A/N: I just wanted to thank my first reviewer personally and remind any current or future readers that I am eternally grateful for any type of comments or critiques. I would especially like to know where I'm lacking in progress, such as in my last chapter I felt that the events followed each other too quickly and so thats why I worked on this chapter the last three days to make it exceptionally longer. I hope any and all readers enjoy and leave any type of review. I would also appreciate suggestions for upcoming chapters! Thank You

Gray had practically run out of the now more lively restaurant. He tried getting his thoughts in order while stepping out into the cool afternoon. He was about to kiss Natsu. Gray didn't know what bothered him more, the fact he attempted to kiss someone who's name he just learned that day, or that Natsu seemed so monochrome about it. Could he have maybe imagined Natsu's red stained cheeks? Maybe Natsu didn't feel anything similar to what Gray felt at all. No, he was certain he didn't just imagine it..but what if he did? He felt like a complete idiot, he rushed into it! That was his first conversation with the first year, how could he be so selfish!? Gray was suddenly immensely grateful Gajeel had interrupted them. He didn't think he would have forgiven himself for having done something so dumb. But that wouldn't have changed how he felt either. For some reason, Gray was feeling something he had never felt towards anyone else. Natsu wasn't a complete stranger he recognized his face from past school years and classes but for some reason, they had never talked before today. Gray walked home with hands in his pocket and head glaring at the ground watching his own steps. Ever since Gray was in junior high he knew he found both guys and girls attractive. Of course, at the time he was confused and didn't tell anyone but one day another boy walked up to him during class and said he thought he was cute. Gray began to explore his sexuality and as he grew older he became less confused. Today with Natsu, Gray felt just as confused as back then even though he was now old enough to know he was bisexual. Natsu made him feel weird. That sounded vacuous but Gray's vocabulary didn't contain a word to describe how Natsu made him feel. He had had minor crushes even past relationships with both guys and girls but for some reason, they never did last long. Gray soon gave up trying to find a girl who didn't just seem to worship his social standard or a guy who didn't just want to fuck. Natsu didn't seem to be the type of person to judge others and was definitely not someone who was sexually experienced. Gray didn't think being popular was what made Natsu want him.

Gray silently cursed himself for jumping to conclusions again. He would have to think of a way to see if his feelings were one-sided or not. By now Gray had gotten home stripped naked and hopped in the shower. He let the falling water wash away his worries and cleanse him. Gray shut his eyes and couldn't help himself from picturing Natsu's face. He pictured that floppy pink hair, he imagined how good it must feel to caress those pink strands while locking lips with the green eyed boy. He imagined holding the taut body and forcing open Natsu's lips for their tongues to collide. Before Gray knew it he was stroking himself off to thoughts of that pink haired cook. He could've thought up naughty fantasies about Natsu but somehow thoughts of his mouth were enough to make him come after a few minutes of even thrusting. His grip softened as did his member and he cleaned himself up. Now in bed, Gray still thought of Natsu. He told him he would see him tomorrow and he still planned to but he was a nervous wreck. He had to apologize and confess his feelings straight up this time. He also had to find out whether or not his feelings were reciprocated. That was what worried him the most. Gray couldn't remember the last time he was so nervous about something, and over someone else liking him too! It was usually everyone else worried whether Gray liked them or not. Natsu was certainly something else. Gray was determined to make this work tomorrow, he wanted Natsu more than anything!

Natsu walked home that day too. He had messed up three orders and spilled two drinks as well as almost left without closing up. Gajeel had just about had it with him and told him to get his shit together, but Natsu couldn't help that his head was filled with thoughts of a raven haired boy who after so many years, finally took notice of him. He tried replaying the events of the afternoon in his mind.

Gray had returned his tag, Gray had teased him to kiss his wrist, Gray had grabbed Natsu's hand and then leaned into him. Why had Gray done those things? Could he actually like him back? As much as Natsu wished that were true he couldn't help feel just the thought of that was ridiculous. Gray was a year older than him, he was popular, he had dozens of admirers both male and female. The thought of Gray having feelings or even finding Natsu slightly attractive was just wishful thinking. He had to forget Gray, avoid him just like he had done the last three years. Natsu then remembered Grays words before dashing out of the diner.

"See you tomorrow."

"Oh no," he thought. He couldn't face Gray after such an awkward event took place! What if Gray figured out Natsu liked him? Maybe that was what he was really trying to find out. "Oh my god," Natsu thought to himself. That was exactly what Gray was probably doing. Messing with him to see if he showed any response. Right then he felt stupid for even thinking Gray might like him for a second.

"Dammit, he saw me blush twice." This time, he said it out loud and startled himself.

He had gotten home and decided to go straight to bed. He smelled of meat and grease but didn't care. He stripped completely naked and pulled his bed sheets over and around his smelly body. Looking like a human burrito, Natsu blew a pink strand of hair out of his face, hands too busy clutching the blanket. He was never good with stress, he was probably going to stay home and sleep in tomorrow. Thinking of Gray had emotionally drained him. He hated this emotionally weak side of himself that always needed days off and long naps.

Sting often worried about him so when Natsu befriended him he tried extra hard not to act so depressed. Sting was the first real friend Natsu had. In junior high he was mostly a loner, then in ninth grade, he finally had Sting who introduced him to the Dragon Slayer Diner. The guys there weren't all as open as Sting but despite their cold appearance, all thought of Natsu as a friend. Even Gajeel who often bickered and got pissed at him. Natsu was like their little brother, so he decided not to skip school for Stings sake and his own too. Last time Natsu missed school without telling Sting, he had shown up scared to death at Natsu's front door. Natsu thought back to the time, he had fallen depressed then too. Whenever that happened it was hard to put up a tough face. Natsu didn't know why these emotional episodes happened, and he never told anyone about them he just had to be alone for a while...

But Natsu couldn't afford to do that anymore, not as often anyway. He would worry the guys too much and he didn't want to be a nuisance to the only guys who accepted him. Natsu finally managed to fall asleep and hoped he never woke up, sometimes the few hours of sleep he got was the only means of escape from the stress the real world brought.

Natsu spent the following day sleeping through classes and avoiding Sting as much as possible. He still felt a little down and couldn't risk causing his friend to worry about him. It was finally time to head home. Natsu was glad he took this Friday off of work so he could enjoy an afternoon completely to himself. Just as he reached the gates to the school exit he saw a familiar raven-haired boy standing off to the side as if waiting for someone. Natsu tried getting lost in the crowd of schooler's but Gray spotted him before he could make it and stopped him from going any further.

"Hey."

"Oh hey..." Natsu couldn't see a way to avoid conversation.

"Were you trying to avoid me just then?"

"Um, I don't know what you mean-"

"Its okay, can we talk?" Gray asked desperately.

Natsu looked at Gray, up to now he had avoided looking into his eyes. Natsu was surprised to see Gray's piercing blue gaze almost begging for him to say yes. He gave in.

"Yeah, sure."

Gray started walking in the opposite direction and Natsu followed. Gray must be heading for the parking lot, that's right he has a car. It was late November and it was already getting chilly outdoors. Natsu hated the winter but didn't mind the months leading up to it, he felt refreshed by the cool breezes that often picked at Grays' hair causing it to occasionally flow in the direction the wind was going. He found himself glaring at Gray walking too close to avoid bumping into him when he stopped walking.

"Ha-ha, sorry."

Gray just smiled back. He had walked Natsu to his car without saying a word and now, had no idea how to start a conversation. He looked at Natsu and his pink hair caught by the windy weather. Natsu was wearing a red jacket with his hands in the pockets of his school jeans. He looked a little bothered by the breeze and Gray had the sudden urge to hug him but he steadied himself.

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday..." Gray began, "I never wanted to make you feel uncomfortable but I did something really inappropriate so yeah, I'm really sorry."

Natsu was shocked. Apologize? Apologize for what?

"What are you sorry for, you didn't do anything."

"I tried...I tried to kiss you, I shouldn't have done that, we had never even talked before and-" Gray stopped talking when he saw Natsu's expression.

"You really tried to kiss me?"

"Uh, well yeah. Wasn't that pretty obvious?"

Natsu felt like an idiot all over again. So Gray really was trying to kiss him. Dammit and he missed the opportunity to kiss Gray?!

"Let me give you a ride to work, you know just to show you how sorry I am."

"Listen, you really don't need to keep apologizing. Damn if I knew that that was what you were actually trying to do..."

"Yeah?!" Gray practically blurted out.

Natsu tried hard not to blush, "Nevermind."

Gray let it slide, although he felt like he needed more time to talk to Natsu. "Let me give you that ride anyway."

Natsu didn't protest and decided to let Gray drive him home.

"I took the day off so can you drop me off at my place?"

Gray smiled, "Sure!" Now he got to see where Natsu lived.

He felt guilty all over again, he sounded like a creep! But Gray couldn't help it. He started the car and backed out of the school parking lot, once on the road Gray decided to get it over with.

"So listen Natsu, I know we practically just met, I mean I know we've gone to school together since junior high because I recognize you but I really just learned your name yesterday and-"

"Make a right here, keep going two blocks." Natsu interrupted.

"Okay...so yeah I just wanted to say sorry again and that even though we hadn't talked before-"

"Left one more block." Natsu interrupted again.

Gray did as he was told but looked annoyed. "Anyways what I wanted to really tell you was that I felt-"

"Left again here."

Gray had had enough. He pulled over making a quick U-turn and parking inside a local store's empty parking lot.

"What are you doing?" Natsu asked confused.

"Are you trying to make this hard for me?!"

Natsu was startled by the unexpected raise of his voice. He looked down at his shoes. He knew Gray had been trying to tell him something. Gray was most likely going to tell him yesterday was a mistake and that he should forget it. Natsu didn't want to hear that he had missed his one chance with Gray even if it was just an experimental kiss.

"Dammit, I'm sorry." Gray felt instantly bad for yelling.

Natsu looked up next to him, again this person who had done nothing wrong was asking for forgiveness.

"You keep saying sorry but you haven't done anything wrong." Natsu tried pointing out.

"No, I have, I tried kissing you yesterday because I couldn't hold myself back even though I had no idea how you felt. And now I'm taking my frustration out on you. The whole reason I wanted to get you in the car, was to tell you how I felt and see if maybe...you possibly felt the same..." Gray felt too embarrassed to look over at Natsu.

Natsu was utterly speechless. Had he heard right? Had he actually slept in and was having a dream right now?

"Well, don't just say nothing..." Gray whined finally looking over at a surprised looking pinkette with crimson cheeks.

"I...I..." Natsu's mouth couldn't form words let alone sentences.

Gray smiled softly, "you look cute when you blush."

Natsu's could have sworn his heart leaped out of his chest just then. He didn't know he was holding his breath until he choked out his next words, "I like you too! I have since junior high and-and I thought you were messing with me yesterday and I didn't know or-or else I would have tried kissing you too!" Oh god, Natsu felt his face become even warmer than before, but then he looked over and Gray, who to his surprise, was slightly blushing as well.

Gray undid his seatbelt and practically leaped at Natsu. He cupped one hand on Natsu's cheek and dug the other into his scalp, his hair was even softer than Gray had imagined. Natsu was shocked but his hands moved to hold Gray's hips as if out of habit. He suddenly felt grateful he decided to take a shower that morning, since he skipped one last night, and looked up at Gray and decided, this time, he would not act so timid. Natsu leaned in and pressed his slightly chapped lips onto Gray's who in response held him closer. After a few seconds, Gray pulled away and looked at Natsu. He saw yearning and a tears in his eyes.

Had he heard correctly earlier? Natsu liked him since junior high? Maybe that's what all the staring was...he decided he would ask Natsu another time. In the mean time Gray smiled down at Natsu.

"I was scared you didn't want to kiss me yesterday you know."

"I was scared you would never notice me..." Natsu responded.

Gray wanted to tell Natsu that he had noticed him years ago, that he had felt his gaze all this time from afar, and had even enjoyed it, just never thought anything more of it. But he decided that right now he just wanted to kiss Natsu, so he leaned in again and Natsu happily accepted another kiss.
Gray drove Natsu home after that and neither said a word but both had a plastered smile on their face the whole rest of the way. When Gray finally drove up to Natsu's house they both got out. Gray walked Natsu to the door and Gray was about to say goodbye when Natsu reached for his wrist.

"Is it better?" Natsu asked remembering Gray's sprained wrist.

Gray smiled, "yeah actually, but maybe you should kiss it again."

Natsu laughed and said, "that was embarrassing yesterday." But kissed the same spot anyways.

"Can I have your phone number?" Gray had decided to ask Natsu since yesterday. He figured if Natsu didn't like him he would, at least, try to ease him into liking him. Now that wasn't a problem and he wanted Natsu's number to talk to him as much as possible.
Natsu had no objection and they traded numbers.

"When can I call or text you?"

"Anytime you like but I work tomorrow from 10 to 12 in the morning."

"At that diner right? How about I pick you up after your finished working?'

Natsu smiled wildly and Gray say those big green eyes glisten with excitement. "You don't mind?"

"Not at all, I want to see you so just give me a call." Gray kissed Natsu one more time, on the cheek this time.

Some how that made Natsu blush even harder than their kiss earlier. A kiss on the cheek was so sweet and thoughtful. He felt Gray press off his skin then watched him as he walked back to his car, got in and waved as he drove out of his driveway and into the street.

Natus pinched himself to make sure one last time, the last few mintues had not just been a dream. He laughed at himself and walked in his house feeling completely different than when he had walked in the day before. Yesterday he felt upset, confused and exhausted. Today he felt overjoyed knowing everything that just happened was real, yet feeling so surreal. He didn't shower or bathe that night either, but this time his reasons were time, he didn't want to wash away Grays touch orGrays lips, he wanted to feel those things lingering on his body forever.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy tail or any of the characters