Just Add Water

Chapter 25

From the moment on Juvia's schedule changed. She would go to school, then work, and before going home she would visit Dudley and help Mr. Neekis feed him. However neither one of them could figure out what was wrong with him. 

"Is his fin hurting him?" Juvia asked her boss.

"No. According to the vet his fin should be completely healed." He told her. "I just don't understand why he isn't eating that much."

"Could he be sick?"

"Maybe."

"If you want Mr. Neekis, I could go to the library and read up on the dolphins. I might find an explanation on what's wrong with him."

"Good idea."

Juvia went to the marine park library and checked out three books on dolphins. She hoped that at least one of them could help her figure out what's wrong with Dudley. On her way out of the library she ran into Jellal who had checked out a huge load of books. 

"My goodness, you sure are doing a lot of research Jellal." Juvia observed. "Do you need any help carrying those?"

"No I got it." He assured her. "By the way thank you for giving me access here."

"You're welcome. Saved any creatures yet?"

"What? Oh yeah right um...No not yet. So if you don't mind me asking what are you researching?"

"Dolphins and their behaviors. That new dolphin they rescued isn't eating very well and they don't know what's wrong with him. I'm hoping I can find out what's bothering him."

"Well I don't know that much about dolphins but from what I hear they're supposed to be very smart."

"A lot of sea creatures are smarter than what people give them credit for."

"The thing that saved me must've been really smart." Jellal muttered to himself without thinking.

"What?"Juvia said getting upset.

"Oops!" He said realizing his mistake.

"Jellal! The only reason I gave you access to the library was because I thought you wanted to save endangered sea animals, not hunt for some creature that doesn't even exist."

"It does exist." He defended. "I saw it...Well part of it. But I know it's out there."

"How could you lie to me like that? You are so devious."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

She glared at him.

"Give me a break, I've had a rough week. You know my old man is starting to think I'm crazy."

"Can you blame him?"

"I'm not crazy! Devious and dishonest but not crazy."

"Truthfully I would have preferred you to be crazy instead those two things."

"Look I don't want any trouble, I just want to make things cool with my dad okay? He and my mom are always on my case. Do you have any idea what that's like?"

"No I don't. My parents are gone remember?"

"Oh..." Jellal immediately realized the error of his words and felt remorse. As much as he picked on Juvia, even he felt sorry that she had grown up an orphan. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"It's okay." She started to walk away, feeling upset and thinking that he was only faking regret but he stopped her.

"Hey I really am sorry." He told her sincerely. "My mom says sometimes I forget to be considerate of other people and I guess she's right. I know I'm a jerk but I don't want hurt anybody. Really I don't."