Natsu's POV

I figured it was extremely cheesy and cliché to say that I felt butterflies in my stomach and electric sparks flying though me, but I didn't really care in that moment, because that was exactly how I was feeling.

The final wall was broken down as I automatically leaned back under the pressure, pressing my back against the wet lamp post as I tilted my head back. A jolt of pain rushed through my abdomen but I ignored it. I relished in the happiness I was feeling, the jelly-leg sensation and the weak fluttering in my chest, because I was head-over-heels and oh, so happy.

"Why the fuck are you so tall," I complained with a moan between kisses. He chuckled and it resonated in ribbons off his flesh to the point where I felt it more than I heard it. One of his hands remained tenderly on my cheek, the other travelling to the back of my head. He weaved his fingers through my wet locks and I had to admit, I guiltily loved the feeling.

We kissed and kissed, and time seemed to slow down. We could've been standing there, getting drenched in the chilly rain, for a few seconds or minutes or hours, but it didn't really make a difference because kissing Gray simultaneously felt like a split moment and an eternity.

Our lips softly broke apart, and his forehead rested against mine softly. I ran my tongue over my bottom lip suggestively, my eyes darting between his mouth and his eyes. From so close up, I could see my flushed expression in the dilated, obsidian pupils.

"Come on, we can't stay out here forever. You'll get sick," Gray whispered, looking genuinely concerned. He didn't have to be that loud because the proximity between us was minimum. "You're all wet."

After a second, I caught the innuendo. I whacked his arm and narrowed my eyes. "You're completely soaked too, for your information," I pointed out flatly. Gray shook his head and bent over to grab the umbrella. He shook out the excess water collecting inside and raised it over our heads. I ducked under, seemingly forced to be pushed up against the side of his body.

I mean, not like I was complaining.

We walked back in silence, the only sound encasing us being the sound of the rain. I wished I could've grabbed his hand, but the one that was easiest to hold was currently holding up the umbrella, and besides, my hand was clammy and pruney, which would probably be disgusting to feel. We arrived at Gray's house, and he immediately shook his head.

"I'm not letting you walk home alone, in the dark, in the rain, without an umbrella. You'll catch hypothermia and it'll be my fault," Gray said firmly before I was able to interject. "Nope! Don't say anything. I don't mind- honestly." 

I sighed, laughing amusedly as we continued up the hill. I was hypersensitive to my surroundings- particuarly Gray. The sound of his breathing, the way his arm mushed against mine, the tiny, happy sighs. I smiled fondly, staring at the old pavement. I wondered where this kiss ordeal left us. Should I bring it up, or simply go with the flow? I thought worriedly.

"What are we?" I said the former option before I could stop myself. 

"Homo sapiens," Gray answered cheekily. "Emphasis on homo." (A/N: I AM CHOKING WITH LAUGHTER AT MY HORRIBLE JOKE)

"Hardee har. No, seriously," I put on a straight face.

"Well," Gray tapped his chin with his free hand, pretending to mull the options over. "What do you want us to be?"

I was at a loss at that question for a second. What did I want? Let's see- I wanted to be with Gray, but I knew there were so many problems standing in our way. My parents wouldn't approve, and I didn't even know how his parents would react! That posed a question in my mind.

"Have you come out to your parents yet?" I asked suddenly. 

Gray shook his head solemnly. "I only found out myself a couple weeks ago," He admitted.

"How did you know?" I questioned nervously. "...If you don't mind me asking."

"If I'm gonna be totally honest, it was because of you," He laughed sheepishly, scratching his head. "But I didn't know if you liked me back so I kinda just dealt with it."

"So that's why you and Juvia broke up..." Pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together. "You know, when I ended up telling everything to my family tonight, I realized something. Something that didn't make sense at the time but it now does if I think about it more."

"Oh, yeah?" Gray nodded. "And what's that?"

"That I conquered my greatest fear, in a sense," I conceded. 

"And what's your greatest fear?" Gray raised an eyebrow, intrigued. I cleared my throat and wrung my hands behind me nervously.

"Accepting who I really am," I told him firmly. A surge of pride rushed through me and I finally felt right for once. I hadn't felt it in so long it was unfamiliar, but I liked it so much I couldn't help but grin happily.

"Looks like you have two things to cross of the list when you get home, then," Gray thought out loud. "How many do you have left?"

I was quiet for a moment. From what I could remember, I had three. But they all seemed trivial to me. I was too happy right now to worry about anything else.

Around the corner and over the horizon, I spotted my house. The lights were off, meaning my family had headed off to bed. I felt angry, considering they didn't even notice I was gone. Did they really not care that much to see their own son was missing?

We walked up the driveway slowly. I didn't really want Gray to leave just yet, not now. So as he led me up the front stairs to the patio, I spun him around so we were face-to-face, no secrets, just us.

"You know what, Gray?" I said suddenly. Where was I going with this?

"What?" Gray echoed, biting his lip.

"The more I think about it, the more I realize what this stupid list has done for me," I rambled.

"Well, you-" He began to speak when I lifted my hand to silence him.

"No, just hear me out for a second," I shushed him. "This list, this fucking drunk list I made, it's sent me into a journey. A journey where I met you and other new friends, tried new things, experienced new places, learned to let loose, and finally accept myself. Maybe that was the point all along, Gray, do you ever think of that? Like some sort of omniscient fate brought me to my senses and allowed me to experience the things in life I needed? It was a wacky adventure, and at times it was tedious, annoying, and difficult. It made me scream, it made me cry, but it turned me into who I am in this very moment, because you pushed me to aspire every item on the list, and for that, I'm eternally grateful," I babbled.

Gray was at a loss for words, for once.

Instead of waiting for a response, I continued to pour out my feelings. "Helen Keller once said 'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.' Well, before I absolutely hated that quote, but now I think I understand it, because in a short month I've learned so many new things and I can honestly say it was all worth it. Here I am, having just kissed the boy I never dreamed of even talking to this time last month because I like you so, so much. This a new beginning for us, Gray. For me, and that's more important than you can ever understand."

I blushed after realizing that I said all that. "Ah, that was a bit much. Oops."

Gray grabbed my wrists suddenly and tugged me towards him, crashing our lips together passionately without warning. Wide eyed, I stood there frozen in shock, but soon after my eyelids fluttered shut and I melted into the kiss, falling deep into a state of undescribable joy as my arms raised up to wrap around his shoulders loosely. 

He broke away after more than a few moments of serious lip-locking later. "Don't go springing that emotional shit on me, you're gonna make me cry," He joked. 

I laughed and nuzzled into the side of his neck. "Gray, I have something to tell you."

"Same here," He said, rubbing tender circles in between my shoulder blades. "But you first."

There was no use beating around the bush, so I was short and to-the-point. "I'm done with the drunk list," I announced.

"Wha-?" He pulled me off to eye me suspiciously. "What do you mean-? You haven't finished it yet!"

"That doesn't matter to me," I told him, deathly serious. "Finishing it or not may have been the goal in the beginning, but to me, I've already crossed the finish line," I admitted bashfully. "So screw that stupid drunk bucket list. Who needs wild parties anyway?"

"Actually, speaking of wild parties..." Gray trailed off shyly. "Prom is coming up next Friday, and I was wondering if... uh, you wanted to go with me?"

I looked at him with shock. "Of course! Yes! I'd love to," I flashed him a killer billion-watt smile, hugging him tightly again. "Ah, this'll be great. What a way to finish the last high school year of our lives," I thought out loud happily. "Together."

"Quit being so cheesy, it doesn't suit you," Gray ruffled my hair annoyingly. I squeaked and swatted his hand away angrily. Gray put on a serious façade once again and he stiffened. "So no more drunk list?" He guessed.

"No more drunk list," I repeated. "Gonna burn that bitch of a piece of paper to the floor."

"Feisty! I like it," Gray chuckled, tickling me under the arms. I squealed, laughing as I tried to get away. He held on tight though, continuing to tickle me.

I don't know who insinuated it, but next thing we knew, my back was against the patio column and our lips were attached together again. It was more passionate than the previous two times, more needy, and a thousand times better. Gray nibbled at my lower lip and I gasped in surprise. He took that as an opportunity to deepen the kiss by tilting his head to the right. 

The door clicked open again, but I didn't hear it. Suddenly light from the inside streamed to the front porch and we jumped away in surprise, stumbling over our denying words. I looked into the pairs of eyes of my three family members, all blotchy-eyed yet impeccably relieved.

"Don't you run away again!" Mom gasped, rushing to give me a hug. "Oh, baby, you're soaked! Come inside, honey, I'll get you a towel and a mug of hot cocoa."

I let her fuss over me and I sent Gray a 'help me' look. He was too busy waving sheepishly at my father, who looked stern but still happy.

"Are you Natsu's boyfriend?" He asked monotonously.

Gray nodded immediately and I wrapped my arm around him proudly. "Yes I am, sir," He gave him a curt nod. 

Dad smiled softly. "Well, that's wonderful, it's nice to meet you. Would you like to come inside? It's awfully late, I wouldn't want you to catch a cold getting home in the rain," His eyes traveled past Gray to the outside, where the rain wasn't letting up.

"That won't me neseccary, Mr. Dragneel. I'll be on my way now. Nice meeting you... bye, Natsu," He mumbled into my ear, making me shiver. He thumped down the slick-with-water stairs and disappeared into the night.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Mom cried, enveloping me in a squeezing bear hug. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around her, and she visibly relaxed. "I'm so sorry about dinner today. We're going to do everything we can to help. And you rushed out before we could explain it's perfectly fine to be gay! We support you 100% on who you are, because in the end, you're still our beloved son."

"That's right," Wendy added. 

"Wendy told us about her and Chelia as well, alongside the fact you already knew about them," Dad added, wrapping his arm around Wendy's shoulder.

"We're so proud of both of you. This is a new beginning for all of us," Mom said cheerfully through bleary, hopeful eyes.

"It is," I agreed instantaneously. "World, meet the newly reformed Natsu Dragneel."

And he knows he's perfect just the way he is.

- - - -

The End :)

Epilogue (Prom!) is coming out soon! (And then the winners for the kiss contest - details in the 21st chapter - shortly after) 

Thank you so much for reading, it's been wonderful finishing my second fanfic! I'll be focusing on my Phan story, Igniting Natsu, and possibly an all-new fanfic idea that I hope you like! If you enjoyed this, please fan, vote, and comment :) I appreciate everything you all have done for me!