Hi my dear readers, it'd time for another chapter.

And it's time for Gajeel to show up!

Enjoy!

Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima

Chapter Nine: It's Time For Barbecue

The first weeks of semester are always the best. You know, when all your friends get back together, you still got plenty of time to prepare yourself for your exams at the end of the term and there are so many opportunities to chill with your friends and have a drink or two (or five or six). Juvia had reached a point where she can definitely say she feels at home. She'd discovered her favorit places to get burger and pizza, her swimming training goes well, she made new friends and most of all - she feels comfortable just being herself. Lying in her bed, listening to some chillout music and allowing her thoughts full bent she feels very relaxed. Back in Oak Town she caught herself just acting a role in order to please her surroundings. She was tensed most of the time. Only Gajeel could make her feel confident enough to show her way-out, wacky, over-emotional character. Thinking of which, Juvia really misses her dear friend. Gajeel could be a killer when it comes to feelings but he is one of the most honest persons she knows. He puts his thoughts straight all the time and that's exactly what Juvia needs betweenwhiles.

Juvia wonders what he may be up to and decides to write him.

02:34 pm: To Gajeel

Gajeeeel, what r u doin? I miss talking to you!

02:37 pm: From Gajeel

Yo nixi, sure u're missing my ass. Who wouldn't?

Very busy actually, think the band gets more and more popular.

02:39 pm: To Gajeel

That sounds amazing! I would love to see you play once again.

Do you happen to play anywhere near Magnolia? Please say yes!

02:44 pm: From Gajeel

Not anywhere near, but in Magnolia ;-]

4 weeks or something I think, I'll get the details later. How many tickets do u need?

02:49 pm: To Gajeel

Yes! *.*

I only need two tickets. Thanks a lot! You're the best!

Juvia considers to surprise Gray, he liked the band and Juvia wants to see Gajeel. He'd go with her, right? He already suggested anyway when he said she could drag him along when she couldn't find anyone else for company.

02:55 pm: From Gajeel

of course I am B-]

two tickets, hu? a date?

02:59 pm: To Gajeel

No, just a friend. He knows your band. I think he'll be excited to see you perform!

03:03 pm: From Gajeel

key, I'll text u as soon as I know more. See ya. Take care!

03:04 pm: To Gajeel

thanks a lot, Gajeel :-*

As Juvia tosses about in her bed in joy she's interrupted by some telltale noises coming from her rommate's bedroom. One week had passed and Lucy and Natsu could barely manage to get out of bed. Much to hers and Gray's sorrow. Though, it's Gray who suffers more as he hates to listen to anyone else's humping. Juvia on the other side finds it rather cute and tolerates it most of the time. She's happy for her friend to get all the attention she must have wished for the last months.

When Juvia pumped Lucy what happened and how the fucking hell they ended up together when Lucy was so sure Natsu would never look at her in a sexual way it was in fact very plane - they were drunk as a lord and Lucy commanded all her courage and just kissed him. That happend during Erza's party and they were hiding in a secret corner where no one could witness. Natsu was taken entirely by surprise but hey - pretty girl, horny and certainly up for some hooking up and maybe more - Natsu's pretty simple-minded regarding those things. Moments later they edged away and had wild, chaotic sex. Juvia shed a tiny tear while listenig to Lucy's story since she messed up completly. Lucy just went for her goal and Juvia... Well Juvia made a fool of herself and dozed off.

Honestly, Juvia's really jealous of Lucy, too. She gave up on Gray but she also desires to have some hot fumble or at least making out with someone. The last time she got intimate with anybody was with her ex boyfriend - and he was a dick now that she looks back at it. Bora was only out for sex. And it wasn't even good sex. Her memories of the times with Bora are nothing alike the sounds Lucy spouts. Whatever Natsu is doing - he's doing it just the right way.

"Huh..." Juvia sighs. She's gazing up to her ceiling and her right hand unconsiously roams to her lower body.

I really want someone to touch me there...

Her left hand is cupping her breast and she closes her eyes.

For now it's just me and my hands though...

Still, much better than anything Bora tried to find down there.

At first she cranks up her music. How strange would it be if you listened to your friend's sex games while fingering yourself? She then unbuttons her hot pants and takes off her shirt and bra. Juvia begins to rub her sensitiv spot between her spreaded legs carefully. She likes to keep her panties on for the beginning to prolong her pleasure as much as possible. Her left hand ist playing with her breast and nipple while her other fingers circle around her clit through the fabric of her panties.

"Hmmmm..." Juvia moans. She tries to imagine some hot guy to take care of her treat. One that is muscular, dominate and a little harsh. She would like him to kiss her neck, her collarbone, her breast and all the way down to her pussy. As hard as the bluenette tries not to think of a certain male friend his face comes up her mind. She feels her cheeks blush but extrude her shyness. No one can hear her thoughts. No one can see her self-gratification. It's just her fantasy and there was no one around to judge her on that matter. As she slips her fingers under her underwear she's surprised of how wet she made herself in that short amount of time. She sticks her fingers inside her entrance and moans again, just a little louder.

"Ahhhh..." She feels the tension heating up and raises her back.

Juvia's hand movements increase and she can almost feel reaching her climax.

BRINNNG

If only she wouldn't be interrupted.

Her breathing stops and her motion freezes with her eyes wide open.

Why now? Why would someone ring the door bell NOW?!

BRINNNG

I could just wait until th-

"Oi, open up, I know you're all at home" It's Gray's voice. Of course it is. There is no way the universe would spare Juvia this abashment.

Juvia panics. She gets dressed the fastest she can and heads to the front door.

"H-hey, sorry, I was on the pot." Juvia smiles sheepishly. Gray arches an eyebrow and lowers is gaze.

"And you forgot to button your pants I guess?" He chuckles and Juvia beams like a traffic light. She immideately eradicates the evidence of her passionate but short enjoyment. If only he knew what really caused her pants to stay unbuttoned...

Gray passes Juvia by the second she lets him enter. But he stops in the corridor and turns to face Juvia.

"I thought we could barbecue later. The weather is perfect and-"

"Natsuuuu, not there!" Gray and Juvia both stare at Lucy's door. Gray apparently annoyed and Juvia still shining a bright red all over her face.

"Yes, ahhhh..."

Gray feels disturbed and gazes now angrily. Their friends seem to still be sunken in their love bumping and don't feel ashamed to act out - for anyone to hear.

Gray crunches with his teeth and throbs at the door.

"Hey, keep it to a minimum. It's disgusting!"

"I don't think they will hear you..." Juvia states.

"Ok, let's get in your room or else I'm freakin' out and smash that fuckin' door"

Gray precedes but Juvia flinches. She needs to at least wash her hands. It would be a nightmare if Gray saw, touched or smelled anything suspicious.

"Ahm, I'll be right back. Just need to go to the bathroom."

"Didn't you go there seconds ago?"

He's right. That was her excuse. Damn her lustful playing and her lack of lying.

"Y-yeah, never mind. It's j-just..." She doesn't know how to end that sentence. She falls silent, turns to her left like a robot and just leaves with no explanation.

"How often do you want me to tell you that you really are a weirdo?" He cat-calls her while entering her room.

When Juvia returns Gray's sitting on her sofa, obviousely chatting with his phone. Juvia sits down next to him and broaches his subject again.

"You said something about barbecue?" Gray looks up and meets her eyes.

"Yes, Erza is in the mood to come over, Cana, too. And Loke - you met him last week at the party, remember?"

"Cana, yes, but not Loke" Juvia attempts to remember but fails. That night wasn't exactly her glory one and she wants to forget many niceties.

"Really?! How? He hits on like any girl he spots. Especially pretty ones with long hair." Gray averts

"Uhm, nope. Lucky me, I guess."

"Well, as I said, barbecue? This evening? Your balcony?"

"Sure, sounds great!"

Juvia and Gray kept hiding themselves in Juvia's room until they were sure Lucy and Natsu had finished whatever perverted acrobatics they were performing. Once they got out and Natsu took a shower the remaining three made plans what meats and drinks to buy. They stipulated to meet again at 6 pm.

The first to arrive is Cana.

"Cana, great to see you!" Lucy welcomes her with a lovely hug. Cana, though, is heavily loaded with shopping bags - judging the clinking she brought plenty of booze.

"Was about damn time we dedicate this year's barbecue at your apartment!" It wasn't meant to become a tradition. However Erza, Natsu and Gray established barbecue at Lucy's shortly after her moving in since no one else was lucky enough to possess a balcony. And other friends are always welcome to join.

"That Cana? Bring the booze over here!" Natsu jells from the kitchen. Cana of course is the one to arrange the drinks. Always. In return she woun't have to mind about the locations or snacks. It works perfectly for all parties.

"Yeah, yeah, chill!" She jells back. After all, her focus is still on Lucy and she smirks. She sets aside her bags and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"Now to you, my little sex-addicted bunny. How the hell, you and Natsu?"

"Canaaa! Stop it. It just..."

"Don't you dare saying it just happened!"

"Well, my intoxicated head told me to go for it and my body moved on its own. We made out, we went to his place and... yeah, I suppose you already heard the rest."

Lucy blushed vehemently.

"And how is he? In bed I mean?" Another smirk escapes her snoopy mouth.

"Well, I can't complain, so..."

"Glad to hear that!" She pauses. Not only is she inquisitive regarding her sexually experiences.

"So, are you... a couple now?" Cana doesn't mean to push but she was hella curious. Everyone knew the two of them would end up together one way or the other. Whether it's just sex or more is now her main interest and certainly everyone else's, too.

"I'm not sure." Cana can sense chagrin in between those words. Does Lucy already know the outcome? Or does she want to prepare herself for the worst case scenraio?

"Okay, just,... Chin up! We're gonna have a great evening!" Cana caresses Lucy's shoulders and heads to the kitchen.

"Oi, Natsu, you better have the grill lit!" She threatens.

After Cana's arrival Erza and Loke follow quickly. Natsu as the pitmaster doesn't allow one second to elapse for the grill to be unsupervised. Gray stays nearby and surveys each and eyery movement. And Erza has to embrace her role as their sitter - as ever - because Natsu and Gray could esealy screw up the meat while fighting with each other. Cana and Lucy continue their gossip and Juvia finishes some snacks like salad, baguette and other finger foods.

"Hey Beauty, how come I've never met you?"

"Huh?" Juvia looks over her shoulder to find an orange haired man staring at her. They exchanged a brief greeting earlier but was as far as they got. Now Loke appears to be more interested in her.

"Loke was it, right? The others told me we should have met at Erzs's party. But I got a little wasted and couldn't remember half the people I got to know."

"I think we simply missed each other. No matter how drunk I got, I'm one hundred percent sure I'd remember your pretty face."

Juvia feels awkward at his sudden compliment. Gray wasn't lying when he said Loke was quite the flirty one.

"Can I lend a hand?" He offers and walks right next to her. Their arms are touching when he arrives her spot and examines her work.

"I'm fine, thanks. Almost finished actually." Juvia feels ill at ease. Why would he come so near her?

"Yo Loke, where's the beer? Move your ass!" Juvis as well as Loke follow the voice's origin and meet Gray's pissed off face outside the window.

"Get it yourself, lazy dickhead!" Loke's busy and Gray should know that. He had asked him about Lucy's new cute roommate and she was available as Gray'd stated.

Loke rivets back on Juvia and discounts Gray's curses. Juvia however craves for rescue and transmits her cry for help by winking in Gray's direction.

Aware of her helpless situation Gray barges in between them.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Gray grabs a sixer of beer, rams it against Loke's stomach for him to carry and helps Juvia moving the side dishes outside.

"The fuck! You're interfering!" But Loke's being overlooked and left behind by Gray and Juvia.

"Thanks!" She whispers in his direction.

"Anytime."

The group is chilling and chatting and just having a good time. Natsu and Gray quarrel over the meat (they are such greedy pigs), Erza in the end terminates their fight by eating their servings herself, Lucy tries to calm her lover/boyfriend-to-be down and Cana and Loke make a stab at Juvia to get sloshed. Juvia manages to bolt as her phone vibrates inside her pocket.

08:43 pm: From Gajeel

Yo water woman, so the gig's in three weeks on May, 29th. I got you two tickets. Gonna mail them to you.

08:44 pm: To Gajeel

*Yippie* best big bro eva!

you got to tell me your best song. I want to rock out and sing along when I see you!

08:47 pm: From Gajeel

it's run to the hills. gotta go. see ya!

Juvia feels the need to tell Gray right away. It was supposed to be a surprise but the risk for him to make other plans ahead are too high. She gets up and strokes Gray's back for the others unseen when she passes him by. She's successful and arrouses his attention. Gray follows her way and catches up in the kitchen.

"What's up?" His eyebrows are arched and he tucks his hands in his trouser pockets.

"Guess who's going to an Iron Raven concert at the end of the month?" She asks greatly excited.

"Ahhh...You?" He leans his head to the side, lightly baffled.

"And you!" Juvia waits for him to say anything but Gray tarries. His eyes get wider. Her eyes get wider. And finally he overcomes his recess.

"What?!" That was not what Juvia wanted to hear. Maybe he needs a love tap.

"Gajeel told me he's going to play this month in Magnolia. Isn't it great?! You get to see them again and I can introduce you. Unless, you changed your mind and don't want to-"

"No, that's great! I just- Wow! Cool, thanks!", Gray blindsides Juvia and takes her in a curt hugging, pulls back and places his hands on her arms, "What day is it exactly?"

"Friday in three weeks."

"Great. I'll add it to my notes."

They return to the group and continue their boozy eating binge and drinking. Erza at some point proposes doing a drinking game and springs her phone. The rules are pretty easy. The reader (Erza) taps the screen and reads out a task, a rule or a short game someone amongst the players (including herself) has to fulfill.

"Okay, let's get started!"

"I'm all fired up!"

"I hope we get to drink a lot!"

"Please, don't let us do embarrassing things!"

At first the game instructed ordinary and simple tasks.

Erza starts to read the first one. "Loke, you get to chose who has to take three slugs."

"GRAY!"

"Thanks, I'm thirsty anyway."

Erza again: "Natsu, exchange glasses with your left seatmate."

"I don't want to drink Lucy's pussy bubbly." He complains.

"Just do it!" Gray commands.

Erza: "Cana, take five slugs."

"Finally."

Erza: "New rule - you're not allowed to call you by your real names."

"But we can say nicknames like ice princess, right?" Natsu grins.

"Oh shut up, flame brain!"

Erza: "Juv- I mean, mermaid, take off one piece of clothing."

Suddenly, the game breaks out in a new direction. Everyone stares at her expectantly. Gray, too. And Juvia feels a bit ashamed.

"What?! What kind of game is that?" Juvia whines.

"Don't be a coward. That's the game." Why is it Erza who's the gamemaster?

"Fine." Juvia sighs and decides to abandon her sandals.

Erza: "Myself has to ex her cup." She does as she was assigned. "Was about time."

Erza: "Blondie, when was the last time you had sex?" Lucy blushes. As if the game knew the characters it chooses just the right ones.

"We all know that already. Skip that.", Gray bewails.

Erza: "Souse, pick a drinking mate."

Cana mulls over her impactful choice. "I'll take...you, Loke."

"Name! You gotta drink. And lion has to as well." Natsu snickers fiendishly.

"You gotta pay for that!" Loke menaces her with his teeth grinding.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Erza: "Stripper, you have to lick someone's neck. Your choice."

"Redhead, seriously, what fuckin' game is that?" Judging by her stern expression Erza wouldn't let Gray skip his task. His eyes circle his mates and concludes the person causing less demage to his head and tongue would be Erza herself. Lucy's out of question because of her latest intercourse with Natsu and Loke, well, are Natsu and Loke, Cana would make fun of him for the rest of his life and Juvia's no option either - not since they made their relation clear and friendzoned each other.

"Get over here." He grabs Erza by her neck and makes fast work of his duty. Juvia ogles the happening and is deeply affected. She's aware of her relationship towards Gray as well as of his and Erza's. And Gray and Erza are propably as platonic as Juvia and Gajeel. Erza retracts herself right away and sounds nauseated noises.

Erza: "Ok, next one. Waterfall! Pinkhead begins."

The moment Natsu starts to drink everyone else has to do the same. It's not until Natsu stops to down his drink that starting with Lucy the others are allowed to drop, too - clock-wise. Natsu cacks up on his win. He comes down on Gray - the last one in line - like a ton of bricks. Much to Gray's outrage.

That way the game endures. Gray and Natsu focalize their energies on slaughtering one another. Erza simply wants to get everyone drunk and naked (which affects Juvia the most - anytime the game names someone to undress it is Juvia). Lucy becomes constantly horny and Cana and Loke have their own little battle.

Erza: "Stripper, you're the master now. Everyone has to listen to your orders." Gray rubs his hands and everyone can see his devilish horns grow out of his head.

"Now that's after my fancy. I dictate Redhead to go home - completly naked. Leo, take Cana home and don't get her naked. Rabbits, you're not allowed to-"

Gray is halted as Erza tipped on her screen to continue.

Erza: "Stripper, your time is over. Find the next sleeping accommodation and take someone along. End of the game."

"Hey!" He complains.

"Finally, it's over!" Lucy exhales.

"I think the last tasks should be accomplished." Natsu wants Erza to suffer for her bossy behavior.

"Agreed!"

"YEAH!"

"Fine, I'll go to bed. Do whatever you want." Gray arises and walks inside.

"You commin', Juvia?"

"What?" Juvia's staggered.

"I'll take your sofa. Too tired to go home and I have to get the next accommodation for sleep anyway."

It is time to die out the night. The group disbands and exchanges brief byes. It-was-so-funny, let's-do-it-again-sometime and don't-invite-Erza-the-next-time and stuff like that.

Lucy and Natsu back down in her room. Gray and Juvia also draw back and get ready for bed. Gray remains only in his boxers but Juvia's used to it by now. She otherwise would feel most pleased in her underwear as well. Even so, she doesn't intend to give him any weird ideas or the impression she might start anything alluring again.

"What an evening, huh?" Juvia asserts.

"Yeah, Erza that bitch. Always lordly."

"But it was funny. She is funny. I like her." Juvia sits down on her bed and observes Gray while he's finishing his roost. Once he is he places his hands on his hips and marvels at his work.

"I'm done. You can turn off the lights." Juvia nods but waits until he finally lies down on her sofa. She then leans to her nightstand and pushes her light button.

"Good night." She says.

"Good night."

Never has she perceived her room to be that quiet. Juvia's a bit qualmish by the silence. And the fact that she shares her room with a guy for the first time bothers her and keeps her awake. Hours back that day she was masturbating in that very same bed. Alone with her desires and wishes. Now the source of her pleasure is sleeping only centimeters away from her.

Juvia, stop it. You're not allowed to think of him that way.

You're friends. You're never going to touch his body along your wishes.

And he'll never caress you the way you want to.

"Gray?"

"Yeah?"

Should I bring it up again?

Then again, he said I shouldn't think too much. I'm much easier to handle when I don't overthink things.

It's just your half-drunk mind. You feel lonely and unloved but it's not Gray you seek. He's just some hot guy.

Some pretty damn godlike hot guy.

But he's just a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Nevermind. Sorry. Sleep tight!"

"You, too."

Today was a really nice day. I should thank Lucy when I have the time. If it wasn't for her I'd never met all those funny guys.

I got the best roomie I could wish for. I love love love her. No wonder Natsu fell for her.

I wish I could be as lovable as her.

Minutes later and Juvia falls asleep like a baby. And she has a mighty shuteye time throughout the night. She dreams of her crazy friends, a scary orange haired stalker and romatic sex practices with a stranger.

Gajeel didn't appear in person - sorry for that. But he will next chapter, promise.

Hope you liked it, stay anxious to read the next one.

And thanks for reading in general.