where I get my supplies, closes in 45 minutes and I can't leave the bar. I'll text you the address and a shopping list. Bring me the stuff before closing time or I'll start telling everyone your baby stories. Have fun~"
With that he hung up, cutting off whatever protests may have been coming from the other end.
Now the entire store was staring at him while Lucy, Juvia, Lisanna, and Kinana were struggling to contain their laughter. Looking around, he shrugged and said, "What? It's my job to tease him."
Gajeel's ears were still ringing as he swung himself off his motorcycle – the shipment with his big stuff from LA had finally arrived, including his cherished mode of transport – in near the address he had been sent. Damn that man could yell.
He gazed up at the massive mall, mentally cursing his uncle for sending him off on this wild goose chase. The list of shops Lily had texted him was a mile long, and he had no idea where they might be in this monstrosity. Grumbling, he pulled his leather coat shut against the wind and trudged inside in search of a map.
Levy sighed heavily as she made her way towards her favorite tea shop. She honestly wasn't sure whether today was a good one or a terrible one.
Sure, all her classes had gone well today – she'd even been able to scold that stupid kid with the terrible paper. And yeah, she'd gotten through a good chunk of a chapter for Lucy's book while translating during lunch. She even had time to stock up on her drink supplies, even if she hadn't been making her own drinks as often since… well. Yeah.
On the other hand, some jerk had gone around the faculty parking lot and slashed everyone's tires and keyed the paint on all the cars. So now her poor car was in the shop and she was stuck walking around magnolia in the cold, late autumn wind.
Kind of put a damper on her good mood.
Forcing her mood in a more positive direction, she stepped into the shop, reveling in the clean scents of herbs and tea leaves that surrounded her. Breathing deeply, she headed towards the back – stopping short when she saw someone that looked totally out of place in the whimsical little store, towering over the small shelves in black leather and worn jeans, alternating his gaze between glaring at his phone and squinting at the labels on the tins of leaves.
"Gajeel?"
More awkward encounters! YAY!
Also, I can totally imagine Lisanna and Lucy as the stereotypical white girl in yoga pants and uggs ordering pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks all through autumn.
Anyway, the old chapter 9 (the backstory galore) is going to be slightly changed and moved to being chapter 11 (possibly 12, but probably 11). I probably won't change it very much, but I wanted to make it fit better. As soon as I finish writing 10 I'll give you those 2 chapters, and then we can get on with the story.
Hopefully people like the new versions of these chapters. I just decided I really wasn't a fan of how I had done them before… so yeah.
