Hey everyone! Sorry I know its been a loong while Dx This chapter was kinda rushed sorry if i made any mistakes. there will be more chapters and I will work on the next one asap! School's been keeping me busy.

anyways Enjoy and hope you like it :)

Chapter 7: Confession and Denial

Levy sat on the stool where her blond best friend usually sat. It's been days since she last saw her, even though she would frequently see the fire mage in the guild. For some strange and unknown reason, Sting and Rogue had suddenly decided that for the time being, they would hang out with the script mage, so long as the stellar mage was nowhere near her. She would observe the blond dragon slayer. His actions, his words; they were all different from the way he acted when he was with Lucy. That is, before he had watched her walk away with his lifetime rival.

From the day that Lucy had come back from their job, Sting had avoided her, ignoring her greetings, and acting as if there was nothing but thin air from where she stood. She would try to make conversation, but in turn, Sting would only talk to other people, but never her. As worried as the script mage was, she knew better than to bother her best friend when she didn't show up at the guild for a few days. It has been three days now, and no one has seen her.

There were times when she would hear Gray and Natsu speak to each other. The ice mage would lecture the fire mage that he needed to make a decision and that he was being completely idiotic trying to choose between Lisanna and Lucy without hurting either one. Levy would hear Natsu talk about how he would sneak into Lucy's window at night, sometimes engaging in a conversation with her, and sometimes he would catch her crying for a reason she did not want to tell. He would comfort her and they would end up staying in each other's arms until the fire mage would have to leave. Gray and Natsu's conversations usually ended in fights, which would then spread throughout the male members of the guild.

Levy could only think of how selfish Natsu was being for keeping a relationship with her best friend, while remaining in a relationship with Mirajane's younger sister, but then again Lucy never did end her relationship with Sting. She found it surprisingly out of character, but she knew that Natsu considered Lisanna to be someone special, having known her for a very long time.

Trying to forget about her anger towards Natsu, Levy took a drink from the glass of orange juice that Mirajane had prepared for her. The take-over mage had been eager to hear what had happened during the job, but Levy couldn't bring herself to gossip about it. As much as she cared about Lucy, the blue-haired mage had other matters to attend to.

She scanned the room, searching for the iron dragon slayer, that can't seem to leave her mind no matter how many times she tried. Her eyes landed on Gajeel, who was busy eating scraps of iron metal. For a moment she thought she saw him glance her way, but for all she knew, it could've been just a trick in her eyes.

"Why don't you tell him already? Damn it. He could be just as dense as the other one," Levy turned to Sting. He has become even ruder ever since Lucy had chosen Natsu over him. She hasn't once heard him say Lucy's name or tried to pick a fight with Natsu.

Levy glared at him momentarily and made her way to the iron dragon slayer. She felt knots forming in her stomach, Rogue's words suddenly ringing in her ears. She definitely did not want to make things complicated. She did not want to end up in the same situation her best friend got herself into. "G-Gajeel?"

The dragon slayer had already sensed the script mage heading towards him. Her smell becoming stronger with every step she took closer to him. When she spoke his name, he looked at her, "What?" was all he managed to say.

Levy took a deep breath, "There's something I want to tell you."

Lucy sat at the edge of her bed, confused more than ever. She had asked herself countless questions over the last three days. Was she really happy that Natsu was still with Lisanna? It wasn't even an official relationship that she had with him. They merely confessed their feelings for each other. What's more, why had she felt so much pain at Sting's actions towards her? She had to admit to herself, than within the time frame that she was with the White dragon slayer, she had grown closer to him than she expected. She knew then that she had developed feelings for Sting, but then, she also held a great deal of emotions for Natsu.

A knock on her door interrupted her train of thought. Having only seen Natsu during her absence from the guild, she did not expect anyone else to come see her. Even more, she didn't expect Lisanna to be the one standing at her door. The take-over mage greeted her, her expression neutral. Lucy motioned for her to enter, but Lisanna was straight to the point, "I only came here to say one thing, Lucy, and that is to stop messing with Natsu's mind. He was mine from the start and he will always be mine. Or are you that stupid that you can't even begin to realize that everything would've been fine if you were still with Sting? Lucy, Sting likes you and it's pretty obvious that you like him too. So let go of Natsu, because right now, you're the reason why everything's a mess."

Lucy's eyes brimmed with tears the moment the door closed behind the take-over mage. Lisanna had every right to talk to her that way and she couldn't blame her. She had already thought about so much over the past few days and now she had more things to think about, but she knew she couldn't sulk at home forever.

The next morning, Lucy, having no sleep at all, made her way to the guild. It was around four in the morning when she finally decided that it would be best to do something a little more productive than lay in bed. It was still dark outside and very few people were walking the streets. Lucy stopped, staring at the concrete ground. It was all too familiar and not just because she always walked this path.

Lucy looked up, noticing a shadow approaching her. "Sting…" she parted her lips and whispered his name. They locked eyes, neither one saying another word. Lucy reached out a hand to him, "S-Sting, I…" she was unable to say anymore. Sting did not give her a chance and walked right past her.

Lucy turned around, "Wait Sting!" she ran to catch up to him and held his arm. She looked up at him, but he didn't turn to look at her, "Why are you avoiding me? I can't stand that you won't even look at me. At least explain!" she felt tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

She felt him slightly shake and suddenly watched as he bursts with fits of laughter. Her brows furrowed in confusion, "Lucy, you're just as stupid as ever," Lucy's eyes grew wide with shock. He had a smirk on his face; making it all the more obvious that he meant what he said. And yet, there was a hint of darkness in his eyes. "You're making a big deal out of nothing. Don't tell me you've fallen for me," he laughed once more, "can't you tell the difference between a real relationship and a joke?"

A…joke? Lucy felt a shattering in her world. She felt frozen and unable to move. Sting had been playing with her the whole time. It was all just a game to him, and she should've seen it coming. Then why did his words hurt so much? Why did she feel like breaking down and crying? It wasn't this bad when she distanced herself from Natsu. She forced out a laugh and turned to walk away, "Right. Sorry…"

Sting sat on a tree branch. He had not expected to run into Lucy so early in the morning. It has been three days since he last saw the stellar mage and he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. He had a longing to see her face, to hold her in his arms, to keep her away from the fire dragon slayer, but, she had already made her decision.

Three days away from her was enough to somewhat forget about the aching near his chest. It was that, or he had become numb from so much emotional pain. And yet, when he saw her that morning, he couldn't stop his heart from beating so rapidly. Sting mentally slapped himself on the forehead. He couldn't have gotten soft that quickly. He was a dragon slayer; he can't be weak and give in to the Celestial spirit mage.

He knew it was wrong for him to tell her that their relationship had been nothing but a joke. He had seen the way her eyes grew wide, forming tears. She had looked down at that moment, as if to hide the pain. He wanted to comfort her, and to tell her that he only said those words because he had felt so much pain when he watched her be taken away by Natsu. He had the urge to tell her he was the better man, and that she wouldn't get anywhere with his rival.

Sting pulled out of his thoughts, If she's just as dense as Natsu, then I won't get anywhere with her either. He stood up and turned to his teammate, who had just entered the forest. "Rogue, let's head back to the guild."

The shadow dragon slayer stepped out of the shadows. He merely nodded his head. Their two exceeds stood behind him. Frosh couldn't help but let tears fall as he watched their Fairy Tail marks disappear and be replaced by the Sabertooth marks. "Our job here is done."

Sting nodded in agreement, "I had fun messing with them though. Especially with that stupid blonde." Sting tried to hide the guilt and regret with a smirk as he held up the fifteen silver and golden keys that once belonged to the Celestial Spirit mage.

Rogue looked at him with surprise in his face, "You took her keys? That's not part of the plan Sting! We were only supposed to spy on them."

"This is all for my enjoyment, Rogue. Master won't know about it. I just want blondie to suffer."

Levy felt her eye twitch in irritation for the twentieth time that morning. She had tried to tell the iron dragon slayer how much she liked him ever since the prior night, but every time she tried to speak, someone would either shout something to him causing him to look away, or a fight would break out, and he would end up joining. She had given up and decided that she would go to the guild the next morning to let her feelings be known.

Gajeel sat down, with bruises and scratches on his arms and face, "Okay bookworm, what was it you wanted to say again?" He didn't notice the sudden heat that flared from the blue-haired mage sitting across from him. He had ended up being challenged to fight against Natsu that morning just as Levy tried to confess.

Levy slammed her small hands on the table, causing the guild members and Gajeel to look up in surprise, "You idiot! All you ever do is make fun of me with those nicknames! You don't even realize how I feel for you! I like you! I like you more than just as a friend! I like you so much, but you're too stupid to even realize it! Baka!"

Levy turned and ran out the guild, leaving a dumbfounded dragon slayer, and surprised guild members. Mirajane happen to be one who heard Levy's confession, a smile forming on her lips. "Shouldn't you go run after her, Gajeel-kun?"

Gajeel turned to Mirajane for a quick second, and found himself running after the script mage, "That little bookworm, why didn't she tell me sooner."

It was after that little scene that Lucy had entered the guild with a panicked stricken look on her face. Mirajane watched as she looked underneath the tables and run up and downstairs. She went around and questioned guild members, who shook their heads at her question. "Lucy, what's wrong?" the bar maid asked the stellar mage as she took a seat on her usual stool.

"Mira, I can't find my keys!" Lucy cried out.

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