Chapter 1: Bump
"Luuuuccyyy," a loud voice called to her, over the roar of the guild.
She glances up from the notice board, to see Natsu racing towards her with Happy in tow. It was late morning, and a massive fight had already broken out in the guild. Lucy was surprised that Natsu hadn't joined in. Self-restraint was not something he was known for.
"Hey Natsu, do you want to help me choose a job?" she asked, as he leaned against the board. He shifted forward, to read the two flyers she'd been looking at. She realised that he was now standing close, very close to her. A small flutter started in her chest and spread to the end of her fingers and toes.
She shook her head slightly to clear it. 'What was that?' she wondered to herself.
"I think we should take…" Natsu began, waking her from her reverie, before a scene unfolded in front of him.
Elfman went to punch Gray, square in the chest, while yelling at him for being unmanly. He manages to block the blow, but is still thrust back a few feet, knocking Lucy. She falls towards Natsu, arms flailing wildly as she tries to grab onto anything to slow her descent. Natsu's arms snake around her waist to soften the impact. As they hit the ground, their lips brush against each other's. There is a moment of unawareness before they realise what has happened, yet neither attempt to free themselves from their entangled web of limbs.
It dawned on Lucy that they held the attention of the entire guild; the silence such a rarity for Fairy Tail. But everything fell away as Natsu's fingers wound through her hair and pulled her towards him. His eyes were burning holes in her heart as he gazed at her hungrily. He crushed her lips against his, kissing her deeply. A loud catcall echoed through the guild, and they broke apart, ending the sweet kiss. Lucy looked down and saw Natsu turn the colour of Erza's hair, but his hands never left her waist. It was at that moment she realised she was no longer content with merely being friends with the dragon slayer who lay before her. Natsu Dragneel, the man who changed her life.
She pulled away and ran from the hall, not daring to look back at the many pairs of eyes that followed her. She didn't see the broken-hearted face of Natsu, whose arm was extended, desperate to keep hold of Lucy. Her head was swirling with emotions, each one crashing against her skull, trying to escape.
Levy slipped out quietly after her friend, in case she needed someone there to unload her thoughts onto. But to her surprise, Lucy had not taken the road leading to her house, the one that had become a home to Natsu just as much as it belonged to Lucy. Levy saw a movement in the distance, and walked towards it. It lead her to the nearby park, where she found Lucy huddled under a massive Sakura tree, her trusty notepad and pencil in hand. Levy realised it was probably best not to disturb her friend while she was writing, and decided to sit against the other side of the tree, opening the heavy book she had brought with her. She would wait until Lucy was ready to talk.
Levy chuckled to herself, doubting that Lucy even realised the haven she'd chosen was beneath the very tree Natsu had sailed down the river for her, all those years ago.