Chapter 3

Erza stared at her friend for a minute which felt like forever. "Hello! Are you still with me?" Gray waved his hand in front of Erza's face which made her blink two or three times.

"Yeah yeah. I was just.. I did not expect to hear that you like Lucy..." she said while looking at the ground.

"So? Whay do you think?" Gray asked again, "I mean, I'm single, she is too. And she is smart, beautiful and sexy..."

Erza doesn't know why she felt like her heart is being stabbed. Well they were very close to each other, Gray cared for her more that how Jellal used to. Maybe she just thought that the two of them could be together. Now she thinks that she just 'assumed' that Gray might like her back. She turned and looked at Lucy, "Yes you are right, but are you sure its ok? I mean, Natsu is our friend. Wouldn't it be awkward when we get together and you and Lucy started to go out?"

Gray sighed, "well I am planning to ask Natsu before going with it..."

"If it will not cause any insecurity or anything else. I guess its fine..."

"Yes! Thank you Erza! You really are the bestest friend I could ever ask for!"

"But make sure to tell Natsu, I don't want him to think that you betrayed him, ok?"

"What the hell was I thinking?" Erza scolded herself while walking back home. 'how could I have presumed that Gray and I would be together? Why did I even think that he liked me more than a friend? You are so stupid Erza!' she kept on thinking without looking at the way she was going. 'First of all how can he like me? I'm not even as pretty as Lucy, and I am a single mom, who would even dating me? I cant believe I expected him to like me!'

"Hey watch where you're going!" Erza accidentally bumped on someone. The man's stuff fell on the ground. Erza clearly did not notice, and the guy also did not notice Erza before they looked at each other while Erza picks up the papers on the ground while apologizing.

-FLASHBACK-

It was during the summer classes. Erza, Mira, Cana, Levy, Eve and Ren were having lunch at a nearby cafè. Gajeel and Hibiki were not with them because they went home to their dorm. Gray is enrolling that day so he decided to have lunch with his friends.

"You're not eating AGAIN?" Gray looked at Erza who just bought a coffee

"I'm on a diet..." She said and looked away while sipping her iced coffee

Gray stood up and went to the counter to order some food. When he went back, he gave Erza some food. "you're not a good lier Erza. I know why you're not eating..."

Erza smiled back at him, "Thank you. I'll pay you back when I get my money."

"She has not been eating for three days now..." Mira blurted out.

"Mira!" Erza protested but Mira just shrugged her shoulders. "My dad hasn't sent me my allowance..."

"I'll let you borrow some for a while." Gray told her

"No you might need that..."

"look, I don't have summer classes, I'm back at home all day, my food is free care of my parents. What would I need the money for?"

Erza did not speak anymore because she knew that he will not stop until she will accept the help so after a while she accepted the money. Her father is working overseas as a marine. He said that their salary was on hold that's why he is unable to send his daughter some money. Erza is a very understanding daughter. She just needed to spend her remaining money wisely. Her mother back home cannot also send her some money because she was busy taking care of Erza's daughter, Wendy. It would have been easier if she could get support money from Jellal for Wendy's needs but he is very unresponsible of his duties as a father.

Ren gasped loudly when someone entered the cafè. "Erza! It's your crush!"

Erza turned around and saw him. All her sadness and problems seemed to have gone away. He is one of her inspiration on why she wanted to be a cardiologist. He is one of the handsomest doctors in Fairy Tail Hospital. He is Dr. Laxus Dreyar, grandson of the owner of both Fairy Tail University and Fairy Tail Hospital. "Oh my God. Oh my God! Do I look alright?" Erza asked her friends.

Gray rolled his eyes when he saw Laxus. "He is not that handsome..."

"You're just jealous Gray!" Levy teased him.

Laxus saw the bunch as he took his coffee from the counter. He looked directly at Erza. He made his way to them. "Excuse me..." Erza almost had a heart attack when Laxus approach them. "Please stop following me around! Its annoying!"

The world seemed to have shattered for Erza.. "I ah.. I uhm..."

"And stop telling everyone that something happened between us! Stalker"!

The friends seemed confused about what Laxus was saying. But everyone else in the cafè started whispering to each other. "What?!" Erza Answered, "I think you are mistaken. I am not telling anyone anything about you!"

"Stop pretending! From now on just stop showing up wherever I go!"

"Hey stop saying that. She did not do anything like that!" Gray stood up and confronted him.

Evre also defended his friend from the doctor's accusation. "Gray is right. And you don't have the right to humiliate her."

Laxus just left. Erza was so surprised that she was unable to say anything after the incident. "What the hell was that." Cana asked.

Erza smiled, "It means that he notices me!?"

everyone almost fell from their seat with her reaction.

Gray scratched his head, "That's Erza for you. Always looking on the positive side of things.

-END OF FLASHBACK-

Erza slowly stood up as she gave the papers to Laxus. She did not say anything anymore and just walked away. Just like what he wanted.

"Wait!" Laxus tried to catch up. He followed her. He grabbed her forearm when he caught up to her. "Wait up!" Erza stopped and looked at him without any reactions. "I would just want to apologize..." Erza raised an eyebrow. Laxus released her arm and she faced him. "About that incident.. A colleague told me that someone is saying things abou, you know what. And she told me that it was a girl who kept on following me around wherever I go. I always see you around. I thought it was you. I'm sorry.."

Secretly Erza smiled, 'finaly the truth came out' she thought. "It's fine."

A thorn in Laxus heart seemed to have been plucked out. "I was an asshole. I should have confirmed first before confronting you. I never saw you since that day, I thought you might have transferred to another University or stopped studying because of me. I tried to ask the regustrar for your schedule so I can apologize but I did not know your name..."

"Erza Scarlet..."

"Dr. Laxus Dreyar..."

"Yes doctor I know who you are..."

"Yeah I know.. I just want us to formally know each other. Anyway, do you want to get some coffee or something?"

Erza wanted to. She is so happy deep inside but she have an exam early morning tomorrow, "I'd love to but I have an exam tomorrow. I need to review... Maybe some other time?"

"Yeah! Yeah sure. No problem..." he was a bit disappointed. "What is your exam tomorrow?"

"Radiology..."

"Oh ok...that is one of my most hated subjects back when I was studying.. Anyway, if you need help in any subjects, especially on anesthesiology, I'd be glad to give a lesson for you and your friends."

Erza smiled, "sure. Thank you doc. Anyway.. I have to go. And thank you again."

"Ok see you around?"

Erza nodded happily.