Well, well, well! We have yet another Fairy Tail fic here! Yay! You guys excited? I know I tend to write One Piece fics but since I only had one Fairy Tail one on this site I decided there needed to be more! I'm really stressing myself out though, because after this one, there'll be yet another new Fairy Tail release. This means that in total, I'll have 7 fics all together. 4 for One Piece and 3 for Fairy Tail. So it's almost even :)
Sorry... I've always been a bit OCD about being even. It just makes everything more neat and tidy. Hehe :D
Just so you know, this is not going to be a pretty story. Not everything is going to work out. There will indeed be some hot Jellal x Erza action with plenty of romance. But throughout my extremely short life I have learned that nothing ever goes the way you planned it. There will be pain, heart break and chaos. A happy ending is not guaranteed, but we can always hope.
So we keep counting the stars, in hopes that one day it'll all be ok again :')

Enjoy the new story! :3

Counting the Stars

Chapter 1: Mr. Fernandes

(Erza's POV)

"Erza?"

I flicked my scarlet coloured hair over my shoulder, uninterested in this boring place we called college. To be honest, I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing here, but Lucy and the rest practically begged me to attend.

"Hey, Erza?"

In a way, I found it completely ridiculous. I had been described by my previous teachers as a genius. I was the president of the school counsel as well as the disciplinary club. I was a leading member in both the kendo and karate club. And I still managed to get straight A's in every single subject all through high school. I had never gotten more than an A minus in any test, assignment or report. Never.

"Erza, are you listening?"

We still did the same thing in college as we did in high school. I'm still going to advanced English and Maths classes as well as trying to get a Medical Receptionist certificate and attending Art and Acting classes. All whilst pointlessly majoring in Theatre. And my extracurricular activities include kendo and martial arts of course.

"EARTH TO ERZA?!" A familiar blonde head popped up in front of my face, making me want to leap back in surprise. But of course I didn't.

"Lucy," I glared at the platinum haired girl in front of me, "Why are you shouting?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip, "I was calling out your name for like 10 minutes. You didn't answer! Geez, what the hell are you day dreaming about?"

"How to get away from this hell hole." I replied snidely as we turned the corner to reach the coffee shop they held on campus.

"Don't say that," Lucy pouted whilst walking over to the counter to talk our orders, "You'll make me feel bad for dragging you along."

I sighed guilty. I didn't want Lucy to feel bad, "It's fine Luce. You, Levy and Juvia just wanted me to get out and have some fun that's all. I know you're just trying to take care of me." I smiled, hoping she would accept my apology.

"It's all good! Don't worry about it." Lucy beamed back at me and all was forgiven.

"Hey ladies! How's it going?" The friendly voice of Mirajane Straus interrupted our little conversation.

"Oh there Mira, it's been a while. I didn't know you worked here!" Lucy grinned at the white haired beauty.

Mira had graduated last year when we were sophomore's here at the University of Magnolia. We hadn't see her in almost 2 months and so it turns out, she was now working here at the campus's coffee shop.

"I know. I've been meaning to catch up with you guys but I've been pretty busy as of late and to be honest, this is only my first day." A look of realisation dawn across her pretty face, "Oh, right! I'm supposed to take your orders! So what'll it be girls?"

"I'll take a medium Raspberry Mocha." I answered.

"And I'll take a small Skinny Latte." Lucy replied.

"Ok, coming right up! Take a seat at number 5." Mira grinned, pointing to a booth with a big red letter 5 hanging on the wall above the table.

We took a seat and waited for our drinks to arrive.

"So Erza?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you heard?" Lucy giggled cheekily.

"Heard what?" I asked, a little bit suspicious.

"There's going to be a new teacher taking over our English class. How exciting is that?" Lucy was grinning widely now.

"That's it? It's just a new teacher; it's not such a big deal. I don't even remember our current English teacher's name. Why should it bother me?" I was quite sceptical of this ordeal; I didn't understand why she was so excited.

"But the rumour has it he's really cute!" Lucy teased, "He has this amazing blue spiky hair, so different from all the other teachers. He wears proper clothes and is polite and calm, but strict at the same time. Oh and get this, he has this really interesting red tattoo on his face!" Lucy seemed intrigued by him, although he didn't seem all that appealing to me.

"A tattoo on his face? Seriously? How the hell did someone like that get into this school?" I was puzzled, this school was pretty strict on dress code.

"I think it sounds interesting. It's unique. Unlike the majority of the losers at this place." Lucy frowned before her face lit up again in a cheeky smile as she whispered, "Although there is one guy..."

"What was that last part?" I asked, unsure if I heard right."

"O-Oh! N-N-Nothing!" Lucy stuttered out, blushing like mad.

I was just about to insist that she tell me when Mirajane arrived with our drinks.

"Thanks Mira." I smiled up at her, taking both mine and Lucy's drinks from her hands.

She beamed at me before returning to the counter to serve more customers.

I took a sip of the lovely sweetness, savouring the flavour.

At least there was one good thing about this place. The coffee shop.

It was filled with delicious cakes and coffee. Perfect for a sweet tooth like me.

"Levy-chan, hurry up! We're gonna be late!" Lucy called, although she was rushing around the dorm collecting her things as she spoke.

I stood calmly at the door way with a flustered Juvia besides me. She was frantically adjusting her hair and makeup, tugging at her clothes and the strap of her laptop bag.

This appeared difficult for her since she was carrying an armful of books.

Lucy emerged soon after, a piece of toast in her mouth, her twin pony tails uneven and numerous books in her arms as well as poking out of her bag.

I stifled the urge to giggle like a little girl, opting for a lopsided smile instead.

I rearranged her bag so all the books were neat and orderly instead of poking out everywhere. Juvia fixed up Lucy's hair, evening it out as the blonde finished off her breakfast.

We were all ready to go. The only thing stopping us was Levy. The shortest girl in the whole college who was almost never late.

But today was something else. It seemed off somehow.

Everyone seemed a little frantic.

Was it because of the new English teacher? Were they all that excited over one man?

I suppose so...

Suddenly Levy burst from her bed room, leaping through the air, a pile of books in her arm, a bag lung over one shoulder and a dose of clear lip gloss coating her lips.

She giggled a little before asking, "You guys ready?"

Juvia shook her head nervously whilst Lucy nodded enthusiastically.

"Well then..." Levy paused for effect, "LET'S GO!" She shouted.

And they were off.

Levy took the lead with Lucy and Juvia on her heels while I lurked behind, uninterested by their infatuation.

We arrived early to the class room so we could take up our seats at the back.

I swung my legs up onto the table, not caring that I was wearing a skirt since the room was empty.

Lucy and Levy got talking about the boys at this school and Juvia started scribbling in her note book.

We still had 10 minutes until the bell for class time went off.

So I hadn't expected him to have shown up so early.

The first thing you noticed about him was the red tattoo on the right side of his face. It was mainly below his right eye but there was a small portion that crept up from his eyebrow.

The next was his deep blue locks of hair.

Now two out of three of my best friends have blue hair. Yet there was just something about it that made me want to touch it, run my hands through that fine silkiness.

Why I was thinking this way, I had no idea.

My face felt hot, I could barely speak and I just couldn't take my eyes off him.

Why was that? What is this feeling?

My heart is pounding a million miles a minute and I don't know why.

Could I possibly be sick?

I do feel rather flushed...

"Erza..." Levy giggled cheekily.

"What is it?" I snapped out of my trance, dragging my deep brown eyes away from his perfect form.

"Hehe, your face is almost as red as your hair!" Juvia burst out laughing.

"Oh my, has the infamous Miss Erza Scarlet gone and fallen for the new English Teacher upon first glance? Honestly, I would have thought that the Titania of all people would have been slightly less obvious than that!" Lucy teased.

Geez. She just had to go an use that old nickname.

Titania, meaning Queen of the Fairies. Something they called me back when we all attended Fairy Tail High.

But now we were in college, nobody calls me that anymore.

"Seriously guys," I put my hands up defensively, "I am not gonna fall for that guy. I was just interested by the strange tattoo on his face, that's all. I mean, none of us even know his name yet!" I argued, trying to convince them.

"That's not true," Juvia grinned, 'I know his name!"

Levy and Lucy gasped whilst I just raised an eyebrow.

"Tell us! Tell us!" They cheered, completely unaware that the blue haired man was now standing right behind us.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped, whipping my head around to see who it was.

There he was, kneeling down and smiling at me. No more than a few inches from my face.

He kept his hand on my shoulder as he addressed our group, "My name is Jellal Fernandes. Of course you'll all have to call me Mr Fernandes unless you happen to see me outside of school. Then you can call me Jellal."

Jellal...

So that was his name.

I felt my cheeks taint red knowing that he was still so close to me.

"O-Ok then... Mr Fernandes!" Lucy chirped happily.

"You girls are the only one's here. You're awfully early you know." He was smiling until something seemed to dawn on him, "Oh right! Where are my manners, I haven't even asked your names!"

I found my three best friends grinning as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Lucy Heartfillia."

"Juvia Lockster."

"Levy McGarden."

They all introduced themselves whilst I still sat there, my arms folded under my chest, legs propped up on the table and the new teacher's hand on my shoulder.

I should really be mad at him for touching me like this. I could even report it to the principal and get him fired for sexual harassment.

But for some reason... I'd like to keep him around.

"And you are?" He asked, giving my shoulder a squeeze and smiling down at me.

"Oh... Um... I'm Erza Scarlet."

His smile widened even more, "Erza Scarlet. Your last name really suits you, you know that? Scarlet, just like the colour of your hair."

I found myself blushing furiously as he walked up to the front of the class room.

"Well ladies, I can already tell. This is going to be a great class!"

Jellal.

I hadn't the slightest bit of interest in him when I'd heard of him.

But now, meeting him face to face. My heart is racing, my cheeks are heated and my lungs are on fire.

What could this feeling possibly be?

Well... I have no idea.

But I think I like this feeling. It feels... warm. Something that I haven't properly felt in years.

Well here you go my lovelies! Chapter 1 is done and dusted. Erza's just a bit cute, not knowing what that feeling is. Kyaaa~!
I need to update this really soon. I don't know why but it's sparked my interest!
Hope you enjoyed this story so far but don't forget to READ AND REVIEW because it simply means the world to me.
Thanks so very much :3

LW