Chapter Twelve: Lies

"Juvia!" I called, stepping around the members of Fairy Tail standing around. She could sure walk pretty fast. Finally though, I reached the balcony where Juvia was leaning over the edge. I couldn't see her face but tiny drops of water were still falling from her face.

"Juvia, are you…?" I began when a rumble sounded overhead. I looked up and saw the sky clouded with dark grey clouds. I didn't bother finishing my question if I already knew the answer. Instead I went up next to her and leaned over the edge as well. The rain began to pour down slowly, getting harder each second. I went over and shut the doors so no one from Fairy Tail could interrupt us.

"I'm all right," said Juvia the minute I walked back up next to her.

"Considering the tears and the rain, I'm pretty sure you're not," I said. I handed her a tissue from my pocket but it immediately soaked and withered away. I shrugged and threw it over my shoulder, "Do you want to go somewhere dryer so we can talk?"

She seemed reluctant but then nodded, "OK."

I walked towards the doors but Juvia shook her head, "I don't want to go through the guild looking like this. I don't want anyone to worry unnecessarily."

"Well, how else are we going to get down?" I asked.

Juvia's magic circle appeared and suddenly, I was in a big water bubble with Juvia.

"Here's how," she said, waving her hand. We sped downward and just as we were about to hit the ground, we swooped up and the bubble disappeared, allowing us to drop to the ground softly.

"Wow, I never knew you could do that," I said admiringly.

"What are you talking about?" said Juvia, "I did it at the Tower of Heaven."

"Oh, yeah," I said, remembering, "So where do you want to talk?"

Juvia thought and smiled slightly, "How about a place I used to go when I was little when I was in the area?"

"Sure," I said.

As we went through the dense, vine covered forest, I thought for a second if Juvia knew where she was going but I pushed that thought aside. Juvia was walking through the uneven ground like it was nothing while I was stumbling every second step. She must have been here before to walk so well, never once ducking under something because she knew where everything was. Finally, we reached a large willow tree with its long branches drooping to the ground. Juvia gently pushed them aside and we were in a large space. I nearly gawked at the sight.

A huge, quietly bubbling waterfall was falling down. A river was flowing with water as clear as glass. The banks of the river were wet and an impossible bright green. It was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen.

"It's beautiful," I gasped.

"Oh, this isn't it," said Juvia, "Come on."

She went to the base of the waterfall and stepped behind it. She motioned for me to follow her. I did and stepped behind the water to see a large cave that had a floor of smooth, cool rocks and rocky sides. Juvia sat on one side so I sat next to her, "How did you find this place?"

"I was often avoided and pushed around when I was little," said Juvia, "This place was my escape. I loved it here; whenever I was crying, I would come here. That's why the banks here are so green. Because it would always rain here because of me." She laughed softly.

"Speaking of crying, why are you?" I asked, "Crying I mean?"

"It's just…" said Juvia, "I… I love Gray-sama. And the way he looks at you and the way he looks at me, it's pretty obvious who he likes."

"No, he doesn't," I insisted, "He looks at us both the same ways."

"Just then, who do you think he was smiling at? And you love Gray too, don't you? Mira knew it and she pretty much knows everything about our guild."

"I might love Gray," I said, "Probably for the same reasons you love him."

The storm outside just suddenly upped in the loudness. Rain pelted down until I couldn't even see outside. I looked at Juvia and quickly added, "But… don't worry. Gray doesn't love me, at all. None of the guys in our guild have eyes out for other girls, except maybe Alzack and Bisca, right?"

The rain quieted down, suddenly. Juvia looked up, since she'd been staring down the whole time, "Really?"

"Sure," I said, "I mean, Gray probably just smiles at me because we're a team and we spend more time together."

Juvia nodded, taking this into consideration.

"And he does care about you," I said, "He wouldn't have let you fall off the Phantom Lord guild if it were otherwise."

The sun was bright outside.

"Yeah," said Juvia, nodding and smiling happily, "I guess you're right. I guess Gray-sama doesn't love either of us, just as friends."

"Yeah," I said, nodding, thinking, oh dear God, what have I done? Now what am I supposed to do if what Gemini said was true?

"Let's go back to the guild," said Juvia, getting up and smoothing her outfit. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and walked out into the bright sunlight. I followed and dried off in the trip back to the guild. No one seemed to notice what had happened except perhaps Mira who waved us over.

"What happened?" she asked softly so no one would overhear.

"Nothing, it's just a little misunderstanding," said Juvia.

"Hey, Lucy," said Natsu walking over and handing me some notes, "There's your share of the reward."

"Oh, OK," I said, just glad that it wasn't Gray who had come with the reward. It would just make things worse if Gray had come and smiled specifically at me and ignore Juvia again.

"Oh, and look forward to a couple of days from now," grinned Natsu.

"What?" I said.

"Your birthday," said Happy.

"It… is," I said, suddenly realising. My birthday was in a couple of days from now. I had never even realised it. In two days, I'd be one year older.

"Hey, that's right," said Mira, looking at the calendar behind her head where a date was circled in red, my birthday.

"I'm going to do something great!" said Natsu, putting his arm around me and laughing, "You're not going to believe it! Ha, ha, ha!"

"Great," I said, "I'll look forward to it."

"Gray says he's going to do something amazing too," added Happy, "The girls of Fairy Tail are all pitching in to give you a present and I actually have no idea what the guys are doing."

"Oh," I said, "OK. I'll look forward to all of it."

"Happy!" said Juvia, splashing water on him, "You spoilt the surprise!"

"I just told Lucy that the girls are pitching in," said Happy, "I didn't tell them what you'd be doing!"

"OK," shrugged Juvia, "I guess that's OK."

I didn't pay attention to any of the other words they said because I was thinking about Gray and his big surprise. The last time Natsu led me on; it turned out to be only for Virgo's help. I wonder if Gray was doing something similar. But then, it wasn't my birthday when Natsu did that. But still…

What if it's something that'll hurt Juvia…? I thought, what will I say then?