Juvia couldn't sleep that night. Her heart was still fluttering like a butterfly's wings over what had taken place earlier. She just couldn't believe that such a wonderful young man had treated her in such a manner. He had spoken to her like she was a real lady, he defended her honor, and he invited her to have dinner with him in the first class dining hall. Oh she felt like one of those maidens from fairy stories who had won the affections of a prince. However she knew that there was a very slim chance things would end the same way. It would only be for that one night. But she would savor every moment.
"Will you stop tossing and turning, and go to sleep already?" Gajeel complained from the top bunk. "Your sheets keep making a noise when you move like that."
"I'm sorry Gajeel." She apologized. "I'm just so excited about tomorrow. I mean, can you believe it? I will be dining in the first class hall. Did you ever think that something like this would ever happen?"
"No. I have to admit it is astonishing. But I'm glad you have this. After all the shit you've been through, you deserve it."
"I wish you could come with me. It doesn't seem fair that I get to go and you don't."
"Don't worry about it. I have my own plans for tomorrow night."
"You do?"
"Yes. While I was out looking for the staff, I ran into this guy named Gildarts, apparently he's got an ear for music too and we thought that since we're not allowed in 'the first class gala'." He spoke in his rich mock voice. "We'll just have our exclusive third class party."
"Sounds like fun. You always were a real hoot at parties. But don't get drink too much."
"Juvia it's a party and I'm Irish. How can I not drink too much?"
"I'm just saying, every time you get drunk, you sing show tunes and you pick fights. And I don't want to have to jump into the icy sea to save brother from when you're thrown overboard."
"Fine. I'll go easy on the rum."
"Good. Now, why don't you tell me about this secret sweetheart of yours?"
Gajeel looked down from the top bunk and gave his sister a startled expression.
"What are you talking about?"
"Honestly Gajeel, do you really think you can hide anything from me, when I do your laundry?" She stated as a matter of fact. "I've noticed that your shirts have rouge cream stains and smell of perfume."
Gajeel blushed.
"Selene likes to pelt her make up at me."
"Nice try, but I've been helping Selene out her face on for years and I know that she wears plum colored rouge and Sandalwood or Chamomile perfume. The stains on your shirt were pink and the perfume scent was Lavender."
The blush in Gajeel's cheeks spread to his entire face. No good denying it now, she had caught him.
"So start talking." Juvia said. "What is she like? Is she pretty?"
"Gorgeous." He answered.
"Smart?"
"Aye, very much. Probably the smartest person I know."
"Kind?"
"I don't think even an angel's mercy could compare."
"Oh! Who is she? Tell me! Please tell me!" She pleaded.
"Alright." He said. "It's Levy."
"That nice maid who taught us how to read?"
"The very same."
"Oh I like her."
"You do? Really?"
"Yes. I like her very much. But please tell me this isn't some fling or something. Levy is much too good for that."
"No it's not a fling. We..." He paused, trying to will the redness in his face to go away. "We're in love."
Juvia started to get bubbly over the subject. She was always a hopeless romantic, and the idea of Gajeel finding true love just made her want to jump, and dance, and scream, and laugh, and sing with complete happiness.
"Gajeel that's the most wonderful news I've ever heard!" She cheered. " Why did you wait this long to tell me?"
"Well I-"
But he didn't have time to answer. At that very moment the door flew open and the lights came on. There stood Selene, she had returned from her nightly escapades.
"Gajeel leave the room, Juvia help me disrobe." She ordered.
Gajeel glared at her, but did his as he was told. Once he had left the room, Juvia closed the door, and Selene locked it with the key she had been given. Next Juvia helped Selene change out of her dress and into her robes for the evening, followed by primping her hair and face before bed.
"How was your night out, Selene?" Juvia asked handing her stepmother a bottle of lotion.
"Invigorating." She replied, admiring herself in a hand mirror, then applying the lotion to her face. "Though I was mostly surrounded by people far beneath me, I did encounter a collection of my equals. Members of fame and high society, I fit in very well with them."
"Of course you do."
"One of them was a fan of mine. He had seen all my shows. He said it was a crime that I was kicked off the stage."
"How nice."
Juvia sprayed Sandalwood perfume on to Selene and handed her the hair brush. Then she proceeded to ready Selene's bed.
"Come here child." Selene said.
"Yes?" Juvia said approaching her.
Selene grabbed Juvia's chin in a very rough manner and studied the girl's face intensely. Truth be told, Selene hated both her stepchildren, but over the years she had become especially jealous of her stepdaughter. Jealous because she was everything Selene was not. Jealous because she was beautiful, sweet, and innocent. A real life ingenue. The role Selene had been famous for playing in the past, but never again in the future.
That's why Selene had told Juvia not to leave the cabin, or not to visit the village back in Ireland, because she didn't anyone to notice how lovely and dear her stepdaughter was. Unless of course it was someone who could be of use to her.
"Have I done something to offend you?" Juvia asked after a long silence had passed.
"Be quiet. I want to look at you." She took another moment to stare and study before she spoke again. "I guess you do have a pretty face, and with a lesson in body language you could attract a man."
"Oh...Um...Thank you?" Juvia said, surprised that her stepmother was actually complimenting her.
"Tonight I ran into an old friend of mine. Monsieur Keyes, he's a talent scout. When I told him that I had a young stepdaughter he asked if I could introduce you."
"Why?"
"Why?! I just told you! He's a talent scout! He's looking for potential performers, and you have a very precious voice."
"You once told me my voice was like the screeching of crows."
"That was just something to prevent you from getting a swelled head. To teach you humility. That will serve you well in a career."
"Career?"
"As a performer. If Monsieur Keyes likes you, he'll make you a famous performer in America."
"And you...You actually want that to happen to me?" She asked.
"Yes. Honesty Juvia, it hurts me that you don't feel like my own daughter. After all, I've raised you since your father passed. And you have been a very good and dutiful child, it's only natural I make sure you have a fitting future."
"I...I don't know what to say." Juvia replied, confused and a little suspicious of her stepmother's attitude. "I'm surprised by this. I always felt that I was a disappointment to you."
"Well I can understand that. Some of my methods in parenting are strict, but necessary. My mother was hard on me too. She taught me that looks and talent was the only way a person could make it in this world. So she would make polish and paint my face twenty times a day and then practice performing until midnight. But I was grateful to her, it was her teachings that made me an actress. Now my teachings shall do the same for you."
She lightly petted Juvia's head, as if she truly was the girl's loving mother.
"Thank you." Juvia said. "May I go fetch Gajeel now? So we may all get some sleep."
"Very well."
Selene unlocked the door and Juvia quietly stepped out of the cabin. Gajeel was already standing there, he had been eavesdropping on the whole conversation. Juvia could tell that there was something he wanted to say about it, so she put her finger to her lips and with her other hand, she pointed to the end of the hall where they could talk without Selene hearing them.
"You don't really believe that horse shit, do you?" Gajeel whispered to her once they could safely speak.
"Of course not." Juvia whispered back. "But she's up to something, and we should probably play along until we know what it is."
"Right."
Juvia then sighed and a disappointed expression was now on her face.
"What is it?" Her brother asked.
"I won't be able to meet with Gray tomorrow. Not with Selene around. Even if she's not really going to help me become a performer, you know she'll find some chore for me to do or she'll order me to stay in the cabin all day again."
"Just leave the old banshee to me. I'll cover for you."
"You will? How?"
"I'll think of something."
"Okay. I'll try not to be gone too long."
"Don't worry about it. You take as long as you like. You've spent the last seven years forced to give up any chance you had at being happy even for a day. You're not going to do that anymore. Not if I can help it."
Juvia smiled, looking at Gajeel with all the love and adoration she held for him. Words could not begin to describe how grateful she was to him for always protecting her and looking after her, even before their father had died. Since the day she was born, the day their mother had been called back to Heaven, he had done everything he could to be a good brother to her. Playing games with her, teaching her how to sing, keeping her warm at night when they slept in the kitchen, giving her the most of their scraps to eat, and above all, protecting her from their stepmother's abuse.
Each time Selene went after Juvia with the whip and would try to lash her, Gajeel would instantly step between them, wrap his arms around his sister, and shield her from the whip while his back would suffer the burden. Juvia would always scream and cry, begging him to move out of the way. Telling him that it was her fault and that she should be the one punished. But Gajeel wouldn't move an inch. Not until Selene's hateful rage had subsided. He couldn't help it. She was his innocent baby sister, who would need constant protection when they were children and sometimes even now as adults.
"Oh, you're the best big brother anyone in the world could have." Juvia said embracing him.
"I know." He grinned, hugging her close.
"Well we better go on back to bed now. We both have a big night tomorrow."
"Smuggle me some rich food from first class?"
"Only if you'll save me a dance at the party."
"Deal."
After that they re-entered the cabin and tried to get a restful night sleep, eager for what tomorrow night would bring.