Edited: 08/23/13

Re: Edited: 06/18/21

English is my second language and I'm not a good writer, at all, so expect wrong grammar, punctuations, spellings, and tenses. Thank you~!

Genre: Drama, Family, Friendship, Romance, some Humor, Hurt/Comfort.

Main Pairing: GrayXLucy

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters. I am NOT Hiro Mashima.

If anyone EVER decided to reread this, I sincerely hope you'll like this edited version better. ^^


CHAPTER 3: Clique. Familiar Territory.


Today is the start of a new school year. It is also the start of the freshmen's club hunting, and every club upped their game into engaging them to join.

So, right after the classes ended for the day, I began my escape plan.

My friends didn't know that I quit the Library Club, which they joined to annoy the hell out of me, I'm certain. I had to make sure that I escape swiftly and smoothly.

I told them earlier that I had to go to the restroom, and they were pretty adamant in accompanying me, but I told them I don't want to do my business with them around to smell the place afterwards. I made sure to reiterate and stress the words slowly so they'd understand. And I think they did because I got disgusted looks from them afterwards.

Or so I thought.

Maybe it was a bad idea to run away from them. The single fact that I didn't appear in the Library Club might have been a reason for them to look for me. They were texting and calling me but I didn't reply or return their calls.

They can be clingy at times. And I should have thought this plan through because I might have underestimated their clinginess, however creepy that is.

I'm sure I said this a number of times already, but I don't like crowds. So, I made sure to avoid places I know would be packed with students. As I was walking through the whole school, which I haven't done since orientation, I noticed a building that is few meters away from the Gymnasium, masked by a few trees. It was a bit, how should I put it? Old? Rundown? It's somewhat quaint. It looked as if people don't actually use it, but at the same time you can see traces of activities people have left that suggest otherwise. And the obvious sign that says 'Hiking and Camping Club' proves that people does use it, albeit not consistently. Or maybe the club was disbanded and it became a hangout place for some students.

I hesitantly walk towards the building in complete curiosity. If the place is this old and unutilized, maybe the club did disband. Or maybe, just maybe, I found a club where there are clearly a few members. And so, I continue my trek.

"The recruitment kiosk for this club is by the field," a female voice stops me. There it is, so it's not disbanded after all! That's all I needed for confirmation.

I spin around to find a girl with long, white hair, and cerulean blue eyes, watching me inquisitively. But the moment she gets a good look at me, her eyes shine in excitement. "Gray Fullbuster, what a pleasant surprise."

I frown. What is with people calling me using my full name?

She laughs at my expression and answers the unsaid question. "I was told to accept you, in case you decided to join the club."

My frown deepens as she phones someone. "Hello? Gray Fullbuster is here… Really? That's great! Three new members then! I'll see you here. Bye~"

Then she hangs up.

Earlier, I had every intention to join this club, but I'm having doubts now. "What do you mean by three new members?"

She smiles and ushers me inside the club room. "Let's wait for them inside. They'll be here in a few."

She made tea for me as we wait. I don't usually start conversations, but she seems nice and easy to talk to, so I went ahead and asked her about the members (because that's what I'm most concerned about). She introduced herself as Mirajane Strauss, Mira for short, and she told me about the club.

There are currently nine members, and at first, they accepted everyone who applied since there are only a couple students applying in the club every year. But ever since the principal announced the rule that states everyone should have at least one club, applications upon application piled up in the club room. That time, students just wanted to be in a club and Mira thought it might trouble them in the future to have many inactive members if they accepted all of them. So, they decided then to only accept students with the aptitude to hike and required them to be active in club activities.

Hence, students withdrew their application slips. No one joined the club last year after that announcement was made, much to Mira's disappointment.

I want to hand in my application slip after that long explanation, since I got confirmation that there are only a few members, and the fact that I love going outside and just lose myself into nature tripping, I think this is the perfect club for me. But she suddenly continues on with the story.

"But since majority of the current members are seniors, we decided to accept anyone who applies today so that the club can survive the next school year after the we graduate."

This made me uncomfortable. What if a lot of people joins today?

Without me asking the question, though, she elaborates that a lot of application slips did turn up and they were glad. They planned on accepting everyone, but then two students showed up and asked if I joined the club. They told her to accept me instantly, if I ever came and handed in my application slip, and they will join, too, promising to keep the club running in the next coming year.

I, of course, feel like I know who those two students are. And immediately after that thought crosses my mind, ten figures emerge from the door.

I sigh. Of course, they would follow me.

"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE US, YOU JERKWAD!" Natsu yells. Loke lifts his eyebrows and smiles to annoy the shit out of me.

"Do I even have to ask how you know I quit the club?"

"LISANNA TOLD US!"

"I don't know who Lisanna is and I don't understand why I even bother to ask you. You guys know my every move, it's creeping me out!" I groan.

Loke chuckles and put his hands inside his pants' pockets, "You're hurting me with your words. We just want to be in the same club as you, can't you be a little more tolerant towards Natsu?"

"YEA— wait, why only me?!" Natsu inquires incredulously.

I choose to ignore Natsu's outbursts because he will not stop otherwise. I face Loke and scowl at him, "It's not that I don't want to be in the same club with you guys, but the number of students you attract to join with you? THAT. That I cannot handle."

"Well, it's your lucky day then. We've negotiated with these beautiful ladies earlier and they will only accept the three of us for now, if you join." He winks at Mira and the other two women he came in with, making them giggle. The other six figures roll their eyes simultaneously at Loke's flirtatious jabs and for only mentioning the ladies.

"And if I don't join?" I ask.

"Then you wouldn't have a club you would surely enjoy. It passed your requirements, right? Few members, activities you enjoy doing? If you don't join the club now, they will accept all the other applicants."

I can't argue with that. I like hiking and camping. When we were younger, Natsu, Loke and I usually visit the mountains, the river, the beach or anywhere else really, as long as it's not crowded. We just love to go out a lot and explore. There were times when we were so charmed by the view that we just didn't want to go back home when we are supposed to, and our respective families will go into panic mode, contact the authorities, and all of them would look for us all night.

Anyway, the point is, this particular activity makes me forget things that frequently troubles me. But, "How do you even know I'm gonna apply here?"

Loke smirks annoyingly, "We don't."

"YEA, WE WENT TO EVERY CLUB AND ASKED AROUND IF YOU POPPED UP TO APPLY, YOU ASSHOLE! STOP MAKING ME DO ALL THOSE THINGS!" Natsu roars.

If my mouth could fall to the ground, it probably already did. I remember Mira calling someone on her phone after she recognized me. "Are you saying you went around and told everyone to contact you guys once they see me applying for their club?"

"Yep. Since you couldn't be bothered to answer our calls or messages." Loke nods. "Just accept the fact that you can't escape us. Let us annoy you until the end." He laughs.

I sigh for the umpteenth time. I face Mira and narrow my eyes at her in curiosity, "And how did you know who I am?"

She blinks innocently at me, "What do you mean? You're pretty popular around the school, I don't get why you're asking me that question."

We blink at each other for a few seconds. I can't seem to comprehend what she said.

She tilts her head a bit, "Are you not aware?" she then glances at Loke, "He's not aware?"

He nods his head and laughs at my expression. "He's quite dense, this guy. He doesn't know how popular he is. And clearly didn't realize he's part of the reason why all those students joined our previous club."

"He's so dense I'm impressed he lasted until this long without knowing that. HAHAHA! And he thought I was the dense one. HAHAHA!" Natsu chortles. He made the point of slapping his knees repeatedly in the process.

I must have given them a dumbfounded look since they all laughed after that.

I honestly didn't know. I don't concern myself with things I'm not in the least bit interested in. Girls only shriek in awe whenever the three of us are together, not when I'm alone. And the male population tends to avoid me. So how could I have known? That thought made me ponder if they were telling lies.

And with me thinking they were lying to me, even if I feel annoyed by the fact that Natsu is not going to stop laughing any time soon, I am quick to forgo the newly gained knowledge that I am popular. I will not be deceived by these tricksters I call friends. Hah!

I joined the club after that conversation was over. At least the club only has a few members in it, and I think I can tolerate Loke and Natsu's annoying presence since I became used to it already after all those times we've spent together. It practically becomes a job you have to do when you decided to befriend them. So, I do not recommend it.

.

.

.

After officially accepting us the next day, the introduction and club orientation began for the newbies – us. There are four juniors and five seniors, and adding the three of us new members make twelve. As promised, they only accepted us and declined the application of other students, which kind of made me feel a little guilty since there are a few freshmen who really wanted to join. I'll think about speaking to Mira about them, if they haven't found a club yet. We do have two weeks to find clubs, and if they failed to find a club by then, they'll be put to the Environment Club, which I also do not recommend joining if you detest crowds like I do, because of the high number of members they have. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

Anyway, there are three female and six males (with the exclusion of me, Natsu and Loke). They introduced themselves as follows:

Freed Justine, Club President, senior;

Bickslow Clint, Vice President, senior;

Evergreen Thompson, Secretary, senior;

Cana Alberona, Treasurer, senior;

Mirajane Strauss, Events Chair, senior;

Elfman Strauss (yes, Mira's brother), ordinary member, junior;

Gajeel Redfox, ordinary member, junior;

Sting Eucliffe, ordinary member, junior; and

Rogue Cheney, ordinary member, junior.

So, they really didn't have new members last year. Just realizing that Loke and Natsu took on the responsibility of running the club in the following year, kind of makes me feel sorry for them. Because I will never ever help them. Heh!

Natsu was friendly towards everyone as expected. It was also mentioned that the Lisanna he was talking about yesterday was Mira and Elfman's little sister. She was also in the Library Club and was the one who told him and Loke that I quit the club, even after I specifically told the Library Club's president, whose name I cannot I remember at all, to never mention anything to anyone about me quitting the club. Ever.

Natsu was also hitting it off with the Sting guy and Elfman. They were talking as if they've known each other since they were babies.

Freed is composed and mostly quiet.

Bickslow is loud and carefree.

Evergreen seems excessively proud of herself, that it made me call her Loke's counterpart in my mind. I found her winking at me once when I looked over to her.

Cana seems to be one of the more serious members of the club along with Freed, but appears to be friendly, nonetheless. And more so, understandably, on Mira and Evergreen despite the personality differences. Of course, Loke would not pass the chance to flirt around with the three of them.

Mira plays the motherly figure of the group. She's the loving and caring type as she goes around making sure everyone is properly tended to. They also mention that Mira is popular, not only in school but also in the whole town of Magnolia due to her modeling for big brands. News that escaped my radar because I am not interested.

Gajeel and Rogue seems to have their own worlds. But they, at least, join the conversation unlike me.

What shocks me the most up to this very moment, is the fact that the club's adviser is our dear Mr. Gildarts Clive, our classroom adviser, who came in after the introduction of the new members were finished. Dammit.

Right after the club orientation, Natsu and Loke invited me to hang out for a bit, and so we went to a familiar snack bar a few blocks away from the school. It happened to be packed with students and you might think I would head home right then, but you're wrong.

The owner of this place owes Loke's family a lot, so he made arrangements to have our very own VIP area upstairs. We can still see the people outside the VIP room, but they cannot see us thanks to the tinted glass walls I requested from the owner. The only other people who can come in here are the owner, Mr. Macao Conbolt, his son, Romeo Conbolt (who just started his freshman year in FTA), and his co-owner, who just happened to be the one and only Mr. Gildarts Clive, our homeroom adviser. One reason why I detest him being the club adviser. Sigh.

Seriously, how unlucky can I get? Mr. Clive was both my classroom and club adviser. Sighhhhh.

We are close to the Old Man, Mr. Clive, since we were kids. Hence, the reason for his absolutely terrible treatment towards us in school. Loke and Natsu never thought of it that way, though, but they have yet to persuade me. Some students might think there is favoritism going on. And, yea, I have to agree to that. Favorite to tease. Tsk!

I still respect him though, don't get me wrong. I just hate it when he makes fun me.

He doesn't like it when you call him Mr. Clive or sensei when he's not in the school premises, so we settled into calling him 'Old man', to which he didn't like one bit, he just got used to it.

Right now, Loke is convincing Natsu that he can get all kinds of girls falling for him with just a flick of a finger, but Natsu cannot be persuaded with just words – even I doubt that – he wants proof and see it with his own eyes.

The moment the old man came barging in at us and hears everything, Natsu and Loke just keeps on throwing insults at each other while I continue to be an observer, raising my feet and put it over the table. Naturally, Mr. Clive joined in, and then the dare began.

Mr. Clive calls Loke's attention and grins wickedly.

"W-What is it?" he asks, voice a bit shaky. I'm sure he knows that Mr. Clive is planning on something again. Whenever he grins like that, I promise that you would see the word 'trouble' blinking atop his head, and you wouldn't want to be the on the receiving end of his plans when he's like this.

"If you say you can get ALL kinds of girls falling for you then," he pauses to raise a hand and points outside the room. We follow his finger and finds an old lady, in her fifties maybe, who is currently alone by herself, "It's safe to assume that you can make that lady over fall for you, too, right?"

Well, I'll be damned. That was a good one! I smirk.

Loke glares at me for that. He looks at Mr. Clive confidently and say, "Sure, but on one condition," and then he faces me and Natsu and returns the smirk I gave a few seconds ago.

Yea, that can't be a good sign.

I see a throbbing vein on Mr. Clive's forehead, he must have not expected that answer from Loke. Sigh. These guys just kept on one upping each other.

Loke then points at me and Natsu as he gets up and walks to the door, "These two will do whatever I ask them to, once I've finished this super easy task from the Old Man."

"OH, IT'S A DEAL ALRIGHT!" yells the Old Man.

I want to comment about the mockery in his voice and the way Mr. Clive jumps in his seat and is seething at how his student is intentionally riling him up. But I can't. Why? Because I didn't like what this Casanova has said!

"HEY WAIT!" I try to protest, "Don't agree on something you're not even a part of!" I yell at the Old Man, "And I am not agreeing to this! I am a mere observer!"

Believe me, I tried. I tried persuading Loke and the old man not to drag me in their silly games, but to no avail.

"What are you saying? You're a part of this ever since you've stepped through this doorway," Loke answers, pointing at the door, "Right, Sensei?" Loke looks at the old man and smiles at him. Right now, I don't know who the real schemer is, between the two of them.

The old man sighs in resignation and hesitantly nods his head, probably thinking it is not his day today as he can't find mirth at how Loke reacted towards his prank.

Natsu on the other hand was brimming with excitement. He's one of those people who doesn't back down on a challenge.

"Yea Gray, we should do it. It'll be fun!" Natsu's comment didn't help, at all. "Unless you're a coward and accept losing to me. It's just a game man." And it is definitely not encouraging.

Well, majority wins.

"You should be on my side. Among the three of us, you should know that Loke is the one closest to the old man in terms of wickedness." I sigh. Natsu's head tilt a bit in confusion.

I hope Natsu's right. I hope nothing would go wrong.

So, I finally agreed.

Not knowing that this will be the start of my roller-coaster-filled life, with so many ups and downs, and twists and turns.

I didn't know it that time.

I didn't know that this was the turning point of my life.

..ooOoo..


Yea, I definitely changed EVERYTHING in this chapter. I'm so evil. Hahahahaha

And I'm kinda contented with how it turned out. YAY~! But I might add a few more things to it when I think it needs to.

This is it for now~!

Jaa~ Ganbarimasu!