{Maybe one day I'll be strong enough to tell you I love you}

"You like her,"

"What?" Natsu blinked in surprise, looking up to the girl walking past him.

"Juvia can tell that Natsu-san likes Lucy-san." Juvia explained easily, as if she wasn't discussing his love life.

"That's insane!" Natsu tried to blowing it off like it was nothing, but secretly his heart was ravaging through his chest.

"Mmm…" Juvia hummed, obviously not believing her friend. She opened up her blue covered book, reading on intently, leaving her rose haired best friend to worry.

"Love her? Me?" Natsu mumbled to himself, and Juvia secretively smiled to herself, listening in. "Is it that easy to see? Maybe I should act different…hm…"

"Hey Natsu!" The cheery blonde chirped. Juvia's eyes trailed up to the blonde, her smirk widening.

"L-L-Lucy!" He jumped, toppling over in surprise. The blonde rose an eyebrow at him, looking to Juvia for the answer.

Juvia shrugged simply, "Boys," She concluded, and Lucy nodded in understanding.

"So Natsu I was wondering…if you…wanted to go to the school festival with me?" Lucy asked shyly, blushing lightly. Natsu sat up from the floor, staring at the blonde in astonishment.

Seeing his look, she took a step back "Y-You don't have to, of course." She added quickly, now opting to stare at the ground in humiliation.

"Ah no…that's okay, I wasn't going to go." Natsu confessed. Lucy visibly deflated, but of course Natsu saw none of it.

"Oh okay, sorry I asked… " She muttered, turning around to walk away. Natsu watched her hopelessly, his heart jamming into his throat.

"Damn it! How do I get her to ask me out?" He asked Juvia in desperation. She stared at the hot headed boy for a moment, seriously examining him.

"Juvia knew you were stupid, but Juvia was not aware of how extremely stupid." The blue haired girl deadpanned, causing Natsu to slump over the table, sulking.

"S-Shut up!" He barked unconvincingly, secretly cursing himself repeatedly. He let her slip through his hands, once again.

"Please do Juvia a favor and go ask out Lucy-san." Juvia sighed, closing her book. She wasn't able to read it, anyway. What, with the stupid pink haired boy next to her grumbling.

"No! I do not like her!" Natsu replied forcibly, causing her to sigh once more.

"Natsu-san, stop being a stubborn idiot and go ask out Lucy-san." Juvia advised, putting a hand on Natsu's shoulder. He made a face at Juvia and looked over his shoulder, blushing.

"I'll ask out Lucy if you ask out Gray!" He finally found an argument. Juvia instantly shyed away, a cute blush forming on her cheeks.

"Ask out G-Gray-sama?" She muttered to herself aloud, her hands on both of her blushing cheeks.

Natsu smirked victoriously, knowing he was free now.

Juvia looked up to him, a determined glint in her eyes making him gulp. "Gray-sama!" She shot up from her seat at their lunch table, walking across the lunch room. Natsu watched her with dread as she interrupted Gray and Lisanna's chat, standing in front of both of them.

Natsu could see from where he was sitting the surprise wane on Gray's features before he slowly nodded. Natsu nearly fainted, wishing he could melt into the floor.

Juvia sat down next to him again, catching him off guard. He didn't miss the smug smirk on her face as she reopened her book.

"Your turn, here she comes." Juvia informed Natsu simply. Natsu felt a knot form in his throat, stopping him from speaking.

"Hey Natsu!" Lucy greeted happily, her brown eyes lighting up at the sight of the boy. Natsu felt his face pale and he looked to Juvia in desperation.

Seeing the girl wasn't coming to his aid, he turned to Lucy shakily, a nervous smile coming to his face.

"H-Hiya, Luce." Natsu mumbled. Her smile faltered slightly.

"I was wondering if you would like to come with me to the fair that's going on this weekend?" Lucy asked nervously. Natsu scoffed, propping his chin on his hand.

"No thanks, I have motion sickness." Natsu replied nonchalantly, not even looking up to the girl. Lucy felt her breath leave her in a whoosh, hurt slapping her across the face.

"Of course, my mistake." She softly said, her gaze downcast. She turned away slowly, walking away numbly.

"Idiot!" Juvia hissed, punching Natsu in the shoulder. Natsu sighed in defeat.

"Juvia asked out Gray-sama, now stop being such a girl and ask out Lucy-san!" She demanded. Natsu straightened up, nodding in response.

"I know I know! It's just…" Natsu trailed off, not knowing how to finish his sentence. He didn't want to be rejected by the girl he liked.

"Must Juvia slap you?" Juvia threatened. Natsu shook his head, jumping up.

"Go ask her out."

"I will…"

"Now."

"I-I can't! I'm ah…doing….yeah."

"Ack!" Gray stood up. Juvia had informed him of his frival's predicament, and he found it utterly ridiculous.

Natsu watched Gray rush ahead with wide eyes, wondering what the stupid ice face was doing. He wanted to wait for the perfect moment to ask her out!

Natsu watched Gray walk up to Lucy and could tell he was telling her something. Shock fell over Lucy and she started searching for the person Gray was talking about, causing Natsu to immediately look the other way.

"Juvia wants Natsu-san to now this is for his own good." Juvia tried to cheer up Natsu as he fidgeted nervously.

Gray walked sluggishly over to them, astonishment written clear on his features.

"Well? What'd she say?" Natsu demanded, feeling the need to rip off Gray's head.

"She said no." Gray answered weakly, still staring ahead, bemusement covering his features.

Natsu's heart seemed to stop, the color draining from his face. "W-What?" Natsu asked, startled.

"Oh no," Mira gasped at the table, putting a hand over her mouth as she gazed sympathetically at Natsu.

"She said that if anyone wanted to really go out with her, then they'd ask themselves." Gray explained.

"Start from the top." Lisanna instructed, glancing worriedly at her pink haired friend.

"Okay," Gray let out a breath, arranging his jumbled up thoughts. "I said 'hey Lucy, my friend is shy and really likes you, he wanted to ask you out, so yes or no?' and then she looked around and smiled sheepishly at me like she really felt bad. She said 'sorry but no, if they liked be enough they'd ask themselves, sorry!' and walked away." Gray finished. Everyone turned silent, sneaking glances at Natsu.

The boy's bangs were hiding his face and his sudden chuckle startled them all. His chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh and he was soon slapping his knees, laughing loudly.

"Hahaha! Yeah…haha! See ya guys!" Natsu stood up, jogging away. They all shared uncomfortable looks, not understanding what was going on.

"Well…." Mira muttered awkwardly, the air around them turning into tension.

Here's another story since it's short!

Waiting for you

Natsu was dared to go to the haunted Sola tree in the middle of the night by his friends. He's heard all the rumors of the ghost girl there and paid no mind. Now face to face with her, will he run away in horror like the others or listen to her heartbreaking tale?

{Tell me that you love me, and it'll be alright}

"That tree?" Natsu wrinkled his nose, turning to look at his frival now. Gray grinned in response, as if he knew Natsu would say that.

"Yeah, unless you're...scared." The atmosphere turned ice cold, "ooohs," echoed from the boys surrounding them. Natsu narrowed his eyes and grinned, liking the challenge.

"Piece of cake." He scoffed, crossing his arms. Gray tsked at the boy, his smile twitching.

"I heard if you bring her a book called Esthem's Dream she'll appear right. in. front. of. you." Gray said seriously. The boy's gaze shifted, seeing the impact he was having on his audience.

"Really?" One asked in awe. Gray smirked, nodding. Natsu snorted in response, crossing his arms, unimpressed.

"Bull," Natsu called his bluff. Gray rolled his eyes before grinning cheekily once more.

"Well I guess you'll find out tonight, eh?" Gray asked innocently. Natsu narrowed his eyes at Gray, shrugging in response.

"Yeah, I guess. But if she doesn't come, you owe me twenty bucks and have to ask Juvia out." Natsu grinned wickedly, sniggering at the pink crawling up Gray's neck.

"Gross no!" Gray protested, shaking his head rapidly. Natsu rose an eyebrow, giving Gray a crooked smile.

"What is this? Are you, oh I don't know, scared, Gray Fullbuster?" Natsu asked him in feign surprise. The heated stares were now directed at Gray. Gray swore Natsu out in his mind, groaning inwardly.

"...Fine." Gray sighed in defeat. Natsu burst out laughing, starting their usual brawls.

"Goodnight Natsu!" He heard Igneel call from the living room. Natsu grunted in response, laying down on his bed. When he was sure Igneel wasn't paying attention, he scurried to his closet, pulling out his backpack full of food. He slipped quietly out of the window, praying to the Gods Igneel wouldn't decide to check on him.

So thanks for reading! If you were confused about the last chapter, it was a sequel to one of my stories 'Wish Me Away'. I just couldn't finish it Dx

Please Review, Thank You~!