Chapter 3

Lucy stood in front of the mirror with a scrunched up face and two tiny hands wrapped around her stomach. She poked her stomach. Why did it look so much bigger? She wasn't eating more than usual. But for some reason she had gained a good three pounds. Was that healthy?

She side stepped out of the mirror and into the shower.

XxXx

Natsu looked at the text and grumbled.

*just ask her out already*

Gray was so not helping.

How was he supposed to tell his best friend that he had a major crush on her? And every time she laughed her eyes lit up and his heart stopped for a split second? And that her smile could make anything feel better? And that when she scrunched up her nose when she concentrated his heart melted? How was he supposed to say all that?

Natsu fell back into his bed with a frustrated sigh. His phone buzzed.

*Come on man everyone knows you two are close already. I doubt she'll turn you down*

But that was the thing wasn't it? How could she turn him down? Well for starters they were best friends, and maybe she wanted things to stay that way. Which was fine by him, he loved being her best friend, but his heart still constricted at the thought. It also didn't help things that she was way out of his league. She was so damn smart and always positive despite her situation. She could put any mind at ease and she always thought of others before herself. She was smart and hardworking and so fricken talented. She could get any guy she wanted, so why would she choose him? She wouldn't. That was the answer.

So what was Natsu supposed to do? Secretly drool over his best friend? He couldn't do that. It would be unfair to her.

He flipped to his side in his bed. His head hurt and he was too tired to think about this anyway. Within a few minutes he was asleep.

XxXx

Lucy lay awake wondering why in the world she wasn't getting any sleep. She had only had a cup of coffee today after the incident two days ago. But for some reason she wasn't even tired. She turned to the bright flashing clock that sat on her bedside table. It was 3:30. She wasn't going to get any rest was she? So she ran through the next day in her head. She had a test in one of her AP classes and a quiz in another class, her semester long group project in her other AP class was going fairly well and her chemistry lab was due in a day. She seemed pretty on top of things, at least in her mind. She flipped to the other side hoping to get more comfortable. She thought more about events in her life. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. She was in Student government and they were planing homecoming at the time. Everything for the dance was going well. In fact her life seemed pretty much in order. She smiled happily under the covers.

XxXx

The next morning as Lucy got into the car Natsu couldn't help but notice how sluggish her movements were. She'd been so tired lately and, he didn't want to admit it, but he was concerned. They drove to school and chatted as usual about what they had coming up. Natsu assures Lucy that she would to great on her test.

"Come on Luce day it back to me. I will do great on my test," he smiled over at her.

"I will do something on my test," she scoffed.

"Awww come on Luce I know you're gonna do amazing!"

"Yeah yeah yeah Natsu I heard you," she could help but giggle.

They pulled into the school parking lot and Natsu rushed over to open the door for her. "M'lady," he gestured with his hand.

Lucy couldn't help but giggle. "You are such a dork."

"Hey," Natsu feigned hurt, "you're the one who decided to be best friends with this dork." He smiled triumphantly.

"Sadly," Lucy said as she held back a laugh.

Natsu flicked her forehead and stuck out his tongue saying she was the meanest best friend ever. Lucy could only laugh as they both fell in step towards the school.

When they arrived Natsu gave Lucy a small hug saying he'd see her after school. Lucy returned the hug and his heart swelled. He was pathetic.

He made his way to his first period class wondering how the heck he ended up with a best friend like her. He walked into the classroom and plopped down at a desk. Some random annoying girl next to him asked him how his day was. He said he was doing fine, no need to be rude. But when she continued asking stupid annoying questions he told her he was tired, and she shut up.

The class happened to be incredibly boring. He wanted to text Lucy so badly but she was in a test and he didn't want to get her in trouble. So he waited it out. The teacher was rambling about something he couldn't even really understand. His heart practically rejoiced when the bell rang. He met up with Lucy and walked her to her next class.

"How was the test?" He looked down at his best friend and smiled.

"Eh it was ok," she let out a large yawn but quickly muffled it with her sweatshirt sleeve. "The short answer was pretty easy so I think I did well on that one." She looked up at him through tired eyes. He couldn't help a blush from rising to his cheeks. Why did she have to be so damn cute?!

"That's-uh- good Luce! I knew you would do great!" His voice was a little wobbly as he tried to conceal his blush.

"Now I have to go finish a stupid chem lab," she grumbled, "have fun in swimming!" She cheered as she headed off.

Ugh swimming. He hated swim class with everything in him. They were required to take it before they graduated at his school. He didn't know why.

As he stepped into the locker rooms he heard the boys playing smash or pass farther in the back. Gross.

He went back to his locker and began changing. He was interrupted; however, by something that made his blood boil.

"Lucy Heartfillia," one of the boys said, "smash or pass?"

Natsu face turned purple, but he knew he couldn't do anything. He couldn't get in trouble over something so trivial.

"Smash"

"Smash"

"Smash"

"I'd smash those big titties so fucking hard."

Natsu lost it. He marched over to the boys with balled up fists and a clenched jaw.

"What'd you fuckers say?" He growled.

"How about you Natsu? Smash or pass?" One boy teased.

"I bet he's already smashed her. They're around each other almost every single second of every day." Another jeered.

Natsu threw a punch without warning clocking the guy next to him in the face. "I swear to god don't ever talk about her with so little respect ever again," venom practically dripped from his words.

The boys around him looked terrified. "C'mon man it was just a joke! We wouldn't actually fuck your girlfriend!"

Natsu glared daggers at the boy. "You keep your filthy hands the fuck away from her," and with that he stormed out of the locker room.

XxXxXx

I hope you all enjoyed it! Anyone else have to take a swim class to graduate because I do but I live in a land locked state...Thank you for reading beautiful people!