Chapter One
The crowd was huge, that was all Lucy could grasp at that moment. She wondered if she would even be able to get a ticket by this point. There were just too many people. Lucy lowered her head in defeat but a small smile flickered on her face as she heard her mother in her head. Her mother would have told her off with her giving up so easily just because there was a crowd of people in front of her. Lucy grinned as she held her head up high, her eyes holding defiance for the outcome. She grew worried as the people in front of her started walking away from the line and back towards the parking lot. She slowly made her way to the front and her heart plummeted as she saw a big sign crossing out the bands name. Lucy couldn't help but stare at the big block letters that were in red spelling out the words SOLD OUT.
Lucy sighed heavily before making her way down a back alley. She looked around cautiously as she did so. She may have lived in Magnolia for the last couple of weeks with nothing happening but she knew that you can get mugged anywhere. Keeping an eye out she made it to the other side of the alley where she had parked her car. She had thought that parking behind the building would be a smarter move than parking where anyone could have gotten their ticket stolen. Unclipping her keys from her belt loop, Lucy began unlocking her car when a loud bang had her whipping around. Lucy watched as the back door to the concert hall swung open with another bang and someone stumbled out. Putting her keys back on her belt loop, Lucy rushed over to see if the person was ok only for said person to start throwing up. She grimaced as she reached out and slowly started rubbing their back in small circles. Once they were finally done emptying the contents of their stomach, Lucy realized that the person was really a small girl with long blue hair.
"Are you alright?" Lucy asked softly as she continued to rub circles on the girls back. She received a shaky nod and Lucy let out a relieved puff of air. "Thank goodness... do you want some help getting back inside?"
"Yes... please..." The girl slowly started to rise to her feet and Lucy noticed that the girl was extremely petite, and that she herself was taller than the bluenette.
Lucy slowly helped the girl back into the building and they quickly came to a chair and she helped lower the girl into it. Lucy then hunched down onto her knees and waited for the other girl to look at her. It didn't take long as intelligent hazel eyes peered up to look at her helper moments later, a small smile on her face.
"Thank you so much."
Lucy waved her hands in front of her waving off the thanks. "It's perfectly fine, I'm just glad that you're feeling alright. What happened?"
"I think I ate something that just didn't quite agree with me." The girl laughed sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "I'm Levy by the way." The blue haired girl suddenly introduced herself.
"I'm Lucy." Lucy smiled at her new acquaintance. Suddenly a loud roar of people erupted them and Lucy frowned in a sudden depression.
"What's wrong Lucy?" Levy asked as she noticed the girl slump her shoulders.
Lucy smiled slightly. "I really wanted to see this concert by Roar, but it's cool." The girl smiled. "Maybe next time I will." She suddenly looked around and noticed that they were backstage, not wanting to get in trouble, Lucy quickly stood up. "I better get going. I don't have a ticket and I would hate to get kicked out for sneaking in. It was really nice to meet you Levy! I hope you feel better." Lucy turned around and started back the way they had come in when Levy's voice reached her ears and she turned around again to view the bluenette.
"I said I have an extra ticket if you would like to see the concert." Levy grinned. "Think of it as a thank you for helping me out back there." She pointed to the door.
Lucy considered the girl for a moment. She didn't think it was a great idea to take a virtual stranger up on her offer but at the same time she was almost desperate to see the concert. She bit her lip in thought before finally coming to a decision, her mother's voice still echoing in her head from earlier. She looked at the ticket that Levy had reached out before reaching out herself and grabbing the ticket. As soon as it was in her hands, Lucy's excitement grew with every beat of her heart. "Is this truly alright?" She asked the other girl and only received a grin in reply. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" Lucy then raced back to Levy and gave her a hug. "I'm so excited! I get to see Roar!"
"And that's not all." Levy grinned cheekily before she swooped something over Lucy's head.
"What?" Lucy looked down and her eyes widened as she saw V.I.P. on a little card that was around her neck. "Levy... what...?"
"I'm Levy McGarden, the assistant production manager for Roar!" The bluenette winked at Lucy who stood in shock at the girl.
"Are you serious?" Lucy whispered.
"Yup! Thanks again for helping me! I'll show you where you can go for that ticket. Just stick close to me alright? It gets kind of hectic back here." Levy commented before standing up and slowly walking further into the back of the concert hall.
Lucy stood in shock for a few brief seconds before running after the petite girl and catching up. She watched as Levy grabbed a nearby water and then put a headset onto her head, pushing back her bangs before she started barking orders to some of the other people that they came across. Levy took a swig of water before turning around and offering Lucy a drink as well. As she was still processing what was happening, Lucy took up her offer and took a tentative sip of water. The cool liquid was wonderful on her suddenly parched throat and she took another sip before capping the bottle and holding onto it for Levy. She watched as other people milled about aimlessly when she suddenly bumped into someone making her fall to the ground, landing hard on her ass. Looking up to see what she bumped into, she quickly paled as she realized she it was really a whom.
Long black hair that was pushed back from their forehead and secured with a yellow bandanna, piercing blood red eyes, and Lucy immediately noticed all of the piercings that bedazzled their face and arms. It was Gajeel, Roar's drummer. Lucy stood up hastily and was about to apologize when Levy suddenly appeared beside her.
"Gajeel! What are you doing back here! You're supposed to be onstage with Natsu and the others!"
Gajeel rolled his eyes, a dark look on his face and then raised his hand for them to see a broken drumstick. "Easy Shrimp, just came to get a new pair of drumsticks." He said, his voice gruff from non-use. "Who's the bunny girl?"
Lucy raised her eyebrow at the sound of Bunny Girl. "Excuse me?"
Gajeel ignored her as he handed his broken drumstick to a nearby person who immediately rushed off to find him a new pair. Within moments he was twirling a pair of brand new sticks around his skilled fingers with a smirk on his lips. He turned to leave when he felt a tug at his arm. Lucy watched as he turned around with a question on his face before he looked down at Levy and another smirk graced his features. "What is it Shrimp?" He said, amusement in his otherwise gruff voice.
"Break a leg." Levy smiled at him happily. "And stop calling me Shrimp! I have an identity you know!"
Gajeel just shrugged before turning back around and walking back onstage. "Yo! Salamander! You ready you idiot?!" He called out. A resounding 'Oi!' reached Lucy's ears before the crowd swallowed the rest of the reply. 'Salamander?' She questioned to herself before shrugging and continued to follow Levy around before they came to a small area where they could watch the stage up close and personal.
"Oh wow!" Lucy looked around in shock. "We get to stand here and watch?"
"Yup! Of course I get to every concert because of my job." Levy tossed her new friend a sly smirk.
"Levy, you are amazing!" Lucy gushed to the shorter girl. "This is amazing! Thank you so much!"
Levy shrugged. "Don't worry about it, it's the least I could do since you came over to check on me, and when you started worrying about getting in trouble because you didn't have a ticket I knew that you were not only kind but honest." The bluenette gave Lucy another smile. "So thank you for looking out for a random stranger. Besides, Natsu is the reason I got sick in the first place."
Lucy's ears picked up as she heard the name 'Natsu' for the second time in the last 15 minutes. "Natsu? Isn't he the lead singer? What did he do?"
"Natsu likes to prank people, he's the only one people need to look out for." Levy shook her head, a grimace on her face. "Him and that damn cat of his, Happy."
"I didn't know Natsu had a cat..." Lucy mused to herself.
"Not a lot of people do, Natsu is trying to keep it that way. He doesn't want his fans to find out and suddenly adopt a bunch of cats just to ignore them later. He wants them to be adopted and loved and taken care of."
Lucy felt her heard tighten as a smile graced her features. "That's actually really smart and thoughtful. I would love to have a cat but I just got a puppy."
"A puppy? Aww how cute!" Levy gushed. "You'll have to show me a picture when you get a chance! Stay right here, I'll be right back. If anyone asks, give them my name and show them the pass I gave you." The bluenette smiled before a frown graced her features and a determined look came into her eye before she walked away to take care of other matters. Lucy felt her palms start to sweat as she nervously looked around when suddenly everything went dark and she snapped her head back to the stage where she heard a slow melody from the keyboard. The bass kicked in and she seemed to feel it right in her chest. The lights slowly started to come on when there were a bunch of red flashes and the stage was suddenly filled with the members of 'Roar' and Lucy's face filled with absolute wonder and joy at being so close to the band that rescued her from her loneliness. She recognized the song immediately and couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face even more, her cheeks hurting from the effort. Her head started bobbing to the beat and before she knew it she was dancing slowly, not even caring if someone was watching her. She was just so happy.
She didn't even pay attention to the fact that a pink haired boy had gotten on the stage and had his eyes trained on her as he sang the song, watching her dance like no one was watching. The boy grinned a huge heart stopping smile, his elongated canines flashing before turning to the huge crowd that was in front of him and his band mates. He wanted to focus on the blonde haired girl that had caught his interest but the music swept him away as he swayed to the beat.
I found a note with your name
And a picture of us
Even though it was framed
And covered in dust
It's the map in my mind that sends me on my way
They say it's never too late
To stop being afraid
And there is no one else here
So why should I wait?
And in the blink of an eye the past begins to fade
Lucy felt tears prick her eyes as she thought of everything that has happened in the last few years in her life as she listened to the lyrics, still swaying and dancing to the infectious beat. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to hold back the wetness of her tears before opening them again and focusing on the band in front of her, only for her to pause for a split second as she caught sight of a pair of slanted onyx eyes staring at her before she blinked and the eyes disappeared. Lucy looked around a bit before shrugging and a smile tugged back at her lips.
So have you ever been caught in a sea of despair?
And your moment of truth
Is the day you say "I'm not scared"
Put your hands in the air
If you hear me out there
I've been looking for you day and night
Shine a light in the dark
Let me see where you are
'Cause I'm not gonna leave you behind
A tap on Lucy's shoulder from behind made the girl squeak a bit as she turned around quickly to find a grinning Levy standing there. "You scared me!" She smiled at the bluenette.
"Sorry about that." Levy giggled at the dancing girl before starting to dance with her. "I'm taking a break for the moment, everything is taken care of!" She called out over the music, her headset around her neck. Lucy laughed, her head thrown back in glee.
"Then let's enjoy ourselves!" They both laughed before dancing together, smiles upon their faces.
If I told you that you're not alone
And I show you this is where you belong
Put your hands in the air
One more time
I've seen a million miles
Met a million faces
Took all I knew
To reach all these places
And I'd do it again
If it brings me back to you
So have you ever been caught in a sea of despair?
And your moment of truth
Is the day you say "I'm not scared"
Put your hands in the air
If you hear me out there
I've been looking for you day and night
Shine a light in the dark
Let me see where you are
'Cause I'm not gonna leave you behind
Lucy laughed with her new friend as they both raised their hands with the crowd that they could see and waved to the band. A flash of something caught Lucy's eye as she watched the pink haired male sing passionately into the mic he held and danced around like a moth to a flame. He was just all over the place! And the grin on his face made Lucy's smile even bigger. The boys smile was just so carefree and full of joy that Lucy couldn't help herself as she danced even more with Levy.
If I told you that you're not alone
And I show you this is where you belong
Put your hands in the air
One more time
Put your hands in the air
Put your hands in the air
If you hear me out there
I've been looking for you day and night
Shine a light in the dark
Let me see where you are
'Cause I'm not gonna leave you behind
If I told you that you're not alone
And I show you this is where you belong
Put your hands in the air
One more time
Put your hands in the air
One more time
"Thank you so much!" Lucy grinned and gave the petite bluenette a tight hug. "I have to take you out, my treat! Let me give you my number!" It was after the concert and Levy had walked her back to the backstage door that they had come in from two hours before. The concert had gone off without any problems and Lucy was extremely happy that she wasn't a bother standing off to the side watching, and she was even happier that she had made a new friend in Levy. Said bluenette handed Lucy her phone and she immediately put her number in as a new contact before giving it back to Levy.
"Is it alright if I call you Lu-chan?" Levy asked as she took her phone back from Lucy and smiled as the girl nodded.
"Just message me when you have some free time and I'll treat you to anything you want! Thank you again so much for everything, and I really hope you start feeling better!" Lucy smiled sweetly and gave the petite girl another tight hug. "Thank you..." she whispered in Levy's ear before letting the smaller girl go and opening the door to the night life outside, waving one last time and then closing the door behind her. Lucy practically ran to her car in her excitement at what the day had held for her. She pulled on the handle and frowned when the door didn't open before she remembered she had locked it. Shaking her head at herself with a grin she reached down to her hip to grab her keys but her hand caught nothing but air. Lucy's face slowly turned to a chalky white as she looked down at her waist and realized her car keys were missing and her belt loop where her keys always were, was ripped at the bottom.