Chapter 1: Hidden Feelings

"The stars somehow remind me of you…"

In a sloppy green hill on a cold, windy night, a certain girl was staring at the starry night sky when the thought of her friend came to her mind. With her arms wrapped around her knees, she remembered how he had caught her twice when she fell from the Phantom Lord's sky cell and from the giant Infinity clock. Never before had she ever expected that someone would be there for her when she really needed help.

A smile appeared on her face. I'm glad I met him, she thought.

The night breeze ruffled her blonde hair. It seemed to whisper in her ears with his voice which was saying, "I am going to protect you, Luce," with a matching wide grin.

A small blush crept up on her cheeks at the thought.

"Luce! Here you are. I looked everywhere for you!" a familiar voice shouted behind her.

She glanced at her back only to notice that the certain person who had occupied her mind a moment ago sat himself beside her.

"Hey, you feeling well? You don't look too good," he remarked, his onyx eyes filled with concern as he stared at her. He noticed that her cheeks were tinted pink but it gradually turned to reddish.

Lucy couldn't help but smile at him as she remembered how many times in moments like this that she had managed to hide all her feelings for him.

"I'm fine," she replied in her best casual tone of voice.

"You girls are weird. Your face is red, and yet you say you're fine? Geez…"

Lucy laughed. "Hmph. I will go inside the guild now."

She started to get up, but then her right hand was pulled down by his left one. Her brown eyes widened at this and her heart started to beat faster and faster.

Calm down, Lucy, she told herself, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

"Hey, that's a shooting star, isn't it?" His voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She looked above and saw a bright light moving across it with a speed that was almost indiscernible to the eye.

Her eyes glistened with happiness. Realizing this, she hastily wiped a tear that was threatening to fall.

"Hey, Luce, why are you crying?" he asked her in a concerned voice.

"No, I'm not," she denied all too casually. "I'm just happy that I saw a shooting star, that's all," she covered up, smiling at him genuinely.

He smiled back. "Make a wish," he urged.

"Huh? Oh. Okay," she said in slight confusion but nevertheless complying.

She closed her eyes, silently wishing that that her parents were happy now and that her Fairy Tail comrades would always be safe and fine.

When she opened them, she saw her best friend staring at her.

"Don't look at me like that," she said, her cheeks flushed. "I might die of embarrassment." Then, to change the subject, she told him, "Now it's your turn now to make a wish."

"Huh? Oh, I did it already," he said, smiling.

"Then what is it?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

"Um, okay. If it seems private, I understand, Natsu. I'm sorry that I troubled you by forcing yourself to tell me your thoughts—" she babbled.

He cut her off, "No, it's not that. You see, you're my best friend. Along with Happy, of course. It's just that…" His voice trailed off.

"What is it?" Lucy asked curiously.

He looked straight into her eyes, his one hand holding her wrist gently while his free one moving to touch her bangs and her hair softly.

Why's he acting so strange to me? she wondered. He seems to be careful with me.

"I wish I could tell someone special to my heart what I really feel about her," he told her suddenly. "That was my wish."

Lucy felt her heart sink. Her knees were shaking but she managed to keep calm and forced a smile on her face. "Really? That's great! I know you can do it, Natsu! You can tell her how much you like her. Just don't forget to invite me to your wedding."

A pained look flashed across his eyes. "Luce, I…"

"Don't worry about it," she said, laughing half-heartedly. "Oh, I forgot… Levy-chan is waiting for me back at the guild and I must really go back." Her voice cracked and she couldn't hold her tears anymore. "S—See you later, Natsu." She got up hastily and started running towards the guild, leaving a confused Natsu behind.

After watching her retreating back from a distance, he stared back up at the sky. "I wish I could tell you how much you mean to me, Luce," he whispered softly. "If I could only tell you…"

Author's Note: Thank you guys for reading :D And special thanks to Her Pretty Smile for being my super awesome beta reader xD Check up on her stories, too! She's an excellent and amazing writer :D

Yow! :) This made my day.. xD