Spring Semester, Senior Year; February

Lucy couldn't pinpoint the moment where things had begun to go wrong.

Sitting in Principal Dreyar's office with Yukino, she looked steadily at the old man as he said: "The two of you are intelligent young ladies. Can I assume you both know why you're here?"

"Is it because of what's been happening with the campaign for prom queen?" Yukino asked softly.

"Yes it is. At first I was content to let the matter sort itself out, but we have approached troubling levels of disturbance." Makarov sighed. "Last month it was mainly rumors. They began innocuously, but they have since reached an alarming level. I doubt that any of what's being said is true, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful. And as the rumors grew, new rumors began in backlash. Now we have escalated to property damage, and I feel I have to step in. Do either of you girls have anything to say?"

"I'm sorry Principal Dreyar, but I don't have any information that might shed light on what's occurring," Lucy said stiffly. While the principal had been addressing the matter in a neutral tone, she knew what the real deal was. The rumors, the damaged posters…they were all targeting Yukino. But despite everything, the girl's popularity only continued to grow. At the expense of Lucy's.

She had sensed the growing distrust of the student body as the whole thing escalated. In the beginning, Lucy had paid no attention to the rumors. Students always talked. Even Mirajane, when she was running for prom queen, had to deal with nasty rumors, and Mirajane was the nicest person anyone could have known. Sure, the rumors had mainly targeted Yukino, but Lucy didn't think that they were true, and the rumor mill would eventually discard them in favor of a more probable target.

But the rumors got even worse, and suspicion began to fall on her. New rumors circulated that Lucy was trying to discredit Yukino with the rumors, but Lucy ignored that one. She had nothing to do with it, and she refused to act as if she was trying to make amends. Even acknowledging the rumors' existence would make it look as if she was behind them. So she kept her head high and her nose clean, taking extra pains to make sure that she did nothing that could possibly be misconstrued.

The property damage was the latest step though. At first it had just been ripped down posters, mainly Yukino's, or posters that had been scribbled on, filled with garbage about Yukino. It had recently escalated to defacing Yukino's locker, which is what Lucy suspected had forced the administration to act.

"I'm afraid I don't know anything either," Yukino murmured, toying with the handle of her cane. She still moved with a noticeable limp, and the general rumor was that she may never fully get rid of it. Dancing again was out of the question.

"Very well then," Makarov sighed. "Yukino, you are dismissed. Lucy, please stay a moment. I'd like to ask how your brother is doing."

Slowly, Yukino moved out of the room, the quiet thuds of her cane the only sound until the door closed behind her. Once it had, Lucy looked at the small man. "You don't want to know about Laxus."

"No, he keeps me updated regularly on how he's doing," Makarov sighed. "My grandson says he keeps in touch with you too."

"But we're not here to talk about my brother," Lucy said quietly. "We both know that calling us in here together was just for show, although I appreciate it. I know that out of everyone, I have the strongest motive for doing all of this."

"That is correct." Makarov looked at Lucy, his eyes stern. "I'm going to ask you again. Do you know anything about what's going on with this race?"

Lucy shook her head. "I thought it was just the normal stuff, at the beginning anyway. Nothing more than what happens every year. When it started getting worse, I couldn't acknowledge it, or I would look responsible. I'm just as clueless as you about the who and why."

"How are things at home Lucy? I know your father…"

"Things at home are fine," Lucy said coldly. "My father may not be a doting parent, but he is a good one. If something was wrong, I would approach someone."

"No offense meant," Makarov said easily. "I was just curious as to why one of my best students wouldn't apply to college."

Lucy froze. "I'm taking a gap year," she said slowly. "My plan is to travel before I attend school again." In all actuality, her father had refused to let her apply, telling her that it was up to her future husband whether or not she went to college.

"Ah, I see. Have you made your plans yet?" Makarov asked cheerfully. "Do you know where you're planning to go?"

"Around Fiore for a start," Lucy struggled to keep her composure. The principal had a way of getting under someone's skin. "After that…we'll see how much time I have left."

"Sounds wonderful," he commented. "You must be looking forward to it."

"Most certainly," Lucy lied. "It's something that I've been interested in, and now I get the chance to do it."

"Lucy, can we be honest with each other?" Makarov said sternly. "While Laxus and I don't usually talk about your family, it has come up from time to time. From what I understand, there are certain things expected of you…"

"Principal Dreyar, I'm afraid I must get to class now. If I'm going to keep up my grades, I shouldn't miss anything." Lucy stood and gathered her bag. "I am very happy with how my future plans are progressing, but if anything changes, I'll let you know. Thank you for your time."

"Of course Lucy," he said as she walked out of his office.

Natsu was waiting for her. "How did you know?" she asked as they walked down the hall together.

"As soon as you left the room, people started texting. I had to come see what was going on. Is this about the campaign?"

"Principal Dreyar only wanted to know if Yukino or I knew anything about who was doing this. Neither of us could shed any light on the matter, so he dismissed us to return to class."

"Yukino left several minutes ago," Natsu pointed out, and Lucy turned to see his face missing its usual grin. "Come on Luce, tell me. Something's up."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lucy said softly. She knew that she had been pulling away from him, between the stress of the campaign and the impending demise of their relationship. "I'm just starting to get a bit nervous about graduating."

"Luce…you're distant. You've been keeping things from me, and I don't know what to think. All this stuff that's been happening to Yukino…it looks really bad."

"Don't you believe me when I say that I have nothing to do with it?" Lucy had never expected Natsu, of all people, to believe that she would be behind something like this. They had been friends forever, dated for three years…and now he stood before her looking at her as if he had never seen her before.

"Luce, I don't know what to think anymore. Yukino's a nice girl, it wouldn't be her. But you…you've been keeping something back from me, and I know that the two of you were never close. With everything that's going on…it's hard to think of anyone else. You can tell me, whatever it is."

Closing her eyes, Lucy counted to ten, knowing what she had to do, but feeling herself shatter as she opened her mouth and said: "I want to break up, Natsu."

"What?" He was confused, she knew that tone of voice. Hurt, and fear, played over his face. "Is this because of what I just said?"

"It's been coming for a while Natsu," Lucy stuck to half-truths. "We're not going to make it past graduation. It was only a matter of time. If you could even entertain a shadow of a thought that I might be the one doing this…you obviously don't know me. Now, I'm sorry, but we should end this. We can still be friends, but we'll never be more."

"Luce…I didn't mean…" She was breaking his heart, she knew that. Lucy knew that she knew Natsu better than anyone else, and she knew that what she was doing was probably the cruelest thing she could do to him.

"Natsu, it's over. We have to accept that and move on. Now, I need to get back to class, and so do you. I'll get a ride home from my brother tonight. Thanks…for everything."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, careful to make her steps even and keep her head high. She couldn't afford to show heartbreak or weakness now. It was what had to happen, although she hated every minute of it.

Rounding the corner, she listened for footsteps around her before slumping against the wall. She just needed a moment to compose herself before she could go back to the classroom. Everyone would know by the time she arrived. Their discussion had happened by a partially open classroom door, and she had caught a glimpse of Cana's familiar brown hair inside. Her break up had just become fodder for the gossips of the school.

"Hey, come with me." A hand grabbed her wrist, and her head shot up in alarm. I didn't hear anyone coming!

"Who are you?" she mumbled, looking at the lean teenager in front of her. His hair was a darker red than Erza's, and a scar covered his right eye.

"Erik," he muttered before tipping his head towards a nearby classroom. "You need a place to hide?"

"I should get to class," she murmured, regaining her composure. "Thanks for the offer though."

"You've got more guts than I do," Erik said quietly. "I'd be finding the nearest dark corner right about now. Cana Alberona was by that door."

"I'm aware," Lucy said stiffly. "Since you know what happened, I can only assume it's spreading faster than wildfire. The best way to defeat a rumor is to ignore it and give the mill nothing else to chew on."

"I know because my friend caught it on video," Erik said quietly. "You don't have to worry, he and I aren't going to send it anywhere. But he figured that he'd let me know so I could offer you a place to hide if you wanted it."

"As I said, thanks but no thanks," Lucy pulled her wrist free. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not. And don't try to bullshit me about this. I know what hidden pain looks like, and you're good at it. But anyone who knows will see. So I offered, you refused, and I'll let you go. If you ever need a place though…go to Mr. Connall's class and ask for me there. He'll show you where I am."

Lucy turned her back on him and headed for her class. That was certainly odd.

Somehow, she made it through the rest of her classes. The glances sent her way were…odd. Some students obviously pitied her, but others seemed downright hostile. Whether it was her meeting with the principal that had prompted it or the subsequent break up with Natsu, she wasn't sure, but the hostility was becoming more and more common.

When she arrived in the storage room, it was thankfully quiet, although her squad refused to look at her. That may have been more out of sympathy over her break up, but she was willing to take whatever silence they offered.

As the others arrived for practice though, Lucy felt the hostility again. Taking a deep breath, she carried on as if nothing had happened, but it was one of their rougher practices. She toughed it out though, making sure that they did their best to remain focused and sharp, but by the time she ended practice, half an hour earlier than normal, Lucy was exhausted. Dismissing the others, she began folding up the mats and checking for any leftover objects that her squad had left behind.

Reaching the locker room, she paused as she heard voices inside. "…she's acting as if nothing happened at all. Does she really think we'll buy it?"

"You have to be pretty messed up in the head to say what she's been saying about Yukino. I wouldn't be surprised if she's colder than ice."

"I heard that Natsu broke up with her because of that."

"No, he broke up with her because she's been going after Yukino."

"That's not how it happened! She broke up with him because he wouldn't help her go after Yukino."

Swallowing hard, Lucy moved towards her school locker. She had left her winter coat there instead of cramming it into her school locker. Maybe if she went and got it, the others would be gone by the time she returned.

After she had changed and gotten her school bag from the locker room, Lucy headed for the front doors. Sting had gone home after school so that he could do something with their father, and she had told Natsu not to give her a ride anymore. Grimacing, she pulled her hood up over her hair and prepared to walk. Her father would have a fit, but she wouldn't call for a ride. I'll have to work something out with Sting tomorrow.

"Hey sis, get in." Lucy blinked at the familiar figure standing outside the car parked at the curb.

"Why are you here?" she blurted out, forgetting her manners.

Laxus smiled gently at her. "Can't a brother visit his sister once in a while?"

"Of course," Lucy said, slipping into the passenger seat. "But don't you usually have classes right now?"

"Eh, we're allowed one skip day," Laxus shrugged, climbing into the driver's seat. "So…Lisanna texted Mira, who let me know."

"Ah," So that's why he was here.

Glancing at her, Laxus said: "According to her, Natsu's pretty broken up about it."

"That's how it seemed," Lucy said, staring out the window.

"You two been having problems lately?"

"Not really. We just…grew apart." Of all of the people in her house, Laxus was the best at knowing when she was lying, so she had to stick to the truth.

"Grew apart, or were forced apart?" Laxus asked shrewdly.

"Does it matter?" Lucy spat venomously. "We're over."

"Gramps was asking me if I knew of any trouble at the house," Laxus said, letting the matter of Natsu drop. "Apparently there's been some stuff going on at school and he wonders if something from outside isn't causing it."

"He asked me the same thing," Lucy said, regaining her composure. "The prom queen race has been nastier than normal, and he was putting out feelers to see if Yukino or I knew anything."

"I don't think some of those rumors qualify simply as nastier than normal. They're mostly about Yukino too. Must be making your life hard."

Lucy looked at him in surprise. "You don't think that I'm starting them?"

Laxus shrugged. "Not your style. Neither is the poster stuff, or Yukino's locker. You're honest to a fault when it comes to competitions. That's why you're such a good captain. Any challenges you make to Yukino would be issued openly. Rumors and vandalism aren't what you do. But whoever's doing it, they're making you look pretty guilty."

"That's why your grandfather wanted to talk to me," Lucy admitted. "He called Yukino in too, so it didn't look as bad, but it still made my day nastier than usual. Combine that with what happened with Natsu, and my squad having a rough practice…it was one of the worse days I've had."

"What's up with your squad?" Laxus asked. "You guys were great when I saw you in the fall."

"They're taking the Yukino thing pretty rough I think," Lucy said steadily, trying not to think about what she had heard in the locker room. "A bunch of them have been friends with her since they were kids in dance class together."

"It would make things pretty rough," Laxus agreed. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Keep my chin up, my head down, and my nose clean," Lucy said seriously. "I don't know what's going on or why these things are happening, and the longer I stay out of it, hopefully they'll back off."

"Seems to me like staying out of it has only made things worse," Laxus said softly. "What are you going to do if this escalates again?"

"There's only two more weeks until voting," Lucy said stubbornly. "It will all be over then."

"Have you thought about what happens if you lose?"

Shrugging, Lucy said: "I don't really care about winning this or not."

"Your mom was queen though," Laxus pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah, so Father wants me to be queen too. I'll have to get Sting to help deflect on that one, but hey, I'm a member of the court either way, so that should help." Lucy knew that it wouldn't be that simple, but her father got his way about everything else, so he could just deal with her losing a pointless contest.

"Is he the reason you haven't applied for college?"

Lucy froze. Apparently, that was answer enough for Laxus, as he let out a long sigh. "Gramps wondered, and he asked me. You know, I appreciate that your dad gave me a place to live and all, but he's a bit of a nutjob. Lucy, you can get your license, go to college, do whatever you want to do. I'll back you up, and so will Gramps."

"Laxus, I know what you're trying to do, but I can handle myself. And since I don't know what I want to do, not applying to college isn't me being held back. It's me not wasting money."

He looked torn, but they had just pulled up to the house and they both knew that she had to get out. Taking a deep breath, Laxus said: "Well…if you ever need anything, anything at all, just call, and I'll do whatever it takes to help you out."

"Thanks Laxus," Lucy said, leaning over to give him a quick hug. "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime sis."

As Lucy hurried into the house, she found Sting coming down the stairs. "Was that Laxus's car that I saw pulling away?"

"Yeah, he had to talk to his grandfather and ended up giving me a ride home. Am I late?" Checking her watch, Lucy confirmed that dinner should be in half an hour, just as she had thought.

"No, he just summoned me to the study to go over a few things before we ate." Sting said, pausing in front of her. "Hey…I heard about Natsu."

"Find me someone who hasn't and I'll find you a medal." Lucy said dryly. "In retrospect, holding that particular conversation outside a classroom with Cana inside was a poor idea and in the future, I plan to hold any and all similar conversations somewhere private."

"You know that wasn't my point," Sting said harshly. "He was a mess for the rest of the day Lucy. I know you had to do it, but not this soon and not that way. Since when did you stop caring about him?"

"Does the rumor mill talk about what he said just before I broke up with him?" Lucy asked softly.

"I don't know what to believe out of the rumor mill these days, because so much of it's about you these days." Sting muttered. At that moment, Lucy caught a glimpse of the doubt in his eyes, and she knew that her brother was just like Natsu, just like a growing number of people at the school, just like Makarove Dreyar…at least he was trying to continue believing that she wouldn't have anything to do with what was going on. But the doubt was there. My own brother.

"It doesn't matter." She brushed by him and moved up the stairs to her room. Upstairs, she considered sinking down on her bed and crying, but her puffy eyes would be noted and commented on at dinner, so she simply changed and immersed herself in her embroidery until she had to go down for dinner. The one good thing about being forced to learn embroidery was that it proved useful for times when she didn't want to think.

At dinner, her father made no comment to her until dessert was served. "I hear that Laxus brought you home from school?"

"Yes Father. He had stopped to talk with the principal about something and offered to give me a ride home."

"What happened to that Dragoneel boy?"

"I ended things with him, just as you asked Father."

"Will this impact the upcoming vote?"

"Not to my knowledge, sir."

"Good."

And that was all that was said.

***More plot now. And NaLu fans, please don't hate me. It had to happen for the story to follow the song. I can't promise when the next update will happen; it depends on my writer's block for other stories.***