First Six Weeks
August 25th - October 2nd
Lucy Heartfilia had a growing sense of anticipation welling up inside of her since the beginning of her senior year at Magnolia High School, and today all of it was coming to a head. It was now four weeks into the school year and the teachers were finally announcing the partners for the senior year project. How well you do on this project decides if you graduate with honors or not. The project is divided into five parts that have to be turned in every six weeks. Lucy being the embodiment of an excellent student has always made good grades, participated in extra-curricular activities, and all of the teachers love her. All she needs to be able to go to any college she wants is to do well on this project and graduate with honors.
When her homeroom teacher reached her name Lucy crossed her fingers and took a deep breath, "Ms. Heartfilia you will be partnered with Mr. Dragneel." She was stunned for a minute before she felt her mouth drop open and her eyes bulge out. She sat there looking like a fish trying to get her breathing in check for a few moments before she finally closed her mouth and began rapidly blinking. Hoping that she had just blacked out and only hallucinated being paired with one of the biggest goofball slackers in the whole school. Her eyes began scanning the room, but from the looks of her fellow classmates and the curious look on her teachers face she knew that she was out of luck. Accepting her fate she slowly turned towards the back of the classroom to look at her new partner and was horrified by what she saw. His head was down on his desk and he was clearly sound asleep. She felt her hands clench up in fists and she quickly turned back around. This had to be fixable there was no way she could be partnered with him for the most important grade of the whole year. She crossed her fingers with hope that she could repeal the decision.
"Please Headmaster Makarov there has to be some way to change my partner. This project is very important to me and there is no way that he is going to take this as seriously as I am." Lucy had gone strait from class to the headmaster's office to plead her case.
"I am sorry that you are unhappy with the arrangement, but all the names were chosen randomly. I pulled the names out of the hat myself." Headmaster Makarov explained as he pointed over his shoulder to a replica of the sorting hat from Harry Potter. Lucy wanted to face palm so hard, she couldn't believe that one of her favorite book series had a hand in betraying her. "Plus all the students have a partner already, and if I let you switch partners then I would have half the school in here trying to switch partners. There is nothing I can do," he finished with an apologetic look.
Lucy knew it would have been a long shot, but she had to try. "Thank you anyways," Lucy said dejectedly as she turned to leave his office.
"One last thing Ms. Heartfilia you are a very good student and I don't think you need to worry about doing well on this project no matter who your partner is, but I think Natsu might surprise you." Lucy glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a questioning look, but the headmaster just grinned at her.
Lucy left the office and made her way to her next class, contemplating what the headmaster could have meant about Natsu surprising her until lunchtime.
"So any luck?" Levy McGarden asked. Her best friend since kindergarten.
Lucy sat her tray of food down harshly on the table, "No he said if he lets me switch, then everyone will want to switch. He also said that Natsu might surprise me, which makes me think the old man is going senile."
"The only way he could surprise me is if he was awake during class," a loud voice rang. Lucy looked up to see Cana Alberona placing her tray of food down next to hers. They had meet in fourth grade after Cana stepped in and punched a boy who had been teasing Lucy; Cana got suspended for a week, but they had been friends ever since.
Levy nodded in agreement with Cana before her shoulders slumped, "At least you know who your partner is. Mine is Gajeel Redfox, I have never even heard of him."
"Juvia has," the long blue haired girl said as she sat down on the opposite side of the table. "We went to the same elementary and middle schools, but now he is in the work program so he only comes to school in the morning." Juvia Lockser had gone to West Magnolia Elementary and Middle school while Levy, Cana, and Lucy had gone to East Magnolia Elementary and Middle school. Levy and Lucy had met her in their freshman advanced placement English class and had all become fast friends. Juvia had been extremely shy in elementary and middle school; most kids had called her gloomy, but since she had become friends with them she has blossomed into a bright and bubbly person.
Levy groaned, "See Lu, it could be worse. You could have been partnered with someone who doesn't even go to school all day."
Lucy reached out and rubbed her back, "Aww I'm sorry Levy." She then looked to Juvia, "So who did you get partnered with?"
Her lips pouted for a second before she smiled, "I got partnered with Lisanna Strauss."
Levy perked up, "Really Lisanna? You are so lucky Juvia, she is so nice."
Juvia nodded with a slight smile then her lips pulled down into another pout, "But I really wanted to be partnered with my darling Gray."
All the other girls frowned at her. After loving Gray Fullbuster from afar since elementary school, they had finally begun dating that summer. Since then Juvia had wanted to be with him every possible second, insisting that he be invited along to everything they went to. After spending so much time with him that summer they found that he was actually a good friend, although they weren't sure if he was the best boyfriend for Juvia. Lucy did not get was why Juvia was so smitten with him, when he seemed so indifferent towards her. "Maybe that is a good thing, it will be the one thing you do without Gray this year."
"What will she be doing without me?" Gray asked as he sat down beside Juvia.
Juvia immediately pepped up and flung her arms around him, "Lucy says it is a good thing that we are not project partners."
Gray shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe so, Lisanna will make a really great partner."
Juvia looked like Gray had just slapped her, "Don't you want to be Juvia's partner?"
"Sure but all that really matters is that you do well on it, and with Lisanna as your partner you will."
Juvia practically beamed at his words, "You are so sweet." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Lucy did not understand how what he said was sweet, but guessed Juvia knew him better than she did. "So Gray who is your partner?" She asked.
He grimaced, "I got partnered with Erza."
The girls all loudly sucked in their breaths; Erza Scarlett the beautiful redhead and also the head of the schools disciplinary committee. Everybody in the school referred to her as the Titania, even teachers, because her rules were law and she did not tolerate them being broken.
"It will be fine, I have know her since we were little kids," Gray said knowing exactly what they were thinking.
"Oh that's right you went to she same elementary and middle schools," Lucy said. Gray, Erza, Juvia, Lisanna and apparently this Gajeel guy had all gone to the same schools before they all merged into one high school. This reminded Lucy of another certain someone who had gone to their schools, "So that means you know Natsu right?"
Gray looked up at her and shrugged, "Yeah I know him, he's kinda my best friend."
"So you can tell me about him, he is my partner for the project?" Lucy asked hopefully.
Gray winced, "That sucks."
Lucy stared open mouthed at him for a moment before responding, "Seriously! You just said he was your best friend."
"He is, but he is also an idiot," he clarified.
Lucy dropped her head into her hands; if his own friend had thought he would be a bad partner she had no hope.
She heard Gray speak again, "He won't drag you down or anything. He just won't contribute much intellectually."
Lucy lifted her head and looked at him curiously, she was not sure if that was supposed to make her feel better or not.
Once school was over for the day Lucy was on her way over to her car when she saw a flash of pink in the corner of her eye. Turning she saw Natsu walking through the parking lot also. Not wanting to put off the inevitable she ran over to him, he must have heard her coming because he stopped and turned in her direction. When he saw her running towards him one of his eyebrows quirked up in confusion. Coming to a stop right in front of him she gave him her brightest smile and held out her hand, "Hi, I am Lucy Heartfilia."
At her sudden introduction his other eyebrow rose up and his face morphed from confusion to surprise. After a few awkward silent seconds he finally responded, "I know who you are."
Lucy dropped her hand, "Oh, well I just wanted to come over and introduce myself to you. Since we are going to be partners for the year."
His head tilted sideways and he began to scratch the back of his neck, "We are, for what?"
Lucy felt her jaw beginning to drop open but quickly clamped it shut. How could he have made it through the whole day and not heard people talking about the project? "They announced our partners for the senior project today, and we got paired up," she calmly explained.
His eyes widened in understanding, "Really, I though they were announcing those next week."
Lucy had the sudden urge to slam her palm into her face again, what had she done to be cursed by fate. Oh right it wasn't fate it was the sorting hat. Composing herself she gave him the most polite smile she could muster and raised her hand again, "Well I look forward to working with you for the rest of the year."
This time Natsu did raise his hand to shake hers, which he did so vigorously that it shook her entire body. "Me too this is going to be fun." He gave her a huge grin that showed off the majority of his teeth. Lucy was struck by how dazzling his smile was.
lllll
Two weeks went by and Lucy heard nothing else from Natsu, every day that passed infuriated her more and more. The project started next week, and the first part was divided into five parts and had something due every week. Although all the parts seemed like they were going to be easy, she wanted to get started as soon as possible.
Lucy was currently having lunch with her friends who had all at least discussed starting their project with their partners. Even Levy was having an easier time, and Gajeel was pretty standoffish. She couldn't take it anymore, Lucy slammed her hands down on the table and stood up, "I can't stand this anymore I am going over there and talking to him."
As she walked away she heard Cana give her a cheer.
When she reached his table he was sitting with some people she recognized, like Erza and Lisanna, but most people she didn't. Now that she was standing in front of their table she had lost all of her bravado, "Umm Natsu."
Everyone stopped talking and looked up at her. "Hey Lucy," Natsu said with his bright grin.
She smiled politely back at him, "I came over because I think we should start working on our first part of the project soon."
Natsu tilted his head to the side, "Really don't we have like six weeks before it's due?"
A hand darted out and slapped him in the back of the head; Lucy turned and saw that is had been Erza's. "You should pay more attention in class! The first part has something due every week, and it's only five weeks long this period. And you," Erza turned her stern gaze upon Lucy, "You are going to have to tell him exactly what he needs to do, and if he gives you any more trouble just let me know."
Lucy had watched the scene with wide eyes; she nodded her head at Erza then looked at Natsu who was still rubbing his head. "Okay then we should meet in the library after school on Monday," she stated trying to mimic Erza's stern look.
Natsu stopped rubbing his head and looked up at her, "Okay, I'm all fired up."
Lover of Fairy Tails -
This idea came to me and I really liked it so here is the first chapter.
Actually I did the first draft months ago and have been editing very very slowly. I wanted to get this chapter out during the actual time it takes place, and I noticed yesterday I only had two days left.
This is going to be a very slow update. Most likely it will be six chapters, and they will all come out at some point during the time they take place.
Reason 1: I thought that was kinda cool.
Reason 2: I am working and very busy.
I really hope you enjoy this first chapter, it will probably be the shortest. -Thanks for reading!-
(lllll indicates a time change)
