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
*THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO SimplyIsabelleS FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL AND CONSISTENT READER ^.^ *
(A/N: *Victory dance*! D2L has officially made it to the 20 chapters category! In addition, we've made it to 90 reviews! Let's aim for a solid 50 chapters and 150 reviews ne? I've set a lot targets for this story… so I really hope you'd all help if you like this story!)
Previously on D2L: 'You don't have to tell me now…' she recalled him telling her. He really was giving her the space she needed…but did she really want that space now? Wasn't it enough? She was already convinced that she loved him more than anyone ever before…she was convinced that she could trust him more than even herself… what more did she need to convince her that things wouldn't be like they were last time?
She wanted to give them a chance… she wanted to give 'Gray x Lucy' a chance… She just needed to test him, she thought. She needed to convince the fragile girl with the broken heart, inside of her, that this time she wouldn't be hurt… and to do that, she just needed to test him, thought she herself knew there was no need for that. There was no way Gray would hurt her but she needed to get rid of that little hesitation in her… she wanted to be able to confess to him the next time without any hesitation and to do that, she needed to clear away the uncertainty that still laid hidden within her…
Continue:
"Lucy! So…did you have fun yesterday?" Levy asked enthusiastically as the blonde walked through the hallway with a certain raven head side by side.
"Ooh…you guys came together…" Levy squealed, just noticing Gray.
"Gee…thanks Levy…and there used to be a time when I was the first person you noticed" Gray said somewhat sulking over not being noticed. Levy laughed at the comment.
"Aw but you are still the first person I notice" Levy giggled as she said.
Gray ruffled Levy's blunette locks before walking ahead, "I've got some stuff to do at the council… See you guys"
"At the council…? But Erza and the others said they've been having it easy on the council duties these past few weeks and won't have much to do till next week…" Lucy wondered aloud.
"Yeah that's right…but Gray's different remember? He's the president of the event management and surely you haven't forgotten the valentines prom that's coming up in four days? Gray's probably the busiest member of the council if you actually go to see…and he doesn't have any assistants or any members to help him. He's got it tough… but everyone's happy with the way he does things… he's just so…" Levy searched for the right word, thinking real hard.
"…perfect" Lucy completed in a bit of a daze.
"Yeah…I guess that's it." Levy laughed.
"So, has he asked you to prom yet?" Levy asked and Lucy turned red.
"W-why would he ask m-me to prom?!" She replied, her stuttering giving her away.
"He hasn't? Oh he better do it soon then…" Levy said sounding in deep thought.
"B-but why would it be me? He could ask anyone" Lucy asked.
"Aw c'mon Lu-chan…even if not many of the others notice it, both you and I and I guess Gray, know there's something on between the two of you… Gray's a nice guy Lu-chan. He's probably the best guy any girl could get. He's everything a girl ever wants…you better grab hold while you have the chance" Levy said to Lucy in a rather serious manner before excusing herself, "I'll better get going now…my class is on the second floor. Later, Lu-chan!"
It was fifth period now… the only period of the day that Gray and Lucy would be having together on that day. Apparently their schedules for the day were rather different.
Lucy walked into the classroom and took her seat beside the raven head…yes, the literature class with none other than Evergreen-'sensei'.
"…hi" Lucy greeted nervously and Gray replied with a simple nod of acknowledgment.
"You don't look like you plan to get out of today's class" Gray smirked.
"Actually, I plan to stay…Ne, Gray?" She called his attention and he turned from his window view to look at her, "wanna…go somewhere with me…after school?"
"Are you, Ms. Lucy Heartfilia, asking me on a date?" He raised his eyebrow, grinning teasingly. But Lucy's reaction wasn't the usual blush and denial…this surprised Gray a bit…was this, a new development?
"W-well…I guess you could say that…" Lucy replied, avoiding his eyes. Gray remained silent for a while, carefully observing her – making her a bit nervous under his gaze… Finally he reached out and pushed a strand of gold away from her cheeks and behind her ears, slowly… Lucy kept her eyes averted. His hand drifted from behind her ears down to her chin and he slowly lifted it up gently so that their eyes would meet.
"G-gray we're in class" She whispered her eyes wandering to see if anyone was looking but luckily no one was…everyone was so busy copying the never ending notes that Evergreen was writing on the chalkboard.
"There's no rush Luce… if you're not ready, I can understand why…" He assured her calmly his hand dropping on the desk. Lucy felt the butterflies in her stomach squirm in excitement as she reached out and grabbed onto his hand.
"I'm ready to move on…but my heart won't rest till I make sure nothing will change" Lucy said, again unable to make eye contact.
"You know…it makes me jealous how you were so carefree and cheerful and…talkative around him when you're so shy and quiet around me. Do I…intimidate you?" Gray asked a bit of a sulkiness in his tone. Lucy's eyes widened at the question…'Intimidate?' she wondered.
'No…there's no way…Around Gray…I feel so…secure…like even a girl like me can be…loved' she thought to herself.
"You've been avoiding looking into my eyes…" Gray pointed out. Lucy finally mustered her courage to keep her cool as she lifted her gaze to look into those midnight blue, dreamy eyes… she had been avoiding them of course because in them, she could lose herself…
"How do you plan to do it?" Gray finally asked, a bit relaxed that she was finally looking directly at him.
"Do what?" Lucy asked.
"you said your heart won't rest till you make sure nothing will change… how do you plan to make sure?" He asked. Suddenly, Lucy's mood changed in an instant. She smirked evilly.
"Now this is one department I used to be famous for" She winked, "Gray Fullbuster, you're going to undergo a test… a test to see if things can work between us… if after we get together, you'll still remain the same and nothing would change between us."
"Sounds fair…so that's why you asked me about after school…" Lucy nodded in response.
"I want this to work Gray…because I want to know…I want to clarify my thoughts and feelings…" She finally said. Gray felt heat creep up to him…his pulse rate grew a bit faster…
"FULLBUSTER! HEARTFILIA! Stop the chitter-chatter this instant and focus!" Evergreen shouted, throwing a piece of chalk in their direction.
"Killjoy" Gray harrumphed throwing a ball of crushed paper at Evergreen and Lucy giggled a bit. Yeah, Evergreen totally killed the moment!
The wind rustled, sending the strands of gold, flying with the wind…delicate hands restraining them… Lucy waited outside the school gates, waiting to catch sight of the raven head she was waiting for. A long time had passed since the bell signaling the end of the school day had rung… surely he would be done with his work now, right? But what if he had finished and just didn't want to come? Maybe he didn't want to go with her? Maybe all this 'test' stuff just scared him away?
'No…I'm just being silly…he'll come…he's just gotten held back or something' she convinced herself. Then she felt herself remembering the one person she'd rather not remember…
'This is all girls like you are ever gonna get'
His voice sounded in her ears. Lucy covered her ears quickly.
"No… th-that's a lie…" she began to murmur to herself.
'…girls like you…'
"Gray…" she pleaded, her eyes shut tight, tears forming on the corners of her eyes. Suddenly she felt a kind of warmth on her cheeks…she opened her eyes to find Gray, wiping away her tears…just like always. He had a very serious, troubled expression on.
"You're crying again…" He said and she averted her gaze again, "AND you're avoiding eye contact…AGAIN…"
"I thought…you weren't coming…" she said softly and his eyes widened.
"That's why you were crying…?" He asked, a bit shocked and a bit hurt.
"I thought you'd abandoned me…" she replied. Gray pulled her close to him, hugging her tight.
"You know Luce…when tears fall from here" He began, signaling at her orbs, "it hurts here…" he said, grabbing her hand softly against his chest. Lucy felt like the floor had been drawn away from beneath her! Like she had been swept off her feet… How could the little things he says, hold so much meaning and promise? She wondered…
They walking in silence for a while and Lucy's mood began to lighten as she grasped her cheerful surroundings.
"So…what's the test?" Gray asked, sounding a bit curious.
"You seem…interested…not a very common reaction" Lucy pointed out, smirking. Gray grinned.
"Yeah, I am actually. I've never been through such a situation before" He replied.
"Well…you – Mr. Gray Fullbuster," she said in a firm voice and a sinister grin as she pointed at him, "are going shopping with me!" Gray's expression was smeared with that of amusement.
"so…if I go shopping with you, I pass" he asked sounding as if he didn't believe a word of it.
"it's not that simple. That's just the FIRST task." She said, smiling evilly again.
"You know this seems more like you're doing it for your amusement…" Gray pointed out laughing lightly.
"Well…it's something we girls enjoy" She winked, grabbing his hand and dragging him forward. Gray felt a bit in a reverie…this side of Lucy was one he hadn't seen before. She was…different – she was, the old Lucy, he thought. He couldn't be sure if this was how she was before of course but something made him feel that way. He smiled gratefully; so she could be so carefree around him too after all.
"Here…this too…oh and this…and this…um, no I think I'll put this back…or no harm trying right? Here…" Lucy spoke as she browsed through a rack of tops, handing all the tops she wanted to try on, to Gray who was now trying to balance a MOUNTAIN of clothes.
"Gee…why so uptight Luce?" Gray asked in sarcasm which Lucy didn't seem to notice.
"Hmm…you think so too? Maybe I should pick some more…tank tops are after all a MUST in my wardrobe…" She replied, browsing with entire concentration, each and every rack.
Gray sighed inwardly, 'Girls…' he thought but ended up smiling in amusement, 'was she always like this?'
He liked seeing her so engrossed and so happy…maybe shopping was really every girl's favorite pass-time.
They walked over to the cash counter and the cashier asked, "payment by cash or card?"
Lucy was just about to answer when Gray draped an arm around her possessively and held out a credit card. It really felt like she belonged to him…
"…why did you pay?" Lucy asked as they walked down the pavement and Gray gave her an incredulous look.
"Lucy. We're on a D-A-T-E. Even if it's just a pretense… Right now, I'm your boyfriend – I have the responsibility AND right to do so" He replied, carrying three shopping bags along. Lucy blushed again at the term 'boyfriend'… she felt a bit…flustered at the thought of Gray referring to himself as HER boyfriend…not Erza's not Cana's not Mira's but HER boyfriend.
Then suddenly she paused and looked at her wrist watch in alarm.
"What's up?" He asked her curiously.
"We've got exactly five minutes till the MEGA-HUGE SALE! It's two blocks from her, c'mon!" She replied in a hurry as she dragged him down the pavement.
"Oi! Calm!" He urged as he tried to prevent the bags from falling.
Gray's eyes stared in shock at the queue of people just waiting to get inside… He didn't know about 'mega-huge sale' but the queue surely was what he'd like to call MEGA-HUGE! How long had they been standing here?! And for what? Just to get a few clothes at half price?
'they must be out of their minds!' he thought. Lucy looked at the line in horror and Gray smirked.
"Yeah…they must be crazy huh? They've probably been standing her since forever!" He joked
"No Gray…WE are crazy! We should've come here the first thing!" She sighed. 'SERIOUSLY?!' Gray thought.
Suddenly Lucy's mood lightened up, seemingly having gotten an idea.
"Just wait here, alright." Lucy told him and he watched her walk up to the middle of the line and stare with a pout. He had to admit it was cute – 'WAIT WHAT?!' he exclaimed inwardly as he noticed a redhead guy about their age smile and offer Lucy the place in front of him. Gray felt himself fume with rage. He stomped towards where Lucy was now standing and placed his arm around her waist, glaring at the redhead.
Lucy giggled a bit and Gray eyed her in confusion.
"Aren't you getting a bit too possessive. We're not really dating yet." She said in a low voice to him, smirking.
"You're one hell of a girl aren't you?" Gray gave in to her and ended up giggling too.
The doors to the sale finally opened and the crowd rushed in like cattle in full speed! Gray watched in horror as the 'customers' began to pull and snatch various clothing items…it was like a zoo!
"Gray don't just stand there!" Lucy urged as she was caught up in a tug of war with three other girls for some sort of mini skirt.
They walked out of the store with another mountain of shopping bags which poor Gray had to balance and carry around… But it was really a sight! Gray looked like he'd just returned after running a marathon! He was totally exhausted, panting and sweating.
'Sale?! It was a FISHMARKET!' He screamed in his head. Lucy eyed him from the corner of her eyes.
"Gray how's this? Does it make me look…fat?" She asked as she modeled a white, lace dress for him.
"Not at all Luce! It looks perfect! Now can we…BUY it?" He asked exasperatedly. Lucy had tried on up to twenty different dresses now and she had thought about each of them for up to an hour and ended up rejecting them all! This was the twentieth and Gray was just waiting for when she'd want to BUY one and LEAVE.
Lucy looked at herself from all angles in the vanity, "Hm…Naah, the fit's a bit off" she finally said and Gray sighed heavily, his head falling in dismay.
After what seemed like the fiftieth dress Lucy finally gave up, "Ugh! I look horrible in EVERYTHING! What'll I wear to prom?!" She sighed as she complained. Gray looked at her amused. FIFTY DRESSES AND NOTHING?! He wondered. He watched her as she pouted and he smiled.
"You know…Why don't you let ME pick a dress for you this time?" He asked winking. Lucy blushed…
Gray picked up a short, black, figure-hugging, lace dress and placed it on Lucy, "Hm… If it were my date, I'd like her to wear this" He said.
Lucy didn't know why but without even thinking, her mouth blurted out, "Let's buy it." She inwardly face-palmed herself and began blushing in embarrassment when she realized.
'Now he's going to think I'm a fool!' she thought, annoyed at herself. She watched his expression change to an amused one, his eyes totally laughing!
"Your wish is my command" He joked.
From there they went to a shoe shop, then a jewelry shop and so on… the day just never seemed to end for Gray! The baggage he had to carry just kept increasing and increasing…
'As I thought…he probably hated the experience and would probably not want to…' her thoughts trailed off, 'did I push it too far?' she wondered, 'NO. This is a test. He HAD to get through it. If he can't do even this much for me then he definitely doesn't care for me as much as I do for him.' She decided firmly, but deep down, she knew…she was hoping for it all to work out…
"So…how did you like this experience? Would you want to do it again?" She asked awkwardly but trying to sound casual. Gray looked at her with an 'are-you-seriously-asking-me-that?!' look and she looked away, making him chuckle.
"I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed it" He replied at first and Lucy felt a sort of pain in her chest…he probably didn't want to be with her ever…she began to think.
"But because it was with you, I wouldn't mind doing it again and again for a billion years…" He smiled at her and she melted again. How was it so natural for him to make her feel that way! She wondered. Her eyes shot up to meet his, she knew he was telling the truth…the honesty reflected in his eyes but still, she just had to ask…
"Really…?" She asked, sounding…desperate as she looked at him expectantly… He laughed lightly at her reaction.
"Really, really… a 'Gray-Lucy promise'" He replied playfully and Lucy felt her heart warm up… 'he remembered' she thought. And before she knew it, she found herself inching closer to him as they walked into her apartment. They were too shabby looking from all the mad shopping, to go anywhere else so they ended up back home.
After keeping all the shopping bags in her closet, waiting to be unpacked the next day…they sat down comfortably on the bed with mugs of hot chocolate.
"So…he took the test too?" Gray asked suddenly, averting his eyes, something Lucy had barely ever seen Gray doing. It made her a bit surprised.
"…yeah, he did" She replied, taking a small sip from her mug.
"Did he…pass?"
"No" Lucy replied, recalling the events. Gray looked up at her in confusion.
"Then why did you…?"
"I never took it seriously. This time, I don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past" She said, Gray nodded in understanding.
"Hungry?"
Lucy burst into a fit of giggles… how did he always manage to change to mood so easily?
"Yeah…kind of" She replied.
"I'm using your kitchen" Gray said as he walked out of the room. The moment he left, Lucy let out a deep breath and sighed as she collapsed on her bed, hugging her pillow…then, her phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered, not bothering to check the caller's name first.
"Lucy-san…um, hi" a sweet, feminine voice replied and Lucy's eyes widened in surprise and excitement.
"Y-yukino-chan?!" Lucy exclaimed happily.
(A/N: CUT!
Yukino: I'm getting a lot of screen time lately :D
Levy: Hey! I am supposed to have the role of Lucy's best friend!
Itami-chan/ SDQueen: Gomen nasai (*sorry) Levy! But in this story, you didn't even know Lucy when she and Yukino were friends…
Levy: *sulking*
Sting: How about me?! Why am I the bad guy! Everyone totally hates me thanks to you!
Itami-chan/SDQueen: Waaaahhh~! *crying* Gomen nasai Sting-kun! You're so awesome but I needed a suitable antagonist… and I'm sure all the Sting fans out there would understand and wouldn't hate you just because of D2L! Ne minna~? (* right everyone?)
THIS CHAPTER WAS DELAYED BECAUSE LAST WEEK WAS 'GOLDEN WEEK' IN JAPAN AND SDQUEEN/ITAMI-CHAN WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE SORROW THAT MASASHI KISHIMOTO DIDN'T UPDATE NARUTO… I HOPE ALL YOU FELLOW ANIME-LOVERS WILL UNDERSTAND.
NEXT CHAPTER: The Halloween Prom's coming up in 3 days! Follow our beloved Fairy Tail gang as they, in their excitement, prepare for it! Who's going to ask who to prom? A day where dreams come true for some and where there's only heartbreak for others! D2L CHAPTER 21! Another romantic, heart-racing, heart-breaking chapter!
Until Next Week,
Ja'ne!
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! #D2Lto150!