Holy f***, 1000+ views... I think I feel... dizzy... *faints*. Thank you for taking the time to view this story, and as my gift to you, I present chapter 8.


Seated patiently at her usual table surrounded by her friends, Lucy found it difficult to keep up with the flow of conversation.

According to Mira, Erza had taken a first-class mission the day before Lucy was due back; but strangely enough, it wasn't the older girl's absence that had her on edge.

"Hey, Levy-chan…" The blue-haired girl looked up from her book, eyes wide and expressive, startled even, having been quite distant from the conversation herself.

"Yeah, Lu-chan?" She enquired, head delicately quirked at her best friend.

Casting a furtive glance around the room, Lucy leaned in closer to the other girl, "Is it just me, or do people seem to be staring in this direction a lot…"

Leaning back from her friend, the wordsmith blinked a few times before turning her perceptive gaze over the interior of the room.

"You know," She replied in a contemplative tone, "I think you're right. People do seem to be staring at us."

She paused for a moment, once again surveying the room, "Maybe it's because Natsu-kun and Gray-kun aren't fighting today?"

Lucy nodded slowly, considering the possibility, but still feeling uneasy.

"I suppose that could be it, but I get this feeling that they're talking about me." Rubbing her arms nervously, she accidentally caught Natsu's eye.

The salamander quickly turned away, an embarrassed look on his face.

What's up with him?

As if sensing Lucy's continued stare, the pink haired boy chose that moment to engage in his favourite pass-time: destroying stuff.

"Oi, squinty eyes." Gray looked up at that, frowning at the excitable boy.

"What did you just say, slanty eyes?" He growled in response, standing up menacingly.

The other boy just smirked, and sure enough, fists began to fly, along with anything else that wasn't nailed down.

A loud splintering noise jogged a sudden memory, but its nature escaped her at present; looking over at the pair now being egged on by the rest of the guild, Lucy felt certain that everyone had been staring at her, but couldn't begin to understand why.

"You know Lucy," Came Cana's slightly slurred drawl, every present bottle in hand, as she made her way over to the girls who had taken refuge behind the bar.

"You really are a late bloomer." She said, plonking herself down rather unceremoniously next to the pair.

Lucy blinked in surprise, turning to face the chronic drinker fully, failing to notice Levy's soft blush, but suddenly avid attention or Mira subtly drawing closer to hear Lucy's response over the din that was echoing throughout the hall

"What do you mean?" She asked genuine confusion painted across her face.

Cana paused in mid swing a surprised look altering her usually laid back features, leaning forward, she addressed Levy instead, "I thought you said that they were official."

Levy turned a bright shade of pink, turning away from the older girl's strangely steady gaze, "I-I never said that…" Turning to Mira, she pointed a finger in accusation, "I thought you said that you saw them together, and that they were going to make an announcement to the guild."

A nervous smile pulled at Mira's lips; rubbing the back of her head in response, a forced laugh escaped her, "Well, that's not entirely true…" She trailed off casting a glance in Lucy's direction, noting the girl's puzzled expression, "You see, Natsu said he saw them by the river and…"

Lucy felt the blood drain from her face.

All three girls turned to her expectantly, obviously waiting for her to clarify the situation.

They can't be serious…

The memory of a snapping branch finally came to the forefront of her mind: Natsu.

Fists clenching, and a hooded look coming over her, she moved out from behind the relative safety of the bar and directly into the fray, fairly shaking with anger.

Grabbing onto a familiar scale-like scarf, she tugged the attached body from the swarming mass of limbs, before planting a solid, meaty swak into the centre of his being.

Grunting in satisfaction, she stepped over the now immobile form of the feared salamander; cheeks blazing in embarrassment she exited the guild hall with as much dignity as she could muster.

I knew they were talking about me!