Oncoming Storm (Fairy Tail)

Chapter 16

The day of the Gala came sooner than Kayla wanted. Sure, she was excited for it, but she was also nervous, and her guildmates forcing her into a changing room that was in the building the Gala was being held in didn't help with her nerve at all. She was currently sitting in one of the chairs with the dress she was going to wear draped over her arms.

"You don't plan on sitting there all night, do you?" Someone asked, and Kayla looked up to see Erza standing over her.

"Well, to be honest I'd prefer to, I haven't actually been to something like this before so I don't really know what to do." She admitted, causing most of the girl who heard her stop and stare, making her shrink in her skin.

Erza looked taken aback at what Kayla said, "Are you serious?" She asked.

Kayla nodded. "Believe it or not, I was... sheltered... growing up. I wasn't really allowed outside." Kayla said with a shrug, "I've only really ever heard of these things." She placed a hand on the back of her head and nervously laughed, feeling the eyes of almost everyone in the room on her.

Lucy walked up to her and held out her hand, "Don't worry. They're not too bad, we'll all help you get ready."

Kayla hesitated before taking Lucy's hand, "Thanks..." she muttered as she slowly walked to stand behind a curtain.

***

"Come on, Kayla, you can't stay in there all night." Evergreen said, "Everyone's already left, and I'm not waiting for you here forever."

Kayla was hiding in the room all of the girls changed in, her cheeks red. "I-I can't there's absolutely no way I can go out there like this!"

"You look fine." Evergreen said, reaching in and grabbing Kayla's wrist as she pulled the younger mage out of the room.

Kayla stumbled slightly, her cheeks slightly red as she looked up, "Evergreen..." she muttered.

"You look fine." Evergreen said, rolling her eyes. "Now come on, let's go." She said and started walking down the hallway.

Kayla took a deep breath to try to calm her nerves as she pulled at the hem of her dress which personally felt way too short. Her dress was simple compared to what the other girls were wearing. It was blue and sleeveless, but had a collar that reached up to her neck and covered the whole of her back, there was a golden belt with a small golden bow. The bottom of the dress was a dark blue form fitting skirt with a layer of fabric laying neatly on the sides. Luckily the dress came with gloves so her seal would be hidden.

After she adjusted her dress as much as she could, she looked up to see where she and Evergreen were. They had arrived at the ballroom, Kayla stood in the doorway and looked around at everyone who was in there, and just as she decided to step inside, she was confronted by three men.

"My, you're a lovely young woman." One said, coming up from behind Kayla, running a hand through his dark hair, she had heard his name was Ren.

"You're Kayla, am I correct?" Another one asked, coming up on Kayla's left— Hibiki.

"My, the descriptions we've heard of you does not do you justice." Another boy, younger than the other two, said as he came up on Kayla's right— Eve.

Kayla's cheeks grew warm as she started to stutter over her words, not knowing exactly what to say to them.

"Come on guys, don't you know you're scaring her?" A familiar person asked, and Kayla felt some relief when she saw Finny walking up to her.

"Oh, were we? We're sorry!" They all said, bowing at Kayla, who just nodded.

"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to my friend."