Hey y'all, quick announcement. I'm going to try to move this story along fairly quickly because I have a couple story ideas in my mind that I want to do but won't be able to focus on. Happy/apprecitative comments y'all always leave make me want to update fast. ♡

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Gray's POV: 6:02 PM

After Natsu had roughly brushed by me, uttering some excuse about not wanting to impose, I wanted desperately to run after him, but Juvia had me in a death lock. So I just stood there, watching him disappear into the crowd of festivalers.

I looked down helplessly at Juvia with a sense of wildness and urgency shining in my eyes. A lightbulb went off in Juvia's head and she closed her eyes. "Gray-sama doesn't like Juvia anymore, does he? He's fallen for another."

I blushed and shifted the weight on my feet nervously, avoiding her close-eyed stare. She sounded disappointed, but also the slightest bit relieved. "Go to him, then," She whispered breathlessly, squeezing her eyes shut, as if she would take back her words if I didn't act quickly.

"I'm sorry," I choked out. She only shook her head, smiling sadly.

"Juvia knew it all along. Now hurry, Gray-sama," Juvia motioned behind her to the crowd. I didn't hesistate- I began to rush past civillians in order to find the rejected, hurt, pink-haired boy. I briefly looked over my shoulder at Juvia one last time. She was staring at the darkening sky, taking in the tantalizing view of the cottonball clouds and orange-purple sunset.

I mouthed a 'thank you' I knew she'd never see and broke out into a run.

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Natsu's POV: 11:49 PM

To: Natsu

Where do you live?

To: Gray

Well, that's rather stalkerish.

To: Natsu:

Answer the question!

To: Gray

In a house.

To: Natsu

Come on, be more specific!

To: Gray

Fine. 780 Poppyseed Road.

To: Natsu

Thanks.

To: Gray

Don't show up, I swear. It's like midnight.

To: Natsu

11:30. Now, tell me, which window is yours?

To: Gray

Oh, hell no.

To: Natsu

I have McDonalds!!

To: Gray

I'll be waiting at the front door.

Sighing, I tugged on my long-sleeved pajama top and quietly padded downstairs. Thankfully, marble flooring didn't squeak against socks, so I wasn't about to wake anyone else up. I sat down on the cold tile by the front door, listening and waiting. Roughly two minutes after I came downstairs, I heard soft footsteps come up the patio stairs and I creaked the front door open.

Gray beamed, holding up the fast food bag. I gave him a flat look, took the bag, and let him inside.

He seemed to understand we were supposed to be dead silent, and he followed me upstairs, where I led him into my room. After shutting it with as much ease as I could, I turned to the black-haired boy who took the liberty to plop down into my desk chair and start spinning.

This was it. It was official. Gray Fullbuster was the weirdest, dumbest person on the universe.

"Would you stop that right now?" I hissed under my breath. Gray immediately stopped turning but still had an amused expression plastered into his face with industrial strength glue. "So, what are you doing here? Besides keeping me awake."

Gray kicked his feet out and shut his eyes coolly, tilting his head up to the ceiling. "Wanted to make sure you were okay. After what happened and all."

"Why would you care?" I spat. I honestly didnt understand what was coming over me. This harsh rudeness was being taken out on the sole person being nice to me, and I felt more than just a smudge guilty. Rubbing my temples in firm circles, I took a seat on the edge of my bed.

"'S just curious," He shrugged, not taking any offense at all. "French fry me?" He opened his mouth wide.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, grabbing the bag in my hands and walking to my closet. Gray, hearing the shuffling of sounds, cracked his eyes opened and followed me. "Are we going to Narnia?" He questioned dumbly.

I pushed back some coats. "No. This place is better," I revealed a hidden door where you could crawl through. And so, we did, scaling up the four-rung ladder.

"No place is better than Narnia," Gray grumbled to himself from behind me. I ignored his remark and pushed myself up the last platform, ending up in a lofty area I discovered when I was twelve. Following behind closely, Gray slid inside a moment proceeding mine. "Woah, what is this place?"

I stared up fondly at the storage-like room I had revamped when I had nothing better to do. White string lights dangled down like twinkling, iridescent snowflakes, illuminating the slanted roof boards. The walls were covered with pages of books, magazine pictures, and paintings from when I went though my artsy phase at age fourteen. The only 'furniture' in the room was a beanbag, across from a cracking easel, an old record player, and a stack of vinyls.

"Secret place," I mumbled, pressing the back of my head against the wall. "Peaceful, isn't it?"

"It's really pretty," He marveled, craning his head skyward to admire the glowing lights.

"I come in here a lot to think or just escape reality," I explained bittersweetly. "Only my parents know about it, but you're the first person I've brought up here," I admitted shyly, tucking my chin into my bent knees.

Gray bit his lip, continuing to look up. "Why'd you show me it, then?"

"Dunno," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks grow red. Maybe this was a bad idea. "Hey, this is going to sound crazy, but do you want to stay up all night? In here?" I offered, suddenly not feeling tired at all. The carnival felt like it was weeks ago, and it was only him, me, and the indie vibe in the now.

Gray rested the side of his head on his knees, looking at me sideways. "If you want to. It's your drunk list, not mine."

I nodded the slightest bit. "Let's do it then. But what do we do for the next," I looked at the watch I never took off this evening. "Seven hours?"

Gray stood up, having to duck his head the tiniest bit, crossed the narrow space and put on a record. Soft jazz music began to play as the needle scratched into the grooves of the weathered vinyl. He sat down in a different place, this time next to me, so close our shoulders would touch if I shifted the slightest bit.

"We'll have to make do and entertain ourselves until then," He announced, pressing his legs out in front of him and grinning. "What do you wanna do first?"

"Play a game?" I suggested, feeling brain-fried.

"I don't see many other options, so that sounds good," Gray nodded in agreement. "Twenty questions- you start," He commanded, crossing his arms and staring right ahead.

"Er... Favorite food?" I asked.

"Spaghetti," He answered immediately, licking his lips and leaving a sheen behind. "You?"

"Junk food. Any kind will do," I joked. "But especially Salt and Vinegar chips. Those things are heaven."

"Ew," Gray stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Those things are nasty."

I whacked his arm irritably with the back of my hand. "Nuh uh," I argued. Gray shot me a pointed look, and I narrowed my eyes. "Fine. Next question."

"Do you like anybody?" He asked immediately with an unreadable face. My pupils dilated with surprise and I quickly shook my head.

"No, not since last year when my crush rejected me," I admitted, remembering the embarrassing moments of junior year. Lisanna, who I still shared a class with this year, had laughed, cruelly rejected me, and walked away without even allowing me to finish my sentence. I shuddered internally at the memory, snapping back into reality. "But now, no one in particular."

"Oh, shame," Gray half-shrugged. "Same with me."

"What about Juvia?" I asked, wondering what happened there. Did I miss something at the carnival?

"We broke up," He admitted softly, sniffing. Surprised and feeling sad for him, I placed my hand on his shoulder and tried to convince him he didn't need her anyways and I'd be alright.

Gray popped a chicken nugget into his mouth, eyes watering from tears that never fell. "Mhmm, next question!"

"Okay," I laughed timidly. "Favorite holiday?"

"Valentines day, because the candy is delicious," Gray answered firmly.

"Then you must like Halloween and Easter too," I pointed out.

"Eh, but Halloween means you have to dress up in something made out of
toilet paper or itchy spandex, and no thanks. And Easter is really childish. Finding plastic bunny eggs? I don't think so," He retorted sassily, earning a giggle that escaped from my mouth. Gray definitely noticed it, eyebrows shooting up, but chose not to press on and asked what mine was.

"Oh, Christmas, definitely. I love the lights, the food, the presents, the family, the love, the food," I salivated.

"That holiday is great too," Gray gushed. "Anyway, um, next question!"

Gray and I contributed to play beyond twenty, and by the time one-thirty rolled around, I was flipped upside down in the beanbag next to Gray, gazing at the tinsel lights. I had learned a lot of random things about Gray that would probably never benefit me in life, but it was fun and a good time passer anyways, so I wasn't explaining.

I rubbed my eyes, feeling fatigue start to creep in. "Do you ever think about just how insignificant our lives really are in this infinite universe?" I said randomly, tucking my face into my bent elbow.

"Someone's getting a bit too deep for me right now," Gray joked amusedly, chuckling deeply.

"Sorry," I apologized, not actually sorry at all.

"It's fine. What's playing right now?" Gray pointed to the record player.

"The Gorrilaz," I answered softly, feeling myself growing more and more tired with each passing second. I lilled my head to the side, finding myself in the crook of Gray's shoulder and neck.

"Natsu? What on earth are you doing?" Gray said with an eerily calm tone, tensing up. I was too tired to notice the hidden surprise in his tone or the color suffusing his ears and dusting his cheeks.

"Mmp. I'm tired," I mumbled into his shirt, breathing in his warmth. He smelled like minty candy canes and vanilla. I was too drowsy to really understand what I was doing, so I just snuggled in closer, feeling pleasantly warmer than I had felt in a long time.

"You totally failed this one," Gray muttered to me, or maybe it was to himself, I'd never know. "But whatever, we'll check it off anyways for effort. Goodnight, Natsu."

The last thing I felt before I had completely fell into unconsciousness was a soft press of chapped lips to my temple and an arm wrapping around my body, pulling me in tight and never wanting to let go.

This is where I need to be, I thought to myself unconsciously. Because this is way better than playing crappy carnival games with a random girl.

Plus, I've always had a knack for the smell of candy canes.

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Ew.... sorry this is so so short and filler-y.

I like to call these the 3 am wth-am-I-doing chapters. Whatever, hope you enjoy it anyways. I just love Natsu's loft, I want one too so bad!

Question of the day: What are your top five music artists? (Because lord knows we can't pick only one)

Also, which drunk list item do you want to see next? (That's not #14/#20, sorry) I really need idea help so please help meeeee!!!

Until next time, lovelies! Please remember to vote, comment, and maybe follow? Fifteen votes and I'll update double-quickly. ;)