Review Responses:
Liatria: Haha, yes! I am back (again)! Thank you for waiting! And aw, thank you for your kind words! There is no such thing as enough BROTP Juvia/Gajeel moments and NaVia moments! (∪.∪ ) And thank you so much for your encouragement! I will try my best to update this work as much as I possibly can! o(*°▽°*)o
Volcomix13: Thank you so much for your kind words! And I'll try my best to update more! －O－
Chapter 7
Time passes on, as it always does, and for the first time in a long time, Juvia finds that she has actually something to look forward to. Of course, she always looks forward to spending time with Levy and Gajeel and the weekend, but those pale in comparison to her Mondays and Wednesdays shifts. Because on Mondays and Wednesdays, she gets to see him.
They've grown closer now. There is no longer an air of awkwardness between them - or so the bluenette thinks. He seems to be the same as the day she first asked him for his real name, if not even more ecstatic and enthusiastic. It has come to a point where she can confidently say that Natsu is her third best friend. (She is aware that she probably isn't his third best friend or best friend or even friend in general, but that's okay.) Juvia's been texting the pink-haired male more than she does Levy and Gajeel, and she actually looks forward to her shifts, even more than she does with the letters she receives on Sundays. (She still loves getting her Sunday letters, though, don't get her wrong.)
One day, in the middle of their semi-weekly homework/study session, Natsu is retelling her an event that happened at Fairy Tail and she finds herself wishing that she was there with him. And it scares her.
She's never had feelings for a friend before. Which is surprising to say, especially since Gajeel's her best friend and has been her friend far longer than Natsu, and Juvia's never harbored any romantic feelings for the heavily pierced male. She's consumed enough romance books and movies to know that a lot is at stake when harboring feelings for a friend. Because what if they don't feel the same way and that just destroys the friendship? And even though the bluenette doesn't know if the pink-haired male even sees her as a friend, she doesn't want to risk whatever it is that they have going with each other.
Because how is she going to tell her third best friend that she likes him in a romantic sense? How would he take the news? And more importantly, how would that change their relationship? (She would say friendship, but again, she doesn't even know if he sees her as a friend or anything besides a study buddy/barista he sees twice a week.)
Juvia is ashamed to admit it, but Natsu is the first friend that she's made in a very long time. Growing up, the bluenette had always struggled when it came to making friends and she thinks that she would have been lonely still, had she not met Gajeel in high school. She was content with having Gajeel as her only friend until he started dating Levy. And to say that she was ecstatic to finally have a fellow girlfriend would be an understatement. But Natsu - he is something entirely different. She's never felt this comfortable before to someone that she hadn't known for such a short period of time - sure she's seen him come into the shop for quite a number of weeks before she finally mustered up the courage to ask him for his name and they've been communicating more ever since then, but that's besides the point - and she doesn't know what to do, what to think even.
Because how can she fall for someone who she isn't sure where she stands in their life? It's stupid, she knows. But at the same time, how can she not fall for someone who made her mundane life full of color and joy? How can she not fall for someone who made her feel so happy after so long? How can she not want something more than whatever it is that they have?
...
My Other Half,
I'm starting to realize that I'm getting over you. That's what you would have wanted, right? Erza tells me that it's a good thing because it wouldn't hurt me as much anymore. I can look up at the night sky now and not think of you now. I guess the pain of you leaving is slowly fading away now. It isn't as comforting as it is lonely.
Yours always,
Your Faithful Idiot
...
The sound of the bell chiming brings Juvia out of her homework-focused daze. It is a Wednesday and like always, it is her bi-weekly study and homework session with Natsu. And naturally, thinking that it must be the pink-haired male, a cheerful smile makes its' way onto her lips. "You're running a bit late, Natsu - " She stops in the middle of her sentence when it dawns on her who had just entered the coffee shop. And it is most definitely not Natsu.
"B - Bora."
"Juvia?" Her ex-boyfriend is just as surprised as she is. "I didn't expect to find you here. What are you doing here?"
"Ju - Juvia works here." She tidies up her workstation, though she knows that it is pointless. "Wh - What can Juvia get started for you?" She hates herself for stuttering but she can't help it. After all, she hadn't expected to see her ex-boyfriend barging into what was supposed to be a small coffee shop that she works at.
"Hmm, I guess I'll get the iced green tea latte then. Medium." He replies, after sparing a quick glance at the menu.
She nods, tapping away at the register. "That will be $4.50."
The blue-haired male hands her a five dollar bill. "Keep the change."
Juvia nods once more, accepting the money. "Juvia will have your order ready in a few minutes." She informs, dropping the extra change into the tip jar. Grabbing an empty cup, she sets off to work on his drink.
"You look good, Juvia." Bora says loudly over the whirring of the blender. "Finally dropped the Russian-looking clothes, huh?" He asks, lips tugged upwards in a sly smirk. Up until a few weeks ago, Juvia had decided that she needed a change in her wardrobe. After an intense day at the mall with Levy one Friday afternoon - much to Levy's delight and Gajeel's annoyance - the bluenette got an entire new wardrobe, completed with a makeover. Ditching her curls, she decided to let her hair fall naturally and replaced her old clothes for a long sleeved blouse paired with a long blue skirt with a slit up her thigh and knee-high boots.
"Thank you, Bora." She thanks. "Juvia thinks that you haven't changed at all."
Her ex-boyfriend lets out a loud laugh. "What can I say? Old habits die hard."
Juvia stops the blender and tips the contents out into the plastic cup. "Here's your order, Bora." She slides the drink towards him, sealing a lid.
"Thanks, Juvia. You know," He leans into the counter, his face mere inches away from hers, "I really regretted the way we ended things between us."
"There's nothing to regret, Bora. We weren't meant to be together." She knows what he's trying to do and she isn't going to fall for it - she isn't the same girl that she was back in high school - and no amount of pleads from him would ever convince her to come back to him.
"But, don't you want you to find out if we - " Bora doesn't even get a chance to finish his sentence when the door to the coffee shop barges open, startling the ex-couple from their conversation.
"Hey, Juvia, sorry I'm late, I got in trouble with - " Natsu pants in-between his words, stopping mid-way when he notices Bora. A beat of silence fills the coffee shop, before it is broken abruptly by the pink-haired man once again.
"It's you!" He exclaims, loudly, jabbing a finger in Juvia's ex's direction. "What are you doing here? Didn't I teach you a lesson last time?!"
"What?" Juvia blurts out before she can stop herself. Because while she doesn't know Natsu very long, and her relationship with Bora ended as fast as it started, she doesn't see how the two of them could have been in a tussle with each other. "What are you talking about, Natsu-san?"
"This bastard here's been impersonating me to get girls and sell 'em off. I thought I took care of it last time, but - " He pauses in his explanation to glare at Bora. "I was wrong. Who do you think you are, huh, harassing Juvia - "
"N - Natsu-san, Bora hasn't been harassing Juvia." Well, he had in the past, but she decides not to bring it up. "Bora...Bora is Juvia's ex-boyfriend. We just ran into each other."
"Ex-boyfriend." Natsu repeats, his expression unreadable before it morphs into that of confusion. "No offense, Juvia, but why the hell would you date him? What did you even see in him?"
"You do know that I'm right here, right?" Bora chimes in, annoyance seeping in his voice.
"Oh. Sorry." Natsu spares him another quick glance, not looking very sorry at all. "Come on, Juvia, you could've done better than him."
"If this conversation is just going to be about slandering me," The blue-haired male interrupts, bristling, "I better take my leave. It was nice running into you again, Juvia. Can't say the same to you." He narrows his eyes at Natsu, who growls in response. Taken aback, Bora grabs his drink and stalks out of the coffee shop.
"I seriously can't believe that you dated him, Juvia." The pink-haired male continues on with his tirade.
"Juvia was in high school, Natsu-san." Juvia says weakly, trying to defend herself. Then again, she didn't even convince herself. What was she thinking?
"Well, that makes some sense. Why was he doing here, by the way?" He leans into the counter, hands gripping the edge.
"For coffee, Juvia thinks. Bora didn't expect to see Juvia here." She replies. "Oh, would you like to order anything, by the way, Natsu-san?"
"Oh yeah, I would. A large Caramel frap, please." Natsu straightens up, digging into the pockets of his pants for his wallet.
"Is that all?" She nods, tapping away at the register.
"Yeah. $5.50, right?" He pulls out five dollars along with a quarter. "I think I'm missing the fifty cents."
"Oh, that's all right, Natsu-san. Bora gave Juvia fifty cents his drink earlier - Juvia can use that to cover your missing change."
Natsu's jaw clenches. "Thanks, Juvia."
"You're welcome, Natsu-san." She fishes out the quarters from the tip jar before accepting Natsu's money, putting the money into the cash register. "Juvia will have your drink ready in a moment." She grabs a plastic cup, scribbling on his drink descriptions, making her way towards the drink station as Natsu waits for her by the pick-up area.
"Did he say anything to you?" He has to practically yell over the roar of the blender.
"Bora said that Juvia looked good and Juvia thinks he was about to ask Juvia if she would take him back." She shrugs nonchalantly. "Juvia can't be sure though - that was when you came in, Natsu-san."
"He was about to ask you back?" Natsu repeats as he narrows his eyes and clenches his jaw.
"Juvia thinks so? Juvia wouldn't want him back, though. He didn't treat Juvia well when we were together, and Juvia especially would never date someone who's a misogynist. Juvia didn't even know that back in high school! If Juvia did, Juvia would have never dated him!" Juvia fumes, dumping the contents of Natsu's drink into his cup, sealing it with a lid before she slides it over to him.
"Good." The pink-haired male unclenches his jaw, accepting the drink. "If he ever comes near you though," Natsu's voice drops so low that she swears that icicles are dripping from his voice, "Juvia, you better let me know so that I can teach him a lesson."
"O - Okay." She nods, stunned. "Th - Thank you, Natsu-san."
"Hey, don't sweat it. That's what friends are for; they help each other out." He turns back into his cheerful, sunny self, as if he hadn't just threaten to cause Bora harm if he comes close to her.
"We're...we're friends?" Juvia whispers, not believing her ears.
"Yeah? Ever since we started our study sessions." Natsu looks at her, confused and a bit sad, hurt even. "Didn't you know that, Juvia?"
She shakes her head. "Juvia...Juvia always considered you a friend, Natsu-san, but Juvia didn't know if you felt the same way."
"Why wouldn't I?" A small smile passes his lips. "We talk all the time, and I really like spending time with you."
"R - Really?"
"Really. Have more confidence, okay...friend?"
End of Chapter 7.
(2/14/22): Hello, everyone! Oh wow, I've been gone for AGES, huh? I hope you're all doing well and are staying safe and healthy! I'm sure you're all tired of hearing this, but life has been so hectic for me! I am adjusting to life back on campus after 2 years or so of doing online school, and my workload is getting HEAVY. Who let me go to college? （；´д｀）ゞ
Anyways, AHHH! JUVIA LIIIIIKKKESSS NATSU! LIKE, LIKE LIKE HIM! AND BORA! *GASPS* BORA GOT HIS ASS HANDED TO HIM BY NATSU AND I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. （︶^︶）All jokes aside, though, can we talk about how cute Natsu is when he's being protective over Juvia? Where can I get a Natsu? ≡(▔﹏▔)≡
As always, please let me know what you thought of this chapter and I will see you all in the next one! Bye~! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
P.S: Thank you all so much for 65 favorites and 87 follows! It honestly boggles my mind that so many people are interested in this little work of mine! With that being said, however, I would really appreciate some more reviews, even if it's something as small as 'I like it' - reviews make my day! (づ￣ 3￣)づ
P.P.S: If you want to check out a modern NaVia fic that also features a coffee shop trope, check out Dark Gothic Lolita's work Early mornings! It is absolutely adorable and the queen of NaVia humbled me with how to do a NaVia coffee shop fic correctly. =￣ω￣=
P.P.P.S: Happy Valentine's Day! What are you all doing for today? I am planning on doing a small self-care day for myself! (❤ ω ❤)