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Aʟʟ I Eᴠᴇʀ Nᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ
Chapter 11 - Unforgotten Past
(Prt. 1)

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Juvia's phone vibrated the stone bench it was placed on while she got dressed out of her work clothes; it was a Saturday afternoon. Her shift had just ended, and she was just about to head out before she got the call from the unknown number.

She finished tying her shoelaces before picking up her phone and ending the call. Juvia never really answered unknown numbers, as Meredy had told her not to do since it could've been a scam. So, when she declined to answer, she set the phone in her pocket as she made sure the black beanie on her head stayed put; and as she was about to walk out, her phone vibrated once more.

She just rolled her eyes and sat down, pulling the phone out of her pocket to see she had just gotten a voicemail from the number that had just tried to contact her.

Sighing, she placed it to her ear as she listened.

'Hey, Juvia! This is Lucy! I know your shift just ended, and you'll probably be busy, but would you mind going to Erza's place? It's 43 N, 34 E on Tarina street. It's a red brick house with roses surrounding it and it should be easy to spot. If you can't make it, that's fine, but whatever you do, please text and let me know if you'll be coming or not. Anyway, thanks Juvia! I got your number from Meredy, by the way.'

Juvia ended the voicemail and went straight to her messages, texting Lucy that she would be heading over. The bluenette didn't even have to think about what she would be doing after work since she already knew the rest of her day was just planned to be spent in her room.

She stood up and headed out of the wardrobe, putting the location into her phone; but before she could head out, she was attacked by a bear hug.

"It'll be okay..." it was Meredy, and although Juvia was confused with what she had said, she reciprocated her best friends hug sincerely.

"...Okay?" pulling away from the hug, Meredy smiled at her friend sweetly "Have fun on that date you have with Lyon tonight, text Juvia if you need any help."

Meredy nodded as she pulled her hands away from Juvia's shoulder "I promise I won't, I'll leave ya alone today--it's my only time doing this, so enjoy it."

Juvia smiled and nodded, moving her beanie to be more on her head "Juvia will, she promises."

Nodding once more, Meredy waved Juvia off as she walked out of the Little Teacup Café. She wouldn't and couldn't deny that she let a proud tear slip from her eye "You're getting help...this is so great."

-

Walking briskly in the cold air, the cold stung Juvia's face, making her cheeks turn rosy. She let the wind blow her blue hair in her face as she made her way to the place she had never been; Erza's home. And it didn't take long, because soon a red brick house with roses appeared.

Juvia stood gaping at Erza's yard, it being well taken care of - the grass perfectly mowed and green, the sidewalk leading to the door was clear of any excessive color...the bluenette found herself being envious of a Magnolian for once in her life. But, it was no shocker that Erza's place was like this. Magnolians were mostly rich, and their houses were luxurious and clean if they had someone taking care of it. Juvia, on the other hand, didn't have anyone caring for her yard. The inside of her home, however, was cleaned by herself. It was fairly clean and would rarely get dirty unless Juvia was gone for long amounts of time. She wished she could take care of the yard, but with how busy she is with work and cleaning, she couldn't.

The Fiorean walked up to the door and knocked gently, waiting only a few seconds before the door swung open to reveal Erza with a big smile, opening the door wider for Juvia to enter "Love your outfit!!"

As Juvia entered, the door closed and she smiled back to the scarlet haired Magnolian "Thanks," Juvia wore a black crop-top with a hoodie; on her legs, she had on black shorts and tights that were almost opaque. Her shoes were checkered vans.

"Well, we're upstairs in my room, if you'll follow me..." Erza started up the stairs as Juvia followed close behind, immediately knowing the 'we are' meant Erza's whole gang.

Juvia was excited, to say the least. Excited that she wasn't at her own home, being killed by boredom which happened often. That's why she loved her job so much; it gave her reason to stay away from home and never go back.

But, as Juvia climbed the stairs, she couldn't help but feel anticipation tingle on her skin for some reason...like the world knew something she didn't. She pushed the feeling aside, however, and focused her mind on the present - walking into Erza's room.

When she entered, she was immediately blown away with beauty. Although bare, Erza's room was very lively and almost had a red hue to it. The color of the wooden nightstand by her white-sheeted bed was cherry-brown-red, along with the vanity placed against the wall not too far from her bed. On the wall was placed one picture of what seemed to be Erza, Lucy, Natsu, and Gray.

Speaking of those other three...they were seated on bean bags - placed close by the foot of the bed - smiling up at Juvia as she entered. "Hey, how was work?" Lucy asked as both Natsu and Gray played with their hands, paying no attention to the certain bluenette in front of them.

"So- um..." Juvia responds as she sits on the foot of Erza's bed, crossing her legs.

It became silent after that, silence filling up the room as much as the air did. Gray and Natsu continued playing with their hands, sometimes looking up at Juvia who was just staring softly at the ground with a smile. Erza had taken a seat by Juvia, looking at the three friends in front of her with a raised brow.

Soon enough, it became awkward. No one dared to open their mouths and talk, fear of the unthinkable to happen - for Juvia, at least; the other four were a different story.

The Magnolians seemed scared for a different reason, as if not knowing where to begin with talking. Which was weird, because Gray had no insult to tell Juvia which never happened (it was like he rehearsed them in front of a mirror to be ready to offend her), Lucy had no book to talk about, and Natsu was more concerning--he always had something to say.

It wasn't till a second later that Juvia realized why they were being so silently serious... "Hey, Juvia?" Erza calls out, looking at the bluenette softly as do her other three friends.

Juvia responded with a slight hum, looking to Erza who had a mix of a sad-serious-confused look dancing upon her face "What is your Dad doing to you?"

They didn't know how to read Juvia's face, because as soon as the mention of 'your Dad' came up, a dark shadow cast over her pale features, her hands clenching the white bedsheets as she looked towards the ground. "H-How do you...know about...him."

The four could sense her anger and sorrow, and if they were speaking the truth, it scared them, scared them so much that all were afraid to speak up - like one does when a friend, parent, or teacher gets angry.

Lucy, being the brave soul she is, risks her life "M-Meredy..." and then............

Silence. Pure silence, not like the one from minutes before when Juvia was all smiley and happy. It was more like scary silence, the aura around Juvia going dark and cold; hard to read and filling the room, bringing the feeling of regret.

The bluenette suddenly stood up, face still towards the floor, as she begins to walk towards the door, obviously planning to leave.

Gray jumped up in front of Juvia before the girl reached for the handle, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her "Juvia we asked her to tell us-"

It all clicked into place--Juvia now understood why Meredy hugged her before she left work and said... 'it'll be okay...' she obviously knew where Juvia was headed and what she was about to do...

"Right! We can sense how...tense you get when the subject of your family or father comes up, and we got worried--" Erza explained softly standing to the left of her, as to not disturb Juvia's mood "so we asked Meredy to explain your situation."

All the bluenette gave was a muffled response, both Gray and Erza looking over to each other for help with what she had to say - as if they were some translators. "What?" Lucy asks.

"You guys asked Meredy...about my life...as if you're my friends..." Juvia drew out, hands clenching to her sides

Lucy nodded her head, "we are your friends, Juvia-"

"But you're not!" Juvia yelled, looking up at Gray with tears in her anger-filled eyes "I never wanted anyone else to know about this, no one. Meredy should've known that!!!" a tear slipped down her cheek as she clenched her hands harder "get out of Juvia's way! She needs to leave--leave you guys for being so...so...in her business!"

"Juvia," Gray says carefully, looking at her with furrowed brows "you obviously don't know about the good of us Magnolians...all you know is to hate on us because we're school rivals."

Natsu nods, "We care about everyone, whether they're friends or not..."

"We want to help you," Erza adds, smiling softly as Juvia relaxed her face.

The bluenette let out a hallowed laugh "you guys don't care about me...no one should, especially since it's my life!" she shook her shoulders, trying desperately to have Gray let her go. She wanted to be out of that room, out of that room full of traitors...she liked them before, and now her feelings were gone--she hated them, hated them for having their noses up in her business "How dare you guys ask for information you didn't need!"

"Juvia! Just listen!" Gray yells, causing her to stop her movements and look at him with fire still in her eyes, but shocked at his scream "We asked Meredy because we're worried! We have a right to be worried, even if we're your school rivals! We want to help you with your family problem because it's obviously hurting you!...and we hate seeing that in people...rival or not."

"We want to be closer with you, and something is stopping that..." Lucy explains, standing by Gray's side and looking to the blue-haired Fiorean with hope "so please, let us help you"

Juvia was back to having a shadow cast over her eyes, hiding all emotions and possible thoughts - her aura softened and her body no longer tense.

There was more silence for a while as Juvia's body relaxed. Picking up her hands, Juvia grabbed Gray's still on her shoulders to take them off of her. She turns ever so slightly, walking back to the place she had sat before, and the 4 others watched as she sat still, ever so still, before speaking "how...how much did she tell you?" her voice had fear in it, fear of what they'd do after hearing her story...

They all smiled at her cooperation, walking back to their own spots to sit "only the gist of it, about your father hurting you."

"Well, might as well tell you the story of how it happened..." Juvia says softly, depressing eyes looking at them all as she starts...

"...it all started when Juvia was only three years old..."

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The Lockser family was a kind, small family consisting of Dave and Sierra Lockser. They met each other in Highschool, becoming Highschool sweethearts, and then a couple of years later, a happily married couple.

Dave loved his wife to pieces, he'd do anything for her whether she wanted it or not. If Sierra wasn't in the same world as him, he didn't know what he would do. Go insane? For sure. Nothing could stop his love for her, she was his world and he made a vow to satisfy and cherish her all his life, and he sought to fulfill that.

Just 2 years after their marriage, the two found out they were pregnant. They, needless to say, were super stoked to add a family member to their family. Sierra dreamed of having many children with Dave and she made it clear to him that that child wouldn't be their last. Dave didn't fight that, because he knew he wanted more children whether he spoke about it or not.

They later found out it was a baby girl, and just months later, said baby was born on a rainy day. She was both beautiful and healthy, resembling both parents equally. Her eyes, face shape, and nose looked like Dave's, while the lip shape, eye color, and hair color were most like Sierra's - the couple could tell their daughter was going to be a bluenette just like her mother. They named her Juvia and were very happy to bring the baby into the world.

Years later, they were the happiest of Families. Dave got a job as a policeman, while Sierra spent her days at home taking care of their daughter who was a ball of cute sunshine - both Dave and Sierra couldn't be any happier.

Juvia loved playing outside with her Mom, and when she saw her Dad's car pull up into the driveway as it always did on a weekday at 6 o'clock p.m, she raced to give him hugs. That happened almost every day; she loved her Dad with all of her heart, he was a hero to her. She could say the same for her Mom. That woman was the light of her world, but Juvia didn't think that specific thought whenever her mother tickled her to death - those were the worst times.

One particular day when Juvia was three, the family had gone to a Wedding. Juvia had brought her favorite stuffed animal with her - a turtle whom she called Nebula which was her most prized possession (she loved the dang thing, it was like her best friend). She held it in her arms during the ceremony and all throughout the after-party - she even held it in the car on their way home. Though, she started getting rowdy and swung her toy around whilst listening to music, holding onto the poor turtle for dear life.

Juvia started getting more and more rowdier as the seconds passed with Nebula, that she lost control and threw it in the trunk on accident. The poor thing didn't even know what the trunk was, it could be a death trap or something, so she started wailing.

They were on the freeway at that point, and it was far too late to pull into a nearby gas station - the next exit was 10 miles away. So, seeing as their daughter wouldn't stop sobbing and begging her parents to save the stuffed animal, Sierra and Dave had no choice but to pull to the side of the road.

"You stay in here and I'll go get it, babe," Sierra said sweetly, rubbing her husband's arm sweetly as they pecked.

Dave nodded. "Sounds good. Now, go retrieve Mr. Nebula! Huh, Juvia?" he looks back at his daughter whose sobs died down and were now little whimpers, on her face a very happy smile. Tears running down her cheek, and a sweet radiant smile made her look oh so cute.

Dave and Sierra shared one last kiss before she hopped out of the car to go save Nebula from the trunk. Dave looked back to Juvia as Sierra opened the trunk and he began tickling his baby who started softly swatting at her Dad's hands. "Daddy, stop it!" she said through giggles, Dave showing no sign of stopping soon.

Sierra shook her head at the loves of her life playing as she reached down to get the animal, and once in hand, stood up straight. She reached out to give the toy to her daughter when suddenly, a truck came her way, the driver losing control over it, it swerving in their direction. It was a big truck, one that could carry many cars safely inside the rectangular box.

The truck ran right into Sierra and even hit the car, moving it at least 4 inches before it completely stopped. Both Dave and Juvia, who didn't expect the truck to ram right into them, got harshly sprung forward giving them whiplash. It took forever for Dave to realize what happened before he jumped out of the car our of instinct and went to see if his wife was alright. The sight before him, well, wasn't what he wanted to see.

A truck that big running into a person wouldn't let said hit person survive. In Sierra's case, upon impact, she was immediately killed...

An agonizing shriek ripped from Dave's throat, one which made Juvia turn around herself to see the scene before her - but all she saw was her Dad fall to the floor cupping his face, with a stranger by his side gaping at something behind Juvia close to the trunk. She looked below and saw her mother's body, lying lifeless with tons of red liquid on her clothes and body. Juvia may have been only a three year old who wasn't bright in the mind, but whatever happened....she knew it wasn't good. She heard her Dad sobbing, two men were making sure he was alright, and there was a crowd around them.

She felt more tears running down her face, and she didn't know why. They fell helplessly while she watched more people appear, and soon after, she started to sob loudly. A stranger took her out of the car and held her in their arms, calming the poor girl while Dave was at his wife's side, hugging the limp body in his arms while pecking her neck and cheek.

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To be continued...