Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

–-

Chapter 10 – A hint

Lucy entered the house with a still slight blush on her cheeks. Why the hell has she done that? She should have just kissed him. But she hesitated for god knows what reason. Groaning in confusion she left for her room when her father came into view.

''So you came back, after I don't recall when I called you. Maybe an hour ago?'' It was true. When her father called her they were still at the lake and the way there took a bit under an hour plus they had to get Lucy's things from Natsu.

''Sorry. I was out.'' Her father snickered. ''That long?''

''It's 8 o'clock, dad.'' Normally Lucy would call him father but right now she was to pissed to be formal with him. He destroyed her first kiss. And it would have been a perfect first kiss.

''Where have you been?'' Lucy rolled her eyes. ''Why do you care?''

''Because you are still under my guardianship! I am your father, don't forget that Lucy!'' Lucy looked down letting her bangs cover her eyes. ''Then maybe you should start acting like one...''

She went upstairs hearing her father scream something she didn't want to hear and locked her room. Crying, she fell onto the bed hugging her pillows. It has been like that since her mother died. Before that they lived happy together. Her father loved both her mother and her. But now, since he married Miranda he changed to this not caring, old man who would give a shit about her life in reality and only pretend to care.

He actually said that he needed to talk with her that's why she had to come home but she wasn't in the mood to talk to him right now. And she wouldn't until he would calm down and act like a normal matured person. Sighing, Lucy turned onto her back and stared holes into the ceiling.

Why is he always like that?!

–-o.O.o-

When she woke up the next day she was surprised to see her father standing in kitchen. Normally he was in Chicago during the week. He was making breakfast. ''Morning?''

''Why is that a question?'' Lucy looked at him confused. ''Well... Maybe because you are here?''

Now her father was the one who looked at her a bit sad. ''I took a break from the company. And I wanted to talk with you about something.'' Now the girl wasn't sure if she should just run away or really listen to him.

''How long?'' Her father laughed. ''A week. But that sounds like you don't want me to stay here.'' Lucy rolled her eyes. ''To be honest I really don't want to but that wasn't what I meant. How long will it take you to tell me what you have to tell me. I need to go to school you know...''

There was silence for a moment making Lucy shift from one feet to another.

''That's what I want to talk with you about.''

''What?''

''I want you to attend another school.''

Now her father had her full attention. Was he insane? There were no words. She just couldn't say anything. That was just crazy!

''I-You... What?!''

''I know this must be confusing but I heard a few things from this school. And I don't want you to get involved into something.''

''That's just insane! Nowhere around here is another school! And I like my school! All those rumors are not true!''

''Who told you that? Your new boyfriend?'' Lucy flinched at the words. ''He's not my boyfriend.'' She whispered softly thinking that it could have changed yesterday like he had watched them and prevented that from happening. ''Lucy. I will enroll you at another school. That's it. You should go now.''

''I won't go until you tell me how you planned all this without even asking me if that's okay for me.''
''Well as you can see. If I have asked you before then you would have blocked up completely.''

''This is not funny! How can you just decide on that?''

''That's simple, your just 17 you have to listen to everything I say!'' He didn't say anything else. But then he spoke again. ''I picked a school in Chicago for you, there are the best teachers and a lot of nice people.''

''Chicago?! You're kidding right?''

''No actually I'm not. You will always accompany me when I fly to my work and at the end of the week we fly back together.''

''Then why did you move here anyway?!''

''Lucy... This is already set. You will leave your school next week when my holiday is over.''

''I... I don't believe this!'' Lucy let her frustration out on the chair in front of her kicking it so hard that it fell against the table making it also shift a bit. ''Lucy!'' But the door to the kitchen had already been shut and then her father heard her close the front door.

–-o.O.o-

She didn't even care that it was only 20 past 7. She just ran down the drive and took a walk to the school. She didn't want to face Natsu now in her fury. But her plan seemed to fail when she heard a car drive next to her at the same speed she was walking. If you can call that speed.

She looked at the side and saw Natsu sitting in the car. When he saw her stopping he stopped as well and got out of the car. ''I thought you said yesterday that should pick you up?'' He wasn't mad neither was he disappointed. He was worried. He bet Lucy would call when something happened but maybe she wanted to be alone after what he tried yesterday. But she kissed him that day on the cheek. And he knew it bothered her that they got interrupted.

Then he saw her pained expression and the slight annoyance. ''Hey what's wrong?'' With an annoyed grunt she turned to face him. ''I hate my father!'' Natsu sighed. It seemed all her problems were connected with her father. ''What did he do this time?''

''Not what did he do... What's he going to do! God, I swear if I ever get the chance to pay him back...'' She reached her leg back and kicked down against a trash can. ''I will do it with enjoyment!'' When she wanted to kick the trash can again Natsu reached his arm around her and pulled her back with ease. ''Easy with that. The trash can isn't responsible for that...''

Lucy sighed trying to calm down. She didn't want to show Natsu such a side of her but right now she didn't care. She was so incredible pissed and actually disappointed of her father that her emotions just took the better of her.

When he felt her not really wanting to talk about it he forced her to the car. ''Want to skip school?'' Lucy only shook her head when he already started driving. ''No, I need distraction.''

''Okay.''

–-o.O.o-

Lucy was very happy when she entered the school building and Levy fell into her arms. They haven't texted for a few days now and she still had to tell her a few things. Behind Levy she recognized the girl which introduced herself to Lucy on Friday. She remembered her as Lisanna. I hope that's right... Lucy gave her a hand which the girl took gently.

The lunch brake started the whole class sighing in relief. Levy spent it with the girls this time. Normally she would spend it with Gajeel but he caught a cold and wasn't able to attend college today. Lucy was very happy about it. Not that Gajeel was sick but that Levy was here. She still didn't know a lot of people from their school and she also didn't want to spend the break alone with Lisanna. She barely knew her and she wasn't going easy around people she doesn't know. Except of Natsu. But that was an exception she kept telling herself.

But then Levy started the conversation and Lucy only wished that she should have taken Natsu's offer and skip school.

''So Lucy... How's it going with Natsu?'' Lucy wanted to scold Levy for just bringing that up in front of a person she barely knew but then she recognized that Lisanna herself tensed up slightly when Levy mentioned Natsu.

''Natsu... Dragneel?'' She heard Lisanna's now stern voice. Lucy cleared her throat, getting goosebumps by the way Lisanna looked at her. Trying to ignore the blush on her cheeks Lucy nodded. ''I didn't know he had a girlfriend.''

''I am not his girlfriend!''

Lucy almost screamed over the whole campus but controlled herself. Levy already lying on the floor, laughing.

''Funny, Levy.'' Lucy threw an apple at her at which Levy pouted a bit. ''Lucy that can hurt if you really throw it hard.''

''I know.'' That simple answer made Levy pout even more. Lisanna stood up and left the table, a dark shadow over her face. ''I need to go somewhere.'' Levy looked up a bit shocked. ''Huh, Lisanna wait!'' But she was already out of her reach.

Lucy thought the whole time that she saw Lisanna already somewhere. And she knew defiantly that it wasn't from Friday where they met. Her face was so familiar. But she couldn't remember where it was that she saw her.

''What's wrong with her?'' Levy shrugged it off. ''Maybe it was wrong from me to talk about Natsu when she was with us...'' Levy sighed and then it snapped. The picture... It must have been Lisanna... ''Oh. Okay.'' Lucy didn't want to ask further. It wasn't of her business but she was still interested in it.

''The two have been together, right?'' Now Levy looked at her surprised. ''What did Natsu tell you?'' Levy was sure at what she heard from Gajeel that Natsu normally didn't talk abut his past. Before Levy and Gajeel even met, he was a friend of Natsu. But that knew no one except of the three and should stay that way. They decided on that. Or rather Natsu and Gajeel decided on that and Gajeel one time accidentally spoke about it. Levy didn't know exactly how they met and what they did but it seemed to have a deeper meaning and she never asked.

''Not much. Especially nothing about this girl he had a fight over with-'' Lucy covered her mouth. One more word and she would have told Levy something she wasn't supposed to tell someone. ''Hm, what did you say?'' It seemed that she didn't even listen when she started the sentence making Lucy sigh in relief. ''Nothing, he told me nothing.''

''Hmm. Okay... Well the brake is almost over. Shall we get back inside?'' Lucy nodded and followed her. She would ask Levy about this another time.

–-o.O.o-

At the end of her school day she had to walk home alone. Natsu had to stay at college longer for skipping so many courses and Levy was visiting Gajeel who lived in the complete opposite direction from her.

She didn't know why but she wanted Natsu to drive her home. Lucy knew he had his courses till 4 o'clock and it was half past 3... Sighing Lucy sat down on a bench at the campus. The weather was nice. Lucy laid down, her face in the shadows the rest of her body in the light. What she didn't plan was that she actually would fall asleep, but she did letting herself fall into the depths of her dream.

–-o.O.o-

''I'm just saying that you should stay away a bit from her.'' Natsu was obviously annoyed from Gray lecturing him. They had been sitting in the library for an hour or so trying to catch up on the stuff they had missed and then Gray started to bring up a topic Natsu wasn't really in a mood to talk about. ''And that's because of what? On Saturday you were actually pretty happy that I invited her...''

Gray sighed, knowing that Natsu already felt something for her. ''Natsu... Look. I know how hard this might be, especially since you already wanted to kiss her but-'' Natsu's head snapped up from his book he was currently reading when Gray mentioned that.

He didn't tell anybody except from Erza that he tried to kiss Lucy without really knowing why. ''She told you?!'' Again, Gray sighed. ''Yes, but that's not important right now. You have to stay away from her for her shake. You know Sting always tries to destroy something you hold on to... And I think he will try it with Lucy when he recognizes how close you two became...'' Natsu looked away again, knowing that Gray was right.

''I just don't want you to feel like that again when she left you because of him...''

''Don't bring that up right now.''

''Natsu. You can't keep silent about this for the rest of your life.''

''I know, okay?!'' He already gathered his books and left the library. Also knowing that he had to attend extra courses for that again.

–-o.O.o-

Someone played with her waking her. The person threaded a strand around his fingers, letting it slip again. Lucy finally woke when a single hair was tickling her nose. ''Finally awake?''

At the voice Lucy snapped her head up, smashing it right into the other ones forehead. ''S-Sting?! W-What are you doing here?!''

Lucy hated herself for shaking. She showed him clearly that she was scared of him. Sting chuckled at her how she tried to fix her clothes and how she used her bag to cover her chest. ''Do you really think that I would still try to do something to you? I mean you were dead asleep right now I could have done something then but I didn't, so...''

''So what?! You think I would forgive you for what you've done to me?!''

He sat down beside her and sighed. ''No I guess I can't expect that.'' He flashed her a grin and for the first time she saw that honest grin from the day they met. It was like she was talking to another Sting. ''But I still want to apologize.'' Lucy chuckled sarcastically. ''The last time you wanted to apologize you tried it again...''

''Yeah, but three is a lucky number, don't you think?''

''Nope, not at all.'' Lucy was still feeling uneasy but she wasn't scared anymore. Still she wanted Natsu to be here right now.

Sting closed the space between them, going unnoticed by Lucy. But he did nothing more. If he wanted this to work he knew he had to hold back a bit, which was pretty hard for him right now.

When he felt Lucy moving next to him he faced her. She was about to grab her things and leave but Sting caught her wrist. ''Wait!'' The girl on the other hand startled at his touch. ''Let me go, or I'll scream.'' At that he pulled his hand away. He saw her practically running away from him.

But then Sting caught glance at what she was running at. Natsu... Sting cursed slightly. But then he thought about it. Lucy had been quiet when he sat next to her and if Natsu didn't appear she probably would have stayed. Smirking, Sting stood up and hid behind a tree, observing the two. So I can still continue with my plan...

–-o.O.o-

''Natsu!'' The boy turned to the source of the voice, knowing good enough who it was. But he wasn't in the mood talking to someone right now, not even her. When he left the building he saw her with Sting. Why the hell was she here anyway? He knew she was supposed to be home already. Didn't she know how carefree she was with staying here when Sting was also here?

Gray's words seemed to spin in his head like a track which ran on repeat. That he should stay away from her because of Sting. It was true as long as Lucy would be close to Natsu, Sting would try to confuse her and take her away. Away from him.

The teen cursed when he didn't know what he should do. It was impossible for him to stay away from her now but he also knew it would be better. He only hoped Sting would really leave her alone after he would see this.

''Hey, Natsu. Wait up!'' Lucy was confused from his ignorance towards her. She caught up holding on to his hand blushing madly when she recognized what she was doing. As fast as she took his hand she let go of it again. ''What do you want?'' This wasn't easy for him, acting so cold towards her, he really needed a lot of self control to actually not turn around.

The annoyed tone in his voice made her regret her actions. ''I-I... waited for you.''
''Why?'' Now Lucy got pissed. Why was he acting like that. He didn't even turn around. ''Isn't that obvious?''

''No.'' That was it. Lucy ran around him and looked into his eyes. ''What's wrong with you? Can you at least turn around when I am talking to you?!''

Natsu rested his hand on her shoulder, which made Lucy shiver slightly. She wasn't sure why but he had a lot of pressure on his hand. With a slight shove he pushed her out of his way and continued to his car. Regret run through him when he saw the pained and disappointed eypression Lucy was showing him.

''Natsu?''

''Leave me alone!'' God dammit, he screamed at her making her heart shatter into a thousand of pieces.

Did she do something wrong? Was it wrong for her to wait for him? Was it because of this morning? Because she reacted that way? Of course she was embarrassed but he had no idea what her father planned...

She wanted to reach out for him but recognized that he was already sitting in his car and then he left. He just drove away, leaving her like that. What's wrong with him?

Lucy left the school terrain, tears threatening to fall. But she wouldn't cry because of him. She wanted to be stronger this time.

–-o.O.o-

Lucy reached her house, not bothering to tell her father that she was home. She slammed the door to her room shut, locking it and screaming out her frustration. She drowned her pillow with her tears she just couldn't hold back any longer.

She heard a knock at the door. ''Lucy... Is everything alright?'' It was Miranda's voice, someone she also didn't want to see right now. ''Go away!'' She chocked out. ''Lucy open the door.''

''No!''

More tears were rolling down Lucy's face. ''Did your boyfriend broke up with you?''

''God dammit! He is NOT my boyfriend!''

Lucy hated her father for still thinking so and worse was that Miranda was thinking like that, too now. And deep inside maybe Lucy wanted this thought to be true. But if it was true than it would be already over again. That made her cry even more and harder. She heard a few more knocks and that Miranda said that Lucy should open the door but after a few minutes that stopped.

After some more minutes of crying Lucy was sick of it and took a shower. It was calming her down in a way. After she finished she entered her room again and turned on the music. Normally she would turn the volume as loud as possible when she was angry or sad but she wasn't even in the mood to do that right now.

After what seemed like an eternity to her she left her room. It was almost 2 in the morning and she didn't feel tired. On contrary she needed to do something. Her father and Miranda were probably asleep so she decided to be quiet.

Lucy wanted to go outside but not just somewhere she wanted to sit on the roof of the house. When she sneaked up the stairs to the third floor she recognized that she hasn't been here yet. By any means she didn't even know the house except of her room, the bedroom of her father and Miranda, the living room, all bathrooms and the probably most important room – the kitchen.

Anyway, she was just running down the floor to the big window where she wanted to climb up to the roof when she passed a room where a little light was blinking. She opened the door further, putting her head in and looking around. It seemed that no one was there. Who would be there anyway?

Lucy sneaked in and closed the door behind her. She skipped on the light and was taken back by all the paper stacks on and next to the tables. It seemed to be her father's office. The fax machine was blinking, showing that there were incoming files. Lucy knew she shouldn't do that but she was so damn curious.

She pushed the button and the files downloaded. It were 3 files all from the National bank in Chicago. Two warnings because of data misuse and another file from his supervisor that her father got fired. Lucy skimmed the paper in detail. It was true, signed with the seal of the National bank.

Her father got fired. And not just a few days ago, the date read that it had been 3 months ago. The girl gritted her teeth not believing that her father kept that a secret. She took the last paper and was shocked, not only that it wasnt from the Natinal bank. It was a file about a young girl. Everything was on this paper. Her name, her age, her address, her curriculum vitae just everything.

The age got Lucy suspicious. She was the same age as her, only one year older. On the bottom of the paper was written something. 'Your next order.'

Lucy folded the paper and put it in her pocket. The next moment her father stood in the door, fury the only thing in his eyes. And Lucy had never been more afraid of her father.

''What are you doing here?!'' He screamed at her. ''I... I just wanted to climb up the roof... And then I saw that there were incoming files...''

''Did you read them?'' Lucy backed up when her father came closer to her. ''I... When did you want to tell me that you got fired?!''

''That's not important right now!'' Lucy took a step forward. ''I think it is! How long do you think you could keep that a secret?!''

''Lucy!'' The tone of her father's voice became threatening but Lucy didn't care. ''How come you still fly every week to Chicago when you got fired?''

''Don't ask such stupid questions!'' Lucy snarled at him. ''Do you really think I wouldn't ask any questions now? I mean you got fired three months ago... Why did we even move here? And how did you pay this house? And how—''

Lucy felt a strong impact on her cheek. ''I said, stop asking questions!'' He slapped her. Her father slapped her. He would shout at her, he would also shove her out of the way but never before did he slap her.

With tears in her eyes Lucy ran down back into her room. She thought that she had cried out the last of her tears but it seemed that she could still cry. Her cheek was hurting a lot. She locked her door, hearing her father run after her. He hammered against her door with his fits screaming that if she diddn't open the door he would brake it.

Lucy had never been this scared before. She searched for her phone and dialed the number. She just hoped the person would pick up. It was half past 2 in the morning anyway. The dial tone resounded. One, two, three... Please, pick up...

Six, Seven- She heard him pick up and let out a sigh of relief. ''Natsu.''

–-

Uiiii what's happening now :oo

Maybe a lot for one chapter but I couldn't quiet part it. So the next one will actually answer all questions which appear in this chapter, I guess xD

No promises :D

Till then :3