Rain in Winter [Gruvia] {The FT Love Chronicles; Book 4}

Chapter Two

 It had been two days since Juvia saw Gray. After deciding on how to get Gray's attention, she had sought the advice of Lucy's bridal party as they had gone shopping the day before. They had all thought her plan was a good one, though Levy told her she should just tell him outright how she felt. She knew the small wizard was right, but she was too afraid that he would brush her off as he had every other time she showed an act of affection towards him.

She looked at herself in the mirror before nodding in approval. She would just make sure he noticed her when she walked into Fairy Tail. She had bought a new dress for the occasion, and secretly prayed that it would work. If not, I don't know what else to try.

The dress was the same color as the guild mark on her left thigh. The silk material clung to every one of her curves, and fell barely to the middle of her thigh. The top fastened behind her neck, and dipped boldly in the front. She let her hair fall in graceful waves around her shoulders, and decided against wearing her favorite hat. If this doesn't get his attention, nothing will! Throwing on a pair of black heels, she marched to Fairy Tail, determined.

When she opened the guildhall doors, she saw several jaws drop, but she didn't let the gawking distract her. Spotting her target, she strutted over to the bar and took a seat next to Gray. She crossed her legs towards him, leaning her side against the counter as she looked anywhere but at him. Pretend he's not here, and he'll try to get your attention, she told herself. The girls had told her not to push herself onto him, and that he would come to her.

"Juvia, you're all, um, dressed up," Mira smiled, looking at her dress a little confused.

"Thank you," she blushed, still not looking at Gray, though she wanted to. "Juvia would like a glass of punch, please."

"Right away," Mira nodded.

While she waited, Juvia sneaked a glance at Gray, who was quietly eating the food in front of him. He didn't appear to have noticed her at all. She couldn't say the same for every other man at the guild, though.

"Here you go." Mira placed the drink in front of Juvia before going off to help someone else.

"Would Gray-sama like to taste Juvia's punch?" She asked, looking over at him with what she hoped was a sexy smile.

"No thanks," he said, never taking his eyes off his plate.

She frowned. This wasn't going at all how she had hoped it would. "Gray-sama, do you like Juvia's dress?" She asked, being a little more forward.

"What? Oh, sure," he shrugged, barely giving her a glance.

In frustration, she slammed her glass on the counter and left the bar. Stupid Gray! She ran from the guildhall, feeling like a complete idiot. She had gone so far to get even a little reaction out of him, and still she had received nothing. He wouldn't even look at me. Does he find me that repulsive? Could he hate me that much?

She returned to her room with a sigh. She stripped out of the uncomfortable dress and heels, and into her normal clothes and boots. She put on her large hat, and tried to get Gray out of her head. Although she didn't want to, she grabbed her travel bag and walked back to Fairy Tail in order to pick out a job. If Gray doesn't care about me, then I'll just go on a job to get away from him for a few days. If he even notices I'm gone...

She grabbed the first request off the board she saw, noticing it had something to do with water and an island over a day's journey away from Magnolia. She told Mira which one she had chosen, and then left to get on the train.

Juvia slept most of the train ride, feeling dejected that her great plan to get Gray to notice her had failed miserably. When she awoke, it was almost morning. The train had finally arrived in the town closest to the island where she could take a boat the rest of the journey. Once on the boat, she began thinking of other ways to get Gray to notice her. If I can't get him to notice me after the next try, then I'll take Levy's advice and just ask him to attend Lucy's wedding with me.