Thank you for all the reviews! It's highly appreciated.

Again, English is my second language and I'm not that good of a writer so I beg for forgiveness if there are wrong spellings or grammar...thank you (I know, I'm always saying this but, well, yea)

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

Pairings: GrayXLucy, ErzaXJellal, NatsuXLisanna, GajeelXLevy, LokeXsoon to be revealed?, SeigrainXUltear maybe.

Summary: Gray hates the world for taking his parents away, for making his life miserable. But with his new family, friends and a certain blonde girl, will they make him change the idea about the world? Or will he just hate it even more?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairytail or any of its characters.

Chapter 16! Enjoy!


CHAPTER 16:Weird


"Lucy!" Lucy turned around to see Jellal waving his hand at her telling her to stop. She stopped and waited for him.

"Hey Jellal! What is it?" Lucy asked.

"It's about the trip. You and Gray are the ones assigned to make a reservation at Camp Basanova, right?" Jellal asked. Lucy nodded in response.

"Well, its close during weekends, I don't know why though, so the days you could go there is from Monday to Friday." Jellal said.

"Huh? So me and Gray are going to skip class just to make the reservation?" Lucy asked as she frowned, because she's a person who doesn't want to skip class.

"Unfortunately yes. But don't worry, I'll ask the teachers if they could give you and Gray a special makeup class." Jellal said as he winked at Lucy.

"Jellal~ I'll be forever in debt to you..." Lucy said holding Jellal's hands animatedly shaking it with eyes sparkling with joy. Jellal smiled at Lucy's gestures and said "I guess you and Gray will owe me for this one."

Lucy stopped her childlike attitude and turned her head to the side to mumble something like 'He doesn't need a makeup class. And I doubt he'll come.'

"Were you saying something?" Jellal asked and frowned due to confusion.

"Huh? No! I didn't say anything!" Lucy said as she let go of Jellal's hands.

"If you say so. Well, that's just what I wanted to say. Are you going to the cafeteria?" Jellal asked. Lucy nodded and smiled.

"Well then let's go. Erza and the others are probably waiting there." Jellal said. He's cute! Erza is a lucky girl to have him. Well, that's if they quit lying to themselves and seek the truth in their hearts.She smiled at the thought. "Where's Levy by the way?" He asked again knowing that Lucy and Levy are always together as he started walking.

"Uhm, she told me she had to do something." Lucy answered as she put a finger on her chin and furrowed her eyebrows while following Jellal.

..ooOoo..

Levy was in the council room getting something she forgot to bring home yesterday. She hummed a happy song while arranging her things in a bag. Man does she have so many books! She stopped humming for a second while thinking Why did I bring them here again?She thought. Oh well. And she continued humming again.

"Done!" She said in glee as she carries the heavy bag full of books out of the council room. When she got outside, she laid the bag at the floor to close the door, still humming. She carried the bag again and it really is heavy. She started walking carefully so that the bag won't fall over and scattered the neatly arranged books on the floor. But luck isn't on her side today.

It was lunch break and there are people who are running around the corridors even though it's not appropriate for a high school student to run around like that. So as Levy was carefully walking back to the classroom she was bumped by a student who's playing in the corridors.

Levy fell, butt first due to the impact with a loud "AAHH!" and THUD.

The books that took half of her time to arrange is now scattered on the ground and her right hand was twisted for she supported the books from falling but failed.

The student who had bumped her ran off because he just hurt a council member and maybe scared of what will come. Maybe because of Erza, well who knows?

Levy started collecting the books again but winces whenever she moves her right hand.How pitiful! She thought. Before she realized it, someone was walking up to her dragging something behind him. Wait! That's not something, it's SOMEONE! Someone? Levy moved her eyes from the person being dragged to the person who's dragging him. Then she saw a familiar face. "Gajeel?" she asked in surprise.

"What do you want me to do with him?" Gajeel asked while holding the back of the boy's shirt.

"I-I'm sorry! P-Please don't tell this to Erza-san...S-she will kill me!" said the boy clasping his hands and crying as if his life depends on Levy. Levy blinked at him thinking that telling this to Erza will surely cause a lot of trouble. She would, no, she will kill the boy. Gajeel smacked the boy's head and the boy wince in pain and covered his head with his hands readying himself for another smack. Levy sighed at the thought and smiled at the boy saying "It's Ok. And I won't tell Erza."

"Thank you! Thank you!" He cried, repeatedly.

"You know, this is the reason why you're being bullied when we were little! Wait, youare still little..." Gajeel mocked. Levy looked at him and smiled but a vein appeared in her head throbbing intensely.

"I'm sorry, but I'm just like this. And sorry if I'm small." Levy said with a forced smile, brows twitching.

"Che~ you know, I'm tired of defending you from others and sometimes I'm thinking of just ignoring you..." He said again in a scornful manner. Levy stiffens because what he said was true; he's always there to defend her and she knew that he's tired of doing the same thing over and over again. That saddens her.

"...but here I am still doing it." He said as he turned his head to the side, confusion lurking inside his head. Levy stared at him for a second before smiling. "Thank you..." she said earning a 'che' from him.

She started collecting the books again forgetting the twisted arm she got from earlier and again winced in pain. Gajeel heard it. He crouches down, without removing his firm grip on the boy's shirt preventing the boy from running, and asked her "What's wrong?"

"Nothing! I'm alright!" She said quickly. But Gajeel was not contented so he held Levy's right arm that cause her to scream in pain. "That doesn't sound Ok to me...come on!" He said as he gripped Levy's left hand and drag her.

"Wait where are we going? And what about my books?" Levy asked. Gajeel stopped walking and turned his head to the boy that bumped into Levy and said, "If you don't want the 'Titania' to know, pick those books up and bring it to this girl's classroom!" Gajeel ordered and got a loud "YES SIR!" in response from the boy.

He started dragging Levy again "We're going to the infirmary to check your arm. Why do you have so many books anyway?" He said not looking at Levy. The latter smiled and said her thank you to Gajeel which earns her a faint grunt. "You're weird..." Gajeel muttered.

..ooOoo..

Lucy and Jellal entered the noisy cafeteria while chit chatting about something. But their conversation was disturbed by an annoying yell piercing through the noisy crowd.

"PRINCESS!" Loke yelled and waved his hand telling them to come over and sit with them. Everyone, and I mean literally EVERYONE, inside the cafeteria became quiet and looked at Lucy.

Lucy's eyebrows twitch as Jellal cast her a teasing smile "Princess?" he asked. Lucy just rolled her eyes. Jellal chuckled and said "Well shall we, 'Princess'?" while emphasizing the word princess with much sarcasm just to tease her and offers his arm for her to take but she just ignored Jellal's crazy antics and walked to the counter to buy her lunch which earns her another chuckle from Jellal.

After buying, she turned around to find her tray of food being taken from her by the super annoying womanizer Loke, who's been waiting for her to finish buying her food.

"Hey! Give it back!" Lucy said as she tried to snatch the tray but to no avail, failed.

"I'll guide you to your seat, Princess." Loke said as he walks to where their seats are. "I can manage on my own!" Lucy said but still followed Loke.

Everyone was still quiet and still looking at them. What is a man-hater and a womanizer doing together? Wait are they together?Everyone thought. And with this thought in mind boys and girls alike cried. Lucy is taken! And Oh my Loke!was heard. Lucy just face palmed and sighed. She heard chuckling coming from the table where Loke placed the tray. When she scanned the table she saw familiar faces and frowned at them.

"Hey there, 'Princess'!" Seigrain said holding his laughter. Great! Now all council members will tease me with that nickname for the rest of the year. Uhg! Why does it have to be me? Even Erza is smiling! Lucy thought while looking at the smirking council president.

"Your seat is here, Princess." Loke said as he pulled a seat for her. She gratefully accepted it for she has no other choice but to sit there because all other seats and tables are taken.

"Thank you..." she said to Loke as she ignored all the snickering and bickering happening on the same table that she was at.

"Hey Luce!..." Natsu started. Luce? A new nickname huh? Well, at least it's better than to be called 'Princess' by this stupid Loke. Lucy thought as she sent a glare to Loke who just smiled at her.

"Can I have some of those?" Natsu said pointing something at Lucy's tray. She looked at what 'those' are and found out that it was her sandwiches that he wanted.

"No way! Buy your own!" Lucy said to him.

"AWW! But I have no more money to buy those!" He whined. "Oh! Here I'll trade these for those!" He said giving Lucy something; I don't know how to describe it.

"What are those?" She asked him eyeing suspiciously on 'those' things.

"It's food! And I made them." Natsu said in confidence.

"Is that even edible?" Lucy asked looking at the 'food' in disgust.

"Of course it is! It's quite delicious! Try it!" He said handing Lucy some of his so-called food.

Lucy eyed the 'food' again; confusion hits her head and picked one. Everyone was shocked when Lucy took one and was about to take it to her mouth when a hand gripped her wrist to stop her from eating those disgusting looking things.

She turned to see that the owner of the hand was Gray. "Gray..." She mumbled. Gray guided her hand to the container of that 'food' and said "Don't eat it. You'll die..." he said. "HEY! WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN?" Natsu yelled.

He's still holding Lucy's wrist that tells her to drop the food. She eventually did it. Everyone sighed in relief and Gray finally removed his firm grip from Lucy's wrist.If I'll die eating it then, why is Natsu still alive? I have to try one of those! He said it's quite delicious.She nodded at the thought, took another one and without even a warning she took it to her mouth and everyone gasped at the sight. She started chewing it and stopped. Her eyes widen and everyone panicked. "Loke! Give her some water!" someone yelled. Loke and Gray quickly grabbed the nearest glass with water and gave it to Lucy. Loke and Gray stared at each other noticing that they are doing exactly the same. "Huh?" Natsu mumbled, he's not getting it as usual.

"It's good." Lucy mumbled. Everybody looked at her with confused eyes. She looked up at them and repeated herself. "It's good! It's actually good! Natsu can I have some more?" Lucy asked. "Sure! In trade with those sandwiches." He said and grinned.

"Deal!" She said and took the container from Nastu while giving her sandwiches to him. She started eating it and noticed the surprised eyes of everyone. "Do you want some as well?" She offered. She jerked when all of them, except for Gray and Loke, took one and eat it. "Wow! Natsu, this is great! When did you even learn how to cook?" Lisanna asked in awe. Natsu just smiled at them while devouring the sandwiches.

Loke looked at Gray and the latter noticed it and just sighed, put down the glass of water, stood up and started to walk away. Lucy, even though busy in eating, noticed Gray. "Gray! Where are you going?" Lucy asked.

"Somewhere quiet!" He answered without even looking at the blonde.

"Gray..." Lucy muttered. Loke looked from Lucy to Gray eyeing him until he was out of sight.

..ooOoo..

Time skips. After school.

Lucy was on her way to Gray's classroom to talk about the trip.Why did I forget to tell him that earlier? Sigh. It's because I got caught up by that stupid Loke and that too-good-to-be-true food. Lucy thought.

When she got there she saw Loke and Natsu and waved at them. "Guys!" She greeted.

"Princess!" Loke chimed. "Luce!" Natsu said. Now I regret greeting them. Why do they have to yell those names? Lucy inwardly sweat dropped. The two boys walked to where the blonde is and asked "What are you doing here?"

"Oh Princess, you don't have to come here just to see me." Loke said winking. Natsu just arched an eyebrow at him and shook his head on him. This guy will never change... Natsu thought.

"Uhm, actually, I'm here to talk to Gray." Lucy answered and was only looking at Natsu, of course ignoring Loke. Natsu coughed, probably holding his laugh, with his hand on his mouth which earns him a glare from Loke.

"Oh! He did not go to class after lunch, but I guess he's still here. His bag is still at his desk." Natsu said pointing at Gray's bag.

"You mean he cut classes?" Lucy asked.

"Yea that's the right word." Natsu nodded.

"Why do you need him for?" asked Loke curious and a hurtful expression can be seen in his handsome face.

"I need to tell him something about the trip." She answered.

"Oh…" Loke said and smiled at her answer. He sighed in relief. "I thought you need him for something else…" he mumbled. "What?" Lucy asked. "N-Nothing!" Loke said.

Lucy sighed. How am I gonna tell him that? Wait! Natsu said he's still here! But where exactly? Hmm.Lucy thought. She snapped her fingers and said "I'm going now! Thanks guys." She said and walked towards the cafeteria while thinking He said that he's going somewhere quiet before he left the cafeteria right? So, he's probably there! It had to be there.

..ooOoo..

Gray was lying with both his hand on the back of his head, one leg out stretch and the other is folded. Locks of hair covered his eyes andwere closed but he doesn't seem like sleeping; it's more like he's thinking. Lucy...

FLASHBACK

"Hey Loke..." Gray greeted Loke.

"Hey...so, how was your night?" Loke asked, arms crossed in front of his chest as his eyes are covered his sunglasses and by some locks of hair.

"Huh? Pretty ok I guess..." Gray answered as he raised an eyebrow at Loke who seems weird today. Gray was about to sit down when he heard Loke asked.

"Did you enjoy her company last night?" Loke asked finally eyeing Gray with his stoic face. Gray's eyes widen in surprise.

"W-what are you saying?" Gray asked nervously.

"Don't deny it Gray, I saw her came out of your backyard and walk side by side with you to school." Loke whispered not letting others hear their conversation. This is bad. If Lucy found out that Loke knew she slept at our house she will kill me, not literally though. She might tell it to Ultear! Oh no I'm dead... Gray thought.

"Do you have feelings for her?" Loke asked cutting Gray's thought. The latter frowns at him; he shows his 'are-you-seriously-asking-me-that?' expression to his best friend. As if understanding Gray's frown, Loke just nods his head and smiled "Good. Cause I have."

Gray's eyes widen. His heart started beating fast like there's someone or something that's piercing it.

"I don't want you, of all people, to be my rival in love Gray. But if you do have feelings for her, I won't lose to you!" Loke stated which made Gray stiffen but manages to look at the serious looking Loke.

"Since when did you have feelings for her? And for your information, I won't even dare fall in love with a man-hater girl like her. And you know that I'm waiting for someone." Gray said folding his arms making his point but inside him it was like he doesn't want to say those things. It's like he was hurt.

"First of all, I don't really know how I develop my feelings for her. I just knew that it's love because it felt different when she's around not like when I'm with other girls. Second, I considered that as well before, to not get involve with a man-hater like her, but she's interesting, I want to know her more. And third, I know that, and I told myself not to worry for you are waiting for someone." Loke said, answering all of Gray's questions.

"I'm just glad that you don't feel the same way as I am towards her Gray. It seems that you only see her as your friend and I expect that to last." Loke continued.

(School Bell)

"Oh! And one more thing, cheer for me alright?" Loke asked with a smile and faced the front as their teacher went walking inside the classroom.

"Yea...sure…" Gray said, looking confused at what he's feeling right now.

END OF FLASHBACK

Why am I affected? She's just my friend! And I already told Loke that I will cheer him on! Dammit Gray! He thought as he gritted his teeth.

"So you're really here..." a familiar voice snapped him from his thought. He sat up and turned to see that he was right; it is Lucy.

"W-why are you here?" He asked her and frowned.

"You know I should be the one asking you that. Why are youhere and why did you cut class?" Lucy said as she kept on walking towards the raven haired boy. She stopped in front on Gray and put her hands on her hips.

"It's none of your business." He said in a scornful way as he crossed his legs, cupping his chin with his elbow on his knee and his other hand holding the other knee.

"Of course it's my business!" She snapped back. Gray stiffen.

"Did you know that I've been searching for you? I have so many works to do, but here I am looking foryou!" She said as she pointed a finger at Gray.

"But you found me! And how did you find me exactly?" Gray asked in confusion.

"You said that you're going someplace quiet, so I figured you'd be here." She answered as she puts her finger on her chin as if thinking.

"Why didn't you look for me in the library?" He asked.

"Oh please! I didn't consider the library, doubting that you would even go there. And besides this is the most peaceful place at school that I know that you'd go if you're going to skip class." She said in a matter-of-fact voice nodding her head in the process. Bulls eye!

"If you're just going to keep babbling there then you may leave." Gray said. The nerve of this guy! Lucy thought fumingly. Calm down Lucy! He's being mean again! Don't waste your time fighting with a guy like him!

"I'm here to discuss something for the reservation at Camp Basanova." She said calmly. He suddenly fell silent but then talked again "You have five minutes!". Now, an angry chip appeared on Lucy's forehead and clench her fist into a tight ball. She sighed to calm herself.

"Jellal told me that the camp is closed during weekends so we should go there on Monday or whichever day we want. I'm here to ask you, what day you're free this week. Well, except for Saturday and Sunday." She asked.

"Shouldn't you be asking that to yourself? I'm free this week so any day will do." He answered nonchalantly.

"Alright then we'll go on Monday. Let's meet at 7 o'clock here at school. Don't be late like the last time!" She said.

"Hai! Hai!" he said in a bored tone and kept his position.

(Silence)

Lucy sat beside Gray. The latter noticed it and asked "Why are you still here?"

"What? Is the five minute time you gave me already over?" she asked. With that said he stood up and walked to sit and lean on the wall away from Lucy. Lucy's face, noticing this, saddens. Is he mad at me? Why is he avoiding me?

"Are you mad at me?" Lucy asked as she looked her hands and at what she's holding. Gray only looked at her and put his hand behind his head outstretching his legs.

"Are you mad because of the pictures? I'll ask Levy to delete it if-" she repeated as she looked at Gray but was cut off.

"I'm not mad!" He said closing his eyes in irritation. Well, he's not mad about the pictures, but he just doesn't feel like talking to someone right now with that conversation with Loke earlier that keeps on replaying on his head over and over.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" Lucy asked that cause Gray to look at her and saw tears escaping her eyes. He doesn't want to see her cry.

"I'm not avoiding you...Ok." He said.

"DON'T LIE!" She said abruptly standing up. Shocked Gray just looked at her. "I know you're avoiding me! If you're not mad about the pictures, then what did I do for you to avoid me? What did I do to you? Tell me!" She yelled with tears freely falling from her eyes. Her sobs getting louder and louder as she continued "Tell me so I can say sorry!" Gray doesn't know what to do, he stood up and was walking slowly towards her. She looked down at her feet. "I don't want to be hated! Not anymore!" she said. Gray hearing this stopped halfway, looking at Lucy's crying face reminded him of the girl he loves. "The feeling of being hated is the worst thing that you will ever experience in your entire life!" she said again clenching her fists. Gray started walking slowly again. "I don't want to be hated anymore! I'm tired of it. I'm tired of crying every night thinking that tomorrow it will all be better! I don't like that feeling!" she said again. Lucy shot her head up to come face to face with Gray. "So please-" she was cut off by Gray who pulled her in his arms.

She was surprised. "I said I'm not mad. And I'm not avoiding you as well. You did nothing wrong and I don't hate you if that's what you're thinking." Gray said as he kept Lucy in his arms stroking her blonde hair. He continued "And don't worry, you won't feel that anymore. You have friends that will always be there for you. Erza, Levy, Lisanna, everyone in the council, mom, Ultear, Lyon, Natsu, Loke...and me, we will always be here for you Lucy, so don't cry anymore." He whispered in her ears and continued on stroking her blonde hair. She hugged back and cried at his words, but this time those cries wasn't because she's feeling she's hated but because she knows that there are people that will be there for her not only in joy but in sadness as well. "And besides," He said breaking the hug. "This is not the Hot Head girl I know!" he mocked. Lucy punched his shoulder. "OW! Hey that hurts!" He said.

"That's really inappropriate, you know that?" Lucy said as he made her smile. Gray flicked Lucy's forehead and smiled. "HEY!" Lucy exclaimed as she covered her forehead with her hands .

"Now that's the Hot Head girl I know!" he said as he walk back to his seat leaning the wall. Lucy wiped her tears and smiled. She walked towards Gray and seated next to him pulling her knees to her chest.

"You know, your five minutes is up." He said.

"I know. It's been eight minutes to be exact." She looked at Gray and continued "And I guess another two minutes won't hurt right?" She asked and smiled. He smiled in amazement and mumbled "You're really weird..."

"Did you say something?" Lucy asked.

"Nope." He said. She looked at him and remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot! Here!" She said while handing him over something. Gray looked at the plastic bag and asked "What is it?"

"Food. Well, you see, I went to the cafeteria to buy these before coming here. So take it! It's for you." Lucy said as she smiled at him.

"Why are you giving me this?" He asked taking the food from her.

"You didn't eat lunch right? I figured that you're hungry so I bought it. So you're welcome!" She said without removing her smile. He smiled and said "Thank you..."

"It's so nice here! So peaceful." She said while Gray takes a bite of the sandwich. She started stretching and stood up.

"Well, I think my two minutes is up so I better get going or you will start barking at me again." She said mockingly. She started walking but was stopped by a hand grasping her. She looked at Gray that said "Will you just stay here until I finished eating?" Lucy looked at him for a moment and then nodded. She sat beside Gray again eyeing the said boy. She kept looking until remembered something "Hey! What did I told you about cutting classes?" she started lecturing the poor boy.

Oh boy! I shouldn't have stopped her...

..ooOoo..


So what do you guys think? Is it boring? I think I didn't put much emotions in this chapter, well, that's my opinion,, please tell me! I want to know if you really do like it or not! I accept criticisms as well,, constructive criticisms by the way,, tell me about it 'kay? :)

Did you spot that little LevyXGajeel I put in there? hehehe, I really think they will end up together,, Who agrees with me? raise your hand! hehehe

Hey guys did you read the latest chapter of FT? It's so AWESOME! can't wait for another GraLu moments there! I love HIRO MASHIMA! don't you? XD

Ok, I'm babbling I know, so before I forgot to mention it again, next chapter: Chapter 17:This isn't a DATE!

Hahaha,, so I wish you guys will still be here for the next chapter! hehehe,, I just have to make them look so cute! :)

Tune in for the next chapter, ne?

Ja'ne