Stop playing hard to get
Chapter One
Subject in question
I think I'm in love with her.
The thought occurred to me while I was quietly watching her walk into the classroom. I have been looking at this girl for three months now, and it doesn't look like I'd stop anytime soon. She was the first person that said hello to me when we first started school. Our classmates switched every year, and it looked like this year was no exception. I got sorted with new people out of which I knew practically nobody, and she was the first one to speak.
But that's not why I fell for her.
I fell for her because she can be nice and mean at the same time. She can make me smile and want to hit her at the same second. She can offer to help me with math and then slap me when I say I don't understand something. She can yell at me then apologize the minute after. She can make me want to steal her away and throw her off the bridge. She is a rollercoaster. My rollercoaster.
And she loves me too.
"Fuck off, Natsu."
Okay, maybe not.
I watched as she walked past me, not grateful for the fact that I walked all the way to her house to walk her to school. I didn't know why I was doing that, but I guess it was okay as long as she didn't push me away. I could really be boring sometimes, but that was because I wanted to spend every waking second next to her.
"Good morning to you, too." I grunted, watching her roll her eyes.
"Is there any reason why you've been waiting outside my door for the past three days?" She asked, pulling a strand of blond hair behind her ear, impulsively.
"I just like walking with you," I said, deciding to go with the truth, "Besides, I'm sure you like my company as well."
"Not so much." Her words shattered my imaginary world, and now it was my turn to get angry. But when she turned around and smiled, it all went away, and I increased my speed so we were walking side by side now.
Her house was really close to the school, so we didn't have much alone time. I fell behind with an excuse to 'tie my shoe', just so I could see if those jeans she wore looked as good from behind as they did from out front.
Better.
"Stop staring at her ass, you idiot."
I don't even need to turn around to know that the annoying voice belongs to my best friend, Gray. He's not in my class anymore, but that doesn't stop him from being my closest jerk. We sit together in the cafeteria, along with our other best buddies, which is something I can never get Lucy to do. She always prefers to sit around with her girl friends. Typical.
"I was just tying my shoes."
"With your head in her jeans?" He asked, as I got up and slapped him.
We were just about to start a fight like always, when the bell rang, and I ran to catch up with my babe. I mean, my friend. For now.
She sat in the fourth row, and I was right in front of her. God knows how many times I pleaded the girl sitting there to give me her spot.
I wished that our teacher would announce some sort of project that involved partnership and by some amazing twist of fate we'd get picked to work together, and it would bring us together just like in the movies… but this was no fucking fairy tale.
"Teacher!" The subject of my interest shouted from behind me, "Can I be the one in charge of the New Year's dance?" I didn't need to look at her to know she had that determined look I fell in love with. She was used to being in charge of everything, and we were used to it too. She already offered to be the class president and won the election wiping out everyone who dared oppose her with 100% of the votes on her side. She was the best student in our class, and even in the school. It was an unspoken rule that she would organise our prom too, and all our field trips. She was president of the reading club, and the best on the swimming team. She would even be the head cheerleader if our school had a cheer team.
"But the New Year's Dance is a month away," our teacher sighed. "But I know you like starting things early. So, if the other students agree, I don't see why not."
Even with closed eyes, I could see that nobody was raising their hand to say otherwise. Our Miss Lucy Heartfilia The Greatest had won yet again. Not that I have a problem with that.
But there was also another unspoken rule in the classroom.
"I'll help her." I said, raising my hand. I heard my girl grunt from behind me, but that wasn't even close to stopping me. Because I never give up when she's the subject in question.
And she was always my subject in question.
"How much longer are you gonna keep staring at her?" I heard Gray ask me during lunch, as my eyes glided over from my favourite blonde to his laughing face.
"Who's he staring at?" My best female friend, Erza Scarlet asked, looking around to see who I was gawking at.
"That Heartflila chick." Gray waved it off like it was nobody important. But when Erza made a face that said she didn't understand, he added: "The top student."
"Ooh," she nodded in understanding. "She's nice, I guess."
"YOU KNOW HER?" I shouted I stood up abruptly, sitting back down when I noticed everyone was staring at me. "How?" I asked, this time more quietly.
"I'm dating her cousin, you moron."
"Jellal is Lucy's cousin?" I asked, more confused than ever. That finally explained why I sometimes saw them together, but whenever I told Erza, she laughed.
"I can ask Jellal where she lives if you want." She winked at me, but Gray beat her to it.
"Oh I think he knows." He cackled, "He's been going to school with her for the past week. Why do you think he's not going with us, anymore?"
But Erza had another question on her mind, "And how did you find out where she lives?"
"Well," I can feel my cheeks get hot, "I may or may not have stalked her…" They erupt into fits of laughter, "…a bunch of times."
"Dude, you're in pretty deep." Gray pats my shoulder as some sort of pity gesture.
"Although, when I went to Jellal's house yesterday, she was there and mentioned something about going to Juvia's party tonight."
That sounded like the perfect opportunity to get to know her even better.
"Sooo," Gray gave Erza the look, "You went to Jellal's house, hmm?"
We both laughed loudly as her face grew so red it almost matched her hair. I wanted to find out more about that party, but for the time being, I was just glad the attention was no longer on me and Lucy.
But I wasn't going to let go of it so easily. I waited outside for Gray and nearly gave him a heart attack when I jumped on him from behind a bush. "Dude, did Juvia invite you to her party tonight?"
He sighed deeply, "Uh, no." But I could tell his lying face was making it's appearance.
"Oh come on man, she's been after you since the first day of school when you accidently stripped in the ladies locker room and she walked in on you." I retell the epic tale of the the time Gray thought joining a swimming team was a good idea. He's never set foot near the pool since. And that's how Juvia got the idea of becoming the captain of the swim team. But she had a strict 'no boys' policy, so I couldn't go in there and catch a glimpse of Lucy in her bathing suit. I had tried convincing Gray into going in there and taking pictures of her because Juvia probably wouldn't mind him, but he said he never wanted to "see hell on earth" again.
"Alright, fine, I was invited." He finally fesses up, and I can't help but laugh.
"Can I go with you?"
His face is the pure personification of horror, "You want me to show up there with you as my date?" The look of disgust on his face screams 'no'.
"Oh come on, you probably weren't planning on going alone" I use my last resort.
"Actually, I was gonna go with Erza and Jellal."
"And be the third wheel? Dude…" I shake my head in disapproval.
"I'd rather be the third wheel than your chaperone." He gives me a look that says this discussion is over.
"But can't you bring a friend?" I plead until he finally gives in.
Jackpot.
Lucy Heartfilia, you'd better put on the sexiest dress you own, because I'm coming for you, my subject in question!
Author's Notes:
Hi there! *escapes deathtraps* I know, I know, I haven't been on here for a few months now. I had good reasons, but they're personal and I won't be discussing them... sorry. But the important thing is I'm here now, and here's the story you voted you wanted the most!
I hope you guys like it. I have one question for you though, do you want me to keep on with Natsu as the main storyteller, or do you want me to switch between points of view? Please answer!
Thank you so much for not hating me, and please review so I know there's somebody reading this, so I can post faster.
next chapters will be longer, this is just the beginning
love you all!
xx,
~With keys, through flames! Aye!~
