Juvia was the girl who never smiles. No one quite knew why.  She kept to herself, and rarely spoke to a word to anyone. It seems she was the type who was meant to be alone.  Yet, even Gray felt she hid something from everyone else.

        Gray decides he is the one to discover her secret. He has no idea how to go about doing this since she does not even speak to him.  He has an idea though.  He writes her a note and slips it into the pocket of her jacket during lunch.   He smiles and thinks, now I just wait to see what happens next.

       School went by in a blur, and the students rush about to get their homework.  As the boys and girls leave, Gray notices her out of the corner of his eye. He sees her beside her locker.  He watches as she pulls out her books, and places them into her bag.  He can not but notice the look she has on her face. It is almost like she is void of life.

     Juvia hurries outside into the cold winter day. She knows it snows outside and longs for a new pair of gloves to keep the chill off her hands. She knows she can not afford them. She dare not ask her father for a  new pair either.  She knows better than to ask him for anything. She gave up on this behavior a long time ago.  She sticks her hands inside her pockets for now as she walks to her house.  She sighs as she thinks about all the homework she has to do, and about the great expectations of those inside the place when she arrives there.

     She continues on her journey and does not know someone watches her. She does not pay attention to her surroundings.  It is something else she gave up on years ago.  It was something she had not done ever since her mother's death two years ago.  It was a dangerous thing, but she did not care.  She was not that important anyway, or so she thought.

    Gray follows her home and what he sees will shock him more than he ever thought possible.  He did not mean to pry into her business.  He just meant to see she got home okay.  Only, once she went inside he heard someone yell at her, then he heard her long, hard sobs.  He crept over to her bedroom window since the noise came from that direction and his jaw drops.  He stands there in horror. 

   *Author's note: What did he see that makes him determine in his mind and heart to protect her at all cost?   How does she react to this and what will become of the girl who never smiles?