Around the busy streets of The Big Apple came a pale youngster with raven tufts of hair sticking up all over the place. Donning a denim jacket and ripped jeans, his sneakers made squeaks as they trudged down the damp pavement just after an twilight shower. Hands in his worn pockets, a signature scowl resided in his hard face as he shifted around for comfort, what with the heavy acoustic guitar he slung around his back.
His sneakers slowed to a halt in front of a glass pane of a cafe, a pub, more like. Gray's dark eyes flickered, shrugging and setting down his case. And then, he saw someone.
It was Juvia Lockser, the Juvia who always followed him around when he was playing in the streets, always wanting to be near him, always wanted to sing a duet along with him. Her voice wasn't even half bad.
And then she had met Gray's distant cousin, Lyon. And she had fallen for him even more than she had fallen for Gray himself.
He didn't even know how they had met. He was just busking in the streets, just his usual hobby when the blunette approached him, in a cream turtleneck and mustard trousers, and asked, "Um... may Juvia do a duet with you?"
He was alright on his own. He could even manage the business his father handed down to him single-handedly, complete with freshly pressed suits and shiny shoes. When he came home from work, which was rather in the early evening, he'd don some casual clothing and make his way into the streets to perform for some extra profit. For fun, mostly. But she was so insistent, so persuasive, that Gray could not help it, but agree to her wishes.
They had sung Lucky by Jason Mraz, and Gray had never been that fruitful in his business. But he was a soloist. He didn't want anyone walking behind him like a puppy. So Gray ditched her.
And now she was with Lyon, right there in that pub he had just stopped in front of. She was no longer that shy, secretive girl he had met that day; she was wearing a LBD that showed off her porcelain legs, her dainty feet in high black boots, and she was rocking her hips on the bar. Lyon stood somewhere near beside her, grinning.
He did not even realize he was staring when their gazes met. Her orbs darkened with some sort of recognition long ago, and fear, even? He did not know. Immediately he swiveled his head away from the window.
Carefully he unzipped the case and brought out his beloved guitar, then edged the guitar away from the sidewalk so it wouldn't block anyone. He was not going to give up the opportunity of playing here; it was a good strategic spot, and also he could watch Juvia. Well, he could be near her, that was all.
His long yet clean fingernails made a single strum reverberate in the square. His eyes clouded with mirth when he noticed heads turn. Of course, no one could recognize him here, in this. He looked somewhat like a scruffy street urchin.
He strummed a few opening notes, his face looking like he was deep in thought, and inhaled.
Sitting here wide awake
Thinking about when I last saw you
I know you're not far away
Close my eyes and I still see you
Lying here next to me
Wearing nothing but a smile
His voice seemed to enchant the audience gathered around him, seemed to overpower the music blasting inside of the bar. He did not even notice them, but as he sang the last line, a small smile made its way onto his face. And at that moment, no one knew how broken he felt.
I gotta leave right away, counting cracks along the pavement
To see you face to face thinking about the conversation
I know I'm not one to change
Never wanted nothing more
But as I walk up to your door
He strummed with a flourish and tapped his foot. His voice seemed to echo, amplify around the square that people vanished in a trance. He closed his eyes. He saw himself, and her, smiling at each other. He missed her smile, so easy to get out of her, when his limit was only a small turn-up at the corners of his mouth.
I'm standing in the dark, she's dancing on the table
Looking through the glass, she's someone else's angel
That scene. Five minutes ago. His heartstrings strummed to the beat of his guitar, and all the same time it shattered into a thousand pieces. He did not know how much he loved her-- until now.
It may sound stupid that I'm wanting you back
But I'm wanting you back, girl
His guitar reached the climax.
And now I'm standing in the dark - dark oh dark - dark
Gray did his best to hold in his tears, as he knew her eyes could be stuck to the back of his neck. His mouth moved, but he felt no lyrics emit. It was natural for him to sing to his heart's content, but he couldn't hear his own voice. He had disappeared into his own world again.
All I wanna do is hide but I can't stop myself from staring.
Wishing these hands were mine, I can't stop myself from caring.
His eyes blazed with fire when he realized his mistake. Why had he left her? He had been so stupid. Now he was standing right there, lamenting on his girl slipping through his fingers just like that. And he knew the entire thing was his fault, and because of that...
And as he turns down the lights ...
I'm feeling paralyzed.
... he felt utterly paralyzed all at once.
And as he looks into her eyes...
The pain... it was heart-wrenching, so cruel. How could he even stop himself from craving for her again? How would he know Lyon would treat her right? The scene unfolded in front of him in a flash; he had joined Juvia on the table, grabbing at her waist and swaying with her. The look in their eyes was unfathomable. Only now did he realize that she had finally, finally kicked him out of her life forever. And the thought was so devastating that the tears welled in his eye sockets. Never in his life had he felt this way before.
I'm standing in the dark, she's dancing on the table
Looking through the glass, she's someone else's angel
It may sound stupid that I'm wanting you back
But I'm wanting you back, girl
And now I'm standing in the dark - dark oh dark - dark
His vocals reverberated, along with one final strum. Coins poured into his case. He did not smile at the sight. It was ironic how every single song he made with her was a smash hit.
The door next to him opened. He jumped slightly, sidestepping to reveal a heavily-coated woman. It wasn't even that cold out in the streets, but Gray did not care to care.
The woman stopped, looking down at the guitar case at her feet. She flinched noticeably, which made Gray slightly uncomfortable. She stooped, slowly, and withdrew a piece of paper from her coat. She attached a large sum of money before adding it to the pile. Then she began to walk away.
"Wait!"
She turned. Gray was breathing quickly, holding out a peach pink wallet to her. "You forgot this." As he handed it to her he felt his hand brush across a smooth, pale one. He also noticed that her coat had a small butterfly brooch pinned to it. There was only one person he knew who loved butterflies dearly indeed. And yet he hadn't suspected anything... until now.
"Thank you."
The voice. It was exactly how his dear Juvia Lockser sounded.
Her eyes did not meet his, instead she hastily made her way down the road. Before leaving, however, she turned, and flashed a small smile at him. His stomach did somersaults.
He ran back to his unattended case. Throwing the money back into the case, he retrieved the note. And he managed to break his smiling limit when his face lit up with a full-on grin.
Her phone number.