Disclaimer: Fairy Tail does not and sadly will never belong to me but this plot does! I'll sue you if you attempt to steal it haha ^w^*LOL*
(A/N: Welcome back to D2L minna! Without wasting any more time, here is the awaited chapter 7! DONT FORGET TO REVIEW!)
Lucy couldn't stop thinking about what Gray had said that day. It had just caught her completely off guard but to some extent, those words made her feel…glad. Maybe what Gray said was true, maybe people weren't actually that bad – maybe all those times she was hurt was just bad luck and maybe, just maybe, this time it would be different. Maybe her luck would have changed for the better?
It was after all just friendship he had asked of her. What wrong would that do right? There was no risk of heartbreak here in the first place… it was just friendship.
'Why am I even thinking this…He did say that whether I like it or not, we ARE friends so I guess it's not as if he's waiting for my consent or anything.' She thought to herself, smiling as she looked at Winky-Dinks in her hand.
-The next day, Fairy High (9am)-
The day was going really slow with the first three classes and Lucy was already bored. She hadn't yet seen Gray or any of the rest of the gang and wouldn't be seeing any of them until fourth period except for Levy because her schedule for Fridays was different…
The third class ended and Lucy walked over to her locker. After picking a few books, Lucy began walking towards her fourth class when she suddenly bumped into someone,
"Oh, sorry!" She quickly apologized and looked up to realize it was the one and only Erza Scarlet.
"Ah, Lucy. Um, where are you going now?" Erza asked hurriedly.
"Um…fourth period? I have Chemistry right now" Lucy replied confusedly.
"Oh ok, great. Now drop your books back in your locker and go the student council room. Don't worry about your chemistry class, I'll have a note sent to Wakaba-sensei. He'll help you with an extra class later. And you're not the only one skipping. Gray's bunking too."
"W-what?! Hold it! At least tell me why I must go the council?"
"Lucy we've got a lot of paperwork to do in the council and I need that paperwork finished TODAY. Lisanna's not feeling well so she's not around to do her share of the work and so we need a substitute."
"And that substitute is…me?"
"Yes. Now GO!" Erza ushered her forward and Lucy just did as she was told. There was NO WAY she was going to mess with a stressed Erza.
-Student Council Room-
"Erza, I'll handle the rest, please hurry, you have to meet up with the new freshmen." Ultear said in haste.
"Thanks Ultear. What about the rest of the work?" Erza inquired.
"It'll get done by today Erza. I'm almost done and Ultear's finished with the freshmen's schedules. Gray's handling the advanced preparations for the Valentine prom really efficiently as usual, but I think he could use some help. He's been busy all morning and he's the one with the most workload. Lisanna called saying she's doing her work from home." Jellal reported effortlessly and Lucy remained blank.
"…um, this is the most serious student council I've ever come across. How much work do you guys have to do?!" She said exasperatedly.
Jellal chuckled, "The work isn't usually this much. It's just that most of us have been slacking off since last month with our paperwork and so it just built up. But if you talk of work, then the real work is Gray's part. He's in charge of most of the arrangements for school events because he's a really smooth talker. With the Valentines Prom coming up in three weeks' time, he's got a lot of advance preparation to do."
"Erza, better get going now!" Ultear reminded and Erza rushed out.
"So how can I help?" Lucy asked politely.
"Like I said, Gray could use some help. Just go to his cabin and try to help him with whatever you can" Jellal replied with a smile. Lucy stared with a poker face...
"C-cabin?" She asked bewildered, "You guys have CABINS?!"
Ultear laughed and walked over to Lucy's side, "Calm down sweety. The only members of the council that have cabins are: the president which is currently Erza, the vice president which is at the moment Jellal and the president of event management which is Gray. I'm working under Gray in the event management sector…Mirajane Strauss is supposed to be the head for all class representatives but she's mostly absent so Gray and Erza share her work. Lisanna and Levy are in the accounts department. But none of us except Gray, Erza and Jellal get cabins." She explained in detail.
"Um, Ultear…I think you forgot but Lucy's supposed to be helping Gray." Jellal interrupted and Ultear smiled sheepishly before pointing at Gray's cabin that had a board saying 'President of Event Management' and under that, 'Gray Fullbuster'.
Lucy knocked on the door three times and waited for a response
"ULTEAR IF YOU THINK YOU CAN JOKE BY KNOCKING LIKE THAT, IT IS SO NOT WORKING" A very annoyed sounding voice shouted from the inside. Ultear giggled as she continued her work.
"Don't mind him, he's just a bit pissed at the moment. Just walk right in" Jellal instructed. Lucy nodded and reached for the knob hesitantly. She creaked it open and slowly and then walked in. Gray was facing his back at her and looking into a file.
"Hey could you pass me my coffee?" Gray asked and Lucy picked the cup and handed it to him.
Gray took it, "Thanks Ult – Lucy?" He said when he finally realized who it was, "What are you doing here?"
"Um, Erza asked me to help you out" She replied, staring at her feet.
"Oh ok. Well, so far I've got everything done… All that's left are these student complaints and a bit of work for the new freshmen that are being admitted. You think you could sort out the complaints?"
"Y-yeah…"
And just like that, the two were busy on their own and kept on working till they were FINALLY done.
"So I guess that's all for today. Thanks for helping out…" Gray said with a smile. Lucy averted her eyes and said a "no problem". Just then, the bell rang signaling lunch time.
"Lunch time… Guess we better get going" Gray said and they were both almost leaving the cabin when Gray stopped in his tracks, "say Lucy, wanna go out for a bit? Like just for a drive? Rather than the usual cafeteria atmosphere…I'm kind of tired right now and need a break from this environment so could you be my company?"
Lucy hesitated for a while but in her mind she finally said, 'I accepted that we are friends already to myself so going out to eat together shouldn't be such a big deal right?' and she finally agreed.
They walked to the school parking lot together where Gray's sports car was parked among many other beauties. Gray held the passenger seat door open for Lucy first before sitting in himself.
"So…I'm sure you must've given what I said yesterday some thought…" Gray began casually, looking at Lucy from the corner of his eyes as he drove out of the school gates. The school didn't permit students to go out during school hours except during lunch time and they had to be back by the end of lunch too or else they'd face punishment.
Lucy looked over at him and opened her mouth to say something but nothing left her lips. Gray chuckled, "so are you finally admitting that we are friends?" After ten seconds of silence, Lucy finally replied, "Yes…we are" For one moment Gray was actually relieved…
"Well, that's good to hear. So then, why don't we get to know each other better" Gray asked with a grin and Lucy smiled slightly.
"Ok then…favorite pass-time?" Gray began.
Lucy didn't even have to think, "reading"
"ice sculptures" Gray revealed his.
Lucy: Um…favorite subject?
Gray: Um…music class, I guess. I don't really like theory-based subjects
Lucy: You take music?!
Gray: Um, yeah…
Lucy: What do you play?
Gray: Guitar and a bit of the violin.
"Wow… so your into both the badass AND romantic instruments. No wonder girls of every type are after you" Lucy blurted out and then realizing what she just said she bit her lip and Gray gave a light laugh.
"So you think I'm romantic AND badass and…wanted…and…likeable?" Gray teased and Lucy blushed slightly.
"N-no. I never said that. I just said the INSTRUMENTS you play are badass and romantic." She quickly answered.
"Calm down, I'm just kidding. Want some ice cream?" He asked and she nodded. After parking the car in a nearby parking lot, they walked towards the ice cream vendor in the central park of Magnolia.
"Favorite Ice cream flavor?" Gray asked grinning and Lucy replied, "Chocolate"
"Coincidence, that's my favorite too… 2 double chocolate ice creams please" Gray said to the vendor.
"I'm sorry sir but the chocolate flavor is almost over… We've got just one more serving. Would you two like to share it? Or would you like another flavor?" the vendor replied politely, smiling apologetically.
Gray looked at Lucy and then at the vendor, "U-um… it's okay. I'll have something els –"
"We'll share!" Lucy quickly blurted and then once again bit her lip hearing what she had said. Gray laughed and said, "It's okay Luce. You don't have to –"
"No, it's really okay. We can share it." She said.
'What in heaven am I saying?! This is not supposed to be happening! Do FRIENDS share an ice cream cone?! Ugh! Lucy you idiot!' Lucy scolded herself on the inside.
"Um, okay then. You heard her"
The vendor handed them the ice cream and they walked into the park and took a seat on an empty bench. Lucy fidgeted nervously… Gray ate some of the ice cream and then held it in front of her, Lucy blushed and then hesitantly took some from the other side.
Lucy watched as Gray took some next, accidentally some ice cream touched his nose. Lucy just kept staring and Gray finally asked her, "Is there something wrong?"
She pointed at his nose, "y-you've got…" but wasn't able to say anything so giving up she took a tissue and went closer to him. Slowly she wiped the ice cream off with her heart beating faster and faster. She looked into his midnight blue eyes and just then, she felt a spark… she couldn't take her gaze away from them… They were so enticing and so deep, full of compassion.
Gray didn't move an inch either and seemingly was lost in the warmth that emitted from those usually cold chocolate brown orbs. He didn't know why but his body wasn't listening to him. He couldn't pull away. But then again, why should he pull away? Wasn't this his chance? Just one kiss and he could get her to tell him anything he wants. But… inside, he felt as if that wasn't what he wanted. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to steal a kiss without even meaning it. Those chocolate eyes made his heart bleed and he found that eventually he was losing track of himself.
They both were just so caught up in the moment and slowly they began to come closer and closer… Lucy's heart was beating faster and faster but she didn't know what was happening or what she was doing. Lucy's hand raised so that it was on Gray's shoulder and Gray wound his free arm around her waist. Their heads leaned even closer and closer…and closer…
Suddenly a car horn beeped emitting a really loud sound and Gray and Lucy both quickly pulled away in sync.
'What was I doing?! How could I let this happen?! How could I let this get this far!' Lucy scolded herself. Tears began forming on the brim of her eyes. She saw that Gray was also feeling the same way only he looked calmer.
'What just happened…? Why couldn't I pull away before? Gray…you can't just get caught up in the moment like that! Geez!' Were what was going on in Gray's mind.
They both took a glance at each other and when their gazes met, Lucy blushed deeply with teary eyes and quickly turned stood up and began running away.
"Luce! Luce wait! Please!" Gray shouted out to her. He followed her till she finally slumped down on the grass with her back leaned against a tree. This part of the park was empty… This fact made it easier for her to finally cry out her tears…
(A/N: I really want to continue but I have to end it here because then the suspense'll get messed up. Truly speaking I had planned on ending it just before they pulled away from that 'almost-kiss'. For those who've read my previous story Mystery Lovers, would know how much I love these 'almost-kisses' even more than the actually kisses because they're just so romantic, sweet and… ugh Idk how to describe it but I'm sure you understand.
A lot of readers are very angry at Gray… My answer to them is: Please don't judge the poor guy yet. Take it easy on him, you'll see soon that he isn't as bad as he is being portrayed at the moment.
And for those who guessed it, yes, this story is going to have lots of angst in it but that's much later. Also for those who are really curious about the Wendy thing, that won't be revealed for a fair amount of time.
Thank You for reading! PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO REVIEW! PLEASEEEEEE
Until Next week, (I'm trying to take this on a weekly basis)
Ja'ne!