I Dare You

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. No copyright intended. I do own the story line, because I made that all up with my brain.

Gray's P.O.V

It was nothing serious. Not at all. I simply am curious about the Celestial mage, nothing more and nothing less. She is interesting, very interesting. Most often than not the girl tends to annoy me with her constant whining, usually about the pettiest of things and slightly narcissistic behavior sometimes, though I suppose she can't really help how she acts considering that's how her father raised her. Yet the urge to turn her into a human popsicle is ever so tempting, especially when she wants to throw a tantrum and act like a spoiled brat. Yes, I admit that she is pretty damn cute, there's no denying that she is an attractive girl, I'm not blind. But her looks aren't what draws me to her at times, there are plenty of beautiful girls in the guild and outside of it, it's really nothing that special to me. Her skills as a mage have been improving but they are still not up to par with any of us on the rest of the team to date, that's an observation I intend on keeping to myself. No need to give Erza or Natsu reason to pummel me to death.

That doesn't mean I care about her beyond what is expected of me. She's a good friend. End of story. I take notice how she crosses her legs at the bar stool she is sitting at, talking with Mira and the ever so upbeat Levy. For once Lucy isn't wearing her usual skirts, today it's black jeans, jeans that do wonders for her curves. They have a few small rips down the thigh, suppose that's just the style. With her usual red strappy heels and a magenta crop top, her hair is up in a tight bun but I see the stray golden hairs that she had missed. Whatever the girls are chatting about made Lucy blush, their laughter can be heard over the rowdiness. I watch her play hit Mira's arm then join in the laughter herself, causing me to smile despite myself.

There are certain things about her that intrigue me, I can't help but be curious. Such as the way she lights up and gets silly when she's just thought of a 'genius' plan. Or the way her golden-brown eyes sparkle when she's getting lost in a book. The way she tends to bite her lip when she's nervous or how she curls her lip to the side as she concentrates hard on a task. How she stomps her foot on the ground and hands on her hips when she's angry or annoyed and the way she sometimes absent mindedly twirls a strand of hair when she's daydreaming. She always seems to laugh at my jokes, no matter how bad they can be at times and no matter what mood I am in. Grumpy, sarcastic, or even a bit childish she sometimes joins in and makes some jokes of her own and that laugh of hers. It's so bubbly and melodic, I find myself saying stupid things just to hear that laugh. Plus she makes everyday in Fairy Tail interesting, she's so gullible it's not even funny. Probably why Natsu likes hanging out with her so much, prankster that he is.

But what intrigues me the most is how that girl is always freaking smiling, in any situation, good or bad, she's smiling. Yet sometimes I see a glimmer of sorrow and pain behind her eyes, I wonder if that is because of her father. Or maybe someone had upset her? I don't know but I do know that I do not like it and she continues to mask that feeling with a smile which irritates the hell out of me. I want to know what makes her so upset so I can help her feel better. I've come to realize that I do not like witnessing her sadness, her burdens bother me and annoy me at times. I want to put an end to them all just so I can see that smile of hers, a real one. One she briefly shows me when she thinks no one is paying attention. I do often worry about her, I admit. So what if I observe her sometimes? I just find her to be a very interesting person, a puzzle I can't quite solve.

"Oi Gray, take a picture, it'll last longer." Natsu pipes up, toothy grin and all.

I groaned, annoyed at him breaking my concentration on the blonde and turned to him, "What did you say, idiot?"

"Dude, you've literally been staring at Luce for like the past 10 minutes." Natsu says, matter-of-factly. While devouring his lunch, causing some bits of it to spit out at me.

I wipe it away from my face, clearly disgusted. "How about you quit talking with your mouth full, moron."

Natsu snickers as he finishes his food, smirking. "You're totally trying to change the subject to avoid talking about her."

I just ignored him. He sighs, "That's a sure sign."

"Of what?" I asked, annoyed.

"That you looooooove her." Happy sings behind Natsu, discarding his fish to make fun.

"Shut it, stupid cat!" I yell back at him to which he just snickers and goes back to his fish.

"Please, you definitely do. Why else would you be making goo-goo eyes at Lucy all day."

That caught me off guard briefly and I could feel my face starting to flush, hoping what comes off as annoyance rather than embarrassment. "I am not-" I quickly steal a glance at Lucy to make sure she isn't witnessing this argument. I sighed to try and calm down.

"I am not making goo-goo eyes at Lucy. I do not like her in that way, she's just a friend." I replied smoothly.

"Riiight, sure Gray. We believe you, don't we Erza." He said sarcastically, unconvinced of my answer.

I actually forgot that Erza was sitting with us, next to Natsu, silently eating her strawberry cheesecake. Watching this entire time, just great.

"Give it up Natsu." She replies cooly, finally someone with sense to shut this idiot up.

She wipes the corners on her mouth with a napkin then continues, "You know he won't admit his feelings for her."

A pit immediately formed in my stomach and I could feel myself getting angrier, geez thanks for having my back Erza. But I really need to collect myself, I know with Erza's eyes on me, I really have to suppress the urge to lunge over the table and pummel Natsu and his cocky attitude.

"Listen, Lucy isn't my type so shut it Natsu. I do not have feelings for her."

"Ooooh then what type do you think she is, Gray?" Happy asks, grinning.

"The spoiled, high-maintenance type. I don't like girls all high and mighty like that."

At that I could see Natsu turn from playful to irritated, "But she's so much more than that. Sure she can be a bit weird at times, we all are, but she's very kind and compassionate. Sure she can act like a brat but she's still Lucy."

"Yeah, she even let me sleep on her pillow with her once. And she always makes us food when we go to visit her." Happy interjects.

"More like we break in unannounced." I mutter under my breath and drink my tea that's been sitting there untouched for a while now.

Natsu just shakes his head, clearly amused. The irritation from earlier fading, "Say whatever you want, popsicle. It doesn't change the fact that you are entirely in denial."

I scuff annoyed, "Weren't you listening, flame brain?! I just told you she isn't my type."

Erza cleared her throat after sipping her berry smoothie, "Not exactly Gray. You said that you do not like that type of girl, you never said you didn't like Lucy herself."

I gape at her, getting flustered at her witt. "Th-that's the same thing."

She raised one perfect eyebrow and smiled at me, "Is it now?"

I cross my arms and look away from her, scuffing at her. My eyes wander the guild until they land on the blonde again, who is now walking towards the bathrooms.

Natsu chuckles, "Sure doesn't look like it."

I whip my head back to his direction, I've had enough of his cocky shit today. "You just don't quit, do you, idiot."

"Hey! Not my fault you've got it bad for her. I can totally beat it out of you, snowflake!" He yelled back.

"Why, you." I say, putting my hands together letting the ice start to form.

But one swift smack from Erza making us sit back down puts an end to it, "Behave, you two."

We both grumble under our breath at the redhead's interference. Erza sighs.

"You know, Gray, you can't blame Natsu and Happy for thinking the way they do. You have been spending a lot of time watching her as well as causing quite a bit of trouble for her lately.."

"Yeah! That's right! Don't think I haven't noticed, popsicle. You've been staring at Lucy for the past few weeks like she's grown a second head or something. Not to even mention your behavior around her lately. Even Mira noticed it and she's way over at the bar!" Natsu shouted back, arms crossed, like he knew everything.

"Yeah? What's your point?" I grumbled back.

Erza carefully sets down her fork on her now empty plate and sighs, looking me dead in the eye.

"The point is Gray, that denial will get you nowhere. One of these days you will have to confess."

Happy starts snickering, his paws over his mouth. "I wonder what'll happen if I go over there and tell her."

"I can't wait to see the look on droopy eyes' face when you tell her that he's crushing on her." Natsu said, encouraging the exceed.

"Quit it! Would you two stop putting words into my mouth! I do NOT like her!" I yelled at him, hitting the table with my fist.

The guild grew silent, everyone staring over here for a second then went back to their usual thing. Both Natsu and Happy started laughing all over again after my outburst, Happy starting to take flight to go over to Lucy.

"No."

At that simple word, the exceed stopped mid flight and sat back down. Erza put the plate of fish he discarded in front of him once more. Whelp that got him to finally shut up, thank you Erza.

"Gray should be the one to tell her herself. And, you really need to be more careful with that temper of yours. Wouldn't want the whole guild to figure out your secret."

"There is no secret." I grumbled and looked away from Natsu and Erza.

Blonde hair catches my eye once more as she takes her seat, her eyes meeting mine briefly. A slight blush forms on her face and she smiles at me, waving a hello, I start to smile back at her, then she looks away and goes back to her conversation with Levy.

Natsu bursted out laughing, "It's so obvious."

"Obvious? What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Are you sure you really want to know?" Erza asked.

"Absolutely."

"Alright then. To put it simply, Gray, because you are acting protective of your feelings and are being defensive. From Natsu's perspective that defensiveness looks like a form of denial and only confirms his thoughts that you do in fact have feelings for Lucy."

"Which he apparently finds hilarious." I muttered at the smirking dragon slayer.

"Exactly, while I on the other hand find it cute." She explained then smiled.

I sit there, jaw gaped, not believing what I'm hearing. Natsu gets up laughing as he walks over to Mira, probably to get more food. Erza thinks I'm acting cute?! Oh how nice of my supposed friends to sit here and grill me like this only to find me acting silly? What? So what if I've been watching her lately? I just simply enjoy observing her. Plus is it wrong to want to protect a friend? The few jobs we've had the past few weeks have been pretty intense with battle, and there was that one that we all helped Lucy with so she could pay her rent. A couple guys were getting too comfortable around her, the one actually dared to touch her. Someone had to teach the guy a lesson, if anything I did her a favor. I can't possibly like her anything more than as a friend. Could I?

"So when are you going to confess?" Natsu jokes, sitting back down after getting another bowl of soup.

"Speaking of confessions, when are you going to confess to Lisanna?" Happy teased.

Natsu muttered under his breath and shrink back in the booth to eat. Oh how the tables sure have turned huh. I smirked, mischievously.

"Oh so that's how you get the idiot to shut up." I said, chuckling.

Once laughter subsides, we all go back to what we were doing. Erza grabs another slice of cake, Natsu eats his meal while glaring at Happy as he contently eats his fish and as for me, well my eyes land on Lucy.

She's leaning over the bar, looking dejected. I wonder what was said to make her embarrassed or annoyed. The other girls around her, Levy, Mira and Lisanna are all in fits of laughter at the stellar mage's expense. I smile at the exchange, noticing how she lifts herself back up to sit like the princess she is. Ah to hell with it. Maybe there is a part of me that does kind of, sort of have feelings for her after all. That's not such a bad thing, is it?

"You're staring again." Natsu says, smiling.

This time I don't pay him any mind, no outburst, no annoyance, nothing. Just happily content watching the girl who doesn't even know my feelings for her exist.

"Leave him be, Natsu." Erza said on my behalf.

Then I watched her turn around and stand, starting to make her way over here. I straighten my posture as I watch her glide her way over to us, wearing that smile on her face, arms behind her back. My eyes etch every part of her in my mind and as I'm taking more notice of her figure, I realize I'm staring at her breasts bobbing as she walks. Damn, she is so sexy. I look away hoping she or anyone else didn't notice, I brush a hand over my face to get the blush to go away.

She waved at us, "Hey guys."

"Sup Luce." Natsu said, beaming at her.

She giggles, "Lucy, good to see you." Erza greets her.

Then she looks at me, expecting a greeting but I'm at loss for words after admitting I actually like her more than a friend should like another friend.

"Gray?"

"Yeah, hey Lucy." I replied.

Natsu snickers at my lame hello, oh what I wouldn't give to just punch that stupid face of his.

"What brings you by, Lucy?" Erza asks.

"Oh right. The girls and I were talking and we wanted to know if you'd like to join us tomorrow at Akane Resort. Mira scored everyone tickets from a Sorcerer Weekly contest."

"Sure thing, sounds fun! I'm all fired up now!" Natsu says.

Lucy laughs at his antics and I smile at her, "Yeah I'll come too." I replied.

"That sounds like a lovely idea. I'm sure we all could use the time to relax." Erza said, smiling.

"Plus I know someone that would love to see you in a bikini!" Natsu said snickering at me.

You idiot! Lucy looked wide-eyed and blinked, blushing a bit.

"Who? You Natsu?" Happy said laughing.

Natsu blushed at being caught off guard and Lucy just laughed waving it off as those two just teasing her as usual. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, surprised at the exceed for covering up Natsu's smart ass comment and keeping my feelings to myself.

"Master is aware of this?" Erza asks.

Lucy nods and smiles, "Yup. There is quite a group going so Mira is going to assign rooms ahead of time. We'll be spending the weekend there unless it gets cut short if we're needed. She just sent me over to get a head count." Lucy explained.

"Sounds reasonable." Erza agreed.

"Who's all goin'?" Natsu asked, between mouthfuls.

Lucy tilted her head to the side in thought, "Well, there's me, Levy, Mira, Lisanna, and Gajeel are already going. Then there's the three of you."

Natsu grumbled, "Mira better not make me room with the stripper."

"Hey! You're not the greatest roommate either!" I shouted back.

Lucy laughed and my tension faded just like that, "I'm sure Mira knows better."

"Indeed." Erza replied.

"Anyways I'll go and let her know you guys wanna come. Oh and Erza, the girls and I are staying over at Levy's tonight if you want to come."

"I'll think about it as there is much now to prepare for."

Lucy nodded then said her goodbyes to us as she walked back over to the bar to relay the message to Mira. I watched her retreating figure, mainly her ass. I was openly checking her out now and I didn't care, let them know. Erza excused herself as she said she needed to get home to pack for the trip now, and advised us to go do the same.

"Could you at least try to keep it to yourself. You're going to make me barf, seeing that look on your face towards my best friend." Natsu complained.

I chuckled at him, not caring. "Oh please I'm sure it's the same for you when, who did you mention Happy? Lisanna."

Literal smoke came out of his nostrils at my comment and I smirked at him, oh I love how karma works.

"Yeah well at least I got the guts to tell her while you're sitting over there being a creepy stalker!"

I scuffed at him, "Pfft. I highly doubt that."

"Oh yeah? I dare you to tell Lucy by the end of the trip and if you don't, I'm totally going to spill the truth to her." Natsu challenged, smirking back at me.

"Fine, lava brains. You're on, but the same goes for you. If you don't tell Lisanna, I will gladly give her all the juicy details."

"Deal!" Natsu announced.

We parted ways soon after as we do in fact have to get ready for the weekend. I'm sure everyone else is doing the same. Yet as I'm walking home, my resolve starts to shrink. I'm way too cocky for my own good sometimes. What if Lucy rejects me? What the hell did I just agree to?