"Lucy, you stole my scarf! I know it was you!" My best friend, Natsu, yells.

"What? I didn't... I never..." I fumble with my words, he isn't believing me... He always believes me. When did that change?

"Your scent was in my apartment when

I woke up, and my scarf is gone!" Natsu rages as he's held back securely by Loke and Gray who urge him to quiet and calm down like two parents attempting to coax their stubborn child.

"You know I dropped by last night to visit you, of course my scent would be in your apartment! I didn't touch your scarf, Natsu." I repeat what I've been saying for what feels like hours.

"Lucy, just give it back." Lisanna shrugs as she stares at me.

"But I don't have it." I reiterate.

"Where'd you put it?!" Natsu growls heatedly.

"I never had it, Natsu." I sigh, I'm getting really tired of this conversation.

"Blondie," Laxus looks at me, "Do you swear you didn't touch it?"

"Why would i?" My voice is slipping into an uncomfortably high pitch. "I didn't touch it, I didn't see it, I know I didn't take it."

"Well, Natsu, maybe you should check your house again." Laxus turns to look Natsu in the eyes as Gray and Loke ease up.

"Fuck you, Luce. I fucking know you have it." Natsu snarls as he is unhanded by my spirit and my team mate, "You know how much it means to me, what the hell is wrong with you?" Natsu continues to glare at me.

"Yeah, Lucy, that's not cool." Lisanna adds, probably trying to get brownie points with Natsu. Who am I to criticize her, because it works, Natsu huffs, grabs Lisanna by the hand and leads her out of the guild.

I blink a few times to clear tears from my eyes, no, I'm better than crying in front of everyone. I really didn't take Natsu's scarf, I know it's all he had left of Igneel, why would I take that from him?

I nod gratefully to Loke, Gray, and Laxus, stretching my lips into what I know is the fakest smile I've ever produced. But they'll buy it, i was bred and trained how to smile in uncomfortable situations. (And to charm a rich man and pop out his babies, but that's not a useful or beneficial skill to me, especially in this situation.)

I head to the bathroom and stand in a stall facing the far wall before blindly locking the stall door behind me without taking my eyes off the wall before me. As soon as I stop hyperventilating, my body is racked by silent sobs, making me bow my back and squeeze my eyes shut.

I can't believe Natsu doesn't trust me, all these years, and he still can't believe me? I don't believe this!

I'm angry, and fuming. But under that, I'm just hurt and sad.

Soon I'll cry away the anger and shed it like a layer of skin, and all I'll be is hurt.

I hold my breath when I hear the bathroom door squeak open.

"So..? What do you think? Do you think she did it?" An inquisitive voice chirps.

"Maybe." Another female voice murmurs, "I mean, maybe she took it in retaliation for Lisanna returning and Natsu's attention being turned to her?"

I begin to breath again but am having trouble regulating it, as my body seems to be telling me to gasp for air rather than keep maintain the calm, steady breaths that are grounding me to this very moment.

"I mean, maybe." The first voice seemed indifferent, "I don't know if I believe she did it."

I feel a little bit of relief, even though it's silly, it's nice that this unnamed voice is sticking up for me when I can't do so myself.

"I'm sure she did it, did you see her when she said she didn't do it? You could see on her face that she was bullshitting!" The second voice insists.

Once again, I hold my breath, for no real reason other than because I'm so sweaty and jumpy and upset... And hurt. Again. The guild is supposed to be my family.

I can't do this. I can't be here right now. I need to go.

I tune out everything else the two gossipers talked about and soon enough they left.

I waited a reasonable two minutes to make my break for it and slid out into the main hall of the guild again, stealthily making my way to the back door so I can go home.

As soon as I reach the door, I slip out into the alley next to the guild and begin to sprint home, tears seeping from my eyes and drying slowly as the wind whips my face.

I don't need this. I'm going home and I'm going to lie down and I'm going to cry as much as I want and order delivery for dinner. I'm going to pig out and write angsty poems and then... Then I'll figure out what else to do.

After I fumble with the keys and almost drop them a few times, I finally manage to open the door to my flat and lock it behind me.

"Virgo." I hold my key ring in front of me.

"Princess." Virgo appears from the spirit world, awaiting my request.

"Can you please put my keys on my bedside table? And make sure no one else can get in here, please?" I plead with tired eyes.

"Of course." Virgo sympathetically hums as she is set into action.

As my wonderful spirit reinforces my windows and double checks the front door, I run a hot bath.

"I've finished, is there anything else you need?" Virgo comes to me as just after I settled in the bath.

The water is hot, maybe even too hot, just sitting in the water for a minute had me sweating profusely.

"No, not really. Can you just.. Stay, for a while?" I ask as I sink farther into the water.

"Yes, Lucy." Virgo uses my name, which rarely happens.

She takes a seat next to my fairly large bath tub and looks at me with a soft facial expression.

"Would you like me to wash your hair? Or your back?" Virgo offers.

"No, that's okay, I just don't want to be alone, after this terrible morning."

Virgo understandingly nods, "Yes, that was quite an... Unfortunate turn of events." Virgo nods. I know my spirits keep an eye on me from their world, it's no surprise Virgo already knows what happened.

"I'm still processing that. I know it shouldn't be such a big deal, there are worse things than being accused of thievery. But I thought that if anyone would believe me when there is doubt, it would be Natsu.." I vent, waving my hands for emphasis here and there.

"I understand, he is usually a loyal and trusting person. I'm sure he's just manic since he lost his most important item. It'll turn up eventually and he'll realize he was wrong." Virgo reaches over the edge of the tub and pets my hair in a way that wouldn't be comforting if it was anyone else, if anyone else did it, I'd find it condescending.

"I hope so." I murmur.

After keeping up conversation for a few more minutes, I let Virgo return to the celestial spirit world.

When I'm alone again, I take a deep breath and sink under the water, holding my breath as i immerse myself in the hot water.

I only resurface when my lungs burn so intensely that I honestly think I'll really drown, and when I finally do breathe, I decide to cut this bath short.

Quickly lathering up a washcloth with soap and scrubbing my skin, i rinse off, pull the plug, and towel off as I walk into my bedroom.

Without getting dressed, I fall into my fluffy comforter, bundling myself in it and immediately dozing off.

The next day, I awoke slowly and peacefully, though still somewhat disgruntled.

I walk to the guild slowly, after sloppily dressing myself in a faded orange mini skirt and a black and white paisley crop top, it's honestly more of a bralette. My black platform jelly sandals grip the morning dew slicked cobblestones badly.

Hopefully yesterday's events have rolled over and Natsu found his scarf, so people don't have to second guess me anymore.

As I walk through the front doors I walk right into the middle of an argument of sorts.

"Excommunicate her!" Natsu shrieks, "Nakama doesn't steal from nakama! She can't be forgiven for what she's done!"

"Natsu," Master sighs, "there is no poof Lucy took your scarf, and between the two of us, we both know Lucy would never do that to you. She isn't one to be cruel with no rhyme or reason."

"She was one of my the last one in my apartment! It had to be her!" Natsu urges.

I remain standing in front of the doors i left ajar, though no one seemed to notice me, they were all too focused on Natsu and Master.

"Natsu..." Master seems tired of the topic. He turns and sees me, silently beckoning me to follow his with a jerk of his head, "Natsu. My office. Now."

Once Natsu and I are seated side by side in the stiff chairs in front of Master's desk, Master tells us to each tell our side of what happened.

Natsu went first, "I got home kind of early, about 4. So I put my scarf on the coat rack that Lucy made me buy for guests a few months ago. Then i went about the rest of the day and in the morning it was gone."

"Natsu, who came to your house between the time you got there and the morning?" Master strokes his mustache.

"Happy, duh, Lucy, Lisanna, then Mira and Elfman."

"Tell me what each person came for and what they did." Master demanded calmly.

Natsu sighs, as if he's so sure that I'm guilty that this is a complete waste of his time. "Lisanna came over before Lucy to hangout, then Mira and Elfman dropped by on their walk home after closing the guild and came in to talk before Lisanna left for home with them. A little while after that, Luce came over to 'check on me', she said, since Happy and I just got back from a mission. And Happy lives with me and would never steal my scarf."

"Natsu," Master sighed for what felt like the thousandth time, " Anyone of those people could have taken the scarf. Why do you think it's Lucy?"

"Look at her!" Natsu throws a hand to indicate he means me. "She looks like a liar! And Lisanna would never do that to me, and she has no reason to take my most precious belonging. I don't know why Lucy did it, but I know she did."

I stand up abruptly, without really meaning to. "Master," I begin, my jaw aches from clenching and unclenching it constantly, "I can't be here right now. I don't want to hear this. But I need you to know I really didn't take the damn scarf... If you need me, use a communications lacrima." I unsteadily stumble out of the room, knowing my eyes are dry for now but I can feel a storm brewing.

As I leave the guild, I tap Freed's shoulder, and whisper in his ear "Can you come help me with something?"

"Sure, Lucy." He follows me outside and walks along side me as I make my way home.

"I need you to write me some runes to keep people out of my apartment. To keep everyone out, unless it's me or I provide permission with the exact words "come in.""

"That sounds simple enough." Freed nods, "it'll only be a few minutes!"

"Thanks. I owe you one." I mumble as we reach my steps and I invite him up to the landing to begin the process.

As soon as Freed finishes I send him on his way, with a "Thank you" and an "I owe you one."

I'm going on a trip. I have plenty of money right now, enough to not have to take missions for a few years and live comfortably if I wanted to. But I won't do that. I think. I'll just disappear, I'll take a little break. But if something amazing happens, maybe, just maybe, I won't come back.

I hurriedly rush into my apartment and toss my huge suitcase on the bed, packing it with all my favorite clothes, shoes, and other overnight things(shampoo, toothbrush, lotion, etc.)

As soon as I'm packed, I grab a chunky, large purse and throw in some books I haven't read yet, my gale force glasses, some tissues, my makeup bag, my wallet, and (of course) my communications lacrima.

After resecuring my key ring to my skirt, I throw a cardigan into my purse, grab my bags, and haul ass to the train station.

Since I have no idea where to go or where I want to be, i stare at the railroad map until deciding where to go.

The day is warm and sunny as I drag my bags down the road to Crocus's finest luxury hotel, Hecate.

The transition from the crowded street to the quiet hotel lobby is wonderfully calming. This hotel is so high class that they only take reservations from blue bloods and new money, as in only the elite. Fortunately, even though the Heartfilia empire has fallen, it's still a household name. Plus I'm a fairytail mage, I'm fricking famous.

As soon as I'm through the door, an attendant of sorts must have recognized me since he ran up to me and offers to take my suitcase. I release it into his custody as I walk the way the tutors my father hired taught me to, with power and grace. All i have to do is breath in air and breath out attitude, act like I own the place.

At the front desk, an employee smiles and begins typing.

"Ms. Heartfilia, did you book a reservation?"

"Yes, I called a few hours ago." I called as a last minute thing on the train ride, I'll be staying two nights, then I don't know where I'll go since I'm probably not going to want to go home.

"Of course. You are in a king deluxe room. I'll just put you in room 917, it's got a splendid view of the city at night."

"Thank you." I leave it at that since I'm so damn fatigued, I can't even carry a polite conversation no matter how briefly.

The room is huge, there's a large comfortable bed, a small, cozy sofa, a glass coffee table, two bedside tables, one on either side of the bed, and a large en suite bathroom.

I tip the bellhop who has been with me since I first entered the hotel, thanking him for his diligence and sending him on his way.

After two days of fluffy and uninterrupted sleep, countless spa services, and fine dining, I'm ready to leave in the morning. I've already packed all my things, and laid out my outfit for tomorrow. I am going to continue travelling, perhaps less lavishly, but I dont want to return home. I want to learn and grow and be happy. But first of all, I want to tell Natsu to kiss my ass to make up for this shit. Hopefully they found the rightful culprit. I sure as hell didn't touch the damn scarf.

The train is headed for the west coast of Fiore, I want to stick my feet in the ocean. The train car is far from crowded so I have my bags in the two seats next to me and my feet in the seat across from me.

I comfortably lounge, and feel myself slowly drifting off, though I make no move to stop myself from falling asleep.

A loud, disruptive sound wakes me up, to my great annoyance. As I jolt into an upright position, I plunge a hand into my purse and feel around for my communications lacrima.

After far too long, I locate the lacrima and answer the call to halt the noise.

"Hello, Lucy?" Levy squeaks.

"Yeah, what's up?" I grumble as I rub the sleep from my eyes.

"You weren't here... So I'm just calling to see if you're okay." Levy chirps, obviously carefully observing me to gauge my wellbeing.

"Thanks, Levs. So, what's up? At the guild." I mutter words in a strange speech pattern as I'm still barely conscious.

"Well," Levy begins, "turns out that Lisanna borrowed Natsu's scarf to clean it, since she said it smelled bad and Natsu doesn't take it to be cleaned ever. So she brought it to a dry cleaners place and had it cleaned, but before she could sneak it back to Natsu, he had noticed it's absence and blamed you. Lisanna, you know her, she's so timid that she couldn't quite find the right moment to confess to Natsu. So he came to you." Levy rambles.

"Oh.. That's too bad for Lisanna. Natsu takes no time to initially build up trust, but once it's broken, it's a pain to get back." I truly do feel bad for Lisanna, she's such a sweet girl, I guess she just got caught up in covering for herself. It's obvious she has a huge crush on Natsu, she must've been afraid that he would get upset with her if she confessed that she had, in fact, taken his scarf.

"Master will, no doubt, have to call you to apologize sometime soon, he may drop by your house." Levy nods as if to affirm what she'd just said.

"Actually, I'm not home, so no one should be going to my house."

"What? Where are you?" Levy looks like a lost puppy momentarily, before schooling her face to look simply confused.

"I'm traveling, I wanted to take a break and get away from everything." I explain, "Hey, I've got to go. Later Levs."

"Bye!" She waves as I hang up.

I didn't actually need to go, I just didn't feel like talking anymore and I didn't want to hurt Levy's feelings anymore than I seemed to have already done. I guess I should have let her know I was going to leave town.

I sigh and drop the lacrima back into my purse. I still want an apology from Natsu, and one from Lisanna, although based on my experiences, I'm assuming Natsu's treatment of her after he learned it was her who had taken his scarf is punishment enough for Lisanna. No matter, even if it was for a good reason, she still took what wasn't hers to take and on top of that, allowed an innocent(me) to take the fall.

Once I reach the coast, I'll have to find a place to stay. Hopefully, one by a beach. I'm going to float in the salty currents and let them carry me to the middle of the ocean. Well, not actually, I love life and myself. But a girl can dream about a dramatic suicide solely for the purpose of making their friends feel guilty. I mean, I don't want my friends to feel bad, I also want my revenge. It's quite a conundrum.

The train comes to a smooth stop, the conductor's voice drones over the speakers. I'm here.