Chapter 2

Cold and Cruel World

Lucy POV

Natsu store at me with his cold, cold eyes. I felt my tears coming up. I can't afford to miss school.. I thought. I absolutely cannot skip school because of this one bully!

I gulped and stood there, not feeling welcomed to come in. The teacher noticed and store at me with worried eyes. "Are you okay, Heartifilia-san?" she asked. "Are you feeling well?"

I shook my head and gave her a broken smile. "No, I'm okay! Don't worry!" I gave a fake a laugh and headed to my seat. When I reached my seat, I was no longer welcomed. Only welcomed by the cold eyes of Natsu. He let out a small laugh and when I was about to take my seat, I knew perfectly why he had laughed just now.

My desk was a mess. It was full of pencil writing, mostly done by Natsu. It seems that he has some buddies now. Several of the boys in the back were laughing quite a bit, only to be snapped by the teacher.

I sat down, trying to ignore the writing on the desks and she placed her books down. She saw some writing and it says, "Ahahaha, you idiot! You should fall in a pit hole and die!"

It was written by Natsu and I just couldn't take it anymore. I was a crybaby and I hated that. I pinched myself in the cheeks so that I wouldn't cry.

Just when the teacher wasn't looking, someone threw a paper plane at me. It wasn't Natsu, but he was laughing silently. I turned around, and there was some guys laughing back there in the corner. I tried to avoid it but it got annoying.

I knew if I told on them, I would be the troubled one. I would be the one getting beaten up. I didn't want that to happen.

I shook my head. I can't tell on them. I absolutely cannot tell on them!

The bell rang for school to end and Natsu kicked me out of my chair (the teacher ran out first) and his gang threw books in my face as soon as everyone left. It hurt so much I wanted to shriek in pain but I couldn't. The story could come out differently from the gang.

Was this who he really was? I thought. Only if I didn't bump into him...

I was beaten up pretty badly. Mirajane tried to stop them but the gang pulled them over, as well as, Lisanna.

Natsu made the gang hold onto me and I tried to struggle free, but the gang hit me hard in the chest and harassed me in the upper chest. I tried to scream but I had paper in my mouth.

I cried. I cried so hard, the gang enjoyed seeing me in pain. Natsu made his last move and I tried. I really tried. He had a knife. A knife. I was dead scared. He looked at his gang buddies. "Go out some ropes. Tie this fucking chick up."

I shook my head in fear but he slapped me in the face. He placed the knife in his pocket and grinned slyly. "I like seeing you in pain," he said.

I shook my head and tried to struggle and I was stopped and he stripped me. He pulled down my skirt and it took awfully a lot of time to get me out of my school uniform until I was left with a bra and underwear.

He touched my underwear. "How exciting. You're so ugly. You need to be more prettier with your red delicious blood out of your body.

I screamed. I grimaced in pain as he cut through my body. He went through my legs and my back... and my neck.. my face... my feet... every part of my body. Mirajane and Lisanna screamed in tears for me but was beaten up.

The hand was holding something dear to me. It was a piece of paper and it had my It was very important and I didn't care if it was 10 years ago. This was the only thing I had before my very mother died.

Natsu was finished cutting me so he made them let go of me. The only thing I had to let go was the letter in my hand.

He snatched it and read it, grinning. He threw the paper away and tore it up.

"N-No!" I shouted. I was punched in the stomach. "No..." I trailed as I fell down.

He threw it down the windows and I stood there and fell down with tears streaming down to my cheeks.

"Natsu!" Mirajane shouted. "Do you have a heart for reading the note?!"

Natsu grinned. "I just scanned through. I don't usually pay attention to what's written here." He kicked me in the stomach and pulled my hair. "Don't worry. You'll have more fun tomorrow!" he let go of me. "Let's go guys. We're going home."

The gang left with Natsu and Lisanna tried to move. She wasn't hurt pretty badly so she can walk fine a little. "Lucy!"

She ran to me and I was in terrible condition. "Lucy! Lucy! Stay with me! Stay with me!" I was about to become unconscious but the pain grew as she put medicine on me. "Arghh!" I screamed. "Sorry... the wound is too big! Mira, get bandage from the nurses' office!"

She got up and ran there and Lisanna was in tears. "L-Lucy... I'm sorry I didn't stop them... I'm just too weak..."

I shook my head. "It's okay.. if you're weak.. if you're there for me... and at least tried... that's fine..." I was too tired to talk and coughed. "I think too much blood is flowing... out of my body.." Lisanna shook her head. "No more Lucy... no more, okay..?" she tried to smile but it ended up in tears and her smile broke.

"I'm sorry.."

Lisanna looked at her with her teary eyes which was too blurry to see. "Natsu.. badmouthed you..and I couldn't do a thing..."

Lisanna shook her head. "No... it's not your fault you couldn't do anything... please be quiet and let us do our jobs.."

I obeyed her and closed my eyes. "I'm tired.. and hurt.. I never felt this worse in my entire life.."

She bursted into tears as Mirajane ran into the room with bandage. "I brought tons. I already told you this but I'll help you. I'm a doctor, of course!"

I then felt pain as she patted blood into the soft napkin. It hurts so much but I then grew out in conscious. The world grew dark.

I was resting in my room. I saw no one in the room except for my best friends. "M-Mira.. L-Lisanna.." I muttered. "Shh.." Mirajane whispered. "Don't talk..."

I disobeyed her. "Where am I..?"

"You're at home.." Lisanna said, calmly. "Now hush.."

I then remembered the note in my hand. "Ah.. the note.."

Mirajane shook her head. "We couldn't find it.. we're sorry.."

My tears boiled up. "That... no... it's fine.." I covered myself with the blankets. "If I tell on them... the consequences'll be much much worse..." I began to cry. It was really hard to hold the tears in. It really was.

"Well.. don't come to school tomorrow, okay? I can't bare to see you in so much pain after that incident." she said.

Lisanna looked down. "Mirajane... you go to school.. I'll stay with her tomorrow."

Mirajane knew there was no time to hesitate. "Okay. I'll bring the notes from school with me. I'll tell you what happened."

Suddenly a door slammed open. It was the normal group as usual. Erza Scarlet, Juvia Lockster, Gray Fullbuster, and Wendy Marvell.

"Lucy! I heard you got hurt!" Erza shouted. "Wendy testified that!"

I was in my covers. I was too depressed and hurt to see them.

"I'm sorry.." Wendy said, softly. "I just saw the pink haired guy with his gang... he said that he beat you up for bullying him. He sorta laughed and walked away."

Juvia was in tears. "Love rival... I can't see you get hurt unless it's me. Whoever this guy is will die!"

Gray sighed. "Juvia. We're friends. We're nothing of that sort. Anyway, Lucy. Get better okay?"

They could hear my sniffling under the beds. I didn't want them to hear that.

"Everyone..." I sniffed. "The note... it's gone.."

Everyone gasped. "No.. not that note.."

Erza then grew furious. "What kind of heart does this person have?! That's the only thing-"

"Erza." Gray put his hand on her shoulder.

Erza stopped talking because the atmosphere was too obvious. "I'm sorry..." she apologized. "Lucy.. you don't deserve all of this.. especially when it's your birthday.."

Everyone had gifts in their bags (Mira and Lisanna already gave me gifts) and placed them onto the table. "T-Thank you.." I said, barely peeking out of my covers.

"Let's leave now." Mirajane said, getting up. "Get better, Lucy.."

"Thanks," I forced a smile on me. "Thanks for visiting.."

Gray then threw a letter at me. "Read it and come back next week." He said, slightly blushing. "Only if you're better though. I'll protect you, as well as Erza, Mirajane, and Lisanna, okay? Wendy might not help but she'll be by your side."

I smiled, showing him that I understood. "Thank you..." I fell asleep when he turned off the lights.

Erza Scarlet is the student council president of the school and she handles all justice and evil, well because she likes it. She hates everyone bossy and people who stand up on her and criticizes people. She's nice at heart and we're best friends. The reason why we don't talk alot is because she is so busy with her school work and mostly student council she wants to make 100's. not A's but perfect scores. If not, she always plans to make above 95's. She has scarlet hair, which she got her last name and she is beautiful! All guys love her looks but her personality is scary!

Gray Fullbuster is a stripper in school! He gets in trouble a lot and Juvia Lockster has a crush on him and since I'm his closest friend, she takes everything the wrong way and things I'm her love rival. Gray has spiky black hair and he usually wears no shirt. He wears pants but sometimes takes it off, the school girls screaming and throwing things at him, while Juvia just sits there and fangirls.

Juvia Lockster is a blue haired girl who is desperately in love with Gray, who doesn't accept her feelings. She gets mad when someone loses her things but when someone messes around with her love of Gray, that guy just dies instantly. She's a yandere.c:
She enjoys the warm rain and loves the make music. She is part of the music club and student council. She hates my guts but loves me of coursec:

Wendy Marvell has long blue hair and she is not in high school. She's simply a twelve year old girl who every boy admire and look up to as their girlfriend. She's a terrified girl and hates violence, but she fights for her friends. She believes in peace and she enjoys being with her best friend Romeo Conbolt. She's in the same grade as Romeo except just a year younger than him. She sometimes has bullies so Romeo usually fights off for her. They began to have feelings for each other but they couldn't confess their love to each other.

One Week Later

I got back on my feet. I felt better. My wounds won't open again and let's all hope that! I didn't read the letter Gray gave me because Juvia was throwing daggers at me. It was worth it! I decided to read it during school.

The gang (no, not Natsu's. Mine!) came by to my house to walk with me so they could protect me. I walked with them to school and I ended up laughing with them until I saw the usual gang...

I stopped and Natsu walked up to me. "You came back?" I began to speak but Erza pushed her arm to my face (not directly a hit to the face but like... you know what i meanc:)

"You better not touch her before you die." she rasped. Natsu crossed his arms. "I'll kill you if you touch me," he said.

Erza glared. Gray walked up to Natsu. "You better not touch Lucy okay?" he said. "You'll regret it if you do."

Natsu tugged Gray's shirt. "Hm? Wanna fight?"

"Let's go, shall we?!"

"Natsu. Gray." Erza glared at Natsu. "Don't touch anyone at this school or I'll suspend you."

They let go of each other. I was about to cry when they tried to fight but luckily Erza stopped them. Mirajane held my hand to tell that she's by her side forever. I smiled as Lisanna did the same. We are more than just friends... we're family.

When we reached to our classes (all of us were in the same classroom except of course, Wendy since she's a seventh grader. Natsu was there first who was currently hanging out with his buddies. I just stood there the moment I glanced at him. He saw me look at him and he gave me a mean look. I was frightened of what he might do to me.. especially when I'm alone.

I took my seats and Natsu was staring at me. It wasn't some mean or happy look. He just sorta... store at me. There was no expression in his face and even if he did.. I couldn't tell what he is feeling.

I decided to get up and talk to the others while I took his attention away. But when I did, the books were shoved off the desk and I looked down. I felt angry and boiled inside. "Hey! What'd you do that for you idiot!" I shouted.

"No apparent reason," he said. "You just bother me for some dang reason. Leave me alone."

"Why don't you leave me alone?! I didn't do anything wrong!" I picked up my stuff and my bag and as soon as I did, I wiped his entire desk clean.

Natsu got up. "Ugh! You bastard! You're going to pay for this!" His gang got up and Erza also, who gave an evil look at them. "Fight and I'm sending you out," she said, angrily. That's my girl.

Everyone sat back down and as soon as Erza felt this atmosphere was okay, she sat right back down.

I stayed in my seat. I don't know what he might do to my seat. The gang was staring at me angrily and Natsu was writing stuff down into his notebook and after that, he store at me. Store at me.

This pretty much happened throughout the entire week with Erza by our side. My wounds were still hurting so I had to back off from P.E. for at least 2 weeks.

Lately they haven't been bothering me. Natsu's been bothering me a whole lot but several days, he starts to ignore me and just write notes about me and it would be mean stuff, which I don't care at all but sometimes I just want to punch him in the face so hard.

Around Thursday, for some reason.. before, during, and after class, they been discussing something for a long time and they seem to be laughing and sometimes pointed at me. I noticed it but I didn't know what they were planning. Natsu was staring at me and I sometimes got annoyed and rarely ignored.

"Who're you looking at!?" I once asked him. "You have a problem?!"

Natsu would sometimes answer "Nothing." or "No. Why don't you shut your mouth and be quiet?!" Seriously. I don't get his deal but I know I'll get hurt.

It was now Friday and after school. I stayed after school and everyone else left me (my friends except for Erza, who was now currently doing some student council work) and I just stayed for studying. I wanted to be alone for now and smiled. "I know they will plan something.." I muttered. "So why did I have to stay behind..?" Well obviously,Erza is with me but most unlikely walk home with me.

I fell asleep that time so it was around five untl six. The sunset came and it was about to turn dark. I did plenty of studying..

I wrote on the clean, firm chalkboard. It read

Everlasting Love

Be with them comrades

And treat them with respect

If you care about them

The power within you

shall protect everyone else

Shall anyone get in your way

with the power at your side

will defeat the antagonists

at your will and always

Protect them at your own risks

~Lucy Heartfilia

I finished and put the chalk down. "This is a poem I wrote 3 years ago..." I whispered. "My teacher said to write a poem and recite it to someone you love... I never once recited it to someone... I did show it to Lisanna and Mira before. Maybe Wendy too..."

She decided to show it when she found her true love, not first love. She then received a text. "Gray..?" she muttered. She opened the text.

Meet me in the park now! Sorry for wasting your valuable time! Did you read the letter yet?

~Gray Fullbuster

I immediately had forgotten about the letter he gave me last week. I texted back, "Sorry! I'll read it along the way!" I texted back.. I threw the phone into my bag, fished the letter out and rushed out of the school building.

I was almost finished reading so I sighed in relieve. "Ah... I'm almost finished reading it..." I gasped for air. "Ah.. now I can ask why he needs to talk... I have to ask why I have to read the letter before meeting him..."

Just when I was about to read again, some guys threw me in someone's arms and began to kill me. "H-H-Hey!" I shouted. "W-What are you doing?!"

"Orders from Natsu's gang. Natsu wasn't informed about this but he'll say yes. The gang are too busy doing karaoke and Natsu is sitting in his room because he has a strict curfew."

I felt my tears stream down my cheeks. Natsu..? That idiot will pay for this..! I thought. Natsu is too weak for me so is that why he ordered his gang to beat me up? Just what the heck did I do to you?!

I struggled to get free but the more I do, the worse it gets. I couldn't breath with the nasty hands around my neck and they pushed me to the wall. I tried kicking but it only made it worse. Even so, they wanted to beat me up either way in every part of my body.

They kicked me in the stomach. "No…" I muttered. My wounds reopened and the blood is flowing down behind my uniform.. the one hiding my scars.

My back's wounds had also reopened. I shrieked in despair and I let all my feelings out. "YOU IDIOT! MIRAJANE HELD ALL THOSE WOUNDS TOGETHER! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"

"Shut up. This is an order from the gang. They said if you were to scream, we had to cut your face or shove it into the ground or so."

I didn't care about that. I just want help…. "WHAT THE HECK DID I EVER DO TO-" The jumpers immediately cut my mouth. Blood fell from my mouth. I couldn't speak but I tried to be loud. "YOU IDIOTS! JUST LEAVE ME-"

The gang pushed me into the ground and forcibly pushed my head down the ground. "Should we shove her into the fountain?" one asked. "Sure! They just said to either kill her or just beat her up! Let's just drown her! Quick! Get us a fountain!"

I was scared. Frightened. Obviously… but I was scared of water. Dead scared. I drowned when I was five so I never trusted myself near the water. I couldn't swim either, which was the huge thing for me. I swore to myself to never get near the water, even if someone tries to get me in it. I couldn't. Just couldn't..

They brought me near the water and shoved me into the water. I couldn't hold my breath for a long time. I can only do it for about 10 seconds so I was in a mess. I tried to get up forcibly but they shoved me with even more force. It hurts... I thought. I can't breath...

They shoved my head in the water several times. I can't... I thought. I'm feeling dizzy...

I didn't have time to breath into the air when they pulled me up. The water is dirty... I thought. H-Help me...

I then heard some yelling. I couldn't hear clearly since my ears are obviously in the water. I felt super dizzy. I swallowed some water and now I'm drowning in the water.

I felt the world getting dark... and darker...

I opened my eyes and choked. "..mm..." I mumbled. I tried to get up. "Ow..." I muttered. "Hey, lay down you idiot!"

I looked. I was really surprised on who it was. "N-Natsu...?"

"Your wounds are terrible. You just woke up five minutes after the fight.." He said. I looked down. I was seriously bleeding. "I had to push your stomach to get the water out of your system."

I stared at him. Why is he doing this to me..? Why did he fight off the jumpers and save me..? I figured I'd die by now..

"I still don't trust you. Why did you save me!?" I whined. "You, the bully usually kills the victim or so! I don't want you to save me! Don't get near me and don't save me again! I don't need your help!"

Natsu sighed. "What's your problem!? I saved you! Is this how you treat people who save you? Might as well use my hands to drown you again! When can you ever be thankful?!" He took his water bottle and drank.

I hesitated. "I'm sorry..." I stopped. "Thanks for saving me..."

"That's better.." he gulped a couple more from his water bottle.

Maybe he really isn't a bad person.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

He hesitated. "I don't know.."

"Do you have a change of heart? Maybe stop the bullying?"

"Shut up!"

I smiled. "Thank you..."

The silence occurs. "Hey..."

"What?"

"Can we be friends.?"

He glared. "No."

"Why do you say it with a straight face?!"

"Because I don't like you."

"How mean!"

"Shut up!"

I pouted. I'm beginning to think of him as friends now. I shivered. I felt cold due to the fountain water and all of the sudden he threw a jacket at me. "What the!?" I looked at him. "Give it to me after school. You're cold right?" I could tell he was blushing. "I don't need it! I don't need your reckless help!"

"Just shut up! Shut up and accept it!"

"...Thanks."

After the silence ocurred, I felt him staring at me. I felt really uncomfortable.

I looked at him. "What.?"

"Do you believe in miracles?"

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing. Just wondering.."

I sat there. "Um-"

"What's your name?"

"Why?!"

"Shut up! Give me your name!"

"Um... Lucy Heartifilia.. Call me Lucy."

"I'm Natsu Dragneel. Nice to meet you.."

"..Why did you come to this school?"

"I was kicked out because I was bullying."

"How immature! You need to stop your bullying little kid!"

"S-Shut up! I'll kill you!"

I laughed. He's cute! He asked, "What's important to you?"

I then stopped grinning. "Hmm?"

"Get your ears cleaned! What's important to you?!"

"..."

"Well?!"

"... a letter.."

"Heh?! That's stupid!"

"Shut up! It was my only one!"

"Ahahaha stupid-wait was?"

I felt tears in my eyes. "That letter... you ripped it up last week..."

Natsu then gulped. "Wait... that little note... I ripped it up...?"

I nodded stiffly. "You ripped it up... in my very own eyes.. it was the only thing I had left before my mother died..."

Natsu then grew sad. "To be honest... I did read it... I felt bad.. but I never knew this was the last thing you had before she died..."

I felt my tears running down my cheeks. "No.. No.. it's okay..."

"What about your dad?"

"My father doesn't care about me.. I live alone now.."

"Oh..."

The silence ocurred. "Ah.. sorry.. I better go... why did I tell you this.?! It hurts my heart every time..."

"Shut up! I..."

I stared at him while he finish his sentence. "..You..." I continued.

"Anyway shut up! I'm leaving! First.." He threw me bandages and other medical stuff. "Here. Sorry. Go take them. Don't you think I'm all nice to you just because I saved you. I felt bad okay?! I'll still bully you at school!"

I pouted. "And just when we were turning to being friends!"

"Shut up! Bye!" Before leaving he saw Gray. "You..."

"You pinklett..."

I gasped. "Was Gray here the whole time?"

"No, Gray. I-It's okay.. He ... he.."

"No. You don't need to explain.." Gray began to throw a punch but Natsu caught it. "Is that all you got?" he asked, grinning. "Is that all you got?!" they began fighting, leaving poor me crying in tears.

"STOP IT YOU TWO!" I shouted. "STOP IT!"

It was useless. "STOP! NATSU SAVED ME! GRAY! STOP FIGHTING HIM!"

The fighting stopped. "What?"

I took deep breaths. "I said.. he saved me... no fighting.. please..!"

They let go of each other. "I didn't stop because she said so. I stopped because of her tears," Gray said, pushing him away.

"Shut your trap. I thought about Lucy first. I knew that from the start."

"Natsu... Gray..." I muttered. "Please... stop fighting."

They were very inconsiderate with my feelings. "Well.. Lucy, did you read the letter?"

I gasped. "Ah..." I saw the ripped letter in the fountain. "It's all ripped up... I'm sorry.. I let my guard down... did you need to tell me something?"

Gray shook his head, blushing. "No. If you didn't read it.. it's worthless. After all the time I spent writing this for you.."

I bowed and shouted, "I'm sorry!"

"Oooh! You idiot! You're blushing!"

Gray covered his face and shouted. "Am not! Shut your pipehole!"

They started fighting. "Everything went back to normal at least..?" I muttered, sweatdropped.

They rushed off fighting without saying anything after that and I was left alone. "What are you doing, leaving an injured person?!" I shrieked. I sighed. It was worthless anyway. I tried to get up and walk home cautiously, since it's dangerous at this time of the night.

When I got home, I threw my bag in the room and threw myself into the soft, warm, and comfy bed. "Ah..." I mumbled. My dog, Plue barked at my return. "Oh hey Plue.. I'm home.." I smiled but the soft bed defeated me and it forced me to sleep. "Night.."

Thank you for the follows and reviews~!

I hope you guys get to support me more and more!

I'm sorry this is so long but it's better that way some

parts that are dramatic, you just want to read more right?

Sorry for the lamest chapter of all stories and stuff butttt

yeahhXD I better head to sleep.. I spent hours writing this

chapter and it's like 1:18 AM now. so imma go nowBYEEXD

Thank you!

~AnimeOtakuNyanx3

P.S. Sorry I reupdated it! i forgot to mention another thing~must've slipped out my mind~anyway thanks and bye!