I have a three-page paper due tomorrow and I haven't started lmao but I just have to compare 2 poems so I don't think it'll be hard lmaooo I'm the worst English major ever

Important info at the bottom!

His life felt a bit boring around this time of year, being the summer after his second year of high school, seventeenth birthday not since long passing as well. There would have been the looming pressure to decide a college and career going into his third year, but he was dead set on learning how to manage his father's business after high school, so all he looked forward to was the fun expected along with his group of friends during their last year together. Igneel was a creative engineer, worked with multiple different materials to create either sculptures he was inspired to make, commissioned pieces for people around the world or home goods like kitchenware and vases they sold in a little but very popular shop; one he was excited to inherit.

Gray and Gajeel often complained to him how they'd been wasting their time, doing nothing but playing around when they could have been chasing their steady stream of fangirls; some of who may have idolized them a bit too much. High school wasn't about finding their sweetheart but building their credit before going off to college and finding women there.

If that was what they wanted, he had no qualms there. But he certainly didn't want something like that for himself. He craved the deep emotional connection that he could see in his parents, someone who balanced him so well that he would have no choice but to chase them to the ends of the earth. He had yet to even find someone who gave his heart such a yearning feeling or the tight grip on his lungs that stole his breath and made him dizzy with happiness, so he read once in a book.

It was a fated meeting, the day her cup of iced tea slipped from the windowsill and shattered as it hit his head. It could've happened to anyone, he supposed, this summer's night when the warm breeze followed while he strolled with a cherry popsicle between his lips. She gasped as she looked down and yelled for him to stay still, running from her apartment over what seemed to be a quaint bakery. Huh…since when was this here?

"Oh my Mavis, are you okay?!" She winced at the sight of blood trickling from his forehead, a small brush in her hand to clean off any shards of glass that may have stuck to him. There was no time to say or do anything as she forced him to bend over, shaking his hair of any shards, accidentally knocking the popsicle to the ground as well.

"Let me get you cleaned up inside," He was whisked indoors, yet to be able to say anything as he stumbled in behind her.

She forcefully sat him down in front of her coffee table and pulled his t-shirt off to rinse in the sink. He barely even got a good look at the girl as she rushed around before crouching down in front of him with a damp rag and a first aid kit.

"I'm so sorry about that, really," She sighed as she wiped his bicep of the sticky juice, a slight blush filling his cheeks as her delicate fingers graced his skin.

"Nothin' to worry about, my mom's always told me I've got a thick skull." He smiled as she giggled at his words, eyes meeting briefly as she looked up. His breath hitched and heart fluttered for an achingly short moment, captivated by the perfect glow in her eyes and pull of her lips to her cheeks. He blushed as she continued to wipe up his arm and down his chest, from the crook of his shoulder up to the tip of his ear. Had she not been bothered by his shirtless appearance? Indeed, that was the mark of an older woman, not even so much as blushing like the girls at school would. And he was impressive, which sounded a bit arrogant, but he was a martial artist as well, growing up with Erza had its good results at times.

"That's good to hear," She hummed before turning to rummage for a band-aid in the medical box.

"I'm Natsu," He cleared his throat, stealing back his gaze that had wandered to follow the curve of her body and well-endowed chest; even Loke hadn't had the chance to fondle someone as well-endowed as her.

"Lucy," Her breathtaking smile beamed as she pat the small scratch on his forehead with a cotton ball. "Lucy Heartfilia, I run the bakery downstairs."

"O-Oh…" He hoped she wouldn't be able to tell his blush had increased as one hand softly caressed his cheek, and the other tended his wound. "I'm still in high school, it's our summer break right now," He spilled, urgent to tell her as much as he could about himself in the short moment they were together.

"Feel more than welcome to visit my store the next time you're out walking, I'll give you some free desserts for all the trouble," He nodded shortly as she finished plastering his band-aid, getting up to saunter into her kitchen. "I put your shirt in the dryer, so it may take a little while to finish. Would you like to have dinner with me? I was just about to serve myself."

"S-Sure, Lucy-nee."

As he walked home that day, he clenched a hand over his heart, listening to it thud wildly in his ears. His lips twisted eagerly at the thought of her smile, unable to contain his want to see her again. She was a fantastic cook, even when it was only a simple meal of fried rice and eggs, but what else should he have expected from someone who owned their own bakery. He thought it would've been awkward trying to make conversation with someone he just met, but they had a lot in common when it came to the want to create new sculptures in his case and pastries in hers. She invited him to return whenever he wanted, even on the weekends if he wanted to help her out with some projects she had been thinking of for her store, something he was more than happy to do.

"Eh? The hell are you calling me for?" Gray barked on the other end of the line, Natsu grinning as his eyes met the sun setting along the horizon in front of him.

"...I think I just fell in love,"

"Tell that to someone who cares!"

I know this isn't very long, my intention was to make this a long one-shot but I thought it'd work better if I just broke it into parts so I could include everything I wanted to and not rush through the scenes like I felt like I did with Destiny (which I really have to edit)

Again, I'm stupid and busy so I won't be able to promise consistent updates, but I really wanted to release this idea!

I've been lowkey into this concept after reading a couple manga like it and uuuuuuuugh I promise to make this sweet as hell, and I do not condone the idea of having sex with minors SOOO before anyone gets on my case about it, don't want to spoil anything but this is more of a Natsu chasing hs first love story. But for sure I'm dropping some really good moments between them

My tumblr is moeruhoshi if u want somethiin