Chapter 6

"Oi! Natsu wake up you have to be at work at 10:00."

During the previous week that had passed Natsu went for his second interview for the job at the small café. Although they replied back late after his first, he didn't mind, there was no rush. In fact, the pinkette saw them calling him back for another a good thing. The interview went better than Natsu had anticipated with only rare stumbles upon words in his answers to their inquiries. Furthermore, he got the impression that the man interviewing had taken a liking to him and shortly after they contacted him confirming that he had gotten the job.

It was a Sunday morning; a certain male was snoozing whilst drooling all over his pillow, hair sticking out at angles that didn't seem naturally, or even humanly, possible. He was not one who could criticize Lucy's sleeping habits of which he had, to Lucy's embarrassment, seen. Sunlight shone dimly through the parallel gaps on either side of the blinds partially covering the window that held the view of their small back garden. The light travelled onto Natsu's bed where he felt the warming sensation on his back as he turned away to avoid the golden rays.

After work finished at 3:00 Natsu had planned to go over to Lucy's house to work on a drama project that was given to them on the 3rd and last drama lesson of the week, Thursday afternoon, at the end of the session. Being bluntly honest Lucy wasn't the happiest girl in the world when discovering they were assigned by the first letter of their first names in pairs via the alphabet. Since there were no m's in the class it was inevitable that they would be together. In the week Natsu had joined the school Lucy was rather surprised he was the kind of guy to study drama at school it was fairly unexpected for everyone. They had only done a few different exercises in drama so far, this project was their first graded assessment. The class had to create a scene with a partner they were paired with. Both Natsu and Lucy had arranged a meet up so they could brainstorm ideas and make a start on it.

"Natsu get up you're going to be late!" Igneel shouted once more.

"Alright I'm up, I'm up. So loud…" His scratchy freshly woken voice reached Igneel standing at the door. The satisfied adult then took his leave and left Natsu alone by himself as he shut the door. Natsu sat up squinting his eyes to block the sudden light shining on his face. Twisting his body around, he stood up resentfully, pushing his tired body up onto the soles of his feet. As a dizzy spell struck him from standing up too fast he placed a hand on the wall before him to remain balanced. The half-conscious teenager slid a white, ironed shirt of the hanger and lazily buttoned it up over his bare chest. He removed the pyjama bottoms he had slept in from his hips replacing it with boxers and black trousers. After taming his hair and spraying some deodorant he ran down stairs whilst tying his, also black, bow tie around his neck.

"Damn, you should tidy up more often." Igneel commented as Natsu entered the cramped kitchen.


"I'll take that as a compliment." He smiled with a sense of goofiness.

"Good work today, Natsu! Until next time mate." The owner of the small, but comfortable, restaurant bellowed out as he gave Natsu a friendly smack on the back. Natsu laughed at the gesture as he stepped through the door.

"Until next time sir!" He stepped through the door with a grin on his face and began to make his way to where he would see his favourite brown eyed, blonde haired girl.

Soon he came upon the big metal gate that conjoined the huge walls of the Heartfilia estate. He cleared his throat before speaking into the buzzer. The pink haired male stated his business and the gates opened up before him.

Natsu rang the bell at the entrance of the home - or rather maze of a mansion as he liked to refer to it. He always had trouble grasping the thought of living in such a huge place. In fact, he ended up in awe every time he thought of it. The gardens must have been amazing to play in as a kid with barely any limits to how far she could run. No need to be concerned of who was near, who was watching, always protected. Lucy was so lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful place, so sheltered from the bad in the world. She would never understand what it is like to be 'just getting by'. But the grass is always greener on the other side right? Natsu told himself.

Spetto opened the door and looked up at the tall young man with not only a smile on her lips but a smile in her eyes too. She greeted him with a kind glance and nod of acknowledgement before letting him access the wide room with a huge staircase in the centre leading off to opposite directions.

"Miss Heartfilia is up in her room."

"Thanks." Natsu replied politely before commencing his journey through the long corridors of Lucy's home. However, a hand on his wrist interrupted this commencement. He turned back to see the women with a frown on her face.

"Knock first. It seems she is on the phone with someone." Spetto spoke in a warning but somewhat apprehensive tone. Natsu nodded then took off.

As he walked along the everlasting hallway the recent thoughts of how lucky Lucy had been faded away. The silence of the empty building caused an eerie atmosphere and the white walls of the rooms felt as though they caved in on him. Natsu didn't like it. It was pure emptiness whereas his home was cosy, warm and welcoming.

After several false attempts at opening doors in the hope that it would lead to Lucy's bedroom he finally found the one he had been searching for. Perhaps he should have asked for Spetto's assistance in guiding him. In the end it was Lucy's angered voiced that ultimately lead him to finding the right door and it was that same voice that suggested that the phone call Lucy was in was not in the least bit pleasant.

"Sting I'm trying to juggle both school and you at the same time with the addition of the regular visits I'm having to take to my Dad's work at the moment. At least be a little bit understanding, I can't be with you 24/7." Natsu didn't mean to listen in or invade Lucy's privacy but he couldn't help but overhear. "I do try, Sting! Don't you dare say that! It's not my fault you're always at the bar getting drunk off your ass when I can see you." Natsu knocked on the door and entered seeing Lucy's distressed expression. He knew he should be happy that Sting and Lucy were fighting due to his interest in the girl. Nonetheless, he didn't want to see her unhappy.

Natsu's eyes connected with hers for an instant and boy did she look good. She wore a grey, wool cardigan a tight black crop top with black high-waisted jeans. Mind you she always did to Natsu whether there was drool hanging down her cheek or not. He smirked at the memory. If only she would be his princess. Natsu shut the door behind him and leaned up against it, arms crossed, and waited for Lucy to finish her conversation.

"I gotta go. I'll talk to you later." Lucy hung up her phone before chucking the object onto her bed so it landed comfortably. She let out a sigh running a hand through her hair.

"Is the princess stressed?" Natsu mocked.

"Don't call me that." Lucy spoke with a strain in her voice.

"What was that, blondie?"

"You know what, I don't even have the energy to fight you right now." Natsu frowned and made his way over to the blonde haired beauty. Having a closer look at her he inspected her facial features. She had bags under her eyes and her hair was dishevelled and messy. Still, she managed to look more than amazing and it baffled him how she remained that way no matter what.

"Are you sure you want to rehearse? I can always come another day and you can have a snooze?" Although the young male was excited to hang out with Lucy, her health came before his happiness. "Unless you want me to stay and possibly sleep with you?" Natsu cheekily added.

Lucy disregarded his last comment in tiredness. "No it's fine. Let's just get on with it."

"If you're sure blondie."

Lucy looked Natsu up and down. She couldn't deny that he did look extremely attractive but wasn't he slightly overdressed for the occasion?

"What's up with the attire?" She asked.

"I came straight from work. You like?" He grinned giving her a full 360 degrees view of his work look and yes she did like it. The white shirt outlined his broad shoulders and buff arms. The bow tie gave a boyish charm about him and bow ties were Lucy's goddamn weakness.

"Err yeah sure." Lucy replied hesitantly, which Natsu noted, still not taking her eyes off of him. "Right, let's just get this done okay?"

"Of course. But first…" Natsu had grabbed a pillow from her bed, ordered Lucy to do up her cardigan and shoved the pillow up her clothing.

"I look fucking ridiculous." Lucy stated bluntly.

"No you don't! You look great, I promise you." Natsu assured her.

"How come I have to do this and you don't?"

"One, because my character is a guy. Two, because your character has got a bun in the oven." He winked at her.

"As I said before I don't have the energy to fight you. Let's just get on with it." Lucy instantaneously got into character and started the comedy sketch they had chosen to do for drama.

"Goddammit Jack you forgot to pay the rent again, we are going to get evicted that asshole just told me!" Lucy shouted as she stormed into the room.

"You talking about the landlord?"

"Who else would I bloody be talking about? The land lord!"

"Well the band aint got a gig yet so I don't really have anything to pay for it… Guess he will just have to wait." Natsu read off the script.

"He's the land lord! He doesn't need to fucking wait. Have you seen how many people are out there looking for a place to stay? They'd be jumping to live in this cheap place like this."

"I wouldn't say jumping. The walls are mouldy, the toilet don't flush and it always smells like rotten food in here. I mean it's so bad I try to get a cold so don't have to smell this crap." Natsu scoffed.

"Well maybe if you got off your arse and got a job instead of struggle to sing an on pitch C we wouldn't be in this situation!" Lucy shouted in frustration.

"For your information my band is going to be famous and you'll be wishing you treated me better when I get models wanting some of this Godliness." He spoke signalling to his body.

"For Christ sake Jack you're shit! You haven't had a gig for two months take a hint. Get off the couch and get a goddamn job!"

"Like you can talk about sitting on your butt you spend the whole bloody day on yours!" 'Jack' defended.

"Jack that's different, I'm pregnant, I'm meant to!" Lucy and Natsu stared at one another in anger at each other's roles. Natsu's stomach grumbled interrupting the atmosphere they were trying to convey. Lucy took a step back and huffed. "Yeah I'm getting hungry too… Wanna have a break? I mean we have been going at it for a while now." Lucy, as herself, reasoned taking the pillow out from underneath her clothes. She turned around and headed towards the door without hearing Natsu's answer as she was still waiting for the day Natsu turns down food.

"That's what she said." He mumbled to himself as he followed her out.

"Shut up pervert."

They walked to the kitchen together where Lucy greeted a black haired maid.

"Hello Miss Heartfilia can I assist you in anything?" She questioned.

"No thank you. We are just getting a snack." Lucy answered politely. The woman bowed gracefully and left the two in peace.

"Isn't that weird?" Natsu spoke in curiosity whilst Lucy opened the fridge to take hold of some grapes then shut the refrigerator door.

"What?" Lucy said as she picked a grape from its stalk.

"You know having people treat you so formally." He explained.

"I've gotten used to it but that doesn't mean I like it. Last time I requested to be referred to as Lucy my Father heard them and they were fired for using 'improper language'."

"Wow, strict huh?"

"I guess you could say that…"


The next day Lucy was fully rested and her plan of revenge for the excessive use of 'blondie' was more than ready. She sat in the seat of the black limousine her mind pondering on the irritation that struck her with every use of 'blondie'. 'Blondie' this, 'blondie' that. Even whilst they were practising their piece for drama he called her 'blondie'. The limousine arrived by the entrance of her school where countless teenagers made their way into the large building. It was go time.

Excitement circulated her veins. To Lucy, nothing was better than giving someone a good old taste of their own medicine. She felt the stares of her peers on her back as she walked into school like she always did. It was hilarious the amount of attention from others she gained from a reputation and a family name whether it be good or bad.

Lucy walked through the school to her first class and sat down beside Cana and Levy.

"Morning Lucy, you look dashing as always." Cana chirped intoxicated.

"How much did she drink this morning?" Lucy automatically signalled the question at the petite girl which accepted it with a sigh.

"Who knows? She stayed over at her boyfriend's last night. I think they may have had something to drink this morning."

"You don't say…"

"Anyway, how are you Lucy?" Levy beamed.

"Thrilled to be here." She answered sarcastically, Levy laughed at the retort.

Mr Clive entered the classroom hollering a good morning. He began taking attendance gazing along the rows of seats in the class.

"Natsu Dragneel is late." He murmured. "Levy take Cana to the nurse's office she can come back when she is sobered up." Guildarts rolled his eyes at the weekly routine. Cana straggled out a drunken "No!" before laughing in hysteria as Levy pulled her arm out of the classroom whilst the other pupils laughed. However Lucy was entranced in her thoughts of panic. Natsu, late?! What if he misses this class? I don't want to wait until last lesson to get revenge! What if he doesn't turn up at all? Natsu where the hell are you?!


"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own Wendy?" Natsu asked in worry.

"Yes I'm old enough to take care of myself when I'm sick you know… Plus Dad will be home later this afternoon." Wendy reasoned with him to leave. "You have school Natsu. Get going I'll be fine."

"You aren't trying to get rid of me right Wendy?" He smirked. "Otherwise Mr Tickle Monster is coming out to get you." Natsu neared Wendy with his arms outstretched threateningly. She kicked at them terror.

"No never." She giggled and hid underneath the covers of her bed.

"Alright call me if there are any problems." Natsu began making his way out of her room until he heard a yelp and a thud. He turned back to see Wendy on the carpet tangled in her own duvet. "What are you doing, weirdo?"

"I'm not a weirdo!" Wendy retorted as she struggled to stand up. "But you can't leave without a hug…" She lifted her upper limbs horizontally in expectance.

"C'mere you." Natsu ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her small, yet developing, frame. He twirled her around in the air as Wendy screamed in fear. He placed her down on her bed kissing her cheek fondly. "You better have recovered by the time I come back or else I'll tell Dad you skived." Natsu stuck out his tongue teasingly.

"No!" Wendy whined.

"Bye Wendy!" Natsu called out, walking down the stairs.

He arrived at school late. Not just late, but it was the start of his third lesson. He hadn't realised how long he had spent taking care of Wendy. He let a curse word and began to run to his first lesson through the empty construction of education. He burst through the door, an apologetic expression spread across his face as he quietly made his way to his seat.

Lucy was in a bad mood. Not just because she hadn't had the chance to take revenge on Natsu due to the fact that she had to go to her Dad's work at lunch, caused by a fellow employee quitting, but also because today in PE they were doing high jump. Although Lucy was good at sport, and high jump or that matter, she did not enjoy the googling eyes upon her when she was jumping through the air, butt on full display and a curved back which had the result of her chest popping out. What's more, it was their pervy teacher Taurus who was teaching them today.

She huffed as she finished tying her laces and stood up in the girls changing room. All the girls walked out of the changing room relatively at the same time. The boys, already on the track, shouted for the girls to hurry up impatiently. Lucy stepped up next to Natsu whilst Taurus explained the way to land safely.

"I thought I'd never see the day where the Lucy Heartfilia would voluntarily stand so close to me. Are you falling for me?" Natsu commented teasingly. His voice was soft, quiet enough that the pervy teacher wouldn't hear him.

"In your dreams, Pinkie." Lucy exaggerated them reference to him and his flirtatious, fun vibe soon turned to a tense one.

"Don't call me that." He spoke swiftly and bluntly.

"Why not? You can dish it out but can't take it in? Pinkie." Lucy provoked him. She didn't like him calling her blondie however he still carried on. How hypocritical of him, she thought. After all, it was all fun and games to her.

"Lucy, stop it." Natsu was firm. His face contorted with anger. Which was just what Lucy wanted to see. Taurus finished off his explanation and requested the pupils to line up adjacent from the equipment they would soon be jumping over. As all their classmate's began clearing off the area to their instructed one Natsu turned to look down at the blonde. There was a flash of pain in the depths of his eyes which Lucy managed to uncover beneath the disapproval she had provoked. "I'm not joking around." He stated. Lucy watched as he sauntered off to his peers. His shoulders and arms were tense. His fingers folded in as he squeezed them into the palm of his hand before letting them hang loose. It ticked Lucy off to know that, in her view, he was being so overdramatic. Get a grip.

"Miss Lucy!" Taurus called after her. "You go first Miss Lucy."

"Fine." The girl moved a fair distance away from the pole. She counted in her head 3, 2, 1, go. Her left leg outstretched as she ran in an arc, the hair of her pony tail following in her speed. She pushed herself off her right foot curving her back in order to avoid knocking the pole. She landed on the mat beneath her, shoulders first, doing a front roll to reduce her speed.

"Oooooh Miss Lucy that was great!" Lucy walked past her swooning coach to the end of the line, arms crossed, awaiting her next turn. The teenage girl gazed over to Natsu in frustration. What the hell was his problem? The one time she willingly goes up to him and gives him some form of attention he turns his nose up at it.

"Wow, well someone is in a foul mood." Cana said matter of fact as she rested her head on Lucy's shoulder.

"What about it?" Lucy retaliated.

"You haven't even acknowledged me until now. Nowadays you're always focused on Natsu and most of the time you don't even realise it." The brunette picked up her head, standing tall next to Lucy.

"Not now Cana. I don't have the tolerance for your mind games at the moment. I'm not stupid I've seen the way you talk Levy into saying things she didn't want people to know."

"What can I say? It's a talent of mine." Cana immodestly replied. "I'm a very observant person."

"Yeah that's one way of putting it…"

Lucy's eyes, still surveying Natsu in distaste, attended him whilst he talked to coach Taurus. The next thing she knew he was walking off the field. Her revenge wasn't finished and his response maddened her even more.

His whole body was enraged with fire. Every time he blinked images of police sirens, blood, bullets flying and that one hell of a building penetrated his mind. Of course it had to be her, Lucy, who decided it was a good idea to call him that. He knew it would be her the moment she referred to him as that when they first originally met. He flinched at her voice then, but the repetition this time was too much. It awoke the horrible memories which he tried to keep as nightmares all-knowing that it was an event that had actually occurred. It was reality and he was there to witness it, to be a part of it, along with that fucking result. No. Don't think about that Natsu, like Igneel said, you deserve a second chance. He attempted to console himself.

He heard quickening foot steps behind him. "You call me blondie! What's wrong with me calling you pinkie?" Couldn't she just leave him the fuck alone?! He ignored her and carried on walking. "Hey I'm talking to you!" Immediately Natsu faced her and for a moment she was scared. For the first time she was afraid of him. He grasped her wrist with such force that it made her wince in pain.

"Don't ever call me that fucking name again! You hear me?!" She felt her insides quiver in fear of the malicious tone of his voice. This wasn't the Natsu she knew. This wasn't the same Natsu who teased her, flirted with her. This Natsu had a murderous hint in his eyes, a darkness and danger about him. She was holding in her breath incapable of removing his stare from her sight. It was as if she was glued to him. The only thing keeping her upright was his grip that was corkscrewed around her wrist. Before she could even try to mask her discomposure covered in a cold sweat, with a flick of his arm she was on the floor. The feeling of the ground underneath her comforted her emotions snapping her back to reality.

"What the hell is your problem Dragneel?" Why was he having such an effect on her? She was terrified just from the look in his eyes.

"None of your goddamn business bitch." He spat back turning his back on her and walking away.

What the hell?! That was pathetic Lucy. Why was she so useless against him? She couldn't even move within his grasp. It was as if the world had stopped turning in that moment, like she stepped into Natsu's world, and she was more than ashamed. Picking herself off the ground she brushed the dirt off her legs and began making her way back to her class. Why was he leaving anyway?

She turned around the corner of the main building and to her dismay Levy curled up in a ball weeping whilst two troublemakers were there, Sol and Totomaru. They shouted abuse at the frail girl, kicking her and tearing books apart page by page. She was fuming. With a smirk she casually approached the scene in calmness but within her, a heart was ablaze fuelled by an overwhelming ill temper ready to be let off the leash. Nobody picks on her friend and gets away with it.

"Hey, assholes!" She shouted. Her eyes widened in excitement as she pulled her arm back and let her first erupt Sol's face. His obnoxious green hair reminded her of Natsu and his ridiculous pink hair so, of course, she didn't dare hold back. They didn't put up a fight one bit; they might as well have been punch bags for the girl Lucy contemplated. Levy looked up at the blonde in awe.

"Thank you, Lucy." Levy choked out in gratitude whilst tears rolled down her cheeks.

"It's fine, Levy, really. You're a friend what else was I supposed to do?" Lucy beamed, looking at her watch. There was no point returning back to her lesson now. "I think I'm going to go home now. Want a lift?" She offered the short girl.

"Yes please." Levy replied gratefully whilst she wiped her tears. Lucy turned her back to begin her journey to the chauffeur who would be waiting for her feeling refreshed and a lot less weighed down after her outburst. Levy picked up the remains of her book giving her bullies a quick kick each to gain some kind of satisfaction prior to running her little legs to Lucy's side.


As soon as Natsu got home he went straight to his room. He heard the giggles of his little sister, well not exactly his, and the voice of his Father, who wasn't exactly his either, from downstairs. He stripped, replacing his previous clothes with some shorts, a t-shirt along with white socks and trainers. He hastily walked out his room, down the stairs and out the house slamming the door shut.

He ran along the pavements of his neighbourhood listening to the pattern of his breathing whilst focusing on the rhythm of his legs. It felt so good to run again. He ran to the mapped out destination in his head, 'Lily's Boxing'.

Natsu jogged down the grey concrete stairs next to the main entrance of the establishment. He opened the door labelled 'boxers' which lead to the floor underneath the main boxing gym. To Natsu's surprise he had found out that Gajeel knew him extremely well for someone he's never formally meant. Despite the fact he moved from Bosco, a country south – east of Fiore. Natsu made the assumption that news travels fast and wide particularly those concerning the back street allies of the world. But he had no idea how Gajeel was exactly involved.

Gajeel had recommended going to 'Lily's Boxing' when he need to blow off some steam whish was exactly what Natsu desired to do. He said he knew how hard it is to restrain yourself from committing acts that used to be an everyday routine. Especially to those you care about.

Natsu scanned the room. There were punch bags hung with chains from the ceiling, two boxing rings adjacent to each other and various machines lined up. He could already tell that he was going to spend a lot of time here.

"Didn't think you'd actually show." He recognized the gruff voice of the man who draped his sweaty arm over his shoulder.

"Yeah, well."

"Come on, I'll take you to meet Lily. By the way he knows who you are too." Gajeel informed him.

"So much for having a new start." Natsu mumbled as Gajeel lead him to a tall man with his black hair sleeked into a bun.

"This is the Natsu Dragneel," Gajeel introduced him. "And Natsu this is Lily." The man named Lily held out his hand and Natsu returned the gesture giving him a firm hand shake.

"Nice to meet you Natsu."

"You too Lily."

"Well I will leave you two to get better acquainted." Gajeel announced prior to his return to his punching bag.

"Your uncle, Cobra, is a very good friend of mine. Tell me, how is he?" Lily questioned.

"Umm I haven't been able to contact him since I moved here so I don't really know myself, sorry." Natsu replied.

"No worries." Lily watched Natsu closely as he watched two men fight in one of the boxing rings. His fingers twitched and fists occasionally clenched. "I guess once a nail is imbedded into something it's almost impossible to remove." Lily spoke to himself.

"Can I get in the ring?" Natsu inquired trying to hide his impatience.

"If you want. Gajeel get over here." Lily signalled to Gajeel and he followed his instructions.

"What's up?" The pierced teenager wondered.

"Give Natsu a fight in the ring, will ya?" Instantaneously a beastly smile painted Gajeel's face making Natsu's blood pumping in excitement even faster.


Hey Guys! So this story is going to be my focus for a while now. I'm determined to make each chapter at least 4,000 words now because I find it really frustrating when the chapters are short or the story hasn't been updated in ages and then the chapter is tiny and you're like WTF?! So what did you think of the length? Too long, not long enough?

I'm so excited because we are finally getting to the main plot and I promise we will be there soon even I am getting impatient I WANT TO WRITE IT SO BAD! You have no idea what you're in for ;)

I'm starting to write the little side story about what happened to Natsu and everything because trust me it is a story within itself. I'm going to hold it back until I've completely finished it so I can post a chapter weekly. Plus I aint gonna spoil the reveal for another story, heck nahh.

Also, please review this, don't hold back! I want this story to be the best it can be. So please point out the good and the bad it means a lot to me.