A matter of Perspective

5.26.17

Chapter One: Maybe More, Probably Not

At what point does what I believe contradict reality? If I ask my friends, they would tell me that I had been living in denial since I had stumbled my way into the hearts of the regulars at the Fairy Tail Bar. Mirajane, the young bartender who all but owned the place demanded that I take a look at what is right under my nose before I make a rash decision.

At the time, I had just fumbled with my words, befuddled by her curt tone and the absence of her typical bright, toothy smile. From that day forward, I refrained from talking about my failing love life with her. The way her demeanor changed, sugar sweet to furious den mother, had only caused more questions than she had answered anyway.

But now, three months later, I found that what I forcefully believed to be true, was slowly morphing into something that I could not even begin to comprehend.

Peering over the half-full mug of cherry red Shirley Temple, I fixed my gaze on the spiky pink hair of my best friend. I've known him for the duration of my time at Fairy Tail. He was the first person I met in Mongolia. With-in the short six months that I've lived in the bustling town, I've met and befriended dozens of people, secured a wonderful job as a waitress at this beloved bar, and moved into a great apartment. And it was all thanks to Natsu, and his energetic, pushy nature.

I thought I knew him better than I knew myself, and as I looked him up and down as he chatted with his little cousin, I wondered if I even knew him at all. The way he talked to his cousin, Wendy, a meek teenager with the same energy and loving smile, was not unlike how he would talk to me. The small smile on his lips never fell during the conversation, the slight curve of the corner of his lips telling more about his love for his cousin than he would ever dare to admit.

Pushing at the straw in my Shirley Temple, I swirled the melting ice cubes in the drink. Maybe the next one I get will have alcohol, it's not like I'm on the schedule today anyway. Maybe for once, I needed to muddle my mind, give it a rest from the constant worrying.

I focused on the sloshing of my drink, dutifully not looking at Natsu when he let out a, dare I say cute, laugh. I didn't have to look up to know he had laughed with his full body, because that's how he always laughs. He does everything with his all. Whether it's loving his cousin, loving his friends, or loving me. He gives it all he has, to the point where I couldn't say if he loved me the same way he loved Wendy. Or if he loved me the way that I might love him. Keyword, might.

Pushing my blonde bangs behind my ear, I toyed with the little pink heart shaped earrings dangling from my ears. Mirajane's words buzzed around my head again for the thousandth time. She had said that all my failed dates were because I was overlooking something that was right in front of me. That Mark, the perfect gentlemen bookworm, my perfect match, didn't work out because I was comparing him to someone else.

But the thing was I wasn't comparing him to someone else. I just didn't click with him like I thought I would. He didn't make me laugh as much as I hoped he would. He didn't tease me, or joke around, or spontaneously decide he wanted to go for day trip to…anywhere. He was boring. That was why it didn't work. Not because I was comparing him to anyone else.

But, that was what I believed. And I guess, on a subconscious level, I could have been comparing him to the friends I had made her at Fairy Tail Bar. Not just Natsu, but Gray, Gajeel, or Levy too. They're all such unique people, and Mark, he worked at a library part time and enjoyed writing in coffee shops.

And if I were to be real with myself, when I first moved to Mongolia, Mark would have been my ideal man. Since Natsu charged into my life, my ideal man has morphed into someone that I can't even really describe.

I looked up, Natsu was talking rather animatedly, his arms flying around. I smiled, when did he get so cute.

"Natsu and Wendy are so cute aren't they? More like siblings than cousins."

I started, nearly spilling my drink all over myself when I jerked out of my inner monologue. Mirajane had come up behind me, she slid into the empty chair beside me. Her apron was clean, despite it being 6 hours into her 8 hour shift. Her long, snow white hair was pulled up into ponytail today. The midsummer heat must have gotten to her, she rarely pulled all her hair up.

If she noticed my jolt of fear, she didn't comment. Instead she kept talking like nothing had even happened. "I hear he's trying to get her to move to Mongolia once she finishes high school next year. I swear, it if weren't for him we would be out of business. Over half of the people that come here, come here because of him."

Mirajane never said "Including you", but it hung in the air anyway.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Yeah he's certainly something. He treats everyone like we're all special to him. Frick, he even gives people he doesn't like a chance."

Mirajane nodded in agreement. "I had to talk him out of killing Gajeel after what he did to Levy, but now look, he and Gajeel are such good friends." She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder as she spoke.

I laughed. "Yeah, even if neither of them would ever admit it."

Mirajane giggled, leaning her elbows on the wooden table. She locked her eyes on me with a small smile, crystal blue eyes soft. "But as special as we are to him, we will never hold a candle to you."

I had been mid sip, and sugary sweet drink almost stained my nostrils red. Sputtering, I glanced up at Natsu, relived to see him still enraptured with his conversation with Wendy. Facing Mirajane, whose gaze had not faltered, I blushed. "Please, I've known him for six months, you've known him since you guys were children."

Mirajane raised her eyebrows, sighing as she shook her head at me. "Where this is true, the way he treats you as if you had also known him since childhood. Which is special even for someone as friendly as Natsu."

I gaped, mouth hanging wide open as if I was catching flies. It's like Mirajane had known I was having this very same internal debate. If magical were real, I think Mirajane would be telepathic. Either that or something sinister, because the woman could be hella devious.

"Alright Lucy, my break is coming to an end," Mirajane said, standing up. She pushed the chair in, then gestured at my drink. "Would you like a refill?"

Throughout the entire conversation I had been nervous sipping it, and there was now only ice and water down pink liquid. I handed her the mug. "Sure, spike it for me this time though."

She smiled the sugary type of smile one smiles when they know that they've accomplished something shifty. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"That'll be right up!" Mirajane chirped.

She shimmied away, a pep in her step. I could feel the heat from my blush in my cheeks still. I turned away from her, facing a confused looking Natsu. When had he come over to my table? His lips were parted, a question breaching his lips. He flopped into the adjacent chair, legs outstretched, arms crossed behind his head as he reclined back.

"What were you and Mirajane talking about?" He yawned as if the conversation already bored him, but I've seen him do this before. He was trying to act nonchalant.

The man didn't have a subtle bone in his body. His posture may have been lax, but his gaze never faltered from mine.

"Nothing important." I said, proud of the steadiness of my voice.

"Bullshit." He shot me a pointed glare, "If it were nothing important then why is your face so red?"

I froze. "Uh, we were talking about boys, if you must know." There goes my confidence.

He seemed thoughtful for a second. "Who?"

I swallowed, averting my gaze. I played with my lacy mini skirt, picking at the white frills. "That's none of your business."

He held his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine, I was just curious. You're such a weirdo." He flashed his trademark grin. How about after Mira comes back with your drink we play a game of darts!"

I agreed readily, already eager to put the conversation behind us. He launched into telling me about how he pretty much convinced Wendy to come to college in Mongolia, and how pumped he was to have a family member so close by.

He ranted on and on about it, even after Mirajane came back with my drink. I didn't mind though. Seeing him smile so wide was enough for me, and I felt silly for trying to complicate the simple relationship I had with this wonderful guy.

A/N: Hey guys! So, I've survived all the stupid things in my life, and hopefully this summer will be a very productive for writing. I think it will be! Let me know what you guys think of this! Constructive criticism welcome!

And yes, I plan on finishing Falling Off of Rooftops, and some of the other pieces I've started. Sorry about the like 4 year unannounced hiatus, but better late than never, right? *shrugs*