~Chapter 5~
As Simple As Sexual Tension On the Bus(and jealous guy friends)
Jellal
Jellal
My cereal was soggy and my car wouldn't start. 'Wonderful!' I thought as I raced down the street to the bus stop at the base of the hill. Sure enough, Erza and Lucy stood on the corner with their bags.
"Ohiyo!" I shouted with a goofy grin on my face. Erza turned in my direction with wide eyes and a startled expression.
"Jellal? Don't you usually get a ride to school?" she asked as I approached. Ever since high school started to have my mom drive me to school. Although, I turned 16 a month ago so I can drive myself now. My mom had to argue with the school to get me a parking pass but somehow managed.
"Good morning, I'm Lucy." greeted the blonde peppily. "I've been staying with Erza and her grandmother." she added with an honest smile.
"Hello, I'm Jellal." he offered his hand for her to shake and she accepted.
"Jelly!" Erza exclaimed before tackle hugging him.
"Ooof." he grunted as she collided with him. Both of them fell in the grass by the sidewalk.
"Sorry about leaving early." she apologized while sitting atop him.
"Feeling better?" he asked, cheeks stained red. Jellal had taken to a solitary life style, being kind but nonchalant to everyone. Physical contact with anyone other than his mother and his brothers, especially a girl, was rare. Despite being more than accustomed to his scarlet haired friend's antics, antisocial habits can stick.
"Sorry." Erza giggled as she stood up and pulled him to his feet. Yup, she was just as strong as ever. Lucy just stood looking puzzled.
"You okay Erza? You sure you're okay to go back to school? With all due respect you're always so sour in the mornings."
"I'm great!" she grinned flashing her teeth at her best friends, cheeks rosy.
"So this is the Jellal Obaa-san thinks so high of?" asked Lucy trying to comprehend the situation. Erza nodded and Jellal flushed.
"Geez, she's always been one to dote on me." he mumbled.
"And for that you're lucky! That woman is uncharacteristically fond of you. She asked about you last night when I mentioned we had some classes together." Erza replied casually.
"Oh? Tell her I'm fine, and my mom is okay." he replied with surprise in his eyes.
"Why don't you come over tonight and tell her yourself?" Erza asked hopefully.
"Can do." he promised with a smile. Lucy just continued to watch, trying to analyze the situation and utterly failing.
"Lucy! Erza!" shouted a pink haired figure as he raced towards them from the opposite direction that Jellal had come from. He reached them in no time.
"Jellal?" he asked surprised. "You haven't rode the bus since high school started." he commented flatly.
"Good morning." Jellal offered the boy with an apologetic look. Natsu raised an eyebrow at this.
"Good morning. Long time no see…. me or Er-chan." he replied.
"Natsu." snapped Erza. She wasn't pleased with his hostile tone. Natsu just glared at Jellal before turning to greet Lucy warmly. The two juniors began a conversation of their own.
"What electives are you taking?" Jellal asked hoping to start a conversation.
"Not all that I wanted. They put me in chorus and computer app. I wanted to be in drawing and painting II so I'm going to try and negotiate my way into it. I'd also like to change my science class." she growled.
"Oh, and why is that." I'm in the same period as that stupid pipsqueak from Advanced Language Arts. I'd rather take AP Bio than an integrated class like they suggest before our senior year. Then I can take AP Chem next year. Today I'm going to stop at the guidance office when I drop off my schedule before homeroom. You know our school is weird." replied.
"How so?" he asked.
"Most schools keep the same homerooms all through high school or switch every year. Ours has one home room for our freshman and sophomore years and one for junior and senior years." she mused.
"Well I got lucky." he commented prompting her to raise an eyebrow and regard him with a questioning look. "Even though we only make one swap. I ended up with you for two whole years." he murmured, low enough that the others couldn't here but she could, with a warm gaze. It was Erza's turn to blush a bit and Jellal just chuckled. Out of the blue a shout pierced the still morning air.
"Flame brain!" hollered Gray as he raced towards them. Natsu was too immersed in a conversation with Lucy to be bothered to answer the insult. Erza on the other hand had no such distractions.
"Fullbuster!" she growled menacingly, "What did I say about fighting?" Erza emitted an angry aura that made the teenage boy in question whimper.
"Aye sir!" Gray replied and decided not to cause any trouble, from the looks of it anyhow. Jellal didn't miss the look of surprise followed by a glare as Gray cooly regarded his presence.
Not five minutes later the noisy bus pulled up to the curb and opened its doors for the students to board. Natsu claimed a seat and invited Lucy to sit with him and Gray piled in behind, obviously expecting Erza to join. But to his surprise, and dismay, she dragged Jellal to the very back of the bus and plopped down leaving him the aisle seat.
"I've missed you." Erza whispered in Jellal's ear as she pulled him into a warm embrace. Jellal responded by wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her head. "So you'll come over after school?" she pleaded.
"Yes. My mom's in the hospital for another day or two." he replied.
"Oh?" Erza asked worried.
"She stopped responding to her chemo." he replied unable to keep his voice from cracking.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'll come and visit her when she's home." Erza promised with sorrow. Jellal pulled back to look into her chocolate eyes.
"I'm glad we can still talk like this after so long." he admitted.
"Yeah." she agreed. She reached forward and rummaged through her bag on the floor for her phone to check the time, really she was just trying to avoid looking at him. The bus groaned as they stopped for more passengers and jerked forward when it accelerated again. Jellal watched her with an unfamiliar tension bothering him.
"Erza?" Jellal asked throatily. She finally looked at him wide eyed and question lingering in her gaze. It was too much, Jellal pulled her closer and kissed her tenderly. To his surprise rather than push her away, she responded by hungrily pulling him closer yet.
"Oi!" growled Gray causing them to spring apart. "No PDA on the bus or at school. And while you're at it Jellal, piss off. You should have been there for Erza over the last few years. But you weren't and I was."
"I-" Jellal was at loss for words.
"Acknowledged Fullbuster. Beyond the breach of the PDA rule, what Jellal does is none of your concern." she replied icily, seemingly unaffected by their kiss, something Jellal couldn't understand. The bleu-nette was beyond flustered that he'd actually kissed the girl who'd been his friend as long as he could remember. Gray sighed and shot Jellal one last irritated look before returning to his seat as the bus stopped a final time. Erza and Jellal sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence for the remainder of the ride home.
Author Note: I really need to get my story together. -_-' This just kinda happened. Sorry if it feels rushed or random, I Jellal feels overwhelmed and undeniably attracted by his childhood friend, ne? Please review, I really like to hear form my readers especially if they point out ways I could improve. If you review I'd also like some prompts and request for Jerza and Mystwalker one shots.
Arigatou Minna
~Puppy