Chapter 28: Happy Birthday, Jade
A few days had passed since the Fantasia Parade, and everything had returned to normal. Unfortunately, I hadn't found a moment to be alone with Mirajane again, but that was okay. For now, I was with Gajeel and Juvia.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, feeling a bit nervous.
"Oh, nothing special. Actually, I wanted us all to try out the new amusement park that just opened in Magnolia," Juvia said with a smile. Gajeel nodded in agreement.
At first, I found it strange, but then I thought it would be a good idea. After all, a little relaxation wouldn't hurt us. The three of us got up and left my apartment. I noticed Juvia's smile, which made me a bit uneasy, and I couldn't shake the feeling of a bad premonition. We quickly left the area with Juvia leading the way.
Pov Lucy
Today is Jade's birthday, and we're going to surprise her. I'm with Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Erza. What I don't understand is why we're standing outside her apartment. Then I see Gray pull a key from his pocket and unlock Jade's apartment door, which shocks me.
"Gray, how did you get a key to Jade's apartment?" I asked, intrigued.
"Oh, Juvia gave me a spare key. She seemed very happy about it," he said as he entered the apartment, and we all followed suit.
Jade's apartment was cozy and well-organized. The living room was filled with bookshelves overflowing with spell books and novels. A small, round table in the center was surrounded by comfy chairs, and a few magical artifacts were neatly displayed on the shelves. The walls were adorned with various pictures and paintings, giving the space a warm, lived-in feel.
We started decorating the place for the surprise party. Natsu and Happy were tasked with hanging the banner, but they managed to knock over a bookshelf, sending books flying everywhere.
"Watch it, Natsu!" Erza scolded, trying to catch a vase that was about to topple over.
"Sorry, sorry!" Natsu laughed, trying to fix the banner.
Gray, meanwhile, was attempting to set up the table with snacks and drinks, but he accidentally froze the punch bowl, causing it to crack and spill everywhere.
"Gray, you're making a mess!" Lucy exclaimed, grabbing some towels to clean up the icy puddle.
"I'm trying, okay?" Gray grumbled, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Erza, in her effort to rescue the vase, ended up knocking over a stack of plates, which shattered on the floor.
"Oops," she said, looking genuinely sorry.
The chaos continued for a while, with Natsu's fire magic causing minor scorch marks on the walls and Happy flying around, trying to catch confetti that had exploded prematurely. By the time we were done, Jade's apartment looked like a war zone, but the decorations were in place, and we were ready for the surprise.
Pov Jade
The day at the amusement park was a blast. Juvia, Gajeel, and I enjoyed various rides, from the exhilarating roller coasters to the relaxing Ferris wheel. We laughed, ate cotton candy, and played games, winning small prizes for each other. As the sun began to set, we decided it was time to head back to my apartment.
As we approached my place, I saw smoke and flames billowing out from my apartment. My heart sank, and I rushed forward, only to see my apartment explode, debris flying everywhere. Standing amidst the chaos were Natsu, Erza, Gray, Lucy, and Happy, all looking sheepish.
"What did you do to my apartment? How did you get in?" I screamed in anger, storming up to them.
They all looked down, not daring to meet my eyes.
"It was supposed to be a surprise birthday party," Lucy began, her voice small. "We didn't mean for this to happen."
"Juvia gave me a spare key," Gray added, his voice barely audible.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "A surprise party? And this is the result? I can't believe you guys!" I shouted, my frustration boiling over. "And Juvia, why did you give them my key without asking me?"
The group remained silent, clearly regretting their actions. Just as I was about to continue my tirade, Mirajane appeared, her usual smile fading as she saw the scene before her.
"What happened here?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"These idiots destroyed my apartment," I said, still fuming.
Mirajane quickly assessed the situation and then turned to us. "Come to the guild. We'll sort this out there," she said calmly.
We made our way to the guild in silence. As we approached, Mirajane stopped me. "Jade, why don't you go in first?"
I nodded, still feeling a mix of anger and sadness. As I stepped inside, confetti exploded around me, and I saw a beautifully decorated cake on the table with a banner that read "Happy Birthday, Jade!"
"Surprise!" everyone shouted, their faces filled with hope that this would make up for the earlier disaster.
I was taken aback, my anger slowly melting away as I saw the effort they had put into this. The guild hall was decorated with streamers, balloons, and more confetti. A sense of warmth and gratitude filled me.
"Thank you, everyone," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I appreciate it, really."
We spent the evening celebrating, sharing cake and laughter. The guild members performed little skits and songs, making me forget about the earlier mishap. Mirajane stayed close to me, her presence comforting and reassuring.
As the night drew to a close, I couldn't help but think about the state of my apartment. "I'm going to need a new place to stay," I sighed.
Mirajane turned to me, her eyes filled with kindness. "You can stay with me until you find a new apartment," she offered.
"Really? I wouldn't want to impose," I replied, though the idea of staying with her was comforting.
"You're not imposing at all. I'd love to have you," she said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Mirajane," I said, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. "I really appreciate it."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone