Chapter Eighteen: Article

The day after I dropped off the note, it seemed to be a normal day. As I walked towards the guild, I passed the newsagency-type shop where I saw Wendy and Charle.

"Hey," I said, walking towards them, waving.

"Lucy-san!" said Wendy, waving and going back to what she was doing. She took out her wallet, dropping in upside down and shaking it a few times. A fly flew out and Wendy put it away, "Charle, do you have any money?"

"Does it look like I have any money?" said Charle, gesturing to her dress, "This dress doesn't even have any pockets."

"Wait," I fished around and took out a couple of notes, giving them to the man. He looked closely at me and said, "Hey… You're that girl from the article!"

"What?" I said, looking at what Wendy was buying. It was a copy of Sorcerer's Magazine. I opened it and flicked through the articles and posters of Mira posing in revealing outfits. I can just imagine the look on Elfman's face. Suddenly, I passed an eye-catching page. I flicked back and my eyes bugged out, "EH?" I shouted.

For there were blown up pictures of me and Gray and me and Natsu making out with a colourful heading stating, Former Heartfilia Heir Finds New Love(s)?

"This is from a PLAY!" I shouted, about to rip the magazine in two but then remembering that Wendy wanted it so I resisted, "How can they do this?"

"Gossip magazines make news out of everything," said Charle, floating over to me, "Hmm… who knew you had two men wrapped around your little finger?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I said.

"Well, I'm just saying," said Charle, blunt as ever, "You seem a bit hysterical to have two men coming for you."

"Charle," said Wendy firmly, before looking sympathetically at me, "Lucy, you probably don't want to go back to the guild since… well…"

"Yeah," I said, thinking of what the guild members would think when they see those photos.

"Maybe you want to go someplace and talk a bit then?" said Wendy, "Maybe it'll make you feel better?"

"Sure, thanks," I said.

"Charle, let's go," said Wendy, picking up the magazine and walking out.

Soon we were at the same café where I'd met with my Dad.

"So," said Wendy, looking at the article, "What's with these pictures of you, Gray and Natsu?"

"Cue screaming," said Charle.

"THAT SCENE WAS IN A FREAKING PLAY!" I screamed. Luckily the café was pretty much empty and no one was around to witness, "THOSE FREAKING (beep) AT THE GOSSIP MAGAZINES! WHY, WENDY, WHY?"

"Well, Lucy-san," said Wendy, seeming slightly surprised at my outburst. She played around with a crack in the table, listening for more screaming but I was done. When she saw I was finished, she looked up and started speaking.

"Well, actually, I wouldn't know why but it is pretty… reasonable to assume that two people love each other if they're seen kissing."

"In a play," I pointed out.

"But the director said 'Yes, these people are couples'."

"WHAT?" I said, snatching the magazine, "Sorry," I apologised quickly to Wendy.

I skimmed the article looking for whatever was there and saw it.

After confronting the director of the largely successful play, we had the following interview:

Sorcerer's Magazine: So, considering the steamy kisses between three of the main stars, we have to ask… Are these people actually couples?

Director: Why, yes, yes, of course.

"WHAT?" I yelled, looking at the line and wishing I had made more of a hard time for the stupid old director, "I'm not a couple with Gray or Natsu! These people BELIEVED this? God, now I'm going to seem like a slut…"

"It should be no big deal then," said Charle.

"Charle!" said Wendy, clearly close to snapping, "Please! Can't you see Lucy-san's in pain, here?"

"I'm just saying," said Charle, "That everyone in the guild would rather believe Lucy's words instead of the director's. If Lucy tells them they are not dating, the guild will believe her."

"I think she's right," said Wendy.

"Yeah…" I nodded, "99.9% of the guild anyway…" What if Juvia saw this? She'd never listen to me then…

Wendy stood up, then and said, "Gomenasai, Lucy-san but I have to get going to the guild. I have to help some guild members hurt from a mission."

"Yeah, sure, go ahead," I said.

"I hope you feel a bit better to get your feelings out," said Wendy before rushing off, Charle following behind.

I waved and thought, yeah, it did, Wendy. Arigato. But what am I supposed to do about Juvia… Maybe she won't see it… But what if she does? Then again, maybe she won't but… ARGH!

Just as I was having a complete meltdown, someone suddenly sat in the chair opposite me, where Wendy was sitting just before. I looked up and saw Gray, shirtless as always with only shorts on, "Hey."

"Hi," I said, dwelling some more on Juvia before realising I was being pretty rude, "Sorry. Hey, did you see this article?" I held it up for Gray to see. Instead of freaking out like I did, though, he just shrugged, "Yeah, it's no big deal."

"How can you say that? This is ridiculous!" I cried.

"It happens all the time," said Gray, "Back when everyone didn't know Elfman and Mira were siblings, they were a couple too!"

"That's horrible," I said, "And embarrassing…"

"They were cool about it," said Gray, "Levy, Droy and Jet were all featured on an article together that's just like ours but they didn't mind. I was coupled with Erza, Cana, Mira, Evergreen, you name it. So has Natsu actually."

"Since when do you and Evergreen even talk?" I said, not remembering one instant.

"It was before you joined the guild," said Gray, "We were talking about a mission and I reached over to get my drink and so did she and our hands touched and the press took a picture."

"Over touching hands?" I said.

"When they get a good story, they make it happen," shrugged Gray, "Although none of those times I was ever snapped kissing somebody."

"Exactly!" I said, "This is why I'm freaking out; that we are caught on camera, making out!"

"You need to relax!" said Gray, reaching over just then and touching my hand to comfort me, "What are you doing tomorrow? Maybe we can do something that'll take your mind off it."

"Well, I am meeting Juvia," I said.

"When?"

"Uh… 6:30pm at the earliest."

"So we can do something for the afternoon," said Gray, "Do you want to?"

"Um, yeah, OK," I said, feeling excited for tomorrow.

"Great," said Gray, "I'll come by your place tomorrow. What time works for you?"

"Uh, well, I usually get up at around 8…? But shouldn't we take a couple missions now or something? It is our job, you know…"

"We're actually having a slow week," said Gray, "Not many missions are coming in right now so everyone's already taken all of them before new ones can get in. We pretty much don't have any missions to take."

"Oh," I said, "Well, in that case, I'm sleeping in until 9, OK?"

"Yeah, whatever works for you," said Gray, "I'll see you at 9, tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah," I said.

"OK," said Gray, getting up and coming over to kiss me lightly on the cheek again before walking away, "See you, Lucy."

I sat there for a few minutes, surprised he had kissed me again. Then I finally got my act together and got up, going in the direction of the guild.