Oh my god it's been so long. I can't believe that I didn't update this! -.- I hope that some are you are still around to read this! So lets get right to it.
Disclaimer: AFTER I say I don't own Fairy Tail
Chapter Nine: Carnival Confessions
"Well?" Twirling once in front of her blue-haired friend, Lucy stopped moving and sent an apprehensive smile toward Levy. "Does it look okay?"
"When does something not look good on you, Lu-chan?" Levy asked, the two girls giggling. Lucy brushed off the pair of jean shorts she wore, pairing them with a soft pink t-shirt. The look was casual and comfy, while still showing off her best assets. She was tempted to pull her hair up to keep it out of her face during the night, but Lucy left her signature side ponytail instead.
"I'm so excited for tonight! I haven't been able to go to a carnival in years." Letting the excitement boil over, Lucy started to dance around the spare Fairy Tail room. Since she had to work most of the night, Lucy didn't feel like going back to her house to get ready. Instead, she left her clothes in the back room and enlisted Levy's help in getting ready. Now finished with her look, Lucy was able to relax and enjoy her moment of elation.
"And you're sure none of this excitement is from going on a date with Fairy Tail's flirt?" Lucy stopped her celebratory dancing at Levy's question, shaking her head.
"This isn't a date."
"What do you mean? Loke asked you to go out with him tonight, just the two of you. Isn't that the requirements of a date?"
"But I don't think I like Loke that way," Lucy responded, glancing to the mirror and frowning. While it was true she had taken some time in choosing her outfit, she couldn't say she did it to impress Loke.
"You might want to figure that out before the end of the night. I heard Loke's going to ask you something important tonight." At Levy's whisper, Lucy tensed. Just what kind of question did Loke have for her? Would she even have an answer for him? Loke had always hinted that he thought Lucy was cute, but she was sure he acted the same way with every other girl in Fairy Tail. He didn't get the flirty title by accident. But was there something different between the two of them? Suddenly losing some of her enthusiasm, Lucy missed the sharp knock on the door. Less than a second later, Natsu busted the locked door open with his foot.
"Lucy!"Both girls screamed at the intruder, Lucy wasting no time in throwing her hairbrush at his forehead. Natsu let out a gurgle before stumbling back into the hallway of Fairy Tail. Exchanging looks, Lucy and Levy quickly followed Natsu out of the private room and into the main bar.
"What the hell were you thinking, barging into a locked room like that?!" Lucy yelled, Natsu rubbing the bump appearing on his forehead.
"It's not like I thought anyone else was in there. Mira said you were getting ready for the carnival, so I knew it was you."
"But you didn't know what you were walking into. What if I had been still changing?" Natsu blinked at the question, slowly tilting his head.
"Changing? You mean like, if you were naked?" When she nodded, a moment of confusion passed over his face. A second later, Natsu leaned his head back with a smile Lucy knew wasn't innocent. "Lucy naked…"
"Don't imagine it you pervert!" Though it was rare for Lucy to use violence, the astrologist didn't hesitate to stomp her boot into the top of his foot, earning a loud string of swears from Natsu. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned from him, Levy placing her hand on Lucy's shoulder to calm her best friend down.
"He's just a guy, Lu-chan. You know how they think."
"Wouldn't you get mad if Gajeel was thinking of you naked?" Lucy's open question left Levy's mouth wide open, the 'deer-in-headlights' look stamped into her eyes. The hue of her face was beet red, and Lucy realized that asking the modest girl a question like that wasn't her best idea. From the frozen look on Levy's face, Lucy was sure she had broken the librarian's brain momentarily.
"For someone who looks so pretty, you stomp like an ogre!" Despite her need to stay mad at him, Lucy slowly glanced over her shoulder to her disheveled best friend. He hadn't meant to compliment her, but the effect still was strong enough to curb some of her anger.
"You…really think I look pretty?" He looked up at her like she had six heads before nodding.
"Stop being weird, Luce. You know you're pretty." Many people had complimented Lucy's appearance before. She knew she was attractive, and several guys offered her their phone numbers at the bar. But hearing Natsu say it was a completely different feeling for Lucy. Glancing over Natsu's own attire, Lucy realized his outfit was different than normal. With a button up white shirt underneath his black vest, Natsu's outfit certainly did his lean form justice. From the scarf around his neck to the black slacks, Natsu looked dressed to impress. If she had been thinking properly, Lucy would have remembered Natsu's job at the court house forced him to leave the lazy look at home. Unfortunately, her blood was rushing to her face and not her brain. Feeling her heartbeat rise every second his confused gaze held hers, Lucy could only pray for a distraction.
"Heads up, bunny girl." Knowing the nickname was directed to her, Lucy glanced over to the new voice and squeaked at the large object being thrown at her. Realizing it was a person, Lucy barely held her arms out before catching the body against her own. She easily caved under the weight, the two of them falling to the ground with a bang.
"Gajeel! What were you thinking?" Levy seemed to snap out of her frozen state when seeing her best friend splayed out on the floor in front of her.
"Had to put Romeo somewhere." Was Gajeel's simple reply. Levy sent him a warning glance before helping Lucy and the teenage boy up to their feet again.
"First you hang out with Gray, now Romeo; are you trying to be best friends with everyone in Fairy Tail?!" Natsu asked, Gajeel crossing his arms while rolling his eyes.
"I wasn't hanging out with him; the kid demanded a fight. He practically attacked me outside while I was talking with Juvia. I figured he was losing his mind, so I brought him here." At Gajeel's explanation, Lucy tensed and quickly looked to Romeo's hunched form. It was what she had feared the night of the parade. Romeo was serious about fighting Gajeel and Natsu.
"Bullshit. Romeo would never try to fight us seriously; he's our family." Natsu, not seeming to like Gajeel's explanation, pressed his finger into Gajeel's chest. "Are you just trying to pick on a high school kid? Man, and I thought you were low before!"
"I'll show you 'low' when I shove my foot in your ass," Gajeel replied, instantly pissing Natsu off. The two started to bicker, Natsu practically having to jump to meet Gajeel's gaze head on. Lucy ignored the two in order to focus on Romeo, who had remained silent during the conversation. His fist was pressed into the ground, his body tense. Romeo looked ready to pounce at anything that came his way.
"Romeo, are you okay?" Levy's hand on Romeo's shoulder was shrugged off as Romeo stood, facing the two Fairy Tail fighters with a serious stare.
"Natsu, he's not lying." Currently pressing his forehead into Gajeel's outstretched hand, Natsu glanced over to Romeo in shock. In a fighting pose Lucy was sure Natsu taught the younger guy, Romeo narrowed his gaze in determination. "I want to fight both of you. Right now."
"What are you talking about?"
"I have to fight you two!" Romeo shut his eyes, and it was only then that Lucy saw Romeo's hands trembling. He was scared, and yet wouldn't let it show in his voice. "I'll fight you and win. Then I'll ask Wendy out formally."
"Wendy?" Natsu furrowed his brows, unable to follow Romeo's train of thought. Gajeel, who had fallen silent since Romeo's declaration, didn't seem so puzzled.
"I won't back down from either of you. I've liked Wendy for a while, and I'm not letting this chance pass by me. I have to go after what matters to me, and defend the things that I consider most significant. And I will, even if that means protecting her from guys as strong as you or Gajeel. I get why you want to fight any guy who wants to take Wendy out; you want to make sure she's safe. That's why I need to fight you both. I want to prove that no matter the person, I'm not going to let someone ever hurt Wendy."
"Oh, Romeo…" Lucy whispered, her heart feeling for her fellow Fairy Tail member. It was like looking at a flashback of Natsu when Lucy first came to Fairy Tail. He was young, passionate, and full of energy that could never be dispelled by anyone who stood in his way. It wasn't hard to see why Romeo idolized Natsu; there were many similarities.
"I'll let you take on the mini-me. I'd get a headache if I tried." Natsu closed one of his eyes when Gajeel dropped his hand on top of his head, messing up the pink mop of hair. "You know how to handle it?"
"Of course, you jackass!" After hearing the shorter guy growl, Gajeel smirked and walked across the room to Levy. With no warning, Gajeel lifted the unprepared girl over his shoulder, ignoring her instant protest. Giving a final glance over his shoulder to Natsu, Gajeel nodded.
"We'll be outside with Gray and Juvia when you're done here."
"What about our fight?" Romeo asked, though Gajeel didn't answer. Instead, he steadied his grip on the flailing girl over his shoulder and made his way out of the bar. Romeo didn't have time to complain when Natsu started to walk towards him. His fists were raised higher than before, Lucy glancing between the two of them fearfully. Knowing it was insane, Lucy ignored her better judgment to move in front of Romeo. Natsu stopped instantly, Lucy throwing her hands out on either side of her.
"I won't let you fight him!" She shouted, shaking her head quickly. "If you even try to, I'll never talk to you again."
"Romeo," Natsu said sternly, ignoring Lucy's threat. The younger man looked over Lucy's shoulder, silently listening to Natsu's question. "Are you really ready to fight me for Wendy?"
"Never give up on something important. You taught me that. And Wendy is worth the pain." There was silence between the group, both Romeo and Lucy awaiting Natsu's next move. Both of them were surprised when Natsu relaxed, a bright smile appearing on his face.
"Well then go ask her out."
"…what?!" As if they rehearsed it, Romeo and Lucy spoke as one. Natsu let out a loud laugh, shaking his head slowly.
"That lug nut and I only tried to scare off those guys because Wendy told us to! She's got a problem telling guys she already likes someone, so we do it for her. It's pretty annoying, since we can't really hurt them. Wendy made us promise we wouldn't actually fight them. Gajeel didn't like the idea of holding back, but he's a sucker for Wendy's puppy dog look." Natsu glanced down at Lucy, shrugging his shoulders. "We were just kind of waiting for Romeo to ask her out."
"Romeo?" Lucy asked, surprised at Natsu's comment.
"Well, Wendy never told us the guy she liked, and Gajeel started to get curious about it. One day, he told me this theory about Wendy liking Romeo, but I didn't really get what he was talking about. I mean, it's not like they kissed or anything! They just kept making weird eye contact and blushing." At Natsu's lack of observation skills, Lucy had to hold back an eye roll. He certainly didn't have intuition. "We confronted Wendy about it one day, and she almost passed out from embarrassment. Since then, we've just kind of been waiting for either Wendy to tell Romeo, or for Romeo to ask Wendy."
"So you're okay with it?" Romeo asked, Natsu slowly nodding.
"If Wendy's got to date someone, it should be someone from Fairy Tail! We're the best, after all." Putting the joking aside, Natsu slowly dropped his grin for a mature smirk. "Now it's your turn to protect Wendy."
"I know that."
"Do you?" Lucy stepped out of Natsu's way, watching quietly as her best friend clasped Romeo's shoulders in his hands. No words were spoken, but Romeo's eyes widened when seeing the confidence in Natsu's strong gaze. Natsu had faith in him. Natsu was happy that Wendy wanted to be with Romeo. To have such a powerful force proud of him had Romeo's shoulders straightening. Giving a sharp nod, Romeo spoke.
"I do. I understand."
"Great, cause I didn't want to have to wipe the floor with you," Natsu said, Romeo awkwardly glancing to the floor. The teen shifted between his feet, making Natsu glance to Lucy and smile.
"Congratulations Romeo!" Lucy clapped her hands together, smiling toward the quiet teen. "You're going to ask her out tonight, right?"
"Yeah, I'm going to do it on the Ferris wheel." Both adults paused at the information, Lucy's eyes widening at the slight blush on Romeo's face. "I was planning on doing it during the fireworks tonight; to create a moment."
"A…a moment?" Lucy asked weakly, trying her best not to look at Natsu. From the corner of her eye, she saw Natsu's shoulders pull back a bit and tense.
"Yeah, Wendy's always making me watch those stupid love movies with her. In them, the two characters always have an important 'moment'. Any carnival scene always happened on the Ferris wheel with fireworks." Lucy already knew about the 'moment' situation Romeo was talking about. Lucy was a girl, after all. Half of the movies Wendy owned were ones Lucy had given her throughout the years. But she knew that all of this was new information for Natsu. What would he do? Would he pull out of going on the Ferris wheel with her? But if he didn't, did that leave the chance of them having a moment together?
"I see my princess is looking as beautiful as ever." Lucy nearly jumped out of her skin at the compliment purred into her ear. Turning quickly, Lucy smiled at the handsome man behind her. Loke was always attractive, even in his casual clothing. Pushing his tinted glasses closer to his face, Loke glanced up at Natsu and sent him a polite smile. "Good evening Natsu. I'm sorry to inform you that I'll be making your best friend fall in love with me tonight."
"Stop saying that!" Lucy shouted, shaking her head quickly. A second later, Lucy was swept into Loke's intimate embrace. She flushed when his lips skimmed her ear, his voice low but controlled.
"Would you like me to use my lips for something else, Lucy?"
"I don't think Lucy knows how to kiss." Jerking away from Loke's mouth, Lucy glared over at the snickering Romeo.
"I'll have you know I've kissed men before! How many girls have you kissed?" When she noticed Romeo's laughter cut off, Lucy knew she wouldn't hear another peep from him. Sighing, Lucy looked over to Natsu and smiled. "I'll meet you at nine at the Ferris wheel, okay? Don't forget about me!"
"Who could ever forget a pretty lady such as yourself?" Loke's compliment came out before Natsu could answer Lucy. It continued to hang in the air as Loke escorted Lucy out of Fairy Tail, leaving Romeo and Natsu behind in the bar.
"Natsu, are you really okay with them going on a date?" At Romeo's question, Natsu blinked and glanced down at him.
"What are you talking about? They're not on a date. Lucy said she just owed him from last year. Loke and Lucy are just friends."
"Are you sure?" Romeo asked, Natsu remaining silent. Natsu looked back at the exit, a look of loss edging his features.
"I…guess not."
The humid July air did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Magnolia carnival. Laughter was one of many noises that could be heard, lights of every color filling the sky. Children ran rampant, while parents rekindled the old flames of their past. The carnivals workers kept the fun alive, rides never stopping for long. The sweet smell of caramelized apples and cotton candy filled the nostrils of anyone walking past the food stands. It was the epitome of summer fun.
And yet Erza could not seem to take the metal pole out of her spine. Stiffly walking next to Jellal, Erza was unsure why she felt so tense. She had known Jellal for years, technically. Being alone with him shouldn't have been such a struggle. And yet, as she narrowly missed walking into a love-struck couple, Erza felt nervous. She was unsure how to break the invisible wall between them. In her conversation with Lucy during her last appointment, Lucy had warned her of Scorpio's quiet nature. Like Cancer, they were emotional, but much more introverted. Even with this, Lucy assured Erza of their compatibility.
For a moment, Erza thought back to the compatibility in their engagement. Before Jellal had left, their ability to understand each other was astounding. Sometimes, words weren't even needed. They were both strong personalities, keeping their individuality while still maintaining a healthy relationship. From the first day she met Jellal, to their first attempt at a date—
"Oh!" At Erza's cute squeak, Jellal stopped walking and glanced over to her. She blinked while pressing her fingertips to her lower lip, shock running through her eyes. Composing himself, Jellal sent her a calm smile.
"Did you think of something?"
"I just realized our first date was at this carnival," She answered, glancing around the bright festival. "We were only sixteen at the time, I believe. We were both just starting our first summer jobs, and you suggested the carnival as a low-costing date."
"Though it wasn't so cheap for the carnival." At the teasing tone to his voice, Erza tilted her head in confusion. The two continued to walk along the carnival's dirt roads, Jellal looking up to the darkening sky. "You are the only person I've ever known that broke the 'test your strength' game. I think the carnival worker fainted afterwards."
"It wasn't quite as hard as they claimed it to be," she defended, though blushed at the renewed memory. She had remembered Mira giving her love tips, advising her to let Jellal take on the masculine role. Though she had worn the feminine skirt well, Erza's competitive nature came flaring up at the taunting of the carnival worker. Not letting Jellal pay for her ticket, Erza had wasted no time showing the worker her true strength. Unfortunately, it had resulted in the breaking of the game. From what she recalled, Makarov had covered the expenses for Erza.
"It certainly impressed me. I always had a weakness for your personal strength." His compliment made Erza smile, easing some of the tension between the two. A comfortable silence fell over them for a moment, neither seeming to mind. Even in the height of their relationship, communication was used only when necessary. Erza came to a halt when catching a glimpse of something of interest.
"Jellal, look." She pointed across the crowd, leading Jellal's gaze to a photo booth. "Would you be interested in taking a set of pictures with me?"
"Another flashback of our first date." The two walked to the cubical, Jellal opening the small curtain for her. "I believe you were the sole possessor of the pictures from our first date."
"Am I? I must have misplaced them during one of my moves since then," Erza replied, pushing into the photo booth. Jellal made sure to enter the money into the machine before following Erza's lead, the two quickly realizing how small the booth was. Awkwardly they tried to shift, Erza's head bumping hard into Jellal's chin. Both mumbled apologies, but continued to shift around each other. Looking at her head cautiously, Jellal's hand was blind to the path it was taking. Aiming to grab her shoulder, the blue-haired man blinked when something softer entered his hand. Another soft squeak was heard underneath him, though Jellal wasn't sure why.
"What is…" Jellal's sentence trailed off when he glanced down, eyes widening at his position. His hand looked so casual cupping Erza's chest, as if remembering their previous relationship. He leaned back quickly, a bright flash going off a second later. The picture caught both of them off guard, but only Erza was surprised at how red Jellal's face had become. Like acid had run over his fingers, Jellal pulled back sharply and bowed his head. "I'm sorry!"
"It's…" Staring down at the man in front of her, Erza realized how absurd her life had become. A man she had been once engaged with was now stumbling through a date with her. While she could barely think to touch his hand, she was almost comfortable with the accidental grope. A touch that only he had ever been permitted to do. And yet here he was, the love of her life, apologizing. Without warning, Erza felt herself start to laugh. Quickly her hand covered her mouth as her laughter continued to spill out. Lifting his head to watch her, Jellal's lips tugged into a smile.
"I missed your laughter." His honesty shocked her laughter into silence, Erza's face heating at the soft brush of his fingers over her cheek. His palm cupped her face, a look of longing flashing through his eyes. Erza couldn't look away, even as the second picture was taken. "I missed you, Erza."
"I've missed you as well, Jellal." Her hand pressed to the back of his, her eyes glancing to the right. "But I'm not quite sure which Jellal is sitting in front of me now. I'm unsure if the man I've been waiting for is still inside of you. I wish to meet the new you, the one who saw the dark side of humanity. But there's something holding us back…a wall I'm unsure how to break down."
"I'm concerned as well." His forehead pressed to hers, their eyes closing in sync. Even behind blackened eyelids, they both saw the flash of the third picture being taken. "This new me is quite different; I've seen things that the man I was before would never dream of. My heart isn't pure anymore. I may scare you away."
"I never could leave you alone," Erza admitted, her fingers sliding through the hair of the back of his head. He chuckled softly, nuzzling his nose against hers.
"If you're willing to stay, then I'm willing to try and re-kindle the fire we once had. I want to be by your side, Erza Scarlet."
Feeling her lips tremble, Erza tightened her eyes and pushed forwards to kiss him. Like a dam, the years of unspent frustration and passion spilled out to the two inside of the photo booth. Neither cared when the next picture would be taken. Erza crawled onto Jellal's lap while refusing to let go of the emotional kiss being shared. Jellal's hands were everywhere, gently guiding her head one second and pressing her body into his the next. A second was given for breathing before Jellal captured Erza's lips again, pressing his tongue to the seam of her mouth. Easily Erza parted, giving him access to the mouth he once claimed as his own. Her hands pulling at his hair in pleasure, Erza quietly moaned at the heat forming in their mouths. Familiar hands skimmed under her shirt, chilling her flushed skin with cool fingers. Her back arching, the two shared a mutual gasp at the melding of their hips.
A sharp flash from the photo booth broke the two apart. The shift of Erza's weight caught Jellal off guard, both stumbling out of the booth. Jellal groaned at the weight over him, leaving him momentarily breathless. After taking a second to compose himself, Jellal opened his eyes at the return of Erza's laughter. Letting out a slow breath, Jellal rolled so Erza's back was on the ground. After checking for any injuries, Jellal focused on the still laughing woman under him.
"Are you okay?" At his concerned voice, Erza quietly opened her eyes with a smile. Despite the happy look on her face, tears welled at the bottom of her eyelids.
"I think I will be." His worry disappeared as her hands cupped his face, gently pulling him closer to her.
"Erza, I…" With lips mere millimeters from her own, Jellal shoved himself away from Erza's grasp. He was on his feet in a second, leaving Erza momentarily lost.
"Jellal?" Instead of answering, Jellal helped Erza back onto her feet. Not letting go of her hand, Jellal stared down at their connection.
"I can't tell you yet. But when I fully gain your forgiveness, I promise I'll be able to face you."
"Then it's a promise," She answered quietly, squeezing his hand in her own. The two exchanged small smiles, Erza pleased with the step in the right direction. The two were survivors. Any wall in their way was simply a stepping stone.
"Erza! Jellal!" Looking past Jellal's shoulder, Erza smiled at her enthusiastic friend.
"Lucy, hello." Lucy waved at Erza's response, then glanced to her right when Loke appeared.
"You look lovely as always." At Loke's compliment, Erza simply nodded. When they were younger, Erza wouldn't hesitate to send the flirty member flying. Before Erza had become romantically involved with Jellal, Loke had always made it a point to try his moves on her. Most events resulted in her inflicting some sort of pain onto Loke. Once Jellal came into the picture, she noticed a much more respectful attitude from her Fairy Tail member. Even if he was a playboy, Loke still had respect for committed relationships.
"Have you guys gone on the rides yet? Me and Loke have been on almost every ride twice! And look at the stuffed lion he won for me!" Beaming like a child on Christmas, Lucy held out the stuffed animal to the couple.
"It's good that you're enjoying the festivities," Jellal said, smiling at his new friend.
"It's been very amusing watching Lucy enjoy herself. But for now, we're looking for a quiet place to rest. Would you two like to join?" At Loke's offer, Erza shook her head while reaching behind them to grab the pictures. Sliding the photo reel into her pocket, the red-head grabbed Jellal's hand and looked toward the carnival. The touch that had eluded the two throughout the date, and Jellal glanced to Erza in curiosity. She didn't let her poker face drop, answering Loke's question.
"We'd like to get some more rides in before the fireworks start."
"The fireworks…" At the mention of the main event, Lucy felt some of her smile drop. She glanced to the Ferris wheel, biting her lower lip. Though she was having fun, Lucy continued to watch the time. It was getting close to the time she was supposed to meet Natsu. At the thought, Lucy felt her butterflies stir. She pressed the lion to her stomach, as if to try to hide her nerves. Romeo's words still ran through her head, despite trying to focus on Loke. Was Natsu thinking the same thing? A part of her tried to bring back the reasonable side of her mind, a flash of Lisanna appearing. How could Natsu think of ambiance when he was already talking to someone else? Still, her hopeful thoughts lingered.
"Lucy?"
"Huh?" She looked up at Loke, realizing that both Erza and Jellal had disappeared. Loke smiled, holding out his hand to her. She took it and allowed Loke to lead her away from the festivities. "Sorry, I must have spaced out. Did Erza and Jellal say goodbye?"
"They did, though Erza seemed used to your daydreaming," Loke teased, Lucy frowning in embarrassment.
"That's not something I want to be known for." Loke laughed at her response, the two climbing onto a stone wall outside of the carnival. Lucy placed the lion on her lap, swinging her legs on the side of the wall while looking up at the sky. It was a clear night, perfect for the firework festival.
"Even with your distractions, I find you very cute. I'm quite happy that you came with me tonight."
"I don't ever break a promise to my friends." She tilted her head to him and smiled, her hair falling over her shoulder. Loke's eyes widened, then slowly returned to normal while he laughed.
"You amaze me even now, Lucy."
"I do?" He nodded, reaching over to grasp her hand.
"You always have. Which is why I'd like you to come with me on my next photo shoot." Lucy started to speak, but Loke continued. "The photo shoot is in Spain, and I'm willing to take care of the costs for your trip. If you ask Makarov, he'll give you the time off. I'd like for you to come away with me this weekend."
"You don't pay for a friend's vacation," Lucy whispered, Loke nodding.
"No, you don't. But I've fallen for your beautiful personality, and I feel as if this is my last chance to steal your heart. I don't want to stay your friend, Lucy. I'd like to take our friendship to a more intimate level."
"Loke…" Lucy hesitated to answer, turning her head to stare at her dangling feet. Loke was really an amazing person. He had never really caused her problems, and had always treated her with manners and etiquette. If she thought about being Loke's girlfriend, it really was a pleasant thought. The relationship would most likely be a positive experience, full of love and happiness. Of course her mind thought through the compatibility of their two signs, instantly seeing the conflicts she had mentioned to him before. But with her skill and knowledge of the zodiac, Lucy was sure she could make a relationship with Loke quite beautiful. He would be an excellent husband, and children would adore him. Loke truly would be a match that Lucy would enjoy spending her life with.
"Say yes to me. A weekend away from Fairy Tail might do your tired body some good." Even though his reasoning was valid, Lucy didn't look up at him. Her arms tightened on the stuffed animal in her arms, Lucy taking a slow breath.
"I find you extremely attractive, Loke. I wish I could say yes to your offer." Her smile was bittersweet as she weaved her fingers together, shaking her head. "But I have to decline. I loved spending this time with you, because I consider you a close friend. But I…can't let it go any further than that."
"Is there someone else?" Lucy closed her eyes at the question, praying that her blush wouldn't appear. Even without trying, a picture of Natsu's smile flashed into her mind. There was a long pause in the conversation, Lucy jumping when a strong arm pulled her into Loke's hug. His hand rested against the nape of her neck while his chin found comfort on the top of her head. "Well then I guess I shouldn't be too upset about being rejected. I can't win a heart that already belongs to someone else."
"Do-Don't say it like that," Lucy mumbled, pressing her forehead onto Loke's shoulder.
"Even though I was hoping for fireworks, I guess I can settle for your lifelong friendship."
"Of course!" Lucy smiled as she returned the embrace, simply enjoying the weight slipping off her shoulders. Loke was mature, like always, and handled her decision with grace and decorum. Rerunning his sentence through her head, Lucy gasped and pulled out of the hug to look at her phone. When she read the time, Lucy didn't hesitate to hop off the wall, turning to wave up at Loke. "I've got to get going, though. Natsu's waiting for me at the Ferris wheel and you know how impatient he is. Thanks again for the great night!"
"Goodbye, Lucy." He watched his energetic friend run back to the carnival, Loke letting out a quiet sigh. He leaned his hands on the back of the wall, glancing up at the night sky with a bittersweet smile. "Who would have thought the lion would ever be beaten by the ram?"
"Lucy!" Lucy's breathing was heavy as she stopped in front of Natsu, dropping her hands to her knees in exhaustion.
"Sorry…Natsu," Lucy panted out, trying to even out her breathing. Taking the time to control her breathing, Lucy stood again and smiled. "I hope you didn't wait too long."
"Juvia and Gray went to get something to eat, and Gajeel was letting Levy drag him to a Henna tattoo tent. I figured it was a good idea to just come here and wait for you."
"I'm surprised you didn't go with Gray to stuff your face," Lucy said, laughing while moving into the Ferris wheel line. She could see the line starting to extend behind her, this time of night was quite popular for this ride.
"I uh…didn't eat all night." Lucy tripped over the statement, quickly catching herself before hitting the ground. She must have been going crazy.
"You eat more than anyone else I've ever met!"
"But not when I go on rides!" He snapped back, pouting and glancing to the food stand across from them. "As soon as I get off the Ferris wheel, I'm stuffing my face until my pants burst open."
"Are you that scared you'll throw up?"
"I just don't want to ruin this." His soft mumble made her eyes widen, clutching the stuffed animal closer to her chest. The motion made him glance down, blinking at the prize. "You won that?"
"Yes. Wait, no. Loke got it for me at one of the booths."
"Oh yeah, where is that flirt?" Natsu asked, scanning the area around them. Lucy, not wanting the conversation to go down the wrong path, quickly moved forward to wrap her arm around his. Before Natsu could protest, Lucy moved up the ramp and toward the front of the line.
"If we don't hurry up, we'll miss the fireworks. I've been waiting for this all night!"
"Wait Lucy!" But even with his protest, Lucy kept dragging her best friend onto the ride. The door shut behind them, Natsu nervously glancing to the waving carnival worker before back to Lucy. She smiled at him reassuringly, both bodies jerking when the ride started. Instantly his eyes widened, the color running from his cheeks before he groaned.
"Natsu?" Lucy placed her hand on his back, jumping when Natsu's body dropped down against her own. His head met her lap, another painful groan coming from Natsu.
"Just give me a minute. Erza used to lay me on her lap when I was little to keep me from puking. It'll help my queasiness pass." At Natsu's explanation, Lucy smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry about it, Natsu." Her hand moved into his hair, soothingly running the strands through her fingers. The ride continued to rise in the air, but Natsu's sickness didn't seem to be affected. His head nuzzled into her lap, seeming to enjoy the soft touches she gave him. Lucy knew this wasn't like any lifetime movie she watched. The 'moment' was gone. But in all honesty, Lucy didn't care. Natsu knew his problem with motion and yet risked it just to hang out with her. That was the kind of friendship they had. It wasn't a kiss or a passionate stare, but it still made her stomach warm.
"At least I'm not throwing up, right?" She looked back down at him, his weak smile showing he wasn't as queasy. Mulling over her bravery, Lucy responded by leaning down and kissing the top of his forehead. The stunned look he gave her made Lucy look back out the window in nerves.
"My mom used to do that to me when I was sick. She said that a kiss from a loved one would chase away any illness. I don't know if it works with motion sickness, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to help."
"Really? Thanks, Luce." When he didn't move from her lap, Lucy couldn't deny the smile she held was because of Natsu. Her eyes brightened when the first firework went off, lighting up the sky in blue. From there the colors continued to come, Lucy's eyes unable to pull away from the spectacle. Truly, she loved this time of the year best of all.
"Natsu, look! That one was multi-colored. Did you see it?" She felt his head move, and her thigh vibrated when he spoke.
"Yeah, I can see."
"And look, a weeping willow!"
"Lucy?"
"Yeah?" Even at her name, Lucy didn't pull her eyes away from the night sky. A loud crackle firework went off, making Lucy cringe and then laugh. "Wow, that one was really loud."
"The carnival wasn't as much fun this year." Finally catching her attention, Lucy looked down at the troubled guy in her lap. She paused her hand for a second, but resumed her motion when she saw him fidget.
"What happened?" She asked quietly, no longer focused on the fireworks.
"I think it's cause you were with Loke and not me." As if afraid she would hit him, Natsu glanced up to her from the corner of his eye and huffed. "We go to stuff like this together all the time. It's like I'm missing a part of myself when you're not there."
"Natsu—" She stopped herself, quickly biting down the urge to yell at him. Even though it was hard to see in the flashes of light the fireworks gave her, Lucy felt her bare thigh heating under his cheek. Natsu was blushing? Why? Knowing it'd be impossible to ask without embarrassing herself, Lucy took a safer route. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll come with you every year from now on. And I'll stay by your side the whole time."
"Good!" Turning his head to look back up at the fireworks, Natsu seemed pleased with Lucy's response. As if his mind forgot he was sick, Natsu became enthralled by the spectacle in front of him. Though he seemed much healthier than before, Natsu didn't remove himself from Lucy's lap until the ride was finally over. Both received awkward looks from the carnival worker at the position, but neither minded. They were used to weird looks from most people they encountered. Natsu helped Lucy off the ride, keeping his arm around her waist while they walked down the ramp. The rest of Lucy's night was spent at every snack bar in the carnival, watching Natsu stuff his face. Even though the scene disgusted her, Lucy couldn't wipe the smile off her face for the rest of the night.
Or the whole week after it. Lucy was practically floating through Fairy Tail by the end of the week. Even with the hustle and bustle of Friday night, Lucy couldn't seem to let her spirits drop. Natsu had been hanging out at her house more (which she didn't even think was possible), and continued to stop in on her shifts. The Strauss siblings had returned, but Natsu had yet to inform Lucy of a second date with Lisanna. Was this a sign that his interest had shifted to someone else?
Her heart could only hold so much hope.
"Lucy seems quite happy today." Lifting her head, Lucy smiled at the bar's visitor.
"Juvia, I'm always happy when I'm at Fairy Tail."
"Juvia remembers several times when Lucy was not pleased at Fairy Tail. Like when Natsu broke the table, or when Gajeel made fun of Lucy. Then there was Laxus—"
"I get it!" Coughing after her outburst, Lucy hesitantly smiled at Juvia's confused expression. "I'm just having a really good week, I think. All of my clients are improving in their relationships, and it's been really busy at Fairy Tail. My father hasn't contacted me, and I'm really enjoying this summer weather. I think we're even planning on doing a Fairy Tail beach trip next week, if you want to invite Gray."
"Juvia loves water! Juvia will make sure to tell Gray-sama during dinner tonight." Hearing about Juvia's date with Gray only improved Lucy's mood.
"You two are getting very serious," Lucy said, Juvia's expression turning dreamy.
"This is Juvia's third date with Gray-sama. That's why Juvia made dessert for Gray-sama."
"A dessert?" Lucy was more than surprised when Juvia presented a full cake on the bar. "Wow. You really meant a full dessert."
"Does Gray-sama not like cake?" Juvia asked, Lucy slowly shaking her head.
"No, it's not that."
"Juvia was very cautious with her recipe, and spent all morning making the cake. Gray-sama will certainly fall in love with her now."
"Is that cake?!" Lucy smacked her head at Natsu's appearance, the guy quickly jumping onto a stool to practically drool over the dessert. "What kind is it?"
"Don't touch!" Natsu yelped when Juvia slapped his hand, sending a harsh glare toward the gluttonous friend. "This is for Gray-sama."
"But…isn't that asshole's birthday in February?"
"It's for their date later," Lucy explained, watching her friend carefully. Natsu liked to forget information given to him when hunger was involved; she didn't want to see anything happen to the cake Lucy was sure Juvia worked hard on. Natsu eyed the cake constantly, even while he spoke.
"So why is the cake here?"
"Lisanna said Juvia could use the refrigerator to keep the cake in until Gray-sama picks her up."
"Lisanna's here?" Lucy looked over to Natsu, who finally pulled his eyes away from the cake. "I've been meaning to talk to her since she came back; do you know where she is?"
"Juvia believes she's in the kitchen."
"Great, I'll be right back!" Watching Natsu run into the kitchen, Lucy felt some of her happiness deflate. So he had been looking for her, after all? So why had he been hanging out with Lucy so much? The thought was more than defeating.
"Lucy?"
"We should get this cake into the fridge before it starts to melt, right? The July heat will destroy anything beautiful if you let it." Lucy sent her a smile, though much weaker than normal. Trying to shake off the feeling, Lucy picked up the cake and moved around the bar. "Did Gray say where he was taking you tonight?"
"Only that Juvia will be attending dinner with Gray-sama. Juvia picked out her most sophisticated dress, as requested of Gray-sama."
"Well doesn't that sound nice?" Lucy teased, happy to see her friends so happy. She always knew there was a soft connection between Gray and Juvia; Juvia's loud declarations of love just overshadowed it.
"Juvia isn't so sure." Looking back at her favorite Pisces, Lucy saw the look of concern on Juvia's porcelain face.
"What do you mean? Three dates is further than any other couple I have."
"Yes but—"
"Get out of the damn kitchen, shorty!" Lucy barely registered the loud shout from behind the door before it was swinging open, Gajeel holding Natsu by the back of the shirt. The short guy was struggling against the hold, arms and legs continuing to flail around him.
"What are you doing here? I thought you had the day off?" Lucy asked arching an eyebrow at Gajeel.
"Levy left her headband in my helmet the other night; I just came to drop it off. But the book worm's not here and I got sidetracked by this loudmouth."
"I wasn't going in there to see you!" Natsu snapped, the two glaring at each other. Using all the strength he had, Natsu tried to swing himself out of Gajeel's grasp. Not noticing how close he was to Lucy, both girls gasped when Natsu's foot slammed straight into the bottom of the cake.
"No!" Juvia screamed, her eyes full of horror when watching her precious dessert smash into the ground. Instantly the Pisces was on the ground, desperately trying to put the cake back together.
"Nice going, moron," Gajeel said, dropping Natsu onto his butt.
"I…I didn't mean to!" Natsu said quickly, though nobody's attention was on him. Lucy was now on her knees, rubbing Juvia's trembling back. She could already see the tears in her friend's eyes, Juvia looking destroyed as she lifted her head.
"Juvia's cake is…dead. Gray-sama is expecting Juvia's cake!"
"I know, it's going to be okay," Lucy said, trying to calm her friend down. Juvia's lower lip quivered, Lucy desperate to stop her friend's tears. "We-We'll make a new one!"
"A…a new one?" Juvia whispered, sniffling softly. Lucy quickly nodded, grasping Juvia's cake-covered hands in her own.
"You and Gray will go out to dinner. While you're out, me and Natsu will bake a new cake and he'll never know the difference!"
"Why am I being brought into this?!" Natsu shouted, though quickly shut up when both women glared at him. Gajeel snickered, patting the pink-haired guy on the shoulder.
"You might want to shut up before Juvia rips your throat out. Then again, I wouldn't mind seeing Juvia kick your ass."
"Juvia is going to be fine. We'll bake the cake, and it'll all be okay." Lucy glanced over to Juvia, sending her a reassuring nod. "I will make this night perfect for you, Juvia. You can trust me."
"Lucy!" The emotional woman cried her friend's name before tossing her arms around Lucy's shoulder, busting into tears again. Lucy laughed, rubbing Juvia's back while trying to avoid the messy fingers around her shoulders. Natsu remained quiet across the floor, his eyes focused on his best friend. He didn't notice Gajeel crouching down next to him.
"If you keep staring at her, she might notice." Natsu glanced over to Gajeel, his brows furrowing together.
"So what? I always stare at Lucy; she's my best friend." Gajeel stared at Natsu for a long moment before scowling.
"You keep thinking that naively and she's going to be gone before you know it."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What am I, your personal brain? Figure it out yourself before she hops away," Gajeel snapped, crossing his arms while making his way out of the bar. Natsu watched him leave before turning back to Lucy, who was writing down Juvia's specific cake recipe. Though he didn't understand Gajeel's warning, one thing rang clear in his mind.
If he didn't act fast, Natsu may lose more than his best friend.
And there you have it. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait! Did you enjoy the carnival as much as the characters did? What will happen with Erza and Jellal? Can Natsu realize he needs to do? How is Gajeel so perceptive? And just what does the rest of this story have in store for our favorite characters? Come find out next time!
Chapter Ten: The Power of Frosting
