09

Indebted


When people help you in any way, you feel the need to help them back.


Chapter 9:


I swallowed hard, pressing my hands to my eyes. The chairs in the waiting room were uncomfortable. Lucy was sitting next to me, glancing towards me every now and then, with worry in her eyes. Why did she worry so much? Wendy was my sister after all. And she doesn't really have to be here with me; since i don't need her, or want her to be here. And also, isn't she mad about everything I said? Probably not, since she's strong and doesn't let stupid jokes like that get to her so easily. She's independent and doesn't care about people's opinions. Wait... I hate her for fuck's sake! Why am I talking like she's some sort of role model?

Wait a minute... why do I even hate her?

UGH. Why am I thinking about this now?! It's because I have too much time on my hands.

I cursed the time for passing so slow.

"It's okay Dragneel." She repeated those few words she's been saying ever since the doctor took Wendy to the examination room. "They're just running a few tests to see if she's okay. You never know, she might be cured! I mean, the medications did help, and her waking up was the best possible sign there is! She might me better already! My cousin had leukemia, and she was cured in a year. There is hope." She assured me, but I still felt afraid. What if something happens? Wendy's organism is not as strong as other people's. She has collapsed many times in the past, and I've seen her struggle to breath. So who's to say that she's not dying? She might be... She might be...

"Look Dragne—" she stopped, and I could notice she was hesitating about something in her head, "—Natsu, she's going to be just fine!"

My name sounded so weird coming out of her mouth. It was a good weird though, and she looked like she really meant what she said.

"Who's with Wendy Dragneel?" I heard the doctor ask, as soon as he walked out of the room.

"Me!" I yelled.

"Us!" Lucy shouted, making me stare at her weirdly. That was a nice thing to say. UGH NATSU WHAT THE FUCK?

"Is everything okay, doctor?" Her expression was so… pure… like she really cared for a girl she only knew a few days.

"Well, to be honest," the doctor looked at his notes, shaking his head, before giving us a smile, "This is the best case of curing the acute type of leukemia I've ever witnessed."

I think my heart just stopped in anticipation, but hearing him say those words, and having Lucy jump in my hands in happiness, made my heart star working again, and I released the breath I never even knew I was holding.

"Woohoo!" Lucy shouted, as she took my wrist, and ran into the examination room, ignoring all the protests from the doctor. Wendy was sitting in a wheel chair, and waving at us, as we ran up to her, and both hugged her.

"She'll need a lot of rest to recover, so I think it'd be best if she stayed in the hospital for a couple of days, because we can provide the best care for her. Also," he looked me in the eye, "Keep a close eye on her, the illness is known to be able to return if the organism is weak enough."

"Nah! We'll keep her strong!" Lucy shouted, giving me all the hope I need, and she pushed her wheelchair back into the room she was sitting at. I followed close behind, watching the two girls chat with glee, as Lucy helped Wendy get back on the bed. Looks like Wendy has taken a liking to Lucy, huh? Why? She's just a nerd. A boring nerd. But I guess she can be nice sometimes. Well, sometimes. But those are really really rare times. I don't even remember the last time she... oh wait... she let me live with her. Is that considered nice?

I don't know, so I'll just say she can be a little nice hardly ever.

"Wendy!" I heard an all-too-familiar voice yell, as I turned around and came face-to-face with my parents. Mom and dad brushed past me, and hugged my sister so tight I thought she might explode. They were both crying.

"The doctor informed us." Dad answered my unspoken question.

"Is this Lucy!?" Mom asked, looking towards Heartfilia.

"Y-yes." Lucy replied, only to be crushed in a hug from my mother. "Oh thank you dear! You are a lifesaver! The doctor said your stories woke her up!"

"But, we still don't know the whole story." Dad informed, and they all sat down on the extra chairs I had to bring from the halls.

"Well," Lucy scratched the back of her neck, "I'm Natsu's friend from school. You know, we talked on the phone."

"But I thought your name was Cindy?" Mom asked, and Lucy paled.

"Ahaha, well um, Natsu sometimes calls me that because I remind him of uh, some singer Cindy, haha, so I guess I must've unconsciously said that through the phone." She nervously coughed, nudging me with her elbow to play along.

Mom's expression softened, "Oh, so you're that well-mannered girl I wanted to meet so badly!"

"Y-yes, and, when you told me about Wendy, I just wanted to come here and read her a book. I don't know why. So I kept coming every day, and eventually, she woke up."

"Oh dear, I don't know if I can ever repay you!"

"No, no it's okay! I don't need anything! I did it because I wanted to." She smiled. What a fake smile.

"So, how's your boyfriend?" Mom asked, and I started choking on my own spit.

Lucy's eyes widened, "Uh, well, we broke up."

But instead of mom frowning and saying something like 'oh, sorry to hear that', she just grinned and asked, "So, you're single now? You hear that, Natsu?"

Both me and Lucy flushed at the thought, and I could hear Wendy's giggles in the background.

"So, summer break starts on Tuesday, right?" Mom asked, and I silently thanked her for changing the subject.

"yeah!" Lucy yelled happily, and I agreed.

Suddenly, Lucy's phone started ringing, and she excused herself to go answer the call.

"So Natsu," mom started, "she's single."

"Gahh!" I rolled my eyes in embarrassment, not willing to keep on talking like this.

"You can come back anytime you want honey." She spoke up again, "I'm not mad at you, since Cin—Lucy explained the situation about your picture. I talked to your father too," dad nodded to confirm, "And you can come home now."

"I'll be back on Tuesday." I said, smiling at the thought of having two more nights of pure torture on my hands.

Wendy looked confused about what we were talking, but she didn't ask.

Lucy was back a few moments later, she said that she talked with her friend, something about their summer vacation or some shit. We decided to leave mom and dad with Wendy, since they needed to catch up, so we just went straight home.

"Maaan I'm exhausted!" Lucy yelled, plopping herself on the couch.

"Me too!" I shouted, stretching. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"Night." She mumbled into the pillow on the couch, and I went upstairs. Did I feel guilty for making her sleep on the couch? Nah.


"Natsu!" I heard my name being called, and I immediately jumped up on the bed. "We're going to be late!"

I didn't even bother to look at the time, so I put on my uniform in a flash, asked Lucy to tie the tie for me, picked up the bento that was left for me on the kitchen counter, took my backpack, and walked out of the house. I waved at Lucy, before running in front of her, because I still don't want to be seen walking with her.

"Later." I shouted, not turning around to look at what expression she'd make.

Today was the last day of school.

I'll finally get to say goodbye and good fucking riddance to every single one of those bitches who talk behind my fucking back and just act like they know shit when they actually know nothing.

The classroom was packed with shitty people talking about their shitty lives to their shitty friends with their shitty smiles.

Everybody stared at me as I walked to my seat, but I didn't let that bother me, so instead, I just rolled my eyes, and sat down, watching Lucy enter the room, and go to her own seat. I noticed she was blushing, and wondered why.

Sting walked in a minute later, with an annoying smirk on his face. He winked in Lucy's direction, and I saw her giggle.

HOLD THE FUCK UP.

What was that?

Before I could even think about what I was doing, I was standing in front of Sting, as I clutched the tie he was wearing, pulling him up, and making him follow me out the classroom, where I slammed his back against the lockers. "Listen up brat" I hissed, watching his eyes widen in surprise, "If you lay a finger on her, I'll skin you alive."

I let go of him, as he slid down the lockers, the expression of pure horror on his face.

What the fuck did I just do!?

I noticed that all of the other students were in their classrooms, so nobody saw that. I just turned around, and walked back into our classroom, Sting coming in a few minutes later.

Lucy was talking with a guy who was sitting behind her. Since when is she so talkative?

I suddenly found myself standing in front of the person who was sitting next to Lucy, "Move." I spat out, watching the girl stumble to her feet, before taking her books, and sitting at my old desk. I sat down next to Lucy, not saying a single word. The others stared at me for a while, before going back to their usual chatter.

"Good day class," Bisca-sensei shouted, as she walked in through the door. She talked about how we finally get to enjoy the summer break that's starting tomorrow. "I can't wait! But anyway, we need to get down to our last bits of business. I graded your projects, and this final project will count for 70% of your final grade." Some of the students groaned.

"And—of course—the best project was the one Lucy Heartfilia and Natsu Dragneel did. Congratulations on the 100 points students." I grinned, happy that I'd be having an A in History.

Lucy's face showed no emotion however. Probably because she was used to getting As in everything she does and every project she completes perfectly.

"Hey, Lucy" I heard the guy sitting behind her speak again. She turned around. "Yes?"

"Where are you going on summer vacation?"

"I'll be going at the Sakura Resort on Wednesday."

"This Wednesday? Wow!"

"Yeah! My friend from middle school is going there, too! It'll be a blast!"

I stayed silent for the rest of the class.


Lunch time. We were both alone. She was looking for her bento, while I was just staring at her. The others already left for the cafeteria, and I watched her zip her backpack shut.

"Don't." I said, the moment she was about to leave the classroom. So, she just closed the door, and turned around.

"What did Sting say to you?"

She rolled her eyes, "He just said I looked cute in my uniform."

"Well you don't." I replied, walking out of the classroom, and slamming the door shut.


Why did Sting say that? I was thinking on the matter while the other students entered the room. And why did I care? Why did I even sit next to her? Ugh. What is happening to me!?

"Natsu." I heard the voice of the guy I was just thinking about call my name, as I turned around, facing that ridiculous blond head of his. What did he want?

"What is it? Did I not make myself clear back then?" I asked.

"N-no, it's just… you're kind of ruining my chances here." He said, as I stared at him in confusion. What chances? "I mean," He continued, "I kind of… um… like Heartfilia."

w-w-what?

"And um, I thought that I could get closer to her, so I'm also going to go to that resort on Wednesday… and you're not helping. I mean, we hate each other. I know that. But, the thing is, you hate Heartfilia."

"So what if I hate Lucy?"

"Oh? You're calling her by her first name now?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, no. But, listen, you don't even care about her. And I started seeing her differently. I think I might actually grow to love this girl. So, stay out of my way."

"Listen here jerk, I don't care about your stupid plans, and I couldn't give less of a shit about what you plan to do with your worthless life, but listen here, and listen good. If you so much as touch Lucy, I'll personally send you to your grave. I mean, the fuck? Since when? If I remember correctly, you talked shit about her with me."

"Since when do you care so much!?" He suddenly yelled, "You didn't give a crap about her! She was nothing to you! She was just another stupid nerd that you hated from the bottom of your heart! So why the fuck are you trying to act as some sort of hero now?! I'm not doing anything bad! And, if memory serves me right, you're the one who made her cry!"

Yes.

I know that.

I fucking know that.

"Listen brat," I spat out, clutching the front of Sting's shirt. "Find another bitch to mess with. Because, if I see a hair out of place on her head, you'll be unable to have children."

He watched me pant with anger, before I released him, and he scratched his head.

"All I'm saying is… why did you start caring so much all of a sudden?"

"It's not caring. It's repaying my debts."

he raised his eyebrow, "Debts?"

"It doesn't concern you. It's something between me and her. I owe her for a lot of things, and I fucking hate owing people. So, I'll just repay her by making sure perverted idiots like you stay our of her way."

"So, you're saying you'll protect her?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

"But... why?" He desperately looked around, "I don't get it! I don't fucking get it!"

"And you don't fucking have to!" I yelled, full-blown angry, "You don't have to get everything, Sting! I've been an ass towards her, and I'll keep being an ass towards her. My attitude won't change. But, I'll just have to protect her from other people like you! Other people like me!" I stopped my rant, to take a deep breath and calm down, "Just fuck off, and I won't touch you."

He rolled his eyes, before leaving me alone in the hallways. It's a good thing I left her alone in the classroom, or else she might have met him before I did.

Damn it, why did I overreact like that!?

Ugh, I'd better head back to our last class.


A/N: MY BABIES! I LOVE ALL OF YOU FANTASTIC PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME!

*cough* so anyways, I just wanted to say that I want to hug you all.

Also, this was everything I had time to write, because I deleted the chapter I wanted to post :'(

But let's think happy thoughts!

I aced chemistry yesterday, and i slayed in physics today. I usually hate these subjects, but wow, i actually managed to solve some equations and stuff.

Thanks for your amazing support though my tough period, and sorry for bitching like a second grader.

I love you the most in the world!

I can always count on my readers!

~ With Keys, through flames! Ayeeeee! ~

(overly happy ayeeee^)


End of Chapter 9.