Woah! TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE NIGHT!

Previously: do I really need to say? Juvia arrives at school, feeling sick. Encounters Ultear in the infirmary, making her notice she wants to try harder. Juvia arrive after 3 days and says Good morning to Gray in front of everyone!

"... Boys..."

Her mind flickered back to kindergarten, a young boy trying to feed her a crawfish. Another one locking her in the bathroom, or even one asking her out. Like that one time, Juvia had her hair in a braid to the side and a boy asked her out. She said no politely and he got angry. He called Juvia ugly than chopped off an inch of the braid. She wept to her mom that night, and wondered if it would ever get better.

"I'm bad with them."

That time in middle school, when the boys would pull her away from Lucy and hit on her. Even worst, that one memory she suppressed to the nether regions of her mind. An old man attacking her in the park, she could still feel his breath on her neck. Than Lucy swept in with the police before he could get further than unzipping her skirt.

"I wish they'd leave me alone..."

Than she entered high school, Juvia by than was a robot. Never laughed or smiled, looked vacant and empty. She often stared at the clouds and avoided everyone in general. Juvia didn't even know when she began her love, she remembered the smell of cleaner in the school, along with a spring breeze. The stares she tried to avoid returning, it was her own rule.

Avoid eye contact.

Yet, she met Gray's. And maybe that's when everything fell into place, he was like a gem to her. A gem she wanted to treasure more than herself. How things, memories, slowly began to pile up. Greetings in the morning, passing in the halls, farewells after school. All were accumulations of her first love.

"... But if only... I could talk to him properly." Ultear's words still bothered her. "I want to accomplish if naturally."

"Good morning, Gray..." Juvia's voice came out stronger than she expected.

Boys erupted in shock and began to crowd, causing an uproar before class even started. They began to bicker, one yelling "She talked!" and causing a group of boys respond that their in her class and heard her already. Like it was some honorary thing if you've heard her voice. Than one had to yell:

"Why is it Gray!?"

It made everyone check themselves and go into deep thought, and like a domino effect. Everyone caught on.

"There was rumor about them at the shoe lockers! How she grabbed his arm!"

"Than the fireworks festival, didn't she go with a guy!?"

"Oh wait... Juvia also came to cheer him on at the Karate competition!"

"Wasn't there some talk about them at the haunted house, during the cultural festival?!"

"I..!" One boy crouched down in shock and fury, "I saw them walking together after the Cultural Festival!"

After getting everything out, the group of boys turned their gaze to Gray. And it wasn't nice gazes, all were full of hate and envy. They began to question him, making Juvia step towards him in worry. Lucy grabbed the girls shoulder and shook her head, knowing it will only add fuel to the flame. Gray grabbed a guy's hand after it was placed in his hair, and twisted it.

He never dropped eye contact with Juvia, and after a short minute, Gray stepped toward her. He was embarrassed and she couldn't blame him.

"Good morning." Gray said loudly.

The feeling of a publicity made Juvia even more fuzzy, she blushed lightly and hid a small smile behind her school notebook. The air felt light, and ultimately serene. Than the ruckus grew worst and everyone began to yell good morning. Slowly her mood turned sour, boys began to yell as if she would respond. Juvia at that point, wanted to go back home. Lucy grabbed her wrist and pushed though the crowds. Levy followed suit and they reached the roof in less than a minute.

"Ugh! That was so tiring !" She yelled in exhaustion. Levy continued to talk but after a little bit, she began to doze away.

"I can relax... Yet the air feels heavy now," after they let that commotion die down, the girls left the roof and began to walk back to the classroom. Juvia stopped to look out the window

"If only I smile less... If only I talk less. Than the amount of peaceful times will increase, times with relaxation."

"Even though you only know how to shake your head!" Ultears words echoed

Juvia took a deep breath and agreed. She did only do that, but Juvia knew she would be able to do more. A group of boys talk just outside of Juvia's reach.

"You know, if she's fine with Gray... Maybe she would actually be fine with me!" He said happily.

"Could you even hold a conversation with her?" Another boy said.

"Are you kidding? She's only there for eye candy!" The last on said. The first boy looked at Juvia and smiled.

"Hitode!" He said, making all the girls stop and receive glares from one, side glances from the other.

"Shut up!" Lucy yelled, fed up with how the day was going.

Gray stopped and stared at them. He had a small scowl on his face until Natsu slapped him on the back, a smile on his. But that grin disappeared when the first boy stepped closer and bowed deeply.

"I like you! Please go out with me," it was an immediate no, but Juvia didn't feel like talking so she shook her head vigorously.

"He got rejected!" Another boy said, but soon an array of boys flocked to Juvia shouting their contained feelings.

It only took a minute for her head to begin pounding in agony, even her neck ached from the constant shaking. She said no to every single one, and the annoyance was beginning to show on her face. Gray watched, taken a back by the amount of boys. About twenty and each confession he grew more and more irritated, he turned to Natsu.

"What is dating?" Gray wasn't respecting a solid response but it better than nothing.

"You're still going on about this?" Natsu groaned, throwing his hands behind his head. "You can worry about that when you start dating her. Don't get all worked up about it when nothing's happened but a confession."

"I guess-"

"Not manly at all!" Natsu yelled, glaring at his friend. He got an even dirtier look from Gray.

Than it softened into a small smile, Gray took a step forward, muttering an alright. He took a deep breath and ventured to the group hoarding Juvia. He began to say something but it muffled with the majority, yet Juvia peeped her head through two boys shoulder. Her eyes went wide at the sight of him, than she caught the anger in his eyes. Small jealousy flickering on his face and Juvia couldn't believe it.

"You!..." He yelled, catching most of their attention. They turned towards him "you guys better knock it off!"

The first boy stepped out and huffed, "you again! Don't you know Hitode is everyone's?"

"Yeah!" They cheered in agreement, bringing Juvia's mood back down to the gutter.

Than, she wasn't sure what happened. The atmosphere changed? Or maybe she felt something big happen? But that tingling feeling to look up escalated, and all was quiet. She stared at him, and knew he was going to say something big. Wether good or bad, it made Juvia take a small step towards him. He did the same, until they were a couple feet away.

She watched him, there was no bow like usual. And she didn't mind, cause her mind went blank after a single sentence.

"Please go out with me,"

SQUEEE!
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