Chapter 3: Confrontation

Back to room 597 with Erza and Gray..

Erza walked in to the bedroom and sat on her bed. She patted the space beside her, telling Gray to sit beside her. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes as she breathed.

"What is wrong with you, Gray?" She calmly asked. Gray was not answering. He rested his elbows on his knees and lowered his head as low as he could.

"Gray!" She shouted. She was very mad at Gray but she didn't want to hurt him. Because she saw how he looked a while ago. He felt sorry for what he did.

"I don't know." He plainly answered.

"Baka! Why do you keep on acting like you know nothing!?" She said.

"I don't know."

"Answer me!" She shouted.

"I don't-" She slapped Gray.

"Gray.. I do not understand what's going on your mind AT ALL. Stop being so stupid and give me an answer!" He laughed. Erza's eyes widened as she heard him laugh. She felt pain. She was pained seeing him like this and knowing Juvia's suffering.

"I'm a jerk! I know that! I am such.. A.. Jerk.." He hit his fore head in each word.

"Stop it.. Be honest with me.. Be honest with yourself! I know I've asked you about this but you didn't give me an answer. You should think deep and find the answer!" She said. Gray closed his eyes for a moment.

"Honest? I don't know what I should be honest about. You're right. I knew that Juvia liked me from the start. I ignored her. I didn't care about what she feels and does she does for me. But I saw her.. I saw her holding hands with Lyon.. I don't understand, that I felt something that really pissed me off. but it's not that I like her." He said.

"Gray.. Do you know what happened that night?" Erza asked in a deep voice. She feels stupid. She was feeling hurt seeing her friends like this. But she knew that she shouldn't be like this. She acted as if she was the one that was rejected and asked to go away.

"No.. I do not know anything about that." He said.

"Well, wanna know? Wanna know what Juvia said about you?" She asked.

"Well, maybe.."

"She told us everything.. Lyon arrived and congratulated her. Then suddenly, he took her to a park. At first, Juvia thought he was her rival. But Lyon cleared everything to her. Lyon.. Confessed his love for Juvia. That he felt what she feels for you.. I don't understand how Juvia likes you and not Lyon even though you're sorta the same. The difference is, You're a jerk. He told her that she deserved better. That she deserved him. Someone who loves her! They were both seeking for someone that would love them back.. And I thought.. They deserved each other.. And.. You're here, not giving a damn and asking Juvia to go away just like that." Gray's eyes narrowed. He felt guilty about what he did.

"But.. Juvia.. Juvia let that chance slip away. For you! For a jerk like you! She told him that no matter what.. No matter how long she has to wait, she will. That she will continue hoping... That you will feel the same way for her.. She knew that you never noticed how she cared so much for you. She accepted that and kept on wishing... She loves you Gray.. But frankly, I think that both of you are stupid.. She shouldn't wait for you? Why should she? And you.. You dense jerk. You should do something about this Gray.." Gray's hands started to shake. He slowly stood up and looked down to the floor.

"I'm... I'm such a jerk.. I'm so stupid! Erza.. I.. I don't know what to do with myself.. Help me.. Help me, Erza.. He knelt down in front of Erza and leaned on Her legs as he cried. Erza touched his head then sat on the floor with him. She hugged him, trying to calm him down as Gray cried on her shoulder.

"Change." She smiled and patted his back.

"Change? How?" Soon, he stopped crying.

"Stop being a jerk. Be a man." She stood up and helped Gray up.

"Right.. What about Juvia?" He asked then wiped his face.

"Keep distance between you two. Sort out your feelings. Then, when your mind is cleared, talk to her. Apologize." She patted his shoulder. He shoes her a faint smile.

"Sorry.. I shouldn't really cry.. Specially in front of you.. I felt like a baby." He laughed a little. she smiled.

"No. It's fine. Everyone needs to cry once in a while. It makes you feel better." She said.

"Thanks.. Thanks a lot, Erza." He said.

Gray went to take a shower to freshen up. He cleared his mind and thought of things he should do. After taking a bath, he felt better. The tension and confusion in his mind were gone.. That time, he knew Juvia wouldn't come back to their room that night. At first he was worried, but thought that she was a strong woman and she could handle herself very well. Later, he decided to take a walk out in the city.

"Ano, Lyon-san.." Juvia said, looking at the clock.

"Yes, my dear Juvia? Hmm.. Would you like to go to your room now?" He noticed Juvia's actions.

"N-no! You see.. Juvia is.. Is... In the same room with Erza and.. Gray-s- Gray.." She wanted to end her habit of calling him 'Gray-sama'.

"Wha-what? Hm.. That's a problem.. Well then, stay here!" He insisted.

"Wha-here? With Lyon-san?! That's... Juvia is.." She blushed.

"Yes, here! It would be best if you stayed here. So you won't feel lonely!" He said. Juvia looked to door, then to Lyon.

"Juvia will... Juvia will stay here.." She said.

"Yes! Lyon is very happy right now Juvia!" He mocked Juvia's way of talking. Juvia pouted and sat down.

"You could sleep over there! You're lucky my place has two bedrooms in it!" He pointed.

"Th-thank you.. Lyon-san." She said.

"Please, call me Lyon!"

"Um, thank you?. L-lyon." She stood up and walked to her room and sat down. She looked around and remembered something.

"Lyon?" She called. He went in right away.

"Yes?" He said.

"What about my stuff?" She mumbled.

"Hmm.. Do you want to go to your room and get stuff?" He asked.

"N-no.. But there's no other choice right?" She said.

"Wrong! There is another choice!"

"What?" She asked.

"We should go out and buy you stuff!" He said.

"Buy? But Juvia isn-"

"That's the only way! And it's my pleasure! I'll buy them for you!" He went closer to her.

"Juvia can't accept your help. It's too much." She said.

"No! Did you forget? I love you, Juvia." He whispered in her ear. She blushed as she felt Lyon's cool breath on her ear. She kept silent.

"Come on! We're pretending that we're dating right?" He reached out his hand. Juvia looked at him then slowly reached out for his hand.

"O-okay.. I'll just get ready." She said.

"Right!" He went to his bedroom and got ready as well.

He put on some denim shorts and a blue shirt. He sat at the couch and waited for Juvia. She went in front of the mirror and fixed her shirt. She pulled it down a bit and fixed her her. She tied it on low pigtails and curled it using her fingers. she grabbed her small bag and went out.

"Juvia! You look so cute!" He praised.

"Th-thank you.." Lyon reached out his arm then Juvia smiled, hooking her arm onto his.

they went out to the city and walked around for a while. They went to the mall then looked for some clothes. Juvia bought a dress and two pairs of shorts. Lyon insisted that she could borrow his shirts anyway. Juvia stopped as she remembered something.

"Juvia? Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Um.. Juvia remembered something she needs.." She said.

"What is it? Let's buy it!" Juvia's heart was beating fast.

"Um.. Juvia prefers to buy them alone.."

"What? Why? What is it anyway?" He went close.

Gray was walking along the mall with his hands on his pocket. Then suddenly, something caught his attention. He went closer and saw Lyon. He looked like he was talking to someone. When he moved, he saw Juvia! Gray felt his insides boil, wanting to jump on Lyon. But he breathed deeply and calmed down. He has to keep distance between Juvia Until he's all sorted out. He had nothing to do but watch them from a distance..

"Lyon doesn't need to know!" She looked away.

"hmm.. I think, I know what you need!" Juvia's face turned red.

"No. Lyon doesn't know!" She said.

"You need... Underwear!" He laughed. Her face was burning.

"Ugh. Juvia hates Lyon! Juvia doesn't like being laughed at!" She pouted.

"Gomen, gomen! That's alright Juvia! It's normal to buy underwear? Come one!" He grabbed her hand and walked. Gray's eyes widened as he saw him hold her hands. He followed them until they reached a shop.

"Stay here!" She pointed at Lyon.

"But-"

''No, juvia refuses to go inside with Lyon!" She crossed her arms.

"Hmph.. Okay.. Be quick!" He pouted.

He stood there, holding the paper bags of Juvia's new clothes. Gray kept on watching until he snapped back to his senses.

"What am I doing? I shouldn't go following them around!?" He told himself then left the mall immediately. For a moment, he felt like he was a stalker like what Juvia was.

Soon, Juvia went out, holding another paper bag. Lyon insisted on carrying it but she refused. She told him that it was Juvia's private stuff. Before they went home, they stopped by a small cafe and had coffee and a small snack just to remove their hunger. They had a fun time. They forgot their problems and left them for a moment. They went home then rested. Juvia put her stuff in her cabinet then Lyon handed her a few shirts.

Juvia went to take a warm bath before sleeping. She changed, wearing Lyon's shirt and her new shorts. She went to her room and lied down, thinking about Gray and Lyon.

"Lyon is very nice. He makes Juvia feel happy. He makes Juvia forget her problems and make her feel better.. Unlike how Gray made Juvia feel.. Gray is mean.. Lyon is kind.. Juvia... Juvia likes Lyon.."

"Juvia!" He suddenly opened the door and entered. Juvia squealed a little Then Lyon laughed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you.. I just wanted to say goodnight!" He smiled. Juvia smiled back.

"Juvia is thankful to Lyon.. He helped Juvia a lot. Juvia enjoyed being with him." She smiled.

"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed spending time with me. Oyasumi!"

"Oyasumi, Lyon!" Lyon closed the door and left. He was very happy.

He was happy that Juvia told him that she liked him. But his smile suddenly turned into a frown. He realized that Juvia meant that she liked him as a friend.. And he remembered that she still had feelings for Gray..

"Hm.. I just wish we weren't pretending.." He mumbled then went to bed.

Hey guys! Did you like it? I know characters are mostly OOC. Hmm, what do you say? I make this quick or make it a bit longer? And tell me, who should I pair in the end? Lyon or Gray? Still can't make up my mind! Or would you like me to make two endings?

Please do review! The next chapter will depend on your answers! I'd appreciate it if you helped me! :))