Chapter 8: Experience

"Esther-chan!"

Esther turned around just in time to feel Natsu's arms around her body from behind. She went rigid instantly.

"Natsu. Stop this foolishness immediately!"

The guild laughed at Natsu when he ended up smashed into the bar. Mirajane giggled and sat a glass of root beer in front of her. "Oh, Esther. As defensive as ever. You'll never have a boyfriend at this rate!" She chastised like it was disappointing. Like she was making the mistakes on purpose.

"I do not need a man. Most of them are perversed and twisted in their state of being and others are... clingy." Esther glared at Natsu suggestively who just smiled. The other guild members began to laugh as she sipped the drink daintly. Even Gajeel let out a snort of amusement.

"Not all men are perverts!" Gray yelled, who ironically was naked. Esther stared at him with a deadpanned expression.

"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Practice what you preach, Fullbuster." Esther said hotly, his nude form actually getting to her. It didn't look like it though but the dragon slayers knew. There was a bead of sweat on her forehead and her heart was pumping. Standing, she called for Neeya and headed out the door, her usual thirty minutes in Fairy Tail up.

"I'm in the buisness of misery... body like an hourglass... matter of time..."

As Esther faded in an out of singing and wrote in her notebook, she failed to notice the scent of burning embers stepping closer and closer to her body.

"Nice voice."

Esther jumped ten feet in the air.

"Natsu! I will murder you!"

Natsu began laughing loudly, bellowing the fun he had experienced at her expense. He was on the ground, rolling back and forth, pink hair getting tangled with leaves. After her initiative shock was over, she walked over to a snoring Neeya, picked her up, and began to stride away.

Severely. Pissed.

But something about being around Natsu after what happened yesterday made her feel guilty.

"W-Wait! Esther-chan, hold on a second! I was just kidding!" As Natsu easily caught back up to his crush with a nice going smile, Esther scowled and looked away. Why was she feeling warm all over again?

"Whoa, Esther-chan. You ok? Why are you all red? Did you catch a fever?!" Natsu freaked, pressing his warm hand on her forehead, his unnatural heat making her hotter.

"Stop worriying! Jesus Christ. Shouldn't you be packing for the trip?" Esther asked, desperately trying to get herself together. What was wrong with her? All men were horrible. Jellal proved it two years ago. Shaking her head from her thoughts, Esther saw Natsu looking at her strangely.

"Be honest, Esther. It had something to do with that council member, doesnt it?"

Esther paused everything, even her mind, looking at Natsu with fearful doe eyes. Red orbs dialated and Natsu cursed. He didn't mean for it to slip, it just happened.

"N-Natsu... you didn't..." She trailed off, knowing he knew she meant her notebook. The salmon haired boy looked away. His lightly tanned skin glistened with the beating sun. "I thought it was one of your stories..." He replied carefully and watched her take a sharp intake of breath.

"How much did you read?!"

"Just yesterday. How one of the council members was a bastard and made you feel weak and helpless." He stepped closer to her and she stepped back. "How Juvia had to get you because you were lost." Another step foward for the man. Back into a tree for the young woman. Natsu's forehead laid against hers.

"How you wished I was there to hold your hand. To make you laugh."

Esther's heart rate picked up and she almost squeezed Neeya to death, who ironically was a heavy sleeper. She needed away out. Stat. He was to close to her lips.

Way. To. Close.

Just when his lips brushed hers lightly they heard a yell.

"Hey Flamebrain! Get away from my sister!"

Gray and Juvia were walking up the meadow and that was Esther's cue to run up to Juvia. Juvia smiled and hugged her new bestie.

"Sorry Natsu! Juvia is stealing Esther from you today!" Juvia began dragging the girl and cat, who had finally woken up, away towards Fairy Hills. Natsu snickered at Esther's akward laugh.

"Seriously man, did you just make a move on Esther?" Gray asked bewildered, never knowing the idiotic pink dragon had it in him. Natsu growled, suddenly protective and jealous and got in Gray's face. "So what if I did?" He challenged and Gray chuckled.

"Whatever. Go on, I don't care. It's so obvious you like her. Hell, even love her. But..." Gray grabbed a fistful of Natsu's hair and yanked. Hard. Natsu snarled at his frieneme.

"Try hurting her, Natsu and it will be the last thing you do."

Natsu scoffed and laughed.

"Why would I hurt her dumbass? For someone who's so superior you sure do think like a damn three year old."

"Natsu-San almost kissed me..."

Esther kept murmering that to herself as Juvia paced around the apartment, laughing and giggling. The blue haired woman squeeled with a burst of happiness.

"Esther! He llllloooovvveess you!" Juvia yelled, picking up on Natsu's neko friend's schtick. Esther blushed a bright red and Neeya ate another strawberry provided by the rain woman. "I could have told you that, Esther-chan!" The cat exclaimed and Esther laid down across Juvia's couch, head in hands.

"This can not be happening to me! I stayed away from the guild hall. I acted cold towards everyone who approached. How could he?!" Esther groaned and Juvia noticed a streak of water flow down her cheek. Juvia ripped her friends hands from her face and wiped the tears away.

"Love ignores faults."

Esther looked up at Juvia and welcomed the open arms that wrapped around her. She remembered Simon holding her. She forgot how warm a hug from a friend was.

"But he wouldn't love me if he found out about J— Councilman Seagrain."

Juvia squeezed tighter and sighed.

"It's obvious Natsu cares for you deeply. Kana-San told me about you two when you first joined. Natsu was always around you. In seeing distance to watch you."

"If he found out, he wouldn't even want to be in the same building. It was all my fault...!"

Juvia frowned and without better judgement, slapped Esther in the face. A loud smack resounded through the air as Esther's tear stained face took on the expression of shock.

"Don't you EVER say that it was your fault!" Juvia shrieked and Esther looked up at the eighteen year old. She put a hand to her cheek and stared at the bluette in shock, never knowing the woman had it in her.

"You did nothing wrong! You were forced. Forced, Esther! And if you seriously think Natsu-San would think it was your fault, then you obviously don't know him. Juvia has known everyone in the guild for a week and even she knows they are to protective of they're family to actually blame them for something so horrific!" Juvia took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Neeya looked back and forth, confusion dripping off of her.

'Forced to do what?' She thought, sucking cutely on a strawberry. Neeya was like the baby of the guild, shy and quiet. Not knowing what anything is, always asking what certain things did. She was like a child. So when Juvia raised her voice at the word 'forced' it made the little kitty scared. Was her friend ok?

"Juvia use to think the same way when Gajeel-kun had to save her."

Esther was renewed with shock. Gajeel was the one who saved Juvia from a more demented nightmare?

"What he said had hurt, but it made so much sense." Juvia held Esther's trembling hands and rubbed them with hers. Unknowingly Esther had asked out loud in a whisper ",What did he say?" The sixteen year old looked down, but Juvia lifted her head back up.

"He said: 'The only reason you blame yourself is because if you shifted the blame on him, you would think he would come back to finish the job.' And he was right! Juvia was so afraid he would come but Gajeel-kun was always there to protect her. Just like if you let him..." Juvia re wrapped her arms around Esther and she hugged back feircly.

"Natsu will always be there to protect you."

This was probably the fifth time Esther had cried after Juvia rescued her.