Arcane: It's certainly been a long time! Sorry! I forgot what I was gonna write in this chapter ^^"
Lucy: I'll say... what kind of author forgets what they're gonna write? -mumbles-
Arcane: Q^Q Sweetie Lucy is being mean to me again! -Runs to boyfriend-
Boyfriend: -hugs Arcane- Lucy... you know she's sensitive... Lay off a bit okay? My job to tease her anyways :3
Arcane: Thanks sweetie! ^-^ Wait WHAT?! Q^Q
Erza: Arcane doesn't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters. Hiro Mashima does. Enjoy this chapter and leave kind reviews for her to read.
Arcane: WAIT! Q^Q
Boyfriend: Just quiet down hun. Erza isn't going to give you time to talk. -Pats Arcane's head-
Chapter 3: Hectic Day with Natsu
I smiled. Even though Natsu was older, and in some ways more mature and much more educated, he was still my best friend and all these years of separation hadn't changed that which excited me. Everything would finally be okay. I hadn't smiled like this since five years ago, and I hoped to continue creating such cheerful memories with Natsu for the years to come.
…...
For the first time when I woke up in the morning I wasn't sad. I was overjoyed. The thought that Natsu was back made me so excited to get up in the morning! I immediately threw off my blankets and went to my bathroom to get ready. I turned on the faucet and opened the water. Steam started to rise and I could almost feel the heat of the water from where I was standing. I slipped off all my clothes and threw them into the hamper.
Note to self, the hamper is full so I'll need to wash the clothes soon. I thought to myself.
I turned off the water when it filled the tub and poured my vanilla bubbles into the water and stirred. Soon the water was filled with bubbles and I slipped into the steaming tub of water and sighed contently.
"Ahhhh... It feels so nice..." I sighed happily.
I dunked my head into the steaming water and then pushed myself up again so I could get a breathe of air. It has been such a long time since I've taken a bubble bath... Come to think of it, I hadn't taken a bubble bath since Natsu left... I'd only taken showers.
"I wonder what Natsu's doing..." I said to myself out loud.
Then the door burst open and I felt the cold air come in contact with my face and neck. I looked and saw Natsu standing at the doorway, his hand still on the doorknob.
"I'm waiting for you to get out of the bathroom." He said grinning impishly.
My entire face turned red. I screamed and threw whatever was closest to me at him which happened to be a variety of items such as a shampoo bottle, the vanilla bubbles, and a bar of soap.
"Wha- OW!"
"Luce- GAH!"
"What're you -OWW!"
"NATSU YOU IDIOT! GET OUT!" I screeched.
"But why?" He said curiously.
When I threw the rock that I used to scrape off dead skin at him, he got the message and left, still bewildered by my reaction. I slammed my palm onto my forehead when I noticed he left the door wide open. His stupidity was hurting my brain.
"AND CLOSE THE DOOR WILL YA?" I screamed again.
Then I saw him come back and give me a shaky smile before closing the door quietly. What an interesting way to start off the morning...
…...
When I got out of the bathroom, he was sitting on my bed, his face buried in my pillow. I sighed and blushed slightly. I poked his side and he let out a small scream. It sounded muffled because his face was buried in my pillow. I smiled in the realization that after all these years, he was still ticklish. He rolled over and continued to laugh. I kept poking at him and rubbing my hands against him and he continued to squeal and laugh. Then I finally stopped when he couldn't even utter a sound. Just soundless laughter. He was crying but I knew it was because he had laughed too hard and could no longer breathe. I knew it. In more ways than one, he was still such a child.
"...W-Wha... W-What... w-was... th-that for?!" Natsu gasped in between breathes.
I smiled innocently. "Paying you back for walking in on me while I was bathing."
"B-But I don't see what's so w-wrong about that!" He said breathing better now.
I blushed. "N-Now's not the time for this! We should get going to the guild and get a job!"
Then Natsu and I left for the guild. As soon as we opened the doors to the guild, we heard sounds of firecrackers popping and all sorts of strange things happening in the guild. Erza was sitting at the bar eating her cake like nobodies business, Elfman was of course hanging around with Mira and Lisanna, Gray and Juvia were sitting at a table together, and everyone else was standing around the guild welcoming them back.
"Natsu, welcome back after 10 years!" They all yelled.
"Has it been that long already?" He laughed.
"Yes today is the tenth year that you've been gone! And it wouldn't have sounded as good if we had said 'Welcome back Natsu after 9 years and 364 days!'" Gray called out jokingly.
Natsu laughed and so did I. Then Natsu was overwhelmed by the guild members, all eager to see him and hear what had happened the past ten years he'd been gone. I slipped through the crowd and made a beeline for the bar and sat down next to Erza. Erza smiled at me.
"Hey Lucy. How are you?" She smiled warmly.
"Never been better! Erza want me to buy you another slice of cake?" I offered seeing as she had just chomped down the last bit of cake on her plate.
Erza smiled but shook her head. "Master said free food at the bar today! I can eat as much cake as I want! But thank you for the kind gesture!"
Erza's eyes were glowing and I laughed and congratulated her on her findings.
"Hi Lucy, would you like your usual?" I heard a kind voice say.
I turned toward the voice and smiled. "Mira! Yes please, if you wouldn't mind."
"Of course not! Did you hear? Master said free food at the bar today!" Mira laughed as she went to go make me my usual.
"Yes, I heard from Erza! To be honest I think Master might regret this decision tomorrow..." I laughed.
Mira nodded enthusiastically and looked at Erza with a grin.
"That's her fifteenth slice this morning." Mira giggled.
Wow. Then Mira brought over my usual which was a strawberry milkshake. I lifted up my hand and grasped the tall glass and took a sip though the white bendy straw. I sighed contently. It was so refreshing. So sweet and tangy and just the slightest bit of sourness. Giving it a slight pungent taste but also an addicting flavor.
Then Mira grabbed my left arm and examined my hand. I saw her examining the salmon pink ring on my finger, which happened to be on my left ring finger. (This is for you thecagedsong! ^-^)
"Lucy... ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?!" Mira squealed.
Luckily the guild was too loud so no one but Mira, Erza, Gray, and Juvia heard it. Gray and Juvia rushed over and immediately they all questioned me.
"Lucy! You're getting married? Why didn't you tell me?" Mira whined.
"Who're you marrying? Is it Natsu-San?!" Juvia squealed.
"I should go beat up Natsu... So he won't even think about hurting you..." Erza mumbled while stabbing at her slice of cake.
" Lucy! Well done! You're getting married!" Gray grinned.
I shushed them. "Guys, shut up! I-I'm n-not getting m-married! I-I don't even h-have a boyfriend y-yet!"
"Then whats with the ring?" Mira, Gray, and Juvia smirked.
I blushed a thousand times deeper. I explained to them what happened with Natsu and they all nodded in understanding.
"Oh Natsu that idiot.. He's yet to understand his feelings of love for our Lucy..." Mira sighed dramatically.
"W-What! Pftttt, of course he doesn't!" I tried to brush off what she said.
"After that stunt when we were seven, ya know... with the guild mark? You can't say he isn't interested in you." Erza pointed out bluntly.
I blushed.
"Speak of the devil." Mira smirked.
I turned and then Natsu embraced me gently.
"Hey Luce!" He said enthusiastically.
"N-N-Natsu?!" I stammered, feeling my face heat up tremendously.
I pushed him away. He pouted. "But Luce! You were fine with us hugging yesterday!"
I heard Mira and Juvia giggling and I knew this would bring on a round of teasing from them later on.
"Anyways Luce, I was wondering if later.. you would like to go out and eat dinner with me?" He grinned.
"My treat! All you have to do is dress up and look pretty! Not that you ever have trouble looking pretty of course!" He complimented with a grin.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Mira and Juvia giggled, while Gray whistled teasingly.
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks but I nodded. He pumped his fist into the air and gave a small shout. How adorable... Then he waved at me and told me he would pick me up at five and left. I stayed at the guild till about 4 before I finally went home to get ready.
Mira smirked at me and told me "not to do anything bad," Gray ruffled my hair and told me to talk to him if Natsu hurt me, Juvia told me to enjoy it and to tell her about the kiss, and Erza cracked her knuckles and said she would be sharpening her swords and polishing her blades and armors. I blushed and waved goodbye at them. Then I left. I walked back to my house and I balanced myself on the stones by the water.
"Be careful Lucy-Chan! It's dangerous!" The sailors yelled.
"I'm okay! Thank you!" I smiled.
Then I got ready. I put on a black dress that had white lace framing it, and ended right by my knees. There was a ribbon right around my waist and I was wearing black high heals with a black bow on the toe, revealing my big toe. My nails, and toenails were painted white.
Then I summoned Cancer and asked him to do my hair. He nodded and put my hair into a pony tail. He used a white and black striped ribbon to tie it back but left my bangs alone and two strips of hair on the sides of my face.
"Perfect,-ebi." He said.
I thanked him and he returned to the Celestial Spirit World. I looked into the mirror and checked my outfit one more time. It couldn't hurt right? Then I heard a low thump. I turned around swiftly reaching for my keys in case it was some pervert but it was none other than my childhood friend Natsu... The idiot... he came in through the window again... I sighed and slammed my palm onto my forehead.
"Luce, do you do that often? No wonder you're so dumb! Don't you know that if you keep doing that you lose brain cells?" He said innocently.
"...Natsu?"
"Yeah Luc- WAHHHHH!"
"What the..." Wendy said.
"What's wrong Wendy?" Mira asked her.
"I thought I heard Natsu-San screaming..." Wendy said completely bewildered.
"Same here." Gajeel grunted.
They shrugged and went back to their normal activities in the guild.
"Luceee." Natsu said.
"..."
"Lushyyyy!" Natsu whined.
"..."
"Lu-"
"WHAT." I snapped and turned back to glare at him.
He flinched. "I-I was just kidding ya know..."
I sighed and massaged my temples, trying to prevent the headache that was poking at me.
"Yes, Natsu I know..." I sighed, and frowned a little.
"So am I forgiven?" He said hopefully.
I nodded but let my features soften just a little. Apparently he caught the change in my figured and grinned. I couldn't help but smile at him. Then he lead me to a restaurant called "Mi Corazon."
"Mi... Cor...-rayzon?" I tried to read.
"No... It's Mi Corazon." He chuckled.
I blinked and smiled at how nice it sounded with his deep, and gentle voice. He lead me inside and they seated us immediately. Natsu ordered everything for us, and at first it was going great! Until Natsu decided his food needed some fire... and the result was? He burned off part of the manager's hair, leaving a small bald spot.
"MY HAIRRR! GET BACK HERE YOU HAIR BURNER!" The manager screeched.
"Aw Crap.. Only one thing to do now... RUN LUCE!" Natsu yelped.
He grabbed me arm and zoomed out of the restaurant. A typical day for Fairy Tail.
"Sorry I ruined dinner Luce..." Natsu said sadly.
"It's okay Natsu! We can go out another time! Maybe a different restaurant! And one that sells freshly made food lit on fire!" I smiled.
He laughed and then we were at my doorsteps. " Goodnight Luce!"
"Goodnight... Na-Kun." I smiled hesitantly.
"...Y-You... You still remember the nickname you gave me!" He grinned, his entire face lighting up.
I blushed and nodded. Then he left with a soft smile.
…...
"Master... you wanted to see me?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Natsu... Don't you think it's time to tell Lucy soon?" Master said regretfully.
"Ah so you knew..." Natsu said sadly.
"Ever since you set foot in my guild Natsu." Master answered.
"I will tell her... Just... not yet..." Natsu confirmed.
"Just remember... the sooner you tell her the less it will hurt her..." Master reminded sadly.
"Yeah... I know..." He clenched his fists.
Arcane: OHHHH, So what could Natsu be hiding from Lucy? ;)
Lucy: Its obvious. He's not hu-
Arcane: -Tackles and covers Lucy's mouth.- SHUSH! LET THE READERS READ AND FIND OUT!
Natsu: Why'd you make me so... so mature?
Arcane: Don't complain! I'm the author here!
Wendy: Uhm... P-Please review! Arcane-San loves reading reviews that she gets! Please be kind and continue to support her! And don't mind the typos! Thanks f-for reading! O/O