Chapter 2

Levy's car parked beside me. As soon as Levy closed the door I hugged her right there. I knew I could count on my best friend. She giggled before she hugged me back and let go.

I gave a long observant look on my best friend's appearance. Her blue hair kept in a slightly messy ponytail and a glow on her face that says she's never been happier. It's been so long since I've seen her. The last time I saw her was her wedding with Gajeel. It was five months ago and they just came back from their break.

Levy seemed so happy and contented with her life. It appears Gajeel kept his promise with me about making her happy.

She gasped after she saw my torn and dirty wedding dress and my aching bare feet. Her eyes worried and confused when she looked at my face.

"Lu-chan, what happened to you!? Why on earth are you bare feet?" Her gaze went to my dress as realization dawned, "Is that a wedding dress?"

I didn't say anything but nodded. I'm too tired for details.

"Why didn't you tell me you were getting married?" She bit her lip. Confusion and hurt was evident in her eyes.

Her expression was quickly replaced by an understanding smile. She must've seen the tiredness in my face.

"I'll fill you in later. Where's Ezra?"

My gaze wandered through the place as I can't see my other red-haired best friend.

"In the car, sleeping." She said.

I shrugged. "I can't blame her. I'll probably want to sleep too. It is pretty late."

I opened the passenger seat and went in. Soon enough, Levy was seated in the driver's seat. I looked at Ezra sleeping soundly in the backseat. I can't help but smile as I saw a trace of drool escaping from her lips.

Levy followed my gaze and smiled too.

"She's helpless." She shook her head.

I rested my head to the seat and felt my eyelids heavy. A yawn escaped my lips and before I went to sleep, I thanked both of them for coming. I heard her mutter a 'no problem' but soon I blacked out.

I ran and ran.

I want to escape this darkness I'm in. I hear his voice calling my name behind me but I didn't dare look back. I can't look back.

I'm afraid that when I do, I can't accept the consequence.

But what's the consequence? Even I don't know. All I know is that I have to run away from him.

I kept running till I can hardly breathe. I feel the need to rest but I'm terrified that he might catch up with me.

I hear his footsteps getting closer and his voice louder.

"Lucy!" He called my name again.

I shook my head. No, I won't let him catch me!

"Lucy!" Again.

My breathing became heavy and my pace starts to slow but I won't give up. I see a ray of light in front of me and I smile in hope. There I see him, clad in his black tuxedo and his striped white scarf is Natsu Dragneel. My smile widens and I couldn't suppress the fluttering feeling every time I see him.

"Don't call him, Lucy!" The man said behind me.

I paced to a halt and almost looked behind me. Almost. It was a good thing I didn't. I won't listen to him and I approached Natsu in an excited run. I keep hearing the man calling my name but I wouldn't listen.

"NATSU!" I called out at the top of my lungs.

I waved my hands in an attempt to make him notice me and I felt happiness surge to my heart as he reacted.

But he didn't turn to me.

"Na-natsu?" I arched my brow in confusion.

I called after him again but he wouldn't listen until I saw him smile beside him. Soon enough, Lisanna Strauss came into the picture and clung to Natsu's arm.

The smile was wiped away from my face and I stopped running. My heart torn into pieces and there were tears brimming in my eyes.

"Lucy!"

I faintly heard the man call my name but it's like I didn't care anymore. It's like I blocked him out of the picture and all I could see and hear was the couple in front of me.

The two smiled when they noticed me. Natsu face was glowing in happiness while Lisanna smiling serenely at me.

What the hell are they so happy about?

Can't they both see I'm miserable?

Lisanna clapped both of her hands and said sweetly. "Congratulations on your marriage, Lucy!"

I saw the way Natsu smiled lovingly at Lisanna and how he gently held her by her waist and pulled her closely to him.

"You went ahead of us, Luce!" He grinned and stole a glance at the woman by his side, "But we'll be catching up pretty soon."

My attention was automatically directed to the diamond ring on Lisanna's left hand.

I wanted to shout I'm not married! I wanted to scream how much I love Natsu! I wanted to let them know how much it pained me to see them together! I wanted to let it all out! But I couldn't, instead I stood there and forced a smile.

"That's nice." That was all I could say.

My world was surrounded by that darkness again. But this time I was all alone. The man from before wasn't calling me anymore and he certainly wasn't here.

It's strange how I wanted him to disappear a while ago but now it's like I wanted him to be here. It's better than being alone.

I sat and hugged my knees together for comfort and I let all that pent up sadness go.

I cried and cried loudly until I felt my voice hoarse. And then I heard it.

After a loud crack I heard those footsteps again. I stood up on alarm and went still.

"Lucy!" He called.

I must not look back. You have a bad feeling about this, right?

Don't look back, don't look back. Don't look back. I chanted those words in my head.

"Lucy!" He called again.

Oh, forget it Lucy! Why do you keep chasing a guy who won't even look at you and deprive yourself to guy whose attention from the get-go is solely focused on you?

I sobbed at the thought of Natsu and Lisanna again but I pushed it out of my mind. Instead, I slowly turned my head to look behind me.

I don't give a crap about the consequence anymore.

Barely a second has passed after I turned my head when I felt hands circling around me to pull me to a warm hug and my head rested on his chest. The sorrow I felt before was nowhere to be found and replaced by a warm, safe feeling. I wrapped my hands around him and delve deeper to the comfort of his hug.

This is good.

"I kept calling your name." He said.

"I know." I feel his chest rise up and down and how his heart beating fast.

He combed my hair with his fingers.

"If you have looked back, you couldn't have seen Natsu and Lisanna." His soothing voice was a balm to my wound.

I merely nodded.

"You deserve better. He's probably out there, closer than you think." I couldn't suppress a smile.

The air around us changed. He made his words obvious that he was referring to no one but himself. I drew in a deep breath. This is making me nervous.

"Who do you have in mind?" I asked him though I know the answer.

My cheeks grew warm at our easy flirting. I hugged him tighter. I don't want him to see me blush. He step back, just enough to make space to hold both of cheeks and raise it to meet his eyes.

I obliged at his gesture and looked at him.

Crap, I wish I haven't.

I broke off the hug and couldn't believe what I'm seeing. This is so much worse than Natsu and Lisanna earlier.

"…S-Sting?"

A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait! Hope you liked it!

FT is not mine :)