New story time! This came to me so randomly. And it turned out so much different than I first imagined it. Maybe it doesn't make any sense.. hopefully it does! I actually have an idea for a part 2. We'll see! depends on how much love this gets ^^
Fairy Tail and it's characters belong to Hiro Mashima
The seniors of Magnolia high gathered in the auditorium one cold January afternoon. Most wanted to go home, some had practice or club meetings. Lucy had a ton of paperwork to get done so she could get her college applications turned in ASAP. The college she wanted to get into was taking one last group of students, she was sending in another letter to double her chances.
"Alright settle down!" The principal Makarov yelled from his spot on the stage. The school nurse Porylusica tapped her foot, not pleased to still be amungst these vile students.
"Geez, hurry it up already," Lucy heard Gray Fullbuster whine in the row in front of her. He was the star of the hockey team and had gained their school a state championship for the last 3 years. She had never spoken to him, but he had quite the reputation.
"As you know, this year we have had a number of scuffles amungst you all," Makarov spoke, referring to the many fights that broke out in the senior class since the start of the fall term, "I've gotten complaints from the staff and underclassmen about them all year long. And that is why we are doing something about to unite you all before you graduate and never see each other again."
Lucy was intrigued, although thanks to the groans she heard, her classmates did not feel the same.
"Prom will be held in early May. We are going to hold a dance," Lucy tilted her head to the side, wasn't the prom already a dance? "And what I mean is, we will have a professional dance instructor come and teach you all a choreographed dance to do together at the prom. Every student, teacher, coach, older siblings, and parents will be able to attend to watch."
"Seriously?" Lucy was shocked, this had never been heard of before.
"Oh hush up," Porlyusica shouted over the confused seniors, "You're going to do and if you don't, no diploma."
That shut them all up.
"That is why we passed out this list," Makarov held up a paper they had all signed this morning. If they were going and who with. Lucy didn't have a date but she wanted to go and have fun, most of her friends graduated two years ago. But she now had Levy and a few others as her friends, and they were her family now.
"If you said you were not going to attend, too bad. You're going," groans, "no date? We are going to pick one for you." More groans.
Lucy cringed, who knew who her dance partner was going to be.
"Gildarts," the head football coach sprang from his spot with another list in his hands, "When Coach Clive calls your name, raise your hand and he will bring you the name of your partner."
"Alright!" the head coach was always in a good mood, "Gajeel Redfox?"
A brute near the middle raised his hand. Lucy had never spoken to half her grade. She lowered her eyes to her hands, her father had introduced her to his business partners daughters, even if that left her a little lonely.
"Lucy Heartfilia?"
"Oh," she quickly raised her hand, and for the first time came face to face with the happy coach.
She took her paper from him and opened it after he called the next student.
Natsu Dragneel.
Lucy stared wide eyed at the paper. No.
"Who did you get Lucy?" Yukino, another good friend of Lucy's asked.
"Oh, um," too shocked to say she just showed her the paper.
"Natsu?" Yukino didn't look as shocked as Lucy, "That's not so bad."
"Really?" Lucy whispered, "he's so... violent."
"Yes," she sighed, "but he hasn't always been."
"He's the definition of a bad boy."
"That's true," Yukino smiled pitily at her, "Why not just tell them you want another partner?"
"Are you shittin' me?!"
Both girls looked behind them, Natsu was sitting alone behind everyone else looking at his own paper.
"Oh great," Lucy ducked down into her seat, seeing as his eyes scanned the auditorium.
"Language, Dragneel," Makarov sighed, "That should be everyone, practice starts next week. Pick up the schedule on your way out. If you don't know your partner, you better start now."
Everyone who did have a date left in a semi-good mood. Lucy watched as Gray and his girlfriend Juvia left hand in hand, the bluenette was giddy about learning to dance. She stood and looked to the back where her partner was. He was deep down in his seat, hiding his face in his large leather jacket.
"This won't be so bad," Lucy wasn't afraid of Natsu as she let on, she actually knew him very well. They just..
"Lucy? We have rehesral starting in a few moments if you don't mind," the intimidating student council president nudged her to move.
"Oh. Sorry! I'll leave now," Erza was apart of everything that went on with the school, including theater. Unfortunately, she had bad nerves. So she directed the stage crew.
Erza was another that had quite the reputation, Lucy had never really spoken to her other than having class with her.
"You too Natsu," Lucy glanced over her shoulder as Erza glared at the delinquent.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," he began to walk out when she called to him again, "Don't you dare forget that schedule. You're partner will expect you there."
Lucy gulped as she picked up said schedule.
"Tch. Sure she will," he grabbed a paper, completely ignoring Lucy.
She watched him go with a heavy heart. He wasn't like this when they first met..
The first practice was the following Monday. All seniors gathered in the gym with world renowned dancer, Ur Milkovich. Gray's adopted mother.
Lucy sat on the few bleachers they had pulled out, her partner no where in sight.
She watched happily as couples came together and started to dance a clumsy waltz.
Gray and Juvia weren't half bad, he was raised in a dancing home after all.
Jellal and Erza laughed as they looked at their feet, his face was the color of her hair as he stepped on his girlfriend's toes.
Her poor friend Levy had been paired up with Gajeel, the brute was so stiff. And their height difference was hysterical.
Yukino was with her boyfriend Sting, they were talking to another couple, Rogue and Minerva. The four stuck together like glue. Lucy laughed when Minerva slapped Rogue's arm when the boys starting arguing.
Other couples were having their own fun. Cana and Freed were actually doing well, all thanks to Freed. Elfman and Evergreen refused to look at anything but their feet.
Lucy sighed, placing her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands as she watched. Practice was supposed to last 2 hours every other day. She had already missed 15 minutes of the first one because her partner refused to show.
"And just where is your date?" Ur came up to her, hands on her hips.
"I don't know," Lucy glanced at the door again.
"If he doesn't come he doesn't graduate, you better make sure he knows that," when Lucy shifted Ur got it, "you're one of the couples put together randomly right?"
"Yes," Lucy sat up straight, "If he doesn't show.. I'll still graduate right?"
"Oh yes," she nodded, "it'll just be him."
"I'm here, dammit. No way am I not getting out of this place," Natsu turned the corner and glared at the both of them.
"You missed the beginning. Which means you don't know what to do," Ur looked at the boy oddly, like she recognized him. Lucy watched as Natsu scowled.
"I know basic steps and crap," he had yet to look at her.
"Alright," she smirked, "come on and show me what you got," she motioned for the two to follow her.
"If you know so much, place your hands correctly on your partner," Ur smugly told Natsu. Lucy gulped nervously. She hadn't danced formally in years, never with a boy, never even had a boyfriend before.
"Tch," for the first time in years, Lucy looked into Natsu's eyes. For a moment she saw an emotion she was sure he never felt. Pain. Of course, someone always angry would be in pain a lot. Lucy knew that. But the pain she saw, it didn't look like what she'd imagined. It looked like the pain was eating away at him. As if he felt there was no other way to live.
He scowled and the emotion in his eyes left. Leaving nothing. He stepped up to her and placed his hand on her lower back, a little higher than it was supposed to be. He grabbed her other hand and raised it to the correct spot. Lucy placed her free hand on his shoulder.
"Very nice," Lucy felt Ur lower his hand to the dip in her back, "Now take the first steps. 1, 2, 3.. 1, 2, 3.."
Lucy was surprised how sure of his steps Natsu was. She herself took lessons as a child, but even she was a little uneasy.
"My, my," Ur crossed her arms, "Not bad. I'll leave you to it."
She walked off, going to help other struggling couples.
They continued taking small steps to get it right before Lucy spoke, "So, you can danc-"
"Just save the chit chat. I just want to get out of this damn place."
He was looking over her head, never meeting her eyes.
Lucy puffed out her cheeks, "We're going to be spending a lot of time together, you could be nicer."
He closed his eyes and breathed through his nose deeply, when he opened his eyes they were full of a raw emotion that Lucy couldn't place, "Like hell."
His voice was low and cruel. Lucy's bottom lip trembled as he took the lead again, she watched her feet, determined to get it right even if her partner was being an ass.
Doing so, she didn't see dark green eyes lose their edge. They watched her with a painful longing. The last few years had taught him to be cruel to what he cared about. And holding what he held most dear in his arms, but knowing it was a fleeting thing, destroyed what hope was left in his empty chest.
When Lucy looked back up the angry look was on his face. It didn't scare her, she just wasn't looking forward to looking in those hate filled eyes for the next few months.
For several weeks, the seniors got the hang of the waltz. Lucy was happy she remembered the simple steps. Natsu had as well, but he hadn't changed his attitude. In fact, it got worse.
It was now the end of March, they had little over a month left.
Ur was now placing them in their official spots. Lucy and Natsu were near Gray and Juvia, and for some reason it pissed Natsu off.
Juvia waved at Lucy, they had become good friends in their math classes, both being no good at it. Gray stared at Natsu under his bangs, something in his eyes made Lucy wonder if something happened. She had entered this school in the 9th grade. Starting freshman year with a whole new environment was scary, but as far as she could remember Natsu and Gray had never talked. Actually, she had never seen Natsu talk to anyone unless he had too.
"What are you starin at?" Natsu hissed, Lucy jumped and looked back at him. He was even angrier.
"Nothing," she mumbled back, sending her own glare at him.
She heard him grumble to himself but didn't care to listen to what he was saying.
"Alright brats," Ur yelled, scaring more than half of them, "get into form and lets begin."
Natsu jerked her into his arms. Lucy bounced off his hard chest, her large chest allowing her a soft landing. Something she was both thankful and embarrassed of. She raised her hand for him to take, which he did, awkwardly. She looked at him and saw his eyes were closed and his face slightly pink.
"There is no way he enjoyed that," but the stiff way moved she knew he did, "What a pig.. just like the rest."
She had to remind herself that he wasn't like this when they first met. And sometimes it was hard to believe that he was even the same person.
They had met the summer before freshman year. They both got a job at the water park in the next town over as lifeguards. She was hoping to meet people she went to school with, he never told her why he got the job.
They spent every day that summer together. He was so much fun, so cheerful and energetic. He caused so much trouble too, pulling pranks on her and other lifeguards. Harmless little pranks, almost childlike.
Nothing compared to now. And she had no idea what happened. She had to quit two weeks before school, her father wanted her to meet the girls that she actually became good friends with. And the next time she saw Natsu he was angry and cruel.
Lucy looked into his eyes as much as she could, whenever they danced he never looked at her. It made her sad. How could he forget her so easily?
"Would you focus, princess? I'd like to keep my feet," Natsu glared at her as he kicked her foot off of his.
"Sorry," she whispered, not really caring if he heard her or not. He was back to ignoring her.
"That's enough for today!" Ur yelled, "We're gonna start doing some Saturday practices. Schedule's by the door."
Lucy groaned, more practice? They did have school work to do.
"Hey, Natsu," Gray was walking towards her partner, "Can we talk?"
Natsu jerked away from him, "Like hell I would ever wanna talk to you."
"Natsu, come on- hey!" Natsu turned around left the gym.
"Darling?" Juvia touched Gray's shoulder.
"It's OK. Had a feeling that would happen," he smiled at her and then turned to Lucy, "Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize to me," She shook a little, she felt out of place next to one of Magnolia's power couples, "You know him? I've never seen you guys talk.."
Juvia looked sad as they waited for Gray to answer. He ran a hand through his hair, "I used to."
"Used to?" Even the summer they spent together Lucy never heard Natsu say anything about Gray, or anyone really.
"Let's go, Juvia."
"Yes, darling. Bye Lucy."
"Bye," she waved as they left. She went to grab her bag so she could leave too. She needed to get home and change. She and Levy were going dress shopping.
"I'll meet you there in an hour?" Levy asked her as they walked outside the school.
"Yep. I'll see you there," waving by to her and Yukino as she passed, Lucy made her way to her car. Before she got in, she saw a motorcycle with a rider sitting on it, talking on his phone.
He wasn't parked next to anyone, most likely underclassmen. He was always alone, and it broke Lucy's heart. No matter how cruel he was, he didn't deserve to be alone. She was walking towards him before she knew it.
He glared at her when she stopped next to him, "What, princess."
"Stop calling me that," she huffed. Realizing she had nothing to say, she asked him something she had forgotten earlier, "What color do you like?"
"Huh?" he stopped putting his helmet on to stare at her.
"I'm going to pick out a dress. I need to know what color you want."
"What the hell does it matter what color I want? It's your dress," he put the helmet on but left the visor up.
"Idiot. We have to match," his blank stare ticked her off, "You are getting a tux aren't you?"
"No way."
"Natsu, it's required," she ground out.
"I'll just wear a damn button up, who cares. I"m showing up for this damn dance then leaving. I didn't want to go anyway," he spat.
"I don't care. Rent a tux so you can look the part, Miss Ur told us we had to be formal. Now what color?"
"Tch," he looked away from her. She got a good look at him then, he was actually very attractive. Leather jacket, holes in his jeans, steel toed boots, sitting on a death trap. The picture of a bad boy.
"Red."
She looked up to his face that was now covered by the visor as he strapped it on securely, "Red?"
"Problem, blondie?"
"What.. Don't call me that either!" she stepped back as he revved up the engine. He gave her a two fingered salute and drove off.
"Natsu!" she coughed as smoke filled her lungs, "Ughh!"
She stomped back to her car, unaware of those green eyes following her. Anger was present still, but he watched her with a fondness that no one knew he had anymore. Only a few more weeks until she went back to ignoring him. He shook his head, flipping off the car behind him as they honked at him to go.
The day of prom was so hectic. Lucy's father had wanted the best for his little girl, he even took off that night so he could watch her dance.
"Dad, it's not a big deal," Lucy laughed as her father spun her around the living room.
"Of course it is," his chest expanded with pride as she giggled. She was stunning in her red mermaid style dress, Layla would be so proud of the woman their little girl had become.
"Daddy!" she almost tripped on her dress.
"Now your date, is he picking you up?"
"Yes, unfortunately," Natsu had been so quiet lately, he hadn't been angry, just quiet. He told her yesterday that he would pick her up and they would get something to eat before hand. It had honestly shocked her, she was sure he would show up right before they had to dance and leave the moment it was over.
Ding-Dong-Ding
"Ah, that must be him, wait here!" Jude grinned and headed to their door.
Lucy took a deep breath, ready to get this night over with.
"Lucy," Jude stepped back into the room smiling. Following him was Natsu, who looked so handsome in a black tuxedo, white shirt and blood red tie, "One moment. I'll be right back."
Her father went down the hall, leaving the two alone.
Natsu was staring at the floor, shifting nervously.
"You look nice," just because he was rude didn't mean she had to be.
He glanced up at her, his face a little pink. He nodded, "You look..."
She raised an eyebrow at him as he looked her up and down a few times, she was about to tell him off when he whispered, "..beautiful."
Her face flushed, not prepared for him to be so.. so.. nice.
"Thank you," she smiled. She picked up the boutonniere and walked over to him, "here."
He stood stiff as she attached it to his jacket. His breath was jagged, and he tapped his foot steadily.
"Perfect," the rose went well with his tie.
"Yeah.. here," he held out a box, a corsage.
"You didn't have to get me this," she knew he worked to live, both of his parents died when he was young.
"It's tradition," he put the box down and slid the flower on her wrist.
A snap startled both of them, her father had returned with a camera.
"Dad," she groaned, she didn't want Natsu to get mad first thing, "I said no pictures."
"Just a few, let an old man have his memories," Jude laughed and came into the room, "come on, just a few of you two together."
She prayed for patience and asked, "Is that OK?"
Natsu turned to her and nodded, "Yeah."
Again, Lucy was stunned. This bad boy. The delinquent of Magnolia high had somehow been... tame.. the last few days. She had no clue what universe she was in anymore.
"Lucy," her fathers firm voice brought her back. She smiled and stood closer to Natsu. He put his arm around her waist, Lucy put her arms around his. He was lean but muscular.
"Smile," her father took a few pictures before deeming he got the perfect one.
"You kids have fun, have her home before one," Jude patted Natsu's shoulder.
"One? Someone's being generous," Lucy giggled.
"You're a young woman now, have to loosed the reigns a little," he hugged her to his chest. She swore she saw Natsu watch them with a sad look on his face.
"Let's go," Lucy closed the door behind her, she was praying her hairspray would stick on his motorcycle when she didn't see it, "What are riding in?"
"This," he opened the passenger side door to a black mustang, "It's my brothers."
She stopped getting in the car and turned to him, "Brother?"
Natsu nodded stiffly, not saying a word as she got in and closing the door behind her.
"He has a brother? I.. didn't know."
She realized she didn't know anything about him. He had asked her a million questions about herself that summer. She had returned the favor, but somehow she didn't notice him dodging them. He never gave her a straight answer.
"I ain't rich or anything," he spoke, pulling her out of her thoughts, "so it ain't gonna be anything fancy."
She slyly watched him as he drove. He still wasn't angry. Ever since she had first seen him in that brawl, there were rumors. He was the typical bad boy who was always angry, got into fights, broke the rules and such. But for the last week, it was like he just gave up that image. Lucy was happy for the change, because it helped them finally learn the whole dance. But she also wanted to know what happened to cause it.
"Oh, pizza?" Lucy asked as they pulled up to a deserted parking lot, it was a little homey restaurant.
"Yeah," he blushed, "...it's all I can afford."
Lucy felt her heart jerk, "And all this time during our practices I've been complaining about the kind of food father makes us eat at his business parties.."
The door opened on her side, making the heiress jump.
He had pulled off his jacket, and rolled up his sleeves. He helped Lucy out of the car, and she noticed all the scratches on his forearms.
"I volunteer at the animal shelter," he had caught her staring, "bunch of kittens.."
"I'm sorry.." she followed him inside, "I shouldn't have been staring.."
"It's fine. Go sit over there," he pointed to the corner booth by the window.
"OK," she watched as he walked away. She sighed as she went to his preferred seat. Four years ago she would have called him her best friend, 5 months ago she would have said an enemy, but now, she didn't know..
"It'll be right out," he sat a water in front of her and sat down. He stared out the window, almost in a daze.
"Natsu.." he shifted his gaze to her, "is something wrong?"
He blinked a few times before closing his eyes, "No."
He didn't say another word until they got to the school, "I'm only here for the dance," after that he walked to the back of the gym to find a seat alone.
"Lucy!" Levy waved her over to her table with Gajeel.
"Hey!" she wasn't going to worry about his odd behavior, this was her senior prom! She was going to enjoy it, "You guys look great!"
Levy blushed, she was wearing a green knee length cocktail dress. Gajeel was in a black suit, dark green tie on top of a black shirt.
"Thanks. You look amazing!" Levy hugged her as she sat down next to her.
"Where's Dragneel?" Gajeel took the toothpick out of his mouth to ask.
Lucy looked to where he wandered off to, "He didn't want to come in the first place, so he's sitting alone somewhere."
"Hmph," Gajeel ground his teeth together. Lucy wanted to know what happened between them all.
"Don't worry about him. He's just here to do this dance, that's enough. Which i'm actually excited about!"
Lucy laughed when Gajeel started to bicker with Levy, they made a cute pair. Over their time as partners they became super close, Levy told her they even went on a date!
The music was fast and exciting, there were people everywhere, parents were waiting in the lobby for when they could come in and watch the dance. Juvia was grinding against her love, which made him very nervous with Ur being in the same room. Erza and Jellal had no reservations about this type of dance, it was actually Erza the one blushing with the way he was staring at her.
Levy invited Lucy to dance with her and Gajeel in one of the faster dances, along with Yukino and her small group Lucy was having a good time. This didn't go unnoticed by her partner.
He sat in the shadows in the back, arms and head laying on the table as he watched her. He watched all of them, they were happy. His heart hurt at the thought, because he knew if he even tried to join he would be rejected.
They were once his friends, ever since childhood. And Lucy, he finally found someone who saw past all his flaws. Someone who looked at him like he was more than the class clown. But..
**first day of freshman year**
Natsu gulped as he walked down the hall. The upperclassmen were intimidating. He didn't know where any of his friends were, the only one in his homeroom was Gray, and he was running away from his own personal stalker that he secretly liked.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he found his combination and looked for his new locker.
He could already here the teasing. Wait, that's a boy? I thought it was girl since he has pink hair... Who wear's a scarf in August?... He doesn't have any parents, how sad...
He desperately tried to block it out when his locker neighbor appeared. It was her. The girl he worked with all summer at the waterpark. Luigi? Lacey?
"It's Lucy you idiot!"
A huge smile spread across his face, "Lucy! Hey!"
The beautiful blonde that he came to like so much looked at him with shy and glazed over eyes, "Um, hi?"
"I was wondering when I'd find you. So, what classes-"
"Do I know you?"
She was putting binders and notebooks into her locker. She didn't see the shock and hurt on his face, "Uh. Yeah. We worked together. It's Na-"
"Lucy! Come on! We want to show you where to sign up for the clubs!" An upperclassmen dragged her away. Natsu held his locked door to keep from collapsing. Was he really not that important to her?
**end**
That's when the chain started.
Erza was elected as class president and told him to learn some manners and she wouldn't speak to him unless he did.
Gray got close to the hockey team and never even spoke to him.
Gajeel got into a band and was almost never around.
Lucy... never spoke to him. After the first day, he avoided looking at her.
It was with Cobra, a junior who decided that his hair was the perfect place to put his gum, because it would blend in.
His sadness at being left behind and anger at the people who said they cared is what made him put his fist in Cobra's face. He ended up breaking the boys nose and earned a two day suspension. When he returned, no one would look at him. He became the 'delinquent' as they liked to call him. What really hurt was when he saw Lucy that morning, she actually flinched when she saw him.
Then and there he just wanted to leave. He began to act as everyone believed him to be. His friends never looked at him anymore and Lucy, the only girl he's ever liked, finally recognized him but it was too late.
Natsu buried his head into his arms. The last four years had been hell. He didn't have anyone to turn to, his own brother was never around. Choosing to be with his girlfriend or his friends who called themselves a 'dark guild'. He had to work everyday to pay for food and the semi-nice apartment he lived in with only his cat Happy as a companion. And once he graduated nothing would change, he would still be alone.
"Hey," Natsu lifted his head to see Gray standing next to his table, "can we talk?"
He growled, "I ain't got anything to say to you."
"Well I have something to say to you," Gray sat next to him, groaning when Natsu turned away from him to stare at the wall.
"Little too late for that."
Gray knew that, it was four years too late. He had got caught up in the idea of playing on the varsity hockey team that his best friend got ignored, ignored to the point that he became a different person.
Erza felt the same way. She called him every once in a while, crying because she missed the old days.
"Natsu," he turned to the frenemy that knew him inside and out way back when, "I'm sorry."
"Save it," Natsu stood up, "I said it's too late for that."
Lucy drank the punch that may or may not be spiked. Taking a break because the next dance was the big one.
"Good luck Lucy!" Levy and Gajeel walked away hand in hand to find their spot.
"You too!" she threw away her cup and was immediately yanked away, "Ow!"
"Shut up," Natsu spit out as he drug her to their spot. All the seniors were getting in place.
"What's wrong with you?!" she hissed, trying to draw anyone's attention.
"I want this damn thing over with."
He crossed his arms and glared at his feet. Lucy sighed, there went the peace she was having. She looked up into the seats the viewers were in. She located her father near the center, he waved when she caught his eye. She smiled and kept looking. She saw a lot of the teachers and underclassmen. She blinked when she saw a girl she knew. She was a senior Lucy's freshman year. Long wavy blonde hair, fairy wings behind her ears. She was sitting next to a dark haired boy a little older than her. And to her surprise they were looking at her.
Or more precisely, they were looking at Natsu, "Is that your brother?"
"Huh?" he looked around the crowd and moaned pitifully, "What the hell are they doing here?!"
"Maybe he wants to be a supportive brother," she pointed out what should be the obvious.
"Sure. That's why I live alone and haven't talked to him since Christmas," the only reason he even got to borrow his car was because of Mavis.
The hurt in his voice shredded Lucy's smile. Before she could comfort him Makarov started speaking.
"These are the boys and girls that make up Magnolia High's graduating class. We've had a tough year, and that is why I wanted to do something that would unite them. I do hope you'll enjoy it."
Natsu gripped her waist and hand tightly. She winced, he was still so angry.
The song started and the large group moved as one. Lucy moved with the beat, not missing a one. Natsu moved so stiffly, Lucy desperately wanted to know what changed.
Ur had incorporated different styles of dance so it wasn't a normal waltz. It was fun, almost all the seniors got over their differences and reconciled thanks to the time they got to spend together. Lucy had made new friends in Erza, Gray and a few others actually. But none of them had said a word to Natsu.
Granted, he never gave anyone the option.
The last twist of the dance, every girl was getting dipped by her partner. When Lucy looked up into the eyes of her partner, the pain she saw was back. But this time is wasn't alone. Was that sadness? Dread? He held her tightly so he wouldn't drop her, other than being a little rough when pulling her somewhere, he had never tried to hurt her.
He pulled her back to her feet, his hands on her waist as everyone clapped. He was breathing heavy and placed his forehead against hers. She gripped her hands into his shirt. This might be her last chance.
"Thank you for showing your support to our seniors! Now! Let's get back to the party!"
Everyone around them shouted and started dancing again, some couples separated but most stuck together.
"Come find me when you want to go home, I'll be outside."
Natsu let go of her and left the gym.
Lucy watched him go. Tonight was her last chance to finally talk to him. She wasn't going to waste it.
Natsu was sitting on one of the lunch benches underneath the cherry tree.
"Natsu?" she stood a few feet away.
"The dance is over. Go back to your life, princess," there was no threat in his voice, just exhaustion.
"Not until I ask you something," she finally sat next to him on the bench. He turned away from her.
"How come you didn't come find me when school started?"
He glared at her, "What are you talking about?"
"Freshman year. How come you never looked for me?"
He stared at her blankly, Lucy assumed it was because he actually didn't know what she was talking about. Sighing, she stood, "That summer must have been just an act to him.."
"We met the first day."
She turned around to see his tough act gone, his pinks cheeks and eyes ablaze, "What?"
"The first day of school that year. We met first thing."
Lucy racked her brain, she would have remembered that! She knew he was her locker neighbor, but she hadn't actually seen him standing there, until after the fight..
"Our lockers were right next to each other. I spoke to you!" he stood, the edge of the wooden table cracking under his grip, "you acted like you didn't know me!"
"He spoke to me...?"
"The first day? We met?"
He walked right up to her, staring her down, "You asked if you knew me. We spent the whole damn summer together and you can't remember who I am?!"
"I was so nervous.. that day.." Lucy shook her head, she honestly didn't remember, "I'm sorry Natsu.. I-"
"Save it!" he stomped back to the table and kicked at the ground next to it. He punched the cherry tree, he was letting out steam. He then turned back to her.
"Do you remember what I told you? Before you left that summer."
Lucy shook her head.
"I told you I was afraid my friends and I wouldn't be friends after the year was over. They were all talking about the stuff they wanted to do and I wasn't involved in any of that."
She bowed her head, she remembered that now. And it made her feel worse to know that it actually happened.
"You said that you would be there for me if it happened. Well it did. And the first time I see you even react to me you're scared of me."
"Natsu.." she waited a few moments before speaking, "I'm so sorry. My father made me meet these girls, juniors, to be friends with. They told me so much about the school it made me scared. That first day.. I wasn't even thinking about finding you.. so when you spoke to me.."
Natsu sneered. He understood, but that didn't mean he would forgive her.
"I'm so sorry.."
"Yeah, whatever. It's in the past now."
"No," ever since she first saw him, or rather recognized him, she had wanted to talk to him and hang out and so much more, "Please let me make it up to you."
"Why? In a few weeks you'll never see me again."
Lucy shook her head, "I won't let that happen!"
With all the courage she had, she came up to him and laced her fingers through his, "I wasted 4 years because I was scared. I'll use the next four to make it up to you."
"I ain't going to college. So that ain't happening."
Lucy stared at him for a moment, she wanted this more than she wanted to write her novel. She wanted to show him how sorry she was. She was the reason he became who he was.
"Come with me, then."
He pulled back from her, "What the hell?!"
"I'm going to Fairy University. I'm getting an apartment near campus. Come with me."
Natsu stumbled back to the table, bracing himself, "You're nuts!" His face was flushed and his heart was beating fast. He had spent the last four years being the bad boy. As much as he wanted to spend time with her.. he didn't think he deserved it.
"I want to make up for the time we've lost. Please?"
She stretched out her hand, waiting for him to take it. He was lost, was it actually possibly that his luck changed? His friends abandoned him, his crush ignored him, his brother was barely around..
"So? You want to make up for lost time. What do I get in this?"
Lucy faltered, she knew the Natsu from that summer would take this chance before she finished her sentence. But this one?
"That's for you to decide," she took a step towards him, "will you come with me? Let me beg forgivness for the last couple years? I'll do anything you want."
Nastsu looked down at her hand. This deal.. sounded great.
"I don't have any money."
"My father is paying the rent. I have enough saved for food and stuff. But you'll have to get a job."
"I have a cat."
"He can come too."
He took a step closer, "I don't like to clean. And I sleep in the nude."
She flushed, "We'll work on the cleaning. As long as you close your door, do what you want."
He smirked for the first time in a long time, "Are you sure you want me to come? I've made your life pretty miserable."
She smiled, he had been pretty mean over the years, "I hurt you too. And that's why I want you to come. I want my friend back."
The last time Natsu grinned this big was when he saw Lucy standing next to him in the hallway, "Then ya got yourself a deal," he put his hand in hers.
"Great," she laughed. He pulled her into his chest so he could hug her.
"Thanks, Lucy."
Feeling a tear fall down her cheek and another on her neck, she knew she made the right choice. She would never forget him again.
It's different from my normal stuff. But I really needed a change ^^ if you made down here then you deserve a cookie!
thanks for reading :) I may make a part 2, not sure yet :)