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Aʟʟ I Eᴠᴇʀ Nᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ
Chapter 16 - All Sorts Of Pain

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As the days continued on, they appeared to get worse and worse.

Juvia's whole persona changed - it was really like she was reborn into a more upbeat, caring, happy, friendly, and non-stubborn girl - but she missed her Fioreans friends more than anything - getting those sudden urges to want to get up and talk with them out of no where and see if they were doing alright.

When Meredy, Lyon, and Jellal found out about their friend leaving the Element Four they were, well, pleased. At least Lyon and Jellal were, while Meredy? Meredy was ecstatic.

"I'm so sorry!!!" Meredy screamed over the phone in a not-so-emotional but excited sort of tone - this was after Juvia had returned home on that fateful Monday of losing those dear friends of hers. Upon entering her home and running towards her bedroom to get away from her father, Juvia had immediately called Meredy to deliver the saddening news and, well, Meredy seemed excited - more excited and less sad then Juvia would hope her best friend would be. C'mon, at least show some form of sympathy for your hurting bestie!

Tuesday, the day after the mind-shattering activities, was okay. It was good but wasn't the best-

She was early to homeroom for once and Gray and the others weren't the only ones who were surprised, shocked, but happy to see the girl in her seat before any of their classmates could even enter the school building - Ms. Porlyusica seemed to be having a rough time deciphering the difference between reality and a dream.

The teacher even acknowledged it once the class actually started, causing the bluenette to gain embarrassment written all over her face--a blush.

A gasp was heard as soon as Porlyusica announced the news, and all eyes started to lay on the one, the only, Natsu Dragneel "Does that mean we get to throw a party!?!?"

Everyone chimed in as soon as that comment was made all whilst Juvia was slowly sinking in her seat and wishing she was anywhere but there.

"I agree with Natsu."

"Can we?!?"

"That'd be sick!!!"

"Pleeeeeeease!?"

"No." Porlyusica immediately put the idea out of the question, grabbing hold of her papers for roll call and giving a threatening glare to all of her rambunctious students.

"Oh c'mon, you gotta!!!" Lucy begged.

"Gray-!" Natsu shouted from across the room to his friend, gaining the boy who was once dosing off's attention "you're related to this witch, right? Convince your Grandma to let us have a day off!" Juvia looked towards Gray with surprise and confusion, never realizing or knowing her teacher and one of her friends were related in some way.

"I'm his step-grandma!! Not full-blooded, you idiot! But besides that--Witch!?!?" the old lady exclaimed at the name Natsu had for her, gripping her papers tightly as she fumed at her student "just for that name call double the homework for all of you!"

A chorus of groans filled the room as everyone joined Juvia in sinking in their seats, while said girl giggled to herself, feeling bad for starting it all.

As soon as the "fun" and "exciting" homeroom finished and was over with thanks to the bell saying so, everyone stood up and got out of the room as quick as they could. As Lucy, Natsu, and Erza left the room, Gray waited for Juvia so he could walk with the girl some of the way to her class - he had English while she had Physics which both of the classrooms were in the same direction but Gray had to turn before Juvia did, so the boy figured he might as well walk with her some ways, huh?

As they exited the room, Juvia thanked the teacher and Gray just rolled his eyes at his 'relative's comment "Make sure my stupid step-grandson doesn't get stupider, will ya?!"

Juvia giggled as they continued walking, noting Gray and Porlyusica didn't have the greatest relationship, it seemed. "So...she's your...Step-grandma? How does that work?"

Gray, coyly, nodded his head "It's a long story but, sadly, she is... We're not full-blooded, as she already stated, but she and Wendy are. Porlyusica is Wendy's actual Grandma. I would go into detail why that is, but I can't necessarily explain all of it because it's complicated."

Juvia nodded back in understandment, putting her hands behind her back as they kept walking to their next class "Oh, don't worry, Juvia can ask Wendy later..."

The boy she was standing next to smiled down to her, tilting his head to the side a little bit "so...are you doing okay?"

"Yup, she could be better, but Juvia's here, isn't she?" she said cutely, smiling up to the man much taller than she was with radiant gaze, making Gray's cheeks tickle with pink.

Gray nodded once more, his smile widening as his hand got a mind of its own--It lifted up and patted the girl on the top of her head, surprising both him and Juvia while both of their cheeks burned. They stood in awkward silence as Gray slowly retracted his hand from the head pat, realization hitting him that he might've just did yet another thing to make their friendship really awkward. Without talking and still flustered, they continued walking and kept the silence between them. As soon as they got to the hallway where Gray's class was located, Juvia turned to him with yet another smile as she waved at him, getting him all flustered all over again. "Well, good luck in Physics!" he chimed, turning down the hall as he walked hastily to his class.

"Y-You too, Gray-Sama--!! O-oh, Juvia means in English! Yeah, that's what she meant, okay, well, bye-!!" she called after him awkwardly as she, too, dashed off. Although he was already halfway to his class, Juvia did not need to  witness his reaction to her sign of stupidity--she did not, in fact, need to see him laughing at her or that might've caused her cheeks to change a new color of red due to being angered but really, really flustered.

'Juvia really is falling in love, huh? How pathetic...'

As that thought ran through her mind, she passed by the people she was hoping to not see all day, DREADED to see ever since seeing them walk away from their friendship the other day--

The Element Four.

While she was freaking out about it, they seemed to not give a crap at all--besides Gajeel, who might've held eye contact with the bluenette for 5 minutes straight before being commanded by Toto to keep walking (weird, Gajeel usually was the one to give commands...).

That encounter ran through Juvia's mind throughout the remainder of the day - sure it was only a little glance and nothing else, but Juvia was scared beyond belief - haunting and causing her to dread their very next meeting--which happened the next day in the exact same spot it had just gone down, but unlike today where it was only a second of embarrassment, the next was much much worse.

Wednesday was about the same as Tuesday was--good, but definitely could have been better.

Juvia was early again, Porlyusica rejoiced, Gray walked Juvia halfway to her class before departing for his own, and then the next encounter happened...

Juvia was expecting it to be just the same as the other day--they'd walk passed the girl without giving anything to acknowledge her presence, acting as if they never knew each other. But, no...it didn't go as expected, leaving Juvia wanting to run away from it all and take back who she chose...

As soon as she waved goodbye to Gray, she started heading for Physics and was pretty energetic because there was no awkwardness between the two whilst walking. Gray's hand stayed by his side and Juvia continued giving her smile. In fact, she still kept her lips in an upwards shape--until passing her ex-friends.

Instead of ignoring her this time, they recognized her presence, but unlike last time, it wasn't just Totomaru, Sol, Aria, and Gajeel walking passed her. Oh, no, no, no...they had a whole flock of Fioreans behind them who looked just as mad as Totomaru and the others had on Monday. That in itself would've been fine, it was normal to have a crowd walking behind you, especially people from your school...if it wasn't for them all pointing and laughing at Juvia, making fun of the girl to no end.

"What a loser!" Midnight shouted as soon as Juvia passed by. The girl folded her arms harder as her head bowed towards the floor at the name-calling.

"-I honestly can't tell the difference between friend and snake anymore..." Sherry Blendy, whom Juvia had talked with a bunch and considered a good friend, commented. Juvia had hurt flash through her eyes and a rock sink to the bottom of her stomach at those few words.

Those two comments weren't the only ones coming the poor bluenettes way. There were so many more nasty, cruel, and hurtful things said that sunk into Juvia's heart more than needed--especially since it was the people she talked with a bunch in the past and even present. However, she did notice Gajeel took no part in the hallway shouting.

Juvia just knew Totomaru had made their fellow classmates join him in mocking her choices--a child's move. At first she'd expected Totomaru to ignore her as he promised, but of course, the boy had so much jealousy and anger towards his certain ex-crush/friend that he couldn't give up a bit of teasing--exactly what he knew hurt Juvia more than anything if being completely serious about it, and he knew how to play around with the girls emotions.

Juvia walked as fast as she could down the hall as the distant calls towards her kept coming, each word sparking a pain in her heart.

The bluenette slipped into the bathroom having had enough and slammed the one toileted room, locking it immediately for the privacy she much needed.

She rolled the backpack straps off of her back, leaving it on the nasty bathroom floors as she ran to the mirror, pulling millions of paper towels to help stop the tears from falling down her cheeks.

Every word spoken towards her hurt like someone was kicking her heart repeatedly, or yet, her gut being punched to death constantly.

No matter what Juvia did, the replay of the scene ran over and over in her mind, causing her to sink to the floor and grip her head as she saw no use in trying to stop the tears anymore. She gave up the idea of going to class and decided to just stay in the bathroom, wishing for no more attention then she needed - which she would surely get if she did end up going to class.

It was just her and the echoey bathroom repeating the girls' silent sniffles and sobs.

Lunch rolled around later on and Juvia had patched up from the earlier events--physically, not emotionally. So far, no one but her and the Fioreans knew what happened, Juvia wished she could speak about it, but sadly, she couldn't find herself to do it. She believed it would just be a cry for help and she didn't want to seem selfish--there were kids all around the world being bullied, and some aren't as lucky like Juvia who just got name calls.

Gray commented to Juvia about how Elfman Strauss, one of his friends who just so happened to have the second period with Juvia, told him that Juvia wasn't in class that day and Gray, of course, asked why that was. But with an easy shoulder roll, Juvia managed to get Gray's mind away from the subject.

And like every day, lunch ended in a flash.

The friends departed with goodbyes while Gray offered to walk Juvia to class - which the girl easily accepted. As they got up and started walking in the halls to the bluenettes next class, they just so happened to pass by yet another Fiorean who knew about Juvia's betrayal...

"Backstabber!" Sting Eucliffe said with a smirk towards Juvia, making the girl flinch her eyes and act like she didn't care. However, Gray wasn't having it.

As soon as the comment was said, Gray swung around "What'd ya say!?!" he spoke loudly, gaining a chuckle from the certain blonde-headed boy who kept walking.

"The truth. What else would I say to a girl like her?" Gray couldn't see it, but he just knew this Sting guy had a smirk on his face.

Gray just clenched his teeth as he about chased after the dude who took it as a joke, but with an easy "please don't, Gray-Sama..." from Juvia, Gray whipped around and stared at Juvia like she was crazy.

"He just insulted you because you chose us over them! Why not hurt him?  Gray questioned, sounding much angrier than he should've--especially to a sensitive girl like Juvia.

Juvia just stared at Gray like a puppy would when they had made an accident on the floor, her eyes glistening with tears--a common reaction when someone yelled at her, such as her father.

"H-Hey, I didn't mean it like-"

"Juvia knows..." the bluenette said quickly as she turned around, hiding the tear trailing down her cheek "sorry, it's a habit. Gray-Sama should get to class before he's late. Thanks for trying to protect Juvia" she started walking off as Gray stood and watched her go, a feeling dropping in his stomach--he hoped he hadn't hurt her.

Thursday was good in the beginning.

Juvia, instead of walking the way she usually did after homeroom, went an opposite way, avoiding her old friends perfectly. She had walked with Lucy and Levy and not Gray this time to her class--Gray wasn't offended by it at all. He knew it wasn't because of the reason he thought of, so he just wished the bluenette farewell before heading to English by himself.

The next few classes of Juvia's were pretty simple but boring, but on the bright side, she hadn't seen anyone of the Element Four in the hallways at all. One point added for Juvia, two stayed the same for them.

However, when lunch came around? Juvia grabbed her food tray and started walking towards the table when she faced a dilemma. All possible routes Juvia could take to get to her table were blocked--except the one where she had to pass the Element Four. Juvia really had no other choice--be awkward and politely ask those who were blocking her way to move, or walk an empty way containing ex-friends who had a hatred towards her. The girl really didn't like socializing (A//N: Haha, same tho 😂😂), so she decided to go the more painful way--which was the biggest mistake of her life - well, second worst.

Out of anything she could've picked to eat that day, she chose the schools gross spaghetti which so happened to stain white shirts easily--which Juvia had on. However, the girl, although hurt by her father and never learned how to do a single thing from him, taught herself how to be polite at a dinner table. While others would get splatters from the red sauce on their clothes every now and then, Juvia had no red marks on her clothing--like, hardly ever. She was so skilled in the whole 'eat with a fork, use a napkin' sort of thing that she never once had to worry about being messy.

That day, though? She chose never to eat, or in this case choose, the school spaghetti ever again.

Just one simple 'mistake' of putting a foot out in front of a person walking your way to trip them could ruin one single day in an instant--especially if you were carrying a tray of food.

One moment Juvia was walking towards her table, the next the ground was suddenly rushing up to meet her.

CLANK! The sound of Juvia's tray sounded, spaghetti flying all over the place in numerous places--including Juvia's clothing which would definitely be stained for the rest of her life.

She flinched as soon as she hit the ground, protecting herself from the hard fall with her hands - which had slammed against the tile of the cafetorium which caused a tremendous stinging to upbring from the certain part of her body.

"OH! I'm so so so sorry ma'dam, Juvia~!" the oh so familiar french accent voice, belonging to Sol, said aloud which had no hint of sympathy hidden within. Juvia slowly pushed herself off of the ground, still sitting on the floor painted with her lunch as tears pricked the corner of her eyes from the harsh fall of hers.

The loud raucous caused many to stare.

Soon enough, Juvia's Magnolian friends were by her side--and oh were they mad.

Even someone who was blind could tell that the trip was no accident. It was fairly obvious Sol did it on purpose and everyone knew it as the truth--mostly due to the comical look on Totomaru, Aria, and a forced Gajeel's face as high fives for the french guy spreaded from each of them.

Only Lucy, Levy, Gray, Natsu, Erza, and Jellal - had rushed over to help. Meredy and Lyon had sat outside to eat that day, coincidentally. So, sadly, no fierce Meredy statements.

Levy and Lucy kneel down to Juvia "are you okay?" the girls ask in sync in a hushed tone, using their hands to help wipe off the red stains from the bluenettes face--there was no use in wiping the sauce from the girls uniform. That was long gone.

Juvia just nodded, trying her best not to tear up more than she already was. She was certain everyone in that room had their gaze on the scene--which Juvia hated the idea of. She hated attention, much like most people, and just the thought of people staring at her - all while she probably looked ridiculous - scared her.

As the three girls sat on the floor, Jellal stood in front of them, trying his best to protect them from anything that might come their way. And while that all was happening...deadly auras eliminated from Natsu, Erza, and Gray.

"What the hell was that!?" Gray said in a voice way above a whisper, causing many more eyes to land on them.

Sol just grinned and shrugged, clearly showing anything that was about to come from his lips were just lies "what? It was on accident!"

Natsu walked up to the seated Fiorean, violently grabbing his collar and snarling close to his face with eyes showing the guy was way passed dead "Accident? That did not look like a fucking accident!"

"Hey! Get your filthy Magnolian hands off of him!" Totomaru was suddenly at Natsu's side, pushing him to the side aggressively causing the pink-haired boy to lose his grip on Sol's short "learn that not everything is targeted at you, buddy!" Toto just smirked making Natsu - and Gray - want to smack him senseless.

"It may not have been targeted at Natsu, but it for sure was at Juvia!" Erza exclaimed, her aura glowing deadlier by the second "we all know you're salty that she chose us over low lives like you! And I don't blame her."

"Dial down, Titania." Gajeel's demanding voice sounded as all eyes landed on him by the three Magnolians.

"Really, it's pathetic! You guys are so into yourselves that you think anything done towards any of your people is a threat! Don't tell us what 'we are' if you're really it yourselves!" Totomaru said with as much sass anyone has ever heard a man have, his smirk widening by the second.

Gray, Natsu, and Erza just glared harder and harder, not liking any of the bullshit these Fioreans had for them. The air around them was so scary, everyone feared the worst.

"You guys look like you want to kill us." Aria laughed, "We're not stopping ya, be our guest!"

"I've been itching for a fight with all of you for as long as I can remember!" the black and white-haired Fiorean man said, clenching his fist as Aria now stood by his side with the same fighting stance.

Before they could start throwing hands, someone stopped them-- "Alright, that's quite enough."

It was the voice of The Fiorean Principal; José Porla.

Everyone looks at the principal with displeasure, obviously angered that they couldn't start fighting. Alas, at least it was stopped before anyone was suspended as per the school's rule.

"If you wouldn't mind, girls," Porla walked over to Juvia and her other two friends by her side who just glared at their rival school principal "I'm going to be assisting Ms. Lockser to the office to call home--"

Juvia shook her head violently "O-oh! That won't be necessary... Juvia's fine with staying h-here." she spoke out with as much nervousness that she could not, in fact, control. All of her friends there knew it wasn't the best idea to send the girl home--thanks to her father.

The Principal raised a brow and smirked, putting out his hand for the bluenette to take, but as to his guess she didn't take it and insisted to stay on the floor "are you sure, girl? You wouldn't want to stay here and make a fool of yourself to the selfless Magnolians, do you?"

The Magnolians at the scene scowled, sneering at José's obvious diss to them--although the word he spoke was not true, the 5 there were pretty pissed with the supposed-to-be-adults attitude.

Juvia just bit her lip and looked towards the floor, "Really....J-Juvia doesn't want to go home, at least not now..."

"No, no, no, Juvia--" Totomaru cut in, the sly smirk on his face implying mischief "I, personally, think you need to go home and really, really think about this week--You know, cause your home is so peaceful and all." the guy said with a sinister smile, making Juvia glare in fear.

Gray about punched Toto, but thanks to Erza and Jellal's efforts to stop him, they were able to control the angered friend of theirs. The stupid Fiorean, who knew about Juvia's hardships, was obviously trying to make the girl more miserable than she already was, knowing if she were to go home her father wouldn't be too pleased. Gray really wanted to show the guy they weren't going to allow him to treat Juvia this way, show him they weren't that gullible, but of course, he wouldn't be able to. He couldn't really let the cat out of the bag that Juvia's father abused her with a responsible adult nearby, knowing if he were to mention it action would be required and Juvia'd be displeased.

"Totomaru's right, Juvia. Take the advice from a friend," José offered his hand once more, and with reluctance, Juvia took the hand.

She glared as she rose up, removing her hand from the Principal's grasp as she decided to let Totomaru's revenge satisfy him...for now "We're not friends." Juvia warned as she scowled at Principal Porla, noting seriousness in her voice.

The brow on Porla's face rose at the girls' sassiness "Oh?"

With one simple head nod, Juvia started walking off to call home unwillingly. Totomaru wanted to play a game? Oh, Juvia'd play it.

José nodded his head to the teens as he walked after Juvia, attending her side as she called home.

After they were gone, Gray seethed "What's your game, skunk?"

The 'skunk' just continued to smirk as he sat back down, acting like the Magnolians weren't there.

"Fine, be that way, but just so you know..." Gray says softly before slamming his hands down on the table, startling the Element Four "if your plan is to ruin Juvia, so help me I will end your life quicker than you expected... And that's a promise." Gray started walking off back to the rightful table of theirs as Levy and Lucy arose from the floor and followed the guy as Natsu, Jellal, and Erza stayed.

Erza just glared "we're watching you."

"Don't do anything funny, Fioreans." Natsu threatened before he headed off as tense as ever, the glare in his eyes growing deeper with anger.

Jellal just shook his head before leaving the lunchroom to report to Meredy what happened, knowing full well the girl needed to hear the certain activities she had missed concerning her best friend.

As all of Juvia's friends left, the Element Four laughed bitterly "Just you wait, Magnolians... it's not Juvia we're ruining, it's you..."

They all laughed the evil villain silent laugh, a gleam of mischief in all of their eyes--except for Gajeel's, who seemed to be cut off from reality.

A scowl was shown on his face as his eyes showed worry for the certain best friend of his he once had, and no one could tell what was going on in his mind--He just stayed silent.

'Be careful, Juvia...'

And of course, as Juvia had guessed, when she returned home her father wasn't very happy. He forced her on her hands and knees to clean the spotless floor he claimed to be covered in dirt.

"You're disgusting." he said as she scraped the floor, acting as if she were having a rough time getting a spot off of the ground to keep her safe from beatings "I don't know what happened, but it's pretty pathetic. Letting people trample all over you as you did must've been amusing to watch... I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds pleasure in seeing the suffering in your eyes."

Knowing that comment was well associated with Totomaru and the others, Juvia just sneered as she continued wiping the floor in the clothes she unwillingly dirtied with spaghetti sauce. Sheen wiped over her eyes as her Father continued pouring out mean comments on her appearance she didn't wish for, trying her best not to cry out the pain welling up in her heart.

She wished she were at school, wished Gray and the others were by her side, wished Meredy were there to help encourage her to stay strong, wished she were anywhere but there. She wished, she wished, she wished... But of course, her wishes would go unheard as they always had.

Juvia wondered, like she always did, what her life would be like if she were another person. Another human being who didn't go through pain, a person who had their own life to control, not in the hands of others. She'd be more happy, maybe? With not as much pain in her heart and loving Parents who cared for and were there for her? Oh, she wanted that more than anything, but thanks to her luck, she wouldn't be receiving it. Ever.

"I wish you were dead," her father commented as he kicked the bluenettes side, satisfied at the girls' grunt of unpleasantness.

'Couldn't agree with you more, father...'

Friday was as bad as Thursday was--if you took it and multiplied it by 1,000,000 and then divided it by 1 and multiplied once more.

Unlike most of the days where Juvia had Gray by her side, she now had the addition of Natsu, Erza, Lucy, and even Levy walking her to every class she had.

Per their request, Makarov gave each of them a hall pass for the day to protect the Fiorean friend of theirs at all costs. They would not let anyone push Juvia over, not on their watch.

Juvia would go to class, and after the bell rang, she would pack her stuff to then leave the classroom she was in to be met at the door by all five of the Magnolians who were there to walk her to every class with an excused slip in their hands.

Although she appreciated it, Juvia felt bad that they all thought that she was their responsibility. She wanted more than anything for them to be by her side at all times, and costs, but not like that--she didn't want servants, she didn't want protectors, she just wanted to be normal for once. She wanted the protection, but not the type where she felt secluded from the world.

6th-period Juvia was in class when she got called down to the principal's office. Levy, who just so happened to be in that class with her, stood as soon as Juvia did to accompany the girl, but with a reassuring smile from Juvia, she sat back down and let the fellow bluenette walk down by herself.

As the girl left, Gajeel - who was also in that class - just watched with pity and sympathy wanting more than anything to hug the hurting girl as hard as he could. Going days without talking to the girl that made him feel welcomed was agonizing, but seeing she was happy with her new friends...made him happy. And if she were happy, he knew she was more than alright. She was in the right hands, he couldn't do anything.

Once arriving at the office, José asked Juvia to take a seat as he clasped his hands, watching as the girl sat. It was just him and her in that room, no presence of others around--meaning massive amounts of privacy.

"You doing okay, Lockser?" José simply asked, sympathy for the girl shown in his creepy eyes.

Juvia, shyly, nodded, clenching her hands as she looked bitterly at the Principal's desk "y-yes..."

"Good," Porla reclined back in his seat as he stared at the girl in question, remembering the certain events from the other day "sorry about the accident yesterday... What a shame it was to get your clothes dirtied by the food, but what a relief to be able to return home, hm?"

Juvia's mind recalled what happened once she had returned home the other day and immediately cringed in her mind, not showing any sign of displeasure for José to see or she would've been questioned further "I guess..."

"Anyway, I've heard about the change in your life-"

"J-Juvia's sorry! S-s-she didn't mean to go against the school, she's still supporting Fiore Highschool more than anything, d-don't worry..." Juvia hurriedly explained, fear running through her eyes at how José might react next.

Porla just snickered, smiling a toothy grin "I'm not mad, dear Juvia, just here to offer some advice."

Juvia let a sigh of relief out as the man rose to his feet, turning around to face the window with a hidden mysterious smirk "With choosing friends from our rival school, I do not want to see their uniform on your body ever. You're way too cool for that, and your smartness is what is helping us Fioreans stay on top. People with as much excellence and hope like you are much needed. I beg you to try and make amends with Totomaru, Sol, Aria, and Gajeel before the unknown happens. I would hate to see pain inflicted on you; understood?"

'You do not know what I've been through, Principal Porla...' Juvia thought to herself at his latest comment before responding to him
"Yes, sir..."

"Excellent." he was still facing the window - where Juvia couldn't see his facial expressions - as a wicked gleam grew in his eyes and his smirk widened, knowing fully well the girl would not try to do what he had asked "Alright, then. This meeting is over. Dismissed."

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