{SUMMER'S JOY}

(Fairy Tail Guild)

It was a fine day at the guild. Everyone was acting like themselves, items were being destroyed due to the usual ramblings of the mages, and nothing was out of place…except for a certain blonde-haired mage sitting quietly at the bar. Her silence rivalled everyone's noise. You could say that "deafening silence" was what Lucy gave out at that time. She was so quiet and unknowing that she didn't realize Mirajane was right next to her until she spoke up.

"Hey, Lucy, you seem kinda down. Is anything wrong?" Mirajane asked calmly and gently.

Although, Mirajane asked Lucy in such a peaceful way, it was enough to surprise her. "Oh, Mira-san! You startled me!"

Mirajane smiled sweetly, "Im sorry if I scared you, but, you look like you're really on edge. Did anything happen?"

"Umm..no…it's just…can I tell you something?" Lucy replied quite silently.

Mirajane raised her eyebrow in curiosity, but still managed to have a smile on her face, "Sure!"

"W-well," Lucy stammered, "I-I've been invited t-to go to the b-beach and stay at a summer h-house there."

"OHOHO! By who?" Mirajane asked with a gleam in her eyes.

Lucy furiously blushed, "Erm..by N-Natsu. But it isn't just the two of us, of course! There's Happy, Gray, Erza, Juvia, Wendy,Gajeel, Pantherlily and Charle as well!"

"If that's so. Why are you so nervous?" asked Mirajane in a teasing tone.

"I…I don't…know. It's just…I always get an uneasy feeling when I'm around "him." I mean, I get happy when I see him, but, I get sad and lonely when he leaves."

"Hmmm…I see…Well, why don't y-"

At that exact moment the doors burst open and a familiar voice was heard.

"We're back!" said an all too enthusiastic voice.

"Aye!"

Mirajane nudged Lucy with her elbow,"Oh, speak of the devil, here he is."

Lucy blushed as Natsu approached. "U-uhm…hello…Natsu," Lucy resisted the urge to hug him on the spot.

"Yo! Lucy!" replied the fire mage. "Oh, Lucy, by the way, are you still coming to the beach with us?"

"Y-YES! I mean…I might. I'm kind of...busy," lied Lucy.

"You're such a terrible liar, Lucy. Everyone knows that you want to go so badly," Mirajane thought. "But since it's Natsu you're talking to, I don't think he'll even notice."

"Oh…that sucks," Natsu said disappointingly, "Well..just in case..here's a flyer that has the details for the place. You might change your mind at the last minute," smiled the boy as he passed the piece of paper to Lucy.

"Ah, thanks." As Lucy accepted the flyer, their fingers briefly touched. Warmth passed through her body as they touched.

"Fufufu…I think now would be a good time to make a scene," Mirajane smiled devilishly. "Here we go."

As stealthy as a shadow, Mirajane slowly crept up to Lucy, with Natsu paying her no mind, Mirajane pushed Lucy. Not enough to hurt her, but enough for her to stumble and fall. Thus, causing Lucy to land on top of Natsu.

"Oh my! I'm sorry! I was rushing to get the customer's orders that I didn't see you two! Apologies!" Mirajane quickly bowed in order to apologize.

"NO! It's alright!" said Natsu and Lucy both in unison.

"What is this? Why am I so flushed? I just fell on top of him, that's all!" thought Lucy as her cheeks went from fuschia pink to tomato red.

"She's warm," Natsu thought, also blushing, but not as red as Lucy.

"They liiiike each other!" teased Happy.

"Happy!" Natsu tried to grab him in an effort to punish him by tickling. But unfortunately, Happy flew out of reach.

"Erm…I think I'll go home for now," announced Lucy, the blush on her cheeks still visible as she trudged towards the door.

"Oi Lucy! Just try to reconsider!" Natsu called after her.

"Sure! I'll think about it!" Lucy shouted back.

"I wonder why he wants me to come with them so badly…" wondered Lucy.

(Lucy's room)

"Such a ruckus was made today, Plue," said Lucy to her companion, "it was quite embarrasing as well."

"PUUUUUNNNN."

"Would you like something to eat, Plue?"

"PUUNNN!"

"Alright, ham and cheese sandwich it is."

The two ate for a while, and when they finished, they started cleaning up. Lucy washed the dishes; Plue dried them. They brushed their teeth, put on their PJ's, and Lucy put all the dirty clothes in the washer. But, fortunately, she remembered the flyer in her jeans pocket, and quickly took it out before it was soaked with water.

Lucy sat on her bed, flyer in hand, and read it out loudly. "White sand; Great facilities; Comfortable lodging. Sounds awesome…don't you thin, Plue?"

"PUN PUUNN PU PU PUNN."

"Oh, here's a note from Natsu." On the top, written in rushed handwriting, said, "Tomorrow till the end of the week. Don't worry, boys and girls have different cabins."

"Well, tomorrow's Tuesday, right? So it's basically 5 days and 4 nights. That might not be bad at all. I actually need a break from all this work, I'll also get to know the others better as well! But, if I want to go tomorrow, then I have to pack now!" Lucy panicked, "But I have lots of stuff! Oh…I know!"

She frantically took out a spirit's key out of her pocket and proceeded to summoning the spirit.

"Open! The Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"

After a few moments of bright lights, Virgo appeared. "You called for me, Hime?"

"Yes, umm, can you help me pack my things for the beach outing?"

They were done in about 10 minutes. Everything was neatly organised into piles, rows, and stacks.

"Clothes?"

"Check, Hime."

"First Aid Kit?"

"Check, Hime."

"Money?"

"Check, Hime."

"Yep! That's about it!"

"Are you sure you don't need aything else, Hime?"

" Yup! You did a great job, Virgo!" praised Lucy.

"Can I be punished, Hime?"

"Umm…no need. You can return now."

As soon as Virgo disappeared, Lucy flopped onto her bed exhaustedly and muttered, "This better be good," before going to sleep and dreaming about what fun they can have the following day.