Lean On Me 7: Blood Shed
Angels Can Die
Grade 5
Lucy
I finally thought it'd get better. How was I supposed to know how wrong I was?
"Bzzzz. Bzzzz."
The sound of her (new) cell phone rousing her from her slumber. It was 3 in the morning. Who the fuck was calling at this hour?
"Bzzzz. Bzzzz,"
She reached over and picked up her I-Phone. The caller ID read Erza Scarlet. Erza…? Initial shock turned into panic.
"H-Hello?! Erza?!" she stuttered through the receiver. "Reply Erza. Reply," she plead. Faint sirens could be heard in the background. She could've sworn she heard an electrocardiograph.
"HELLO?! ERZA?! ERZA?! IS EVERYTHING OKAY?!" she yelled through the speaker, her voice desperate and pleading.
The distinct sound of weeping rang through the receiver. A shaky voice filtered through the speaker. "Hello, this is Erza's mother."
Ice replaced her spine. Uncontrollable trembles shook her body.
"Wh-Where's Erza," she managed, voice faltering.
More weeping. Lucy felt her world start to reel.
"WHERE'S ERZA?!" she screamed. At that moment her bedroom door swung open.
"Miss. Heartfilia?! Is everything all right?!"
Ignoring her, Lucy clutched onto the phone and waited. Each second making her heart sink a little further. Finally, another voice took over. This one more familiar. Jellal Fernades, Erza's boyfriend.
"H-Hey Lucy," he stammered, his voice shaky. Was he crying?! What the fuck was happening?!
"WHAT HAPPENED JELLAL," she bellowed now shaking uncontrollably. There was another long silence, Lucy felt her usually calm demeanor slowly fading.
"Erza got into an accident."
Lucy's eyes grew wide.
"It was a hit and run. She's at the hospital in critical condition," he croaked.
Emotionless. No. That wouldn't be right. She felt too many emotions. Fear, Paranoia, Nostalgia, Sadness, Grief, and about 100 other not-so-nice adjectives. Words couldn't describe how she felt right now.
"Whersafrwge?" she rasped. Her voice not sounding like her own. It sounded dead and hollow. Everything came out like verbal diarrhoea.
Somehow interpreting her words, he replied, "Tokyo Eclipse Hospital."
Lucy, not bothering to change, bolted out the door. Adrenaline pumping through her veins.
"MISS!" her maid called out from behind her.
Thrusting opening the colossal doors of the alabaster mansion, she sped across the snow-covered lawns. The cold air nipped at her skin. The snow stung her bare feet but Lucy didn't care. Barely stopping for a breath she rushed into the Servants Quarter. She banged on CeCe's door with such force that one could've mistaken her for a savage beast. CeCe opened the door in alarm.
"Miss. Heartfilia? What are you doing out here in the cold?! And bare-feet?!" he cried out in alarm.
"CeCe take me to Tokyo Eclipse Hospital," she begged, her face shining with tears. CeCe stunned by her unusual behaviour nodded slowly before grabbing a coat of his rack and placing it on the young maiden's shoulders. He handed her a pair of boots and then led her to the car.
They whizzed down the highway, barely making it through red lights. Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed in unceremonious heaps on the road. Lucy hardly paid any heed towards the weather. Her mind was set solely on Erza. She clenched her hands together.
"Are we there yet," she urged.
"Nearly, Miss," he replied evenly.
Oh Erza. She brought her face down to her hands. Please be alright.
Lucy stared at her friend through the glass. Her forehead was gauged; the gauge now the colour of her scarlet hair. Her heartbeat was slow. Her hands were encased in bandages. Lucy sank to the floor. All the former happiness that Erza had bestowed upon her, slowly began to ebb away. She didn't feel like going to school. Or home. Or anywhere for that matter. She stayed like that for what seemed like days. Her father's looming figure appeared before her.
"Lucy it's time to go home," he whispered softly.
Lucy unable to move or speak lay crouched on the floor, immobile. Jude sighed and scooped the mess of his daughter into his arms. Lucy didn't flinch. She felt drunk. Jude strolled over to a nearby nurse overseeing Erza's operation.
"How is she, Madame?" inquired Jude.
"Not good. But she'll survive. We might have to switch her to a coma though," she confided softly.
The word coma pulsated through her mind. A sense of hopelessness seized her body. Jude nodded in a way of thanks and made his way to the Ferrari.
Natsu
Lucy hadn't attended school for 2 weeks. Much to his dissatisfaction, he found himself worrying about her well-being. It wasn't like her to ditch class. Nor was her friend Erza at school. "Did something happen?" he pondered. Various rumors had sprung up about Lucy's disappearance. Some said she'd been suspended for vandalism. Some were just plain shitty. Such as the one that came from Lisanna's best friends, Becky and Stephanie.
"She's obviously getting laid," announced Becky. The group of girls around her gobbling up her lies like candy. Natsu rolled his eyes and continued onto class. He was suddenly taken aback when he spotted a blonde seated at the front. Lucy?! He was about to approach her but Lisanna beat him to it.
Lucy
"I heard you got laid. Slut," sneered Lisanna. Lucy didn't bat an eyelash. She felt zero.
"Forgot how to speak? You know I heard you were very talkative. Especially in bed. Maybe you could get a job as a hooker. I heard they're hiring. You should really-"she was cut off by Lucy's voice.
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING LITTLE MOUTH!" she yelled, "OR SHOULD I DO THAT MYSELF?" Lisanna's eyes bulged out.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw a familiar pink-haired boy. He looked at her with wide-eyes.
Natsu
Saying he was shocked would be an understatement. He was beyond that point. Lucy looked at him with hollow eyes. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot. She wore a baggy t-shirt and faded jeans. She looked like a complete mess. Her blonde hair protruded scantily out of messy bun. Lucy glared at him. A scowl marred her otherwise beautiful face. He was completely taken aback by her sudden cold shoulder. It was probably reasonable after all the bullying but why was it so sudden?!
"Lucy? Are you o-"
Lucy
"Shut up."
She watched as his face contorted into one of utter shock and surprise.
"I don't want your false pity or concern."
Natsu flinched at her harsh words. Lisanna cowered back, also terrified by Lucy's change.
The conversation was promptly cut off by the ringing of the bell signifying the start of mathematics. She seated herself back in the desk and buried her face in her hands. This wasn't like her. She didn't like this Lucy. So many emotions swirled inside her. Loneliness, being above all.
Weeks dragged on. Lucy had become even more irritable. Constantly getting mad. Refusing to eat. Most of her sarcasm and anger channeled at Natsu and Lisanna. Blaming every fucked up aspect of her life on them. Her visits to the hospital and to her mother's grave left her feeling conflicted and frustrated. Her hate for herself kept growing.
"Yeah it's like she's constantly PMSing." "Slut" "Bitch" "Just die already" "Can't you take a hint, when you're not wanted?" "Do I have to spell it out already, L-E-A-V-E?"
The words kept growing. Piercing through the tough front that she'd put on.
Day 5: One foot in front of the other.
Day 10: Keep going.
Day 18: You're doing great Lucy.
Day 20: You don't need anyone.
Day 21: I'm fine… Really I'm fine…
Day 22: It's okay…
Day 23: I've had it.
Day 24: I can't take it anymore.
3 weeks from the last day of Grade 5, Erza had woken up. She could barely speak though.
"Hey Erza," Lucy croaked. She wanted to be happy when Erza woke. But her depression had gotten the best of her.
Erza shot her a look of concern.
"A-Are…. y-y-you … aright?" she tried. Her sentence coming out in choppy pieces.
Lucy shook her head. "Nope, not at all." Lucy smiled sadly. "How are you feeling?"
"S-Sore," she stammered. "W-What…. Happened?"
Lucy paused. "It's bad for your health."
Erza gave her a look that said spill-it-now-or-be-prepared-to-die-later.
Lucy laughed harshly. "Well I fucked up pretty bad Erza. I guess you could say I've even stooped to Lisanna's level. Maybe even lower"
Erza looked at her with concern.
"I've been acting like a bitch to everyone especially Natsu. I haven't been myself. I'm adding fuel to the rumors. My dad's hiring a psychiatrist to deal with my abnormal behavior. I've stopped eating. I'm constantly in meaningless arguments. I just hate this. I just hate myself so much," she cried.
Erza scrunched up her forehead and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
"Why… Why not say sorry?" she spoke with sudden clarity.
"How?" she whispered. "After what I've done…." Recalling Natsu's expression. He had looked at her with a distant expression. "I don't even know who you are."
"Well for starters… you can apologize… to Natsu," she stated. "It… could… make it easier… to apologize to everyone else…"
Lucy thought about it for a moment. Could she really confront Natsu and apologize for her behavior. Then again, she didn't have much to lose to start with.
"I get out... In… a… week. Wait for me… until then," Erza croaked.
"Yeah," said Lucy smiling weakly.
Lucy was perched on top of the brick fencing around Natsu's house. She was nervous as hell. It took a lifetime's worth of guts for her not to turn back. What expression would he make when he saw her? Would he listen to what she had to say? Lucy bit her lower lip. "Guess I'll have to find out," she whispered.
Natsu
"Natsuuuuuu, Natsuu, Natsu, Natsuuuu," chirped Lisanna.
He didn't understand how she could suddenly be so happy. Her mom was still fired. It was around 7. He had been practicing his throws for basketball. Lisanna had stayed behind so he wouldn't "be alone."
"What," he grumbled.
He wasn't in the mood to deal with Lisanna's sugar-coated voice and googly eyes. His mind kept wandering off to a certain blonde. Her angry face materialized in his mind. "Shut up." "I don't need your false pity or concern."
Natsu hurled the ball at the hoop. "Damn it all!" he yelled.
Lisanna flinched. "Natsu, a-are you okay?"
"Perfect. I'm peachy fucking perfect," he snapped.
Lisanna huffed, "Don't take your anger out on me, Mister."
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Sorry?"
Tears dotted the corner of her eyes. "Natsu…," she whimpered.
Natsu let out a heavy sigh. He'd forgotten how hard-to-talk-to Lisanna was. Unlike… Lucy. There it was again! Lucy in everything! She was driving him crazy! He could've sworn his indigestion had gotten worse because of her.
"I gotta run, Lisanna. See you around," he muttered. Before she could respond, he'd already run off.
He walked down the pathways. The spring wind blew through his hair whipping it up at odd angles. What was going on with him lately? It seemed like Lucy had become the sole thing on his mind. He cursed under his breath. He looked up noticing a strand of golden hair blowing in the wind. Okay, now he was delusional.
"Natsu?" the blonde asked unsure.
Okay maybe not-so-delusional.
Lucy
Lucy looked at Natsu's terrible state. Normally, she would've teased him and told him he looked like shit. But the circumstances were different now. She cleared her throat suddenly realizing the reality of the situation.
"What are you doing here," his voice demanded.
Lucy cringed. But stood her ground. "There's something I wanted to say to you," she stated firmly.
"Well start talking. I don't have all day," he snapped.
Lucy took a deep breath in before continuing. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her head downcast.
Natsu's head snapped back. "What?" The wind began to pick-up.
"I'm sorry," she repeated, her hands shaking a bit.
She could hear his breath hitch. "For what," he spat, his voice wavering.
"For being a bitch. I'm sorry for yelling at you and Lisanna. I'm sorry I've been a bother to you. I'm sorry for being like this. I'm sorry that it seems like I lied, I'm sorry-"
She was cut short by Natsu's hand. She grit her teeth together.
"So you thought, after you said sorry… that we'd run off into the sunset together?!" he spat.
"You thought, that I'd forget all the pain you caused others!?" he yelled. Lucy stood there immobile taking it all in. "YOU KNOW WHAT MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU LEFT. TRY CLOROX IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM," he shouted. (Clorox is a bleach, by the way. Natsu told Lucy to kill herself.)
Lucy froze.
"Try Clorox it works like a charm."
"Try Clorox it works like a charm."
"Try Clorox it works like a charm."
"Try Clorox it works like a charm."
Thump-thump. Her heart shattered into what seemed like a million tiny shards of glass.
Thump-thump. Lucy looked up, her eyes like dying stars.
Thump-thump. The words cut into her like tiny razors.
Thump-thump. Something flashed across Natsu's eyes. Regret?
Natsu
"Lucy, I'm s-"
"There's another thing I'm sorry about," she replied, cutting him off. Natsu looked at her with worried eyes.
"I'm sorry that I smiled whenever you were near me. I'm sorry that all those times we were together were precious to me," she started. The neighborhood's silence seemed to add to the heavy atmosphere.
"Lucy…?" Natsu asked.
"I'm sorry that I thought you were different than other guys. I'm sorry that I placed you above my family. I'm sorry that you ran through my mind all day!" she yelled her voice cracking. Her words rang through the streets.
"I'm sorry that I was so untrustworthy that you couldn't even believe in my words. I'm sorry for being born into a wealthy family," she sobbed softly.
Lucy finally looked up. Tears trickling down her beautiful face.
"I'm sorry for falling in love with you Natsu Dragneel." And with that last sentence she disappeared into the darkness of night.
Natsu stood there replaying Lucy's last sentence in his mind.
"What?!"
I'm so melodramatic. :'] The next chapter is the last sad chapter! o3o Once again, NO, I'm not a sadist. NO, Lucy does not die; thus leading to Natsu committing suicide. This ain't Romeo and Juliet. o3o A sadist is someone who takes pleasure from others' pain. Well any ways. Stay tuned for the next chapter! Leave a review because it motivates me to continue! You probably think Erza's accident is meaningless but it's not. For people who actually read my story description. It's the part where "In Grade 5, she wanted to die." This is one of Lucy's traumatic experiences.
Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail and its characters.
This story belongs to me.
