Hi guys! Thanks to everyone that followed, favorited, and/or reviewed! 77 reviews in 6 chapters! You guys are awesome! This story is officially my most reviewed one, which makes me so happy! Personally, this is my favorite of my three stories. (After this chapter, just expect Review Responses at the bottom unless I tell you otherwise.)

I've been forgetting to say this, but Natsu DOES NOT have his scarf. He will get it later in the story, I promise. I actually have that planned out... a miracle has happened.

PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!

Here's chapter seven!


I'm pushed against the cold, hard lockers in the deserted school hallway. I was hobbling on unsteady crutches when this, this, bastard came out of nowhere and attacked me. I feel like he's out for revenge; he probably is, after the events of this morning. He seems more than pissed. Infuriated is the best word, or seething with rage. It's radiating off him in strong waves.

It's Sting. Just him, no posse. Still, I'm no match for this strong, athletic football player.

"You made a fool of me this morning, bitch, but now it's your turn. And I'm gonna repay you tenfold," he snarls, a twisted grin forming on his lightly tanned face.

I know better than to do this, but I scowl. I'm injured, for one, and this morning was only because Lucy was there. She helped me. In a way, she started the "counter attack." I wouldn't have fought back if she hadn't arrived. But, its better I get hurt instead of her. I'm used to it, she's not.

I replace my previous scowl with an emotionless face. If I'm going to get beaten to a bloody pulp, I might as well not give Sting the pleasure of a reaction.

Sting growls; he's growing more infuriated by my lack of being intimidated. His teeth are visible, showing sharp canines, like a dog's. I'm scared, yes, but I don't show it.

He surprisingly releases me, letting me drop to the floor like some dead weight. I can't stand; my crutches lie some yards away, completely out of my reach. I sit up, leaning against the metal lockers. Sting steps back, blocking the path to the tools that help me stand and walk.

He takes another step back, only to use it to get somewhat of a running start and kick me square in the gut. I bend over, clasping my abdomen in an unbelievable amount of pain. This guy can kick. And Jiemma kicked that same spot last night.

"That was for making me look stupid," Sting says. "And this is for ruining my relationship with the big-boobed blonde." He kicks me again, this time harder, in my stomach. I double over, my cheek hitting the tiled floor, and cough up blood.

He continuously kicks me, each one only getting so much harder and painful. My vision is fading, I'm losing a lot of blood, and I'll be bruised for the next month at least. Nevertheless, I use my unsteady hand to cover my stomach, blocking his next kick. He pauses, his foot returning to his side, and glares down at me with his ferocious royal blue eyes.

I return his glare, looking up through my salmon bangs. He can make fun of and hurt me all he wants - I don't care anymore - but no one will speak of my only friend like he just did.

"Lucy." I cough up more blood.

"Huh," Sting demands in his obnoxious, snotty voice.

"Lucy," I repeat. "Her name is Lucy."

Sting sneers at me. "Oh, you mean the new girl with big boobs? Yeah, she's mine. Stay away if you know what's good for you." He gets right in my face at the last part.

I continue to glare at him, a mix of hatred, anger, and the feeling of being threatened swimming in my onyx eyes. I've had it, but I can't do anything. I feel useless, defeated, and utterly helpless. I'm shattered.

Sting steps back, lifting his face from mine. A cruel, triumphant smirk overcomes his features, and I know what's coming next.

He lifts his foot behind him, getting momentum for the oncoming kick to my face. He swings when something totally unexpected happens.

I'm saved.

A big, rough hand lands on Sting's shoulder. His head whips around to stare into the piercing red eyes of Gajeel Redfox.

"And you are," Sting snarls, not even trying to mask the venom in his voice.

"A friend of Pinky," Gajeel replies in a voice that's calm and collected, but full of an unspoken threat. He shoves Sting away from me, getting in-between us. I sigh in relief.

Sting does not look happy at all. He steps forward, positioning himself in a fighting stance, challenging Gajeel. I look on with uncertainty. Can Gajeel really win if it comes to a fist fight? I don't know anything about the guy, but I don't think he's on the football team like Sting.

Gajeel doesn't move.

Confusion crosses Sting's eyes before a look of victory takes hold. He thinks he's already won, that Gajeel is surrendering.

He finds out he is so wrong.

Gajeel grabs Sting's wrist as he tries to punch him. Using the momentum from Sting's attack, Gajeel flips him over himself, onto his back, and places his combat-booted foot firmly on his chest. Gajeel glowers down at the teen beneath him, a dark aura surrounding him.

"You know who Erza Scarlet is, right?" Sting weakly nods, his tough-guy act gone. "Yeah, well, I know her personally, and she scares the shit out of me. Unless you want someone like that after you, you will leave."

A deep, guttural growl escapes from Sting, but he nods. Gajeel pulls him up and throws him toward the intersection in the hallway. Sting sends one last, intense glare before stalking off, cursing quite loudly.

I lift myself from the floor into a sitting position. Gajeel walks over, my crutches in hand, and helps me up.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice still deep and scratchy like always.

I nod. I'm obviously not okay, but what the hell?

"Good." He nods once. "Where're you headed?" He hands me my crutches, and I steady myself on them, grabbing my bag.

I swallow a clump of blood before answering. "Th-the main entrance," I say, my voice thick from the red liquid. "To meet Lucy," I add.

"I have to meet up with Shrimp," Gajeel says, "but I'll walk you there so you don't get hurt again."

"T-thanks," I stutter, wondering who 'Shrimp' is.

His lip lifts slightly. His version of a smile, I guess. "It's what friends do."

Friends.

There's that word again. Friends. I finally have some. I actually have… friends. And they care about me, to the point where they will defend me. It's a nice feeling, one I realize I've missed.

As we exit the building, I see no sign of Sting. Good.

Lucy waits on a bench outside. Gajeel waves good-bye before leaving me to journey to Lucy alone. I thank him again before he leaves.

I wobble over to Lucy. She stands when I'm a couple steps away from her. As I approach, I see her face go from happy, to confusion, to shock, to worry. She rushes forward, closing the few feet between us.

Her trembling hands cover her mouth. Tears form in the corners of her eyes. "Natsu…" she breathes out. "W-what happened?"

I look down at myself. I'm bruised, dirty and scratched everywhere. I ache all over, and it's hard to stay upright.

"Oh, this?" I reply, trying to act like I'm fine. For her sake, I tell myself. "This is nothing." I shrug as best I can with the crutches and my bag.

"It's not 'nothing'!" Lucy suddenly shouts. "You're hurt! Who did this?!"

"N-no one." I'm surprised at Lucy's sudden outburst and her voice bubbling with anger.

"Well you didn't do that to yourself," she says. "So who did?" Her voice is softer now, gentler. She's calmed down, her energy drained and her anger turning to sorrow.

I sigh. "It was Sting."

Her eyes widen. I see the gears turning in her head, but they get stuck every time they try to rotate three-hundred-sixty degrees. She can't figure something out. "What's gotten into him?" she mutters. I take it she didn't mean for me to hear. I stay quiet.

I know I should tell her about the past Sting and I share. How he's been bullying me for longer than she knows. She probably thinks it started recently. Oh, how wrong she is. It's been years. I've lived a painful life for years. Telling her, though, would only make her worry, and change nothing.

I'm startled out of my thoughts when a pair of gentle arms wrap around my torso carefully. I look slightly down, finding the top of Lucy's head. She's cautious not to squeeze too tightly because of my injuries, so she's barely touching me, but I feel a mix of emotions course through me. Confusion is one. Why is she hugging me? What did I do to deserve this show of affection? I wonder. Another is warmth, happiness. I haven't been hugged since my dad died eight years ago, so this is truly something I must remember and cherish. Letting the crutch drop, I wrap an arm around Lucy's waist, deepening the hug a little.

We stand there, in each other's arms, for a good couple of minutes. I don't want it to end. Please, never end. I've missed 'love', even though I don't understand what it is anymore. Even just this small show of affection, of 'love', is enough to make the pain of it all, both physical and mental, disappear from my mind for the moment. This moment needs to last forever.

Sadly, it does not. Lucy slowly pulls away from me. I reluctantly release my hold on her. Why couldn't it last longer? Just a little longer, please…

Lucy clears her throat somewhat awkwardly. She's blushing from the moment we just shared. I feel a light flush on my cheeks, too.

"So, um…" she trails off, looking down to hide her red face.

I look anywhere but at her. "T-the reason you wanted to meet me?" I suggest.

She looks up, her blush receding. "Yeah, that," she confirms. "Come this way."

Giving her a wondering glance, I pick up my fallen crutch, adjust myself on them, and follow after her. She leads me a block away from the school building. Suddenly, she stops and turns to face me.

"Okay," she says, "you have to promise – no, swear - not to tell anyone."

"Tell them what?" I ask.

"Just promise!" she exclaims.

I raise my hands in the universal 'I surrender' pose. "Okay, okay. I promise."

"Good." She nods curtly. "Then come with me."

I follow after her a short distance more. When we step out of a back alley, my breath is taken away at the sight before us.

A gorgeous, black limousine is parked in the street in front of Lucy and I.

"Close your mouth before a fly gets in," Lucy says as she walks by me.

I close my mouth. I didn't even realize it was open.

I stand there like some dumbfounded idiot. This is probably what I am, minus the idiot. I make all A's; I'm no idiot.

Lucy turns back to me as the chauffeur steps out and opens the back door. "You coming?" she asks. When I don't reply, she gently pulls me to the limo, ushering me inside. I hobble in, making sure to not bump my injured foot on anything. It's easier than I think; the limo is clean. Lucy steps in after me. We sit across from each other.

I look around the big space with wide eyes. There are enough seats for at least eight people to sit comfortably, with cup holders next to each seat. DVD players sit in a neat stack on the floor, pinned down with some form of strap. I notice a mini snack compartment built under the seat next to mine.

"Is this yours?" I finally ask.

"Yeah," Lucy answers. "You won't tell anyone, right?"

My gaze rests on her. "I won't," I promise. "But why not?"

"My dad's kind of rich, and I don't want anyone to know yet. I want them to get to know and like me for me, not because I'm loaded," she confesses.

That makes sense. "Who's your dad?" I ask.

"Jude Heartfillia."

"You mean the owner of the biggest hospital in Magnolia? That Jude Heartfillia?"

"Yeah."

"Then what do you need me here for?" I wonder aloud.

"Isn't it obvious?" I shake my head no. "You're going to the hospital for those wounds."

This day just took an interesting turn.


This is by far my favorite chapter. NaLu moment!

So, here's the thing: Winter row practice ends on Thursday, February 5th, and we get a week after that to rest before Spring season starts. Once spring season starts, I have Mondays back so I should be a little quicker on updating. Also, the week that we don't have row, I will try to update all my stories at least once. I probably won't update this Saturday, February 7th, though, because it's my b-day (turning thirteen! I'm finally gonna be a teenager!)!

READ THIS!: I'm putting a poll up on my profile for this story regarding a review I got from artistofthemind on chapter five. Feel free to vote.

I found the perfect song for Natsu to sing that will confirm Lucy's upcoming suspicions. First five people to review will be able to know the name and artist via PM before it's in the story.

Just a side note: at first I didn't have the whole Sting ordeal in this chapter, but then I decided that I wanted Gajeel to help Natsu, so I added it in. I had a hospital scene (not planned out per se, more like the gist of it) for this chapter, but then I decided to change it and make the hospital next chapter. Oh, there's gonna be some songs later on (like two or three chapters after this one). I've been dying to put more songs in! I have the perfect ones!

Don't forget to review!

'Til next time!

-AlphaDemon

Review Responses:

yamiyuga101- At least he stopped bothering you... I hope your not still bullied.

Azarathia- Thanks! I looked up the songs, and they did fit with the poem. The poem kind of reminds me of Love of a Daughter by Demi Lavato.

Kathrine Tanks- Thanks so much! I might do that

msc22645- Thanks! I really wanted a weak Natsu story, and this just happened! XD

ac135- OMG! Thanks a bunch! Trust me, I don't swear much in the real world, only in fan fics and sometimes my head!

FTBNOP-ALWAYS- Thanks! I love knowing my readers feel something when they read my story, it tells me that I'm doing good so far.

Risshu- I love NaLu so much! I added in a NaLu moment not originally in there for you! And I agree with you, how can someone have such a cold heart that they can hurt their own child? It's just cruel.

artistofthemind- Maybe... *cackles evilly*

CyanFoxX- Your review had me smiling all day! I love reading your wonderful reviews! They always make me so happy! Thanks so much for them! I feel special

MikurisanScarlet- Thanks! I thought the poem fit nicely too

Lizzygirl423- I hope the wait wasn't too long! I don't see many stories with Natsu as the weak nerd, so I decided to make my own. It's new to me too

FlyingDoll4- That's a good idea. I think I'll use it, giving you the credit for the idea, of course. That poem brought tears to my eyes :'(

050300NALU (guest)- LOL, I love cliffhangers *evil smile*. Basketball! *returns high five* So much fun! I'm interested in knowing more about your bowling. I'm also assuming your a girl since you said "girls bowling team" (please clarify this, I'm curious). You're better than me based off your scores, but I'm not that good cause of my low vision (that's where I thank Nintendo for Wii bowling). About the Lucy POV thing, there's gonna be a poll for my lovely viewers to vote on, so I don't know what I'm going to do yet. Thanks for reviewing!

camacazi1- Thanks so much!

1Fanfanatick- I feel like that's gonna happen, but I'm not sure yet

Guest- You're welcome! I like to respond to my reviewers because I feel really nice knowing a) I actually have reviewers and b) I replied to their wonderful comments. I feel mean when I don't reply.

Anime4life25- Thanks so much, and I hope I didn't disappoint!

lunastarlight (guest)- That would've been more ironic... and creepy. Thanks! I will!