Chapter Seven: Elementary School's Graduation

It was our graduation day in Magnolia's Elementary School.

We were wearing our graduation gown that was shaded in navy blue.

Our parents were extremely excited to see us come up in stage and obtained our certificate for passing.

It was hard for my mother to make me wear one of the dresses she bought for me. I strongly refuse to wear such things. So, like every other day, I wore a plain and simple clothes underneath my gown. A short-sleeve buttoned shirt colored in white, for the bottom attire was shorts and a plain sandal. It was such great disappointment for my mom to see what I was wearing, but she was thankful that my gown covered it.

Under Natsu's gown, he wore the same colored top, but his had longer sleeves that rolled back at the ends. He wore a red tie around his collar, surprisingly it was well-done. Since my father taught him each step, after a few practices and attempts to make it look perfect, he successfully got it on point! Natsu wore formal pants and shoes colored in black.

All the students that were graduating was assigned in alphabet order by their last names. By the time they started the assembly, there was loud cheers and clapping bouncing off in each direction of the wall.

Of course, I was the first one to come on stage before Natsu.

"Lucy Ashley" They announced.

By the time I made it to the front center of the stage, it became awfully quiet. Only my parents, Igneel, and Natsu were giving me an applause.

"GOO LUCY!"

"That's my girl!"

"Yay Lucy!"

I could tell everyone else in the room were pretty terrified, they just sat there stunned on their chairs. Some exchanged looks at each other with a perplexed reaction.

"Hmph." Before I could take the award from the principal, I scowled at the audience slightly irritated by the quietness that they were giving off, when they were clearly being loud and rowdy just merely moments ago.

They shriek silently and awkwardly raised up their fist in the air, cheering. There was some whistles at some areas in the room and claps. Once I got off the stage, the room slowly died down as I made it back to my seat.

The principal still continued on calling the next student up the stage and graduating them.

When it was Natsu's turn, I was worried that he might be the laughingstock and be humiliated by such a large crowd. I didn't know what to feel when they were about to call on him. My palms were becoming sweaty and nervous as I grip on the scroll I was holding tightly.

"Natsu Dragoneel!" they announced out.

I close my eyes tightly, waiting for the teasing and names to be shot on him.

To my surprise everyone was giving him a loud round of applause and cheering him on. I quickly opened my eyes to see Natsu happily making his way to the front center of the stage to obtain his certificate.

"Natsu!" some of the girls yelled out to him.

"Goo Natsu!" I heard Igneel's voice from the back.

When he received his certificate, Natsu turned to the audition, his eyes were scanning through the crowd, looking for a particular someone. Until both of us locked eyes with each other.

A sudden smirk revealed on his face. He raised both of hands in the air, "Lucy! I made it! I really did!" he shouted with glee.

I was speechless, until a small smile formed on my face. I raised both of my hands in front of me and shouted, "WAY TO GO NATSU!"

You were really happy to know that you made it through the end. When you were constantly picked on during the years in elementary school. I was glad you didn't give up, you continued to stay strong.

I watched as you were waving your hands around with pride on your face. It was a great feeling for you, so you wanted to remember this memory that would only occur once in a life time.

After the assembly was finally coming to an end that lasted for over two hours. We were finally given the permission to get out of our seats and freely do whatever we wanted.

Our parents wanted to take pictures of us together, holding our certificate in our hands with a bright smile. We were taking a lot of them which was slowly getting on my nerves. I was quickly losing my patient.

"Mom…" I groaned, "How many are you going to take? We been standing here for forty-five minutes already." I complained.

"I c-can't feel my face." Natsu patted the side of his cheeks, "I think my face is going to be stuck like this…" he turned his face at me with the same smile that he made when we were taken pictures.

A small laugh escaped my lips, "You'll end up scaring a lot of people with that face of yours!" I snickered, "or your future kids will end up with that same dumb look you're making and blame you for it!" I teased.

Tears slowly formed on his eyes with the same smile he was making, "Wha?! I don't want that to happen!" he panicked.

My mother then decided to give us a break and let us do whatever, she went up to Igneel and my father showing them the pictures she taken. "Which picture do you think is good to hang up on the wall?" she excitedly questioned them.

Both Natsu and I were standing beside each other. I watched as Natsu tried to relax his cheeks, slowly the smile he made earlier was fading.

"Have you decided what middle school you are going to, Natsu?" I asked him. "Since we might go our separate ways, I might not be able to stick up for you, y'know that." I slowly took off my gown, since it was getting pretty hot. I was beginning to break into sweats.

He looked at me with his palms on his cheeks still, "Aren't you going to the same middle school as me?" he curiously asked. "I thought we were going to stick together." Natsu reminded me.

"Wait, are you going to Magnolia's Junior High? Or—"

"Yeah." Natsu nodded, replying rather quickly.

Before I could express my surprise to him, Igneel suddenly appeared right next to him and lift him up by the back of his collar.

"Wait, you never told me what middle school you wanted to go to, don't go around lying." Igneel calmly told him.

"I-Igneel!" he shouted in a bewildered expression.

I crossed my arms and glared at Natsu, "Seriously Natsu, seriously."

He panicked and covered his face, "Don't hurt me please! I just didn't know what middle school you were going to!" he confessed. "I wanted to attend the same one as you, so I haven't suggested one yet!"

"Natsu…" I whispered.

Igneel placed Natsu back down and chuckled, "Geez kid, you like to be around her don't you."

Natsu's cheeks flushed in a bright color of pink as I couldn't really understand clearly what Igneel meant.

"I'll let it go this time, since it is your graduation day." Igneel smiled as he went back to talk to my parents. "I know what middle school he wants to go to now." He told them.

I gazed over at Natsu, he was pretty embarrass that he couldn't look directly at me.

"So…" I said, breaking the awkward silence between us, "I guess we will end up together for another year." I grinned.

Natsu's eyes brighten up and sparkled as he finally looked at me. "It'll be fun!" he chuckled.

"I am sure it'll be." I laughed along with him.

We were both exchanging conversations with each other with a big smile on our face. I didn't know what to expect next until suddenly something unexpected happened, interrupting our joy of laughter, Natsu randomly burst out in tears and sobs.

"Hey… Natsu…?" I back away a little taken by surprise. "Why the heck are you crying now?!" I yelled at him annoyed. We were just both happy and laughing just seconds ago, talking about how we are going to spend another year spent together. But, I don't understand why he is breaking into tears right after our discussion.

I watched as Natsu continued to cry, he lifted up one of his hands to wipe the tears that were flooding down his face pretty heavily. There was snots coming out of his nose as well.

"Hey, Natsu, what's wrong?" I asked a bit worried.

Just before I was planning to tease him about being a crybaby, he quietly said, "Th-thank y-you…"

"…?" I tilt my head a bit to the side, not really comprehending where he was coming with this.

"Thank you, W-wucy…" he sobbed. "You still remained by my side until this day. I am really grateful that someone like you exist." He confess.

"If it weren't for you, I think I would have stop going to school." Natsu admitted. "If you never came by that day when Jet and Droy were picking on me… I don't know what would've happened."

I was speechless, standing there all frozen like a complete idiot. Not knowing what do exactly. I didn't know the right words to say to comfort you, but, I couldn't stop the urges of giving you an amorous hug. It was fate that made brought us to each other…

"You may be a crybaby and get on my nerves," I whispered, "But, you are someone dear to me. I'll never stop being your friend." I sincerely told him.

I was hoping he would stop crying, but the results didn't turn out like that at the end. He was silently letting out small wailing sounds, I wonder how long he held it in for…

Bottling it all up, without revealing what he felt inside to anyone nor Igneel. It must have been too much for you to handle by yourself, huh, Natsu…

I am actually proud of you, slowly taking small baby steps to open up and go on with your journey.

Natsu, whatever happens. We will always be friends…


[Author's Note: Don't forget to either favorite, follow or review what you thought about the story so far!]