JUVIA'S POV

With a heavy throbbing heart, I made my way towards the bride's room, even though I was still not ready to meet my school friends.

Ever since I left Magnolia with bad memories, I tried to avoid my friends in the fear that they would remind me of things which I wanted to forget and move on.

The first year in Hargeon was the cruelest year of my life. As it brought me back to square one with no one to love, support and care.

These aspects were something I never  enjoyed in my life ever since my birth as I'm an orphan and because of this I was treated as an anti-social and outcast at schools which made my life difficult to even make one good friend except for one.

For 16 years of my life, I believed that no one in this world will ever love me and will remain unloved.

But once I moved to Magnolia from Oak town, that's when I really knew my life was going to get better.

Those 3 years of highschool changed my perspective about life and gave me hope everything will turn out alright.

All thanks to that one individual whom I  thought is the sunshine of my gloomy life. 

Gray Fullbuster 

It's because of him, I  made friends and led a life like a normal person for those 3 sweet years.

Thanks to him I got to experience a few good moments in my sorrow life.

Until even he decided to cut down his act and abandon me for good just because I was way too clingy for him.

What a lame reason to break someone's heart. Didn't he know that I was clingy? How can he fail to see my love and affection for him? Really doesn't a girl like me deserve a happy ending?

Two years after moving to Hargeon, I made friends for the first time with Lyon-san who was smitten over my beauty and personality at the very first sight just like how I was head over heels for him on the very first sight.

But Lyon-san eventually stopped those antics once he knew I was not interested and became my best friend from then.

It was me who introduced Meredy-chan to Lyon-san. I was the matchstick that ignited the flames of love between them six years before. 

Meredy-chan was my roommate during my final year and first ever girl who willingly made friendship with me in Hargeon apart from the girls back there in Magnolia.

From then on, slowly our friendship grew which helped me move on. I tried to be less gloomy and a bit cheerful.

As these two were the ones who relieved me from that daunting depression.

Since then, I have been grateful to them and swore that I would do anything in my means just to see them happy.

I used to receive calls from my previous school friends every once in a while especially from my boy bestie, Gajeel-kun, whom I considered as a family.

I know what I did to them was unfair. I shouldn't have hurt them just because they were his friends also. 

But my friends were really forgiving and never stopped worrying about me. Gajeel-kun also visited me to make sure I was safe and alright.

Due to my stubbornness, I never met him or others and kept them out of my zones just to escape from those awful memories.

I thoroughly cut down their contacts by changing my number ever since I received invitations for Jellal and Erza's wedding.

Even though I didn't attend their wedding, I was really happy for the couple as they deserved this happiness in their life.

(Back to present)

It must have been 10 minutes since I stood in front of the fountain thinking about the events of the past.

I clasped both of my palms on my face and decided to quit running from reality.

'Why should I ignore them? What did they do? Let's start afresh from here.' I encouraged myself.

But for strange reasons, I feel quite relieved now and thought excitedly about my friends whom I'm going to meet after a long time.

Finally, I knocked on the bride's room and it was opened by Erza Scarlet ...Fernandez.

Erza's eyes widened due to surprise and without any hesitation she showered her love and wholeheartedly hugged me before few droplets fell from her eyes, 

"How are you Juvia? Where have you been all these years? How can you forget us?"

I felt guilty as soon as she asked me the obvious question which made me tear up seeing her genuine care, "Juvia's good. How are Erza-San? Juvia was just busy with work." I lied to her.

Soon her eyes fell on two other ladies who stood still with wide eyes filled with tears as they couldn't believe it was really me who was standing before them.

Both of them rushed towards us and joined the hug with tears flowing down their eyes.

"Where have you been Juvia?" Lucy Heartfilia, my blonde best friend asked.

"Why didn't you call us for these many years? Why did you ignore us Juvia?" The petite blue haired, Levy McGarden asked me without breaking the hug.

I just still and remained silent as guilt was weighing on my shoulders.

This made me realize how I have committed a sin by zoning them out of my life just because of that one person.

"Juvia is sorry for hurting you all. It's just Juvia lost all the previous contacts due to error and she was busy to even come and visit you all. Sorry about that."

I finally sprouted out a convincing excuse which will look reasonable.

All three broke the hug and looked at me as they looked past my lies and casted a 'please-we-know-the-reason' expression which made me sheepishly laugh.

Once the hype of somewhat reunion settled down we decided to discuss all those main reasons after the ceremony as Ultear reminded us.

We got freshened up and put on some subtle makeup. Our attention drifted towards Meredy-chan as she was feeling anxious, of course, not because of marriage but because of me.

Even though I'm disappointed and felt betrayed by my best friend for hiding such an important piece of information.

But now was not the time to confront those issues and make her feel guilty on her special day.

How can I ruin that kind of happiness just because she hid a few things from me?

I decided whatever happens from here on even if I do get to meet him.

I must make sure to tell him through my actions as I'm still not that same love sick teenager anymore but a mature adult.

Soon Jellal-san came by to inform that ceremony was about to start even though it's 10-15 minutes behind schedule.

Meredy-chan took Jellal-san's hand as he led the way out of the room. 

Once we along with Meredy-chan entered the hall with a sea facing view.

We were mesmerized to see the decorations in the room as it was filled with pink, silver and white ribbons, balloons and flowers. 

The arch in the altar had flower based decorations. Lyon-san has really planned out perfectly for their wedding.

As the background music began to play, Jellal-san and Meredy-chan linked their arms as Jellal-san was the one who was giving her away to Lyon-San who stood there on the altar along with the priest and a raven haired man whose face was not clear from where i stood.

Two cute kids were the flower girl and page boy, they look so adorable.

We followed another path where the sitting arrangements were made. Soon my eyes made contact with my male bestie.

As expected both of our eyes widened but smiled happily. I mouthed that I would talk to him later for which he agreed.

After making sure Lucy-San and others were seated. It was time for me to assist Meredy-chan as her maid of honor.

But that's when things doomed upon me, when I turned to move towards the altar.

My blue orbs met the dark blue eyes of my past and now the so called best man, who was equally shocked as me. 

Tears threatened to flow down my cheeks but soon Lucy-San noticed that and took her tissue to wipe those tears.

"Juvia, we are in the middle of the ceremony. Please get a grip of yourself."

Lucy-San whispered in her ears and gently pushed me forward so that I could go upon the stage. 

She was right. I needed a grip on myself and reminded myself of the promise which I made a few minutes back.

Neither of us spoke to each other verbally but our eyes were fixed on us. 

He looked the same as I saw him a decade back but with maturity pouring out from every corner both physically and hope mentally and emotionally as well.

AFTER AN HOUR

When the reception began, slowly the guests began to give away their blessings and gifts to the newly married couple and took pictures with them while I sat next to him and waited for my turn to give a speech.

GRAY'S POV

As I silently sat next to Juvia, memories which we experienced together slowly resurfaced in my mind.

Even after these many years, she didn't change much in appearance but gave out an elegant lady's aura.

There remained an awkward silence  between us which greatly owed to the way things ended between us.

When it was Juvia's turn, she just gave a small speech which I felt odd as she is someone who adores her friends especially ones who understands her.

So I thought she would give a long, meaningful and most importantly, heartfelt speech where she will talk about how she and the Vastia couple have been there for one another.

But she stopped abruptly with tears flowing down her eyes and apologised to the couples and everyone else before she left the stage and the place.

"We should have informed her about this. Look now what we have done, she was so looking forward to staying and enjoying it till the very end. We ruined it."

Meredy Vastia began to cry seeing her friend being hurt like this. Lyon consoled her so did Jellal and Ultear but she just couldn't stop.

"It's my fault. I'm such a bad friend to hurt my dear best friend who has done so much for me. She has left this place with a heavy heart. Now Juvia thinks even we have betrayed her." 

Meredy whined thinking about the hurtful look on Juvia's face which displayed before leaving this place.

"Meredy, please calm down. Everyone's looking at us. Please dear." Lyon tried his best to convince his new wife but failed.

"Meredy-San, please it's all because of me that she's like this. I shouldn't have come at all. I thought she must have moved on but..."

Before I could finish my reasons, Meredy snapped at me. 

"Yeah it's all because of you Mr. Cold hearted Gray Fullbuster. It's all because of you that she's like this. It's all because of you. Why the hell did you come anyways?"

Meredy cried covering her face. Ultear advised Lyon to take her to the room to console her which he obliged.

Once the couple moved, the entire crowd who were watching Meredy snapped at me.

"What the hell happened Gray? What did raindrop say to you?" Gajeel questioned me. 

"I didn't do anything. In fact, we didn't even talk nor exchanged any greetings. When I thought of breaking the deafening silence, she went to give her speech. Then everyone knows what happened after that."

I told them my reasons.

That's when something crossed Natsu's mind and he blurted it out, "Don't tell me she saw your engagement ring?"

Soon everyone's attention was on my left palm and looking by the things that happened this might be the case. 

"Yes, that might be the case. Looks like she hasn't moved on even after these many years unlike you."

Erza glared at me with exasperation laced her voice.

"Oh please, stop!! Don't act as if you don't know anything. Just mind your work. I'm out of here. Ultear, convey my apologies to Lyon and Meredy for ruining their wedding."

I snapped at Erza not caring about her threatening glare and left that place not bothering about what others would think.