All week she hadn't bumped into him, and it was beginning to drive the blonde nuts.
And now it was winter break and Lucy was packing up her things to return home for the holidays. The holiday season always managed to bring the blonde in a good mood, was it the holiday lights? The cheery smiles? The overpowering scent of cookies that seemed to wash one away when entering a store?
She couldn't really tell you herself, but she sure as hell knew it made her one happy camper.
"I'm going to miss you Lu-chan." Levy says, throwing her arms over her friend's shoulders as she creeps up from behind.
And then there was the sad part, separating from her best friend.
Smiling at Levy's friendly gesture, Lucy turns around and places both hands on the blunette's little shoulders.
"It's only a few weeks Levy, we'll call and text frequently I promise." Lucy promises, holding out her pinky which Levy takes eagerly and they both nod making an agreement.
Feeling tears prick her eyes, Lucy turns around and zips up her suitcase. Giving her best friend one last hug, she exits the door and heads for the train station.
Time to go home.
xXx
Arriving at the way too busy station, Lucy felt slightly overwhelmed at the amount of people. People were spilling out of trains, hopping onto trains, buying passes, hugging, kissing; someone was even handing out cookies!
Completely frazzled by the amount of people and her brain slightly fogged from the claustrophobia, she accidentally bumps into someone and almost trips over her own two feet until a hand catches her shoulder.
"You alright?" A familiar voice asks, causing Lucy to snap out it.
Looking up into piercing onyx eyes, Lucy's breath catches in her throat.
"Natsu?" She whispers, totally shocked that she's seeing him here.
But, then again why wouldn't she? Everyone was going home for the holidays.
It's just he always manages to make my heart flutter…and I don't know why!
Lucy inwardly thinks, moving away from Natsu and standing up straight, ironing out the crumpled fabric on her shoulder, the cause of Natsu's tight hold.
A playful smirk spreads on Natsu's lips.
"I see you've taken a liking to my scarf." He points out, taking the material into his hands and playfully throwing it around her head.
Flustered and turning a small shade of peachy pink, Lucy squeals and removes the scarf from her head, afraid that her hair will become a frazzled mess. All girls know how frizzy dry hair can be in the wintertime, Lucy knew from experience.
"I was going to give it back, but I didn't see you all week." She huffs, folding her arms over her chest and staring at the rosette, the scarf slowly sliding down her face.
Laughing at her absolutely adorable pout, Natsu fixes the scarf and tucks it snuggly around her neck.
Shocked by the fiery touch of his fingers against her neck, Lucy feels her body jitter with excitement and the butterflies in her stomach take full flight, spreading their wings and causing her to practically tremble.
Gosh, get it together Lucy! What is wrong with you?
She mentally curses herself for acting in such a strange way.
Clearing her throat after Natsu's fingers leave her neck and his scarf is wrapped tightly around her fragile neck, Lucy takes a deep and much needed calming breath.
"You don't want it back?" She asks, quirking a brow.
"'Course I do." He states, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Lucy's about to question why he hasn't asked for it back when he walks over and spins her around, leading her through the busy crowd of people.
The feeling of his arm around her shoulder and their sides touching causes Lucy's cheeks to flare up and her mind to turn fuzzy.
"So, Lucy, tell me which train has the privilege of taking you home?" He asks all gentlemanly like, leading her to a clearing, away from all the madness.
Not trusting her voice, Lucy points a shaky finger in the direction of her train.
Just why is he making her feel this way? And, if he's really from her past why is he acting as if none of it matters? Why hasn't he mentioned it before?
Conflicted with her feelings for him, Lucy doesn't even notice they've made it to her train until he's seated her at a bench and unwrapped his unnaturally warm arm from her shoulder.
"And now we wait." He smiles at her, crossing a leg over the other and leaning against the wooden bench. He taps his leg, it bounces up and down showing his impatience.
"We're on the same train? You live in Magnolia?" She asks, surprise lacing her voice as she stares with wide eyes at the rosette.
Natsu gives her a look that scream "duh" but shakes off the look he swore Lucy must have missed, which of course she didn't, before clearing his throat and putting on a completely surprised façade.
"I guess so, wow I had no idea you lived in Magnolia." He says, and Lucy notices the nervous flare to his usually confident voice.
He's hiding something.
Lucy opens her mouth to question him, finding it the perfect moment to confirm if he's really from her past or she's just hallucinating realistic past dreams.
But, when her voice is about to escape her lips Natsu shoots up from his position on the bench startling her.
"I'm gonna go grab a coffee, you want anything?" He asks, plastering that toothy grin on his handsome features.
Lucy's heartbeat quickens as he smiles at her.
"Uh, no I'm okay, thank you." Lucy says politely, and watches him run off to buy his beverage.
After his departure, Lucy collapses on the bench, running a hand down her face.
Why did he escape? He was definitely hiding something…and why does my heart feel like it's going to burst out of my ribcage? He's just some guy I know nothing about!
But…why does it feel like I've known him my whole life…the way he treats me…it's like he knows something more.
Kicking her legs out and slumping on the bench Lucy lets out an irritated groan.
He better hurry up.
xXx
"What do you mean she's onto you?"
Natsu groans, tapping his foot furiously as he waits in line.
"I mean, she gave me one of her famous 'I know you're hiding something' looks. Gray I'm at the station on my way to Magnolia with her, if she finds out we're neighbors she'll have questions." Natsu explains, feeling the panic slowly settling in.
Gray curses on the other line, and Natsu can imagine him kicking a wall or something in frustration.
"Darn it Natsu! You promised that you wouldn't get close to her and you're doing just that!" Gray scolds his closest friend and Natsu winces at his harsh tone.
"Don't you think I know that?" Natsu hisses into the phone, trying to keep his voice hushed from the neighboring strangers giving him odd looks.
"It's just, wherever I go she somehow ends up there and I just can't stay away from her. It's like she's a magnet or something." Natsu mumbles, stepping up in line.
"You do understand if you spill anything about your past you are dead, right?" Gray says, his voice calmer but still slightly panicky.
"Of course I know. But, she's definitely catching on… I don't know how but she is." Natsu confesses, feeling his foot go numb from the rapid tapping, which is due to his anxiety reaching maximum level.
"Listen, take a deep breath and go back there and tell her that you don't feel well. Besides you get motion sickness right? So she won't be able to interrogate you for the whole ride and then when you get to the stop you just let her leave, and then you escape to your car and head home." Gray advises, and Natsu feels his shoulders relax.
Gray was right, and Natsu knew that his plan would definitely work. He did had motion sickness…never in his life would he have thought that it would actually come in handy one day.
She won't be able to get information out of him since he'll be puking his guts out and half conscience.
And he knew that it was safer if Lucy didn't find out.
"Okay, thanks Gray." The rosette thanks his friend who replies with a "sure, call me if you do anything stupid" before they both hang up.
"Next!" The cashier calls out, and Natsu realizes that he's calling him.
Stepping up he smiles at the employee and places in his order.
"A hot coffee please, throw in all your finest spices."
xXx
AN: This chapter was sweet yet sour I suppose? Lucy and Natsu's past is pretty complicated ain't it? You probably all want me to reveal it, and trust me it will happen...but slowly.
Thank you for all of the support on this story!
Leave a review pretty please? *bats eyelashes sweetly*
Until next chapter, toodles~