Stay by My Side
Summary: Lucy Heartfilia has been in correspondence with an unknown guy who's been helping her through life all these years. He's the strength that she confides in for advice. Her best friend, Natsu Dragneel, has been nagging her to become his basketball team's manager. When she agrees, she has to deal with their brilliant yet sadistic and arrogant basketball coach who's still in college, Sting Eucliffe. It just so happens that this conceited young coach with a dark past is also her gentle confidant.
Rated: T
Genres: Romance, Friendship
Pairings: StiCy (main), NaLi, Jerza, Gruvia, GaLe
Background: Lucy and her friends are in tenth grade. Most of them are sixteen. I'm planning on making Sting twenty.
A/N: This is my first fanfiction. I hope you enjoy it. Please PM me if you have any questions. I uploaded my profile picture, but it's probably not showing. Oh, well.
Chapter 1: SS
"LUSHEE!"
I clapped my hands over my ears as my best friend, Natsu Dragneel, raced to my side. Rolling my eyes, I watched as the pink-haired teen jumped up and down with excitement.
"Hey, Lucy, you know I'm joining the basketball team, right?" he asked impatiently. I could tell he was about to burst if he didn't tell me the good news. I sighed dismissively, laughing at my best friend. He was an eccentric one, that was for sure.
"Yes. So, what happened? I thought you were going to try-outs with Gray and the others." I replied, shifting my backpack.
Natsu snorted at the mention of Gray Fullbuster, his "rival". In truth, they were pretty much best friends despite their little rivalry.
"Well, I did. But Gramps came in and told us that we don't have a coach since the old one just retired. But, he found a new coach. Guess who the new coach is?"
"Gramps" was our affectionate nickname for our diminutive principal of Magnolia Academy, who was actually my grandfather.
Natsu's entire face was red at this point. I half-expected him to start breathing fire. I opened my mouth to inquire who it was, but Natsu interrupted me.
"STING EUCLIFFE! You know, that one guy who was a major basketball player in the high school circuit. He went on to college and is playing college basketball, but he's been looking for a part-time job and Master Makarov hired him!" Natsu continued to babble about Sting's supposed "genius skills".
I chuckled as we walked home together. "Okay, that's great! Magnolia Academy's basketball team will finally win the championship then, eh?" I asked, smiling at my childhood friend.
Natsu grinned widely. "You bet! Especially since I can actually try out this year…"
We continued walking home, chatting about everything we could possibly think about. For a moment, we were silent, thinking about everything that was going on.
Natsu broke the silence, tilting his head. "Hey, Luce, you would make a great basketball manager!"
I paused, playing with the idea. Natsu had always loved basketball. When we were young, he used to play on the streets with the older kids. I would tag along, keeping a vigilant eye on him in case he did anything stupid. Natsu always got in trouble somehow. Since then, I developed sense of the game and an appreciation for it. It was almost like I had an innate ability for creating training menus and finding exactly what skills needed to be polished. In this way, I always helped Natsu improve in basketball. I would never actually play, of course. I threw my passion into volleyball.
"Maybe," I finally answered, my mind racing at the number of training menus I would have to make for an entire team.
Natsu and I, being neighbors, waved at each other from our doorsteps before entering our respective homes. I sighed, throwing my bag down.
"Mom, I'm home!" I announced brightly.
My mother shuffled into the room, wiping the sweat off her forehead. She had obviously just came from the garden. "Welcome home, Lucy," she said, smiling warmly. I grinned back, taking out my cell phone. I stared at the cell phone, and memories flooded into my mind.
"Laxus, you can't leave!"
Young me was upset beyond comprehension. Why did my older brother have to go all the way across the world for some stupid project? He wouldn't be able to visit because of how busy he would be. He wouldn't even be able to message me at times! Why did he have to leave me?
It wasn't fair.
"Hey, Lucy-chan, don't cry," he said softly, smiling. I didn't even bother to wipe the tears that poured.
Our father had just died, and now my brother was leaving. My life was in disarray.
"But it's not fair! Why do you have to leave? I won't have anybody!" I sobbed. I was quite attached to my older brother. When I cried, he was always there for me.
My brother hugged me. "Hey, Lucy, you're not alone, and I won't be gone forever. You've got Mom and Natsu. And you've got SS, too," he comforted, rubbing my back.
My eyes widened at the unfamiliar name. "...SS?" I asked in confusion, staring at Laxus. He chuckled, ruffling my blond hair.
"Yeah, SS. He's a good friend of mine. He'll always be there for you when I'm not there, okay? You can pretty much confide with him about everything. If you don't want me to know, you can tell him. He'll give you advice, too. " He handed me a silver cell phone with pink keys and a golden "L" charm. I had finally stopped crying. "SS...is he nice? Can I actually trust him, onii-san?" I asked quietly.
"It depends on you," Laxus replied seriously, patting my hand.
"If you want to talk to him, you can. I won't force you to do anything. I just want you to be able to talk to someone. I can't guarantee I'll be able to come back. Please take care of yourself, all right?"
I nodded, grinning. "If it's for onii-chan, I'll be brave!"
He flashed a grin. "I'll try to come back. Maybe when I can afford it and all. I don't want to leech off of Mom or Gramps for money, either. If you're brave for me, I'll definitely try to come back." he promised.
With those parting words, he left me with a new friend.
SS.
From then onward, Laxus only visited once every year. I rarely saw him, but each time, he seemed perfectly content.
Every day, I contacted SS. I was wary at first. I mean, he was stranger. Why would I trust him? SS contacted me everyday, giving me advice.
I smiled down at the battered old cell phone in my hand.
Typing, I keyed a new e-mail to SS.
Hey, SS!
Today was pretty normal. Natsu, my baka of a best friend, was talking all about this new basketball coach. He also wants me to be the manager of the team, but I have mixed feelings about that. Besides, I might not even be chosen as manager. (Though I honestly doubt anyone else wants to be manager for a bunch of sweaty boys) After all, I'm really busy.
I've been having nightmares about Father again. Not my step-father, not Laxus's dad. I'm talking about my real father. In a way, I hate myself. I'm relieved that he died. He was so abusive. I don't really consider myself a human being because I'm glad someone is dead. It's kind of repulsive to think that way, right?
I'm sorry you have to deal with a person like me, SS.
Enough with the negative thoughts. Do you think I should become the basketball manager? I really want to help out Natsu and everyone else on the team. No one else wants to be manager.
I've got a lot on my plate already, though. Volleyball season has started, and homework has been piling up. There's also the fact that I'm the student council's secretary.
Sorry to bother you with all of this.
Thoughts?
Yours,
Lucy
I sent the message before working on my homework in the large office room. My mom and I had made it a tradition to listen to quiet piano music while we worked on our own things. My mom was an acclaimed pianist and songwriter. She often wrote songs for new movies or television series, and directors were always waiting anxiously for more of her work.
"Hey, Mom, working on a new song?"
She nodded. "It's for a new show. It's sort of adventurous and action-packed. They're looking for a good theme song." she answered, fiddling with a pen. She played a few notes before scribbling them down on a piece of sheet music.
Mom sighed. "It doesn't sound right. I had an idea, and I've been writing in E flat, but it just doesn't seem right." I glanced at the notes she had written on the sheet music.
"Mom, it sounds good so far," I praised, smiling. She smiled back before turning her concentration on the song.
I played it from beginning to end. "Well, the chorus is good. I think you should change the second part of the accompaniment. See, the note 'G' would probably sound good in place of 'A'. It sounds better, right?"
My mom laughed. "Yeah, it does! I guess I'm too old to be editing my own work. Thanks, Lucy."
She busied herself with the rest of the song, including the lyrics.
I turned to my homework, finishing up most of my individual work around the time my mom finished the lyrics for her song. She played the song while singing for my feedback.
"It's amazing! I think the director will be really impressed with this!" I said, clapping.
She laughed, winking. "Thanks, Lucy. Didn't you say you were going to hang out at the karaoke cafe with your friends today?"
As if on cue, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, that must be them!" I said, racing to the front door. Opening it, I greeted my friends. Lisanna smiled at me. "Hey, Lucy-chan! Erza's in her car with Jellal and Juvia. Gray and Gajeel are getting Natsu right now."
"Lu-chan!"
Levy, another one of my friends part of our group, tackled me with a hug from behind Lisanna. "Aw, I didn't want to go to karaoke today. I thought we were going to work on our Chemistry project together! I was thinking we do the flame test!" she lamented.
I nudged Levy, grinning deviously. "Are you sure? 'Cuz I was pretty sure you were really excited to see a certain delinquent just a few hours ago," I teased.
Lisanna laughed, agreeing. "Yeah, weren't you just going on about how adorable he was?"
Levy blushed cherry red, turning away from us. "Stop being so mean! Besides, Gajeel's too much of an idiot to ever notice my feelings, anyway!" she cried.
Lisanna and I high-fived as we snickered at the flushing girl.
"Mom! I'll be back in an hour at nine-thirty!" I cried.
"Be safe, Lucy! Get a ride from Erza afterwards. And call me!" she hollered back. I gave my affirmative before following a still-blushing Levy and a smug Lisanna.
We piled into Erza's car, laughing and joking around. When we finally arrived at the karaoke cafe, my cell phone pinged.
"Eh? What is it?" Levy questioned curiously.
"Is it another message from your sweet pen pal, SS?"
All eyes turned to the young woman who had said this. "Cana!" we cried.
Cana Alberona winked, joining us at the booth. She squeezed in next to me, peering at my cell phone.
Cana had been at Magnolia Academy before she graduated four years before. She had been the ultimate prankster. She had been part of a rag tag group like our own, who had also all graduated. Laxus, my brother, had been part of Cana's group.
Like everyone else in Laxus's group, Cana was a neighbor. Since Laxus's group and my friends were over at the same time, we actually hung out and got along with each other. The other reason we knew each other so well was because of Master Makarov, Magnolia Academy's principal, better known as Laxus and my grandfather. Gramps had placed all of us in cleaning duty while Laxus and the others were still in high school. We always had to clean up on the weekends. It was tiring, but we got along better because of it.
Yes, we were the cleaning duty people.
Cana was one of the more laid back member's of Laxus's little clique. She was humorous and cool, not to mention gorgeous, too, with her velvet dark brown hair and exotic violet eyes.
"Hey, Cana, what brings you here?" Gray asked casually.
Cana winked, drinking from a flask. Cana was like an older sister to all of us, and she wasn't afraid to be "mature" around us.
I rolled my eyes at the thought. Cana was anything but mature.
"Oh, I just got off of work earlier, so I decided to find you brats. Being a fashion magazine editor is actually tiring," Cana explained, sighing.
She leaned back before snapping out of her sleep. "Enough about me. Did you check what your precious SS wrote?"
I blushed. "Hey, shut up, Cana. It's my own private stuff, so butt out. You, too, Levy! I'm going to check it later."
I buried my cell phone in my pocket.
Cana stuck her tongue out at me childishly, eliciting a giggle from me. She stood up, waving her arms grandly. "Well, if you're not going to tell me, then I'm going to karaoke!" she announced pompously.
A dark look passed her eyes as she grinned evilly. "Okay, brats, who should I duet with today?"
All of us shrunk back.
Cana cackled. "Okay, Jellal, your turn!"
The usually composed bluenette suddenly paled. "Cana, it's really all right...I don't want to sing that badly...I heard Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel talking about how excited they were about singing, though!" he said desperately.
Cana glanced at Gajeel. "No offense, dude, but no one can deal with your singing," Cana deadpanned.
The entire table burst out laughing at Gajeel's expense. He glared.
"Fine. Challenge accepted. Levy, let's have a duet face-down with those two!" Gajeel said, his eyes narrowed.
Levy moaned in despair. "No! Gajeel, don't drag me into this!" she screamed.
I laughed, pushing her out of the booth. "Go on with your dear love," I cooed. She sent me a dirty look before stomping onto the stage with Gajeel.
No one survived Gajeel's singing.
When most of us finally stopped screaming and running away from the karaoke cafe, we walked back to Erza's car, laughing at the ordeal.
We met Gajeel, who was waiting at the car with a permanent scowl etched into his features. "You all are just rude. Can't deal with my amazing singing," he huffed, his arms crossed.
Juvia tried sympathizing with her childhood best friend. "Gajeel, it's okay to be bad at singing! You're good at plenty of other things."
Gray bit back a laugh. "Yeah, like scaring the hell out of birds when you sing," he commented. Gray and Natsu laughed together, high-fiving.
Juvia frowned. "Gray-sama, that wasn't called for," she scolded. Gray raised his hands up. "Okay, okay, sorry."
Levy cleared her throat. "Um, Gajeel, you don't have to be so upset about it. Everyone has faults. Gray's a stripper."
Right when she said this, Gray lost his shirt.
"Gray, your shirt," Levy called flatly.
"Oh, shit!" he cried. Juvia, meanwhile, was having a nosebleed from "her lovely Gray-sama".
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. Cana was watching all of us, a soft smile on her face. I tilted my head. Usually, Cana would have actively participated in the teasing. I shook my head ignoring the thought. Cana was probably just exhausted from work.
"See?" Levy said, gesturing at Gray.
Gajeel grunted, patting Levy's head. "Thanks, shrimp," he said.
Levy became indignant. "Hey! No need to call me offensive nicknames regarding my height!" she yelled. The two began to bicker, but Levy didn't see a rare and real smile on Gajeel's face. The rest of us noticed, and we couldn't help sharing smirks and happy smiles.
"Think we're going to have a new couple soon?" Lisanna quipped.
Cana nodded, smirking. "Twenty bucks says next week."
"Tomorrow," Erza disagreed.
"A month. Gajeel's too chicken to ask her out," Jellal said, laughing.
Erza rolled her eyes. "What about you? It took you nearly a year to finally ask me out," Erza accused, jabbing a finger at her boyfriend. I chuckled at Jellal's nervous expression. Erza was one girl you did not want to piss off.
After grabbing a quick bite to eat at a fast food restaurant, we said our goodbyes. Erza dropped me off in front of my house, waving.
I entered my house after the car ride, humming. As soon as I returned, I opened the e-mail from SS.
Lucy,
I think taking up a new job would take your mind off of your deceased father, but please don't overwork yourself. Don't worry about your father so much. If you need anyone to be there for you, I'll be there.
A way to get over the nightmares—think about something happy, or listen to calming music. You can always talk to me, too. I'll try my best to message you back.
I'm glad to see you're happy right now. It seems you and Natsu are getting along very well, as usual. How have you been getting along with your other friends? Your onii-san was always complaining about how much his own friends loved to worship him. Especially Freed. I'm sure you've met him. Cana loved to tease Laxus about it.
Yes, I'm pretty sure no one would like to manage a group of sweaty basketball freaks. But you never know. Since you believe you're the only one, I'm sure the new coach would appreciate your help.
Lucy, you aren't disgusting. You're an incredible person, and I want you to know that. There is no other person who I would want to be able to protect. I know your brother and mother are proud of you, too. You're brave, strong, and stubborn, and don't ever forget who you truly are. You should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you.
It might seem stupid for me to say, but this is definitely true. If you ever doubt yourself again, please remember that I'll be there for you.
I think it would be great for you to take on some more activities as long as you're not swamped. It depends all on you. I understand how much you love basketball even if you don't play. Natsu and your other friends on the basketball team would also be grateful for your help. Good luck.
If you have any troubles, don't hesitate to message me.
Take care.
-SS
I smiled softly as I flipped my phone shut.
SS was always giving me good advice. Laxus had been right. If I had told him about my troubles, he would have tried to protect me. He wouldn't have completely allowed me to make my own decisions since we were closely related.
SS was an outsider. He was a stranger who I didn't know. In a way, he gave the best kind of advice because he was a stranger. He protected me, yet he allowed me to have my own freedom and choice.
I smiled to myself. SS was like my guardian angel. He was always at my side, even though he wasn't physically there.
A/N: That's all! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please support this story. Questions? Concerns? Feel free to review or PM me. Also, if you have any ideas or different pairings, please tell me. I'm pretty sure this story will stay StiCy, though.
BTW, "SS" was friends with Laxus, so that's how he knows about Cana and Freed. I'm not sure if that was clear enough.
If there are any mistakes, please comment about it.
Thanks!
Yours,
LYING
