We all have our own demons, lurking inside of us. No matter how much we try and suppress them, they remain, haunting us.
It's hard to fight our own demons. As hard as we try, we aren't strong enough on our own. But letting someone else in, letting them see your demons, could be your only salvation.
The right person could rid you of all your demons. You just have to find them.
Erza's POV
My heart would not stop fluttering. This boy, oh my god, this boy.
His long blue hair was shaggy, his eyes were a deep green, almost brown. The tattoo around his eye made his whole face all the more attractive.
I shook my head, leading him to the classroom. I looked over my shoulder. He was following me, his eyes glued on me. I blushed, then turned around.
What are you doing, Erza? I scolded myself. You have Gray, an incredibly sexy, amazing, sweet, athletic-
"Erza?" Jellal asked.
I stopped. Oh god, his deep baritone voice…
I turned and looked at him. "Yes Jellal?" I heard myself say. I cursed at the tremor in my voice.
"Listen, I'm sorry that I didn't show up before, I-I I'm not the greatest when it comes to being social. .."
"I understand, Jellal," I said. Wait - I understand? Only about 15 minutes ago I was calling this dude an ass for standing me up.
Jellal shook his head. "No, I stood you up. I should've come, but, I am just not comfortable around other people. Gomenasai."
I took his hand gently in mine. His eyes widened and flicked over to mine. "It's ok, Jellal. Not everyone is a socialite. It's understandable. But I'll help you," I said, staring at him. What was I doing?
"You'll what?" He asked.
"I'll help you out of that shell you've been trapped in." I finished.
His eyes glittered with hope and longing. I felt myself drowning in his deep eyes. They were mesmerizing, deep green flecked with bits of gold and brown.
But they were also full of pain.
Suddenly, the bell rang, scaring me. Then I realized how close Jellal and I were. Like, if I had leaned forward anymore, I would've been kissing him.
He blushed and let go of my hand, just as the doors to the classrooms opened. I cleared my throat awkwardly looked anywhere but him.
Just then, an arm slung it's way around my shoulders. Jellal's eyes widened, and I turned my head just in time for Gray's lips to land on mine.
"Hey gorgeous. Who knew you'd try to skip class like that?" He said, after we broke apart.
"I was not! I went to the bathroom and then I ran into Jellal," I said, gesturing to the frozen figure standing in front of me. Gray turned and looked him over, while Jellal's green eyes still bored into me.
"You must be the new kid. Hey, I'm Gray Fullbuster. Nice to meet you."
Jellal ripped his gaze from me, and looked at Gray. "Likewise," he said through gritted teeth. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
He nodded at the both of us, his gaze lingering on me. Then he turned, and melted in with the rest of the kids walking in the hallway.
"Hmm, he seems weird." Gray mused. I glared at him. "He's just uncomfortable with people. Give him a break, he just got here!"
Gray raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm sorry!" He said, his eyes wide.
I sighed, putting my head to my forehead. Dear god, what am I doing? What is this stupid feeling that I have?
"Come on, Gray. Let's go find Lucy and Natsu."
Gray nodded and took my hand, leading me in the opposite direction of Jellal's departure. I found myself looking back.
Jellal Fernandes.
Jellal's POV
I sat outside, hanging out in one of the large trees on the campus. Screw class, I thought to myself.
Erza Scarlet had a boyfriend.
I clenched my fist. The one person I have the confidence to talk to has someone. Here I was, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she and I would have someting. I'm such a fool.
I could still feel her lips, so close to mine, see her deep brown eyes. Smell her perfume, the scent of strawberries and vanilla. Could feel her hand in mine.
I looked down at my hands. "You're such and idiot, Fernandes." I muttered to myself. "Did you really think you'd be able to form a relationship with the most popular girl in school?" Just saying that made me realize how absurd I was.
I looked at the building. Erza was somewhere inside, along with her boyfriend, Gray. I remember reading about him in the Magnolia News. He was Co captain of the soccer team, and he had recently been accepted to Magnolia University, to play soccer. Magnolia University had the best college soccer team in all of Fiore, winning the state championships for 10 years running.
Each are captains of sports teams, I thought bitterly. Such a wonderful combination.
I sighed. I was barely here for an hour, and yet I was falling for another guy's girlfriend. And track captain, class president, and council president, for that matter.
Erza. Erza. Erza. The name danced on my tongue. I pictured her long red hair, cascading in gentle waves down her back. And her words.
"I'll help you out of that shell you've been trapped in."
Little did she realize how much those words effected me. On one has ever been able to crack through my shell. I never let them, fearing that they'd end up hurt.
"Mama, why did you marry Papa?"
She looked at me from the passenger seat of our car. "I married your father because I love him."
"And that you brought out the best side of me. Remember?" My father said, while driving. "I used to be such an idiot, but you just brought out every good thing in me."
My mother laughed. "That's why I'm here. To bring out the good in you."
I looked at her in confusion. "What does that mean?" I asked. She smiled. "When you're older, my dearest Jellal, you'll understand."
I opened my mouth to say someting, but then, Dad swerved, trying to avoid the deer that had jumped into the road. I saw headlights, heard my parents screaming, and then I blacked out, an enormous pain exploding in my head.
I sighed, wiping the tears that were running down my face as I relived that horrible day, 13 years ago. The pain of losing them was still strong.
I looked back up at the school. "When you're older, my dearest Jellal, you'll understand." Yeah, I understand that everyone that I love comes into danger.
I jumped down from my tree branch, and began to make my way to the dorms. I wasn't about to go back to school today. I needed a break, and I needed to see some old friends.
Erza's POV
"Hey, Lucy, can you take over practice for today?" I asked, standing at the front gates of the school. She nodded, her arm in Natsu's. "Sure thing Erza. What's up?" She asked.
"I need to run to Crocus to get some new sneakers. Mine are getting beat up." I said. Sure, I could go to the mall here in Magnolia, but Crocus had the best athletic shop in all of Fiore.
"Ohh, can you get me some new spikes? Mine are wearing out, and Coach doesn't have the ones that I need." Lucy asked. I nodded. "Yup. Anything else?"
"Can you get me a hamburger and fries," Natsu said, only half joking. Lucy punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Natsu, shut up." She advised.
I chuckled and turned, waving goodbye. I had already told Gray, I told him I'd meet him when I got back. The four of us, Nasu, Lucy, Gray and I, were planning a movie night in the senior common room tonight.
I got on a bus heading to Crocus- why use up my own gas when I could get on a bus for free (perks of being in high school)- and sat down.
Jellal didn't show up to class this afternoon, I thought to myself. I had been waiting for him, god knows only why.
I sighed. I couldn't stop thinking about him. Especially his eyes. They were full of pain and suffering, yet there was a tiny sliver of hope deep down. I couldn't imagine what happened that caused him to feel so much sorrow in his life. Maybe that's why he's so uncomfortable around others. Something must have happened for him to become this unsocial.
I sighed. Thinking about him made me feel guilty about Gray. Sure, I did like Gray, but it's hard. I've known Gray all my life, we've been friends longer than we were dating. I knew everything about him, he was like an open book.
And then Jellal shows up, the suffering youth with the mysterious past. He was like a puzzle, waiting for me to solve. He and Gray were total opposites. If Gray was the day, bright, clear and warm, Jellal was the night, dark, aloof, and obscure.
I sighed. The trip to Crocus took a good two hours. I felt my eyes closing, and soon, I fell into a light sleep.
"Alright, everything's done," I said, walking down the streets of Crocus. It was about 5 in the afternoon, the sun just beginning to dip in the sky.
I had all my item in my hands, and I was heading for the bus stop. It was a long, yet successful day, I decided. Now I could go home, watch a movie and-
Wait. I paused, and took a closer look at a sign for a small bar. It had a poster on it, and I took a closer look.
The band, "Redemption" tonight at 5:15. Playing their own original songs. Come and see!
I read the names written at the bottom of the list: Simon- bass, Sho- guitar, Wally- drums, and…..
My eyes widened.
Jellal Fernandes, lead singer and acoustics.
Without another word I ran into the bar. There were only a few people inside, the bartender and three others, a man and two women, but i could only stare at the band sitting in the corner. One man in particular.
His blue hair shone in the dim light, and his face was looking down, concentrating on the guitar he held in his lap. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a black v-neck, showing his angular collarbone and a small peek of his smooth chest. It defined his abs and showed off his well muscled arms.
Dear god, please, don't let me be drooling, I prayed.
I sat down at one of the empty tables, in the shadows. Jellal looked up. "Alright, so we're gonna start off with a new one," he said, playing a few chords on his guitar. "Enjoy."
Then he opened his mouth and began to sing.
"When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood's run stale
I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide"
I was mesmerized by his voice. His eyes were closed while he sang, and he was pouring all of his emotion out into the song.
"When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide"
The song reminded me of him, oddly enough. He seems composed on the outside, but take one look into his eyes, and you see what's haunting him. The urge to find out more about him rose within me.
"Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide"
The song ended, and Jellal looked up. His eyes raked the room, and landed on me. I watched as they widened in shock. I smiled and clapped lightly. "Amazing." I mouthed, giving him a thumbs up.
He smiled tentatively. It was a beautiful smile, I thought. I want him to be able to smile more.
I will help him break out of that shell.
And once you have found that one person, only they can see your demons. Only they can help. Just let them in. Let them free you.
Remember, only they can do what others cannot. They are the only one that can free you.
A/N: does anyone have a guess as to what happens next?
Song credits to Imagine Dragons, "Demons."
I hope you like it, please, leave a review. Thank you for everyone who has reviewed, followed, and/or faved- much appreciated.
See ya soon!
-Wolfspirit44