Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail. Not I.
Novels and Jests
Lucy sat with books spread all around her. The calm of the library made her feel at home as she read through her favorite tomes. Quiet chatter drifted in and out of the aisles of bookshelves around her, soft enough to not distract her. Lucy's face was set in a tense way; her mouth pulled into a frown, and her brow creased shadowing her eyes. She was running through forests with knights and dragons, just like the ones her mom told her about when she was younger. A sudden outburst tore her from her magical kingdom and back into reality.
"The game was awesome! We handed their asses to them on silver platters!" Lucy groaned, remembering she was in her high school's library and that loud jocks could just walk in whenever they felt like it. The weight of Tuesday crashed down on her and she suddenly felt tired. As she began to pack up her belongings and put the books away, Lucy sighed to herself. She couldn't help that wherever she went, a certain loud jock seemed to pop up out of nowhere.
Natsu Dragonil was the best wide receiver in his division, and he knew it. The school absolutely adored everything he did, and it revolved around him. The quarter back Elfman was too down to earth to let himself be the center of attention, so he gave all the credit to Natsu. Natsu kept him close in his circle of friends- speaking of which, one of Natsu's best friends (if you could call him that) was Gray Fullbuster. He was an awesome line backer, and together with Natsu and Elfman, the football team was unbeatable. But, enough about that...
"How many more games til the playoffs?" Natsu's grin widened.
"Only a couple. Man, I'm so-" Lucy had walked past the group of, in her opinion, rather loud classmates. She smiled softly at Natsu, who had stopped dead in his tracks. It wasn't like she was mean to him just because he was loud. She normally did her best to ignore him. Her smile quickly disappeared as she sped towards her car, wanting to go home and read in peace.
"Natsu?" Lucy had turned around to see what was going on, but her vision was blocked by the said star football player. Natsu stood much taller than Lucy, and he was way too close for her comfort.
"What's your name?" Natsu asked, as if in a rush. Lucy arched an eyebrow, daring a mocking smile.
"Guess." Lucy laughed softly.
"Whatever- are you coming to the game?" His question made her think for second.
"When is it?" His eyes smiled as he answered and she was honestly surprised by his earnest behavior.
"This Friday." Lucy shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other.
"I'll make you a deal." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could do anything else.
"Hm?"
"If you guess my name, I'll come. Though why is beyond me, I'll come. You have to figure out on your own, no help, no yearbooks. Deal?" She held out her hand, and Natsu stared at it. His eyes smiled even brighter.
"Hell yeah, and I'll be seeing you at the game." His cockiness didn't come off as arrogant, as Lucy thought it would. It made her smile that he was so sincere. Lucy found her way back to her car and leaned into her seat behind the wheel. She let out a breath and started up her car.
Within minutes she was home, and humming softly to herself. Lucy found she felt preoccupied and busy. She shook it off and sat down with her book. In seconds, she was fighting dragons and saving princesses.
The next day found Lucy in science, sitting next to Juvia and Erza. Juvia was captain of the swim team and going out with Gray. It seemed that was all she was capable of talking about. (But that was okay, because, from what Lucy heard, Gray spoke the same way about her.) Lucy met Juvia when they were freshmen. Erza on the other hand had known Lucy since they were little kids. Erza was the martial arts captain and she loved it. Erza and Lucy were pretty close so they told each other most of their secrets- seeing how Lucy was the only one who knew about Erza and Gerard. (Erza begged Lucy to be quiet about it for a month before school started.)
Gerard was the quarter back for a neighboring school's football team. Their team was pretty damn good, too. Aparently, Erza had known Gerard in kindergarten, and just recently they had reunited. Lucy hadn't met Gerard yet, but if she had to guess, he'd have to be pretty decent for Erza to go out with him. So, she just left it at that.
Juvia suddenly turned to Lucy.
"So, I heard you've got a bet going with Natsu." Lucy turned to her and smiled.
"Yup. Gray told you?" Juvia nodded.
"He can't keep a secret." She giggled and now Erza edged closer to Lucy.
"So, we can't call you by your name in case Natsu hears?" Lucy rested her cheek on her fist.
"If you must." The other two rolled their eyes and went back to their chemical lab. By the end of the hour, all three had finished their work, and were chattering quietly between themselves.
Lucy's day went by pretty quickly as she ambled from science to english. She suddenly felt a presence beside her. She looked up and smiled at Natsu.
"How goes it?" Natsu grinned and stretched an arm behind his head.
"It goes... Mary?" Lucy giggled and shook her head. Natsu walked in front of her and continued walking backwards.
"Anne?" Lucy said no.
"Teresa?" Lucy gave him a look that clearly said no.
"Laura?" She laughed.
"Grace?"
"Nope."
"Elizabeth?"
"Nada."
"Gertrude??" Lucy's laugh only resounded, louder this time
"No way!"
"Emilia?"
"NO."
"Kaitlyn?"
"Nah."
"Abby?"
"Do I look like an Abby?" Natsu halted and his face stopped mere inches from Lucy's own- his eyes inspecting nearly every centimeter of her face.
"Why no. No you don't."
"Then what, praytell, do I look like?" Lucy couldn't help smiling brightly at this new game.
"Naomi."
"Dude, you were closer with Gertrude."
"Really?!"
"No. Keep guessing."
"Julia."
"Nu-uh." Lucy found she liked talking with him, as loud as he was.
"You won't tell me your name, will you?" Lucy politely declined.
"A deal's a deal. Besides, why do you-" Before she could finish her question, the bell rang, signifying the beginning of class. Lucy nearly jumped out of her skin.
"God, I'm never late! Bye Natsu!" She skittered off around the corner and into the first door on the right, a.k.a. english. Thankfully, they had to a substitute today. With haste, she voomed to her seat and sat down before the sub could get organized enough to call roll. If there was one thing Lucy couldn't stand it was being late. She absolutely hated that feeling.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful and Lucy felt herself relaxing slowly after the final bell rang that day. She said good bye to her friends and made sure she had everything before she walked outside to her car. She set down everything she had on the hood of her car while she rummaged through her purse for her keys. Finding them, she looked up and immediately saw Natsu leaning with his elbows propped up against her car.
"May?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"June?" Lucy rubbed a temple.
"If it helps you at all, I'm not a month."
"Dammit!" Natsu exclaimation was one of mock exasperation. Lucy cracked a smile and grabbed her bags.
"You know I could do this all night, baby?" Natsu asked, completely serious. Lucy's laugh was loud and guttural.
"That's what he said." Natsu's, now famous, smile graced his face.
"I like you." Lucy looked at him, her head cocked to the side, her face stuck between confusion and happiness.
"I guess I like you, too. You're not so bad, even if you are really loud." Natsu feigned an arrow through the heart.
"You've shot me down!" He spun around, in a strangely whimsically way.
"See you later, Natsu." Lucy opened her car door, shoved her belongings in the back seat, and put the key in the ignition. She started the car, and rolled down the passenger window to look at Natsu.
"See you tomorrow... Virginia?" Lucy hit the gas and drove home, smiling to herself.
A/N- Oh my god, there's a second part coming up! (I didn't think I had it in me) Hahaha, gimme feedback, and I'll give you new chapters ^_^ Thanks for all the kind reviews, lovelies.
