Fighting Oblivion

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Shopping: I remembered the days when this was actually fun. With Erza though, it had always been a challenge, today it was even worse. I tried to get Minerva and Yukino to come with, hoping to have a little buffer. Erza was just bursting with curiosity right now but I knew she wouldn't try to embarrass me in front of the girls. But they just wanted to sleep in an actual bed again, not caring that it wasn't even 3 o'clock yet. Wendy and Carla were eager to come but I thought that was just gonna make things worse.

Erza had pulled me and Wendy out of the room and out of the inn before I could think of another reason to object. She was currently dragging me from stall to stall, gushing about all the exotic goods available. I did my best to share her enthusiasm, relieved that she wasn't asking me about Sting.

"So, you and Sting, huh?" Or not.

"What about us?"

"So there is an 'us'!" She said in triumph. I blushed but I wasn't going to deny it. We weren't together, not exactly. But there was something there and I was gonna just stop thinking and follow his lead. Follow my heart, I guess.

"It's a little more complicated than that, Erza, but...yeah...there's something there."
"Interesting," she smirked at me. "I had always thought you only had eyes for Natsu."

"Huh? You knew?" I was totally stunned. I didn't think I had been super obvious, I mean Natsu never seemed to have a clue and I spent more time with him than anyone else. Of course he was a dense idiot and Erza was pretty observant, but still.

"Of course, I think everyone knew," she glanced at Carla and Wendy who both nodded smugly. Jerks.

"Well, Natsu never did. And he left right when I had found my courage so I don't think he ever knew." Erza patted my arm sympathetically, understanding written all over her face. Of course, she and Jellal had an even more complicated relationship than Natsu and I ever had.

"So, you've moved on then?" She didn't wait for me to answer. "I approve, Natsu doesn't deserve to have you pining after him."

"Erza is right, child," Carla piped up. "You deserve more than to be left behind and ignored."

"I like Master Sting. He's a lot less scary than he was at the GMGs," Wendy beamed.

"Girls, girls!" I held my hands up stopping their commentary. "It's really not like that. I don't know what's gonna happen with Sting, and I wouldn't say I'm totally over Natsu. But I just want to enjoy myself a little."
"Ahh," said Erza. "So Sting's a rebound. I see." She nodded and Wendy's face turned redder than Lector's fur.
"N-no!" I rushed to correct her. "I do really like him. I just, I don't think I've really gotten closure from Natsu. I need to see him first befo–" I stopped. What was I doing? I really didn't want to talk about this anymore. "Look, let's just say. Sting and I are getting to know each other, and then we'll see what's up. Thank you for your support but I'd really rather talk about anything else. Tell me all about you and Jellal!" Now it was Erza's turn to splutter.

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I was reluctant at first to let the girls go exploring the town. Til Rogue reminded me that Titania didn't need my protection. Kinda dumb of me to worry, but really I didn't want Lucy out of my sight, for a number of different reasons. Reluctantly I agreed with Jellal's suggestion that we do a patrol of the town, to see if there were any traps or enemies waiting for us.

Rogue, Lector, Frosch and I accompanied him outside of town and we started our walk around the border, seeing if we could pick up any trace of magical energy from someone other than us. Jellal was currently standing about 30 feet away from us, head lifted to the sky and arms spread.