Chapter 7

I woke up with a bad headache, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of drink Lisanna had given me. I looked around and saw I was still in Gray's room. I was laying in his bed with a blanket, though I didn't remember getting one. Gray was sitting on the floor across the room talking with Jellal.

"Hey, he's awake," Jellal said.

I didn't realize I fell asleep. I could hardly remember why I was in Gray's room.

"You've been asleep a couple of hours," Gray said. "The party is still going on."

I thought harder about the night, and I remembered Lisanna giving me two different drinks. I ran away after the second one because she tried to kiss me. I also remembered kissing Gray. My cheeks heated up, and I'm sure that Jellal and Gray noticed.

"I'll go get you some water," Gray said. He quickly left, and I wondered if he was embarrassed.

"Did I really fall asleep?" I asked Jellal. It felt like moments ago Gray was kissing me, and I was enjoying it.

"Gray said you fell asleep pretty fast," Jellal explained. "You said something wasn't working with Lisanna, and you asked if something wasn't working with Levy, too, since she was with Lucy. Then you went on about things feeling weird." He chuckled. "Gray said you fell asleep right in the middle of the rant."

I wondered if Gray lied about when I fell asleep so that he could hide that we kissed. He could have been embarrassed, or he didn't like it and was saving me the embarrassment.

"Lisanna probably gave you vodka. That's what she was drinking," Jellal said. "She also said you went to the bathroom and never came back."

I became furious. "I did not!" I said. "She tried to kiss me, so I ran away. I didn't say anything about the bathroom!"

"She tried kissing you?" Jellal asked. He looked torn between happiness and confusion. I think he was prepared to be happy for us, but it was clear that I didn't want Lisanna to kiss me. Everyone would probably be confused to hear that.

"I don't like Lisanna," I told him. It was the first time I said the fact out loud. I had hinted at the idea many times, but I'd never directly said it.

Jellal once again got the thoughtful look on his face. I saw it in the bathroom at the Stone Monkey and lunch the day I announced I was getting a dog. Both times we had been talking about my interest in Lisanna. He finally told me what was on his mind by saying, "You don't like girls at all, right?"

I was shocked that Jellal had concluded my sexuality before I had. He probably first got the idea in the bathroom at the Stone Monkey. I had said I didn't want to go to the dance with Lisanna and didn't like her as much as everyone assumed. He was probably able to dismiss this, thinking I was having a bad day. The second time he had the idea was during lunch after I announced I wanted a male dog to see if I liked boys. It was probably easy to dismiss this, as well, because I could have been talking about dogs.

There was no dismissing the idea now when I wouldn't kiss her and plainly said I'm not interested.

"I don't know," I admitted. I watched Jellal's face for any sign of irritation or judgment, but I saw none.

"You seem to like Gray," Jellal said. I was touched that he wanted to help me figure out my sexuality, but it was clear he didn't know how to help. He had always been straight, and I knew he always would be.

I wasn't ready to admit anything about Gray, and luckily I didn't have to. Gray came back into the room with a glass of water and a bottle of painkiller. I thanked him then took two pills and drank the whole glass.

None of us talked the rest of the time. I tried to guess who Gray could like, and I came to the same conclusion as before: he didn't speak to any girl enough to love her. Who is it? I asked myself over and over.

X

Gray was very on-edge in the days following Halloween. I knew I didn't do anything, though, because he wasn't just weird around me. He didn't talk to anyone, always looked thoughtful, and wouldn't eat anything. I hadn't seen him outside of school at all, and he wasn't reaching out.

After a week and a half, I finally decided to ask Lucy what was wrong with her step-brother. I caught her at her locker at the end of the day and asked her.

"He's fine," she told me. "She and Silver are just all keyed-up about wrestling season. It's so stupid. All Gray is doing is working-out and chugging protein shakes."

I felt relieved. "He takes wrestling very seriously, doesn't he?" I asked. I already knew he did because he worked with his dad every night. I haven't seen him actually wrestling, though. I tried not to picture it.

"Silver thinks he can get a full scholarship to college for it, maybe even go pro," she explained. She shut her locker, and I knew that was the end of the conversation. A few guys were approaching us, and I could see the devilish look on her face that showed she was going to try to get a date with one of them.

I decided to go find Gray. I wasn't quite sure where he'd be, but I decided to check the gym. I didn't know if the wrestling season had started, but there could be a small practice going on.

In the gym, I saw a few guys rolling around on a big mat on the floor. Some were moving around too fast, but I did recognize Gajeel Redfox. He was the team's heavy-weight wrestling and the third candidate for the King of the Pumpkins. His wrestling friends were probably the ones to nominate him. A lot of girls love him, too, mostly because they think it's hot to watch him throw other guys around.

While I was trying to pick Gray out among the other guys, Mr. Vastia came up to me. He was the wrestling coach and taught English. "Mr. Dragneel!" he exclaimed. "Will you be joining the team this year?"

Most of the guys stopped wrestling and looked at me. I wasn't seen as weak in the school, but no one saw me as the type to wrestle. If I did participate in a sport, everyone would expect me to play basketball.

"Ah, no," I said, slightly nervous. Now that everyone was looking at me, I could see that Gray wasn't among them.

"Did you want to do stats then?" Mr. Vastia asked.

"Stats?" I asked. I was disappointed Gray wasn't in the gym, but I was also glad that he didn't have to see me stutter to Mr. Vastia.

"A statistician," Mr. Vasta explained, "is someone who sits at the score table during a match and records the scores the referee gives out. Is that what you wanted to do?"

I had never noticed any stats, or statisticians, at sporting events. The job didn't sound that interesting, but I blurted out, "Yes, that's what I'm here for."

"Great!" Mr. Vastia said. "Head over to my room and I'll give you the handbook to look over. I'll meet you there; I just need to get these guys started."

I nodded dumbly and started walking away. If I were the wrestling stat, then I would watch every match, including Gray's. I couldn't believe I made such a reckless decision. Can I even handle this? Gray will be wrestling! I chided myself.

I needed to talk to Jellal.

So the kiss never happened! But now Natsu is super confused and Jellal knows Natsu doesn't like girls. Natsu hasn't actually decided he likes guys, though. What will being a wrestling stat do that to him? He has to watch Gray wrestle now! Do you guys know anything about wrestling? If you don't I'll give lots of explanations.

What did Lisanna think about the Halloween party? What will Gray say about Natsu being a wrestling stat? Has anyone else discovered that Natsu doesn't like girls? What will Jellal think of Natsu being a wrestling stat? Stay tuned to find out!