Gale couldn't wait for it all to be over.

He was sick of Principal Dreyar making him do stupid drills every afternoon.

He was sick of Storm and Hunter laughing at him when he was struck with lightning after not listening to Principal Dreyar.

He was sick of going home all sweaty and annoyed.

All this effort was for a practice match! One that didn't even matter in the long run.

"Okay you're back to pouting like a baby again." Rose said, as she paced back and forth in front of him while he sat with his arms crossed on the bench. "It's all going to be over soon."

Gale just rolled his eyes at her. She wouldn't understand because she actually enjoyed training and fighting.

The door to the locker room opened and Principal Dreyar poked his head in.

"The fight starts in five. If you're a second late, I'll make you regret it Redfox!" The man said, emphasising his threat with a glare before leaving once again.

Gale groaned, banging his head against the wall with a loud thud. Before he could do it again, Rose placed both her hands on either side of his face, holding it in place.

The red haired girl scoffed. "Honestly, you're so dramatic." She said frowning down at him.

With a pout, Gale looked up at her, staring into her brown eyes. Her hands were really soft against his skin. It felt... nice. Now that he thought about it she looked really pretty today.

Rose cleared her throat, dropping her hands to her side. "Now, judging from our sparring matches, you're exceptionally durable on defense. That iron dragon scale thing you do with your body can take a lot of damage so perhaps you could study your opponent by taking the damage before attacking." She suggested.

Gale completely zoned out as she kept rambling on about other potential strategies.

First of all, the last thing he cared about was the Magic Leagues.

Second of all, he was pretty much already done with the day to begin with so he wasn't in the mood for listening.

"Are you even paying attention to me?" Rose said, snapping the iron dragon slayer from his thoughts.

Gale's eyes darted to her instantly and he nodded. Judging by the look of her face, she could see through the lie.

Rose sighed. "I just don't want you to lose okay?" She said softly, furrowing her brows and avoiding his eye contact for a quick moment. "I mean I let the whole school down losing that first match and I don't want that for you."

Gale frowned. She was still holding onto that?

That was one of the few things he didn't like about Rose. She always put so much pressure on herself. She only focused on the negatives rather than the gazillion other things she was practically flawless at.

If only she could see things from his perspective.

The dark haired boy stood to his feet, now towering over the girl. Rose looked up at him arching her brow and he just smirked at her before reaching out and patting her on the head.

"Am I little kid? Don't make me cut your hand off." Rose threatened, glaring up at him.

Gale flinched, running his hand through his hair nervously.

He took a deep breath when she turned around and was heading towards the door.

Now he had no choice but to win. And he wasn't doing it for the school. Screw the school.

He'd do it for Rose.

___________

Storm was avoiding Nashi and he was pretty sure she hadn't noticed.

The more he thought about that night at the park, the more his face would heat up with just flat out embarrassment.

Why the hell did he have to cry right in front of her?

So now he was hiding from her while she was with Principal Dreyar at the arena's sidelines.

The gymnasium was already filled to the brim with eager spectators awaiting Gale's fight so Storm was hidden pretty well.

"Storm! Storm! Storm!"

A short girl with white hair tied into two pigtails pounced on Storm wrapping her arms his neck.

"I missed you!" The girl squealed, squeezing onto him tightly.

Storm wheezed for air. "Winter?!"

Winter released the poor Fullbuster from her grasp. "Sorry I was just excited!" She said smiling brightly up at him. "When I heard you were on the Fairy Tail team, I just couldn't believe it!"

Storm rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, I'm only a reserve..."

"Still!"

Winter Vastia was somewhat like a little sister to Storm. Their dads grew up together so they were always in each other's lives.

"What are you doing here?" Storm asked.

"I'm scouting out the competition and also I wanted to see you!"

"Wait, you're on the Lamia scale team? But you're only a freshman..."

Winter's face only lit up even more. "Well I am super talented at everything I do so why wouldn't they pick me?"

"I see you're still as humble as ever." Storm chuckled as he ruffled her hair, causing the girl to puff her cheeks.

Winter pushed his hand away and begrudgingly straightened out her hair. "I was wondering if you're going to Quinn Eucliffe's party next weekend?" She said looking up curiously at Storm.

He shrugged. "That's the first I've heard of it."

"What? But every team's invited. Apparently Quinn throws parties every year before Magic Leagues and since it's her senior year, it's gonna be the biggest ever!" Winter clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling against the light. "I even heard college guys are invited." She swooned at the thought.

Storm jabbed her forehead with his finger, dispelling her delusional imagination. "Calm down, you're only 14."

"Ow..." Winter whined rubbing her forehead. "Please tell me you're going to the party!" She demanded, regaining her usual intensity.

"Probably not. Parties aren't my scene."

"No you have to go!"

Storm raised his brow at the girl. "Give me a good reason."

"B-Because..." Winter lip quivered, her hands clenched by her sides now. "...if I tell my dad that you'll be there then he'll definitely let me go!"

"Oh so you're using me?" Storm said with an amused chuckle.

"No... maybe... okay, yes..." Winter admitted, cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "Cmon Storm, it's the first high school party I've been invited to! I really wanna go!"

Storm thought it over. He really wasn't a fan of parties. He actually loathed them because when he did go to one, Gale would disappear somewhere into the darkness, Hunter would get swarmed by girls and he'd end up bored and alone in the first ten minutes.

But with Winter looking up at him with so much hope in her eyes, he'd feel like an complete douchebag to say no.

Storm sighed. "I'll go on one condition."

___________

Meanwhile at Lamia Scale High...

His phone had buzzed 12 times in the last half hour... not that Alexis was counting.

Each time Hunter would look at his phone, have the faintest of smiles and text back almost instantly.

"Who you texting?" She asked.

"Just Bianca." He answered nonchalantly. "English assignment stuff you know? We're partners."

"Ohh...cool." Alexis said, twirling the ends of her hair in between her fingers.

Partners? Hunter and Bianca were assignment partners? Alexis had read enough romance novels to know exactly how things would play out from there.

"You and Bianca are close friends aren't you?" Alexis asked casually, still fiddling with her hair.

Hunter shrugged. "Yeah, she's actually pretty cool."

That answer did nothing to ease her conscience... even though Alexis knew that he wouldn't lie.

Hunter was always honest and straightforward (sometimes to the extent where it would come off rude).

He wouldn't lie to her, would he?

As much as she hated to admit it, Alexis really REALLY wanted to peek over his shoulder or better yet, grab his phone and just go through all his messages.

But then there was Rose's voice in the back of her head telling her to trust him.

Oh god, why am I like this? Alexis mentally chastised herself.

"Is something bothering you?" Hunter asked, putting his phone in his pocket and giving her his full attention.

Yes is what Alexis wanted to say but she wouldn't.

They hadn't even been together for long and she was already getting worked up about him being friends with a girl. That would be crazy of her to do.

And Alexis Dreyar was not crazy.

Nope, not one bit.

Now that she thought about it more, were they even an official couple? Hunter had never explicitly said it. What if she was totally misinterpreting the whole 'secret' relationship?

All they did was kiss (a few times a lot more than just kiss) and then cuddle afterwards because surprisingly Hunter really liked cuddles and... and...

Okay, maybe she was overthinking this whole thing a little bit.

"No... it's nothing." She dismissed. "I'm fine."

Thankfully, Hunter seemed satisfied with that answer and didn't pry.

"Let's go out somewhere to eat after this fight. My treat." He offered with a smile that somehow made Alexis' anxious thoughts fade.

"Yeah, I'd like that." She replied, her own smile dancing on her lips.

__________

"You've been surprisingly quiet this whole time, Nashi." Laxus said to the pink haired girl next to him.

Nashi let out a breath, her fingers lightly digging into her biceps. "I'm just... thinking."

Laxus' eyes widened. "Really? That's a surprise. Good job." 

"Hey! I'm a little offended about how you said that, old man!" Nashi barked, pointing accusingly at him.

"For the last time, I'm not old." Laxus said shooting her a glare which caused the girl to retreat with a nervous chuckle. The man sighed. "Now, spit it out. What's the problem?"

"Oh... it's doesn't matter anymore." Nashi said dismissing the subject. "Honest question though, do you think I could beat someone like Adamina?" She asked more casually this time.

Laxus looked at Nashi for a moment.

"No."

Nashi's mouth hung wide open in shock from the bluntness of his response.

"Aren't teachers supposed to be encouraging or something?! You suck!" She complained.

"Not yet at least." Laxus corrected himself. "You have a lot of raw power... possibly more than anyone else of the team."

Nashi straightened up.

More raw power than anyone else in the team? Was Principal Dreyar messing with her right now?

No, that wasn't his 'messing around' face... He was being serious and so Nashi listened intently to his words.

"But unlike the others, you don't use that power efficiently. When you go into a fight, what's your strategy?" Laxus questioned.

"Ummm..." Nashi rubbed the back of her neck. "I just tell myself to beat the other guy up and usually that's enough for me." She admitted.

Judging by the look of Principal Dreyar's face, he wasn't surprised at that answer.

"Students like Adamina, Rose and Hunter, they always have a clear strategy that will efficiently take down their opponent before they even step in the arena." Laxus explained, eyeing Nashi ensuring she listened to every word. "Not all the fights are as simple as they look."

"So what exactly are trying to say?" Nashi said.

"Power's important but once you have the brains to back it up... that's when you become truly unstoppable."

Something in Nashi's mind clicked and realisation hit her.

Principal Dreyar has basically said she had more raw power than everyone else and if she just studied more and actually strategised...

EVENTUALLY, SHE WAS BOUND TO BE WAY BETTER THAN LITERALLY EVERYONE.

"I know what I have to do!" She said jumping with excitement. "I take back what I said before, you don't suck."

Laxus couldn't help but smile at Nashi's hyper-activeness and determination.

"I'm actually bringing in a new trainer that'll help the team soon and he's a dragon slayer just like you." Laxus said. "He's one of the best at strategising so he'll be a good mentor."

Nashi was fidgeting in her spot with excitement. "Who is it?"

"His name is Jace. He graduated two years ago-"

"OMG JACE?! THE JACE?! He was the undefeated champion of Fairy Tail. He has the record for the most Magic League fight wins in the whole school's history." Nashi was fangirling now, much to Laxus' annoyance. "I watched one of his fights when I was a freshman and it was so awesome! OMG HE'S GONNA BE MY MENTOR! HELL YEAH!"

Laxus hit Nashi on the head. "Hey stop yelling already. You're too damn loud."

"Owww..." Nashi pouted, rubbing the bump on her head.

"What's all the shouting about?" Rose asked as she and Gale approached.

"Eh It's nothing you guys need to worry about right now." Laxus answered before turning his direct attention to Gale with a smirk. "Are you ready to kick some ass Redfox?"

Gale cracked his knuckles with a grin. He was MORE than ready.

________

ok after the party is when the Magic leagues will finally start so stay tuned!!!

also the gist of this story is basically just insecure teens LOL

anyways hope you enjoyed this chapter!

#unedited

stay safe and peace out!!!