Countdown [Natsu x Reader x Gray]

🎓 Chapter 22 🎓

Three weeks.

It took you three weeks to finally return to school.

Your parents suggested you talk to the school psychologist, so you did that before officially starting classes again.

Natsu and Gray have given you your space. Before you returned, they stopped by your house long enough to give you homework and they called you on the weekends.

Their parents sent your favorite foods over by way of their sons.

Zero's parents had written a letter to you and your family and sent it in the mail. They expressed how sorry they were for their son's behavior. It was then that you found out that Zero was admitted to inpatient treatment.

So he wouldn't be at school anymore.

That was when you made your decision to return to school.

You felt bad because you didn't want to miss out on your final semester of high school because of one boy. But, at the same time, you were scared.

You didn't want to risk seeing him.

That's why you only met the psychologist during class time.

Now that your fear is gone life can go back to normal, right?

If only it were that simple. You know it will take time to heal. Luckily for you, your two best friends will help make it easier.

It's March now, and the drama department is presenting a play.

"If you think you're up to it, come see me." Gray smiled.

"Ok." You nodded.

Of course, you were hesitant about being outside of your house for longer than necessary. Your home had become your safe haven. If you were being honest with yourself, you wanted to run home right after school.

But you also knew that you couldn't hide at home forever.

You also wanted to support your friend.

So, you asked Natsu if he would accompany you to see Gray's play.

He agreed, and he stayed by your side and vowed to keep you in his line of sight.

For you were not the only one scared and worried.

Neither your parents nor your best friends wanted another incident to happen, and they, like you, feared for the worst right now.

Gray was the lead in the school's play, The Unconventional Man. It was a story written by the teacher -- the life of a man who, despite being raised in a patriarchal, American society with the appropriate gender stereotypes, has gone against such traditional norms and has struggled into his adulthood trying to love himself.

It was a very different and mature piece. Whereas some students may not have liked it or were mature enough to understand the overall message of the play, the school's staff and parents loved it.

Natsu, not being mature in the slightest, snicked toward the beginning about how Gray looked like an idiot. You, however, thought Gray delivered a very powerful performance and saw that he truly enjoyed acting.

You would not be suprised if Gray decided to pursue this as a career once the three of you graduated.

Plus, it would be pretty cool to be best friends with a famous actor.

Once the play was over and you were at home, in your room, you reflected on how you were actually glad that you went to see Gray's play. Being there, watching your friend on stage, put you at ease and you forgot about your trauma for the length of the play.

It was nice.

Perhaps being with friends is what you needed to overcome your fear.

Perhaps, it was time for you to get back out there.