When Worlds Collide

Chapter 28

Since that moment she had rescued a human prince from drowning, Juvia had begun to act very differently. She had a far away look in her eyes and she daydreamed more than ever. Every morning she awoke humming a love song and sighing softly. She now almost spent every hour of every day in the surface world. Yes, something had caused a big change in her behavior and her sisters noticed it.

"What is with her lately?" Chelia asked Sherry and Meredy one morning. "She sure is acting fishy."

"I'll say." Sherry agreed. "Swimming in circles, chasing her tail."

"She's dizzy and she's dreamy." Meredy added. "It's like her head's up in the foam."

"And if you ask where she's going, she giggles like a fool." Chelia said. "Is she ill or insane?"

"No it's not that." Sherry said.

"Could it be a phase?" Meredy said.

"No." Sherry said thinking. "No it's more than just a phase."

"Then what could it be?" the two younger sisters asked.

At that moment Juvia swam by happily humming and fluffing her hair.  She was so wrapped up in her own little dream that she bumped into Gajeel and Levy.

"Oh! Sorry." She gasped. "Morning Gajeel, morning Levy."

She kissed her brother on the cheek and swam off, still humming and smiling. Spinning around in a daze. Suddenly it all became perfectly clear to everyone in that room. Well, everyone except Gajeel.

"Oh she's got it bad." Sherry giggled to Meredy and Chelia.

"What?" Gajeel asked, oblivious as a rock. "What has she got?"

"Isn't it obvious sweetheart?" Levy replied with a pleased sigh. "Juvia's in love."

"In love?" He said not expecting that at all.

"Yep." Sherry said. "That's the only explanation for how she's been acting lately. She's finally met somebody. Somebody special. Somebody who has won her heart and made her feel like she's swimming on air. Oh Gajeel, isn't it wonderful?"

"But Juvia isn't ready for that."

"Of course she is. She's seventeen." Levy said. "It's her time. I myself was much younger than she was when I fell in love with you."

Gajeel blushed.

"I will admit that it is nice to see her so happy for a change." Gajeel said. "But who's the new merman in her life?"

"We don't know." Meredy said. "She hasn't told us anything."

"But I bet he's the catch of the day." Sherry said. "Real handsome and strong like my Ren."

"I wonder why she wouldn't tell me about this." Gajeel said.

"Oh really Gajeel." Levy chuckled. "You didn't even notice that she was in love. We had to point it out to you."

"Fair point. Still I'd like to know who he is."

"Maybe Lily knows something." Chelia suggested.

"Yes! Of course!" Gajeel said. "I'll talk to him about it after today's meeting with the fish heads of state. I'm sure he knows all about it."

Yes Panther Lily did know about it. He knew exactly who Juvia was in love with and it was by no means a merman like her family suspected. No she had given her heart to a human. The human Prince Gray. From the very instant their lips touched to share that first kiss, Juvia had been unable to stop thinking about him. For a time she did try to forget him, knowing full well that these feelings could get her into a lot of trouble, but in the end it was no use. The love of a mermaid was just too great and eventually her longing got the better of her, and she decided that she had to see him again.