Disclaimer: Mr. Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail.
A/N: Lucy's PoV.
Previously on Struggles of Fate…
"Don't blame yourself too much. You don't deserve it." I said to him. "Besides, I'm already fine." Lies. "I don't think about it anymore." I did all I could and smiled while saying. "I hope you'll be happy." And gave him the daffodil I picked awhile ago. "Goodbye." I turned around and walked away. A few more steps and I broke into tears.
'I liked you as a little sister.'
'I was so stupid. It was me who suggested us to go out yet I hurt you.'
'You can hate me all you want.'
After hearing him say those words, what could I say to him? How could I hate him more? All I could was forgive him.
Did it reach him, I wonder? Did I take a step forward?
A love where no one gets hurt doesn't exist.
Chapter 5: Taking a step forward
"Sometimes new love comes between old friends. Sometimes the best love was the one that was always there." –Unknown
I can't stop crying…
I don't know how many times I tried to dry my tears to only fail. All these pent up sadness finally burst. There's this pain that I feel inside my chest… it's really painful yet I felt relieved. I can finally take a step forward and move on…
Good thing there's no one around here except me.
Just like my feelings, the sky darkened and rain poured as if it's consoling me. I stopped walking, looked up and closed my eyes letting the rain wash my face and these unpleasant feelings. I continued on letting the cold droplets of water touch my warm face and slightly swollen eyes until I heard footsteps from behind nearing towards me. I looked back and saw my raven-haired classmate, Gray Fullbuster, walking towards me. His hand tucked on his pockets and was wearing an unreadable expression.
"You hang back there." He said as he halted in front of me still wearing his unreadable expression.
"…Were you listening?" I asked to him with a neutral tone. My voice shook a little because of crying.
"You'll catch a cold." He said and proceeded to remove his black jacket and placed it over my shoulders.
"You didn't answer my question." After saying that, he still didn't answer my question and what he did next shocked me a little. His strong pair of arms caged me to an embrace.
"You don't have to look strong in front of me." I heard him say. It felt like those words were what I just needed. I didn't care anymore if I just met him for a few days. I let myself return his hug and cry in his chest, feeling comfort in his somehow familiar cold touch.
After standing in the rain, which seemed like forever, we decided to take shelter. Gray took me to his apartment. It seems like he's not living with his family and lives with Loke.
"Here." Gray handed me a dark blue towel. "Dry yourself."
"Thank you." I thanked to him as I took the towel and then wrapped it to my body.
"What do you want, Lucy-chan? Hot chocolate or coffee?" Loke asked while holding a kettle.
"You don't have to." I politely refused. I can't bother them too much.
"It's okay. You have to properly warm yourself." Loke insisted.
"T-Then hot chocolate please." I gave in.
"Coming right up!" Loke bowed like a butler which made me giggle.
"Are you okay now?" Gray asked as he came out of the bathroom wearing a white shirt and dark blue shorts and then headed to the kitchen.
"…Yes. Thank you." I thanked to him while looking down at my slightly pink knees which were numb due to the ice cold rain.
"That's good. Here." I heard him say, I looked to my side and saw him handing me two sliced cucumbers. "That should ease the swelling of your eyes." He continued.
"Thank you." I said. Gray then sat down on the sofa in front of me and I placed the cucumbers on top of my eyes.
"Why were you there?" I asked to him without removing the cucumbers.
"Just passing by."
"Here's your coffee, Gray." I heard Loke say and then a clank followed.
"Here's your hot chocolate, Lucy-chan." Loke said. I removed the cucumbers on my eyes and took the cup from Loke's hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smiled at me and then sat beside Gray.
I took a sip from the cup and felt a warm feeling spread through my body.
So warm…
"It's rare for a girl to come here in our apartment." Loke started to a conversation. "More than rare, you're actually the first girl to come here." Loke laughed.
"Really?" I curiously asked.
"Yeah. Gray forbids me from bringing girls here. Didn't expect he'd be the one to bring one."
"Stop spouting things, blabbermouth." Gray said to Loke with a slight irritated tone.
"Well, it's not like I'm against him bringing one especially since it's Lucy-chan. You can come here anytime."
"Eh? Ahhh. Thank you." I just said. I can't actually believe that I'm the first girl to set foot here. "Anyway, how long have you two lived here?"
"Hmmm. Just last 5 months ago." Loke answered.
We continued to chat about random things that actually made me temporarily forget about what happened this afternoon. I didn't even notice that it's already night time.
"It's already late." Gray said as he looks at the wall clock.
I also turned to the wall clock and saw that it's already almost 8 pm. "You're right. I should head home now." I turned to Gray.
"I'll take you home." Gray offered.
"Eh? No, it's fine. I can go home by my own."
"Just let him take you home." Loke, who was heading to the kitchen while holding the cups we used, insisted. "We can't let a girl go home by herself after holding her here for a long time."
"Then please accompany me." I finally took the offer.
"We're leaving." Gray said to Loke as we head out to the door.
"Thank you very much." I thanked to Loke when we got out of the apartment.
"You're welcome." Loke answered while walking towards us. "Take care."
I and Gray started to walk.
"Is your home far from here?" Gray asked.
"Not really." I answered without looking at him, looking forward to the dark road.
Gray continued the conversation by asking random things to keep me occupied till we reached my house.
"Are you really fine now?" Gray asked as we halted in front of my house.
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome." He said and started petting my head.
Suddenly, an image of a boy caressing my head flashed in my mind.
I'll marry you.
W-What was that?
"I'll leave now." I heard Gray say which brought me back to the present time.
"Y-Yeah. Goodbye." I unsurely answered.
Gray turned his back to me and started walking.
I guess he's not that weird.
After that, talking to Gray seemed like natural to me.
"Hey Lu-chan, can we come over to your house after class?" Levy, who turned her chair to face me, asked.
"Eh? Sure." I immediately replied.
"Lisanna said she'll bring her sister!" Levy excitedly announced.
"Really? As in Mirajane the model?" I asked as I leaned on my desk.
"Yep! Yep!"
"Lucy, I want to come over too." A familiar voice which came from my side said. "I miss coming to your house." He added.
I turned to my side where the voice came from and saw my salmon-haired best friend since childhood, Natsu Dragneel. "Okay." I smiled at him. It's been ages since the last time he came over and mom also said to invite him.
"Hey Gajeel! You should come too!" Natsu started to bother our long-haired classmate.
"Why do I have to, idiot?!" Gajeel growled at Natsu.
"Who are you calling an idiot, idiot?!" Natsu fought back and their usual fight started.
"Somehow… they're close." I said to Levy which she answered with a nod as we stare at the two guys fighting.
"Can we come over too?" Another familiar voice asked. I turned around and saw Loke with Gray beside him.
"Sure!" I gladly answered to Loke. I have to properly thank them.
So with that, I went home with Natsu, Loke, Gray, Levy, Erza, Lisanna and her sister Mirajane, and Gajeel who was dragged by Natsu.
"Your house is huge!" Levy said in awe.
"Really?" I curiously asked as I lead them inside.
"Welcome home, Lucy-sama." Caprico and Virgo greeted to me.
"I'm home. Please tell mom that I brought my friends." I said to them and continued to lead my friends to my room.
"Hey, Lu-chan." Levy called when we got to my room.
"Yes?"
"I thought you were living a simple life?"
"Yes, I am."
"Lu-chan… how can you say you're living a simple life when you live in a mansion with maids?!"
"Isn't that normal?"
"Of course, it's not!"
After that, I lead the girls to my bed while the boys played with my gaming consoles.
"Hey Levy, I've been meaning to ask this…but do you have a boyfriend?" I straight-forwardly asked to Levy whose face flushed when she heard my question but what caught my attention the most was when Gajeel's ears perked up.
"…I do." Levy answered in a small voice.
To be continued…
Owari!
A/N: Soo next will be Levy's case! :D You'll finally know the secret behind the string coiled around her neck!
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