Falling Too Far - Gruvia

Chapter 24

AN: Wrote as much as I could :) it'd been sitting unedited for months and then I added a few more paragraphs

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The moment I'd been fearing comes. Lucy has to separate herself from Gray and I for a brief moment. The two of us are sat on the couch, together, and alone.

Neither of us had said a word. I don't have the energy to, and I guess this is depressive nostalgia for Gray. Of all people, he understands almost exactly how I feel. It's just that his mother's death wasn't an accident. After several years he still can't come to terms with it.

Don't get me wrong, I was not close with my father. From what I gathered, Gray had a really close relationship with his mum, and that's why he's still heartbroken to this day. My dad was a distant person, and wasn't easy to talk to. He never showed emotion. It was difficult to understand him. How my mum ended up marrying him is beyond me.

"Where's your mum?" Gray asks, startling me as there hadn't been a sound for almost two minutes.

"Out."

He clearly dislikes such a bleak answer by his grunt.

"Were you close with your dad?"

Why the questions all of a sudden?

"No," My answer is a snap, "I hated the guy," He's silent, "He probably hated me too. He didn't want his business to be inherited by a girl because he's a sexist bastard. He wanted a boy, and he got a pathetic excuse of a daughter instead. Unfortunately for him my mum couldn't have any more kids because doctors said it'd kill her,"

I'm running out of breath from my outburst. I continue despite lack of control over my own voice. It's all just vomiting out like I ate something poisonous.

"He'd buy me things just so I'd shut up and leave him alone, it's why I became such a spoilt bitch. Go to my old school, ask anyone, and they'd tell you I was a complete bitch!" I take a deep breath, I wasn't done yet, "And don't get me started on that asshole of a boy I was made to go out with just so my fucking father would get more connections in his business-"

"Juvia,"

I'm taken off guard when a hand grips mine, so softly and not the usual tight, forceful grab. His fingers intertwine with mine. A burning sensation builds in my chest.

"First, you're not a spoilt bitch. Second, that previous boyfriend of yours is gone now, you don't have to dwell on it."

He's right. It ended. Months ago. I doubt there's a chance I'll ever see him again.

"I'm sorry about your dad, and how he was a pretty shit one."

"Gray, how are you being so reasonable about this? Surely this is all bringing back bad memories for you..." I pause, hesitant to ask what was about to slip my mouth, "How did you ever get through this?"

"I didn't," His answer is so quick it makes my fingers loosen in his hold, "Yeah, it's pretty painful to hear all this. But it'd make me a selfish bastard if I chose not to be there for you just because it reminds me of what happened when I was younger. I know the shitty feeling you're experiencing right now and it's pretty horrible. Don't feel guilty about having a rant to me. Just do what makes you feel better, I don't care."

That was exactly what I needed to hear.

I should really give Gray the benefit of the doubt each time I see him before assuming the worst whenever he shows up out of the blue.

I'm hoping this means that our silly avoiding scheme can come to an end, that this means we can be around each other, as friends.

I squeeze his hand, letting him know I appreciate his words. My head falls to his shoulder, exhaustingly, and I feel my eyes delicately shutting.