AN/Tina: Thank you fro your reviews! I hope you will like this Chapter too. And thanks for using a name.
Lucy liked writing about Nastu Dragneel, he was a strange character, childish and yet, with an fascinating in sighed on life. But none of this was what the readers of Strings'n'Drums would be interested in. Unless she could put it in relation with his work, which wasn't an easy task. Lucy had decided that she needed more material to achieve her goal. In that spirit she had gotten the magazine to pay for a ticket to his concert in London.
The concert was in a massive room that could hold more five hundred persons. Lucy's ticket was in the pit, of course. She had checked a London map three times before leaving, the concert was particularly far away from her flat and she had never been to that part of town. This was one of the things the loved about London, she always had new things to discover, even people who had lived here their entire life were finding new places every day. Lucy had quickly come to know every inch of the small villages around the estate. But she knew London would always have a part of mystery.
The weather was hot even at that time of night, Lucy was wishing she had worn a skirt, but as she knew how lively Nastu Dragneel's concert could get, she had opted for pants. At least her arms could meet the refreshing wind thanks to her short sleeve shirt. The man next to her was smoking a cigarette, the woman behind her, something else.
Finally the door opened and Lucy made her way to the pit. In front of her there was a small fence, on the other side photographer were trying to figure out the best position to be when the concert start. Among them she noticed Loke, she took a step back hoping he wouldn't see her. He didn't. Actually, he seemed a bit too preoccupied with the pretty girl he was with to even look her way. Nevertheless, she backed to the third row, just to be safe.
The first part band came in, and Lucy quite enjoyed their music, but she didn't catch their name. The moment they left and Nastu entered the stage, the all crowd went wild, they was screaming everywhere, and Lucy knew that if they started playing now, no one would hear them. Nastu Dragneel was smiling happily at the crowd. He came to the mike and started clapping his hand over his head. Quickly people stopped shouting and started clapping along. Lucy was among them, and the sound of their collective clapping gave the rhythm of the song that she recognised immediately. In less than a few second the melody grabbed her heart, and her body told her it wanted to dance. Lucy tapped her feet and moved her shoulder to the beat. Everyone around her was already dancing, but Lucy couldn't dare to do the same.
The next song was just as upbeat. Lucy let her upper body leap while trying to be discrete. Meanwhile, Nastu Dragneel was jumping up and down the stage guitar in hand. The songs succeeded themselves and Lucy let herself be carry by the band. Lucy felt liberated, none of her problem could reach her, even her father couldn't reach her now.
A ballad came next and Lucy found herself swaying with the rest of the audience, as Nastu pour his heart into the mike. Each notes entered her soul overclouding all her trouble, as Nastu's emotions came in like a strike. Taken by this beautiful melancholy, her eyes wander to him. His eyes were close, remembering something perhaps; it would explain why he looked so grim. It was as if he had left this world, and he was somewhere else, on his own, for now.
Song after song, Lucy let herself loos. And by the end of the concert she had forgotten what she was here for. It's only while passing in front of the backstage entrance on her way out that she remembered. She was definitely going to write a great article about Nastu Dragneel's stage performance. Should she describe it as mystifying or unbinding? The wording was going to be hard to figure out.
She saw a large group waiting outside of the backstage door; they were getting on their tiptoes trying to see if someone was going to come out. Lucy wondered if she should try to get in. Would Nastu Dragneel remember her? Probably not, why would he remember a journalist he had only met once?
Taking a closer look she noticed that Loke was among the people waiting outside. The girl he had come with was right next to him jumping on her feet with excitement. Not ready to face the man Lucy decided to leave, she turned around but was force to turn back, slightly, by the sound of the door opening.
She saw Nastu Dragneel perked his head out of the door, he gave a smile to the crowd out side and then his eyes fell on her. His eyes widen slightly. He couldn't actually remember her, could he?
"Luigi!" he shouted at her "You didn't told me you'd be coming"
Lucy was embarrassed to be called the wrong name, but then again she couldn't really expect him to remember it. Hesitantly she said "I- I didn't know I'd be coming"
He nodded then made her sign to come in and disappear behind the door. Lucy stood unmoving, she was unsure that she should walk through that door, she wasn't exactly sure that this sign was directed to her. What if she had misinterpreted it? Why on earth would Nastu Dragneel want some journalist he had only met once to come in the backstage with him? Unless he was hoping he could get a one-night stand out of her. This wasn't good, Lucy wasn't ready for that and she didn't even know him. If this was what he was after, it was better for her to just go away.
"You're coming?"
Lucy looked up at the sound of his voice, he had passed his head outside of the door again, and was looking straight at her with such innocent eyes that Lucy ended up joining him behind the door.
The backstage was crowed with technician trying there best to get the equipment back in their cases. Nastu led her to a close room, which had to be his dressing room. It was as messy as his flat, hard to believe he had managed to do that much in the short time he must have spent in this room.
As Lucy made her way into the room she was startled by something moving against her leg, she gasp and looked down to see the same cat she had met at Nastu's flat.
Nastu smiled, "He really does like you" he said.
Lucy gave a smile as an answer. She bent down to pet the cat, which purred at her touch.
"Did you like the show?"
She looked up to Nastu, he seemed to genuinely want to know how she felt, as if anyone could dislike that.
"It was great" she answered honestly, she saw his smile grow even bigger than before, "it looked like you were elsewhere, not in a bad way, it just seemed like you were living the songs."
"I guess I was" he said as he scratched the back of his "you know these songs, they're about stuff I've lived, people I've known, like, when I play them it all comes back, you know?"
This was simply what art did, it transported you. Lucy had always figured out the art-pieces had the power to do so, but she had always wondered how they affected their creator. Hearing Nastu speak, it seemed like they were just as powerless in front of it and the mere mortal.
"Can I use that in my article?"
Nastu looked at her surprised then shrugged and said "Sure" he looked at the wall a few seconds before asking "Did you come just for your article?"
"No" she answered before thinking. It felt weird, because while she had always been a fan of his music and had always wanted to go to one of his concert, the reason she had decided to come tonight was to help her write her article. Yet when she had denied it, when the answer came out of her mouth, it sounded so natural, so casual, as if it had been entirely true. She had never been a good liar but he seemed to believe her.
"Wanna sit?" he said gesturing to the chairs in the room.
Lucy made her way to sit on one of them and Nastu sat across of her.
"Why you became a journalist?"
"Sorry?"
"Like why did you choose that?"
Lucy didn't know what to answer, she knew her reason to become a rock'n'roll journalist weren't the most romantic one, and she felt a bit embarrassed about it. But she was also curious about what made him so interested so she asked him "What do you think?"
"Honestly, I don't get it" Lucy raised her eyebrow "I mean I don't understand why you'd want to wright about other people doing stuff when you could be doing stuff."
"I'm not sure if I'm the best person to ask, but I think that when you love something you want to share it with other people and that's what a music journalist does, we found music we like and share with others."
Nastu nodded, understanding showing in his eyes, followed by confusion " Why aren't you the best person to ask?"
Lucy suddenly felt very small, "Well, you see, I like being a journalist but my dream is to be writer."
"Oh!" Nastu seemed strangely interested "What do you wright about?"
"I don't know yet" said Lucy feeling even more uncomfortable.
"That part sucks doesn't it!?" Nastu exclaimed, making large gesture. "It took me years to figure out what I wanted to sing about, and it's awful because you want to sing, or wright, or whatever, but as long as you don't know what you want to do it about your stuck! You can't do anything!"
"Tell me about it" said Lucy while chuckling. "At least with journalism I get to practice my writing"
"I get that, I used to play with any band I could find."
"Really I didn't know about that."
He tilted his head, "I guess I don't talk about this often"
"Are they any band you though of staying with?"
"Not really" he said narrowing his eyes, "I mean they are some I liked working with but" he paused and tilted his head around "it was their thing not mine, you know"
"I see" Lucy didn't had any idea what to add. Silence fell, Lucy felt the need to add something, to keep the conversation going, she was alone in a room with Nastu Dragneel for god's sakes! "What were the bands?"
Nastu stared at her for a few seconds before answering "They were a lot I went through, huh- the only one I stayed in long was the alcoholics, I did a few gigs with them when Macao broke his arm"
"Yes the lead singer is one of your childhood friends"
He looked at her with a frown then clapped his hands together, "Oh yeah right you're friends with Levy. You know, they're all my friends."
"Who?"
"The alcoholics"
Lucy couldn't help but smile, there was something that warmed her up in his need to specify that he was friend with the all band to someone who would assume otherwise, and she had no idea why.
"How's Levy?" he asked her.
Lucy was in a hard place, she hadn't spoke to Levy since she had told her about Rust reaction to her presence. She wasn't sure if her friend was all right, and neither was she that she could tell Nastu about it. But she wanted to, at least just to talk about it with someone. But if Levy didn't want him to know, she would be hurting her. She had been friend with Nastu longer then her, anything she told her she should be fine with him knowing. Right?
Her mulling over took too long, there was now worry in Nastu's eyes and none of what she said could convinced him there was nothing.
Lucy sighed and admitted, "I don't know, she hasn't talk to me in while. But the last time she did things weren't going great with Rust."
Nastu's clenched his fist "If they hurt her I'm sending them to the hospital"
Lucy smiled "She's lucky to have you as friend"
Nastu looked at her with a blank face then smiled and said "Don't worry, a few more meetings and we'll be friends too"
She chuckled, "I'd like that" she admitted.
They kept talking for a while, Nastu asked her about her friends and was surprised to find out that they basically resumed to Levy. Lucy changed the subject, and somehow they ended up talking about food. Something Nastu could apparently talk about for a remarkably long time. He gave her a few addresses. She would have to check out her wallet before checking any of them out. And then someone came to tell them they would have to leave. That's when they parted ways, after she promised him they would see each other's again.
Lucy got home happy, she had spent a great evening. But it had been a long evening and all she wanted was to sleep. She threw herself on her bed as soon as she got home. She closed her eyes, and heard the phone ring. Her first though was that she would let it ring and go to sleep. Oddly the phone only rang twice before stopping, then started ringing again. Lucy though of how weird this was, and then remember this was the system she and Levy had put in place.
She jumped off her bed and grabbed the phone, "Levy, how are you?" she asked the second she picked up.
"I'm" she held that m a few seconds then finally let out, "better"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I even got something close of an apology from Gajeel"
Lucy paused a second to process this, Gajeel Redfox didn't seem like the kind of man to apologise for anything. But then again Levy had said something close of an apology.
"I mean he said "you can stay just don't get that camera to close of my face", so I guess that means his sorry, right?"
"Well I guess that's the closest you're going to get."
"I guess so too. But you know his behaviour really improved, he actually greets me in the morning now"
"That's amazing" Lucy said as she moved to sit on her bed, her head against the window, "you know I'm really relive to hear that, you hadn't given me news in a while"
"Yeah, I know, I was really busy over here, are things alright on your end?"
"I'm fine, just finishing articles before the festival"
"We'll see each others there! Have you seen the final listing? It's going to be amazing."
"I know, I've also noticed that most of your childhood friends are going to be there. Speaking of which, I told Nastu about the trouble you were having with Rust, I hope you don't mind."
"It's fine, as long as its just Nastu, if you had told Erza we might have had problem."
"Erza?"
"She tends to over react."
Lucy was surprised by this, she would have picture Nastu to be more short fuse then Erza Scarlet, who always looked so calm and compose in her interview and even on stage.
"When did you talk to Nastu?" asked Levy sounding genially curious.
"He invited me in the backstage after a show" she explained, but as she said it, the all thing came to seem odd to her again, remembering the talk they had she added, "I think he wants to be my friend."
"That sounds like Nastu, every where he goes he makes friend, I swear every time you go somewhere with him he knows someone."
"That's impressive" muttered Lucy thinking of her current friend situation. Her chest tightened and she looked away toward the street. Her eyes wandered along the lights of the streets lamps, they fell on a silhouette and she did a double take. This silhouette looked like Aquarius, didn't it? Lucy didn't have time to look better at it before it was gone, as if it had just been a pedestrian passing by. It could have been, after all, in this part of town people tend to wander at night. Maybe she had just imagined Aquarius. Again? What if she was indeed here? What if she wasn't?
If she was here then her dad had found her, if she was here then she would be forced to go home. Lucy's eyes glued to the window as her breathing quickened. She couldn't see her anymore, maybe she hid in the shadow. Or, maybe, she had never been here.
Lucy sat back on her bed, her heart was still beating strongly in her chest, and her hand shook lightly. She breathed in and out. This couldn't be Aquarius, if it had been her, she wouldn't have been stalking her, she would have grabbed her and dragged her back home already. This wasn't Aquarius, she was just imagining things.
What did that meant? Why would she be imagining Aquarius around her? Was she going paranoid? Or, perhaps, it meant that she missed her home. Could she actually be missing a place where she had felt trapped, unwanted and unloved for so long? Some people had been nice to her, but that wasn't enough. She would never go back to that place.
"Lucy!" a shout near her hears interrupted her thought.
"Levy" she whispered remembering that she was still on the phone.
"What happened? Why did you space out like that?"
"I'm sorry" Lucy didn't want to get into what may or may not be going on in her head with her friend right now, so she simply said "I'm tired and imagining things."
She heard Levy sighed on the line, she mustn't have been very convincing, still her friend didn't pressed her. "Okay go to sleep, we'll see each other's at the festival."
Lucy thanked her and hung up. She lied down on her bed. She was still shaken from what she had seen, or thought she had seen. It still seemed odd that she would think she saw Aquarius twice in such a short amount of time. She had the feeling this could very well indeed be her. But it didn't really matter, she would leave for the festival soon, and there, Aquarius couldn't reach her. Until she came back.
But it wasn't Aquarius. She was imagining things, Aquarius was back home with her father, doing whatever it is she does for him. So there was no reason to mull over it. Aquarius wasn't here. But what if she was?
It didn't matter. She needed to think of something else and sleep.
Aquarius could burst through the door anytime.
Think of something else.
She could be waiting for her outside.
Think of something else. Think of something else. Think of something else. Think of something else. Think of something else. Think of something else. Think of something else.
Think of anything else.