Kidnapped

Chapter 25 - Give Him a Chance

~Lucy POV~

"So this is where you've been staying ?" Said Gray upon arriving to Erza's house.

"Yep." I said placing the grocery bags on the ground so that I could open the door. "I guess I'll see you around then ?" It seems rude to shoo him off but I can't exactly invite him in...it's not my house after all...although Ezra said it was now...

"Mhm, see you around Lucy." He replied with a sad puppy dog look in his eyes as if he read my mind and was begging to come in.

I let out an audible groan before finally speaking. "Would you like to come in ? Maybe have something to drink or eat and then leave.." I stress the leaving part hoping that he got the hint that I couldn't be bothered to have him around right now. He reminded me too much of Natsu. He made me miss him, but I didn't want to miss him, I wanted to move on. That's only if my heart would let me.

"Yes please. Took you long enough to ask me. Did you leave your manners at Natsu's house or-"

"Gray, if you don't shut up and walk through this door to eat something and/or have a damn glass of water, I will literally slam this door so hard in your face that you'll fall backwards, hit your head off a stone, and get concussion." Gray gulped and immediately walked inside as I gave myself a triumphant smile.

I made my way to the kitchen with Gray following closely behind. I poured him a glass of water and placed some cakes in a dish and then began to put the groceries away. Erza had labels on each shelf and cupboard listing what was inside each of them or on top each of them. Yes, it was weird, but at least I knew where to put everything.

"Wow, this place is so freakishly tidy." Said Gray after a while of silence. There was still a tone of fear in his voice. I guess I really did scare him a bit, maybe I went a little too far.

"Look Gray, I didn't mean to scare you or-"

"No, you didn't scare me. I know I should stop mentioning Natsu. I'm sorry. I know you don't care about him and you probably don't care that he's been run over by a combine harvester either but-"

"What ?! He's been run over ?! Oh my Mavis, is he ok ? Please tell me he is ok."

Gray looked at my face before bursting out into a fit of laughter.
"Lucy, I was joking. He's not been run over...Not physically but mentally ya know. You leaving kind of killed him."

I glared at Gray while I ran my finger awkwardly around the rim of my mug, in deep thought. Nah, it's impossible Natsu is moping over me leaving, it's not like he even cared about me much. Or did he ?

"Really Gray..how is Natsu doing ?" I ask suddenly breaking through the awkward atmosphere beginning to build up.

"He's not good Lucy. I'm worried about him. At first, he wouldn't leave the house. He'd just stay in there moping around all day. Then he left the house and I was thinking 'great, he's getting over her' but I was wrong, so wrong. He left the house for the wrong reasons. He takes part in street fights now, he's started drinking again, and by drinking I mean consuming huge quantities of alcohol in one go. Lucy, he's devastated. You need to help him go back to the Natsu he was with you. Please Lucy..."

"Look, Gray, he killed-"

"Lucy, I told you already. Natsu did not kill your parents ! I'd tell you the whole story but I believe you should hear it from him. Why not even give him the chance to explain himself for goodness sake ! Why don't you just stop being so selfish for once and consider his feelings too ! You're not the only one that's been hurt here. Do you think I like that the snappy Natsu is back ? Do you think I like it when he shouts at Juvia when she tries to comfort him?! Lucy, I'm not asking you to be his girlfriend again, I'm asking you to give him a chance....before he really does end up getting killed."