Chapter 3

"Yo Lu-chan! Do you mind if Erza and I visit your apartment today?" Levy asked excitingly.

"Of course not! But it's a little messy since I've been too lazy to clean for the past few days." Lucy said, a little embarrassed.

"It's alright, we can help you tidy up!" Erza said while placing her arm over Lucy's shoulder.

"And we can have our own private girls' talk and talk about boys!" Levy said while putting her hands together.

"Thank you guys." Lucy smiled and reached her hand into her bag. She realized something was missing. Where's my water bottle?

She stood up from her seat and said, "I'm going to the vending machine to buy a drink. I'll be back soon!"

Lucy walked down the hallways of Fairy Tail High and started thinking about what had happened recently.

It's been a week since she and Natsu had their 'little chat' at the playground and she hasn't seen him since then. She was still upset about it, about what he was really like, because she thought otherwise. She stood in front of the vending machine and slot her coins into it whilst still immersed in her own thoughts. I feel so deceived by his looks. I mean, who doesn't like a good looking guy? But those perfect looks are wasted on a guy like him. If only his looks and maybe Loke's personality merged together. Loke is handsome too but... oh god what am I thinking?! Snap out of it Lucy!

She shook her head from side to side and pressed on the button labelled 'ice lemon tea'. Well, at least I haven't bumped into Natsu these days.

"Hey look it's Luce!"

Lucy's entire body froze as she heard that voice and she hesitantly turned her head around. No doubt, it was Natsu walking towards her with Gajeel beside him.

"Haven't seen you in awhile!" Natsu said with his usual toothy grin.

"Y-Yea... same." Lucy looked away nervously.

"Oh! You like ice lemon tea?"

"It's my favourite."

"Same here!" Natsu seemed to be in a good mood today. Lucy just laugh nervously in response.

As Lucy was about to walk away, Natsu suddenly asked, "What are you doing after school today?" as he slot coins into the vending machine.

What's up with him? Lucy thought as she started blushing. "Levy and Erza are coming over to my apartment."

"Woah! Can I come too?"

Lucy's face turned even redder with a stunned expression. "W-What? N-No! Of course not! No!" Lucy shouted and she scurried away from them back to her classroom. Natsu and Gajeel just stared at her run away, looking lost.

"Did you do something to piss blondie off?" Gajeel raised a brow at Natsu.

"Hmmm, I don't remember doing anything." Natsu scratched his probably air-filled head.

"Maybe she's on her period."

"High possibility."

Oh my god did he actually just want to come to my apartment?! He didn't even realise that I was trying to avoid him! He's a flirt, a player, but yet he's so dense?

"AHHHH! JUST WHAT IS THIS GUY MADE OF?!" Lucy pulled her hair and internally screamed, or at least she thought she was.

Lucy snapped out of her thoughts and realized that she had actually just screamed at the top of her lungs out loud in the middle of the hallway. Many people around her were staring at her with the what-is-her-problem face.

Oh crap.

"WHAT?! GAJEEL ASKED YOU OUT?!" Erza and Lucy shouted in unison. Right now, they are currently in Lucy's room gossiping. As expected of girls.

"Y-Yea. He suddenly approached me after school to ask me out on a d-date."

-flashback-

"Levy."

"What is it?" Levy shifted her feet nervously and her face was already red because since when has Gajeel even tried to talk to her in private?

"I'll be performing at The Fairy Bar next week so I was wondering if you would like to come and watch me." Gajeel asked while trying to avoid Levy's gaze.

"W-What?" Levy was utterly shocked.

"A-And maybe we could have dinner after that... together."

Levy backed away in horror but not because she was in horror, but because GAJEEL WAS ASKING HER OUT ON A DATE. A DATE.

Gray appeared out of nowhere and said, "He has been contemplating for nearly a month already on whether he should ask you out and he's been sleepless every since."

"JESUS WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?!" Gajeel shot a glare at Gray and held up his fist.

"I was just passing by!"

"Only an idiot would believe you! You followed me!"

Gajeel looked to the wall behind them and he could see Jellal, Natsu and Loke hiding behind it. "Oh shit, he saw us!"

He sighed at the immaturity of his friends. "So, Levy-"

Gajeel turned around only to see an unconscious Levy lying on the floor.

"Woah did she faint from shock?!"

-flashback ends-

"I would never have expected that from Gajeel. I mean... it's Gajeel after all." Erza said.

"I totally know what you mean." Lucy said.

"Oh my god guys what do I do?! What dress should I wear? How should I do my makeup? How should I do my hair? WHAT PICK UP LINES SHOULD I USE?!" Levy said as she grabbed her head and shook it furiously.

"How did pick up lines even come into consideration..."

"You're exaggerating it, Levy." Erza said as she sipped her tea like a professional.

"I need to get ready 1 week in advance so I won't embarrass myself!"

"Isn't 1 week in advance... now?" Lucy shook her head at the way her blue-haired friend was acting.

"We could go dress shopping tomorrow!" Levy suggested.

"I definitely wouldn't mind. I need some new clothes." Erza said.

"Your wardrobe is about to burst, Erza." Lucy said. "But it's nice getting asked out by a boy, isn't it? You get to prepare for the date and you get these butterflies in your stomach when you're about to meet him."

"Lucy you get asked out by boys all the time but you just reject all of them."

Lucy froze at Erza's comment and laughed nervously.

"Anyway, Lu-chan. What do you think of Loke?" Levy brought up an unexpected topic.

"Loke? He's a really good friend of mine." Lucy answered.

"You said that he had a crush on you back in middle school, right? Do you think he still likes you?" Erza smirked.

"W-What? That's impossible! It's been many years since then!" Lucy flailed her hands wildly.

"Oh well, I don't know. But it's just a feeling I have, you know? A woman's sixth sense is never wrong, Lu-chan!"

"Then why don't I sense anything?"

"You're just dense."

"That's harsh Erza..."

"Anyway, we need to do something about this mess in your house."

The 3 of them turned around to look at all the clothes scattered on the floor of Lucy's apartment.

"I guess you weren't kidding when you said you haven't cleaned in days."

"I'm sorry guys." Lucy looked down in embarrassment.

After 2 hours of cleaning and packing, the trio were finally done making Lucy's apartment look brand new again.

"Thank you so much guys!" Lucy hugged both Levy and Erza.

"Don't mention it, Lu-chan! And we wouldn't have done it so quickly if Erza weren't so efficient."

"Of course! That's why I'm the student council president!"

.

.

.

"Thank you for having us, Lucy."

"Don't forget our shopping date tomorrow!"

With that, Erza and Levy left Lucy's apartment. It was already 9pm.

I should probably go get some dinner.

Lucy left Plue at home and made her way to a nearby convenience store to buy some microwave food. While paying for her stuff, she looked up to the store's tv which was showing the news.

"Recently, there have been many cases of young girls being attacked and violated by stalkers in the middle of the night. Please do be careful while roaming the streets of Magnolia at night."

Lucy looked to her watch to check the time. It's only 9.30pm right now, it should be alright. Lucy did not think much of it and left the convenience store with her things.

While heading back to her apartment, Lucy hummed her favorite song and was lost in her own thoughts. There was no one around her and the neighborhood was very quiet. But suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Lucy stopped in her tracks and turned around, but there was nobody behind her, just an empty path.

Am I just hearing things?

Lucy continued walking when she heard footsteps again. Those footsteps were completely in sync with her's. No way... right?

She tried walking faster and those footsteps picked up speed as well. This was when she started getting really creeped out. Oh shit.

Lucy prepared her Lucy Kick and when she was already in stance, she turned around and

"Hey Luce!"

Lucy froze, only to see a Natsu standing infront of her. She blinked a few times as she just stared at him in disbelief. He was just smiling at her as if nothing just happened and Lucy went ahead with her Lucy Kick and her foot landed directly on Natsu's face.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Lucy screamed with anger radiating from her.

Natsu flew about 3 meters away from her and landed on his face. He got up quickly and shouted back, "THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD BE ASKING YOU!"

"Were you stalking me?!"

"Come on, Luce. If I was a stalker, you wouldn't have been able to even kick me!"

Lucy regained her composure and asked, "Well then, what are you doing being all creepy?"

"I was really bored and I saw you coming out from the convenience store so I thought it might be fun to follow you home." Natsu laughed to himself.

"You have problems as a human."

"So do you."

Lucy pouted and turned around to walk away.

"Do you need me to walk you home?" Natsu stood up.

"What for?" Lucy looked puzzled.

"I mean, you are afraid of stalkers, right?" Natsu crossed his arms and teased her.

"W-Who says I'm afraid?! I'm more afraid of you!"

"Well if you say so."

"Hmph!" Lucy stormed away from him.

Lucy could hear Natsu shouting from behind her. "Aren't you gonna say bye?" But she just ignored him.

What's up with him?! Teasing me like it's funny.

When Lucy reached home, she slammed her door close, causing Plue to shiver. She was still pissed with Natsu making fun of her and following her home. The steam coming out of her head could probably microwave her food instead of using an actual microwave.

But the thought of Natsu having the intention to walk her home made her blush.

It's a weird feeling.