{I want you so much

but I hate your guts}

Lucy had walked home from the museum that day determined.

She had talked about Natsu to Mira lightly and innocently at first, until dropping the truth onto the white haired girl, the confusion in the room multiplying.

So they had talked and talked, ever-so-slowly piecing together the truth.

And as Lucy strutted forward, eyes narrowed and pace quick, she looked angry to anyone passing by.

And she had the right to be, since she had been duped by some strange man.

So with all this fueling anger, and the will to go through with the questioning, she made it to her front door.

And the moment she pulled out her key, turned it in the lock and opened the door, her resolve was flushed down the drain.

She stood in the doorway, feet planted, staring ahead at the image of a pink haired man sprawled across her couch, Plue tucked into the dip of his arm.

They looked so peaceful there, sleeping endearingly.

The dangerous thought of how natural it looked, coming home to this, sparked in Lucy's heart as she couldn't find it in her to move.

Her eyes were glued on the rise and fall of his chest as he snored cutely, his hand moving to scratch his cheek before falling once more to his side.

She quietly slipped out of her shoes and settled her purse down, clicking the door closed and relocking it. Eyes skimming over the man again, her heart began to beat faster than ever before, orbs darting away like they had just committed a crime.

Stop it, Lucy. She chided herself, only to remember that he wasn't actually 'Mira' and that this man on her couch was just some random stranger.

This thought fueled her anger, and as she opened her mouth to scream profanities at him, his eyes suddenly dragged open.

His gaze was sluggish as it made it's way over to her, but when his onyx eyes met hers there was no denying the light that entered them.

"Lucy!" His voice was groggy at best, and once more her heart leaped, which made her angry.

She bit her lip to keep herself together, not knowing whether to be happy to see him awake, or fearful.

"How'd the-" he paused to yawn "-date go?" He asked curiously as he stretched his arms out, disturbing Plue's sleep in the process. She was slightly distracted by the cute awakening of her little puppy, watching as he readjusted himself to lay across Natsu's lap, snuggling into the man's warmth.

He is pretty warm. Lucy agreed with the pup's actions, before remembering herself. She straightened up, eyes cautious as they watched Natsu.

"Okay, I guess." She spoke timidly. Thoughts raced through her mind, and the one that circumscribed her the most was Mira's words.

You must mean a lot to him for him to do something like this.

That thought caused her heart to squeeze, and as their eyes locked once more she found herself blushing lightly, looking away.

"Did something happen?" He suddenly stood, suspicion and worry entering his lovely eyes. She shook her head, not trusting her voice enough to speak. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Natsu, I'm fine." Her voice was like shards of glass as they cut through him, surprising the both of them. She opened her mouth to apologize, only for him to brush it off.

"Okay then, I guess I'll be going." He spoke with little effort, obviously not wanting to leave.

Why?

Why did he do this? Why would he do this? She was just Lucy Heartfilia, and he was just some stranger. So why did he feel the need to lie about who he was, to help her in her quest to find love?

A horrible thought clicked in her mind and no matter how hard she tried to get rid of it, it stuck to her.

"Natsu?" She called his named quietly just before he found the doorknob.

"Hm?" He answered, turning to face her. They were barely a foot away from one another arms brushing when he turned.

"Am I a joke to you?"

...

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...

They stood in icy silence for a long moment, Lucy's eyes resting on the floor and Natsu's solely on her.

"What?" His voice was edgy, a spark of anger hinted in his voice. She didn't dare look up, biting the inside of her cheek instead.

"What did you say, Lucy?" The words sounded normal any other day, but now they were a challenge. He dared her to repeat it.

"I met Mira today." Her voice and nerve seemed to be dying out as his anger grew.

He stayed silent, and she dared a look up. His eyes were pained, with a flash of surprise dashed in.

He was so beautiful.

And wrong.

She took a step back, gaze wavering.

"We talked for a while, and she said she knew you. That you closed up the shop for her, the same shop we met in. On the same day, too." She appointed, begging him to correct her.

The mood had definitely taken a turn for the worse as they stared one another down, seeing who would cower first.

"Do you hate me now?" His voice quivered as he spoke, his eyes never leaving hers.

His words struck her as odd, enough to make her step back.

"N-No...of course not." She mumbled, looking away as her heart clenched.

Unknown to her, his heart did too.

"But why?"

"Why?"

"Why would you...do this." She struggled to explain her question, using her hand to wave through the air to emphasize her point.

"I don't know." He spoke truthfully, eyes downset. "I don't know why I did it, but I don't feel sorry about it Lucy I don't." His words held a double meaning as he set his jaw, staring her in the eye as he spoke, more serious than she had ever seen him.

"I don't regret saying I was someone I wasn't, I don't regret helping you. I don't regret becoming your friend." His words were impassioned as he took a step forward, then another, then another, only stopping when they were dangerously close.

She inhaled a straggled breath quietly, cheeks burning at his confession.

"We're friends?" She couldn't hide her extravagant smile, remembering when Natsu had told her they would never be able to make friends. Now here he was, saying it right to her face.

"Of course we're friends, it was always inevitable, right?" His tone was light as he spoke to her, hands in pockets.

"I suppose so," she agreed with butterflies in her stomach. "Does that mean one of us will fall in love with the other soon?"

Her words silenced their smiles, tension once more settling into their bones. She blushed and looked away, ready to profusely apologize-

"Maybe," his reply was so quiet she wasn't even sure he said it, though the impact was the same as if he did. She tingled from head to toe at the admittedly hopeful words, a lovely feeling settling in her stomach.

"Maybe one of us already has." This time, his words were matter-of-factly, like he could see into both of their souls. She inhaled a sharp breath as he closed the door behind him, a glimpse of his enchanting smile the last thing she saw that night.

And as she was getting ready for bed, all she could think of was him as she snuggled Plue.

He smelled like Natsu.

I know this is short, but some of my computer keys are acting weird-yo. I'll try updating some stories, though I technically SHOULD be working on my biology project that's due monday and haven't even started...heh.

well gotta go ! Please Review, more in the next update! some drama, even ;3