Again, I am sooo sorry for updating so late. I struggled a lot for the end of the chapter and changed it many times without ever being satisfied and then I was simply too busy and kind of left that aside. :x
xxxxx
xxxxx
Chapter 13: Lamia Scale's Festival.
A few days later, we were hanging out at the guild when Juvia joined us, looking distressed. She greeted us with a halfhearted "hello", not really looking at us, and immediately sat down and crashed her head on the table.
"Juvia, what's wrong?" I asked her.
She lifted up her head. "Guys, what am I going to dooo?"
"What's going on?" Lucy spoke up, worried.
"Well, Lyon asked me to go with him at his guild's festival taking place next week, and of course I said no at first! I mean, this invitation was screaming 'Date' and even though I decided to think about it I'm so not ready for this step. But then, he told me I could invite some friends, and that'd he'd be with his guild members, too. So, since I couldn't find any reason to refuse anymore, I ended up saying yes."
"So, what's the big deal? You don't need to be this depressed. We'll come with you if you want." Lucy announced with a smile.
"Really?" Juvia's face lightened up, looking at the rest of us to have our approval, too.
"I remember Chelia telling me about this a few weeks ago, but I totally forgot it was already next week. Anyway, I'll go too! There will even be a parade!" Wendy was smiling brightly at the idea.
"Well, if Wendy seems so eager to go, I'll guess I'll have to go, too." Carla agreed in her own fashion.
I leaned back a little and shrugged, "Even if there'll be Lyon, I'm not against having some fun at a festival."
"Festivals are so fun! I'm getting fired up!" Natsu cheered.
"Yeaaah!" Happy joined.
"Plus, I heard Lamia Scale's festival is quite entertaining." Erza added.
"See." Lucy grinned at Juvia.
She grinned back and nodded, "Hm!"
xxxxx
And a week later, we all went at the festival. And by saying 'all', I mean practically the whole guild. When they heard we were going, the majority decided to join us. Basically, everyone from the Tenrou Island group had come.
"Wow, there are a lot of people!" Lucy exclaimed, looking at the crowd as we were approaching the center of the city.
"It's really lovely." Mira commented.
"Lamia Scale's festival might be almost as good as ours." Natsu bragged.
"Don't forget we only recently gained our popularity back, while Lamia Scale has been in the top 3." Erza remarked.
"It's probably why Macao and the others didn't want to go." Lucy reasoned, remembering how they awkwardly said that some people should stay at the guild clearly in order to avoid going here.
"Being embarrassed is not manly!" Elfman pointed out.
"Hello!" Lyon suddenly appeared with his little group. He looked at Juvia, "I wasn't expecting that much people to come when I said to bring some of them, but the more the merrier."
"It just happened that way." Juvia replied, somewhat embarrassed.
"Hey, Wendy-chan!" Chelia ran into her friend's arms. "I'm so glad you could come!"
"I'm glad to see you, too!" Wendy grinned.
"Come on, let me show you around a little before the parade begins!" And just like that, they were gone.
"Where are Sherry and Jura, by the way?" Lucy asked.
"Sherry's with Ren, and Jura's busy with the preparation." Lyon informed us.
"And we maybe should join him if we don't want to be punished." Yuka added.
"Toby doesn't want to spin! Let's go!"
"Oh, and Master Makarov, Ooba-sama told us to bring you to her if you don't mind." Yuka told him.
"Perfect, I was about to ask you the same thing, anyway."
"Then, let's go." He looked at the rest of us before leaving, "I hope you'll all enjoy the festival!"
"Aren't you going with them?" I asked Lyon who was the only one remaining.
"No, it ok, I have a little more time to show you around."He extended his hand at Juvia with a little bow, "If you allow me to guide you, lady."
Juvia's face turned a little red, but she ignored him and walked past him, saying "Just do it normally. Plus, I'm not alone."
Lyon immediately straightened up, "Right, sorry."
xxxxx
After showing us where the main attractions would take place, Lyon left us to go prepare for the parade. Wendy joined us not too long after that, probably because Chelia had to go too. The parade was really great, there were a lot of different floats and everyone was displaying their own magic.
After it was finished, Evergreen took Elfman along with her while Laxus, Freed and Bickslow went their own way. Cana went to a tavern and Master had disappeared somewhere, too.
"So, what do we do now?" Lucy asked everyone.
"Let's just look around and stop when we see something interesting." Erza replied.
We agreed, and did as she suggested. Not long after, Mira was surrounded by fans asking for a sign or a photo with her and Lisanna was trying to manage them, while Erza stopped at a costume's shop.
Then, Lyon and Chelia joind us again. Chelia, Wendy and Carla left together to see some kind of show, and Lyon managed to drag Juvia along with him. She tried to stop him and implored us to at least come with them, but he wasn't listening at all, and we weren't either. I'm sure she'll be fine, anyway.
"Lucy! Let's go this way!" Natsu suddenly called her out. "There are a lot of games to play!"
"Hai, hai!" She agreed before looking at me. "Let's go?"
I didn't move, my hands in my pockets, "Go, I'm not in the mood for playing games with Natsu. When he loses, he's a total jackass."
She hesitated a little before agreeing. "If you're bored, come join us."
I nodded with a slight smile before watching her go.
And I was now by myself. I walked around a little, ate one thing or two, and sat down when I found a bench.
I sighed. Maybe I should've come along. I wondered if Lucy was having fun, if she had won something, or if she'd asked Natsu to win something for her… While thinking that, I felt a pinch in my chest. Maybe I should go search for them. She did tell me to come if I was bored after all.
I was about to get up when I heard, "Gray! You're here." I turned my head and saw Lucy.
"Where are Natsu and Happy?" I asked while looking around to see if they were there.
She sighed loudly as she sat down next to me, "You were right. Natsu's really a sore loser. So, as soon as Lisanna came back and helped me calm him down before he burned the whole booth, I sneaked out. I wanted to play some games, but it's impossible with him. Though I'm kind of ashamed of letting Lisanne dealing with him alone."
I chuckled, "It does seem like him. And don't worry, Lisanna will handle him just fine." I looked at her hands, they were empty. "So, I guess you couldn't win anything yet."
She made a sad face, bowing her head a little, "No."
I stood up, and smiled at her, "Then, let's try to win something for you before the best gifts are gone. You wouldn't want a Lyon's figurine I guess."
"Yeah, that'd be a little weird." She smiled back and stood up, "Let's go!"
After walking a little, Lucy pointed at a booth, "Hey, let's try this! You can win a yukata!"
It was a cork gun game. There had five bullets to hit five dartboards, and the more points you got, the higher was the prize. To win the yukata, you had to hit all the dartboards right in the middle.
Lucy gave it a shot. She hit 3 out of 5 targets but never in the middle. On the second try, she hit all of them, with one in the middle. She won a Lamia Scale's emblem figurine.
"Let's try just one more time. I will have that yukata. It's just too cute!" She concentrated a lot, and hit four targets in the middle, and the fifth really near the middle.
"Hey, not bad at all, girl!" The girl at the booth congratulated her. "You won the second best prize." She gave her a lacrima in which you could see Lyon using his magic while stripping, of course.
"Seriously, that's the second best prize?" I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Eeeh. What a lucky girl, I'm jealous!" I heard some girl whining next to us.
"I've been trying to get this since an hour." Another complained.
"Lyon's so handsome on this." A third added.
"Lyon's the most popular man in Lamia Scale, since he always participates at the Grand Magic Games and is quite handsome." The girl explained with a smile. She leaned a little towards Lucy and me, "Plus, no girl minds his stripping habits."
Lucy chuckled and elbowed me, "Hey, Gray. Don't you want to have a lacrima like that, too? I'm sure it'll sell well."
I looked at her, deadpan, "No, thanks. I don't even understand how he can put up with this."
"Anyway, I couldn't win the first prize, and now I'm out of money." Lucy pouted.
"Already?"
"Yeah, I used a lot while being with Natsu and Happy. Most of it in food, of course."
"Then I guess it's my turn." I gave money to the girl and tried it out. I hit every five of them.
"Eeeh. You're really good at this." Lucy seemed surprised.
"Well, I wanted to know how to aim precisely at my targets with my magic, so Alzack and Bisca taught me one thing or two using cork guns when I was young. They didn't want to make me try with their own."
"I see, you should've had told me that before I used all my money." She joked.
"I wanted to let you give a try. Plus, you were not bad at all, either." I added more quietly, "But at least you wouldn't have won that stupid lacrima."
"What did you say?" Lucy asked me.
"Lady, here's the yukata. Do you want to put it on?" The girl interrupted us, as she'd returned with the prize.
"Can I?" Lucy grinned.
"Of course! And I can even do you hair, if you want. My friend just came to help me look after the booth, so I can leave a few minutes."
Lucy looked at me, as if asking me if it was ok. I smiled at her, "Go, I'll be right here."
She smiled back and followed the girl.
xxxxx
A moment later, the girl returned, Lucy right behind her, but I still couldn't see her.
"Here. How do you find her?" The girl moved a little, letting me see her.
She was beautiful. The yukata was white with some fainted light pink flowers on it, and the belt was also light pink. Her hair was styled with a casual updo and a pink flower on the left.
I smiled, "It suits you really well."
"Doesn't it?" The girl looked more excited than Lucy herself. She looked at Lucy, "See, I told you your boyfriend would love it."
I tried not to show any reaction, but Lucy blushed madly and replied, "I told you it wasn't my boyfriend."
"Hai, hai. Sorry. It's just that you make such a lovely couple I kind of wanted you to be one." The girl apologized with a smile.
"Anyway, thank you so much." Lucy thanked her.
"No problem. I enjoyed doing it, too. Now, go and show off that beautiful outfit, Lucy-chan." They seemed to have gotten along pretty well during the relooking.
"Hai, hai, Ami-chan!"
We said goodbye to her and continued our little walk. Lucy was really quiet. "Are you ok?"
She jumped a little at my question, as if she was in her thoughts, "Yes, I'm totally fine!"
"You're really quiet since we left Ami-san."
"Maybe we should find the others. It's weird we haven't bumped into anybody already." She changed subjects. She looked a little nervous.
"Let's try to find them, then." I agreed. I would've preferred staying a little more time alone with her, but she didn't seem to enjoy it that much, so we'd better join the others.
Not long after, we saw Lyon and Juvia walking while eating takoyaki.
"Juvia, Lyon-san!" Lucy called them out.
"Lucy, Gray!" Juvia called back, rushing towards us, Lyon following her closely.
"Are you enjoying the festival?" Lyon asked us.
"I have to admit it's not too bad." I answered.
He glared at me, "I wasn't talking to you, but to Lucy."
"I'm having a lot of fun, thank you for inviting us." She replied with a smile, trying to ignore the tension in the air.
"Lucy! Your yukata is beautiful! Where did you get it?"
"Oh, we won it at a cork gun game. I won this, too." She showed them the figurine and the lacrima.
"Eh, you're quite good, you won the two best prizes. It was Ami's booth, right?" Lyon didn't look bothered by the lacrima at all.
"Yes, it was. She's really nice, by the way."
"Aren't you kind of ashamed?" I couldn't help but ask him.
"At first a little, but I got used to it. Plus, it's what they see when they go to the Grand Magic Games so there's no need to be embarrassed."
"I guess you're right. But when I saw figurine's of me, it felt so weird." Lucy replied. "And did you win something?"
"No yet. We've mostly walked and stopped at food booths. Plus, Lyon doesn't want to win his own prizes."
"I would have loved to win something for Juvia, though, but she doesn't want me to." Lyon made a sad face.
"Why would I let you win something for me as if we were a couple, huh?" Juvia retorted.
I looked at Lucy. She was blushing, probably thinking of me winning the yukata for her. She chuckled awkwardly, and asked Lyon, "Can I give you this back, by the way? I feel a little weird having it with me, but I couldn't refuse it."
"Of course, I know exactly what I'm going to do with it." He grinned, took it, and handed it to Juvia. "For you."
"Eeh, but I don't want this." Juvia panicked, blushing.
"Come on, you can do whatever you want with it. Plus, if you don't activate it, it still makes a good decoration for your house." He tried to convince her.
She looked away, but took it anyway, "I accept it only to make you stop pestering me, ok? Don't see anything in that."
Lyon grinned, "Of course."
"Have you seen the others, by the way?" Lucy asked them.
"I wish we had." Juvia pouted.
"I'm glad we haven't." Lyon grinned.
I shook my head at these two. "Let's go find them together, then." I suggested.
xxxxx
"Lucy! Where were you?" Natsu appeared in front of us, closely followed by Happy and Lisanna.
"Sorry guys, I lost you in the crowd." Lucy lied.
"You're a liar. You're the one who disappeared while we weren't even moving." Happy retorted.
"Right, I sneaked out. Sorry, Lisanna." Lucy immediately apologized.
"Don't worry, we had fun together, I'm used to these two kids." She smiled.
"Lisanna's got us sweets at a ring toss game." Happy happily informed us.
"Well, Natsu has been kicked out of every booth since he always got too fired up, so I had to go get them what they wanted." Lisanna explained to us.
"Hehe, my bad." Natsu said with a grin, scratching the back of his head.
"By the way Lucy, did you win that yukata? It's really cute!" Lisanna exclaimed.
"Actually –" She began but I interrupted her before she could say the truth.
"Yeah, she's quite good at aiming at targets. I was impressed."
"I had to try several times, though." She played along.
"What's this lacrima?" Happy asked Juvia, but he went to activate it without waiting for her answer.
"Eh, that's Lyon." Natsu remarked.
"Long story." Juvia merely uttered.
"She loooooves him!" Happy rolled his tongue.
"I do not!" She strongly denied.
"By the way, we were about to join the rest of the members at the tavern, you want to come with us?" Lisanna asked us.
We all agreed and went there.
While we were walking, Lucy quietly asked me, "Why didn't you let me tell them you won it for me?"
"I didn't want you to be teased because of me. Plus, I'm sure that if you tried one more time, you would have won it, too."
"Right." She then stopped walking and spoke up again, "Gray."
I stopped too, "Yeah?"
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
"It wasn't a big deal. I just helped you out since I know you're a bad liar." I replied casually.
"No. I meant, for the yukata. Thank you for winning it for me." Her genuine smile while saying this made my heart skip a beat.
"Don't need to thank me, I was doing it for myself too." I surprised myself while saying this.
"What do you mean?" She looked confused.
"I wanted to see how good it'd look on you. Wasn't disappointed at all, by the way."
She blushed before smiling and hitting my arm lightly, "Mo, your player's side showing up again."
I looked straight at her, "I already told you, I'm not a player."
She looked taken aback, but before she could answer, Natsu called us, "Hey, what're you doin'? The tavern's here!"
"W..We're coming!" Lucy yelled back and started rushing towards the tavern.
While watching her, I sighed with a slight smile. I guess I was too out of character for her to handle it on this one. Heck, even I was having a hard time handling it. I never thought I'd act like that one day.
"Gray! Aren't you coming?" Lucy was waving at me, now acting normal.
I smiled and joined them.
Everyone else was already here, even some Lamia Scale's members joined us. We laughed and drank a lot.
xxxxxxxxxx
Everyone was laughing around me, but for some reason I couldn't get into the mood. I was too preoccupied by what Gray told me. He just sounded so serious. And it was like his eyes were sending me a message...
"Of course not! Wake up!" I yelled at myself, ruffling my hair. I seemed to do that a lot lately.
"Lucy? Are you ok?" Erza asked me with a worried face.
"I'm totally fine!" I answered a little too strongly.
"Then why are you ruining that beautiful hairstyle?" She replied with a slight smile, arranging a little my hair.
"Nothing serious, I just had a weird thought, that's all."
"Well, if you want to talk about it, know that I'm here."
"Of course Erza, thank you." I smiled at her.
"Giiirls! Why so serious? Let's have some fuuuun!" Cana cheered really loudly, putting her arms around our shoulders.
Natsu then literally flew in front of us. It seemed like he asked Elfman to throw him across the tavern for fun.
"Awesoooome! How about I throw you now?" Natsu asked Elfman once he got up.
"I'm not sure you can handle my manliness." He retorted proudly.
"Let's see!" Natsu rolled up his sleeve.
"I guess that's my cue." Erza said as she stood up. She was probably going to stop him. "That's enough!" She grapped Natsu, and put him on the ground. "I'll be the one throwing Elfman."
"Eeeeh?" I couldn't believe it. Then again, why was I still getting surprised?
"Yeaaaah, Erzaaa!" Cana cheered.
Elfman flew and broke a table in the way before landing of the wall at the other end of the room upside-down.
"Erza's the man!" He yelled with his thumb up, still on the ground of course.
"I bet I could've thrown him way faster!" Natsu argued.
"There, there." Happy patted his head.
"Hey, let me try, too!" Gray shouted.
I looked around. Juvia was talking with Lyon, without arguing at all for once. Mira and Lisanna were looking at our little group playing. The Master was sitting on the bar, drinking and laughing with Lamia Scale's master. Laxus was sitting quietly next to Bickslow and Freed who were teasing Evergreen about Elfman. Chelia, Wendy and Carla didn't know what to do in the middle of all this chaos.
"Lucy! Let's have a drink together!" Cana suggested, handing me a drink, while she was holding the whole barrel.
"I guess that won't hurt." I said before taking a sip. Maybe it'll help me forget about that weird moment for a little time.
xxxxx
A while later, everyone was asleep. Only Cana and I were still awake, even if we were barely conscious.
"I need a maan." Cana whined, leaning on the table.
"Why? Men are stupid." I protested.
"Are not." She argued.
"Yes they are! All they think about is fighting and playing weird games. Or they're players." I retorted.
"No, no. You're talking about boys. I was talking about a man, a real one." She clarified.
"Otokoooo!" We heard Elfman yell instinctively before going back to sleep.
"When does a boy becomes a man then?" I asked her, curious.
"When he finds a girl that'll make him want to be a man." She told me with a knowing smile.
"Wow. You're so wise, Cana." I was truly impressed.
"I know right!" She laughed proudly.
"And how do you become that girl?" I continued to ask.
She shrugged, "Men are simple. You just have to seduce them a little."
I sighed and rest my head on the table, "Easier said than done."
Then, she stared at me carefully and asked, "Do you have a boy you want to change into a man?"
I made a face, "You realize how weird you sounded?"
"Not really. Anyway, do you?"
I looked away and replied quietly, "I don't know. Maybe."
"Eh, and who is it?"
"I can't tell you. It's a secret." I'd better not spit it out.
"Whyy? I won't tell." She pleaded.
"Nope, sorry."
"Come on, I probably won't even remember anyway. Is he here?" She insisted.
I looked around. "Nope." It was true. I wonder where he went.
She pouted, "Not fun." Then, she yawned, "I guess I'll take a nap, too." Just like that, she was sleeping.
"Hey, don't leave me alone. I'm not sleepy." I protested, but she just grumbled. "What do I do now?" I asked to myself. I started to fan myself with my hand, "It's so hot in heere." I decided to go out for a breath.
"Aah, the fresh air feels good!" I said as soon as I want outside, my eyes closed to feel the breeze better.
"I know, right." Someone answered me. I opened my eyes and looked next to me, here was Gray, casually leaning on the tavern's wall, his hands in his pockets.
"Gray!" I shouted, surprised. So that's where he was. "What're you doin' here?"
"Enjoying the breeze, just like you."
"I see." I nodded, copying his stance, but my hands were behind my back since I had no pockets. So unfair, girls' clothes never have pockets. And it kept me from losing my balance; I was feeling a little dizzy after drinking.
And then, I realized something. We were alone right now, and I was a little drunk so I wasn't as shy as I'd usually be. Here was my chance.
But, what should I do? "Men are simple. You just have to seduce them a little." Right. Still easier said than done. If it was all it took, Juvia would have immediately dated him. Nope. I have to be subtle, but not too much so he can understand. Yeah. Hey, even drunk, I'm quite smart. Go me!
"Lucy?" I heard him call me. I hadn't realized my eyes were closed. When I opened them, his face was reaaally close to mine, since he was checking if I was ok. "Are you ok? You're all red."
"Ahahah, it's probably because I drank a little with Cana. But don't worry, I'm perfectly fine." I assured him somewhat awkwardly.
"If you say so." He still looked worried. "By the way, what are the others doing? It's really quiet." He changed of subjects.
"They're all sleeping." I pouted.
He smiled slightly, "I see. And aren't you sleepy at all?"
"Nope. That's why I went outside, I was too bored in there. You?"
"Not really."
I moved away from the wall and stood in front of him, "Wanna have some fun then?" I suggested, excited.
"Like what?" He asked, curious.
"Let's…" I was trying to come up with a good idea. "…Dance!" I span around while shouting.
"Dance?" He chuckled. "No thanks."
"Mou, you're no fun." I pouted. "Then, let's play a game?"
"What kind of game?"
I thought, and thought, and thought. "I don't know."
He chuckled and said, "How about we just stay here and talk?"
"But that's what we always do." I retorted.
"We don't need to do something out of the ordinary to pass time. Or are you saying it's boring to talk with me?"
"Of course not! You're very fun to be around with and that's one of the reasons why I love y… talking with you! I love talking with you, really!" I immediately replied, shaking my hands in front of me, afraid he was getting the wrong idea. And afraid he'd notice my tongue almost slipped. Okay Lucy, that was a close one. At least I still am conscious of what I'm doing and saying, even though I may talk without thinking.
He laughed. "I was joking, you know." Then, he simply smiled and added, "But it's still good to know."
I was sure I was blushing again, so I quickly changed subjects, "Anyway, if we're just gonna talk, I'll sit down. My legs are a little shaky." I sat down next to him who was still standing, and leaned my back against the wall.
He followed my lead and sat next to me.
I looked at him, "So, what d'you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. What did you talk about with Cana?"
"Men." I replied without thinking. My eyes widened, I so didn't want to tell him that.
"Figures." He chuckled. "I don't even know why I asked. Do I want to know more?"
"Don't think so." I shook my head.
That's ridiculous. I began seeing him in a new light only because I started thinking he may like me – thanks to that damned Ulf, seriously next time I see this guy… – but here I was, trying my best to hide my feelings from him, afraid he'd reject me. Because while I was thinking all this, I convinced myself that it wasn't real, that he just saw me as a friend, so I shouldn't be shaken up by this kind of thoughts. But it didn't work, my feelings were already here, they just had needed a little push. But I still succeeded in convincing me he didn't like me like that. 'Cause it is most likely true. And now, I'm like that. How ironic.
xxxxxxxxxx
After a few seconds of silence, I felt her shivering. I looked at her, she had her eyes closed and her arms wrapped around herself. So, I took off my jacket and covered her with it.
She smiled, still not opening her eyes, "Thanks. I've been borrowing your clothes a lot these days, huh."
"It's not like I really need them, anyway."
"Ne, Gray?" She then asked, her head up to look at me.
"Yeah?"
"Do you have someone you like?" She suddenly asked.
"Eh? Where did that come from?" I was taken aback.
"Told ya, we were talking 'bout men before. So, do you?" She vaguely explained and kept staring at me, waiting for an answer.
I looked in front of me and smiled a little, "I guess I do."
She jumped out of surprise and my jacket on the floor during the process. She was now kneeling in front of me, her hands on the floor to support her, and her face really close to me. "Eeeh? Who is it? How is she? Do I know her?"
I chuckled at her antics. If she only knew. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that right now. Before, I have to be sure about how she feels."
She finally calmed down and sat down, still in front of me. "Y…You're going to confess?" She asked me while looking away.
I shrugged. "Dunno. I didn't think that far."
"I see. B…But I really didn't now. I thought you didn't care about women."
Was she really thinking that? I shook my head with a light smile, "Hey, I'm a grown man you know. It's not because I don't talk about it that I don't care at all."
"Yeah, but still…" She didn't seem to believe me at all.
"Are you that shocked?" I couldn't help but ask.
She nodded, "Yes, I didn't expect this at all."
"And you?" I asked her back.
"And me?" She didn't seem to understand.
"Do you like someone?" I clarified.
She blushed deeply, "I…I think I do."
"Eeh, since when?" Was I really surprised? I knew she had been acting weird and thought about this reason. But then, I also thought it was related to me, so… Anyway, let's not jump to conclusions.
"I don't really know. I mean, I realized it not too long ago, but I don't know since when I've been really feeling like this. It's strange." She answered honestly.
"Yeah, I understand what you mean." I really did.
"Was is like that for you too?" She inquired.
"I just came to realize that I liked everything about her and paid more attention to her than to other girls, and that feeling just kept growing stronger, but I don't know when it started." I looked at her in the eyes while saying that, trying to found some kind of emotions that'll help me know how she's feeling.
"I see…" She nodded slowly, still processing the information I guess.
"Are you thinking about confessing your feelings to him?" I went on.
She looked like she was pondering the question, but then she suddenly blushed and shook her head. "I don't think I can. I mean, just thinking about it is embarrassing. Plus, I don't want it to become awkward between us."
"But he might return them, who knows." If that person is me, of course. Well even if it's someone else that person could return her feelings – because well, she's Lucy – but then I selfishly wish he wouldn't.
"Don't think so." I heard her reply while I was being in my own world.
"Come on, who wouldn't like you?"
"Someone who's looking at another girl." She looked really down and wouldn't look at me.
"And who that might be?" Is it ok for me to remember that I just told her I liked someone?
"Hey, you're not telling, I'm not either!" She strongly argued.
"Ok, then, how about hints? Like, is he from our guild?" Let's at least give it a try. Plus, since she's a bit drunk, she might give away more information than usually.
"Not telling."
"Ok, then. How's his personality?"
"He's nice, and smart. He's mostly quiet, but can be really loud. He's also strong and courageous."
"I see, sounds like a good guy." I hope I'm that good guy. I could totally be, without being pretentious, of course.
"Eeeh, I said too much! Now, tell me too."
"I didn't say I would." I smirked, teasing her.
"But it's unfaaair." She complained loudly.
"Ok ok. She's nice and really cute. She is also smart and courageous."
She rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms, "Come on, that could be anyone."
"Your description could be about anyone, too." I argued back.
"…I guess you're right." She went back next to me, her back against the wall. She yawned and rested her head on my shoulder. "Gettin' sleepy."
"Don't you want to go inside, then? You might catch a cold." Even though I was perfectly fine with us being like that.
"Let's just stay like that a little time." She replied with a sleepy voice, her eyes already closed. "Plus, I don't mind the cold at all."
I smiled, "Ok, then."
After a few seconds, she spoke up again, "Ne, Gray?"
"Yeah?"
She moved a little her head in order to look at me, "You'll tell me if you tell her, right? I don't want to hear it from someone else. You're one of my best friends, after all."
"Don't worry, I promise you'll be the very first person to know." And you don't even know how true this is.
She mumbled a "thank you" while closing her eyes and resting on me again.
I closed my eyes too. I'll let us stay like that just for a little while, and then we'll join the others…
xxxxx
xxxxx
Edit: it had been so long since I wrote this and saw Ghost Hunt that I had even forgotten where this idea came from, but that mission was inspired by one of GH's episodes.