(Friday)

*Lucy's POV*

I walked home to my Dad's after school, a skip in my step as I walked along with my music in. I walked home the way I normally do, down the street from the school was a long alleyway that made it's way to a park area and if you continued it would lead you to a residential housing area. Magnolia being a small town, it didn't take me long to reach the other side of town. From there it turned down a residential street, lined with houses on both sides. My mother lived on the other side of town, she moved there after her and my father divorced. She lived on the opposite side of school, but still within walking distance. I hated riding a bus, so I just walked. Even if the walk took over fifteen minutes. I'm not the only one who walks, often Cana and Gray walk with me. Since both lived not to far from me.

Today was no different except I walked alone, my cheer duffle bag hanging from my shoulder bumped my hip as I walked, my headphones plugged into my ears, my head down as I watched each step, and my hands tucked into my cheer sweater pocket holding my phone which played the music plugged into my ears. Isn't that just begging to be kidnapped? Pssh it's Magnolia.

I turned the corner and continued down the street, I lived six houses down from the ally. Mostly this side of town was the elderly and retired, or the young and rich who were like never home because they owned businesses. Whatever. Unfortunately my father falls under the list of that later, he's hardly ever home. Leaving me with my "step brother" Laxus, who actually isn't that bad.

I looked up to see a moving van next door to my house, I rolled my eyes. As I neared something, or someone actually, caught my eye. A blonde carrying boxes inside, he looked over at me and I gave a small smile and wave. He grinned and turned away, walking back into the house. He reminded me a lot of my best guy friend, Natsu Dragneel, they both had that crazy grin. I couldn't help but smile as I opened my gate and headed up the walk way. Right as I reached for the door it flew open and a much bigger person hurried down the three steps of the front porch, Laxus. He pulled on his jacket and hurried past me with his car keys in hand, I watched over my shoulder as he left.

"I'll be back," he called from over his shoulder before climbing into his car. I watched as he started it and left, I rolled my eyes before heading inside. Tossing my cheer bag and backpack side onto the couch as I walked through to the kitchen, which was all torn apart because Dad wanted new cabinets. He didn't count on the crew taking so long to finish, going on two weeks now.

Finding my trip to the kitchen pointless, since there was nothing good to eat, I grabbed a bottle of water and headed up to my room. Not forgetting to grab my bags before, lightly jogging up the staircase to my room. I walked in tossing them in the corner as I flopped onto my bed. Soft. I dozed off a little, it's been a long day. I allowed my thoughts to run freely, but somehow it always drifted back to the boy moving in next door. How much he reminded me of Natsu, but at first he didn't seem to look happy. I wondered what he was doing now, but I didn't want to be that creepy girl next door.

I'm sure I'll see him around school maybe.

Maybe some fresh air will help me out a little...

*Sting's POV*

I leaned on the side of the orange and white moving van, looking at the light blue house with cream white trim. It was a small house, cute I guess. The the wooden porch had five steps, but there was already a hanging bench which was pretty cool I guess. I'd already been inside setting up beds and stuff, the rooms were decent sized along with the kitchen and living room. So this was home now. I held back a sigh as my mom turned to me, clapping her hands together and giving me an excited smile. "Oh my gosh, Sting! Isn't it adorable?"

I forced a smile, "sure Mom." She playfully rolled her eyes as she grabbed a few boxes and started packing them in, I followed suit. We've been at this most of the day, most of the big furniture was taken care of already. I was trying for her, but I'm sure my acting skills could use improvement. My pocket buzzed to life, and I took a moment to text Minerva back. A short, to the point text. Crazy ex-girlfriend problems.

I grabbed a few more boxes before turning to go back inside, but stopped for a second. Something, no, someone, had caught my attention. She looked up at the same time and our eyes locked, she smiled. Snapping me out of my trance, I gave her a grin. Feeling like a retard I hurried to the house, I could feel my face on fire.

What the hell? Why was I turning red? I must suddenly be feeling sick...

"Honey, are you okay?" I paused half way up the stares and looked down at my mom's worried expression, "are you not feeling well?"

"I'm fine, Mom." I told her as I hurried up, leaving her to finish bringing in the last few boxes. I closed my bedroom door behind me, tossing the boxes onto the bed semi close to a fuzzy brown cat. Which only sluggishly lifted his head and gave a lazy yawn, I reached out and scratched the feline between the ears.

I groaned as I pulled out my phone to text a few people back, putting it away then taking a look around my new room. It was a lighter blue then outside, with a darker blue trim and ceiling. Boxes were stacked in the far corner, shoved under my bed, and placed on my desk. The room itself was good sized, a few empty shelves hung around the wall opposite of my bed and desk.

I guess I should try to unpack a little more.

I gave a deep sigh before grabbing a box with a few football trophies, placing them on one empty shelf. Then a few pictures of my old friends and I on another shelf, and a few random things on the last shelf. That got rid of three boxes, I tossed them out into the hall. I looked over at the empty shelves in the also empty closet, I quickly stuffed my shirts and pants into them. Hanging my sweaters and jackets, and tossing my shoes into the bottom to sit with my football and basketball on the ground.

I gathered the empty boxes including the ones in the hall and headed downstairs, putting them in the recyclables outside. My mom had now moved to planting a few plants by the gate, I cringed at her bright color choices but said nothing as I headed back to my room.

I had two windows in my room; one looked out front over the yard, and the other faced the next door house. A window about even with my own faced back, which I didn't care to much for so I left my curtains on that one closed. I opened the front window, and Lector jumped up to sit on the frame. He gave a happy purr as I scratched him between the ears again, at least he seemed satisfied with the house. I on the other hand, felt slightly restless as I finished unpacking a few more boxes. Hanging my old school flag above my bed, it was a black flag with the outline of a white sabertooth.

My room had no fan so I set up a mini fan next to Lector, he glared at it then at me for a second before turning away again. Suddenly I heard a girl's short scream from the next house over, I opened the curtains facing the house next door. Their window was open but no one seemed to be in the room, I lifted an annoyed brow as I turned away and relaxed again. I sat on my bed, admiring my work. It still didn't feel right, but I guess I'll adjust sooner or later. There was a knocking on my door before it opened, my mom stood with a plate and glass, setting them down on my desk before looking around.

"Wow, you sure turned this homey. It looks good, I made grilled ham and cheese. It's not much, but its getting late..." She said before she left, leaving me to glare at the glass of apple juice. My stomach growled, reminding me how hungry I actually was.

"Today just hasn't been my day," I sighed to myself as I looked over at Lector. The cat hopped onto the desk and gave my apple juice a sniff before wrinkling his noise and leaping off, I watched him leave throw the door my mother had left open.

Stupid cat. I took a seat at my desk and started eating. I looked out the front window wondering about the scream, was it the blonde girl from earlier? There was some shirtless guy with raven black hair walking with a redheaded chick and suddenly I was wondering how Rouge and the rest were, and how school was today.

My stomach twisted, next Monday I'd be starting a new school. It was almost the end of the school year, this would suck. I sighed before climbing into bed and pulling my pillow over my face, letting out a loud groan as I pressed it to my face as hard as I could before throwing it aside and gasping for air.

I was so ready for summer. Maybe some fresh air, I guess a walk wouldn't hurt. I climbed out of bed and headed down stairs, from their I slipped outside and sat lacing up my convers while sitting on the hanging bench. I walked down the sidewalk, hands shoved lazily in my pockets and my mind wondered.

I heard a bang behind me that snapped me back into the world, I hadn't even made it past my neighbors door. Then that blonde from earlier ran past me, she called out an apology as I watched her run by in nothing but a bikini and a bag hanging from her shoulder. I smiled and bit back a laugh, was this chick crazy?

I really want to talk to her... I contemplated calling our to her, but maybe another time since she very obviously was in a hurry.

*Lucy's POV from earlier*

"Well what was I suppose to do?" I whined as my redheaded friend laughed, I sat on my desk holding my knees close to my chest. "Laxus and Dad are gone!"

"So you called me. Me." A raven haired teen mumbled from the my room bathroom, he was standing barefooted in my shower with a fly swat.

"Just kill it for her, Gray," Erza said in an amused tone as she playfully rolled her eyes.

"You live like three houses down," I replied in more irritated tone. Yes, I, Lucy Heartfilla, called Gray to come kill a spider. It wasn't my fault! I was minding my own business when I when to go take a shower, and it was ABOVE my HEAD. I thought it was going to drop on me, I nearly killed myself trying to get out of the shower and even let out a scream I'm not proud of.

I cringed when I heard the flimsy plastic of the fly swat make contact with the tile of the shower walls, Erza smiled and sighed as she closed her eyes. Gray came out with the swat shoved in his back packet, its hung away from him slightly as he walked. I giggled as he crossed his arms and headed out, the swat bouncing with his steps. Erza let out a soft giggle as well, only adding to Gray's irritation.

"Thanks Gray," I smiled at him with a shrug. After a second he laughed too and came to give me a hug.

"Erza and I are going over to my house to order pizza and hang by the pool, Natsu and Lis will be coming over later. Wanna come?" Gray asked after letting me go.

I shrugged, "I'll see if my dad's coming home tonight. I might have to clean, but sure."

"Cool, bring pretty boy if you do show up. He still owes me money," Gray said before we said our goodbyes and I headed to the now safe shower. I called my dad first, when I didn't get an answer I sighed and texted Loki.

(To Babe: pool and pizza at Gray's?)

*Ding*

(From Babe: of course babe, see you then.)

I climbed into the warm shower, already thinking about how this was going to be an awesome Friday night. Cana was sure to bring drinks, and I'll just stay over at hers since her dad was never home anyways. I climbed out and hurried to change, I decided on my white bikini with the pink flower on the lower right side. It was Loki's favorite, and most comfortable. I wrote Laxus a note saying I couldn't be home later and threw some clothes into my purse before headed out the door, leaving the note on the table.

On my way down the sidewalk I had to pass that blonde teen from earlier, I would've tried to talk to him only I was running late getting to Gray's. I was starving and Natsu was probably going to eat the last of the pizza if I didn't get there soon enough. So I hurried by the boy and called back an apology for being rude, but he didn't seem mad in the least. Amused maybe?

I continued running, my flip flops making the clapping noise against my feet as I ran along. My purse bumping my hip, my pony tail flying back a little, and the strange feeling of the guy watching me. It wasn't very far and I had reached Gray's house, Loki's car already there. Gray's back gate was already opened slightly, his tall fence preventing anyone form seeing the large pool back there. The guy was still in sight when I ran up to Gray's gate; I never looked back at him, but I could feel his eyes never leaving me. Slightly uncomfortable, but I'm sure its not every day you see some mad woman running down the street in a bikini right?