Just High School Life

Chapter One

Gray Fullbuster walked into his first class, surprisingly early, on a Tuesday morning. With Loke by his side, Gray half-listened to his best friend's bragging. Not that it mattered anyways. It was just useless facts about Loke's latest babe which Gray would end up forgetting by the end of the period.

Loke wasn't the type to keep things constant, the ginger boy liked switching thing up a bit – a different girl a day by his side.

"Don't you think so, Gray?" Loke asked.

Gray paused briefly then questioned back, "Who are we talking about again?"

"Oh, you know, the one I've been seeing lately!"

Gray doesn't remember how he answered. Perhaps by humming along as an answer to rhetorical questions or muttering a 'yeah'.

Loke listed a name. It flew in one ear and out the other. "Remember?"

"Umm …" Gray mumbled. He had got a conga-line of names in his head and the song Mumbo Number Five at the back of his skull just in case he needed a back-up name.

He was preoccupied with the sudden task of remembering when something catches Gray's eyes. Or rather a person. Gray suddenly stopped dead in his tracks in disbelief.

"Loke," Gray said and dramatically grabbed Loke's shoulder so that he would come to a halt.

Loke stared at Gray quizzically while Gray's dark blue eyes were fixed on a spot in the classroom.

Gray opened his mouth and spoke in a distressed voice. "Am I hallucinating or is that Natsu?"

Loke never felt his head turn so fast in his entire life. "What?! No way!"

But, actually, it was yes way!

Sitting smack-dab in the middle of the classroom was Natsu Dragneel. Maybe sitting wasn't a proper word. It was more like the pinkette was slumped over his desk, he was face planting on a wooden desk and it looked like his soul had left his body.

Gray and Loke shared a brief look.

"Does he know he's sitting in Nab-Sensei's Math class?" Loke asked Gray.

"I don't know. I'm not him."

Without any hesitation, Loke gave Gray a small shove forward in which Gray replies with a death glare.

"What the hell?!" Gray hissed angrily.

"Go check up on him."

Gray's face scrunched up. He expects Natsu to be sick or something. A part of him doesn't want to be near Natsu in the fear that Natsu would projectile vomit on him. But another part of Gray – his imaginative side – rings alarm bells in his head. Those hours spent playing video games about zombie apocalypses didn't help.

"Why me?" Gray asked the ginger.

"Because," Loke answered shortly.

"That's not a reasonable answer."

"I don't care." Loke adjusted his glasses and hid slightly behind the classroom door. "I'm too pretty to die on a Tuesday,"

No one is ever to pretty to die for anything. Gray thought to himself.

Then Gray asked, "What makes you think I want to die today too?"

"You were already going to die. You're the one who said Gildarts-Sensei would kill you for not finishing your history essay."

Loke had a fair point … but Gray still wanted to have a chance to grab a slice of pizza from the cafeteria first before dying.

"I hate you." Gray declared.

"You can't hate your one and only friend." Loke replied. The ginger boy didn't mention he was also Gray's best friend but that didn't seem to matter at the moment.

Gray answered it by raising a fist to threaten Loke. It didn't work, Loke only squinted in return and waved Gray off to his doom.

Gulping slightly, Gray walked up to a lifeless looking Natsu and called out to him. "Natsu?"

A groan escaped from the pinkette.

Gray froze on the spot and turned around to give Loke a look, in which Loke replied to with a thumbs-up. Gray felt irritated at Loke's action, he really needed to hang out with other people.

"Natsu?" Gray asked, a little louder but ready to bolt out of there the moment something bad happens.

"Hmmm," Natsu groaned from his slumped position.

"Natsu?!" Gray repeated but this time with more force. He ready to punch Natsu in the face. Damn zombie games giving him delusional expectations.

More mumbling was heard before Natsu turned his face and finally spoke a proper word.

"… What?" Natsu questioned, clearly irritated and annoyed. He was tempted to say something along the lines like Leave me here to die! Why are you disturbing me? Isn't my eternal torture enough?

"Ohmygod," Gray breathed out a sigh of relief and dropped his arms to his sides. Looks like Gray wasn't dying by Natsu's hands today.

Gray made hand motion to Loke, the signal said Everything is okay and you better be by my side this instant or you'll get your butt kicked!

"You gave me a heart attack!" Gray told Natsu. "I thought you were dead! What are you doing here?"

Natsu lifted up his face from his desk and spoke in the most dreaded voice he could muster. "… I have to take Math class."

Gray raised a brow at this.

Once by Natsu's desk, both Gray and Loke nodded at each other. They telepathically agreement that they'd be nosy about Natsu's personal life – something they never really cared about but now will due to the strong sense of curiosity of the conversation.

"… Why?" Gray asked, a hesitant quiver in his voice as he gave Loke a side-look.

"I … Uh – I …" Natsu started then fumbled over his words. He had to say something but there was no way in hell he was going to admit he almost got expelled. "Principal Makarov almost called my parents,"

"What?!"Gray and Loke exclaimed loudly at the same time in which Natsu wanted to tell them to shut up but instead didn't have the energy to so he emitted a sad groan.

It was Gray who spoke this time. "What the hell did you do?"

"Nothing!" Natsu insisted but the look Gray and Loke gave Natsu told him they weren't buying what he was selling so the pinkette sighed in defeat then said. "Okay, I ditched Math too much and Principal Makarov caught me."

"I told you not too," Gray scoffed, he knew Natsu was an idiot but he had higher expectations for the pinkette at ditching class.

"Pff, why should I listen to you? All you ever do is sleep,"

"My soul might not be physically here in Math class but my body is and that's all that matters." Gray pointed out like he was a pro. His grades didn't really matter to him anyways since Gray intended to earn a lacrosse scholarship. "Attendance,"

Loke rolled his eyes at Gray's statement and listened to Natsu speak "I don't know how you do it, I swear Nab-Sensei doesn't even try to look at my answers. He just looks at my name and draws a skull on the top right corner to tell me I'm as good as dead in his class."

"So why don't you just continue skipping Math then?" Loke asked, genuinely curious and felt a little sympathetic about Natsu's situation. There's your life lesson right there, folk! Don't skip class or you'll get expelled!

"I can't!" Natsu exasperated like it was the most obvious thing ever. Why couldn't anyone see the logic here? Skipping class equals to Natsu Dragneel getting expelled and possibly landing in Saint Crime S. "I have to sit through it and pass."

"You? Pass?" Gray began laughing at his frienemy's statement like a mad man, doubled over and all, which Natsu scowled at.

"Yeah but you're failing anyway. You're waaayyy to far behind. You've been skipping for ages. Natsu, there is literally no point in you being here!" Loke pointed out. Loke may have been a ladies man but he was also an honor student and he knew a dead end when he sees one.

"I just have to, okay?!" Natsu whined.

"That's a lot of work, Natsu. I'm not even sure it's possible since Math isn't your strong suit. You're could probably get held back by a grade if you don't put your back into it. Are you even going to try? Do you really want to repeat?" Loke asked while Gray was still amused over Natsu's 'passing' chance.

"I'll pull through somehow!" Natsu whined again like a child. Loke was right, Natsu was just moaning about his problems and he hadn't even tried anything yet. He hasn't put any effort into his promise with the principal. "I told Principal Makarov I'd attend all of Nab-Sensei's classes and somehow I'd make it up with extra credit."

"Extra credit?" Gray snorted. "Like what? Hand polishing Nab-Sensei's skull necklace?"

"Dude, I heard they're real skulls." Loke added, straying from the topic, a spark of interest flashed behind his glasses.

"Really? Sick!"

Natsu decided Gray and Loke were no help. Of all the people to come early to Math class. Natsu suspected Laki to be the first but nooooo, it had to be his frienemy and his playboy best friend.

"Look, I'll just talk to Nab-Sensei and ask for a favour."

Loke shook his head. "Good luck with that. The man's unbreakable. I heard Cana tried to offer a lap dance the last time she failed a test and he just stared at her like she was crazy."

Gray made a face that said Too much information! "What the hell, Loke? No one wants to know that!"

"Gray, he passed a really good offer!" Loke insisted, emphasizing on the 'good' part.

Natsu felt disgusted. He might be a dying man but he still had his dignity! "There is no way in hell am I pulling a Magic Mike and doing a lap dance,"

"No one said you have to." Gray told and shrugged.

The dark haired boy then turned and walked away from Natsu's desk like the conversation and Natsu's problems never existed. Gray placed his backpack in his seat and pulled out his phone, seeming to lose interest in the conversation. Natsu figured that must have been the rudest thing Gray would have done to him, and he's been punched by Gray!

"What else did Principal Makarov asked you to do?" Loke asked, still all ears for Natsu as he settled into a seat in his usual spot. Loke liked sitting in front because he can look out the classroom door and stare at the ladies who walk down the hall in short skirts and thin-pencil heels.

Natsu raised a brow. "What makes you think he asked me to do more than attend classes and pass?"

"He always asks for three things,"

Natsu sighed and began ticking his fingers. "Number one: attend Math class since it's the only class I skip." An index finger was ticked off. "Number two: pass ALL my classes which involves a lot of hard work AND extra credit." His middle finger joined the index finger. "Number three: mentor a sophomore girl name Lucy that I call Luigi,"

Lucy Heartfilia sat in class, feeling in Zen with the other students.

The blonde was so ecstatic everyone was nice to her and welcoming. Meeting Natsu gave her the idea that everyone was judgmental but she was clearly wrong. It was just a fact that her mentor apparently has issues with dogs and Celestial Institute. I mean, come on, how can you have a problem with a small bundle of love and an academic sanctuary?

"Lu-Chan," the blue haired girl next to her sing-songed.

Levy McGarden was a small girl who was the first person to befriend Lucy. Other than being super nice and smart, Levy was the class president and knew Fairy Tail Academy from A to Z. If Lucy wanted to fit in fast, having a friend that knew the school like the back of her hand was a bonus. Not to mention, Lucy and Levy shared an interest of books. That was a HUGE bonus.

"When science class is over, do you want to have lunch together? Usually it's me and Jet and Droy but they have a small club meeting so they can't make it." Levy asked, whispering into Lucy's ear so Professor Alzack didn't catch them.

Lucy beamed, displaying a nice set of perfectly white, straight teeth. "Sure. I brought food from home thought."

"I normally buy lunch," Levy spoke and quickly jolted down Professor Alzack's notes from the board. "I'll just get something real quick then we can talk about Jane Austen."

"Alright," Lucy responded and ducked her head to avoid detection of their chitter-chatter. The blonde has just enough time to write down the last sentence on the board before the bell rang and signalled to everyone it was time to eat.

"Hey!"

A loud voice called. It sounded like it was half-way across the cafeteria and Lucy had no intention of looking up from her book.

"Hey, you!"

Lucy always knew the cafeteria was loud and filled with people and noise no matter which school you go to but is seems but this cafeteria was exceptionally loud.

She buried her face deeper into her book. Lucy just needed to wait for Levy to buy her food then they would talk about girl things and authors they enjoyed and she'd fit in and get tons of other friends.

"HEY-O, BLONDIE!"

The voice was closer now and honestly, ever heard of texting?

Lucy frowned. She hoped that person wasn't calling her out. All she wanted to do was be normal and blend in. She didn't move schools just to be singled out. She didn't swallow back her thoughts and go with the flow because she wanted to. She didn't let her father and his business –

"Yo, girl with Mario's brother's name!"

"Her name's Luigi?!" Someone in the sea of people in the cafeteria asked.

"It's LUCY!" The blonde yelled and put down her book.

When Lucy looks up from her novel, she found herself face-to-face (or more like face-to-stomach because she was sitting down and he was standing) with a dark haired boy.

"What do you want and how do you know me?" Her snippy side showed at the mispronunciation of her name.

"So you're the one Natsu has to mentor?" The dark haired boy asked instead. He showed no signs of answering her questions.

Lucy stared at him up and down. "And who exactly are you?"

"Gray," The boy answered and plopped down next to Lucy without even asking permission to sit with her.

"Well, Gray, it's kinda rude to call me by the wrong name." Lucy said and snapped her book shut for effects to tell him she was pissed but he clearly didn't get it.

Gray just shrugs and says to her "Sorry,"

Well, isn't this a lovely conversation? One word replies. Just perfect!

"I just wanted to know what you looked like. I can't believe Natsu of all people has to mentor someone. Personally, I just want to tell you –" Gray touched his chest like he was going to wish her a blessing. " – good luck."

"Uh … thank you?" Lucy replied and eyed the strange boy. Okay, this was just getting weird. Lucy couldn't help it and asked "Is he … that bad?"

At this, Gray laughed like that was the stupidest question ever asked. "He can't even do basic algebra so yeah,"

"No, I mean in terms of a person." Lucy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Did this Gray guy honestly think Natsu was going to mentor her academic wise? Lucy can study just fine by herself.

"He's –"

"HeeEEEYY, Gray! What are you doing here? Our table's over there, buddy," A ginger boy suddenly interrupted the conversation and one-arm hugged Gray around the neck. The boy then, without waiting for Gray's answer, turned his head and noticed Lucy. "Oh. Ooohhh. Talking to a babe, huh? Having a good laugh, eh?"

"Loke, fuck off." Gray replied.

Loke's only response is to let his eyebrows do a little wiggle.

Lucy didn't know why but this other rude guy who labelled her as 'a babe' seemed familiar ... and she didn't like it.

"Hey, I'm Loke. Nice to meet you," Loke flashed a wide grin at her. It was his move he used to bring in the ladies. Normally he wouldn't hit on his friend's interests but it was a free country plus the last girl he flirted with seemed normal until she showed him her strange fetish so he was technically a free man again.

"Loke, back off man, that's Natsu's mentee." Gray warned.

"That's Lucy? Never mind – I'm just talking to the lovely lady, no biggie," Loke rolled his eyes. "Don't be a cock-block."

"I know you," Lucy answered and squinted at Loke.

"You … do …?" Loke asked. This was impossible. Loke had trained himself to remember all the babes he flirted with. This girl, he had never flirted or talked to. Plus, she was new! Natsu was mentoring her for goodness sakes!

"You were in my old school," Lucy said, she remembers now. The boy with bright ginger hair.

Gray shook his head. "He's been studying at Fairy Tail Academy since middle school,"

"I think you've got the wrong person," Loke said and repeated Gray's words. "Like Gray said, I've been here since I was eleven years old."

"I saw you when I was ten," Lucy insisted which earned Loke and Gray to exchange a glance with each other.

What was this? Some Korean drama plot? It's been like what ... five – almost six years probably?

"Is this a new tactic used to ward off boys? Because we can leave if you want," Gray said and started to get up from his seat.

Loke nodded, he was ready to leave too. The ginger didn't want any trouble. He was a ladies man but he knew no means no.

"I know your name … it's uh …" Lucy started snapping her fingers, trying to recall the old name.

"Yes, my name is Snappy McSnapperson the third," Loke snorted. If the babe didn't wanna flirt, then it's her lost not his. "We'll just leave if that's how you feel," There was no need to play charades.

Loke grabbed Gray by his shoulder and started dragging him away to their usual table.

"… Leo,"

Loke stopped everything and slowly turned to face Lucy. "What did you just say?"

"Le –"

"Okay, don't repeat it." Loke sat his ass on the seat next to Lucy and pulled Gray to follow the action. He huddled them together like they were in a serious football game. "You went to Celestial Institute, didn't you?"

Gray stared at Lucy in a new light, Lucy nodded and said "I did,"

"Why did you move?" Loke squinted at her.

"Probably the same reason you did," Lucy answered and Loke immediately knew the answer.

Back in Celestial, there was only one reason you moved. You don't just leave. Because once you become a Celestial, you never want to go back. Almost all the teachers were even former Celestials. It was a rare case you weren't a former Celestial. Loke swore, some were even desperate enough to be lunch-ladies and janitors just to stay there. Celestial Institute had all the good qualities every other school muttered bitterly about yet secretly drooled about in their free time.

The revenue the school earned was ridiculous. It was easily the most expensive school in Fiore but of course, it had a reason to be expensive, being equipped with all the facilities needed plus having the money to invite the most important people to give speeches and go on field-trips to places regular people wouldn't even dream of affording. The experience the students received was mind blowing, Loke remembered being 9 year old and shaking hands with the first Fiore-born man to travel to the moon (everyone in the school got to personally shake hands too and get an autograph but that was besides the point).

It was also the safest school in the country due to its strict enforcement for a zero-tolerance bullying policy, protecting students from any kind of bullying. If someone got bullied, the bully would undergo detention that changed them from a snotty brat to a saint in a heartbeat. Loke never knew what the school did, he didn't intend to find out either, but the change was incredible. It had a faster and better impact than Saint Crime S. but no one there was rich enough to afford the methods the Celestials used. Plus, a study showed that the troublemakers at Saint Crime S. almost always came from a money-struggling household.

Back to Celestial topic, the location was incredible – surrounded by greens as far as the eyes can see and the structure of the school may as well be the Fiore-version of Hogwarts. They've been receiving positive reviews for the at least two centuries. Loki remembered someone even wrote an article saying 'Powerful sense of good feng shui and positive energy'. He had no idea what that meant but you know you've made it big when an Asia person says good things about you – they are hard people to please. I mean, straight As, mastering an instrument and being good at a sport at the same time? May as well sell your soul to Satan to achieve those or be born a prodigy.

Anyway, there was only one reason you stopped schooling there –besides graduating or death of course – and all the Celestial kids, although snobby and prideful, acknowledged that. They even had a big ceremony the day before the departure. Almost everyone gave you a gift because hardly anyone left. Loke even remembered putting his gifts in special boxes when he moved – you don't just throw gifts away, you treasure them. He even still has them – all of them – hung up on his motherflipping bedroom wall … and in the living room and dining room. Basically those things were like priceless rubies, you display that shit like it was your baby (in this case babies). They were basically the highlight of your life after leaving Celestial Institute.

Loke nodded at Lucy's reply. Fair enough. He then asked, "Want some word of advice from a former Celestial?

Lucy pursed her lips but decided to listen so she tilted her head to signal Loke to continue his next words of advice.

"Don't tell anyone you went to Celestial,"

The urge to roll her brown eyes striked again. "Ugh – You too?

"Too? Who told you the first time?" Loke asked, panic rising. His face read, How many people have you told?

Lucy sensed Loke's distress and said, "Relax. It was just my mentor Natsu. I don't think anyone else knows besides him and the headmaster."

Loke sighed with relief. Natsu wasn't the smartest tool in the shed but he wasn't that dumb. Loke could trust Natsu. Plus Natsu hadn't spill the beans about Lucy … yet. Normally the pinkette would be spewing secrets left and right, the goofball had a big-mouth and recklessness of a wrecking ball. However, this time it was all kept well.

"Besides, I don't get it. Why can't I tell other people?" Lucy spoke and gestured to Gray. "You obviously told him,"

"He's the only one who knows I was a former Celestial." Loke explained in a low voice, pointing out that importance of it. "I had to invite him over for a project and he saw all my Celestial gifts. He thought I was a prince in disguise."

"We were twelve and I thought you reverse-Aladdin me, alright?" Gray chuckled like it was a funny memory. "Trust me, Lucy. I'm the only one who knows. I didn't even tell my family,"

Loke bumped in. "It's true. Mrs. Milkovich still waits outside my house when she picks Gray up. I will be so relieved when Gray finally drives. It's been years and I'm still afraid my cover could be blown,"

Gray made a face. "Or you know, you could just take down the gifts the Celestial gave you."

"Gray, that's the most insulting thing you've ever said to me in my entire life. Take it back!"

"Alright, I take it back. Sorry, geez," Gray said and shooed Loke back to the topic.

"Lucy, I don't even invite babes over to my house anymore. I did once, it ended really, really bad." A look flickered in Loke's eyes before it flitted away. "Anyway, yeah, no more babes come to my house. There's this huge temptation but I never do," Loke added, sighed and looked off into the distance like he had just sacrificed an arm.

Lucy looked at Loke. From the moment Loke opened his mouth, Lucy knew he was a playboy. And if this womanizer didn't dare showing off nice gifts the Celestials gave him, then it's a big issue. Boys like him would do anything to get laid. Anything. Even watch the Twilight saga and say it's good (the book was better).

Plus, she was sure Loke wasn't lying. If you went to Celestial, you knew one thing. You do not lie, you brag. Because you have the money and power to brag about your vacations around the world and trendy clothes and latest gadgets. It was just a thing that circulated around Celestial. Of course, you can choose not to brag but the main point is, hardly anyone lied. It was a self-train thing. Maybe she has to get use to liars now though (cough, cough, Natsu).

"Don't tell anyone you're from Celestial. Avoid the question all together if anyone asks. The people here are alright but the walls have ears. The word could get out. You could run into Phantoms,"

"Phantoms?" Lucy asked quizzically.

"Phantom Lord students." Gray said and frowned. "Phantom Lord High School is really close. We have to share some things with them. The coffee shop, the book store, that diner down the road that makes pies – they aren't nice."

Lucy questions again "The pies?"

"The Phantom Lord students," Gray answers.

"I think Elfman lost his phone at the coffee shop," Loke pointed out.

"The 6th edition Lacrima?" Gray asked. Elfmas was 6 feet of solid muscle. Elfman was in Gray and Loke's year but he easily looked older. If a scary looking guy like Elfman could be mugged in broad daylight then lord help them all. "He lost his phone – again?"

"He ran into some Phantoms there," Loke shrugged and turned to Lucy. "Anyway, promise me you won't say anything. Don't breathe a word. I knew someone who messed with Phantom once. They cornered her."

Gray could see Loke struggle with the next line. Loke was digging too deep into his past for this girl – something Gray has never seen him do for anyone before, not even him, his best friend. It took Gray months before Loke stopped the small hints and told him. Gray was getting a little anxious and irked that this girl wasn't appreciating Loke's rare words of wisdom.

"She wasn't even from Celestial,"

Lucy wanted to sink deep down into the ground. She wanted a normal life here and now this complete stranger was telling her her life was in danger if anyone knew she was from Celestial Institute.

But then again, Lucy had her own secrets. Ones which involved her father and his business and why she had to transfer out of Celestial Institute.

Lucy surrendered, "… Okay,"

Gray could see an invisible weight being lifted off Loke's shoulders.

Loke double-checked, "Good, just between us and Natsu and the headmaster. Alright?"

Gray nodded and Lucy said okay once again.

Lucy wasn't expecting this talk between her and two strangers to be so serious. She wished her life wasn't this troublesome and was glad the conversation was over but something in her gut told her a storm would brew if word got out.

And in perfect timing, Levy strolled over to the table and saw her seniors and Lucy talking.

"Hey guys, sorry it took so long. I had to discuss a book meeting and I ran into a teacher." The small girl smiled. "What'd I miss?"

The trio looked at each other and shrugged as casually as possible. "Nothing,"

Notes

I just got accepted into law school lol

– 7 February 2017

RE-EDIT on 18 July 2017