Circle of Truth (18+)

Chapter Eight

Entering the cafeteria, Juvia was reunited with the rest of her friend group. They all sat down at a rectangular lunch table, hunched over the seats. After sitting down, Juvia would rest her head on the table with a deep sigh. Her encounter with Lyon had her head pounding in confusion. As she was lost in thoughts, Juvia felt a big hand press on her back and a familiar voice greet her. Sitting up, she recognised Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy and Levy had joined to sit them at the lunch table. "What's up?" Natsu asked her. Juvia sighed, "Some guy asked me out today, from the Lamia Scale team." She says, this perked the attention of Gray who enquired more. "Yeah? Who?" He asked. Juvia shook her head, "Lyon Vastia? I don't really know him but he cornered me and asked me to be his girlfriend, then warned me he'd be around more often so I could get to know him. Even sealed the deal with a kiss" She joked with a slight chuckle. Her giggle was met with silence as she looked around the table, Gray's face held a dull look as he turned his gaze away from her. The rest of his friends created an awkward tension as they glanced at each other. "What? Something I said?" She asked, confused. "Gray and Lyon aren't the best of buddies." Laxus chimed in, informing her as little as possible. "Oh? Why not?" She pressed curiously, before anyone could reply, Gray stood up from the table and hastily left the conversation. Erza followed after him and Natsu sighed. "We're not really sure, they just have a weird rivalry." Juvia nodded, understanding. She shared a knowing stare with Natsu, who had caught Gray and Juvia both times.

~After School~

Now that the school day had come to a close, Juvia had been left alone to meet up with Jellal at the gate, she walked through the hallway, gazing at her phone as she scrolled mindlessly, her thoughts drawing back to Gray and Lyon. Being so distracted, Juvia jumped when she felt a hand grab her wrist and pull her into a storage closet. The closet was dark, Juvia had tried to look through the darkness at who has grabbed her but light shed above her as the switch flipped on a dim yellow light bulb. Juvia turned around to see who had pulled her into this place, she was surprised to be met with the silver haired Lyon. The storage closet was small, their bodies pressed against each other. "Lyon? What the hell?" Juvia asked, her eyebrows furrowed. Lyon rested his hand on the wall behind her head, cornering her against it. "Hey there, how's your day been?" He asked innocently. Juvia rose an eyebrow, "it's been fine... why?" She asked suspiciously. "That's great! I just wanted to ask you about your day." Lyon responded. Juvia's jaw almost dropped, "so you pulled me in this tiny dark closet to ask me that?" She asked in disbelief. Lyon shook his head, "of course not."

He paused, leaning down to her face and connecting his lips to hers. He kissed her gently, rising in passion as she reluctantly started to kiss back. His hands gripped her hips and held her closer against him. Juvia's arms reached and wrapped around his neck, pulling herself up, throwing her legs to wrap around his waist as he held her. They kissed roughly, trying to make more space in the closet and causing some things to fall off shelves. Juvia lost herself in his lips, before suddenly feeling a pang of guilt at the thought of Gray. She pulled back from the kiss, staring up at Lyon, he looked so desperate for more, like he was yearning for her lips. "What's wrong?..." He whispered, looking at her eyes in confusion. "I... I shouldn't do this." She replied, Lyon's grip on her loosened as he put her down. He took a step back, creating space between them as he looked at her curiously. "Juvia, what is wrong?" He asked, his voice softer, it made Juvia feel safe and more comfortable. "I... I just shouldn't." She sighed, providing no explanation. She patted down her skirt and made herself presentable again to leave. She gripped the door handle, pausing before leaving. "Why do you and Gray Fullbuster not get along?" She asked him. Lyon's mood very obviously shifted to a sour, irritated one. "We just don't." He didn't provide more detail, Juvia nodded, opening the door and leaving.  She was dawned by the reminder that Jellal had been waiting for her and started to run down the hallway to the gate. When she arrived, she found Jellal slouched on the floor, half asleep. "Jellal! Sorry I'm late." She called out, causing him to snap back into reality and stand up. "Where the hell have you been!? I've been waiting here for you." He scolded her. "I know! I know! I'm sorry I forgot my phone in my classroom so I had to go get it." She excused, Jellal clearly didn't buy it but didn't press any further. They both stood side by side as they headed home.

Once at home, Juvia kicked off her shoes and clothes and hopped in the shower. She mentally beat herself up for getting carried away with Lyon, even knowing his rivalry with Gray. Juvia thought about it in the shower, it's not like she has any obligation to Gray, so why did she still feel guilty? She just couldn't hack her brain to forget about it. It didn't help that her experience with Lyon had been a memorable one, like he intended. This is the emotion of regret that she didn't often feel, paired with guilt. It made Juvia's stomach turn as if she was sick. What would she do now? Juvia in this moment wished she was swept away into a world of magic where she could use some spell to erase memories.