A/N: I'm sorry about the delays in my stories recently. I thank the people who are still holding on with me Dx I hope you enjoy and feel free to review.
xXx
"Lucy did you settle in okay?" Sting walked into her new condo.
"I don't understand why I couldn't just rent something cheaper than this, I could have saved more money that way..." Lucy came out of her bedroom which looked like two of her old apartment buildings put together.
The living room which was a big open space, held black and white sofas and a large flat screen plastered to the wall. Her kitchen looked as if Martha Stewart herself had built and decorated it.
"Just stop worrying about it, we need to get ready for the event. Please everyone come in," Sting said while letting some women in.
"Who are they...?" Lucy looked confused.
"The make up and hair artist and stylist." Sting smiled as another woman came waltzing in with a rack of designer dresses.
"Oh no, I don't do fancy I told you Sting." Lucy said when she took a once over the selections.
"I'm sure you'll be fine Cinderella. Now I leave you in their hands, I need to take care of some things before the event so just wait for me. Ladies, please take care of her." Sting winked at all of them before leaving. Everyone but Lucy swooned and sighed over his exit.
"Well you heard him ladies, let's get started!" One of the girls took out her make up brushes while another one turned on the stereo to a bubbly pop song.
"Why..." Lucy made a sad sour face, feeling like she just stepped into another one of those movies where they try to transform someone.
Lucy took a seat that was now being spun around like crazy.
xXx
Waiting parked out front of Lucy's complex, Sting hiked his sleeve checking his watch.
When the automatic doors slid open, Sting couldn't believe his eyes.
There Lucy was...in a red floor length gown looking stunning. Her hair was up with her bangs that fell on each side of her face nicely.
She had dangling diamond stars hanging from each ear.
"Wow...so there really is this kind of side to you." Sting smiled.
"Shut up..." Lucy said as she tried to walk over to the car, almost tripping. She pulled lifted her gown off the floor as Sting opened the car door for her.
His smile never left his face as he walked over to the drivers side and climbed in.
"You really do look-"
"Please let's just get this over with." Lucy said in her usual flat tone.
Sting chuckled while turning the car on and pulling away from the curb slowly.
xXx
"Yukino make sure those drinks get served."
"I'm on it." Yukino grabbed the tray of champagne filled glasses and went to work the room.
She made her way through the crowd and offered it up to some of the guests at their tables.
"Hi, would you like some champagne?" Yukino asked a table.
"Oh yes all around please." A woman with an amazing figure announced as she swirled her finger around the table.
"Oh I don't drink."
"Oh come on Juvia just one drink, this may be a charity but we don't need to be bored while being here."
"That's alright Sherry, she's driving tonight anyways. But luckily for me I'll take her glass since I won't be."
"Well Lyon if you need a ride home just let me know," Sherry winked.
"It's fine, I can drive my boyfriend home." Juvia clung onto Lyon.
Yukino went around the table putting down glasses.
Just remember the tips at the end of the night...Yukino thought to herself.
xXx
"Michael over here!" Mr. Mathews waved over the McGardens to their table.
"Levy you look beautiful in that dress, please tell me who the designer is again?" Mrs. Mathews gushed.
"None other than yourself Mrs. Mathews, your collection just caught my eye." Levy smiled.
"I know, everyone can't seem to help themselves. Your flattery is always too generous however, if she keeps this up I'll have to take her as my own daughter." Everyone joyed in with her as thunder effects echoed through the room.
"Oh my, the show is going to begun soon. Waitress may we have a round over here please?" A waitress came over and gave a round to the table just then.
xXx
"Sting there you are, I was starting to get worried." A woman with silky scarlet hair said as Sting and Lucy came over to her table.
"Now why wouldn't I make it here?" Sting said he helped Lucy in with her chair before sitting down in his own.
"Because LOVEX is performing tonight, back from their long tour." Erza said sarcastically.
"Not my group, so not my concern tonight. Lucy this is Erza, Erza this is Lucy. Erza is a choreographer at Fairy Tail Records." Sting introduced them both.
"Finally the long awaited Lucy has come before me, nice to meet you. Sting always talks highly about you, I hope we can get along." Erza smiled over to Lucy who gave off her own little smile.
Lucy looked up at Sting who was now concentrated on the host of tonight on stage. She wondered what Sting had been saying about her to people.
"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to our Annual Charity Event Gala. Tonight we give thanks to many people who help us out everyday. But not only those chosen, but we also want to thank you the audience. As tonight is about every single person who generously donated to the cause. The proceeds will help children and families everywhere. Here tonight we gathered so many different talents to help make this appreciation happen, we first welcome back LOVEX!"
Every cheered and applauded, as the lights dimmed and shined on a girl to the left of the stage.
Yukino stopped where she was and looked to the stage.
"My name is Angel, and I want to give thanks to the firefighters of the communities everywhere." Angel had long silver hair and porcelain skin. She was dressed in a blue corset dress, with glamorous feathers going down on her sides and front.
Yukino clenched her teeth as she watched Angel smiling on stage.
"My fellow band mates, Karen..." A spotlight appeared over a girl to the right of the stage. She wore a fancy sequined top and a red fur coat, "And Minerva..." A spotlight shined on a girl center stage with black flowing hair and a black sparkling gown with a white boa draped around her arms.
"All of us to you, thank you so much from LOVEX!" The thunder roared once more before a song began and everyone began to cheer and applaud.
They want to thank the firefighters? What was next the police officers too? Lucy rolled her eyes and suddenly became bored.
"Um...Lucy please look more alive." Sting waved over with a funny expression.
Angel
"Silly little boys always got their little eyes on me...
Can't they see?"
Karen
"I'm looking for a man not boy get on my level please...
Why can't they see?"
Minerva
"Looking for a big handsome man.
Who can close the deal open the door!
Someone who can go all night!"
Angel
"Not afraid to step up and take the plate.
A guy who can turn me on!"
Minerva
"I need a guy not a little boy.
A guy who won't settle for,
anything less than me.
Someone who can take a chance.
With hands that just make a man.
And big feet if you know what I mean...?"
Group
"I need a man to break down the doors!
Not afraid to be fighting for...!
My life and to all my needs!
Someone to see me for who I am.
Not afraid and won't give a damn.
I need that fighter please!"
As the song came to an end, Lucy wondered to herself if they knew they had set back the woman's rights? Who needed saving these days anyways? And wasn't there women firefighters too?
"Well that was certainly interesting for their debut back home." Erza said out loud as she pretended to clap.
"Get Jellal going and tell him Natsu is up next after some announcements." Sting said to her. Erza nodded and got on her phone.
"Why does this event feel like an excuse to just party and get drunk?" Lucy whispered over to Sting.
"Cause it basically is, as long as people write their big checks no one really cares." Sting shrugged.
"That's really messed up..."
"Yeah but that's society these days." Sting took a sip of his champagne.
"And you're helping society by drinking their champagne!" Lucy almost shouted as she took his glass and gave it back to a waitress.
"Hey!" Sting grumbled.
"Sting!" Erza said in a panic. The two looked over at Erza now, "Natsu is missing!"
"What?!" Sting got up suddenly, "Find Jellal and go look for Natsu! Lucy I'm going to need your help come with me!" They all got up and went their way.
xXx
"You want me to do what?!" Lucy shouted to Sting now who was trying to beg.
"Please Lucy just this once, I need you to stall the crowd for me until we find Natsu." Sting pleaded.
"Why can't you do it?! I don't even know these people!"
"I need to help the search, and if the public finds out that the star of tonight is missing then all hell is going to break loose! Then I'll lose my job, I'll lose my car, I'll lose my house, you'll lose your apartment again then-"
"Alright I get it! Hurry up before I change my mind, your constant whining is giving me a headache." Lucy crossed her arms.
"Yes thank you!" Sting gave her a huge hug before running over to find his star.
Lucy sighed before trying to come up with a plan.
"Miss, you're on right after those announcements are over." The stage director came over to Lucy, which now made her panic in a subtle manner. She began to pace back and fourth thinking to herself how she was going to pull this off, and maybe she could stall her trying to stall just in time for Sting to come back.
But then how was she supposed to come up with a stall to stall her own stall?
"Dammit!" Lucy shouted to herself, now feeling confused.
"Dude, watch that equipment." Lucy looked up and saw a band trying to set up their instruments.
"Hey," Lucy walked over to them with a bright idea and a big smile.
Sting went to the back dressing rooms and looked around for Natsu who was still no where to be found.
Going into a hallway he happened to pass Minerva from LOVEX.
"You should have seen this coming, it was your fault anyway." She said as they passed each other. Sting didn't stop, he ignored what she had said to him and continued on his way.
xXx
After looking everywhere he could, Sting stopped to take a breath.
Just then rounding the corner there was Natsu dressed in a suite with his hands in his pocket.
"Natsu where the hell have you been?!"
"Getting dumped in the storage room, and you?" Natsu said casually.
"Wait what?" Sting gave him a confused look.
"After LOVEX performed Angel wanted to talk so I went with her and she finally dumped me." Natsu shrugged.
"Natsu..." Sting gave a sad expression.
"Oh don't give me that look, everyone saw this was coming anyways. Hell, I knew this was going to happen. You go on tour for months without calling someone, wouldn't you think that would be suspicious too? Plus with LOVEX switching labels last year, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner." Natsu chuckled.
Sting didn't really know what to say, Natsu was as closed off as Lucy was. The two of the, never wanted to admit when they were feeling sad or scared.
Natsu sighed just then, "anyways I need to perform but it seems someone else it doing that for me?" They both listened to the intercom.
"Joining the stage is a new addition tonight here is..." Suddenly the announcer peaked behind the curtain, "what was your name again?" He asked her as she stood there.
"Lucy! I forgot come on!" Sting and Natsu ran back to the stage.
"Here is Lucy!" The announcer said as he walked off stage and the curtains were finally revealed.
Sting and Natsu stopped in front of some screens showing the performance. There Lucy was standing on the stage with a guitar in her hand and a mic stand with a band backing her up now as she slowly sang to a happy but funny tune.
"The world goes round and the way it is now, people always greet me hey.
And everyday feels like I'm on replay.
But nobody really knows me...
And so I just go through the day, thinking how they're all so fake."
Sting's mouth suddenly fell open, and it felt like his soul had seeped out of his body as she sang this line.
"Hey I didn't know that girl could sing, you should have said something earlier!" Natsu slapped Sting on the back playfully, making Sting fall to the ground just then.
"Cause I've been through all of the bad times.
Spent all my years trying to get by.
And it was just me yeah but I'm okay.
It's not like I don't feel the lonely.
And when it get's too ugly.
I remind myself everyday to say..."
Sting got up in that moment and really listened to her song now.
"Hey now you'll be alright right right?
Just remember how you need to stay strong!
And don't count all the times it feels so wrong.
And just think someday you'll be alright right right?
You won't ever have to lie...
To yourself you'll be true and say...
Hey I'm so happy!
Tell yourself you're happy!
Even though you're not happy...
Gotta tell yourself.
Hey I'm so happy!
Better believe I'm happy!
Even though inside I'm not happy...
I gotta tell myself."
It was complete silence before a girl whistled out and applauded Lucy's song.
"LUCY?!" A girl with blue hair stood up from the crowd.
"Lucy!" The crowd began to cheer her name.
"That girl really knows her shit." Yukino's boss said as she passed her by with a tray full of wine.
"Yeah..." Yukino could feel her heart beating. She wasn't happy either and she knew exactly how that performer had felt.
xXx
"Well I don't know what charity that song was for but it had no business up there." Mrs. Mathews said as she took a sip of her drink. Everyone began to converse as Levy felt herself fall into the background.
I'm not happy...Levy secretly thought to herself.
On another table, Juvia watched as Lyon talked with his colleagues. She felt out of place here with all of them knowing what to talk about.
She looked at Lyon seriously now...Am I Happy? Juvia thought.
xXx
"Well who knew you had that in you." Sting clapped for Lucy as she made her way backstage.
Lucy however didn't say a word, instead she gave the guitar back to the band.
"Hey that was great, I didn't know you had musical talent." Natsu smiled to Lucy.
But just like before she ignored them all and went on her way.
"Natsu you're up next." The stage director announced to him.
"Okay." He replied, "Should someone go after her?"
Sting watched Lucy lifelessly walk down the stairs until she disappeared.
"No, let her be for right now." Sting sighed. He didn't know much about his cousin, but he could tell she was out of it right now.
Natsu felt uneasy about letting that girl go, but if Sting said to leave alone...then what was left to do was just get on stage and perform his song.