"Mira, I've told you a million times, and I'll tell you again. I will never go out with that guy!" Lucy told her companion over the phone. She was riding the bus to the mall to get some new jeans, and her friend Mira, whom everyone had dubbed "matchmaker", had called her to apparently bug her about a guy that she wanted to set Lucy up with. She picked a piece of lint off of her strapless blue summer dress. Mira was always one to set up people on dates, and most of the time, they worked.
In one circumstance, Lucy's best friend Levy had been set up by Mira with an intimidating guy named Gajeel, and nearly three years after their first date, they were engaged and were looking into buying a house when they were married. While Levy was petite and a bookworm, Gajeel was very tall and could care less about reading. Levy was the sweetest person on the planet, and Gajeel could be so blunt that it bordered on the line of rudeness at times. Despite being complete opposites, they worked wonderfully together and he became a huge teddy bear when around her. Lucy was to be their maid of honor in the spring, and she could not be more excited about it. Lucy realized that she had been zoning out while Mira was talking and had to focus on the conversation once more.
"Why won't you go out with him, Lucy? He's a techie and works for one of the biggest companies in the world. He's smart, kind, makes a lot of money, and he's probably good with his hands because he types all day… If you know what I mean," Lucy could hear the smirk in Mira's voice. Of course Mira would bring up sex while trying to set up her friend. She always did, and for some reason that had always worked to get the girl or guy to go out with their match. But not Lucy. She wanted a relationship before sex. Not that she didn't want to have sex at all, but she was demisexual and valued knowing a person emotionally over knowing a person sexually. She had to get to know someone before she got into a sexual relationship with someone, and most guys had just thought that if they used a bunch of cheesy pickup lines on her then she would bed them.
Lucy had turned down countless men and had gotten irritated with friends trying to set her up. One guy had great hair, but not a great heart. Another had lots of money, but there was no chemistry. The third had loved her, but she felt no feelings back. The fourth? Please. He had tried to get into her pants the second she said hello and shook his hand, staring at her cleavage instead of peering into her eyes.
She was done. Absolutely done. She hated the fact that almost all the men she had dated or been set up with were pigs. And she was happy being single. She was 24 years old and still had a long life ahead of her. She bought designer clothes and went out to dinner with friends at places that needed reservations three months ahead of time. She had cocktails with famous journalists who were just dying to get to know her. Yes, Lucy truly was living the good life. And why stop if you're having a great time?
"Please, Lucy? Just trust me, girlie. I've got this all figured out. You and this guy will fall in love and then you'll start enjoying life again. Don't you feel empty without love? Don't you want to, you know, settle down and have a family one day?" Lucy thought about this proposition. Yes, she wanted to settle down, but not now. She just wanted someone she could have a great connection with and love. There was no reason to get married now. She was content being single.
"No, Mira, I totally get what you're saying. But I kind of just want to live my own life for a while. Learn to be me, and learn who I am as a person. Is there anything wrong with that?" Lucy asked, knowing she had Mira stumped.
Mira was silent for a moment, and then replied with a coaxing tone, "Lucy, all I'm asking you is for one date. Give the guy a chance. I haven't been the one setting you up on dates. This guy has substance. He's 26 and hasn't had a girlfriend in years. He is caring. He knows how to cook. Please, Lucy?" Lucy pondered Mira's words. This guy didn't sound too bad. But if he hadn't had a girlfriend in a long time, didn't that mean that he had lost his touch? What if he was awkward? Lucy sighed and remembered that she hadn't actually had a boyfriend in a long time, and they could be awkward together if it all worked out. 'That sounds sweet,' she thought to herself. She hoped she wouldn't regret this later…
"Okay, Mira, you've got one date from me. Now, what's this guy's name and phone number so I can–" Lucy started, but she was cut off by a metallic screech and was launched forwards off her feet.
She squealed loudly, trying to catch her balance. She was sure she was about to hit the floor of the bus. She braced herself for the impact, squeezing her eyes shut.
Lucy was caught by strong arms and held there. She opened her eyes and saw the whole bus was staring at her. Children were giggling, parents were whispering, and older people were smiling. 'What the hell is going on?' She wondered. And then she looked up.
A strong-looking man with pink hair held her upright. His hair was messy and wild-looking, and he had an undercut, which was something Lucy had always secretly thought was hot. His thick, black Ray-Ban glasses were on the bridge of his nose, and his onyx eyes peeked over the top of them, staring at her. He was wearing a beanie over most of his hair, and he was clothed in dark cuffed jeans, a long sleeved emerald v-neck which clung to his body like a second skin, and he wore a very small wooden gauge in his ear. He wore a very surprised expression on her face.
Needless to say, this guy was hot. She could barely hold in her blush as she looked up and down his body, checking him out. He was definitely her type.
As he watched her check him out, a half-smile grew on his handsome face. He opened his mouth and told her loudly, "I think you just fell for me," and he grinned openly with sharp white teeth shown.
The whole bus stared, and Lucy's eyes widened as the people started clapping and cheering for them. He pulled her to her feet and grinned at her again, leaning against the bus seat. The bus started up again and the people continued to stare at Lucy and the mysterious hot guy.
"What was that for?" Lucy demanded of the handsome man, and everyone laughed.
"Well, I thought you could use some saving. After all, you are beautiful enough to be a damsel in distress," he chuckled, biting his lower lip. Lucy had to focus directly on his eyes to not stare at his plump lower lip as he bit it with his sharp canines. Canines that could bite her neck and leave marks as they made–
She stopped the thought in its tracks.
"Excuse me, Mister Hipster! I am not a damsel in distress. I could save myself if I wanted to, and I don't need cocky guys like you pretending to be the hero just so you can get into a girl's pants. Leave me alone," Lucy snarled the words.
"I– I'm sorry," the guy started, but Lucy cut him off with a glare.
They rode the bus for a few minutes in silence, not looking at each other. People went back to talking to their friends, but she heard snippets of conversation about them.
When her stop finally came, she told the bus driver thank you, and strutted off the vehicle, her heels tapping and hips swaying in time with the song stuck in her head, "Boss Michelle Obama, purse so heavy gettin' Oprah dollars," and she knew his eyes were on her.
She didn't need that fuck boy anyway. She had a date with a guy that was sure to be fantastic, and she had to grab an outfit that was sure to be sexy but classy. She never revealed everything she had on the first date…
She started on her way to Heart Kreuz, her favorite shop that carried fantastic first date clothing. She started putting together outfits in her head, grabbing her headphones and plugging them into her phone to actually listen to "BO$$".
She heard the bus slowly start up again above her music, but a voice yelled, "Wait!" and it screeched to a stop once more. Hot Hipster (she would call him H.H for short) ran off the bus and caught up with her. She whipped around and glared at him.
"I-I am really sorry about that," he said rubbing the back of his neck and blushing lightly. 'He looks even cuter when he blushes,' she thought, but she was still mad.
"What the hell are you doing? You can't just follow a girl like this! Get away from me!" Lucy said, and she booked it away from him. Unfortunately for her, H.H was fast and he grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him.
"I can follow a girl like this. You're feisty, and I like you! You seem cool," he said, grinning. He shoved his hands in his pockets and slouched backwards, which added to the hotness factor.
"Gosh, you can't take a hint, can you?" Lucy replied, appalled. "I. Am Not. Interested. In. Fuck Boys!" She said, jabbing him in the chest with her pointer finger with each word she spat.
"I'm not. And what I did was a joke. I only want to get to know you as a friend. You seem nice. And what I do know about you is that when you feel threatened, you retaliate. And I am not going to hurt you, I promise. I want to get to know you because you're interesting. Not because you're beautiful. Well, you are, but that's not the point. The point is that–" H.H told her, but Lucy guffawed with laughter, bending over at the knees to laugh.
"You want to get to know me? As a friend? Ha!" Tears were forming in her eyes. This guy was ridiculous.
"Let me prove it to you. Whatever you want to do today, I'll come with you and talk to you like I would a good friend. Just give me a chance!"
"You're kidding, right?" she replied, still laughing.
He shook his head, deadly serious. Lucy knew he was actually going to do this when she saw the stoic look in his eyes. She straightened up and smoothed her dress.
"Well, then, you've got yourself a deal!" she stuck out her hand to shake, and he wrapped his huge hand around her small one.
"What's your name?" He asked her, walking towards Heart Kreuz once she told him where she was going.
"Lucy Heartfilia. What is yours?"
"Natsu Dragneel. Nice to meet ya, Luce!" He said, grinning.
They headed off to Heart together in search of the perfect outfit for this date and getting to know each other along the way, a beautiful friendship blossoming on the way.