Real talk before this chapter starts: I wanted to say how grateful I am for you guys. This is my first time doing a big multichap fic with a lot of characters I ship, which is a process that either makes me want to squeal in happiness or throw my laptop across the room (no in between). BUT you all have been sooo patient and kind. Thank you especially to Absolute-ZERO999 and Genie For Your Wish: I learn so much from you guys and your reviews. You keep everything so honest and real, and I'm so grateful. Much love for you both FR fr.
Again, thank you so much! You all make me so happy :3
It was fourth hour, but instead of being in class, Cana and Mira were in the girls bathroom. Cana was sitting on the edge of a sink and Mira was leaning against the mirror, phones in both their hands. Mira tilted her phone screen to Cana, showing her the messages she received over the weekend. "You're serious? You didn't get any of these?"
Cana shook her head. "Nope. I mean Natsu called me, but that was it."
"Yikes." Mira responded, scrolling through her phone. "I got ten texts from both Erza and Lucy. Luckily I worked things out with them, because I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by now." she giggled. Their weekend stunt to get Wendy and Romeo closer while also getting Gray and Erza to bond was genius, but cost them the rage of both Erza and Lucy.
"Well, I'm glad we're both alive!" Cana remarked, and they both laughed. She suddenly jumped off the sink, walking to Mira. "Wait." She shook her head. "Maybe this is a sign, you know? Like we shouldn't be 'meddling in their affairs' anymore."
Mira almost laughed, but Cana's face remained unchanged. "Oh, you're serious." She frowned. "Hm, I kinda agree. I mean I love meddling, but this has gone pretty far..."
The brunette nodded. "We've lost a lot of time."
"And sleep."
"And trust."
"And resources."
"And money!"
Mira laughed. "You haven't spent a penny on them."
"Have too!"
Mira held up a hand, shaking her head. "Okay, how bout this. We'll leave them alone. And we'll only act if it's an absolute emergency. And it has to be a real emergency."
"What counts as a real emergency?"
"As in someone better be dying before we act again."
Cana smiled. "I like it!" she agreed. "Besides, we're big kids now. If they can't figure out their feelings, then maybe they're not there." she pointed out as they walked out the bathroom.
"Wow, how wise! When did you get so knowledgeable?" Mira asked jokingly, following her out to the hallway.
"Shut up, I've always been the smartest!" Cana responded. "Besides, I- " She suddenly stopped, staring past Mira into the open door of a classroom. "Oh, heelllll no!"
Mira stopped as well. She followed Cana's gaze: inside the classroom was Hibiki. But instead of doing his homework like a normal student, he was turned around and talking very close to a girl...suspiciously close. Mira turned to Cana, brows raised in interest. "Oh, shoot. Do you know her?"
"Who the fuck is that?!" Cana demanded, shocked.
"Oookay, guess not."
"He has the nerve to even think I care about what girls he hangs out with!"
Mira tilted her head. "Wait, shouldn't you? I thought you guys were dating, based on how much sex you were having- "
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, but- " Her shock turned to disbelief as she saw the unknown girl put her hand on Hibiki's chest and leaned closer. She whispered something in his ear, before they started laughing. "What the fuck?!"
Mira's eyes widened, sensing the arrival of Crazy Cana. "Hey, calm down- "
"We have to do something! She's way too close- where's the teacher?!" Cana took a step toward the open door, almost entering the room. "Hey, excuse me teacher? You have- "
Mira yanked her friend's arm, dragging her back just in time. "Ohhh no you don't. We are not embarrassing ourselves today." She tugged Cana down the hall.
"Mira! We have to stop them, that's a public display of affection! It's school code 101!"
"I'm pretty sure you two have done far worse things in school."
"Come on, you're holding me back?! This is outrageous!"
"Okay."
"A scandal!"
"Right."
"I'm telling my father- "
"-Are you done overreacting yet?"
"Overreacting?! I am not- " Her words were cut off as Mira smacked her arm. "Okay, okay, jeez! I'm good, I'm good." Cana assured her friend, holding her hands out.
"I'm glad. So what was that all about?"
Cana crossed her arms. "Hibiki and I kinda broke up. And now he's trying to making me jealous." She shook her head. "And he can try. Because he will never, ever make me feel like that!"
Mira watched her friend storm down the hallway. "Oh boy…" she muttered, running to catch up with her.
Levy walked to their usual lunch table, sack lunch in hand. Her smile faded, seeing that no one was at their table, except for tall, brooding, annoying Gajeel. But this was good: she read online that the best way to tell a boy you were mad at him was to 'spit some roasts.' She smirked, channeling whatever sass was in her body. She straightened up as she walked towards him, ready to show what WikiHow taught her.
She stopped in front of her seat. "Oh, joy, you're here. Where's everyone else?" she asked, sitting across from him.
Gajeel scoffed, already catching her snooty tone. "Settle down. There was an ice cream truck that stopped outside. They wanted to check it out."
Ice cream? She smirked. Too easy. "And you didn't want ice cream? What a surprise."
Gajeel scrunched his face. "Come again?"
"I'd think you'd like something as cold as you are." she told him, proudly puffing her chest. He'll need every comeback he can get for that one!
He put his apple down, leaning forward. "Alright, what's wrong with you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
She gulped, but shook her head. Channel the sass. She shrugged. "Nothing."
"Really? Cos that was, by far, the dumbest thing you've ever said to me."
She felt her cheeks redden. "So?" she shrugged again, hoping he couldn't see how embarrassed she was.
"You don't say dumb things." His eyes seemed to slit even more. "So? What's wrong with you?"
Levy shook her head. "Why should I tell you? It's not like you'll care." Got him!
"See? More dumb things."
"Not as dumb as you!" she retorted almost immediately.
He raised his pierced brow. "Really?"
She tried to come up with another shady comment, but the glare on his face made her rethink her plan. She sighed, putting her head in her hands. "Ugh, sorry." she apologized, feeling her normal self come back. "I've been acting awful towards you. Ever since dinner. And I suppose I owe you an explanation for all this, because you do deserve it, and- "
"Hey, Shrimp. Get to the point."
"Right. The point." A thought suddenly crossed her mind. Before she had any time to process it, she realized she was already speaking. "Uh, do you want to hang out tonight?"
Gajeel nearly choked on his lunch. "Uh- what? Hang out? Tonight?" he stammered, suddenly nervous and obviously surprised by her question. "Yes, but...isn't it a school night? Or something?" he asked.
"Oh. Yes, it is. But, um, I think I can make an exception. For you." she responded. She lowered her head, hoping it would hide her mad blush.
Gajeel nodded. "Oh, yeah. Sure. Yeah that'd be cool." he responded, trying to be nonchalant but blushing just as much.
"Cool? Oh, wow, I think so too!" she responded eagerly, silently cursing herself for sounding too cheerful. "I- "
"-Hey, we beat that line, huh?" Natsu interrupted, their friends now returned to their table, sitting next to Gajeel.
"That's because there was no line." Cana added.
"There was too!"
"Yeah, until your fat ass bought out damn near the entire truck." Gray commented.
"Yeah Natsu, you were holding so many popsicles you dropped six on your way back here." Erza pointed out, sitting next to Gray. She broke the other end of her popsicle, handing it to him.
"I'm just glad I got one!" Mira remarked.
"Whatever. The early bird gets all the ice cream." Natsu stated proudly.
"Yeah, or pushes everyone out of the way for it…" Lyon muttered.
"Do you want one?" Lucy asked, holding a blue popsicle out in the space between Levy and Gajeel.
Instinctively they both reached out for it, placing their hands on each other in the process. In one quick motion Gajeel grabbed it from Levy. "Hey- " she started to say, when Gajeel took a bite.
She gasped, about to scold him, when he handed the other half to her. "Rest is yours." he told her. She raised her brows in surprise, wordlessly taking the popsicle from him.
Lucy sat next to Mira, noting their small interaction. Gajeel, sharing? she thought, smiling to herself. That's one for the books.
Ultear turned the page of her physics textbook, the noise cutting through the silence of the school library. Her eyes were scanning the words in front of her, but she felt something warm wrap around her hand. She flicked her eyes up, meeting Jellal's. "Yes?" she asked.
"You look so good." he told her.
She stifled a laugh. "Uh, what?"
"You. You're so pretty." he continued, leaning towards her.
She shook her head, smirking. "So, I take it you're done with the homework?"
He scoffed. "Of course I'm done."
She leaned across the table, lifting the calculus worksheet from under his elbow. She rolled her eyes at him, putting the unfinished sheet back in front of him. "Nice try." she shook her head, going back to her own studying.
Jellal groaned, slumping over the worksheet. "Can't we be done for today?"
"Hm, who's the tutor here? Oh right, me." Ultear smirked, flicking his arm. "Get to work."
"Come on, Ultear." he drawled out. "Let's just hang out today."
She studied him, seeing that he did look quite tired- soccer practices were more and more frequent, and in addition to school and work and now her, he barely had any free time. She sighed. "Alright. But only this once." she agreed.
"Yes!" Jellal cheered, sitting up. "I- " He suddenly paused, seeing his phone one the table. "Actually, I need to make a call first."
"Oh. Okay." she responded, surprised by his sudden request. Wasn't he just asking to leave?
Jellal sensed her slight surprise, and knew that suspicion was sure to follow. "Just my mom." he covered, leaning forward and kissing Ultear's cheek. "I'll meet you outside in five, okay?"
She smiled, standing up. "Okay." she agreed, and walked out the library. Her footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. She sighed to herself, holding a hand to her cheek. How did I get so lucky- Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a figure jump at her. Startled, she stepped back just in time, looking up.
Meredy was standing next to her, staring expectantly. "Are you kidding me?!" the pink haired girl demanded.
Ultear immediately held a hand out. "Hey, don't be so loud- "
"Don't think you can shush me!" Meredy countered, pushing Ultear's hand away. "You think I wouldn't notice?!"
"Notice what?"
"That you and Jellal are dating!" she exclaimed.
Ultear smacked her head. "Oh lord.." she muttered.
"So that's a yes?!"
"Well, yes, but also no- "
"You little urchin!" Meredy smacked her friend's arm. "And I wasn't the first to know?!"
"Hey, watch it!" Ultear warned, but sighed. "Sorry. But we're not really dating."
Meredy tilted her head. "What? Then why're you all over each other?"
"We aren't officially. All we did was say we liked each other, but other than that…" Ultear shrugged.
"Oh. Well, what's keeping you from makin me a proud aunt?!"
"Meredy!" Ultear scolded, shaking her head. "We're taking it slow. You know how much was between us, it's...necessary."
"Alright. Whatever floats your boats." She suddenly leaned in. "But I know you're hoppin on that di- "
"MEREDY!"
"What do you mean you can't hang out?" Lucy asked from the other side of the call.
Erza shut her car door, her phone tucked in her ear. "Sorry, Lucy, it's a weeknight. I can't hang out on weeknights." she told her friend, shifting her backpack on her shoulder.
"Yeah right. I bet you're hanging out with Mira right now."
Erza chuckled. "I'm not. I'm at Gray's, actually."
"Gray?!" Lucy gasped.
"Relax, we're just studying- " Erza pulled her phone away from her ear, hearing Lucy squeal loudly. "You know I hate it when you do that."
"Sorry, I can't help it. Your little study dates…" She squealed again. "It's all too cute!"
"Studying is not cute. Studying is efficient, effective, rewarding- "
"I wasn't talking about studying. I was talking about you and Gray."
Erza stopped on the sidewalk. Lucy thought they were...cute? "Oh."
"That's it? Just 'oh?'"
"Um, I suppose."
"You don't think it's cute?"
Erza felt her heart beating faster. "I'm not quite sure what to think."
"Well, do you like him?"
Her eyes widened. "Okay, I have to go study now." she responded panickedly.
"What? No, not when you were just about to admit- "
"Goodbye, Lucy!" She definitively pressed the red button on screen, heaving a sigh of relief. That was a close one. The last thing she needed was another love lecture from Lucy.
But it wasn't like her friend was saying something outrageous. Erza was aware of how much time she had spent with Gray. It was funny, actually- they had gone from classroom bickering and awkward situations to spending nearly all their free time together. She was also aware of how much happier she felt with him. But feelings for Gray? She shook her head, turning into a familiar driveway. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
She walked to the side door, which was open, just like Gray said. "Gray, it's me." she called, stepping inside. "I brought my textbook." She stood up, looking around the empty kitchen. Where was he? She walked through the house, which was still empty. "Gray?" she called again.
"Erza?" Gray responded, somewhere upstairs.
"Where are you?"
"In my room." Gray responded, "Come up."
Erza frowned. "Are you okay?" she asked, walking up the stairs.
"Yeah."
"Okay..." Erza stopped in front of his half closed door. "I'm coming in. You better be dressed."
The door opened for her, Gray now in front of her. "Of course I'm dressed." he rolled his eyes.
Erza steppped in. "Alright, I hope you're ready for derivatives, because-"
Gray held his hands out to her, expression serious. "Wait. I know we planned on studying, and we only have an hour. But I realized I have something tomorrow, and I need your help."
Erza crossed her arms. "What is it."
"You might get mad."
"Who says I'll get mad?"
"You always find a way!"
Erza narrowed her eyes, knowing there was no way she could argue with that. "Explain."
Gray sighed, looking at her bashfully. "I have a family dinner tomorrow," he told her, opening his closet doors, "and I have no idea what to wear."
Erza dropped her textbook to the floor, not sure if she wanted to laugh or get mad. "But our test- "
"-Is on Monday, which means this takes precedence, right?" He looked at her hopefully.
"You're joking, right?"
"No, but- "
"I'm giving you one chance to make me stay, or I'm leaving."
"Okay, okay, okay." Gray walked towards her, his arms still outstretched. "I have to look nice. Because if I do, my parents and everyone else there will be happy. And if they're happy, that means I get to leave whenever I want." he explained.
Erza gave him a look. "I'm waiting for you to tell me that this is a joke."
"It's not!" He gave her a frown. "Come on, help me out here. I need a dependable, reliable, trustworthy person to weigh in on this." he pleaded, gripping her shoulders. "And besides, if I get to leave early, then we can study after!"
She gave him a raise of her eyebrow. "Well, while you're complimenting me…" She sat down on the bed, giving him a nod. "I'd be happy to help you compile an appealing, presentable clothing ensemble."
Gray's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll take it!" he cheered, and rushed to his closet. "So I'm thinking of this shirt, but they don't go with these pants…" Erza sat on the bed, her conversation with Lucy echoing in her head as Gray showed her a black button down. Maybe I am ready...
I have a headcannon where even though Levy reads intellectual and extremely reputable novels and books, she reads WikiHow articles and actually applies them to her life lol. Also Gajeel is such a dork when it comes to feelings haha. I'm trying to bop these chapters out real quick. Don't forget to leave a review!
-Pinky