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Her head was pounding when she woke up; probably from the amount of alcohol she had consumed the night before. Letting out a heavy sigh, she attempted to roll over when she noticed something loosely weighing down on her waist.
She stared at the ceiling, fixating her eyes on a spot where the paint was starting to peel off. The events of last night slowly flooded into her mind, one by one. She didn't want to believe any of it happened but the stranger that lay beside her was proof that it had.
Glancing at him, she took his attractive features in. She realized how handsome he was, not believing she could have spent the night with him. After all, who would spend time with her when often times she was a fraction of someone put together? As anxious thoughts continued to occupy her mind, she kept looking at him, unable to really take her eyes off him. His obsidian black hair was a total mess, sticking out in every direction, as he lay on his stomach, half of his face submerged into the soft pillow. His lashes cast soft shadows over his broad cheekbones, his breathing slow and even as he slept.
Unconsciously, he hugged her closer for warmth, as if claiming someone as his own. She bit her lip trying to stay as still as possible, as her body was slowly tugged to his side. It felt nice to be held like this, but she knew that at the end of this, this would all mean nothing. Despite the dread, she let herself steal this moment for herself, hoping it would never end.
A couple of strands of his hair fell over his eye and she reached out to push them out of his face. The light shone lustrously onto his features, bringing out that beauty of his. The man stirred when her delicate fingers brushed against him, and Juvia froze, afraid that he would wake up.
She didn't want him to wake up. She wanted this moment to last a little longer, basking in the unbroken silence for a few more minutes.
A low groan left his lips and it seemed to resonate loudly in the room. It broke the simple silence that she had enjoyed a few seconds ago. His eyes fluttered open, and when his gaze fell on her, he shot her a small smile.
"Morning, Juvia."
She blinked several times at him, and it had suddenly dawned on her that she had forgotten the name of the guy she spent the night with.
He chuckled lightheartedly, "You forgot my name already? You did, didn't you?" He shifted onto his side, facing her properly.
She tried to hide her face behind the covers and shyly gave him a tiny smile. "Sorry."
"It's alright." His lips formed into a sly grin; he leaned towards her, reaching his hand, pushing the strands of hair falling off onto her eyes.
"It's Gray, by the way. Gray Fullbuster."
Sighing in relief, she uttered his name under her breath. It suited him quite well.
Soon enough, silence filled the empty conversation between them as the moments passed by. Juvia felt herself relax as she closed her eyes, focusing on the trail of the warmth of mindless strokes being left across her skin by Gray's calloused fingers. She tried not to dwell on the idea that he would leave any moment now. She felt the dread pool in her stomach, not wanting to go back to the empty loneliness of her life.
Slowly, clearer memories of what transpired last night trickled into her mind and it made her hope that even for a moment, he was what she was looking for this entire time. She remembered how whole she had felt talking to him for hours on end about every topic under the sky, most of which would be considered boring to others. He had kept her company much longer than she thought he would have when she met him. He had even offered to walk her to the bus station, only to steal a kiss away from her and it was that very moment that led to this morning.
He would leave soon, she knew that. She knew better than to hope for more. That was the fact about these kinds of nights, but last night felt different.
Hearing a soft rustle, she hummed in disagreement as the breeze of cold air touched her bare skin when the covers were ever so slightly lifted.
“You're leaving," she whispered that fact to herself, trying to convince herself that after everything, it amounted to nothing in the end.
His voice was soft as he turned to her, not really looking at her in the eyes. "This was just a one-time thing."
She murmured, "I know."
"Well, then. That clears everything up. I guess."
It hurt, hearing him say it with such finality. His words pierced through her heart. She knew what would happen, and yet she still hoped.
He moved to stand up when Juvia grabbed his hand.
"Please stay. Just a little longer."
Gray turned his head towards her, giving her a disapproving frown on his face. "Juvia…"
He slowly took broke off the loose grip she had on his wrist, murmuring an apology as he shuffled out of the bed. She turned away from him, closing her eyes, her heart feeling unsettled by it all. This was her reality—people always leaving her. No matter how hard she tried, they would always leave her. She wanted to know why he had done all that with her then. His genuine laughter at her lame jokes, the way he conversed with her with such interest, the way he had gently kissed her— did it really mean nothing to him? She remembered hearing of him from the people in the bar, weeks before really meeting him, how he wasn't ever serious with anyone. How he never really talked to anyone, much less escort them home. So, what was all of that with her last night then? Everything had felt so sincere. So genuine. It felt off, letting him go just like this.
She wondered how many times this has happened to him, leaving someone behind as if a night of memories meant nothing at all. She knew from their countless conversations last night that he didn't seem to be someone who would do that. He had seemed like someone who considered others' feelings, despite seeming cold at first. A night wasn't enough to find out his deepest secrets, but she knew enough from her much clearer memories of last night that he was a different person than he showed to others.
Juvia sat up, finally taking a look at him. "How many?"
He looked at her in confusion as he threw his shirt on. She repeated her question, her voice much firmer this time.
She continued, "You don't seem like the type of person to do this kind of thing, you know. I just want to know, how many times have you done this to the point you've started to feel nothing? How many times have you actually wanted to stay, Gray?"
He froze in his place, unsettled by her question. After a moment, he let out a sigh he didn't realize he was holding.
"Enough times. What about it?" His voice echoed through the walls of the room. It seemed like it was mocking his own words.
"Gray."
He finally faced her only to be faced with sad, glassy blue eyes staring at him. She had a defeated smile on her face and after a moment, she let out a sigh, finally looking away from him. She laid herself back into the bed, curling into the covers. He grabbed the rest of his clothes from the floor, put them on, and walked in front of the door. His hand hesitatingly hovered over the golden doorknob.
He wanted to stay badly, just like she asked for, but he would be breaking his rule. So, he pulled it down and walked out into the hallway.
Closing it, he let out a shaky regretful sign as he leaned his back against the door. As he ruminated on his thoughts, he slowly slid down the carpeted ground.
As the moments passed by, her words came ringing into his mind.
"Please stay. Just a little longer."
He regretted it. After all this time, he had been trying to find the one who made him feel whole. Last night, he had come across her at a bar and as the hours passed, it had felt like they had known each other for a lifetime. He had finally found the answer he had been searching for his whole life, and yet here he was running away. Nothing has ever felt so wrong. He just knew he had to go back to the answer he's been waiting for so long.
He stood up, decision firm in his heart as he went back inside the room quietly. When he entered, he noticed the sound of her soft crying. He sighed, walking his way to her. Taking off his shirt, he tentatively slipped back into the covers on his side of the bed.
Softly touching her shoulder, he told her, "Just a little longer then."
She turned around at him, her eyes still glassy; still blue, and still beautiful as he had seen them last night. "You'll stay?"
"Just for a little while longer."
His promise felt sincere to her, none of it feeling much like a lie. She leaned her forehead against his chest, right where his heart beat loud and clear. He held her closer than ever before, hoping he'd never had to let her go. As she fell asleep, he let himself hope for more.