I sat down on the hard but smoothly cemented floors as students continued to flood inside. I had to move around twice because of these rude people. Groaning to myself I slid a hand through my blonde hair, good job Lucy. Sitting by the door? Amazing idea you've got there.

Shaking my head as I sighed at my obviously stupid mistake, I just brought my attention back to the person who was currently performing.

Stupid auditions.

Our school is currently holding auditions for the Literature, Music and Dance competitions which would be held 2 weeks from now. Unfortunately the auditorium was closed for a last-minute renovation concerning that stupid basketball ring accident, so the auditions had to be held somewhere else and the school directors decided that it would be held at my class's classroom, since it was the largest room in the school that they could find. For some reason they decided to do it indoors instead of outside, but from the intel Levy gave me it seemed that it was for private purposes so I decided to brush it off.

Until now.

So…this is what they call privacy huh?

So many people were inside that they had to move ALL our desks and chairs outside, and that pissed me off. As someone who didn't have that much strength I had to move my desk outside THROUGH PEOPLE and without any help received. Even now my palms could still feel the sting from gripping the sides of my desk and my legs still feeling like tortured jelly. And most of all, I didn't even have to participate in this stupid audition just to get my paper for the story writing category passed, so basically I shouldn't even be getting my ass beaten off just for this freakin' thing.

I had to hold back the urge to let my foul mood show when Mirajane finally came up to sing. She was one of my best friends and I didn't want to give her the wrong idea. When she glanced my way I smiled brightly and gave her a thumbs up, and she discretely sent back a sorry sort of smile which I understood perfectly. She knew what I was going through right now.

"Mou…" I moaned slightly into my arms in exhaustion.

"Hey." I looked up at the sudden voice and saw a guy uneasily smiling at me, "Would you mind moving over a little?"

From my seat on the floor, I did as he asked and smiled, "No it's fine—"

"Dude can you move too? I'm getting cramped over here."

"Can you move I wanna sit here and it's pretty tight."

"Yo Loke, got us seats?"

I was jumbled around as more students started complaining about their spaces when I finally found myself to be the one kicked. out. of my seat. I glared at the people behind me and they all shifted around nervously. Groaning once again, I looked around to see if there were any more places for me to sit when my eyes got caught with something, or rather someone, from the other side of the room. My breath got caught in my throat when he almost caught me staring and quickly looked away.

Wondering? Well ladies and gentlemen, that was none other than Natsu Dragneel, the guy I have been in love with for a few years now for NO GODDAMN REASON.

I mean—the guy has pink hair. Who would like a guy with pink hair?!

Ah cheese, that would be me.

I was already nervous enough after seeing that he nearly caught me staring, but what's more, I just noticed that the only seat left vacant was right…right next…to…him…

The world hates me.

I gulped and just decided to accept my odds, pardoning myself across the sea of students and tried as hard as I could, not to look at him as I sat down. I know I'm being slightly rude for ignoring him but could you blame me? Even if we have met since fourth grade things still are basically awkward between us. We never really were close even when we got into the same middle schools. We're friends sure, but mostly acquaintances. We speak at times, laugh, joke around, give each other playful punches but that's about it, never really any real conversations. I'm a nerd, it gets complicated for me when I try to strike up a good convo. Unlike being with my close friends, people like him are hard to talk to! Athletic, social, one of the cool kids, he's that now. And I'm just this, a loner if it weren't for Levy, Erza, Mirajane and Juvia.

Kids, this is pure gold. Listen closely. Never get into a crush like this one, it's suffocating.

"Hey," I looked to my side and was met with his shy smile. I smiled back and gave a single wave.

"Hi."

"So, how's life been going for you?"

"Pretty well."

"Ah…" He nods, then decides to turn his attention back to the current auditions. I did so, too and watched with my back turned to him. I was seriously starting to think about getting acting lessons, I always knew how to act casual even around him…seriously it's amazing.

I was starting to get bored, so I took out my phone and decided to play games until this stupid auditions would be over. I scrolled through my endless list of games and stuck with flappy bird. It's old now but hey, so were the fan-made versions. I started the addicting app, hoping to finally get a score higher than 5.

So engrossed into the game, I didn't notice the pink-haired male looking over my shoulder until finally, "Haha!" He laughed out after seeing my disappointing score of a three, me scowling at him, "Shut up,"

"You're such a sucker." Natsu points out at me like it's a fact, swiping my phone out of my hands which I didn't notice until he waved the app in my face and grinned, "Watch and learn, I can do better!"

Sighing, I just shrugged and watched as he restarted the app. Cracking his knuckles and neck as if he was gonna fight someone, which made me sweat drop a little. He was as childish as he ever was. I shook my head with a slight giggle when he miserably lost with a score of zero.

"Mhmm, says the sucker," I say, looking smug as I swiped my phone back from his hands and crushed a fist against the top of his head. "I don't think it's okay for a guy to steal a girl's phone now isn't it?"

"Not if that girl is basically a man,"

I gave a swift swipe to his gut. I smiled innocently at the few students who looked our way as he tried to hold in the pain. "Words?"

"Ok."

I covered my mouth with my hand and laughed, laughed hard. Natsu was staring at me weirdly now, but he soon too joined in the laughter.

"Who knew you'd actually be fun?"

"Of course I'm fun! I'm the funnest person around!"

"Right, funnest isn't a word. Funniest is,"

"No it isn—wait what?! You just mind tricked me!"

"Or did I?" He gave me scowl and sighed, ruffling my hair out of nowhere making me jump a little in surprise. "Hey!"

"That's enough out of you smartass."

"Are you seriously trying to insult me?"

He shrugged, retreating his hand back and me trying to fix my hair just as he did so, annoyed. I scoffed at the strands that were tangled everywhere. Natsu's onyx eyes looked me up and down, then he raised a thumbs up. "There, now you're all set for Halloween!"

I didn't hit him for that for some reason. Instead, I laughed again, and this time he didn't waste a second in joining me.

A warm, bubbly feeling enveloped my chest and I paused for a second to hold my hand against it, then I smiled. This feeling is somewhat pleasant, something I haven't felt for a really, really long time now. I faced Natsu's laughing face and grinned as I shushed him, noticing the now staring students who had been watching our bickering.

He didn't seem to care and just laughed as much as he want, grinning at me, then talking about something else that's entirely different and makes me the one cracking up then. It's nice, this feels nice talking to him like this but…

As weird as it may seem, at this moment that we are both sharing right now I…I feel like I'm nearly forgetting…that he's my crush…nearly forgetting that talking to him, joking around with him like this feels really…accomplishing. I mean that's what I'm supposed to be feeling, if a girl's crush would be talking back to her and laughing with her she'd be making celebratory tunes in her head while shouting all the while "HELL THE F**K YEAH!", but no, what I'm feeling right now is different. And the weirder part? I don't just feel it from me.

I'm in love.

But right now, in this very moment as we talk about non-important things, I feel like I'm not accomplishing an achievement out of my feelings.

Instead, I feel like I'm making…a friend.

"Hey um, do you still watch anime?"

And that was how I felt the conversation going downhill.

"Nope! I still think Tokyo Ghoul's season 2 opening is awful."

"That's because you look into things without looking through too well into it Natsu." I pointed out, poking the frown on his forehead. "You seriously don't know art when you see one. The opening shows us the viewers just how much he has changed and how much everything just affected him. It's not how the lyrics don't make sense because they do and it's not meant for hyping us up, it's meant for showing us it's relativity to what we're about to see in the show!"

"Man, you talk much for an Otaku. OW!" I scoffed at him and brushed the invisible dirt off my sling bag and stuck my tongue out at him.

"I at least have a better understanding in Tokyo Ghoul, unlike you."

"Hey!"

"Next up!" Me and Natsu faced to our school director Makarov as he clapped his hands. "We will now be having auditions for…hmm, ah! Mixed duet!"

"Mixed duet?" Natsu asked out loud, his face scrunched up in confusion. I blushed a bit. What? He looks cute when he does that!

"You know what a duet is right?" I asked him and he nodded, following, "Well a mixed duet is still a duet, except both singers must be of the opposite gender. For example a boy and a girl, or vice versa."

"Oh…I thought it was some sort of milkshake…" I snorted, but he ignored me. He brought a hand to his chin as if thinking deeply about it then suddenly, he beamed at me and raised his hand. "Hey! Hey Gramps can I sign up for that?!"

"Um yes, that would be nice Dragneel."

"You sing?" I rose a brow at him, remembering the times in sixth grade when he sang at the front of class and it was…horrible. Really horrible, no joke. "Pft, yeah right."

"Hey, are you doubting my singing skills?"

"Doubt isn't even the right word as well as it is an understatement," I shook my head at the idea of him singing. Natsu pouted and scoffed, standing up he went into the center of the room and pointed at me. My eyebrow raised and I raised a hand to cover my smile.

"I'll show you Lucy Heartfilia!" He yelled and I crossed my arms, struggling very much to try and hide my embarrassment. Everybody's staring at me! What do you think you're doing?! "Who's willing to sing with me and show this girl I'm awesome?!"

"Go for it!" I heard someone say and looked towards the crowd, seeing a brown-haired girl push someone—hey doesn't that look that girl look like Mirajane?

"Lisanna!" I faced Natsu and saw that he was referring to the white-haired girl who looked flustered. So her name's Lisanna. "Want to volunteer? Come on I'm trying to win a challenge here!"

"Natsu!" The Lisanna person hushed at him but he ignored her and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the center. I stiffened slightly when my eyes locked with their conjoined hands.

I shook my head and sighed, it's not like I should care who he likes. I don't have the right. I'm alright with this right?

…

…right.

"Natsu!" I watched as Lisanna scolded the pinkette. "I can't sing alright? Pick someone else."

"Aw man." I couldn't help but feel relief as the white-haired beauty sat back down next to her friend.

Wait a minute.

I slapped a hand on my cheek discretely.

Bad Lucy.

"So anyone else?" He inquired and a couple other girls raised their hands, more raised when he made out a grin. I frowned, how could he attract women so easily? This jerk. (I should really listen to myself.)

"Alright, how about you—!"

"Hey!"

Everyone's eyes turned to me as I stood up from where I sat, asking Makarov politely for two microphones and walked until I was next to Natsu, handing him a microphone. "Here, now we can really see who's better!"

Natsu stood there staring at me in surprise for a while until finally, his grin came back, "Now you're talking Heartfilia!"

I could only stand there as he took the microphone from my extended hand.

My heartbeat's getting abnormal.

Life is so unfair.

"I'm so beating you!" He declares, pumping a fist. I giggled and pumped a fist of my own. He smiles ands asks me "So, song?"

I shrugged. "Whatever, sucker."

Ok I just completely had a change of opinion.

This guy can actually sing.

"Don't worry Luce, you were good too!" He complimented with a grin just as we both finished singing. I was panting, since I wasn't that great when it came to taking breaths between words. He must've taken lessons for his voice to sound that good!

"Yeah, sure." I brushed him off and returned to my seat hearing Makarov yell 'Next!'. I sighed and massaged my temples for a moment, as I laid back to relax myself. The moment I opened my eyes I finally started to notice how almost everyone was staring at me like I grew a second head…but even weirder, they're doing it in a good way!

"Wow Natsu…they're stari—" I said, but cut myself off when I looked beside me to see that Natsu…wasn't there. "…ing."

I looked around. "Where did he—…oh." He was with his friends. Beside him was Gray while on the other side was…Lisanna.

They were sitting across the room from me, laughing freely.

I sighed, of course, this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's not really that weird is it? I mean, they're his best friends and of course he'd rather sit with them than me. The last ray of hope I had of him coming back shut off completely when a girl sat down on his seat beside me. Well, she asked me if anyone was sitting there, and I was about to say yes but then…yeah, so I let her take it.

I took one glance at Natsu for closure and faced my watch, it's almost time for dismissal. I could leave now, I mean, there's no reason for me to stay here anymore right? I never liked these stupid auditions anyway…

…

…I never really had any hope for him liking me back anymore anyway.

Perhaps being acquaintances is really just the closest to a relationship I'll get.

It hurts.

I might be being dramatic, but that's reality. It hurts to like someone from afar, even more that there is only a bit of closeness between you two…and it can only stay that way, or be gone completely. It had always stayed that way for me, through fourth grade and middle school until now.

It's annoying, stupid cupid. That's my new life motto right next to love sucks.

I dusted myself off and stood up, preparing to leave when I stopped to see him grinning beside me, asking the girl to leave the seat…seeing him sitting down as soon as she left and make a joke, making me throw silent giggles. "Where are you going?"

"I was just about to go take a wazz, but I change my mind," I wanted to ask him why he came back, why he's back sitting beside me right now, and I had more questions.

I wanted to ask him why he started a small talk with me even with an awkward atmosphere, I wanted to ask him why he took my phone, why he lost on purpose, why he kept talking to me and making me laugh, why he would sing a duet with someone who didn't want to just to challenge me, why he left then to go laugh with friends, why he left, why he asked that girl to leave, why he made me laugh and why he smiled at me. I wanted to ask him how he does it, how he makes my heart go all jumpy with the smallest, stupidest, most nonsensical gestures.

I sat back down, right next to him, because it was then that I realized.

I should just learn to cherish these little moments between the two of us, because no matter how small they are, they matter. And honestly, they might just be the best to make the most of.

They make me…a little less lonely, in where I'm staying.

"We're friends right?"

"…"

Little by little…

"…are we? I don't remember being friends with a thug."

…these little moments…

"Well, too bad. You are! Ahahaha—OW!"

…are helping me take baby steps towards a better relationship.

I could only smile at Natsu as he rubs the throbbing pain on his cheek.

"Idiot, I already know that."

He smiled back.

I wonder…

…where will I be staying this time?

A/N: Sorry for not updating Maybe I'm Broken, I'm having plot problems with it so please consider it to be on a few-week hiatus for the time being.

So, how'd I do? Did this look too rushed or too unrealistic? Just to let you guys know, this one-shot is based on what had happened to me and my thoughts on it(It was pretty recent, about 2 or a month ago). I don't know, I got pretty deep with myself at the time and the memory came back to me so I wrote it down, NaLu version :3

(BTW we're very close friends now, but not really best. There's been rumors that he likes someone else so I'm planning to move on BUT for this story you guys can all just imagine that they ended up together and had 4 kids :'D)

Dedication: To all those people out there that's having painful crushes. Even though mine might not be as painful, I'm here to help and give advice. I've had my years :P Anyway, as Lucy said, cherish the little moments, as small as they can be they can lead you to bigger futures :)

Hope you enjoyed this one-shot, please review and remember I'm always here to help ^_^

-K-