Csilla: The sequel to '5 Nights' so anyone who hasn't read it~ go read it! There's some important-ish background info you gotta know!

( - - - - )

Winter passed and summer came and Gray still heard no word about how Natsu was doing; the lack of knowledge was driving the poor raven insane with worry. He did his best to smile like he was asked to by the rosette beauty he had somehow fallen for in one night at a ski resort he had wanted to be at. Autumn was finally a hop, skip and a jump away now, school would be starting soon - Gray would be a senior, focusing on SAT's... college applications... and him. The raven had long since given up on trying not to think about the grinning rosette...

[ Chapter One ]

Walking through the brick opening, untamed raven hair yawned loudly as he entered the bustling excitement that was a normal occurrence in the courtyard, especially if the late night text the male had received about a transfer student had anything to do with it. Eyeing a group of students, who were obviously surrounding someone, Gray concluded that his best friend's girlfriend was probably right. Poor kid but it wasn't his problem. Nope, he had to focus on SATs that he would have to take in a few months and sending out applications after that. Of course, he would let his mind wander over to Natsu...

A small smile graced his features as he entered the school for his fourth and final year...

[ - ]

Meanwhile, finally catching his breath tanned hands wiped the sweat off his face - he hadn't been expecting to be bombarded with so many question on his first day and what made it even worse was that every one of them assumed he was a freshman!

"What the hell? I know I'm a little shorter but-" His words were interrupted when someone spoke up behind him: "So you're the one everyone's talkin' about, eh chibi?"

Poking their head out of the window behind him stood a boy with wild light blonde hair, grinning over at him. Recovering from the surprise, the new student immediately scoffed: "I'm not short! And I have a name, you know!"

Okay so maybe getting defensive about his height wasn't the best way to start things off at a new school but it was irritating to have it thrown at his face constantly.

"So in return for not calling ya 'chibi' I get to learn your name..." The blonde grin broke into a sly smirk that forced color to dust tan features.

"Natsu,"

"Natsu, huh? I'm Sting,"

And like promised, the blonde didn't tease him with nicknames; Sting showed him around the school as best as he could against the bustling hallways before leading him to Natsu's first class: "Here ya go! I can stop by and help ya find your next class, if ya want"

"I suppose," The rosette didn't want to be shown around like a freshmen but the other was being really nice so it couldn't hurt to accept his offer.

First period was English 11; cobalt eyes stared out the window as the teacher gushed on about literature and something about what was on the final, none of which the rosette cared much about at the moment - his mind wandered onto the raven he hadn't seen since winter.

"...seven months..." He sighed under his breath quietly enough not to alert anyone to his thoughts.

He never did get a chance to really 'thank' Gray but after so long the question remained; would he still accept my thanks when I do finally see him again?

[ - ]

The bell dismissing everyone from their first class and signalling to head for their second class of the day rang much to Gray's constant prays; he hated math with a passion. Who would want a math class first thing in the morning anyways?!

He growled under his breath as he angrily bumped shoulders with someone passing in the opposite direction as him but being the prince he was known for, turned around to apologize - just because he was in a sour mood (thanks to math class) didn't mean he should take it out on some poor shrimp. Catching a glimpse of rosy locks, Gray felt his chest leap before he was carried away with the crowd of student walking in the direction he previously was. Turning back, he couldn't stop himself from glancing back to the spot where he spotted that familiar rosy-color...

Meanwhile, Natsu rubbed his shoulder as he watched Sting shoot the crowd of students walking in the opposite direction as them a dirty glare; the two were heading off to math, which they had together.

"So what other classes do you have?" The blonde asked, peering over the rosette's shoulder to try and take a peek at the paper.

Reading the rest of his schedule so only his companion could hear, Natsu replied: "Forensic Science... Calculus... Psychology... Lunch... Microbiology... Nutrition,"

"Wait you're taking two math classes?" Sting's eyebrow raised in confusion at his friend, who merely nodded before laughing: "Yeah, I love math!"

"Weirdo,"

"Shut up!" All further discussion was put aside when their math teacher began the lesson; Natsu took notes - math was simple: no matter what, you'll always come to one answer and just like life, there was many variations/paths to try. In the back of his mind, the rosette wondered, 'Did Gray like math?'

The sound of the bell yanked the teen out of his thoughts; after gathering his stuff he followed Sting as the blonde lead him to his next class, which the two did not share but the rosette calmly told himself that was a chance to make another friend possibly...? His idea of making a new friend left very quickly when he entered the classroom where his Forensic Science class was going to be held - standing in front of the room was a very scary redhead that for a moment the rosette firmly believed he saw devil horns sticking out her head.

"Alright! Quit acting like you're fucking children and sit down until Mirajane-sensei gets here!" Yes, Natsu would admit that he was suddenly very terrified; having lived with Zeref, angry people tended to pull at the kinks in the armour he had built through therapy of moving past.

Unfortunately luck was not on his side, the scary redhead turned his way asking immediately in an anger voice: "And who are you?"

"Eep!" Not the most masculine noise he could have made but at the moment he couldn't care less; turning on his heels, he ran for the nurse's office with the excuse that he wasn't feeling well and wanted to lie down for a bit.

Chalking it up to being nervous on his first day, the nurse allowed him to lie down until he was feeling better; curling up on his side, Natsu felt ashamed that he had just done that! How was he going to face all them tomorrow and the days after that?

He silently sobbed before something echoed in his head - or better yet, someone's voice... Gray's voice: "I'm gonna save you". Tears stopped as he wiped them away before sitting up and shaking his head; "Now its my turn to save myself,"

He stayed there until the bell rung, saying a short goodbye to the nurse before heading to Calculus; being back in a math class eased his earlier turmoil and soon enough he had found himself in Psychology, chatting with a classmate.

"So where are you from, Natsu?" Romeo, a junior, asked as they sat next to one another.

"Lamina..." He replied with a smile.

Once class was over, they said their goodbyes and the rosette realized he might have made another friend; feeling giddy he headed to the cafeteria - maybe Sting would be there? Or Romeo?

"Natsu!" Sting's voice from his left brought his cobalt eyes over in excitement; he waved before weaving his way through the crowd just barely missing the curious gaze of one onyx-eyed senior.

"Let's go..." The duo headed into the cafeteria to get their lunch, chatting amongst themselves unaware that a few feet away stood the angry redhead that made Natsu run away plus very curious, unsatisfied onyx eyes peering around.

Natsu had just gotten his lunch, paid for it and was currently grabbing a few napkins when he heard his name except it wasn't Sting's voice... and it wasn't Romeo's...

( - - - - )

Csilla: So the first chapter is finally done~! DUN DUN! Who called out to Natsu? (LOL, like you all can't guess~ ouo)

Chapter two is already underway ;)

Anyone like my version of Sting? Yes/No -first time writing him- ... -sobs-