A/N: Thank you for the already very positive feedback for this story. This story will be quite different than the last, more based around the discovery of the Otherside and the mystery involving Lucy's family. It will also deal exclusively with Natsu and Lucy's relationship. So please read and enjoy and leave me any ideas/prompts in the reviews.
Chapter Two: Life as a Prefect
Lucy woke up to the sound of rain splattering against her window. Groaning and rolling over, Lucy realized that she must have fallen asleep in her school uniform. Sighing Lucy's mind recalled the events of the night before and all that had happened.
"And I was really hoping it had been all in my dreams," Lucy muttered to herself, getting out of bed and shuffling into her own private washroom. Silently Lucy striped and got into the shower, summoning her shampoo and conditioner from her duffel bag. Quickly showering and dressing Lucy scuttled over to her bag, towel wrapped around her curvy frame. Pulling on fresh socks and a new blazer Lucy ran a brush through her dripping wet hair, tying it back from her face.
Suddenly there was a knock outside her door. Wondering who could be searching for her so early in the morning, Lucy pulled open the door to come face to face with the cheerful grin of Jellal.
"Good morning Jellal," Lucy said politely, smiling at him through her exhaustion.
Jellal beamed at her, clearly his good mood was everlasting. "Morning Lucy. You ready for the morning paroles?"
Lucy had completely forgotten about her prefect duties and her eyes widened in surprise. "Ah, yes, right. Um, I'll just go grab my shoes and coat." Hustling back inside Lucy grabbed her warmest jacket and her school shoes, quickly arranging her school books into her tote bag. Ensuring she was ready, she returned to Jellal who was waiting for her patiently.
"Ready!" Lucy said, stepping outside and closing her dorm room behind her. "Where should be start?"
Jellal's hazel eyes meet hers warmly and he motioned her to follow him; walking down the stairs he began to talk. "Good question, I was thinking we should begin in the Great Hall and then make our ways around the Inner Sanctum. It'll be nothing but chaos for the first week so we really need to be on our toes."
Lucy nodded, trying to follow along with Jellal's endless flow of words. "Good idea. But um, what about classes?" She asked, holding up her book bag in question.
Jellal laughed, taking her bag from her hands. "Oh we won't be going to class until after break, the teachers need us to help escort the first years around more than they need us in class." He explained, snapping his fingers as he sent her bag to some unknown location. "There. Now it'll be ready and waiting for you in your third period class."
Taken aback at his speedy conclusion to the situation Lucy smiled wearily. "Well thank you, I suppose. Although I'm sure Professor Midnight will miss me in class."
Again Jellal's laughter took her by surprise, "he'll have to get used to it seeing how much we got on our plate this year."
Lucy didn't respond to that, instead she took to biting on her lower lip, a habit she developed when she felt unsure about something. The two continued to the Great Hall the rest of the way in silence.
Once inside the Hall Lucy became very aware at just how many new students there were. Last year one could find their own table easily and not have to worry about sharing but now almost every seat was taken and it all seemed very squished.
"Sure is busy in here." Lucy whispered, trailing behind Jellal as he lead her towards their seats at the prefect table.
Sitting down in their very own reserved seats Lucy could feel the attention they were attracting, numerous eyes staring in their direction. Handing her a neatly folded napkin and a pair of silverware Jellal dug into his already served plate of hash browns and cinnamon waffles.
Through a mouthful of waffle he said, "I'm not used to drawing all this attention. I usually avoid it." He admitted, reaching for a tall glass of mango juice and slurping it down loudly.
Lucy picked up rather oddly shaped pear slice and popped it into her mouth, she forgot how good the food was here. Swallowing, she glanced at Jellal out of the corner of her eye, watching the boy she never even considered being friends with.
"Jellal," she said, sipping on her cup of lemon tea, "I'm happy that out of all the guys in this school to be chosen prefect, it was you."
Jellal's fork paused half way to his mouth, eyebrows skyrocketing. "Really?" He asked, shell shocked.
Lucy nodded, cupping her mug in her hands and allowing it's warmth to seep into her chilled fingers. "Yeah, I don't really know much about you but you seem like a good guy."
Jellal slowly put his fork down, examining her curiously. "You know I never really though much about you until that whole thing last year to be honest." He told her sheepishly, "but I'm also glad you were elected. Although it would have been nice if you were Erza as well." He murmured through a heavy blush, scratching his right cheek in embarrassment.
Lucy giggled, even she knew about Jellal's childhood crush on her good friend Erza Scarlet. Setting her tea cup down gently Lucy adjusted her pony tail and again found herself smiling back at Jellal, "you should tell her you know. I'm sure she'd reciprocate your feelings."
Jellal's face flushed an even deeper shade of red as he began rubbing the back of his neck in flustered disarray. "Yeah well I don't know . . ."
Before he could say anything else Headmaster Makarov took his usual stand at his custom sized podium, clearing his throat as if to draw everyone's attention.
"Good Morning students! I hope you all settled in well and had a good nights sleep. I would just like to inform you that both Jellal and Lucy, your elected prefects, are going to be assisting the first years. Do not hesitate to ask these two any questions if you see them in the halls and remember, you're here to learn about the mystery of magic." And with that he was finished, returning to his spot at the head of the staff table.
The remainder of breakfast passed unceremoniously and Lucy and Jellal found themselves escorting hordes of new years to their various classes around campus. Lucy could have sworn she lead kids out to the field pitch at least four times before it seemed that everyone was accounted for.
Exhausted, Lucy and Jellal found themselves sitting on a bench in the Alchemy wing slurping back water. Taking a hearty sip from her water bottle, Lucy dappled at her brow with her handkerchief. "Wow, that was awful." She moaned, retying her hair and brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
Jellal pulled at his tight collar, suffering from their heated excursion. "Agreed. And I hate to admit it but we should get going to class."
"I thought we weren't going back until after break?" Lucy asked, nibbling on her water bottle cap.
"We were but Headmaster Makarov approached me and said he had a little surprise for us all during the break and said we could be relieved of our duties." Jellal explained, stretching briefly before standing up. "Come on," he coaxed her, "I believe we're in the same Runes class."
Lucy made a face, also standing, "ew Runes." She complained, sticking her tongue out at the very idea.
Jellal laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her down the hall. "Don't fret my fellow prefect, with yourability even you should be able to keep up this year."
Again Lucy sighed exasperatedly but she couldn't help but smile. Maybe being a prefect wouldn't be so bad after all.
Once Lucy and Jellal finally made their way into Runes Professor Freed was in the middle of explaining how the Fire rune and the Sun moon were very similar because in ancient times the Sun was actually called Fire Ball.
As Lucy and Jellal sauntered in, their prefect badges glowing upon their blazer pockets, Professor Freed smiled at them tiredly. "Ah Miss Lucy and Mr Jellal, nice to see you."
"Hello Professor," Lucy said, whilst smiling sweetly. A small part of her loved that irritated look in his eyes as he could do nothing about their lateness.
Professor Freed signalled them into desks and readjusted his glasses before he resumed his lesson. "As I was saying," he said sharply, clearly agitated, "in ancient Greece the sun was often referred to as the Fire Ball."
Lucy raised her hand, sitting up straighter in her desk.
Professor Freed heated in anger, "what is it Miss Lucy? Do you have something to add to my lesson?"
Lucy nodded matter of factually, "indeed I do Professor. I would just like to point out that is was actually called the Fire God. In ancient Rome it was called the Fire Ball."
The entire class 'ooohed' in surprise at Lucy's bold comeback. All of them sitting forward in their seats, waiting for an argument to break out.
Professor Freed's entire face flushed to a hue similar to a tomato, hands clenched at his sides as he was silently mocked by his students. "And what makes you say that?" He hissed through clenched teeth.
Lucy couldn't help herself. That cruel, know it all attitude Azael had implanted her with was still hidden inside her. Cocking her head to the side, a coy smile on her lips she explained herself. "In the text 'Runes and the Unknown world', written by Yolan Zens; it states . . . 'thou shall only refer to the glowing orb above as a God. It's powers and mystique no mortal man can comprehend must be praised. All of Greece must know of it's intensity and bow down to it.'"
Lucy finished, hands folded neatly on her desk as she finished the quote. "Now I'm sure you know of the famous astronomer Yolan Zens right Professor Freed?"
Professor Freed was speechless, in fact he was so dumbfounded he couldn't even stand to be in the classroom any longer, muttering something about 'page 897' under his breath he stormed out of the classroom in a ginormous huff.
As soon as Freed had left the classroom everyone erupted into raucous laughter, everyone springing out of their chairs to come stand by Lucy; chattering loudly.
"That was awesome!" Gray laughed loudly, pulling a chair up to Lucy's desk, "the look on his face was priceless!"
"I knew we were right to put our votes on you!" Another one chanted, also crowding around Lucy's desk.
Embarrassed, Lucy just sat there, face a similar shade to the Professors. She hadn't meant to say all those cheeky things but they just kind of spilled out. Desperate for a way out of the mess she had created for herself, Lucy looked around the classroom. Wide brown eyes meet chilly onyx ones, the rest of the conversation around her seemed to die.
Natsu sat at the back of the classroom in his usual spot, legs upon his desk and his arms crossed over his chest; clearly unamused. He knew something was off, Lucy herself would never say something that purposely disrespectful. She was still lying to him and it drove him wild with worry.
Kicking his feet off the desk Natsu stood, shooting her one last cool look. "I'm outta here." He mumbled more to himself than anybody, heading towards the door.
Lucy watched him in despair as he slouched out of the classroom and out of sight. She longed to go after him but she knew that wasn't an option.
"Oi! Lucy!" Jellal called out to her, waving a hand in front of her face bringing her back to attention. "Were you even listening to us?" He asked accusingly, raising an eyebrow at her.
Nervously looking at the gathered horde around her Lucy nodded, "o-of course. I was just momentarily distracted is all."
Jellal stared at her quizzically for a moment longer before shrugging, continuing on talking to Gray and the others about his awesome ideas for Halloween. As soon as they were off her case again Lucy caught herself gazing longingly back at the door. What could she tell Natsu with out furthering upsetting him? How could she ensure he wouldn't worry about her any longer?
Groaning inwardly Lucy deflated. Sometimes being loved so dearly was exhausting. Because little did Natsu know, Lucy was protecting him from many things he would be horrified to know.
As soon as he left the classroom Natsu exploded in pent up frustration. He let out a feral yell, sinking a flaming fist into the old stone walls.
"Excuse me!" A rather snide voice barked, "watch what the hell you are doing!"
Natsu turned his head to see a rather pissed off skeleton pacing in his frame, hands on his hips. "That was so entirely vulgar I am considering calling the Headmaster down here to discipline you sorely, young boy!" The skeleton threatened, waggling a fleshless finger at Natsu unsparingly.
Sheepishly, Natsu quickly retracted his fist, ducking his head in apology. "Sorry Mr. Bones, just a small spat with my girlfriend is all."
Almost instantaneously the so proclaimed Mr. Bone's calmed himself, smirking back at the adolescent with a rather uncharismatic, toothless smirk. "Well, if it's a problem with the females my young boy Professor Theodore Writright it the best man to come to!" The skeleton bragged proudly.
Fighting back a laugh, Natsu shook his head. "No thanks, not today Mr. Bones. Maybe later?" Then, before the skeleton could fit another word in, Natsu turned on his heel and bee-lined outdoors, leaving the skeleton speechless.
"What a rude boy!" The skeleton huffed, before returning to lounging on his loveseat. "So inconsiderate."
Once outside Natsu felt he could finally breathe; the school could be so damn stuffy sometimes. Taking his good sweet time Natsu slowly strolled around the Inner Courtyard, hands deep in his uniform pockets. Unfortunately, this situation felt very similar to one he was in a little over eight months previous, the feeling of concern searing his bones. Did Lucy know how much she meant to him? How willing was he to put down everything to protect her from whatever was ailing her? Her doubt in his trustworthiness burned him deeper than he'd like to admit, the very thought making his stomach coil. Natsu had thought that after the event during the Solstice things would change! And maybe for a while they had, but lately she just seemed so faraway. Almost as if something, far far away, was calling her to it, pulling her way from him and the real world.
"Fuck," Natsu cursed, shaking his head savagely. Things were just way too complicated and he didn't know how much he could actually do to protect her. Natsu knew he was a powerful wizard, one of the most powerful in the school to be exact, but Lucy was stronger. Even after Azael had been healed and his memory restored the odd powers he had bestowed upon Lucy previously had remained. Although she didn't showcase her powers often it was times like in class where he was sharply reminded that they were still there.
Annoyed, Natsu plopped down on a bench, sighing as he inhaled the heavy fall air through his nostrils. He loved Lucy and that he knew as clear as anything but how long could he hold onto someone who only wished to go?
Suddenly the bell chimed, ringing across campus. Natsu looked back in the direction of class, watching his classmates pour out through the windows. A head of blonde caught his eye, shimmering hair tied up in a ponytail, her hair swished down her back.
Natsu's eyes narrowed, watching Lucy smile at some joke, flashing that signature grin of hers. His heart tightened as he realized who she was sharing that smile with- Jellal! Gritting his teeth together, Natsu clenched his fists tight, jealously broiling.
So what,they're nominated prefects and the very next day they're best friends?! Natsu was so angry he could hardly see straight; he stared after them until he could no longer see them. Envy hissed in his gut like acid and he felt his fingers flame in rage. This was unreal! That bastard Jellal was with his Lucy! His! Never before had Natsu even considered Jellal getting in his way but if that blue haired, tattooed freak made one wrong move there would be hell to pay!
Seething, Natsu stood stiffly and marched back inside, thoughts bouncing around in his head and accusations sizzling on his tongue.
There we go! Chapter two is up and ready to go. Do you guys like them around this length? 3000 word ish or would you like longer chapters? Let me know in the reviews! Oh and please follow and favourite if you feel so inclined.
((Makarov's suprise is next chapter!))
Thank you!
3 Suicidal
