After Natsu walked away, I walked into my apartment struggling in vain to suppress the fluttery feelings in my chest. I couldn't help but laugh as I went to my bathroom. I had never felt so incredibly happy. Smiling uncontrollably, I fixed my hair and reapplied my makeup, fixing some that was smudged. Afterward I decided to rewrite the letter to my mom and read until I had to go to Vermillion's.

As soon as my pencil touched the paper, it seemed the paper filled itself up in a matter of seconds. I wrote all about how great Natsu was and how happy I was and how much mom would have liked him. I wrote about watching the clouds, touring Magnolia, my attempt to stop him from buying my ice cream for me and my epic failure as well. I wrote about how for once, I was excited for school, not dreading it because for once, it seemed I had real friends who weren't jerks and who didn't care only for their material objects and their mountains of money.

I ended up filling both the front side of the page and the back, and by the time I was done I only had an hour to eat and read before I had to get to work. I put it in an envelope, sealed it and plopped it in the drawer with the other one I'd written.

Once I was done with that I went and made myself some mac and cheese for dinner and grabbed my book, telling myself I'd read at least two chapters before I left. Being the book worm I was, I managed to read quickly while eating and not make a huge mess. By the time I had read two chapters, it was 5:45, which meant I should get to work.

I placed my bowl in the sink and left my book on the table before leaving the house and going to Vermillion's Bar and Grill. When I arrived there, Mirajane was wiping down a few tables. She smiled at me and I walked in and said, "Hi there Lucy! You can go ahead and go behind the bar; I'm assuming you can handle bartending?"

I nodded and did as she said. She gave a couple sitting at one of the tables their food and then came over to me.

"You sure look happy." Mira noted, smiling knowingly. "You also look pretty out of it. So, who's the lucky guy that you've fallen for, eh? Tell me all about him."

With a sigh, I leaned back against the countertop of the bar and said in an awe-struck voice, "Oh Mira, he's wonderful. He's kind and funny, and childish but that's what makes him so perfect. This morning he broke into my apartment, because for whatever reason it's too difficult for him to use the door. Anyways, he took me to the park and we looked at the shapes of clouds, and then he showed me around Magnolia and bought me ice cream and he was so kind. I never got bored for a second but never got upset or angry either."

She smiled and said, "He sure sounds amazing. From your description, I have to say I'm a bit jealous. Who is this dream guy?"

"Natsu Dragneel," I murmured, imagining his bright grin and his fond chuckle.

Mirajane raised an eyebrow at me and said, "You don't say? Natsu Dragneel? I never knew him to be a charmer. He must really like you if he did all that with you and for you, Lucy."

"Really?" my voice probably sounded way too hopeful, but I didn't care.

She nodded and said, "If I'm not mistaken he's probably fallen for you. I know he and my little sister Lisanna have been best friends forever and he's never once done anything like that with her. Sure, they hang out and go places, but never that much in one day. And he bought you ice cream? Normally he tries to mooch off of everyone else."

I couldn't stop my smile from growing wider, and she smiled too. We heard a jingle at the door and a boy walked in. He had black hair and red eyes and didn't smile as he walked over to the bar and sat on a stool. Mira and I both stopped smiling and looked at him curiously. He seemed to make the temperature in the room drop.

"How may I help you? Would you like a drink or a menu?" I asked him in a nervous voice.

He shot me a cold stare and said, "You're Lucy Heartfilia, correct? Erza's new friend, just moved here? A little birdie told me you were hanging out with Natsu all morning. Am I mistaken?"

I swallowed and said, "N-no, you're not mistaken."

The boy merely nodded and said, "I'd like a bottle of beer please. There's no particular brand or type I care for. Just surprise me."

Mirajane and I shared a look before I picked out a bottle of beer from behind the bar, popped the cap off and handed it to the boy. He swirled the liquid around for a little bit before taking a long swig. He then looked at me, his gaze cold and piercing as though he was looking straight into my soul and freezing it and said, "You might want to start watching your back, Miss Heartfilia. There are a lot of people after Natsu. After all, he's attractive and the quarterback of Fairy Tail High's football team. If they find out you and Natsu have been hanging out…"

He flicked the bottle cap that was lying on the bar and I flinched to one side, but it still nicked my cheek and I could feel a little blood drizzle out of the tiny cut. He shrugged and say, "But hey, it's your life, and if you want to hang out with him, that's your decision. Just don't say that I didn't warn you."

After a while of cold, disturbing silence, he slid off of his stool, slapped some money down on the bar and said, "If you don't mind I think I'll take the rest of this to go. Watch your back, Heartfilia." The last sentence came out as a sneer and he snatched up the bottle of beer and left.

"Do you know who that was?" I asked nervously, looking at Mirajane, who was paler than ever.

"I believe his name is R-Rogue," she said simply, her words shaky and uneven. "I-I'm going to check on that couple. T-they're probably about r-ready to p-pay."

I watched as she jumped up in a jittery manner and hurried over to the couple, asking them if they needed anything or wanted dessert, and then offering to bring their check. I, meanwhile, took Rogue's money and made sure he'd paid the correct amount before putting it in the cash register.

Rogue… I thought where have I heard the name Rogue before? It was definitely someone Erza told me about, but whom?

The thought bugged me all night, and while Mira and I tried to make small talk, it all ended up dying out since we were both too shaken from that occurrence to really start another conversation. A few people came and went at Vermillion's, and I treated a decent number of people to drinks. Eventually around 8:50, Mira said I could go and that she'd close up.

I practically sprinted home, Rogue's warning echoing in my mind. When I got home, I hastily showered and prepared for bed, then curled up under the covers and attempted to fall asleep. However, sleep just couldn't seem to come. Eventually though, I finally managed to fall into a very fitful sleep.

I was walking down the street and I swore I could hear footsteps behind me. Someone was laughing. It was a dark, sinister laugh, which continuously sounded in my ears. The voice would be very low and chilling at some points, and then very high and blood-curdling at other points. It seemed I was walking down a dark alley with no end. I tried to speed up, terror flooding through my veins.

I was speed walking. The footsteps sped up, too. The voice grew louder in my ears. The laughter continued on in the background but now I could hear someone talking. Their voice was cold, and it made my ears feel icy. It felt like they were breathing the words right into my ears, like they were standing directly behind me. Chills ran up and down my spine as they spoke to me, saying words that I'd already heard before.

"Just don't say I didn't warn you."

I tried to run, but my knees locked. My legs wouldn't move. I was stuck. All I could do was pivot, so I turned around to face whoever was chasing me. A faceless girl with dark hair stood before me, wearing a blue dress. She held a pocket knife and looked at it, that blank faceless expression terrifying me.

"You can't run anymore," she sneered. "Even if you run, I don't need to do anything physical to ruin you."

I shuddered at her voice. It had no sound, and yet it had every sound. It was like it was just there, in my mind. I tried to scream, but alas, there was no sound.

She laughed at my pitiful attempts to yell, to get help from someone, anyone.

"NATSU!" finally, finally I could yell, "NATSU! HELP! ERZA! ERZA, PLEASE!"

"NATSU!" the scream tore from my throat, and I sat up in bed, drenched in cold sweat, shaking uncontrollably. My hands fumbled for my phone on my bedside table. When my fingers finally curled around it, I jerked it up and opened Erza's contact. I tried calling her. It rang once… twice… please, Erza, you have to pick up… four, five,

"Lucy…?" a groggy voice sounded, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

"Erza," I whimpered into the phone.

"Lucy, what's wrong? Why are you crying? I'm coming over!" her voice was alert now, and I went to open my mouth but she had hung up on me. The only thing that I could do was stay in bed and shiver, glad now that I had left the door unlocked and wouldn't have to get up to answer it when she came.

It felt like an eternity before I finally heard the door open and shut and footsteps walking quickly to my room. I looked in the doorway and saw the redhead standing there, wearing normal clothes, and all I could think was, Wow, she can change fast.

She came over to me and set down next to me, pulling me into a hug. She rested her chin on my head and gently ran her fingers through my hair. "Mavis, Lucy," she murmured softly, "You had me worried sick. What happened?"

"N-n-n-nightmare," I stuttered, clinging to her pathetically. She frowned.

"Are you okay to explain?" she asked in a gentle tone that helped lessen my shivering and calm me down.

"Y-yeah," I said. "When I was working t-tonight, a boy came in a-and warned me. H-he told me that I should b-be careful about h-hanging out with N-Natsu so much because s-so many people l-like Natsu and might t-try to hurt me. A-at my old schools, I got b-bullied quite a bit. I-in my n-nightmare, I heard his w-warning. A girl with n-no face took out a pocket knife a-and I couldn't run. I t-tried screaming for you or N-Natsu but nothing came out. S-she said to me, 'You can't run anymore. Even if you run, I don't need to do anything physical to ruin you.' I-I woke up a-after that."

She was perfectly still, holding me in a tight but calming embrace. "Lucy," she said in a deadly calm tone of voice, "the boy who came in, do you know his name?"

"R-Rogue," I said, sniffling. I felt her tense.

"Damn," she muttered, "Shit! I was so sure this wouldn't happen. Mavis, Lucy I'm so sorry I let this happen. I am so sorry. Don't cry, Lucy. Please stop crying for me. I promise you, as long as I'm around no one will touch you. I refuse to let you get hurt. Don't be scared."

I nodded as she spoke, and then said softly, "I think I'm okay now. Thanks, Erza. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come. Also, please don't go apologizing on me. You have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I should be sorry for waking you up this late. You're the best friend I could ask for."

She let me go from the hug and smiled at me. "I didn't mind being woken up. I would've felt even worse if you had struggled through this on your own, and would've ended up blaming myself for not helping you in your time of need. Do you want me to go now, or should I stay? I don't feel comfortable leaving you if you're still afraid."

I was going to tell her that yes, she could leave, but when I opened my mouth that's not what came out. "Actually, could you stay with me? I don't want to be alone tonight."

She nodded and I scooted over, patting the part of the bed next to me, indicating that she could lie down there. She gave me a small, slightly sad smile and slid under the covers beside me before we both fell asleep.

One and a Half Weeks Later

My alarm clock blared in my ear and I groaned, rolling over and slamming my hand down on it. I almost fell back to sleep when it occurred to me that today was going to be my first day at Fairy Tail High. I bolted out of bed and ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do my hair and makeup. After that I hurried and changed into my outfit that I already had laid out, a blue and white tank top with a blue skirt, a blue hair tie, a brown belt with my keys on it (zodiac keys which I collected) and brown knee-high boots.

When I was done doing that, I grabbed my brown shoulder bag which had my school materials in it and got a cup of orange juice and a couple pieces of toast. Erza was going to meet me outside of my apartment at 7:30 and we were going to walk to school together, which started at 8, but since I had to get my schedule and find my classrooms and everything we wanted to get there early.

Since that Wednesday that I met Rogue, nothing really bad had happened. Erza and I hung out more and she explained to me that Rogue was one of Minerva's dogs, so to speak. I continued to hang out with Natsu, but I decided not to worry him with my problems and tell him about Rogue. I decided that as long as they didn't give me anymore trouble, I didn't need to tell him about it.

I finished eating breakfast and went to wash the dishes while waiting for Erza. As soon as I finished, there was a knock at the door, and sure enough it was Erza.

She smiled and said, "Sorry I'm a little early, but since you're going to have no idea where to go I thought the earlier, the better!"

I laughed and nodded in agreement. "You actually made perfect timing, I just finished getting around."

The two of us left and I locked my door before we headed off to the school. I felt like a lost fawn, shuffling as close to Erza as I could get as we made our way through the crowd of people. It was a big school, and a lot of people came around the same time we did. After what felt like a lifetime of pushing through groups of people, we finally made it to the main office.

A little old man with white hair stood atop the desk, grinning. "You must be Lucy Heartfilia!" he said to me. "I'm Principal Makarov. Sorry we couldn't get you your schedule a week ago with everyone else's. After all, your application and tuition came with such short notice. I see you've met Miss Erza Scarlet, a good friend to have; she's your class's president and president of the entire student council."

I smiled and said, "Don't worry about the schedule thing; I'm used to transferring so I should be able to adapt quickly." He grinned brightly and handed me my schedule. "Thank you, sir!"

As we walked out I heard him call after me, telling me that I didn't have to be so formal and that I could just call him Principal or Makarov. I looked at my schedule and Erza glanced at it over my shoulder. She smiled and said, "There's Principal Makarov for you. I have the exact same schedule, except you have a study hall eighth period and I have student council."

We walked to our homeroom class together and took seats next to one another. I looked around curiously. There was a girl with short white hair sitting in front of me. She turned around as we came in and said, "Hey, are you Lucy?" I nodded and she said, "Awesome! I'm Lisanna. Mirajane and Natsu have told me so much about you! To be honest, I think Natsu has a crush on you. I've been so excited to meet, you, though!"

I grinned and said, "It's nice to meet you too Lisanna! And I wouldn't be so quick to say he has a crush on me; honestly I don't even know if he realizes what crushes are." Erza, Lisanna, and I all started laughing because it was the truth.

Natsu came in and sat behind me, and we all got into a conversation about the summer and such. I was suddenly aware of a cold feeling, and I turned around to see a girl standing behind me. She wore a blue strapless top that her boobs were practically spilling out of and a little gray skirt that hardly covered her butt. She had dark hair and narrowed, malicious eyes. She wore too much make-up and had a sly smirk on her face.

"Are you… Lucy Heartfilia? May I speak to you in the hall, please?"

I looked at my friends, engrossed in conversation, and nodded, feeling confused. The two of us walked out to the hall and she popped one hip out and crossed her arms, smiling as she eyed me up and down. She murmured, "Lucy Heartfilia, I hear you come from a very rich background and yet you struggle to get by because daddy won't provide you with money."

My eyes widened and I whispered, "What? How… how do you know that?"

"Your mommy died when you were little, didn't she? Layla Heartfilia, was that her name? And all your life you transferred from expensive private school to expensive private school to avoid bullies. No wonder they came after you, you slut." She smirked, and I knew it was probably because I gave her the exact reaction she wanted. I stepped back, feeling fear rise in me. This couldn't happen, not again.

"Well, silly me, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Minerva. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. Unfortunately we only have so much longer to talk… so I'll tell you what I came here to tell you. Natsu Dragneel is mine. He's the hottest boy at this school and I, fittingly, am the most beautiful girl. Stay away from him and I'll treat you like a best friend. Though, honestly, a whore like you would never stay away from a boy like him. And if you don't stay away… I'll destroy you."

She smiled and waved before sauntering off down the hall. I stared in shock after her before slowly walking back into the classroom and slipping into my seat. Erza gave me a weird look, but I shook my head and waved her off.

She turned away, but I could see her peering at me. The bell rang in one minute, and just before it did a girl with blue hair came rushing in. Her arms were full of books; she had at least five clutched to her chest. She flopped down in a seat next to me and grinned. "Hi," she said breathlessly, "I'm Levy. Whew, I barely made it. I just had to stop at the library before I came here."

I looked at her with a smile and said, "I'm Lucy. Do you like reading too?"

"Love it!" she said with a bright smile on her face, "It's practically my life. I've read just about every good book there is to read!"

"Same," I said, laughing. She smiled.

"I'd love to get to know you better. You wanna sit with me at lunch?"

I nodded and then the bell rang. Our teacher walked in, a short girl with blue hair and large brown eyes. She looked like… a little kid.

"Um, hello class, you can all call me Wendy-sensei. If you don't want to add sensei to the end, you don't have to. I'm going to pass out your hall passes for this month and then you guys will have some free time before first period."

She walked around, passing out little slips of paper that read HALL PASS at the top. When she was done, everyone broke out into conversations. Natsu leaned over to me and said, "Hey Luce, what do you have first period?"

I averted my gaze and mumbled, "Health."

He grinned and said, "That's awesome, so do I!"

I smiled a little but then saw a boy with blond hair and blue eyes glaring at me from the back of the classroom and my smile fell. He took my schedule and looked at it, then said something about being partners in chemistry. I nodded but didn't say anything and couldn't bring myself to smile at all.

Natsu's eyebrows furrowed and he said, "What's wrong, Luce?" I didn't say anything and he said in a serious voice, "Lucy."

"Nothing," I said, jolting up and giving him a cold look. "Nothing's wrong, okay? I'm just tired."

He stared at me, hurt filling his facial expression and went to say something else, but then the bell rang again and I stood up abruptly and turned away from him, following Erza out of the classroom before he could ask me anything else.

A/N Oh no Minerva aaaaahhhh so scaree! Gosh what a stalker, just happens to know everything about Lucy lmao.

Ok here it is everyoneeee~

To my reviewers- I time skipped for ya. And also I thought I'd mix it up; Minerva gave Lucy quite a beating in the GMG so I thought she would make a MUCH better bully than Lisanna, who personally I believe is supportive of NaLu and way too sweet to bully anybody. Plus this adds a little twist to it!

Thank you all for your support, I'm glad you like it so far!

Until next time!