Lucy Heartfilia stared at her partner and boyfriend, Natsu Dragneel, as he talked to his childhood friend, Lisanna Strauss. Recently, the blond couldn't help but be a bit jealous of the silver-haired girl who seemed to be spending more time with her boyfriend, than Lucy did. The salmon-haired weirdo she loved only ever seemed to talk about Lisanna when they were together. They hardly went on dates and lately, the only time they seemed to spend together was when they were on missions. Both Lucy and Natsu had instantly hit it off when she first joined the organization and even though he was reluctant at first, he quickly accepted her as his partner. It didn't take long for both of them to fall in love and in less than a year, they were already dating.
"Lucy, can I talk to you for a bit?" A beautiful woman with scarlet hair called out to her as Lucy looked away from the two talking a few feet away.
"What's up Erza?" Lucy asked as she walked up to her friend.
"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it lately." Lucy was surprised that someone had noticed her recent mood change and instinctively glanced at Natsu. Erza looked past Lucy and seemed to understand instantly. "Don't worry, I'm sure he's just glad he finally got to see his old partner again. He had been blaming himself for the past few years for not being able to protect her when they had the accident. He still loves you," Erza assured as she embraced the depressed blond.
"You really think so?" Lucy asked as she hugged her friend.
"Hey, he promised not to hurt you when I said I would eliminate him if he did." Erza laughed as she remembered Natsu's scared face. Lucy couldn't help but laugh nervously along for fear of upsetting the weapon master beside her. "But if he did," Erza began as Lucy felt a chill down her spine. If this were an anime, like the ones she liked to watch Saturday nights after a long mission, she could have sworn Erza had a dark aura surrounding her. "Let's just say he might never be heard from again. But let's not think about that, what about your birthday tomorrow? I can't give you the day off, but we can meet up after your mission with Levy."
"Sure, I'll bring Michelle over and we can all hang out together." Erza nodded in satisfaction as she watched her friends' face light up.
"Well then, go home and get some rest. You'll need all your energy tomorrow when you spend all day translating ancient texts with Levy."
"Isn't it exciting, though? To translate texts from an ancient civilization that everyone thought was extinct, only to have their descendants show up after the Great War... That's just a dream come true for a linguist like me and Levy-chan!" Lucy smiled brightly as she hugged Erza before gathering her things. "I'll see you tomorrow Erza!" Lucy cried as she ran to the elevator.
"What the heck?!" Lucy could hear Erza's confusion as the red-head held up a weapon in her hands.
'Had Erza been holding one earlier? Eh, who knows?' Lucy watched as the doors of the elevator slowly closed. 'I can't wait to go home and tell Michelle what I'll be doing tomorrow!' Lucy ran but stopped when she reached the end of the street. There, as she ignored the cars that drove by and the people who were making their way home after a long day, Lucy saw Natsu hug Lisanna. As the light changed and she walked closer to them, she could faintly hear what they were saying.
"Natsu, I love you, but you have to make up your mind. You and I were a couple and I understand that you moved on after you thought I was dead. But you can't keep me and Lucy waiting to make up your mind." Lisanna stepped back and went wide-eyed when she saw Lucy. Sadness filled her eyes and she took a step back.
Natsu, still unaware that Lucy was there, took a step back in surprise when she stepped in between them. The street seemed to suddenly go quiet as it quickly emptied out.
"Natsu do you still love Lisanna?" Lucy asked as she took a deep breath. 'I can't be sad, I did see this coming. But then again, he's my boyfriend. He's been with me for three years, I can't help wanting to tell him to stay.' Lucy bit her bottom lip as she considered her options.
"Luce!" Natsu seemed to finally snap out of his shocked state and took another step back, trying to stand up straight. "It's not what you think. It's just-"
"Then what is it supposed to be?" Lucy's voice came out in a calm and collected tone but the pain she was trying to stop from reaching her voice was still evident.
"Just answer the question Natsu," Lisanna pleaded. "We both love you and it's obvious that you can't make up your mind. It's not fair to any of us..." Lisanna felt tears stream down her face but she quickly wiped them away and tried to hide them. If anyone was suffering, it was Lucy.
"I don't know," Natsu began as he seemed to be at a loss for words.
"You have to choose Natsu. You can't have both of us and we can't wait forever for you to make up your mind." Lucy spoke a little louder as she felt her eyes sting like they hadn't done in a long time. The familiar burn only caused the tightness in her chest to grow and she bit her bottom lip ever so slightly, showing no such action from the outside.
"Luce... I..." Lucy held her breath as Natsu took a step towards her. Time seemed to slow down and she felt as if her heart would stop as she waited for him to reach her. However, Natsu walked past her and embraced Lisanna instead.
"Natsu!" Lisanna cried in surprise as she cried in happiness.
Lucy felt a single tear slide down her cheek as she let out the breath she had been holding. "I'm happy for you two," Lucy said with a smile but was surprised when she felt her cheek tickle with more tears. "Wha- Oh god, this is embarrassing." She wiped her tears as Natsu and Lisanna looked at her with sadness.
"Lucy..." Lisanna called.
"Luce-" Natsu began as he reached out for her only to have her step away from him. It shocked him that she would pull away and he couldn't help but feel a strong jab in his heart as he saw her wipe her tears with her hands. Her pink mark reflected the pale moonlight off her tear covered hands as she frantically tried to hide her tears.
"I'm fine," Lucy muttered as she took another step back. "I-I just remembered that I need to go pick Michelle up and I'm already running late. I'll see you guys later!" Lucy turned around and took two steps before stopping. "We'll just be friends from now on so don't worry about me, okay?" Lucy turned around and smiled at her friends before turning back and running as fast as her legs could carry her. She ran and ran until she reached the cram school where Michelle was waiting for her.
"Onee-san!" Michelle cried as she ran up to her older sister with a smile.
"Hey!" Lucy greeted with a smile as she hugged the younger girl who looked up at her with bright green eyes.
"What's wrong?" Michelle could easily tell that something was bothering her sister. "Does it have something to do with Natsu?" The sadness on Lucy's face made it clear that it did and it didn't take long for her to put two and two together. "Did you break up?" Lucy nodded. Michelle didn't want press any further. What did Lucy like to do when she was upset? "Do you want to go karaoke with me? It's still pretty early."
"Sure," Lucy said with a smile as they walked towards the karaoke bar.
"Natsu," Lisanna said as she held Natsu's hand. She was happy, but she couldn't help feeling guilt as she remembered her friends tears.
"Hey, why do you seem so down?" Natsu asked as he tried to forget Lucy's face. It had hurt to see her smile for them while she cried. He took a drink of his soda as he tried to ignore the pain in his heart. He flipped through the pages of the karaoke songs and stopped when he heard a name being called down the hall.
"Lucy!"
Lucy laughed as she turned to meet the blond-haired agent who worked for the Sabertooth organization. She smiled at him and at the black-haired man behind him who she often ran into during missions. "Sting! Rogue! What brings you guys here?" Lucy asked as they joined her.
"We were out having a look around and decided to have some fun before going to the station." Sting ran a hand through his blond locks as Rogue introduced himself to Michelle. "Is that your sister?"
"Ah, yes! Michelle, this is Sting. Sting, this is Michelle." Lucy watched as her sister greeted Sting with a smile on her face. She knew that Michelle was planning something when she saw that gleam in her eyes she only ever had when Michelle visited her at work and talked with her boss, Mirajane Strauss.
"Where's your boyfriend?" Sting asked as Lucy shifted uncomfortably.
"Actually, he's my ex now." Lucy spoke softly, but everyone grew silent as they took in her depressed state.
"But," Michelle interrupted the awkward silence. "That just means that my beautiful and loving older sister is now free. I'd keep her if I could, but I'll happily share her if it's with a guy like you two." Lucy felt herself blush as she scrambled to cover Michelle's mouth.
Sting laughed at the two sisters as he turned to Rouge who nodded, before turning back to the girls. "I might take you up on that offer," Sting muttered as Lucy froze and Michelle squealed. "How about you guys join us? Yukino is here, I'm sure she'd love to sing a duet with you." Sting signaled the door to their right and Lucy nodded as everyone greeted her.
"Lucy!" Yukino cried as she ran up and hugged the blond. "It's been so long! Come, I want to hear you sing!" Yukino cried as she handed the microphone to Lucy.
Natsu heard the door next door close and felt relieved that Lisanna hadn't seemed to catch on, or if she did, she made no sign of knowing. 'At least she's not crying. But seriously, of all people, it had to be Sting?!' Natsu thought in slight irritation as he saw Lisanna set down the microphone.
"Ugh, I'm beat. I need a break!" Lisanna smiled as she simply laid down on the coach, silence filling the room.
Suddenly, the two of them could hear music playing next door and they held their breaths as they realized it was Lucy's voice.
"I want to hear you sing this song, I'm sure you're voice would be perfect for it!" Yukino smiled as the music to Nina's Don't Say Goodbye began to play. Sting signaled for her to try and change the song, but Lucy began to sing instead.
Today I heard my favorite song on the radio
I close my eyes and saw our first hello
And then I saw the time we fell in love
In each others' arms
I open my eyes and you were gone
Suddenly I realized how I love you so
And how I get surprised without your love
Since the time we said goodbye
It's hard to make you stay
How I wish you'd never go away
Everyone stared at Lucy in amazement as her beautiful voice echoed throughout the room. They could tell that she was putting all of her feelings into the song. Yukino smiled at her friend as she nodded in approval. She had purposefully chosen this song after hearing what Lucy had said in the hallway. It always helped to talk about your feelings, even if it was indirectly. And considering how there was no music playing next door, she knew He must be listening.
Don't say goodbye
It's hard to let you go
Tomorrow seems so far away for me to know
If you and I will always be in love forevermore
Don't leave me with the memories
All alone
Alone
Today I read your letters
And waited for your call
I wondered if you think of me at all
And then I turn the radio on
And heard our favorite song
Then I knew you'll soon be coming home
Don't say goodbye
It's hard to let you go
Natsu knew these were the words she had wanted to tell him. She wanted him to stay, but how could he do that to Lisanna? They were together before she disappeared and now that she was back, he couldn't leave her again. If he had only been there that night... He shook his head as Lisanna gently squeezed his hand.
She knew that this was hurting all of them.
Tomorrow seems so far away for me to know
If you and I will always be in love forevermore
Don't leave me with the memories
All alone
Don't say goodbye
It's hard to let you go
Tomorrow seems so far away for me to know
If you and I will always be In love forevermore
Don't leave me with the memories
All alone
All alone
Lucy opened her eyes slowly as her friends cheered her on. She had never sung outside of the shower and even then, it was embarrassing. Yukino grabbed another mic and said she had to sing with her.
"Natsu," Lisanna called softly as she stood up. "I think it's best if we each go home now. It's been a long day and tomorrow will be even longer." Lisanna was excited about the party they had been planning for months and was curious if Natsu even remembered what tomorrow was.
Natsu stood up and followed her out as they walked past the room where they could hear Lucy and Yukino singing. He was pretty sure that is one a theme song for one of her favorite anime's that she newfangled aover with Yukino.
Lucy and Michelle waved their friends goodbye as they boarded the train. It was almost midnight and the girls were eager to sleep. As they walked through the park, they failed to notice a set of eyes watching them.
Natsu laughed as he exited the cafe with Lisanna by his side. They had talked and hung out like the old days but it wasn't the same. He knew deep down that he loved Lucy, but he couldn't leave Lisanna. Not after he had finally found her again. It was his fault Lisanna had gotten hurt on their last mission before she went missing. If only he had stayed by her side…
"Natsu..." Lisanna called softly as she grabbed his hand.
"What's wrong?" Natsu forced a smile as he turned to the silver-haired girl.
"Don't do this Natsu. I know you still feel guilty and I know you love Lucy. I thought about it overnight and over breakfast, and I realize that I got in between you two. I wanted things to be like before, but I now realize that instead of holding you back, I should be pushing you forward and I'm sorry for that. I'm happy with just being friends but I know it's not the same for you and Lucy. Go after her, I'm sure it's not too late," Lisanna said with a smile.
"Thank you," Natsu said as his phone suddenly rang, he looked at the caller I.D. and was surprised that his friend was calling him this early in the morning. "E-Erza, what's up?"
"Lucy's missing!" Erza cried.