Secret Love:
"Love you, see you soon"
"Ya 'see you' soon too." I turn off my phone, sighing as I put it in my skirt pocket. Pushing back my frustration to the back of my mind I finish getting ready for school. I walk over to my desk, shuffling paper into various folders and binders, making sure I have all my homework completed, I was up late last night finishing.
With the last of my things pushed into my book bag, I pick up my tablet from my night table, pulling the charger out before closing the case and adding it to my bag. I lean my bag against my door, and finish getting ready.
As I brush my hair I feel my frustrated tears springing back to the front of my eyes. I blink rapidly, willing my eyes to cooperate, to not give in to my feelings, trying to win with logic. It's for the best this way, with how things are, it's the best for me. I repeat these words to myself, but my heart just can't agree. Sighing I put the brush down, and stare at myself in the mirror, bracing myself on the counter.
Taking one last deep breath, and style my hair into a ponytail, while practicing my smile. Today is going to be a hard day. It is the first day back from winter break, and it was a very lonely break. Coming back into my bedroom, I pull on my cardigan and socks, throw my bag across my body and trump down the stairs.
"Miss Lucy, would you like some breakfast today?" The small womans head peeks from behind the doorway, her pink hair short and simple.
"No I'm ok Virgo, just an apple today please." The woman nods before pulling back into the kitchen. She reappears within seconds with a lunch in one hand and an rich red apple in her other hand. I murmured a thanks. I pull my scarf tight around my neck, and wiggle my feet into a boots.
The cold January air surrounds me, my hands stuffed deep into my sweater pockets, glad I chose my thicker cardigan this morning. My throat aches from the cold with each breath, steam billowing around my face. The closer I get to school the more I push on my mask, smiling and looking excited to be where I was.
I immediately get glomped as I pass through the gate, my balance thrown. "Lu-chan! I missed you so much!" I smile at my small blue-haired friend, unable to hug her back as she squeezed me harder, arms pinned to my side.
"Nice to see you too Levy-chan" I laugh, finally able to hug her back when she pulls away. We both shiver and giggle, moving into the school building. "How have you been Levy?"
"Good, The National Library of Sweden was amazing! You should've come with me Lu, you would have loved it."
"Sorry, I would have loved to, too." My face twitch unpleasantly at the memory.
"What did you do Lu? You never did tell me your plans."
"Oh well nothing, they fell through. If I had know I would have gone with you" I try and smile as we reach my locker, but my anger shines brightly when I rip the door open so hard it clangs against the neighboring door, swinging back closed.
"Oh Lu-chan, It will be ok, was it your dad?"
"No, I don't really want to talk about it." or rather I can't talk to her about it. I try to smile again, but my breath catches in my throat and I spin to busy myself with the contents of my locker. A rowdy crowd moves behind me, joking loudly and pushing each other.
"Look at them go, always so loud" Levy huffs beside me, hands on her hips, "They really need to focus more on their education and less on goofing off."
"I know Levy," I laugh, but it's forced and guilty. "Jocks are the worst" I close my locker slowly, staring off into space. I jump, the warning bell blaring through the halls. "See you later Levy, library like usual?"
"Yup see you there" We go separate ways, and I push my way to the stairs to reach my higher level classes. I am in all advanced courses in the school, to not only advance my career in the future, but to focus within the classroom with no distractions.
I take my seat and pull out my first binder, ready to get through the day and go home. As the class progresses I find it harder and harder to focus, my gaze constantly going out the window, watching small figures move about the fields. Most sports focussed classes are in the morning, and it is always a distraction to me no matter the distance.
I unconsciously seek out a head of pink hair, watching it move about the field. My heart clenches and I feel fresh hurt and anger well up in me. Tearing my head away from window I stare straight ahead at the whiteboard, the teacher's words not reaching me.
The bell rings once again. I quickly gather my things, embarrassed that I heard nothing the whole class and promise myself not to be distracted for the rest of the day, and to get Levy to tell me what happened later at lunch, as she has this class after me. I gracefully descend the stair, my hand on the rail. I'm close to the bottom steps when insufferable screaming shatters my ear drums.
"Kya! Natsu!" A frantic girl cries out, her voice soon drowned out by the other girls around her. I glare at the crazy fangirls as they oggle and fawn over the aforementioned boy. I push past them, not sparing a second glance, but the flash of pink still enters my peripheral vision. I slow down the tiniest bit and glance behind me.
He is tall and tan, well built, his toothy grin blazing like a warm fire, friendly and welcoming. His spiky pink hair and neck glistens with morning practice sweat. He tries to give each girl a bit of his attention, laughing and joking with them while his friends hover in the back, mocking him for all his fan girls. His dark eyes start to travel towards me, I quickly move down the hall, my face burning red from mixed emotions.
This continues for the day. I try to focus in class and afterwards I dodge shrieking girls, they sound like a drove of pigs, and avoid the handsome boy that they all fawn over. For once I am glad that the group of girls are so packed, surrounding him keeps him trapped, and unable to follow me. As I walk to the library I feel my phone vibrate for the uptenth time.
"Are you mad? What's wrong Lucy? Answer me."
"Ask your fan girls, I'm sure they have the answer. After all, you can be seen with them" I feel the urge to throw my phone but think better of it, and slip it back into my pocket. Entering the library I wave to the Librarian, a older but sweet woman.
"Good afternoon Lucy, Levy is already waiting for you in the back"
"Thank you" I make my way through the shelves, the smell of aged pages and newly printed leaflets calming down. I find Levy sitting at our usual table, her head already buried in her homework, her lunch devoured beside her.
"I see you already ate."
"Ya I really want to get a head start on this, we have a project due soon that I want to focus on tonight"
"Was that from English?"
"Ya why?"
"I was a little distracted this morning and practically heard nothing. What do we have to do?"
"We have to write a research paper on the effects of the prohibition of the 1920's, and how it would be taken today if in effect"
"Really? That's child play" We snicker. I quickly eat my lunch as well, reading from my tablet while I do. My phone vibrates again, I pull it out and glare at the message.
"Ok you are clearly upset, what did I do wrong?"
"What gives you that idea?"
"Lucy please, let me talk to you. Are you in the Library?"
"Don't you dare. I'm with Levy. And wasn't you who said not to speak at school?"
"You're more important right now."
"If I truly was Natsu then you wouldn't be embarrassed of me, leave me alone." I quickly gather up my things, knowing he will come here regardless, and I don't want to deal with my secret life coming crashing down around me right now.
"Levy I have to go, I'll see you later ok?" I mumble and practically run out of the library, giving her no time to respond. Where can I hide until the lunch hour ends? The woman's bathroom this the best place. Just as I'm about to make my safe haven, there's a strong grip on my arm and I'm pulled to a stop. Spinning around I am meet with dark onyx eyes and warm pink hair.
"Lucy please" His eyes look sad and empty. I yank myself from his grasp and back into the bathroom. Cursing myself for trapping myself. He will wait out there until the bell rings. He knows I would never skip class, but he is more than willing to. I will wait until the halls are full enough to make a run for it.
As soon as the bell rings I dash out of the bathroom, only to be grabbed immediately. I turn and look at him, people soon filling the hall and stopping to stare, so for his sake I break my heart into pieces. I swallow thickly before pushing the acidic words through my teeth.
"Do I know you?" Natsu's eyes flash in pain, but he lets go, frowning.
"Sorry I mistook you for someone else," He turns and stalks away, hands shoved into his pockets. I once again try and make it to class only to be surrounded by crazed teenage girls.
"What were you doing with Natsu you nerd?" One of them hisses.
"Didn't you hear him, he mistook me for someone else." I push past them, tears threatening to fall, and this time I don't hold back. I arrive to class late, the teacher looking at me worriedly, as I am never late, and have clearly been crying. I brush her off and take my seat, ready for the day to be over, so I can lock myself in my room.
My phone continues to vibrate throughout the rest of the day, I turn it off after an hour, not ready to hear his excuses. I had to leave two classes to cry in the bathroom, emotions built up breaking free from the wall I put them behind.
Quicker than lightening at last bell, I'm out of the school building and down the street before the gate becomes crowded and flooded with students. I'm home in a matter of minutes, thanking small town life for compact living. I ignore Virgos greeting and run up the stairs, two steps at a time. Slamming my door closed, tossing my bag who knows where. Grabbing a pillow, I ram my face into its depth and scream, and scream. Soon I'm exhausted and just collapse on the bed only to jump back up at someone's voice.
"Feel better?" Natsu is sitting in my window, one leg still outside of my room. I ignore him, turning my back on him.
"I missed you." he tries, his feet padding across the room towards me. I can feel him pausing behind me, keeping a distance, but his warmth still washes over me. I cross my arms, my throat and jaw clenched.
"Did you really? You seemed to have so much fun without me, after all you have many girls to hang out with"
"Lucy, I love you not the-" I cut him off, my two week pent up anger and pain rushing out.
"If that was true, then you would have taken the time to see me during break, not canceling minutes before every time. Oh and don't think I didn't see your facebook updates. Have fun skiing with Clare?"
"Lucy they followed me there! I was with the guys when they showed up, honest." My fingers start to dig into my arms, my back still to him.
"If I had know you would keep canceling on me for two weeks, and to not even spend Christmas with me like you promised, I would have gone to Sweden with Levy."
"Lucy…"
"Why Natsu why?"
"Because" Is all he says, offering no explanation. I feel myself deflate in defeat, tired of the fight and hurt. My arms fall to my side and I cry for the second time that day.
"Then we are over Natsu. I'm tired of being your secret girlfriend. I can't take it anymore."
"Lucy no please" I hear his voice crack, "I don't like this either but you have to trust me. Those girls with hurt you, I can't have that. I have to protect you, I love you too much."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"Lucy look at me." He takes my hand, begging me to turn around. I slowly give in, and hate myself for it. With watery eyes I look at him and gasp. His own eyes are full of tears, his face expressing how much he is hurting.
"I kept canceling because one of the girls found out about you, about us. She told me that if all the other girls knew about you, you wouldn't last. Remember what Garrett's fangirls did to his girlfriend?" I nod remembering. She has been hospitalized and had to switch school and broke up with Garrett, it was horrible.
"I can not let that happen to you," his grip on my hand tightens, my fingers quickly losing feeling. "So please don't leave me, please Luce," I feel my resolve breaking completely as he uses my nickname. He take two more steps closer, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek, tenderly rubbing my tears away.
"I want to Natsu, put it hurts too much."
"Then," He swallows thickly, "Let's become friends at school. Then I can see you,"
"What? Really? I can talk to you?" My voice wavers the slightest, hope blooming deep within me. He nods, smiling at my eager response. He rubs his thumb across my face again, and starts to lean in ever slowly. I start to move towards his lips, my nose brushing his, my eyes closing.
"Hey Lu-chan, Surpri-" My door is thrown open, Levy standing in the doorway, her words dieing as soon as she spots us, her jaw hanging open, arm frozen in mid wave. Natsu and I jump apart.
"Levy" I whisper mortified at being caught. I bite my lip nervously, eyeing the petite girl before me, my separate worlds colliding harshly, exploding in disaster around me. Natsu just looks at the ground, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"Lucy" My stomach turns cold as she uses my name and not my nickname, "What is going on?"
So what do you think? This one was a challenge because I have a hard time writing the smaller details about daily life. I want to keep the reader's interest, but not move too quickly. I don't think I did a very good job. I'm thinking of making this a three-shot at least, just a short little story.