It was only a few weeks after Lucy joined Fairy Tail that Natsu developed feelings for his guildmate. And he goes about telling her in the wrong way. Wrong, but sweet.
He was walking along the canal toward Lucy's house when he saw her come out. Lucy walked directly to the edge of the canal, and seemed to breathe in the cool morning air that blew gently over the water's surface. Natsu could smell it too. It was a wonderful morning, accompanied and intensified by the sudden romantic feelings he held for Miss Heartfilia.
She began to walk along the water's edge, only laughing and waving when two men on a small, wooden barge yelled at her to be careful about falling in. She paused when she saw him, and Natsu felt the beginnings of a (not so good) enter his mind.
She ran up to him excitedly. "Hey Natsu! Wanna head into the guild together?"
He blinked at her blankly. "Do I know you?"
Hurt surprise entered her eyes. "You forgot me already?"
Natsu shook his head. "'Cause you look a lot like..." he paused.
Lucy made a face at him. "Like...?"
"Like my next girlfriend!" Lucy just stared at him, realizing that the jerk had just been playing with her.
"In your dreams," she answered sweetly, avoiding his gaze. However rude the idea had been, she could that at least some thought had gone into it. It hadn't been his intention to hurt her.
What a hopeless idiot.