Supernova

Chapter Ten

It was the sun streaming in the curtains accompanied by a fierce throbbing within my skull that awoke me. Stirring, I shifted to adjust my position, snuggling into the warmth that surrounded me.

As I laid there, sleep slowly ebbing away, my memories of last night gradually returned until the last ones stuck me like a freight train.

With a gasp, I sat up, or at least tried to. Natsu's arms were wrapped around me, unwilling to budge or loosen his grip in the slightest. I could feel my heart beating wildly in my chest. Oh Mavis! What in the hell have I done? The ability to breathe was slipping through my fingers as tears of frustration swelled in my eyes.

What had I been thinking? More like, why in the hell hadn't I been thinking? I'd just single handedly lost my best friend because I was too damned selfish to push him away. Why hadn't I pushed him away?

But I already knew the answer to that.

Natsu stirred a little, causing me to freeze as my mind racked itself for an explanation, but he only nuzzled against my neck, audibly breathing in the scent before falling back asleep.

After a moment, I felt the briefest lax in his hold and took the opportunity to escape, though the rocking of the hammock almost gave me away as I slid from the cocoon onto the ground below, flinching at the sudden pain coming from in between my thighs. The pink mixture that stained my inner thighs took away what little doubt… and hope that lingered. Another, nagging pain began to make itself known in my neck region, but I knew what it was from.

A blush stained my cheeks—I didn't even want to think about it.

Limping, I made my way towards my rumpled up clothes, frowning when I didn't spot my underwear, but I remembered that Natsu had tossed them last night. Looking around, I couldn't spot the snatch of fabric anywhere.

Cursing inaudibly, because I couldn't risk Natsu waking up, I quickly redid my bra, and wiggled into my dress. I left the shoes off because it would be much easier to tip toe, searching for my damned underwear, barefoot.

They couldn't have gotten far. And they couldn't have been buried under anything…. So, eyeballing the room, I looked for anything out of place, not that the mess was any help. He needed to clean up the house again. It had been a while since I'd last cle—underwear Lucy! Underwear!

Shaking my head, I returned to my search. Time seemed to drag by the longer it took for me to find them, and when it seemed like I might have finally located them, a rustling informed me that a certain pink haired slayer was waking up.

With another curse on my lips, I abandoned all hope of finding my underwear and instead made it for the door.

"Luce?" At the sound of his groggy voice, I stilled, my fingers barely brushing against the knob of his front door. Shit! Turning slowly, I saw that he was indeed sitting up in his hammock, rubbing his face with the palm of his hand, yawning heavily.

Like a deer caught in head lights, I eyed him, my breath caught in the back of my throat. Maybe he'll just go back to sleep. Maybe he'll just think it was a dream, a really realistic dream that just got carried away or some—as our eyes met, black with brown, I could see from the way he froze in mid-yawn that his mind was catching up with last night's events.

Without another moment to spare, I was all but ripping the door open, eager to put as much distance between me and the pink haired fire eater before he could open his mouth and say… something. Anything. Anything that would mean me losing him, which was a for sure thing now, surely.

"Oi! Lucy, wa-" I flinched at the use of my name, he hardly ever called me by it. There was a thud and some cursing but I didn't allow that to break my stride. I was out the door and flying down the path with a speed I hadn't known I possessed… except when possessed.

The trees became a blur as tears swelled in my eyes, hindering my vision as I ran in the direction of Magnolia.

"LUCE! Stop!" I didn't have to glance back to know that Natsu was gaining on me. Damn him and his strength!

"Go away!" I shouted, the muscles in my legs beginning to burn from the strain.

"Stop running, would ya?!" He demanded. I could almost feel the heat radiating off of him, he was so close to catching me.

"Noooo!"

"Come oooonnnn! I just wanna taaaalllkkk!" That last statement had me running even faster. I couldn't allow him to catch up, I couldn't lose him! As a last ditch effort, I suppose, he lunged for me, the sudden weight of his body hitting mine caused me to crash before we – a tangle of limbs - rolled to a stop.

We were both breathing heavily as Natsu detangled himself from me and moved to lean over me as I laid on the ground, rocks digging quite painfully into my back as I tried to catch my breath, though the effort was a waste. The moment our eyes met, I dissolved into tears.

He looked startled. "Luce?"

"Just go away," I sobbed, fists rubbing at my eyes.

He leaned back, sitting on the ground beside me. "I can't."

"Please," I begged, shoulders shaking from the turmoil of emotions pulsing through my body, fear beginning to take root.

"I…"

"I can't…." I shook my head, feeling my ability to breathe starting to dissolve as I tried to force the air in and out of my lungs. I sat up, grasping at my arms. "I can't do this."

"Lucy?"

"Can't we just pretend it didn't happen? I just want to erase the past twenty-four hours."

"But Luce…"

"I don't want to lose you, Natsu. You're my best friend."

"Lucy…"

"You were my best friend and I screwed it up with those damned feelings of mine. I'm such an id-" I was cut off by his lips claiming mine. The feel of those lips against mine, almost bruising as he moved his mouth against mine in a sinful battle of dominance, had my heart near bursting. The implications of this… did it mean everything would be alright?

After a moment, we parted, both breathing heavily as his forehead rested against my own. Our eyes met, though I couldn't read a vast majority of the swirling emotions that shone through. They seemed to be more of a combination of multiple emotions. How I wished I could read him right now. With that signature goofy smile of his, he quipped, "You're a weirdo."

Glaring I pulled away from him, a blush staining my cheeks. Turning my back on the slayer, I asked, "What does this… what is this going to mean between us?"

"You're still my best friend, Luigi." I huffed at the nickname. He pulled on my arm, making me face him as he murmured, "You're not going to lose me."

"Natsu…" It looked like he was going to kiss me again, when the sound of voices broke through our little bubble, freezing the both of us.

"…-anna, I doubt flame-brain is even awake right now." Gray's voice carried as the sounds of their progress around the path carried towards us.

A giggle. "Well, knowing how much you guys had to drink, I know he'll want this." Lisanna. Swallowing, I took a step back from Natsu, putting some much needed distance between us. The thought hit me, would that even matter? Even though it was common knowledge that Natsu had a bad habit of sleeping in my bed, didn't mean that I ever slept over at his place. Ever. And the bite mark on the side of my neck… Oh Mavis!

I don't think I could bare it if it got out what happened last night… least of all, not until Natsu and I talked about it. As if sensing my distress, Natsu started pulling me in the direction we'd come from, his house. I followed him without hesitation, wanting to put as much distance between us and them as possible.

"Natsu, what are we going to do?" I asked.

He stopped short, let out a breath as he frowned. "I… We…"

I blinked, maybe I had hurt his feelings or something? Biting my lip, I began, "I'm sorry… It's that just I don't want-"

He shook his head. "I know, Luce. I understand. We'll be able to talk some other time."

Our hands fell apart and I nodded. "O-okay."

"And Luce?" The sudden huskiness in his voice had my breath hitching as I looked back towards Natsu.

"Yes?"

"I'll be over later." With that, he gave me a quick kiss before hurrying into his house, leaving me alone. Hearing their approaching footsteps once more, I finally went into action, running once more to keep them from spotting me.

It didn't take me long to get to my apartment. Thankfully it was still a little early and there weren't many people out and about to see me, or revel in my walk of shame. As soon as the door to my apartment was locked behind me, I leaned against it, sliding to the floor with a heavy sigh. I was a little surprised that Nashi wasn't in the apartment, but I was a little grateful for the alone time.

First things first, I needed a bath. It was while I was soaking in the tub that it hit me.

I'd cheated on Braxton with Natsu.

The weight of that knowledge stuck me like a lightning bolt, causing me to still. What the hell was I going to do? I knew what I had to do, but I really didn't want to face him. Not now, not so soon… but I had to. Braxton deserved better. I just wish I'd wised up and ended things with him before now because this would always be on my conscience.

After my bath, I dragged through the motions of changing, part of me wanting to put this off for as long as I could. And so, I found myself headed for the docks, in search of Braxton. It wasn't hard to spot him among the others, and I forced myself to walk towards him. Several of the fishermen waved in my direction, causing him to look up from his work, finally spotting me.

"Hey there." At the warm smile, I flinched.

Clearing my throat, I murmured, "Hey."

He paused, his face taking on a look of concern. "Is everything alright?"

I shook my head. "…No, actually."

"What's wrong?" He stepped out of the boat, coming towards me, stopping a foot or so away.

"I…" I looked away, a blush staining my cheeks as shame filled me. Guilt slowly ate away at my conscience as butterflies flew about in a frenzy within my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I continued, "I'm sorry but I think it would be best if we didn't see one another anymore."

He swallowed. "Oh…"

Biting my lip, I fought the urge to place my hand on his shoulder. I didn't have the right to touch him after what I'd done, so I could only offer my apologies. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't be." With a shrug of his shoulders, he continued, "If you're unhappy, no reason to stick around."

"I…"

"I had a nice time." Giving me a small smile, he turned away and hopped back into the boat before calling out, "I hope you are happy with him."