MEANT TO BE | GRUVIA

29

"I'm glad that you're feeling better," David said, smiling at his sister. It had been a week since Juvia spent the night with Gray, and she wasn't worried anymore. Juvia was still being clingy, but she didn't let it bother her.

"Thanks," Juvia said. He slid a plate of eggs in front of her. She loved starting her Saturday mornings eating eggs. She happily ate a bite, looking around the kitchen.

"I'm going to go sweep the living room, okay?" he asked. Jennifer was gone for the weekend, and she left chores for her kids to do. He was in charge of cleaning upstairs, while Juvia cleaned the dojo.

Juvia hummed to herself while she ate. She couldn't believe that in just a few short months, she settled down so easily. She went two whole years without living in a home, being a free spirit. Yet, she was so comfortable living with a family again. She never dreamed that she would have a brother waiting for her, either.

She heard the sweeper turn off. She found it odd, since it usually took longer than that to sweap. She walked over and leaned into the doorway. She saw Mira in the living room, standing beside David.

"What's up?" David asked. It wasn't like Mira to just drop by. Okay, it was. It wasn't like her to drop by with such a worried look, though.

"I saw something I shouldn't have," she said quietly, looking down to the floor.

"What do you mean?" he asked. She didnt answer. He lifted her chin up to meet his gaze.

"I-I walked past McDonald's," she started. Juvia wasn't sure where the conversation was going. "And I saw-" She stopped talking.

"What did you see?" he asked worriedly.

"It's going to break Juvia's heart," she said quietly, but loud enough for the blonde to hear. She wiped a tear from her eye. "Lucy and Gray were kissing."

"What?!" Juvia gasped. The two seniors looked over in shock. They didn't realize she was listening.

"Juvia," Mira croaked out. She felt awful. She wouldn't have said anything if she knew Juvia was standing there.

"No, I'm fine," Juvia said, wiping tears off of her face. She started sobbing quietly. David stepped foward and hugged her, but she pushed him away. She ran off to her room, slamming the door shut.

X

"I can't believe how slow this place is," Lucy said, swinging her legs. She was sitting on the counter, just like Juvia usually did. She sipped her vanilla milkshake, which she purchased herself.

"It's busier at dinner," Gray laughed. He remembered having the same coversation with Juvia. He wasn't fazed at all by Lucy's closeness. He always had people sitting on the counters. Often times Lisanna and Mira would stop by, both sitting on the counter. Even Jellal would. It wasn't new to him.

"You know, Japan was really beautiful," Lucy said. She was looking directly into Gray's eyes. "I really wish you could have been there to see it with me."

"That would have been fun," he laughed. He always wanted to leave Magnolia. That's one of the reasons he admired Juvia . She just left in her own to travel the world. He sometimes wished he could be so carefree.

"You would have had fun," Lucy said. She smiled as looked at her lap, remembering the day she left for Japan.

"How long are you going to be gone?" Gray asked.

"Whenever we finish," Lucy giggled. "They think it will be a few months."

It was a beautiful August evening. Since school started, they haven't been hanging out outside of school much. Before she left, they decided to hang at the park for a few hours. They were currently sitting on the swings