Chapter 9

*Almost Summer*

*3-month time skip*

Natsu's Pov

Everything kind of fell into place on its own.

Juvia and I are going strong, I really want her to love me more than that jerk.

I've taken her on dates, we've been stargazing, to the movies, picnics, and other things, but somehow I still feel like Gray is still in the lead.

I know he ended things with Ultear and is now dating Lucy.

However, after witnessing that scene between them, I stopped being friends with Gray; from my knowledge, Juvia and Gray haven't spoken since.

The awkward thing is that since Lucy and Juvia are best friends again, we go on tons of double dates and it's very uncomfortable for everyone except Lucy.

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Thank god summer break is almost here, there are so many festivals and events I want to see with Juvia.

Natsu: Are you excited about summer break babe?

Juvia: Hehe, of course, I get to spend it with the best boyfriend ever!

I don't get her sometimes, she says things as if she's excited, but her eyes show no emotion.

I wonder if she even loves me. Can't she see how hard I'm trying for her? 

Natsu: I heard some good news recently

Juvia: *excited* If it's who I think it is then YES!

Natsu: I'm happy to see them finally together

Juvia: You're telling me, I did not like Sting at all. Erza deserved to be with the person she truly desired the most, everyone deserves to be with the person they love most in the world.

As those words left her mouth, her smile faded a bit.

I wondered if she had a choice would she pick me or would she pick Gray?

Natsu: I love you Juvia, so I hope I'm the person you love most in the world.

Her cheeks turned crimson red... I could feel her warmth radiate off her body as I hugged her, but she didn't say anything.

It hurt.

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Lucy's Pov

I'm finally in a relationship with Gray, but it's nothing how I imagined it to be.

He treats me well, we go on dates and hang out and whatnot, but he doesn't kiss me or see me in any romantic way.

Don't get me wrong, I knew all of this when I made him agree to date me, but it's been 3-months and all he looks at is Juvia.

Something happened and he's not telling me anything.

I just want him to look at me at least once.

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Summer break is almost here. I wonder if we'll do anything romantic

Lucy: Are you doing anything for summer break?

Gray: Whatever you want to do Luce

We're at school, he could at least put some effort into this "relationship"

Lucy: Try and be more affectionate idiot

Gray: I won't kiss you if that's what you want.

Lucy: I can't do this anymore

Gray: Do what Luce?

He isn't even treating bad, he treats me fairly well for someone he doesn't love, but I think that's why it hurts so much.

Lucy: Why her? Why does it have to be Juvia and not me?

Gray gently raises his head and our eyes meet, but there isn't any love in them.

Gray: Luce, we've been through this already... you know what you signed up for when you convinced me to leave Ultear for you

Lucy: Something happened right? There is something you aren't telling me

Gray: And so what if something did happen? Doesn't concern you now does it?

Lucy: *sad* Why do you love her?

I could hear the sound of my heartbeat rising... it was a question I never wanted to ask, but I can't move on without knowing.

Gray: Luce...

Lucy: I want to stop loving you, so I think I deserve this much from you

Gray: *sighs* I love Juvia because she's the star I see in the morning sun, Juvia is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with because she's her, Juvia is quirky, a little clumsy, full of emotions, and her own person. I'll love her forever. The smell of her perfume makes my heartbeat. And if the whole world was watching it'd still be her, everything comes back to her. She is my one and only. The stars shine brighter with her. To be honest, nothing prepared me for the privilege of being in love with her. Her smile makes me happy; her warmth is my happiness. Right now, she's with someone else and I plan to wait for her until she's ready for me. There will never be anyone better than Juvia because to me she's everything I've always wanted and needed. I know she feels something for me, 3-months ago something did happen between us and that gave me the motivation to love her more. I am completely endlessly and irresistibly in love with her. So, Lucy, I will never love you. I will only see you as Natsu's and Juvia's best friend.

I couldn't hold back the tears... my heart completely shattered, but not in the way of pain, but of happiness because I waited for someone to love Juvia in a way that it mattered.

Gray tried to comfort me, but even though I loved him, he was never mine.

However, what he didn't know was there was a little birdy listening to everything... isn't that right Wendy?

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Juvia's Pov

Everything was fine.

Natsu and I were doing good.

But that's it... we're just doing good.

I thought two people who truly liked each other had off-the-charts chemistry.... like Gray and me.

Even with Natsu telling me he loves me, I couldn't say it back. I know I love him though. I felt it within myself, but I felt that if I said it back I was betraying Gray.

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Natsu: School went by fast

Juvia: Oh! Definitely haha, I kind of wanted to skip gym though

Natsu smiled at me so brightly, I was truly blessed to be dating someone so wonderfu-

*ring ring* *ring ring*

Oh, it's my phone...

I wonder who it is... Wendy?

Juvia: Excuse me one sec Nats, it's Wendy!

I quickly put some distance between us and answered the phone.

Juvia: Wen what's up?

Wendy: I heard something that I think you should know

Juvia: *nervous* W-What is it? You're making me nervous girl

Wendy: I just witnessed Gray tell Lucy that... he's madly in love with you. That he is willing to wait for you for the rest of his life type of love.

Juvia: *blushing* Y-You're lying... there's no way

Wendy: Juv! I WOULDN'T LIE! He literally told Lucy to her face... HE LOVES YOU

I didn't know how to react. Of course, I was bursting with joy, but what about Lucy?

I felt awful for stealing Gray from her... I didn't want us to fight over this.

I quickly hung up the phone.

I needed to go see him right now.

I'll talk to Lucy about it later. 

Wait what about Natsu?

Juvia: Natsu, I'm sorry something came up I need to go now

He smiled and gave me the okay as I ran to find him.

I felt guilty knowing I was leaving Natsu to go find Gray, but I needed to hear this from him.

☯💀☯💀☯💀

I searched and searched all over the school, but he was nowhere to be found.

Where could he be?

Gray doesn't have a lot of friends... he wouldn't go with Lucy.

HE MIGHT BE WALKING HOME!

I ran and ran until I finally caught up with him...

Juvia: *running* Gray-sama!!!!

He quickly turned around and our eyes met.

Gray: *confused* J-Juvia?

It had been a while since we spoke, but I came here on impulse.

Juvia: I-Is it true?

Gray: is what true?

Juvia: *Blushing* IS IT TRUE THAT YOU TOLD LUCY YOU LOVE ME?

I was too ashamed to look at him, but the heat in my cheeks wouldn't go away

Gray: *blushing* H-How did you know about that?

His voice also sounded shaky and nervous.

I slowly raised my head and he was just as red as I was.

Juvia: W-Wendy told me she overheard you telling Lucy that... I left Natsu and came straight here to find you... is it true?

☯💀☯💀☯💀

Gray's Pov

Juvia: W-Wendy told me she overheard you telling Lucy that... I left Natsu and came straight here to find you... is it true?

S-She came all this way to find me, just because of what someone told her.

What if it wasn't true? She left Natsu for me...

Gray: *blushing* I-It's true. I am in love with you J-Juves...

Juvia looked shocked but very happy.

Ah, this is too much for my heart to handle. She's so cute.

Juvia: I-I also love you Gray-sama

WHAT?

I gently raised her face to mine.

I could feel our body's warmth intertwine with one another.

I wanted to kiss her

I slowly closed the distance between us as my lips touched hers.

And I'm kissing her.

Once, twice, until I realized I'll never have enough of her. She's everywhere, her warmth is up my back and over my arms. And suddenly she was kissing me back harder, deeper and I had an urge that I'd never encountered with anyone, but Juvia.

We molded together, almost as if we were destined to be each other's love. Fitted against one another as two missing puzzle pieces coming together.

I had never felt as I did now, I wanted to explore the taste of her even more than I am right now.

Feeling the strength of her love around me drove me nuts. I felt as though I'd found a moment I wanted to in forever like this was how we should've always been.

I never wanted to let go, it was our first kiss and I'd be dammed if I let her go back to Natsu.

However, fantasies aren't real, if they were they'd be realities.

Juvia: *confused* N-No w-we can't do this Gray-sama.

Gray: Why not?

Her face was still red, her breathing was accelerating, all signs pointing that she wanted to do this.

Gray: Juvia...

Juvia: I love you Gray-sama, but right now as we stand I also love Natsu.

Even though I knew she loved us both, it still hurt to know she couldn't pick me right away.

I did feel better knowing I was her first kiss.

Natsu had yet to kiss her, so it felt good that she chose me.

Gray: *softly* I'll wait for you Juvia, I'm crazy about you, so I'll wait.

She smiled and gave me the biggest hug before walking away.

I won't lose to Natsu, not with the love of my life on the line.

However, I'm no fool, I knew a little mouse was watching us.

I wonder what she'll do with what she saw.