04
Refusal
Each of us has a thing we refuse to believe, no matter the evidence.
Chapter 4:
We finished the project in an hour, and it looked damn good, but there was still one big problem weighing down on my shoulders: Where the fuck am I supposed to spend the night? I mean, I haven't heard from mom or dad, since I practically broke my phone. And going at Gray's was a no, since his parents were strict, and it was already past midnight. Sting and Loke were probably still at that fucking party, even though we have school tomorrow, and I can't possibly go home at a time like this, where my parents are waiting for me with a gun or something.
Lucy, on the other hand, was already horribly sleepy, since she almost fell asleep on the table. So, I can't stay here any longer. I guess I should just head home and die.
Yep.
"Do you need to use my phone or something?" I heard her ask, as she dug in her pocket to give me her phone. And that's when I noticed she was wearing. Grey sweatpants and a fucking pink hoodie. That looked so damn comfortable. And here I was, in my tight black jeans.
I ignored the thought of ripping those clothes off of her and wearing them myself, as I dialed my mom's number.
"Natsu? Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how late it is, and how many—"
"Mom."
"Your dad is worried sick, young man! When you come home, I am going to—"
"Mom."
"Not to mention you lied to me! I thought you were at Sting's, studying! When you were—"
"MOM" I yelled, as Lucy shrieked in surprise and fell off her chair.
"Is that a girl?" I heard her ask from the other side of the line, and I immediately panicked. The fuck was I supposed to say now!? She won't want to hear a single word!
Lucy suddenly grabbed the phone from my hands, yelling "Hi there Ms Dragneel. How very nice to meet you"
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING FUCK!?
I made a grab for the phone, but she backed away. I could hear my mother speak.
"Why hello? Who is this?"
"I'm Gray's cousin, Cindy. Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could give me the recipe to your lemon pie? Natsu has been talking nonstop about how great of a mother you are, and how he loves your cooking. He's been saying things like 'She's always so sweet', and he really said he liked your pies. So, I was just wondering if I could have a recipe."
"O-Oh? Well, hello dear. Sure! I'll be happy to give you my recipe!"
"Thank you dearly! Also, if you don't mind, Gray wanted Natsu to stay over for the week, since his parents are off on a business trip until next Tuesday. My parents are going as well, and that's why I'll be staying with Gray. So, he didn't want it to be boring, and he called Natsu over. You don't need to worry about food or anything, and he can borrow Gray's clothes. I think this will be good for the both of you, since you probably need a little time off from this idiot."
My mom laughed. "Sure sweetie! He can stay until Tuesday! It's better that way."
"Yeah! You will have enough time to clear your head and relax from all the commotion, and I'll even help Natsu with his homework."
"Oh, thank you dear!"
"And one more thing: I have a boyfriend, so you don't need to worry about anything. I'm just saying this cause I know how worried mothers can be, and you need the right amount of information to assure Natsu stays safe."
"Aw, aren't you the cutest thing! Thank you Cindy!"
"No problem ma'am. I'm here to help."
"And has Natsu really been talking about my cooking?"
"Oh yes! He hasn't stopped since he got here! He's so sweet!"
"Oh, how lovely!"
"Oh, and the picture you received was from a few months ago, when we were at a study party at Lisanna's. She suddenly took out some alcohol and gave it to everyone. We were really surprised, and that's why Natsu was making that ugly face, ha ha!"
Mom was laughing really loud. "Oh, what a big misunderstanding! I thought it was from tonight!"
"Well, if you need anything, call this number, since Natsu's battery died, and Gray and I don't have a charger that can fit his."
"Okay sweetie, thank you very much, I'll be sure to call. Bye bye, and tell Natsu I'll be making him my lemon pie once he comes home! I'll write the recipe later, and he'll give it to you some other time."
"Okay Ms Dragneel, good night!"
She pocketed her phone, and it took me several minutes to finally close my mouth, and stop staring at her face.
Did this just happen!?
Like, for real!?
Did she really just save my relationship with mom, and my life? The fuck!? How in the world did she do that!? I never knew she was good at acting!? No, I never knew she was fucking amazing at acting!
And honestly, how did she know I liked lemon pie!? Nobody knows that!
"Hey," I yelled, "how did you know I liked lemon pie!?"
"I don't know. Lucky guess?"
"So… what if I didn't like it?"
"We'd be busted."
"WHAT!?"
How could she act so casual!?
"And you even called me an idiot!"
"You've done that to me a lot of times."
Well, I can't argue with that.
But there was still a huge problem. Where the fuck am I going to sleep tonight? And what about Gray? He still doesn't have a clue about anything that just happened. Mom even has his number! She might call him or something! And I can't just show up at home after everything that Lucy said. I have to stay somewhere until Tuesday! WHY THE FUCK DID SHE SAY THAT?!
Tuesday!?
That's in like, 5 days! I don't have five fucking days! I mean, tomorrow's Friday! I could've just gone home after this night! Now I have to fucking find someone who will let me stay five fucking nights! FIVE NIGHTS!
Who the fuck would do that!?
"I'll go get you a pillow. You're sleeping on the couch."
My head snapped up as I looked at the girl walking up the stairs which lead to her frilly pink bedroom if I remember correctly.
Wait? What did she say again?
She's getting me a pillow? I'm sleeping on the couch? As in, this couch? In this living room? In this house? What? Why would I sleep here? Oh.
She's trying to help. Ha. Silly Heartfilia. I don't need your help.
"Thanks but no thanks nerd." I yelled, before opening the front door, and walking out of the house.
It was 2AM, when I had finally knocked on the door to the only place where I could stay. I bolted out of Lucy's place because I don't need her help.
The door opened.
She can keep her crummy house to herself. I don't need to sleep there. I have thousands of other friends who will let me stay for the night. I can handle myself.
"Hey."
Because if she thinks I'm going to stay at her place just because I don't have anywhere else to go, she's sadly mistaken.
"Hi."
I don't need her.
I listened to the door close after me with that familiar click, before taking off my shoes, and walking to the living room I know all-too-well.
The couch had already been laid out perfectly. I smirked.
I don't need Heartfilia.
"You knew I was going to be back."
I don't need her.
"Yeah."
But, after an hour, I somehow ended up going back to her. Why? I don't know. I didn't even go to any of my friends. Or what I thought were friends. I just took a stroll down the street, sat down on a bench, and went to a coffee shop that's opened 24/7 to get us some coffee.
"You can wear these." She said, throwing me a pair of black sweatpants and a blue t-shirt. Damn, that shit looks comfortable.
"Is this yours?" I asked, eyeing the items. The t-shirt looked too big for her, and the sweatpants were a boy model.
"The t-shirt's mine, but the sweatpants are my cousin's. He drops by every now and then, and he left these here last time he visited." She said, sitting down on the floor, and taking out her laptop.
"Why the fuck do you have a t-shirt like this? It's just my size!"
"I like wearing bigger t-shirts. I don't know why. They're so comfortable." She was typing something while talking to me, but I couldn't see what because of the distance.
I went to the bathroom to change my clothes, and damn was I surprised when I came back.
Food. Tons of it. It was all spread out on the coffee table next to the couch, and Lucy was sitting on the couch, her laptop still in her hands.
"You looked like a guy who could use some midnight snacks." She laughed, before typing something.
"I got you coffee." I blurted out, watching her eye me in confusion.
"What kind of poison did you put in it?"
I stifled a laugh, and just rolled my eyes, before giving her the coffee, and taking mine. I sat down next to her, so I could have a good view of her laptop screen. Oh. She was chatting with Gray. Cool.
…
"WHAT!?" I almost choked on my coffee, watching her stare at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't you 'what's wrong' me! Why are you talking with Gray?"
"He asked me for my phone number." She said calmly.
"WHAT!? WHY!?"
"He wanted to talk to you, idiot." She rolled her eyes, and her phone suddenly started ringing. I recognized Gray's number and picked up immediately.
"Hey there Lucy."
"It's me dimwit."
"Oh. I wanted to talk to you, but apparently you're 'not available'."
"I kind of broke my phone." I ignored the stares I got from Lucy, and listened to what Gray had to say.
"Okay? But the thing is… CINDY? THE FUCK!? YOUR MOM FUCKING CALLED ME."
"OH SHIT!"
"I KNOW RIGHT!? I mean, I was just getting ready for bed, and she was like, 'You have a wonderful cousin'. She thanked me for letting you stay until Tuesday. FUCKING TUESDAY. I don't remember agreeing to shit!"
"Look man, a lot of shit happened. Long story short: I'm at Heartfilia's, and my mom thinks I'll be staying at your place until Tuesday."
"…"
"Gray?"
"…"
"Bro?"
"YOU'LL BE STAYING AT LUCY'S!? WHAT!? WHY!? THE FUCK!?"
"I told you, it's a long story."
"Okay bro, but I want all the details when you get a hold of a computer or something. ALL the details. From the first hug, to the first kiss, to the first—"
"EW GRAY STOP!"
"Nah, I'm just kidding. I'm going to go now, my cousin Cindy is hungry."
"Ha ha very funny." I rolled my eyes, before pressing 'End Call', and giving the phone back to Lucy, who was apparently still chatting with someone.
I glanced at the screen, and noticed it was someone by the name of 'Laxus'. Who the fuck is this guy? I don't give a fuck about what she thinks of me watching her chat, so I just read the conversation.
Laxus: So, you're free this Saturday?
Lucy: Sure.
Laxus: Damn, it's gonna be good. Remember, the party's at 8.
Lucy: I know ;) can't wait!
Laxus: What about that thing?
Lucy: Oh, we can go tomorrow after school.
Laxus: What time do u finish
Lucy: 6:30PM.
Laxus: I'll pick u up in front of the gates
Lucy: ok
Laxus: I'll bring my Ferrari B|
Lucy: lmao
Laxus: jk
Lucy: So, tomorrow after school we go get that thing, and then Saturday at your place?
Laxus: yeah
Lucy: it's gonna be amazing
Laxus: I know
Lucy: I should wear something pretty
Laxus: yeah
Lucy: Okay I need to go, this idiot is staring at my screen
Laxus: You have a guy at your place at 3AM?
Lucy: relative
Laxus: oh. Need me to beat him up?
Lucy: nah
Laxus: kk bye then
Lucy: bye bye
She logged out, before giving me the laptop. "I'm going to go to bed, you can use it if you want."
I didn't say anything. I watched her finish her coffee, before she stretched and picked up her phone, sliding it into her pocket. She was already walking up the stairs, when I mumbled
"Who was that?"
The way she abruptly stopped moving signalized that she had heard me. Fuck.
"A friend." She said simply, still not moving an inch, as if she was waiting for my reply.
"Why did he talk to you like that?"
"Like what?"
"Where are you going tomorrow?"
"To buy something."
"Saturday?"
"Party."
"You're going with him?"
"Yes."
"At his place?"
"Yes."
"is he your boyfriend?"
"No."
"You're lying."
"He's not!"
"You're fucking lying!"
"Why would I lie!?"
"Is he your fucking boyfriend or not!?"
"Damn it Dragneel! Why do you care!?" She yelled, before slamming the door of her room.
She was right.
Why do I care?
I don't.
A/N: Oh Natsu... tsk tsk...
So I updated in 4 days, just like I said, because of ALL THE LOVELY REVIEWS!
As I said last time, the more reviews I get the faster I'll update. Speed of light style.
Also, school is canceled due to teachers wanting bigger payment and stuff, and now I've got two more weeks off from school! WOOO!
Thanks for reading, don't forget to review! I love you guys! Next chapter will probably be in 4 to 5 days as well, according to the reviews.
~ With Keys, Through Flames! Aye! ~
End of Chapter 4.