Chapter 1 (DEAR GUEST: OgaxHilda PLEASE READ RESPONSE AT THE BOTTOM)

"Natsu!"

I heard her voice, the same exact cutesy voice that would squeal in excitement as she spoke. Turning around, I could see her sleek body, slim and skinny, with many curves that complimented her body perfectly. She looked amazing. I couldn't believe that she still possessed the beauty from high school, collage, and now. Of course, she looked different. Her face matured into a rose that was much more beautiful, she looked stunning but had her thorns, which was the dark side of her. That dark side was the side that broke my heart. Although I know she didn't mean to, I still can't help but have a love-hate feeling towards her. I hated myself for still loving her, even after all these years that I've been with Kinana. The feeling of love still reminiscing in my heart, it's still holding on to hope.

Staring into her milk-chocolate eyes, I noticed the differences throughout the years. She looked magnificent, so fragile that her heart could be easily broken by the bad boys. She wore a smile; a real grin compared to the last one I've seen. Her lips had a glossy, shiny feel to it – her lips were a bright pink that was spread throughout the figure of those luscious lips.

She wore a black dress. It landed to the ground, so I couldn't see her shoes. But it had an incision, a slit where you could see her tanned legs that wore beige heels. Still, with the heels on, she was still shorter than me, her height being one of the things that didn't change.

Anyways, the black dress she wore was an innocent one, like don't touch me, I'm scared, but at the same time, I love you, or I'm too sophisticated for you. To me, it was more of the mature and sophisticated look. It complimented her body; it was tight around her chest and hips, so the curves of her body were shown completely, along with some cleavage towards her chest – since the dress was a v-neck. The arms of the dress slithered down her shoulders, it was sorta loose, but then becomes tight on the way down.

After all these years, I still couldn't believe that I loved her. Not in love with her, but I love her. Personally, I feel that there's a difference between that. You could love somebody so much, but not be entirely in love with them. That's how I feel right now, and simply looking into her hazel eyes makes me feel that it's coming back.

I know I shouldn't feel this way. Lusting after a girl, no woman, that hurt my heart, and brought excruciating pain to me. It affected my attitude in the summer of my second-year in college and some of my junior year. I could remember Kinana at home, watching TV, or doing computer research – she went back to college. I could hear her smile and sweet whispers that made me fall for her. But I'm not in love with her. These years that we've been together, I haven't felt a single feeling of being in love with her, but I still loved her. I'm probably not making sense, but to simply put it, I love her, but not in a "I wanna marry you" type of way.

"Hi!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, and leaned in for a hug. She grasped my neck, whilst she tightened her grip on my neck. I hugged her back faintly, embracing her for a quick second then pulling away as she held onto me. I felt her arms let me go as she fell back into her position, a delightful expression plastered all over her face. I partially waved at her, completely not that jubilant at all. "I missed you!" She practically screamed, and pulled me in for yet another hug.

"Yeah, I missed you too." I said blandly, trying to cover up any and all feelings towards this blonde. I hated that I would never get over her, even if I'm already 28. I'm too old to be hoping for some high school dream – hoping to marry the one girl of your imagination. It absolutely sucks. I'm living an imagination; I'm living on her accordance. All she needed was affection, and I was too dumb to go to her school, and her father was too strict to want to transfer her to here, in Magnolia. "Nice to see you again." I tried to end the conversation, and go back to the others, but she just wouldn't give up.

"Come on! Let's have one drink, Natsu, we're not high school scholars anymore. It doesn't matter if we get drunk – let's go!" She dragged me along with her, and I desperately tried to escape. Gray smirked, and shrugged, pretending he was the dumbest idiot alive. Ever, on the other hand, tried to stop the revelation, but Juvia evaded her attacks, and managed to calm her down. I was both pleased and aggravated at the same time, but I just went along with it. Cana and Bacchus were too drunk to even be paying attention!

So we sat together, one-on-one, in front of each other. She smiled, and let her right arm rest on the table, as she held her head in her palm. "So….." She started off, with a soothing tone. "How was it like? College, I mean." She seemed interested in my life story, so I began to tell her.

"I studied computer science. It seems weird for me, but I loved working with computers and all this modern stuff today." I sniffled a slight chuckle in the middle of my sentence. "At first, I broke one of the computers! I had to pay for it, but I became interested in them starting from that day."

"Hm," She stated, but then suddenly smiled in delight. "I'm a writer. I released a recent copy, so currently I'm on hiatus! But, on the good side, I already planned a story that I'm about to write, and I have a feeling it's going to be amazing!"

The conversation kind of fizzled after that, we both became silent, and it surrounded the atmosphere between us. She opened her mouth a few times to speak, but no words escaped her glossed lips. Then, she became serious. She left her arms on the table, and began to fiddle with her fingers, staring down at the fiery-red table. "Were you okay? I mean, like, after we broke up. Did it effect you in some way?"

"Honestly?" I inquired, because I was ready to lie to her.

"Yeah.."

"Well, I was hurt. I mean, I knew we had to break up eventually, because it wasn't going to work long-distance. When you were free, I was busy. When I was free, you were busy. It didn't click. It hurt me, a lot, because I was so mesmerized with you, and fascinated by you. I could get that feeling even just by looking at you. I loved you, Lucy." I confessed, and she had an expression of pain on her face. I felt kinda bad for making her seem like the bad guy here, but it was mutual. "I eventually moved on, because you can't be sad forever! Life's too short for that… But a girl helped me get over you. In fact, she was in our school, but in Lisanna's class. We gradually got together in my junior year, and I've been with her for 7 years already, but I never popped the question."

I basically told her my life-story, and I saw her eyes welling up. Not one tear fell down her eyes, though. "… Great! I actually got together with someone when I was 23. We broke up when I was 25, so it was only two years. I was with someone else a year later, but that didn't last long. So now, I'm single! It's kinda a plus, though, because I have more time to write. But on the downside, I don't feel anything. I don't have that ability to be with anyone anymore. I've been thinking about one person, but I'm not entirely sure if he likes me. I'm still clinging onto hope, that… Wait, never mind, scratch that. But congratulations, Natsu, and I hope you guys last." Although she ended with pleasant words, she didn't sound happy. She didn't sound like she really wanted me to be with Kinana. It sounded like her dark side, the thorns of a perfect rose.

"Well, I'm going to get a beer, you want one?" I asked, and she nodded, staring off into the gym, looking past me, and looking at nothing. Just the gym walls.

I did a quick run to the table full of drinks, and grabbed two, one for me, and another for Lucy. Jogging back, I handed it to her, watching her pop open the bottle, and drinking it all in one chug. "I'll get another for myself." She replied to no question, and went back to the table, grabbing a couple, which I presumed were for her.

She did a waltz back to the table, banging the beers onto the table. I opened one for her, and she thanked me, then took it and drank it all. I never saw this side of her, she probably just wants a night out to herself.

"Natsuuu~" She purred finishing her third and starting on her next. "Remember when we did it? That was soooooo funny, we too each other's firsts! I was just surprised we didn't get caught by my dad, whoo, that would've been scary!"

I nodded, and took a sip out of the drink. Kinana didn't like me drinking; she says she hates the smell of beer or liquor, or basically anything that I try to do! I drank a bit more, trying to surpass the rules that I have to follow under Kinana's oath. Half-way through the drink, Lucy began to speak again. "That's it, babe, go on!"

Inspired by her words, I drank the whole thing in one glup, and opened my next. "That's it, Natsu! I miss this, I miss when we had fun together. I miss when we were together." She confessed, easily. She was too much of a happy drunk that she didn't care! She continued to drink, and I heard the sound of the beer opening at least 10 times, or more, maybe. "R-Remember the time when we egged the principal's house on Halloween! Or when we painted all the lockers pink and yellow representing me and you!" I laughed my ass off, and she couldn't delete the absolute happy smile off her face.

I missed this.

"Hahaaa! Yup, Natsu, I remember! Remember when we just kissed in the hallway, and then ran off and skipped school! That was great!" We shared our laughs, not caring about how embarrassing or weird the secrets we were sending off, we didn't have a single care in the world.

This is what I missed, not caring. With Kinana, I always have to be exact. I just wanna let loose sometimes! I don't wanna hurt her, but I need my freedom!

"Pheww!" By now, the reunion was over, and we were getting a little too excited. It was time to go home, and we couldn't even walk without falling into someone or something. We were holding onto each other like glue. We wouldn't let go, not now. Not after we had a great time together. But there's a voice in my mind telling me this is dumb. Telling me she hurt me and that I'm stupid for doing this to Kinana. It's whispering, it's like an echo. Don't do this. Don't hurt her. Don't hurt Kinana by even touching a speck of Lucy. Don't. Don't.

I suddenly felt bad. Looking my watch, I noticed the time, it was late. Too late. She would worry, she would get scared, she would have thoughts. That was everything going through my mind. Sweat fell down my forehead, and I began to worry even more. I began to have thoughts that she would get me, she would break up with me. But another voice in my mind spoke to me.

Do it, Natsu. You've been in love with her for forever! Don't back down now, don't worry! Everything's going to be alright.

But… I heard her voice. This wasn't in my mind, this was in real life. I could hear Kinana call my name, I could hear her voice of sadness. "Really… Really, Natsu? I'm home worrying about where you are, and you're just here, drinking, and having fun with your ex!"

Stop acting so goddamned stupid! Kinana is right there, you idiot. Go to her, go to the person who actually loves you. Who cared for you in your time of need? Kinana. Don't fuck up what you have now.

"I-.. I'm sor-" I started, but was immediately cut off by another formidable voice; I was too drunk to even hear who it was.

"No, stop. I apologize, Kinana. That was my fault. I influenced him to drink more. It's my fault. I'm sorry." The voice cut in, and apologized to Kinana for me.

"I respect your honesty." Kinana simply stated, then made her way towards me. "We're going home." She pulled me out of gym, and pushed me into the car. "Seriously, Natsu, you're too fucking good for this. I can't believe I gave him up for you. Whatever, you're too intoxicated to even know what I'm saying."

But, I wasn't. I heard every word.

I'm so so sorry it took so long! But here's the update. I really hope this series works out better than 11 Real, 1 Fake, 'cause not many were too happy about the ending... Don't worry! There's always going to be fluff in this story! Thanks for reading, and if you have any concerns, please leave a review!

TO GUEST OgaxHilda: Well, hi there! I see what you're talking about. You said "like what Natsu and Lucy had together wasn't all that". If you haven't read my previous story, they were together for 2 years. They dated from the Senior year in high school, to about in the middle of their sophomore year. And for him lusting after someone else, he did, in fact, do that, but he didn't get with Kinana until a year after. So into the middle of his Junior year in college, that was when he got together with Kinana. They were 18 when they first got together, but they were 21 when they broke up. Natsu got with Kinana at 22, and Lucy got with an unknown person (most likely come again) at 23. Since the previous story was mostly from Natsu's POV, readers only knew that Natsu was lusting after someone else. But it's TBD (to be determined) if Lucy was lusting after someone else also.

Also, in the previous story, it is told by Natsu that the break up with Lucy affected him throughout his Sophomore year, the following summer, and the beginning of his Junior year. Kinana was the one person helping him get through it the most. So it wasn't easy for him to move on. But the reason he moved on within a year was because he had someone helping him through the process. Whereas Lucy did not; sure she had friends, but most were girls. So it isn't clear if Lucy got over him quick, but it's only known that she got with someone two years after the breakup (which is how long they were together). Lucy COULD in fact be the victim, that's what you believe, but it's unclear. She could've got over him quick, but not date anyone. Or she could've been lusting after one, just not go out with anyone.

Overall, you could read "11 Real, 1 Fake" to clear up any other concerns. Or if you don't feel like it, you could read just the last chapter (chapter 13 not 14 or 15) I hope this clears things up!