Freed stood on the sidewalk across the street from Bickslow's house feeling the thumps of the music from the house even from so far off from the house. Freed looked down both sides of the streets cars parked everywhere just to go to bickslow's party which gave Freed second doubts of if he should even go inside.

Before Freed could talk himself into just going home he felt his phone buzzing. Freed pulled out the phone to see the callers photo of a girl holding up a copy of Moby Dick her eyes just peeking over the top of the novel.

"Hello Levy." Freed said as he leaned against a tree hugging the edge of the sidewalk. "Freed you said you'd be here where are you?" Freed pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed he was a terrible liar and he didn't want to lie to his best friend so he began to walk across the street and simply said to Levy "I'll see you in a second." and put his phone in his jacket pocket as he stepped across the lawn.

He quickly was blocked by a man who could rival Mirajane's brother in size who decided to not let Freed past him.

"What do you think you're doing here you can just turn around and go home." Freed wanted to protest but quickly decided that he would just tell Levy and Bickslow he wasn't feeling well or at least try to sound convincing that he was sick.

"Well Orga he was actually invited so if you wanna get into semantics what do you think you're doing here?" a couple of guys who were sitting around the porch laughed at Orga and one threw a solo cup at him.

As Orga returned to the spot on the porch Freed looked over to see Bickslow walking towards him and he put his arm around his shoulder. "Finally I thought you bailed on me which I am afraid is not cool. Freed felt himself smirk at Bickslow's words.

"There's at least a couple hundred people here i'm sure you would have lived." Freed said jokingly as Bickslow led him into the house through the hordes of drunk minors.

"Well of course there is it's a party for the start of the year but none of these people are Freed and I guarantee you a good time if I remember correctly so we are gonna get wasted and by we I mean you." Bickslow said grinning as he led him through the large house.

As freed was finally shown the tables where the alcohol was placed he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable saying he didn't drink but quickly recognized one of the bottles as something his father kept in his liquor cabinet.

Bickslow noticed Freed eying the bottle and immediately grabbed it "Whiskey and soda it is." and immediately began putting the alcohol with some soda in a solo cup and handed it to him. "I wish I could stay with you forever but I have to be a good host and mess with people."

Freed immediately felt tense with Bickslow being the only person at the party that he knows so far and with Levy nowhere to be seen he felt super out of place. "What happened to you drinking with me?"

Bickslow let out a grin as he walked out of the kitchen. "It's a good time as ever to tell you that I don't drink."

As Mirajane walked into the rather large house she couldn't help but wince a little at the loud music that seemingly was blaring out from all directions. In thought it should be easy for her to find someone she knew saying that practically everyone from the school was there including all of her friends being invited one way or another from people that they had met that week.

She felt a hand gently touch her shoulder and she immediately felt her cheeks turn a light shade of pink thinking about Erza and her stumbling through her invite to the party. But she turned around and instead saw Levy looking at her with a slight pout.

"Levy what's wrong?"

"WHERE THE HELL IS FREED!" Levy exclaimed causing Mirajane to jump out of her skin at the sudden outburst.

"I don't know Levy I just got here." Mirajanes defense did not help the small bookworm

"Well freed said the same thing half an hour ago and I haven't seen him." Levy then looked around and softly said "I hope he's ok." Mirajane just smiled softly and said. "Freed is fine Levy now you go and find Lucy i'm sure she's beside herself not being with you this long." Levy laughed at Mirajane and disappeared into the crowd.

Mirajane realizing that she just sent off the only person at the party that knew her she began to look for Freed now that she knew he of all people was at Bickslow's party instead of reading in his room and texting Levy about how great the suggestion was but she realized she was more or less looking with someone with a little more red in their head.

As she crept through the crowd becoming more and more socially anxious as the crowd formed in the living room bumped against her as she tried to make her way through realizing the only reason she wanted to be here was to keep her promise to see Erza and leave knowing her brother had a house key and Lisanna was home after Mirajane strictly told her she was not going to the party which she knew was hypocritical but she wanted to keep Lisanna out of trouble as much as possible and keeping Elfman away after the girl from the apartment across the hall invited him was an impossibility.

"Mirajane?"

Mirajane eyes shot up as she saw the Erza Scarlet standing there in a plaid shirt looking absolutely stunning causing Mirajane's brain to short circuit and only nod her head causing a chuckle to escape from Erza's chest but completely drowned out by the music blaring from the room.

"Are you having fun?" Erza shouts over the music in an attempt to have her voice cut through the loud music enveloping the house.

"It's so loud!" Mirajane shouts at the same voice level leaning towards Erza feeling her insides flip at the close proximity but brushing it off as nerves from talking to someone that is outside her only group of friends.

"Well then let's leave." Erza states a sly smile across her face.

"What!" Mirajane doesn't even try to hide the disbelief in her voice after dragging herself halfway across town to a party she doesn't want to be at just to leave it minutes after showing up.

"We'll come back I just wanna talk to you without blowing out my voice" Erza says in her usual assertive booming voice even if her body language was rejecting her seeming confidence 'was Erza blushing?' Mirajane thought but brushed it off as her heating up from the hot room accompanied by the late summer heat.

"You go outside and wait for me ill meet you out there in a second." Erza then turned on her heel and disappeared in the crowd leaving a stunned Mirajane to walk outside not believing the entire situation she was in.

Mirajane stood on the lawn feeling out of place but luckily as usual no one even seemed to notice her except a boy which she thought dressed similarly to Freed who simply gave her a small smile before resuming his conversation with the hulking man who was near him.

She then felt a giant hand start ruffling her hair and she immediately turned around eyes wide with disbelief until she realized who it was.

"Oh hi Gajeel" she said giving the imposing friend of Juvia's a warm smile causing him only to grunt in response a small smirk dancing on his lips. "You're the last person i'd expect to be here."

"I don't like parties but Juvie is here and i'm making sure she stays out of trouble." Gajeel said crossing his giant arms over his chest.

Mirajane giggled at his big brother attitude and simply said "I haven't seen her here but Levy is inside and so is Freed apparently so maybe you can ask them?"

Gajeel simply grumbled as he slowly sauntered his way inside "I'll just go bother the shrimp until I see her i'll see you around I guess."

Erza then walked past Gajeel and smiled warmly at Mirajane showing her a bottle of gin she snatched from the kitchen "Bickslow won't notice its gone anyways so might as well."

Juvia simply loved parties…

While never really being "invited" to one unless you count Mira and Levy's birthday parties which were simple get togethers with the four of them and a movie playing in the background Juvia loved the idea of letting loose at these giant get togethers and hearing loud music so Juvia was more than exited while her and Meredy walked down the block from where Meredy had parked talking the pink haired girls ear off the whole way until the large house was in sight.

"Juvia and Meredy are here finally!" Juvia squealed stretching her arms out in awe of the atmosphere of the party.

Meredy simply smiled and led Juvia by the hand inside the music which some would consider ear deafening Juvia consider just perfect for the party's sake and couldn't wipe the smile of enthusiasm off her face as Meredy simply greeted and hugged nearly everyone in their path to where Ultear probably was saying Meredy would not stop talking about how excited she was to see how Ultear looked in the dress she had bought for the party.

"Juvia!" Juvia then turned around to see Levy on the couch sitting on Lucy's lap a cup being held by both of her hands. "First Freed and Mirajane now you how did we not know we were all gonna be here?" Juvia simply smiled nervously as she remembered that she never told any of her friends that they would be there .

"Sorry Juvia just got excited and forgot." she stated lamely but her smile grew again noticing the man standing next to the couch with a scowl on his face. "Gajeel is even here!" Juvia squealed with excitement wrapping her arms around his torso and giving him a bone crushing hug "Juvia could not be happier!"

Meredy simply smiled "I think you're in good hands so i'm gonna find my girl and try and see how the merchandise looks." with that Meredy gave Juvia a wink and went up the stairs in search of Ultear.

"Bickslow said you were coming." Freed froze recognizing the booming voice that was coming in front of him stopping him from reading the novel on his phone and looking up at Magnolias star quarterback "He seemed more excited about that than the rest of this party so you've definitely made an impression on him."

Freed couldn't process what was happening to him at the moment with a thousand scenarios he had imagined this would go for him his speech skills went out the window and all he could lamely squeak out was "Laxus."

Instead of drawing back at the response like Freed expected Laxus let out a deep laugh that Freed couldn't help but fluster at. "Good so you know my name already that's always good." Freed smiled at his smooth response.

"Didn't think you would be much of a drinker though?" Laxus nodded his head towards Freed's cup causing Freed to look down at the near empty cup that was in his hands. "Well what would make you think that?" Freed was shocked at the response he gave being so flirtatious as his mind went into autopilot probably on the count that if Freed thought before he spoke his nerves would shut all motor functions down.

Laxus smirked at his response and gestured his thumb towards the drink table. "Well I was about to grab a beer and you look like you need a refill too so why don't you show me how wrong I was?"

Lisanna felt her feet hit the floor of the hallway on the second floor of the house she had just snuck into she was going to be at this party Mirajane and Elfman be damned.

"You know my front door isn't broken right?"

Lisanna nearly fell back out of the window she just jumped through at the outburst turning to her right to look at a boy with dark blue hair sitting on the railing looking over the living room.

"Sorry its just that my sister and brother are here and they'd send me home if they saw me walk inside."

"White hair and blue eyes? You must be Beast arm Elfman's sister Mirajane right?"

"Lisanna."

"Lisanna." Bickslow said correcting himself.

"I'm guessing you're the guy who throws all these crazy parties?"

"It'd be weird if i wasn't saying this is my house." Bickslow cooly stated smiling letting his tongue rest outside of his mouth while doing so making Lisanna stare at the crazy gesture.

"So what are you doing up here if the main party is downstairs?" Lisanna asked peering over the railing Bickslow was sitting on watching the people dance in the living room to the booming music.

"Being a good host." Bickslow stated flatly before continuing. "What sets my party apart from others is that all my parties something crazy happens whether it be a huge fight,Drinking contests or someone deciding that they are invincible by jumping from my roof to the pool."

"Well how do you know that something like that is always gonna happen at your parties?"

Bickslow grinned evilly at her response. "Simple really I instigate it." Bickslow grinned even wider. "Luckily enough for me you're gonna be my partner in crime tonight if you cant even go downstairs."

It was Lisanna's turn to grin this time...

Erza and Mirajane walked down the road lavish houses stacked on either side of bickslow's neighborhood.

"Wow these houses are almost as big as Lucy's " Erza said her voice breaking the silence that the two were in since they began their walk.

"Wait Lucy's house is bigger than these?" Mirajane stated bewildered by Erza's nonchalance to her statement.

"Yeah way bigger." Erza began to take the cap of the bottle and taking a small sip from it.

"Well Levy did say something about her house being big but…" Mirajane felt her voice trail off staring at a weeping willow swaying under the breeze in between two houses. "I just didn't think that it was that big."

Erza smiled "So how did you meet Levy?" Erza offers the bottle to Mirajane which she slowly accepts taking a small swig and coughing as she feels it burn her throat.

"Not much of a drinker i'm gonna guess."

"First time actually." Mirajane gave a sheepish smile at her confession but Erza responded with a grin. "Well that makes me feel special."

Mirajane felt that weird feeling in her stomach at Erza's statement…

"Well back to what we were talking about." Mirajane inwardly shuddered of how bad her transition to talk back was mostly because she wanted to get Erza's comment out of her head. "I hung out in the library alot when I was a freshman and she was the only one who would let me sit with her at a table." Mirajane frowned at the last detail taking a little larger swig from the bottle before she smiled warmly again. "Soon enough we had two more spots filled for Juvia and Freed."

Erza seemed shocked at Mirajane's explanation for meeting Levy. "Why does Juvia sound familiar?"

"She used to swim her freshman year and got on varsity immediately." Mirajane said clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going.

"That's amazing why did she stop?"

"She got bullied off the team…" Mirajane took one last swig from the bottle before handing it back to Erza.

"That's awful why would people do something like that?" Mira had a frown on her face at Erza's naive question.

"Because they're different. Levy is lucky enough to have found someone who sees how amazing she is but people make fun of her height and how socially paranoid she is, Juvia gets made fun of for how she talks but is the most gentle innocent soul there is, and Freed is gearing towards valedictorian but his parents sheltered him when he was little so he doesn't know how to interact with kids his age but they're all so amazing and don't deserve it." Mirajane felt the weight lifted off her chest not realizing she was almost shouting

"Who's Gajeel?" Erza asked and Mirajane felt herself smile at the way Erza didn't press into what Mirajane was talking about anymore as if she knew that Mirajane had said all she wanted to about the matter.

"You'll know him when you see him." Mirajane said as she and Erza turned around back towards the house.

Gray usually loved parties…

But for the past ten minutes he had drowned out Lyon shouting to someone else in their small group in the living room in an attempt to have a conversation over the music but now all he could pay attention to was the couch in the living room.

Gray watched as Levy was telling a story to Lucy and squirming as she was prodded in the sides by her girlfriend.

So that was pretty normal…

What caught his eye was that next to Lucy and Levy was the girl who had given him his wallet back and squished between her and the armrest was her 'boyfriend?' Grey frowned as an upbeat song that sounded like it belonged on a billboard top forty came on which caused Juvia to smile even brighter if that was even possible and drag the hulking man towards where all the people were dancing which made Gray's chest twist in uncomfortable positions.

"What are you staring at so much?" Lyon said somehow making his voice cut through the music.

"Nothing."

"If you wanna talk to her so bad just leave your wallet on the coffee table you know Ur would love to have her over without a boyfriend intrusion."

"Shut up Lyon."

"Seriously just ask her to dance with you if you wanna see her so bad." Lyon said with a grin that lacked any malice to it. "Looks like piercings over there is having a blast." Lyon had his finger pointed towards Gajeel who seemed extremely embarrassed but couldn't leave and risk hurting Juvia's feelings.

"Well we'll need a plan to get piercings away from her."

"See any targets yet Bickslow?"

"Not yet Lis it's not that easy."

"Sure it is."

Bickslow looked at his new partner in crime with bewilderment and she slyly smiled and pointed her finger over the railing she was leaning on to the downstairs. "The black haired guy without a shirt on is eyeing Juvia hard and he's obviously jealous of Gajeel right now and i'm guessing the shirtless guy with white hair is trying to convince him to do something."

"The shirtless guys are Grey and Lyon but who's Juvia and Gajeel?"

Lisanna pointed to the dance floor. "The girl with the blue hair and summer dress is Juvia and the guy next to her who looks like a punk rocker."

Bickslow whistled at Lisanna's spot on eyesight and gave her a high five and began to stick his tongue out as he smiled. "So we distract her boyfriend get Gray in bring Mr Sunshine back and let it unfold?"

"It'll work Gajeel isn't her boyfriend but he is super protective of her but I can probably convince him to come with me you just focus on the shirtless guy."

"Break on three. One. Two. Three. Break!" Bickslow then pushed himself over the railing he was sitting on leaving Lisanna wondering what she had just got in to.

Lisanna waited until the song was over to approach Gajeel tapping him on the shoulder while Juvia was distracted by her own monologuing of how happy she was.

"Lisanna I thought Mirajane would make you stay home?" Gajeel said scowling at the girl but she stayed unaffected.

"She did and I need you to come with me."

"Why?"

Out of all the plans she had in her head she realized she forgot one crucial thing which was explaining to Gajeel why he should leave with some girl he had met once briefly.

"Uhh I need a partner for beer pong." Lisanna mentally punched herself for her idea and was thinking of something else to say before she felt a large hand mess up her hair. "We better not lose and don't tell your sister."

Freed couldn't believe the night he's had.

It started with just being dropped off by Bickslow and failing to find the only girl in the house he knew to now playing beer pong with his crush.

Freed lined up his last shot and made the ball land dead center in the solo cup meaning Freed and Laxus had won their fourth one in a row and Laxus ended up giving him a side hug in response which made Freed feel like his heart was coming out of his chest.

"Anyone else wanna try the best?" Laxus shouted in his booming voice causing Freed to grin at the statement.

"You're on sparky...:" Freed immediately recognized the guy standing on the other side of the table as Juvia's friend but what shocked him was the girl standing next to him.

"Lisanna?"

"Freed what are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you apparently." Freed looked at Laxus who gave him a grin. "The difference is that I don't plan on losing."

Gray noticed the white haired girl pull Juvia's friend away but she stayed on the dance floor looking a little out of place. What really sent Gray over to her was when a slower song came on at the party and Juvia got that exited twinkle in her eye. 'This has to be destiny' Gray thought

In actuality Bickslow just told the DJ to switch to something slower for his plan to roll along faster.

"Hey you wanna dance?"

The only look that could describe Juvia's face was a mix between being punched in the back of the head after winning the lottery with the combination of ethereal joy and confusion going through her head she could only give a weak nod.

Gray smiled sheepishly as he took one of Juvia's hands and put the other rather high on her waist as they began to find their rhythm to the slow song.

Grey chuckled "Sorry about that I noticed that you didn't have anyone to dance with." If Grey was nervous his body never showed it Juvia on the other hand was so red in the face it reminded Gray of Erza's hair. "No don't be sorry Juvia thought it was rather... sweet."

"Thanks again for bringing back my wallet."

"It was nothing but Juvia should apologise."

"For what?"

"Juvia apologises for Gajeel's actions he's not so bad but he can get rather impatient."

Grey felt his chest twist again after Juvia mentioned him again but never said anything about it. "Yeah boyfriends can be protective like that." Juvia chuckled at his response "Gajeel is not Juvia's boyfriend a boy and friend yes but more like a big brother."

"What really?" Grey was dumbfounded but also relieved when Juvia nodded her head yes he felt like a weight was taken off his chest.

The two fell into silence as they swayed to the soft melody Juvia having an internal meltdown on the inside as she was living her actual dream since she had first saw Grey.

"I don't know how I never noticed you but Lyon says Ive got ice in my brain." Juvia let out a soft giggle as she felt grays hand pull her closer and he leaned down to kiss her the only thing Juvia could think was 'Nothing could ruin this moment.'

The game was close at this point both teams down to only one cup Lisanna's head felt heavy from all the cups she had to drink Gajeel however looked unaffected and was eying down Laxus and it seemed Laxus was reciprocating.

"You think you can make it Lisanna?" Freed mockingly asked from across the table the beer he drank mixing with the dirty sodas he drank earlier shedding away his quiet and humble persona only leaving confidence and pure competitiveness which Lisanna thought suited him.

"If I don't that means we lose so yeah I think I can." Lisanna said smugly as she lined up her shot and threw a perfect toss that was destined to go straight into the cup.

That is if Gajeel hadn't stumbled back and knocked into the table.

Lisanna watched mouth agape as the ball bounced off the rim of the cup and landed directly into Laxus's palm.

His shot of course landed in perfectly…

Lisanna downed the drink and immediately turned towards who had cost them the game. "Gajeel what the hell was that for.?"

"What's that stripper think he's doing?"

Lisanna then saw exactly what Gajeel was talking about her anger going away leaving a smug grin as she realized that her and Laxus's plan was working out perfectly.

Gajeel stormed over to Juvia and Gray and prodded Gray in the chest his body making a barrier between the two. "What the hell do you think you were about to do?" Gajeel punctuated his sentence by prodding Gray in the chest harder

Now Grey was mad "What is your problem why are you always putting that studded head of yours where it doesn't belong if you wanna fight that's fine let me beat your ass and lets be done with it."

Gajeel smirked and nodded his head towards the door and began lumbering out with Juvia trying to anchor him down by holding down one of his arms but to no avail only causing Gajeel to drag her along with him.

Gray walked over to Lyon who was watching the whole ordeal with Bickslow standing next to him "Dude what did I just get myself into do you see how big that guy is?" But instead of Lyon responding it was Bickslow who spoke up "Just get him to the ground and start punching him you've got this."

"I've got this?"

"Yeah it'll be easy just remember bluie over there will be watching you."

Gray with a strong sense of confidence gave the two a thumbs up and walked out the front door towards where Gajeel gestured. Lyon then looked up at Bickslow "You know he's gonna lose right?"

"He doesn't."

Erza and Mirajane saw bickslow's house after their walk back to the house the two in silence since Mirajane's little tirade the two only handing the bottle back and forth but Erza got the courage to question Mirajane further. "When I first saw you Flare was hitting you why?"

Mirajane Tensed at the mention of Flare's name. "She always has I guess she thinks I deserve it."

"That's not true."

"How do you know you barely know me-" Mirajane was cut off by Erza wrapping her arms around her and hugging her tightly. "Miraja- Mira" Mirajane blushed a little at the name Erza gave her and slowly wrapped her arms around Erza's back returning the hug. "I can tell you're wonderful You've been nothing but kind to me since we've met and from what Elfman has told me about you you're also a caring sister so don't think you deserve anything but the kindness you give to people around you."

Mirajane felt tears well up in her eyes at Erza's words and she heard Erza chuckle "Come on now don't tear up we've still got a party to go to." But she noticed the crowd which seemed to be the whole party in the front yard except a circle at the center.

"What's going on Erza?"

"A fight."

The two separated from their hug and walked on to the lawn where the large crowd was and Erza grabbed a boy by the shoulders and asked with a booming voice "What's going on?"

"Gray's fighting some brick shithouse!"

Erza pushed her and Mirajane to the center of the circle so they could see who the boy was talking about and there they saw a shirtless grey standing across from like the guy said a brick shithouse.

"Um Erza."

"What is it Mira?"

"That's Gajeel."

Gajeel was the first to act trying to punch Gray in the face but Gray went low and attempted like Bickslow suggested a takedown but unlike how it went over in Gray's head Gajeel wasn't even moved and delivered an elbow to Gray's spine causing him to lose the hold he had and Gajeel's legs and landing on his hands and knees. Gajeel drug Gray to his feet by a grip he had on Gray's wrist and reared his arm back for another punch but Gray headbutted Gajeel making him let go of Gray to hold his nose. "Ok bastard let's go!"

"Gajeel, Gray stop it right now!" Juvia screamed tears in her eyes. Gajeel simply crossed his arms over his chest and huffed while Gray stalked back to Lyon.

"Ok everyone!" Bickslow shouted from his position sitting on the roof of his house legs dangling over the edges. "Fun's over let's get back inside before the cops-" But was cut off by the sounds of sirens and red and blue lights bouncing of the reflections of the neighborhood windows.

"Scatter!"

Bickslow was the first to move jumping off the roof and sprinting towards the treeline Lisanna following closely behind where Gajeel unceremoniously put Juvia over his shoulder and sprinted towards his truck, Mirajane grabbed Erza's wrist and dragged the two to where they had just came from finally Laxus and Freed Jumped the white fence separating Bicklow's house to their neighbors backyard disappearing.

Mirajane eventually let go of Erza's hand letting the latter lead the way apparently Erza lived in the same neighborhood as Bickslow so knew her away around.

The two stopped outside a house that was the same as Bickslow's in size Erza walking the two to the front door. "Well I guess I should be heading back home." Mirajane said as she stared up at the large house avoiding Erza's gaze.

"Absolutely not."

"What?"

"It's too late for you to walk home all by yourself you can stay the night here."

"Well what about Elfman and Lisanna I can't leave them all by themselves?"

Erza smirked. "Just text them im sure Elfman could handle anything that happens."

Mirajane smiled gently at Erza's prodding sending Elfman a quick text saying she wouldnt be back until morning and following Erza inside her giant home. As Erza got inside she took a blanket from her closet and taking one of the pillows off of her bed making a small bedding next to her own bed. "You can sleep on the bed i'll take the floor."

"No it's fine you can sleep on the bed."

"I don't want you to sleep on the floor you're my guest."

"It wouldn't feel right if you didn't sleep in your own bed."

Erza smirked and tossed the blanket and pillow on the bed. "Then it's settled we can share the bed."

Mirajane flushed at Erza's statement as Erza plopped on the bed and patted the spot next to her. "I don't bite I promise.

Mirajane crawled under the covers and faced Erza and barely contained a yelp as Erza lazily laid an arm over Mirajanes side "I had fun tonight."

Mirajane closed her eyes and slowly felt the exhaustion of the day way down on her

"Yeah me too."