Chapter 7

x Gray's POV x

After Lyon left, I continued staring at the table with biscuits.

'You shouldn't have told him all these things, because maybe now he thinks you don't like him back'.

I kept repeating brother's words over and over again in my head. With only the thought of Natsu liking me back, my whole face became crimson. But nii-san is right. I shouldn't have said all this things to Natsu. I acted like a total moron and I must think of a way to make it up to him.. I took a biscuit and bit a little from it, but then I put it back again, where the other were. It was true, they were my favorite and helped me get better every time I was nervous, scared or crying. But this time was different. I wasn't neither nervous or scared. So I thought of the only other way I could calm myself and get my thought clear – the small abandoned beach, behind the cliff, where only I and nii-san were going. There was quiet and no one would disturb me, and when Lyon comes back home and I wasn't there, he'll know where I was. So I went to my room, removed my boxers(yeah, I ran out from Natsu's apartment dressed only in boxers..) and put on my navy-blue swimming trunks. Then I put on a random white T-shirt and grabbed the towel, which was lying on my bed(probably nii-san left it there last night or something..).

I walked out of the house, towards the beach, reaching it soon. I put the towel on the sand and sat on it, hand on both my sides to keep my balance. I glued my gaze at the endless blue waters of the sea, watching how the waves were splashing over the shoreline, then moving back, like they were retreating. It felt like the waters wanted to reach me, but they couldn't. I enjoyed that feeling..

I closed my eyes and started listening to the sounds around me. I listened to the water. I listening to the breeze. I listened to the birds.. Everything was so calm..

And then the image of Natsu's grinning face popped up before my closed eyes. I quickly opened them, trying to run away, but the thoughts of him and what I did this morning just didn't want to leave my head. I leaned back on the tower, crossing my arms under my head, and stared at the cloudless blue sky. I kept recalling my conversation with Natsu from the morning over and over again, trying to come up with anything I could tell him..

And before I could realize, I fell asleep..

x Natsu's POV x

I was stuck in my kitchen for, like, hours already. Lucy and Erza just kept making me read those mangas and explaining every single page. Hello, I'm not that dumb! I felt like shouting at them to stop with that bullshit, but, for their luck, someone knocked on the door. I literally ran to the door and opened it. And the moment I saw who was standing there, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened.

"Hello, Natsu-san. Can I come in? I have something really important to speak with you."

Before me, there on my door, was standing Lyon, smiling at me. I nodded, jaw still dropped and eyes still widened, and moved away from the doorframe, so he could come in. He did and I closed the door behind him. We walked to the kitchen, where Lucy and Erza were discussing something about the manga they were looking at in the moment we entered. When they realized I had come back, they stopped talking to each other and Lucy turned her head towards me,

"There you are, Na-" she saw who was standing next to me, "Hello, Lyon-san!"

After hearing the name, Erza lifted her gaze to Lyon and smiled at him,

"Hello, Lyon-san! It's been a while!"

My jaw dropped once again. Wait! They know each other?! I closed my mouth and finally managed to speak,

"Y-you know each other?"

Lucy looked at me, smiling,

"Of course! Lyon-san is Juvia-chan's boyfriend!"

My jaw dropped once again, as I looked back at Lyon,

"You're Juvia's boyfriend?"

Lyon smiled at me,

"Yes. And, how you already know, Juvia is best friends with Erza-san and Lucy-chan. That's the reason of me knowing where you live, Natsu-san. You remember we met yesterday at the pool, right?" I nodded, "And when I said I was going on a date with Juvia-chan?" I nodded again, "Well, I asked her if she knows you and she told me that she surely knows you from high-school and that now you live at the same place Erza-san and Lucy-chan do. As you know, here in this building are only two apartments. I know where the girls live, so it was obvious that you live here. Then I knocked on you door, and, ta-dah!, here we are now!" Lyon smiled wider and I managed to close my mouth. Lyon moved his eyes to the girls,

"Um, we have something important to discuss here, so could you leave us alone, please."

They both smiled at him and nodded. Then moved their eyes on me, grinning slyly(oh, no, not again!),

"We're leaving the manga here, so you could read it later. Good luck, Natsu!"

And with those words, they left the apartment, closing quietly the door behind them. I looked back at Lyon,

"Thank you for saving me from them, Lyon-san!"

He smiled and nervously scratched the back of his head,

"You really don't have to thank me. I know what they're capable of. After I and Juvia started dating, she really wanted to introduce me to her friends and I, not knowing what was waiting for me, said yes. I'm still regretting this decision." We both laughed at his words. Then I remembered what Lyon said earlier,

"Um, Lyon-san, has that important thing we're gonna discuss something to do with Gray?"

Lyon nodded,

"Look, I'm really sorry about Gray's behavior that morning. I'm sure he didn't want to insult you. Sometimes he can't understand his own feelings and starts doing things he doesn't really mean to do." I should've looked like an idiot because, when Lyon saw my expression, he left a small laugh out of his lips and smiled again, "You're wondering from where did I learn all this things?" I nodded, "Gray ran home crying and collapsed on the sofa, so I asked him what had happened and he told me everything." My eyes widened even more in those words. What? Gray was crying? What have I done! I am such an idiot! Lyon, seeing my widened eyes, sighted, "I know my little brother really good and I know how he acts when he can't get his thoughts clear. I can imagine what he had done this morning and I'm really sorry you had to see this side of him.."

"No, everything's okay.." He can't get his thoughts clear, huh? Well, me too, actually..

"Natsu-san, mu foolish little brother likes you really much, but he's too stupid to realize it."

What was that? Gray really likes me? I should say I know that already by the way he kissed me last night and this morning, but, coming out of someone's mouth feels different. I couldn't help, but blush at Lyon's words.

"I came here only to ask you to give him some time. If you feel the same way towards him, of course. I'll be really grateful if you do, because he thinks a lot before doing something. And, don't worry, this conversation will stay between us." He smiled invitingly, and I blushed in even darker shade of red,

"I can't believe I'll admit that, but I think I like Gray. And I like him a lot."

Lyon's smile widened,

"Well, I'm happy you're sure what you feel. And if you can help Gray realize his own feelings, it would be great for both of you."

I smiled back at him,

"I guess you're right, Lyon-san. I'll try my best!"

"Well, that's everything I had to say, good to know you like him back. I'll be going now. Goodbye, Natsu-san." He smiled at me and walked out of my apartment, leaving me alone to wonder how I could help Gray..

A/N: phew, finally over with this chapter.. and, as I promised to Naruhincho, here it is, published before Sunday :D .. I'm not even sorry for the missing conversation between Natsu and Gray... BUT there will be one in the next chapter! (yeah, yeah, you can stop fan-girling now :D) .. anyway, I tried my best at writing the conversation between Lyon and Natsu.. and I should say I like where the things are going! :D and you didn't expect Lyon to go to Natsu, did you? muahahahaha, I feel so evil (don't ask.. just me acting stupid, ya know.. ) .. the chapter may be a little lame in places, and I'm not even sorry, because I was listening to Metallica's version of Star Wars's Imperial March and I felt really happy (yea, I am a fan of Star Wars, and I don't even care! :D) .. aaand, yeah, that's it..

Naruhincho, when I was describing Lyon in the previous chapter, the image you're talking about wasn't in my head, but if you imagine it like that, I'm okay with it, go ahead! :D BUT, Lyon is mine, do not touch! :D anyways, love ya ;3

darkhunterssix, I agree with you, but that will happen later ... (oh, just how much I love teasing people :D) so, it may happen in the next chapter, I dunno, I'll see when I come up with something :D glad you like the story and follow it, anyways, i really appreciate this ;3

AsDarknessSpreads, I don't think he'll get drunk pretty often from here on.. :D but maybeee, who knows? :D glad you like it ;3

IMPORTANT: From now on, I'm not really sure I'll be really active, because from the next week I'll start preparing for school and I won't have much free time. And from September 16th I'll start school and the only free time I'll (eventually) have, will be during the weekends. So,if it takes me too long to update, I'm really sorry, I just won't have time! I apologize from now!