Hey!! I can finally update!
I'm still so touched that you guys wait so patiently.
Thank you so much for reading and leaving all those amazing comments!!
Okay, here we go:
Chapter 17:
"Sorry."
Juvia stared, her mouth open, as Gray bent over to pick up the two books she'd just dropped.
Her heart hammered in her chest and a fluttery feeling set in her stomach.
Juvia took a deep breath and wanted to cry when it did nothing to help.
She couldn't go to pieces like this!
Gray straightened back up, "Here."
Juvia took her books from him, noting his strong deep voice.
She adjusted the strap of her back pack, unsure of what to do next.
"I-"
They stopped when each one spoke at the same time.
Gray grinned and Juvia almost, almost, collapsed.
"You go first," He said.
Juvia licked her lips, "Juvia is so sorry for fainting earlier."
She'd spoken her first words to him!
Gray looked surprised at the statement, "Nothin' to be sorry about. I was glad I was there when you passed out."
'You were the reason I passed out,' Juvia thought, trying really hard to keep from colouring.
"What did you want to say...?" She let the question hang, a little perplexed that she was actually conversing with him.
"Oh, uh," Gray smiled a little, raking a hand through his messy dark hair, "I'm looking for Ms. Aquarius... again... If you could help with-"
"Oh," Juvia was glad she could help him out. She hadn't heard what he'd said on their first meeting. "She just went down this hallway. In the direction of the staff room."
"Thanks." Gray said walking past her.
As an afterthought, he quickly turned back around, "I hope you're alright now."
"Yes. Juvia's fine now." The blue-haired girl smiled. "Gajeel and Levy came to see me."
"That's nice." Gray gave her a tender smile that set her heart pacing faster.
"Heard you were participating in some competition tomorrow."
"Yes," Juvia couldn't believe Gray knew about that, "Juvia is."
"Hmmm. Gajeel told me. Well, I hope you win." He said before turning around and beginning to walk away.
"Thank y- Wait!" Juvia cried, her mind racing, not sure why she'd called out like an idiot.
Gray turned back around and raised an eyebrow.
Juvia licked her pink lips once. "Will Gray be there?"
Gray stared at her a moment before raising a corner of his mouth, "Maybe I will." With that, he left.
Juvia watched him walk away.
When he'd completely disappeared, she made her way out of the school's halls in a daze.
Walking out of the front doors, she saw her friends standing on the pavement.
Mirajane, Erza and Kinabra stood there, talking away.
Where were Lucy and Levy?
Detention some functioning part of her brain told her.
She walked to her friends, her mind in some kind of trance, noting that they turned their attention to her.
As the happenings of the past few minutes finally made sense in Juvia Locksar's mind, she gave a small shriek and walked straight into the arms of a confused Mirajane.
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Gray walked ahead of Laxus and the others.
The boys were on their way home after school.
Gajeel and Natsu were telling the others about detention and a little boy called Romeo that they were taking under their wing.
Gray wanted to roll his eyes.
That poor boy would probably much sooner die than trend with these buffoons.
Gray thought back to school.
Thank goodness, he's found Ms. Aquarius and told her about Mr. Scorpio's message.
Her reaction had been weird to say the least.
She'd blushed, fanned herself, and then in a soft voice, said that she'd love to.
Jeez.
It wasn't like Mr. Scorpio had asked her out or anything.
Females...
The word got him thinking about a particularly pretty one.
Juvia Locksar wasn't it?
No one had told him how utterly gorgeous that girl was.
And the cute way she talked had never been mentioned to him either.
Not that he would've paid attention if anyone had been crushing on the girl.
Now, though, he had no doubt that at least half of the school liked her.
She was cute. Her voice, the way she behaved, her features. Everything about her described in one word.
She'd told him something at the end...
Gray went over their meeting in his mind.
Then it struck him.
She'd asked him if he'd be there at the competition.
Again her wordplay caught him off guard.
She was an all new level of cute. Couple that with her great...
"Laxus," Gray turned around, continuing to walk backwards.
Laxus looked up, "What?"
"Are we going to the inter school competition Saturday?"
Laxus gave him a stare, "No way in hell."
Well, that closed all doors.
Gray nodded before turning around.
Funny... He'd really wanted to go.
At least to see her soft smile and because she'd asked so... sweetly.
Gray shrugged.
Maybe another time.
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Laxus let the door shut behind him as he made his way into the house toward his room.
After shedding his jeans for looser pants, he went back downstairs to see Jellal sprawled across a sofa, reading a book.
Laxus positioned himself on the couch opposite.
Two of the clowns he had for friends had earned themselves detention. Again.
Natsu and Gray had gotten on his grandfather's nerves. Again.
Gajeel had missed a few classes. Again.
A cold silence at the dinner table was guarenteed.
It was as though his grandfather thought he was to blame for everything his friends did wrong.
Laxus took a steadying breath when he felt the muscles at his shoulder begin to tense.
At least Jellal was normal.
Cobra was anything but...
He was strangely quiet and at peace.
That only spelt danger for others.
Laxus wanted to groan.
Keeping his friends out of more trouble would be his life's legacy.
Of course he'd said no when Gray had asked if they'd be going to the stupid competition on Saturday.
Extra time with his grandfather was a definite negative.
Laxus was busy filing through his thoughts when he heard it.
A soft, melodious voice from somewhere upstairs.
He turned his head around to see Mirajane make her way down the stairs.
She balanced a few books in her slender hands and kept her head bent down, so as to watch where she stepped.
Laxus then heard his grandfather call from upstairs, "You will be at the competition on Saturday, Mira?"
"Of course, master!" She replied in her sweet voice, looking up for a few moments.
She caught Laxus' eye and gave him a charming smile.
He swallowed and then turned back around.
Taking out his phone, he tapped his fingers across the screen a few times.
Then as though on impulse, he dialled a number quickly and placed the phone his ear.
When the person picked up, his words were short and to the point.
"Gray, we're goin' to that damned competition Saturday."
Laxus slid his phone back into his pocket.
Jellal looked up from his book, smiled slowly, and went back to reading.
Laxus hated him.
A/N: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!
I had the time today and I have used it wisely!!
I hope you guys like this chapter! Tell me what you think please!!
I want to put up another chapter...
Maybe I'll type one up now...
Anyway!
Ciao!!