Falling Too Far - Gruvia

Chapter 16

The past few days had been average at best. Nothing interesting had happened, nor had I pushed myself out my comfort zone and did something completely wild, like Gray. Actually, Gray and I hadn't spoken to each other. We had stuck to our unspoken rules, and avoided each other. Passing him in the corridors on my way to classes and leaving them, he'd walk by like I was just another person. Not even looking at me, if we were about to collide ways he'd swift his body out the way like he would with a stranger. I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. However, it's a team effort right?

Finding out Lucy was switching majors didn't do me well either, I didn't whine like a little bitch though. Her life her choice, so I can't exactly stop her, as much as I want to. Yet ever since the morning after the forgettable party, she'd been off with me. Same with Natsu but at least I knew the reason for that.

In the coffee house, it was packed. I had a lot of work to complete from my classes, and I was in the middle for earning the minimum wage. I can't believe I thought I could live off that money and make a decent offer on an apartment, of course the other person got it. This won't make my avoiding Gray scheme any easier. I bet that guy doesn't work their ass off for the amount of money they get. I'm here, cleaning the same table I did just ten minutes ago, when someone decided to be a complete prick and make a giant mess of a simple black coffee. I even got some students to crash the place and make a joke out of me and take advantage that I worked there. Thank god it's Thursday, my weekend shall arrive shortly.

I get back to the dorm to be greeted with a bunch of half filled boxes and some empty, just scattered around the floor as you walk in. They seemed to be filled with basic necessities. The only door open happened to be Gray's. After putting the pieces together, also the psychology text book slanted out of one of the boxes, it appeared that Gray had the same idea I did. Out of curiosity, I poke my head around the corner, nudging the door wider open with my knee. Gray was sat on the floor taping up some more boxes, he noticed me straight away.

I would've gone on to pretend that I was minding my own business, and then realising no one else was actually in the apartment, I allowed myself to enter his bedroom and he didn't object to it either. Being socially awkward, my awkwardness increasing as it was Gray I was with, I asked the most obvious question.

"What are you doing?"

"Moving," his reply bitter.

I stood there like an imbecile. Unsure of what I should do next, and say. A little voice in my head kept shouting at me that I pushed him away. I made him uncomfortable and he decided to do the same that I did. Although, the reason I wanted to move was the same. I couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. Okay... very guilty. His best friends live here, I may count Lucy as a best friend for me but I haven't known her even a quarter of how long Gray's known Natsu and Erza.

"Can you give me a hand?" He catches me off guard.

My body shudders and a little twitch following that. I nod, trying not to trip as I head towards him, kneeling on the floor. An even larger shiver travels through my veins as he grabs my index finger and places it just where the folds of the box close, indicating me to hold it down for him. It felt like years since I last had his touch on me, and this was just the slightest.

"Hey, Gray, the poole-", Gray's Dad was capable of making me jump out of my skin as he walked through the door, "Oh, hello, Miss Juvia." I'm surprised he remembered my name.

I casually wave my hand and give a half smile. Gray moves the box aside, grabbing what must've been one of the last ones and placing it in the gap between us, grabbing my finger again.

"You know, Juvia. We could use a spare hand with all the boxes. It may not look like much here but there's also a lot more from his old bedroom."

Seeing where Gray'd be crashing from now on, seems like an offer my intoxicated persona wouldn't refuse at all. However I've been sober for a while now, and when I'm sober I socially distance with Gray. Well, I say "socially", I mean more as just distance overall.