I'm so sooooorrrry for the super late update! but seriously, i just can't bring myself to finish it, i find it hard to write or is it just me who's currently stuck, i don't know but here at last! the fourth chapter! for the next chapter i'm planning to write from Natsu point of view again so maybe you wouldn't think of him that badly, trust me he's just complicated:) So, i hope you enjoy this chapter! thank you in advance!
My skin was soaked in the afternoon sun as I watched the face of Loki. His long legs were like sticks below his short, and his hair is flopping with sweat. "Just try and catch up with me," he taunted, his bangs bouncing with each step.
"You know I'm better than you," I shot back, grinning. This might be just a routine practice on a Friday afternoon, but it was always a lot more than that when I was doing it with Loki. Loki used to be better than me and he didn't even try. But remember, used to. Now I'm better because I worked my asses off over the past two years. He was still better at some point but as far as my senior year goes, I mostly beaten Loki in every single race.
I'm just that good.
Loki quicken his pace and I catch up to him in seconds, loving the sensation of running every afternoon, mostly to forget about all the baggage in my life. If I keep my body moving and my mind occupied at all times, I can avoid falling into a bottomless pit of despair.
Then when I'm grinning at Loki's back, knowing I could catch him and beat him, I saw Natsu stretching across the field. He looks so good it's almost impossible.
How come someone is allowed to look that good?
My eyes could never leave his figure. He wore the blue jersey I saw yesterday and god, it took everything inside of me to not trip over the rubberized track field. Natsu swung around and his gaze land perfectly on me. I realized that I had been staring at him in a creepy way because he narrowed his eyes at me before he turned away and ran off towards Gray.
Okay, Lucy. Move. Move your head and turn around. Stop staring at him.
"Whoa, you almost had me!" That made me turn towards Loki again, finally.
I let out a fake wicked grin. "Almost."
"You never let me win. What was up with you today?" Loki eyes full with amusement.
I scoffed. As if I were going to tell him that I'd let Natsu distract me. Ha! No way! It was totally embarrassing. So, I shrugged, "I felt bad for you. I want you to at least win once in a while. Consider it a gift while I'm being kind."
Loki snorted. "Yeah, right. You never show any mercy when it comes to running, why now?"
"It's not like it's a bad thing to do,"
"I didn't say it was a bad thing."
I ignore him and broke into a jog, running towards the sidelines as Loki follow my lead. I hung my face low. The tension in my relationship between Natsu is beyond bearable this week, and I had to run, I had to, faster, stronger, letting out all the frustration inside. Because if you think that my first real conversation between Natsu after the tormenting three years of not talking wasn't bad enough, you have to know about the second one, it's a disaster. It's like every time we're in a conversation, everything is going downhill, like an avalanche and we have no power on stopping it.
What was I thinking, storming into his house asking for my notes back? I could've wait for it, he'll give it back to me eventually anyway. Now he probably thinks I'm some weirdo for coming into his house after a disastrous accident on yesterday soccer practice. Not to mention I was still very frustrated that the guy with a pink hair, whom I hated the most, had dumped my stuff —actually dumped—my notes on my desk that for a second it actually leave me speechless, not to mention the intimidating stare he's been given me.
"Where are you going Luceeeeeeh," Loki wailed behind me.
I ignored him. I decided I need to take a shower, I've already done a good run, but as I was walking I spotted Levy and Juvia sitting contently on the sidelines of the soccer field, legs crossed in front of their chest, hands secure around it warmly. Might as well talk to them, probably they will considerably lighten up my cloudy mood since Loki was doing a lousy job on it. As I head towards them with Loki hot on my trails, Gray asked Natsu if he wanted to be the captain of the other team. Natsu carelessly nod as I joined both of my friends.
"I didn't know you guys were staying late for today," I said as they gave me a welcoming smile, I snatched the water bottle from Levy's bag and took a big gulp.
"Yeah, I need to watch the practice so I can write it down for the school paper," answered Levy as she positioned her glasses and then scribble down some notes.
I raised my eyebrow at Juvia, waiting for her answer, though I know exactly what she's going to say. "Juvia just can't get enough of Gray-sama! Beside it's a sign of betrayal if Juvia miss his practice."
"You need to wake up, you delusional woman," Loki snorted as I jabbed my elbow to his ribs, earning a cringing sound from him. I grinned.
"Don't worry, he's an idiot" I smiled.
I crossed my legs and wrapped it with my hand and let out a big sigh, exhaling a humid afternoon air that mixed with moist grass and honeysuckle—which probably the best smell in the whole world—I watched Gray stretching out his limbs, his back to us, then he start twisting his body around until he acknowledged our little group. Gray has a nasty look on his face, but then the look changes and then when his gaze landed on me, he smiles widely, slightly evil smile at me.
"Yo, Natsu!" in a second he twirled around and called out for Natsu.
My heart suddenly thumped dangerously.
Devil Gray is back and I think he's going to cost me an unfortunate situation.
"Want to play soccer strip? You know we haven't done it in a long time, beside today is hot as fuck," Gray pinch his jersey collar and pull it, moving it around as if it would be able to ease the humidity.
Natsu smirked. "Thought you never asked," in an instant Natsu reached up over his head and pulled his jersey up, yanking it away over his head. Exposing his muscular stomach and the waistband of his boxer overlapping with his short. I quickly sucked in an air and gulped down whatever I was holding on my throat. Though I already catch a glimpse of his body yesterday, I tried not to look and forced my gaze to stay on his face, but now… Wow. Trust me, I tried not to look, but I don't know where to look, so I settle for him. Hey, it wasn't my fault that he have such a nice body!
When Gray done getting out of his clothes, I glanced at Juvia. She can't barely contain her excitement. I mean this is probably why she always out here in the field loyally watching this stupid boy plays soccer.
Anyway, back to Natsu. I have to admit, when he takes his shirt off, it kinda takes my breath away. Just for a second. Because I know I shouldn't feel that way towards someone I hate.
But, Mavis! What a great chest he has!
Then he shot Gray a wide childish, crooked smile, which kind of cute. Well, not really. Since he's my enemy, the enemy, and an enemy cannot be possibly cute. He was only cute enough to make me want to run over and jumped on him and licked his tanned chest, or maybe even fixed my hair so that when he looked at me, I didn't look as shitty as I normally would. No. I mean he's annoying enough that makes me want to punch him in the face and then run.
The rest of the team took off their jersey too.
The team starts running, doing some warm-up drills and I sucked in a sharp breath when Natsu smile as he passes the ball to Elfman. He wore cleats and white shorts with two blue stripes on either side. And that was all, nothing else. My eyes fastened on his bulging abs, which glistened with sweat, while he wipes his forehead with his upper arm. If what he's doing doesn't triggers you to fantasy about him with a slight naughtiness and wild element to it, you are crazy. Seriously, if you think hot doesn't describe him, then I don't know what is.
"Enjoying your view, Heartfilia?"
That snapped me back into reality, and it was Gray. I looked at him as he wiggles his eyebrow at me.
That earned some attention from the rest of the team, including Natsu, who just notice my presence.
Then he screamed.
He literally screamed.
He screamed after seeing me. Me!
"What the hell are you doing here?!" He fumbled with his jersey as he struggles to put it back on. "Are you playing games on me you boxer prince?!" He gave Gray an irritated glance as he shielded his annoyingly perfect body from my gaze.
"Relax!" That was the only thing Gray said before he burst out laughing with the rest of the team. "I never see you lose your act in front of a girl before!"
"Gray," Natsu gritted his teeth and turns his gaze back at me. "What the hell are you doing here?" he yelled as if I don't belong anywhere near him. Ass.
"For the record, I wasn't planning on watching you or whatsoever. I finish my running practice and decide to talk with my friends," I stood up and brush off the invisible dust on my butt, ready to leave.
"You still run?" Okay. That's enough to stop me from leaving. What the hell? Still? He knew damn well I still run.
I took a step forward, my glare still shown. "Excuse me?" I scoffed. "You knew damn well I can outrun you if we race now," I hissed, trying to suppressed the annoyance that's boiling inside of me.
He scoffed. "Ha, don't every girl belong on the sidelines, you know, to cheer?" I could hear his semi-arrogant tone in his voice.
Then Loki grabs the back of my t-shirt and pulled me away. My face's burned with anger, I clamped my mouth shut so I won't spilled any vicious words. I turn around to see Loki, "Lucy," he smiled. "Take it easy."
"Take it easy?" I growled then he laughs. "Why? Do you find this funny?"
Gray cleared his throat. "Maybe you two should continue this fight on a date tomorrow, sounds good?" he sends Natsu a wink as Natsu clenched his jaw as tight as it could be.
I gritted my teeth at Gray's suggestion. I am definitely bound and determined to not be just another dumb Fairy Tail girl with an unrequited crush on the boy nobody could have. Natsu may look innocent and not very good with words but still, he's friend with Gray Fullbuster, they probably date a different girl and then couldn't tell you who it had been the next day. Even as far as I know, every single guy in the soccer club probably change girls based on their favorite ice cream flavor of the week. Disappointed but not surprised.
The devil with a pink hair, whom I hate, gives Gray a tight-lipped smile. "Very funny."
Excuse me? But is he implying that going out on a date with me would be freaking ridiculous? Uh, no. I don't think so. It's not like I would sacrifice my precious time on him, though if he would shut up and stop annoyed the hell out of me, I would love to, but no. "Sorry, Gray, but I already busied myself with another date tomorrow."
Just where the hell did that come from?
Natsu's body goes rigid and tense as his jaw tightened again I think it would break in any seconds. The audience that's been watching us bantering back and forth gave us a hoot, implying that I win this round, because they've been watching us like we're playing some freaking tennis game.
I feel eyes burning behind me, must be Levy, Juvia and Loki demanding an explanation about this particular date. But I have to deal with them later because I'm dealing with some little pesky boy here.
Natsu coughed. "You? A date?"
"Why? Is it really that hard to believe?"
"Just didn't think you had it in you," he shrugged like it was nothing.
I laughed darkly and really look at him, hoping he would get the hint that his jokes isn't funny anymore, am I really that worthless? Am I really that un-dateable? But then he only stares straight ahead of me, every single guy around him watching me too, waiting for my answer while I wait for his apology, but nothing. Should've known. The ridiculousness thought of hope hits me like a rapid cold wave and I squeeze my eyes immediately, I blink rapidly, fighting to keep the tears at bay and tried to swallow the lump in my throat to relieve the pressure. I can't let him see me how upset and utterly sad I am, no, I can't give him such satisfaction.
Apparently, my heart didn't get the memo. Because when I say, "I guess you're right," my shaky voice betraying a confidence I had built with so much effort.
He stand right in front of me but it feels like he's a million miles away. As if the reason on being his best friend for at least three years wasn't enough to forgive him, even I don't think we acknowledge our shared interest in the past. We're simply two strangers hating on each other. And it hurts more than it should be.
He raised his eyebrow in acknowledgement.
"Well," I say in a low voice as I coughed. Toughen up, Lucy. "At least I don't change boys like you change girls. You change girls like you change your mood."
Everyone laugh, except him. The lips I've been thinking about for the past three years turns into a frown. Then he changes it into a tight line, pressing it hard. He says nothing to that, so I grimly allowed a grin plastered on my face, well, a fake grin. Everyone believed I had won our fight, but I don't think Gray do, because he pat Natsu on the shoulder and whisper something to him. Natsu shrugged, raking his hand through his disheveled sexy hair, I stare at the view but he refuse to look back at me. He opens his mouth, and this time I prepared myself for what's to come, but it never comes.
That's because Natsu closes his mouth, turn his back on me and run to the middle of the field with Gray shouting, "Let's start with the practice!"
Was I too harsh on him?
No.
Don't be a baby, Lucy. He deserves it, he practically humiliated you as much as you humiliated him.
It's even.
"Why the hell are you tagging along?" I hissed at Loki.
He pouted. "Well, I want to know about the details too!"
Levy giggles. "You're such a gossip."
Then Juvia made everyone focus back on me. "Okay, without further a do, spill, Lucy—Everything" she emphasizes the last word, making sure I heard it and take it seriously.
I adjust the top I've tried on, as I turn sideways watching myself in the mirror, alternately slouching and straightening my spine. I take a deep breath. "What can I say? I made everything up. I don't know, I get upset at Natsu so I lied about having a date."
"That's it? So why are we practically try to fit ourselves in this small fitting room, waiting for you trying out some new clothes?" Loki blew the bangs out of his forehead. "I'm dead hungry, you know."
I ignore him as I cup my boobs and see myself in a reflection. Forget about Loki, he's practically a ladies man and best friend with me. I consider him as my gay best friend. "You see this cleavage? After like forever covering these, it's time to put it to show."
"Okay, back to the date," Levy trailed off. "That has to do with this," she says as she wave her hand in front of me, "how?"
"I'm getting a new clothes. Can't you see? After what Natsu had said earlier, I'm getting an enlightenment. I need to throw the old Lucy. You know, the boring Lucy."
Juvia frowns. "Juvia doesn't think Lucy as a boring person, I think she's very witty, fun, and pretty. Juvia can't see a reason why Lucy want to change something about herself."
I sulk down at the floor of the fitting room. One cramped fitting room with a three annoying best friends inside can be pretty suffocating. "I don't know, Natsu said he didn't think I had it in me. Can you believe it? It's like he's implying I'm a dateless loser, unlike him" I paused and then look at my three best friends, I mean really look at them. "Well, I'm not gonna sit around moping all day thinking about what he said to me. I'm gonna do what every girls do when they hit rock bottom. I'm going to go out with someone, easy."
Loki scoffed. "Hit rock bottom? You mean having an identity crisis?"
I shot him a cold glare.
"Seriously. Forget that idiot," Loki assured.
I scowl. "You were on his side the last time we talked about him."
Levy laughed. "Okay. I'm the kind of friend who's great at emotional support. So, care to tell me about the details?"
I sprawled my legs apart on the fuzzy carpet as I release a breath and turn back to my reflection. "I don't want to be the dateless loser forever, I want to stop this boy repellent thing I got in me. I need to break the curse." I studied my brows, my skin, my hair tied in a ponytail. There is nothing wrong with me, but I'm still this dateless loser thanks to Natsu, so there must've been something wrong with me, right? Maybe the way I dressed?
Levy huffed as she took a strand of her blue hair and intently studies the split ends. "Okay, but doesn't mean you have to change how you look, or how you dressed. Right?"
Juvia puckers her lips and rub her index finger over it after slathering her lips with a lip gloss. "Juvia thinks Lucy is hot, so why bother?"
I frowned. "But I never had a boyfriend, I don't have one now. Honestly? I'm just annoyed with myself."
"Why?" Loki furrowed his eyebrows.
"I don't know. I always take things very seriously, guys won't talk to me, guys are looking for something fun, and I'm not. For once in a while I want to be seen as a girl who can have fun too. Even you guys go on a blind date to a karaoke once in a while,"
Levy raised her hands to stop me from talking. "Seriously? The blind date? It was all Cana's idea, okay? And every single guy in the blind date is totally worthless. They're just came looking for fun, you know a girl who they can kiss and then leave them." Then Juvia nod in agreement. "We are not that kind of girls. And so are you."
"At least you have the experience, or at least you have fun singing at a karaoke instead shoving your face into your books."
"We always ask you to come with us!" Levy argued. "But you decided you want to snuggle up in your little safety blanket and finish a book. Seriously, you don't need to be a girl version of Gray, you're great just the way you are."
"Yeah, but people like Loki hangs around us because we're friends okay? Guys hangs with us because they want to be friends. Gray and his clique hangs with people like Lisanna to have fun. There's a difference, trust me."
Loki folded his arms in front of his chest. "Look, Lucy. You're a fall in love, serious committed relationship kind of girl. You're not a kiss and then leave them kind of girl, trust me you won't survive it." Loki rolled his eyes dramatically.
"And none of the boys from our school are looking for a relationship," Levy continued. "So, I suggest you stop this whole idea, this whole operation, or makeover thing you want to call."
Gee, thanks for the help, Levy.
I stood up, shifted my weight to one foot and arrogantly put my hands on my hip. "So, are you saying I'm just going to be a dateless loser forever?"
Loki snickered. "Yes, that's what I'm saying."
Juvia jumped in. "Juvia thinks that's a little bit too harsh."
Levy then comes in. "Look, what Loki been trying to say is, maybe the right guy hasn't come into your life yet, maybe all of this dateless thingy it's because there's the right guy waiting."
"That's not what I'm saying, but anyway," Loki let out a chuckle. "Relax. You'll find a nice guy once you go to college. You deserve so much more than what every single guy have to offer at school. Trust me, they just want to play, they don't want any serious relationship."
That goes for Natsu too?
I scrunched my eyebrow and look at Loki. "You mean like you?"
"Exactly."
Of course.
I let out a frustrated sigh. Honestly—deep down—I was proud about the compliment, I'm not some easy girl that guys can play with, and it's a good thing. And if a great guy come around who wanted me to be his girlfriend, I'd be all for it. But really, from what I heard from Loki, is that the guys is practically saying that I'm boring, unattractive and not worth the effort. As much as I want to believe my best friends about how worthy of a girl I am, I just can't bring myself to believe it.
"Maybe we should take a look at the positive side. Juvia doesn't think every single guy at school is bad or anything. Maybe Lucy just need to look from a certain point of view. How about no athletes and the popular ones? How about we crossed that? I'm sure Lucy have some few friends in the books club, or someone who at least has in common with Lucy. Maybe then Lucy can narrowed it down and find the right one."
"That's actually a great idea," my face light up at Juvia's idea.
"Forget it," Loki deadpanned. "Seriously, you won't survive through it."
"You don't think I can do it, do you?"
Loki rolled his eyes dramatically. "Here we go, bring out the violins."
Levy huffed. "Don't forget the cello."
"You guys suck as a best friend," then Juvia cast me a look as I gulped. "Excluding you."
"Fine. If it's just one date, I'm not going to be a kill joy" Levy fumed as I squealed and hug her, the hug crushing bones one.
"If it just for a distraction for one day, then fine. Happy, now?" Loki scowled.
"Okay, so you'll find me a date then?" I light up at Loki.
"You're missing the point here. No athletes and popular ones, as far as I'm concerned I hang out a lot with them," Loki smirked. "And none of them is right for you."
"Hang out a lot with them? Then why are you here, you dumbass," I hissed.
"You're getting on my nerves" Loki gritted his teeth.
Then as I want to retort at him I hear my phone vibrated. I motioned at Juvia to fish it out of my bag, since she's the closest to it and since I'm stuck with a tight top and ridiculously tight skirt. Juvia dip in her hands into my bag, muttering. "Juvia think this bag is like a freaking library."
Levy laughed knowing exactly that I always bring a tons of book with me.
Seconds later, Juvia found my phone and check the email by herself. Disturbing my privacy as usual. "How about we do the project tomorrow? Sounds good?" Juvia read in a monotone voice.
"Is that a new boy you've been hiding from us?" Levy teases.
I snatched my phone from Juvia's hand and quickly type in a reply. "Oh, please. He's this new guy that moved in a couple of months ago, and he's like seriously smart and the only reason he texted me is because Miss Scarlet paired us together for an upcoming project."
"Well then why don't you ask him out on a date tomorrow?" Loki huffed.
I slapped my palm over my forehead. "Seriously. This is the first time you said something useful."
Then Levy and Juvia smirked widely, knowing well that they will enjoy the makeover session.
