Chapter Eleven : Sleep Overs
Hello! So I have finally returned but by now do you really expect a chapter the next week? I wish I was that amazing. but nonetheless, the chapter is not late due to my incompetence. Instead, my computer decided it wanted to die and I had to quickly find a new one.
Oh gosh that last chapter! I never expected it to go like that! But never fear, everything will eventually work out and what do you know? Another Chapter is here to hopefully ease your mind!
Friday, October 3.
Lucy P.O.V.
Autumn had arrived and it was a cold one. Already the nights had reached the low thirties and during the day the wind blew harshly, causing crimson red, golden yellow, and pumpkin orange leaves to fly off trees. During the day, the sun was less warm and everything smelled like autumn. There was no other word to describe that amazing smell. Sure it was the smell of brisk cold air playing in the many branches of hundreds of trees. It was the smell of the sun cooking millions of decaying spring leaves. It was the smell of winter just around the corner with all it's frost and snow. But the only word that worked for the comforting aroma was Autumn.
And this Friday night was no different.
I sat on a cold metal bleacher with a few of my closest friends as we watched our football team play against Lamia Scale high. Everyone was covered from head to toe in anything that could help them stay warm. Juvia huddled under a fleece blanket that Gray brought just for her and Gray had his arms wrapped around her for the little extra warmth. Erza had on a thick red coat and wool socks stuffed into her leather boots while Jellal had a black winter coat tucked up to his ears. Now Levy and I shared a blanket that was so comfortable it felt like a warm summer cloud, weird I know.
But anyway, the only reason I was even here tonight was because Natsu had been begging me all week to go to one of the games, that it could be a social outing for me and would give me something else to do besides staying home and reading another book, and well, after what happened with my Father, I decided I should go. I still haven't told anyone else that I'll be leaving Fairy Tail High Monday and I made Levy promise not to tell. I don't know how I'm going to do it yet either and that was killing me. I only had two days left. I was running out of time fast.
The crowd jumped up on their feet and cheers abrupted in a loud roar. Guys in black and white shirts on the green field blew whistles, and somewhere a loud buzzer rang through the windless night. The other side of the stadium groaned in unison.
I looked toward Erza and Gray who were also cheering. I stood up and made my way to them, to ask what just happened.
"Erza!" I shouted to be heard over the crowd to gain the attention of the red head. When I had, I asked. "What just happened?"
She didn't even look at me in a judging way as I asked. She simply grabbed my hands in hers and answered rather excitedly.
"Fairy tail just won the game!"
"So it's over?" I questioned, perking up happily.
Erza laughed. "Yes Lucy. It's over."
...
Once the game was over, we all went to the cornfield again. I had learned that this was a regular and special place for them all. This place was the beginning for a lot of relationships among the group. It was here in the secluded fields that Gray finally amitted that he cared deeply for Juvia. Where Erza finally convinced Jellal he deserved true happiness. But it wasn't just couple relationships that were forged, it was friendship relationships healed as well. Gajeel had lost his way not too long ago and everyone helped him through it, and one night while sitting in his tailgate, he finally recovered. saw the light of his friends once again. When Gray lost his sister, when Natsu thought he was going to lose his dad, when Lisanna found out about her overseas study program, when Erza became class president, when Juvia won the state championship for swimming, everything was celebritied and/or mourned here.
To hear about all these amazing things made me glad I had great friends like them. And keeping a secret like mine from thhem is making me feel worse and worse. I should just come out and say it but everytime I try, my throat closes up and it becomes difficult to breath. It's like the panic attacks I used to have when I first lost my mother.
I laid back on the blanket I was sitting on and stared at the sky. My eyes followed the patterns of constellations.
"Lucy?"
I heard Juvia softly ask my name and wonder when did she come over here? When did she part herself from Gray?
"Yes, Juvia?" I pushed myself up on to my elbows to look at her face.
"Well, Juvia couldn't help but to notice that you look distracted by something."
"Oh"
Juvia sat down on the blanket beside me and place her delicate, cold hand over mine. She looked me in the eye with a comforting smile. "If you need it, Juvia is here to listen."
And that right there is a prime example of why I felt so guilty.
Before I was aware of it, tears were streaming down my cheeks and sobs raced to erupt from throat. My emotions were running on overdrive and it was unbearable.
"Don't cry! Juvia did not mean to offend you!" Juvia started screaming and wrapping her hands around my shoulders.
"I'ts .. Not your..Fault.." I sobbed out.
I tried to stop the waterworks before someone else noticed I was crying and everyone ended up surrounding me. I wiped at my eyes several times and I attempted deep breaths but it wasn't working that well.
Thankfully I was saved when Levy noticed. She quietly slipped away from Erza and Cana, then came over to sit in front of me. Sh etook my face in her hands. forcing me to look into her fierce eyes.
"Listen to me now Lucy and you listen good. Stop this crying. If you don't, everyone will get curious and you will ruin everything."
Harsh, I know but this is what I asked for. I don't want my friends finding out anything in a bad way.
And her saying that helped me regain my cool.
"Thanks, Levy." I smiled weakly.
I looked at Juvia who was awkwardly sitting beside us. "Thank you Juvia but could you keep this a secret for the time being?"
She nodded her head in agreement and went to rejoin Gray.
When she was gone, Ilooked at Levy with determination. "I need to figure this out now."
...
(Juvia P.O.V.)
I went back to my Gray and sat beside him on the hood of his car, grabbing his arm and clinging to it like it was a life preserver. In a sense he was mine. Whenever he was near, I never felt like the lonely, foregin girl. I felt like Juvia, a fun and outgoing girl who could do anything. he saved me long ago from the misery of inner rainstorms.
"Juvia?" Gray whispered in my ear.
I looked up at his angelic face and felt my knees buckle slightly, and my stomach began to flutter. A year together and I still felt like I was meeting him for the first time.
"You okay?"
"Yes. Juvia is fine!" I smiled brightly for him and snuggled deeper into his side.
Gray moved his arm to wrap it around my shoulders. "Juvia. I know you, more than you probably think, and I know when you are lying. You bite your lip and look anywhere but my eyes."
Of course he was right. I sighed and looked at him.
"There's something wrong with Lucy but Juvia doesn't know what it is."
"Maybe Lucy is trying to figure it out for her own. Give her time, she'll tell you when she's ready."
As Gray said this, he didn't look at me. Instead he was looking at the bonfire.
...
(Natsu P.O.V.)
I was finely tired. A long school day, a quick practice before the game, the game, and now two hours after the game of goofing off with my friends. And I was very hungry. I felt like I hadn't ate in days.
"Lucy!' I cried out, looking for my blonde friend who always brought me food.
Plus the fact that I didn't drive today. She did. It was one of those rare occasions.
This morning she was sitting outside my house in her car, waiting for me at 6:30. Normally it's me waiting for her at 7. Anyway, she drove us to school and then here.
I saw here standing near an actual patch of corn in this vacant cornfield. As soon as I saw her, I jogged over.
"Lucy!" I shouted when I was practically standing beside her.
She jumped and gave a short shriek before turning around a hitting my arm. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She yelled.
All I did was laugh which made her look a little angrier but let's face it, Lucy angry wasn't anything scary. Not like Erza. It was funny and kind of cute.
"Come on, Luce. I'm hungry." I said with a tiny reminant of laughter in my voice.
She turned back to Levy and said goodbye then we walked out to her car. As soon as we saw her car, I saw her face once again cloud with something sad. I wanted so badly to know what was wrong. I wanted to grab her right there and demand she tell me what was so wrong! I hated not knowing! Something inside me was stirring, something foregin, and it made me want to protect her.
But I couldn't do what I wanted. I wasn't going to force her to tell me what was wrong. If she wanted me to know, she will tell me when she is ready. And that just made me sad. Why hadn't she told me already?
...
(Lucy P.O.V.)
Natsu was quiet in the passanger seat as I drove toward town. Something must be on his mind. Normally, he would be so loud and so full of energy. Then again it was like two in the morning and he did just play a long football game. He could just be tired. That was probably it.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
Natsu looked over at me like he hadn't expected me to say anything.
"To get you food?" I verified.
"Oh, let's just go to my house. There should still be some pizza waiting for me." Natsu yawned and leaned his head on the window.
Yep, he was tired.
We kept driving in silence. All the way until we got to his house on the other side of town. Natsu instantly perked up when he had a box of pizza in front of him. He was more like himself. And seeing this just made me think of those really dumb snickers comercials and for the first time since Wednesday, I laughed full and unyielded. Just Laughed.
"What's so funny?" Natsu questioned from around a mouthful of chewy dough and gooey cheese. This made me laugh more.
Natsu just stared at me like I had gone crazy which at that moment, I might have but I didn't care.
By the time I was done, my sides were aching and I was so out of breath. it felt like I had just ran a mile. Laughter tears had gathered in my eyes and I was slowly trying to catch my breath.
"Done?" Natsu asked and I saw the smile on his face.
He was just as amused as I was.
"Yeah." I smiled.
Natsu stood still for one complete second then he grabbed the pizza and looked me in the eye.
"Let's watch cartoons."
...
The pizza had been gone for a while now and the tv show we were watching was making less and less sense the more I watched it. My eyelids were getting so heavy and I think I did go to sleep for a while. I don't know because the next thing I was aware of was Natsu's mom walking through the front door. Well it really wasn't walking, there was a more of a stagger and zombie-like stance. She looked especially tired with bags under her eyes and stains all over her scrubs.
Natsu who had also been in the zone between sleep and wake, was startled when he saw her come into the room like so. He nearly jumped off the couch and gave a shout. His mother, also surprised by the sudden action, shrieked and I heard a loud thud from upstairs. Then the pounding of someone coming downstairs.
"What's going on?" Igneel slurred, his voice foggy with sleep.
"It's nothing Honey. Go back to sleep." Grandneey smiled softly at him and he did as he was told. To us, she looked at us with soft eyes.
"Natsu, why are you still awake? It's three in the morning."
"I was asleep." He yawned.
I, however, focused on the time. Three? In the morning?
"I should be going home." I muttered, getting off the couch with a stretch. I put one foot foward when I felt a small hand on my shoulder.
"You can stay the night. I won't have you driving home at this time of night." Grandneey gave me the warmest smile I've ever seen other than Natsu's.
"But, I.."
She wouldn't let me finish. She just gave me this fierce, no-shit look and instantly my protests vanished.
"Figure it out Natsu."
Grandneey waved goodnight as she moved upstairs. Natsu picked himself up off the couch and walked around me towards a cupboard under the stairs. From it, he pulled out a folded quilt and threw it on the couch. Then he looked at me and gave a small gesture to the stairs.
"What? No words?" I joked.
"Not a one." Natsu answered, counting each word on his fingers.
"Fine." I laughed lazily and moved toward the stairs.
When we were on the second level, he quietly moved down the hall past a few doors where behind them laid his sleeping family. Natsu lead me to the end of the hall to the last door on the right and walked inside. It was his room, and it was cleaner than I thought it would be.
"You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the couch." Natsu whispered as he walked over to a wooden dresser in the corner.
"I'm not going to take your bed. I'll gladly sleep on the couch!" I hissed.
He turned around to face me, temporairly forgetting what he was doing at the drawer filled with clothes.
"Well, I'm not letting you sleep on the lumpy couch!"
"If it was Gray in this situation, you would make him sleep on the couch." I argued.
"If it was Gray in this situation, he would sleep on the floor." Natsu said matter-of-factly. Then he went back to the half asleep state he was in a moment ago. "Just take the bed please."
"Okay, fine. Just..." I looked down at the floor, hardly believing what I was about to say. "Stay with me until I go to sleep?"
He looked just as shocked as I was. My cheeks burned bright red and I was thankful for the darkness all around us that made it impossible to see tiny details. We stood there like that for a good while, or maybe it felt that way because I was nervous, but Natsu returned his attention to the dresser behind him. I remained standing where I was but now it was definitely awkward.
Natsu got up and walked to me with something in his hands. As he got closer I realized it was a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.
"Put these on. I'll go get an extra blanket." Natsu smiled at me, his way of telling me he'll do anything I ask, then exited the room.
I thought about going to find a bathroom to change in but I still didn't know where that was and I wasn't going to go searching in the middle of the night. I felt weird to change my clothes in Natsu's bedroom and it felt even weirder to be wearing his clothes. His shirt hung loosely off my small shoulders and his pants fit snuggly around my hips. I guess my hips were wider than Natsu's. I neatly folded my clothes and placed them on a very bare desk in the corner. By the time I had approached the bed, Natsu had returned. He had the quilt he got out eariler in his hands and a pillow tucked under his arm.
"Its not going to bite, I promise." Natsu said as he laid the blanket out on the floor and sat down.
"I know." I mumbled.
Finally, I got in his bed. Mainly to satisify my friend. But once I got on it, I forgot my reasons for avoiding it. It was so soft and warm; Comforting at best. Immediately, waves of exhaustion swept over me and I was allowing them to carry me toward sleep. And from the silence beside me, I assumed Natsu was asleep as well.
...
(Natsu P.O.V.)
Lucy had fallen asleep easily and I laughed to myself. All that protesting just to go to sleep in five seconds. For me, sleep was a little harder now. I was on the hard, cold floor and Lucy was sleeping soundlessly above me, and all I could think about was how this was the most peace I've seen her in all day.
From the edge of the bed, I could see the corner of her left eye and her small hand on the pillow beside her face. And damn my curiosity made me want to wake her up and demand her to tell me what was going on. But I was too good a friend to do that. Instead I spoke softly to myself mostly, but to her as well.
"I know something big is bothering you. I know you know that I do. And I know you will tell me when you are ready. Until then, I just want to let you know no matter what, it can't be that bad. Not as long as we are here."
...
Saturday, October 4.
(Lucy P.O.V.)
When I woke up, I was temporairly confused. Then I remembered where I was. I wasn't in the Heartfillia manison, or in my own bed. Instead I was in Natsu's and he was still fast asleep on the floor. I looked around for a clock to tell me what time it was but I didn't see one anywhere in the room. From the curtains, I could see one streak of sunlight fighting through a creak between the dark heavy material. It was telling me it was early enough for my father to be awake but it couldn't tell me in its little whisper if it was late enough for him to know I wasn't home.
If I could remember where I put my phone, I could find out what time it was. But I didn't. I huffed and fell back against the pillow. The only thing I did for what felt like forever was stare at the boring, plain, white ceiling. When I couldn't take the silence or stillness anymore, I rolled to the edge of the bed and decided I should wake him up.
"Natsu." I called lightly.
He steered but not enough to wake up; he was too far in. My hand left my side and ventured to his strong exposed shoulder to give him a small, firm shake.
"Natsu." I tried again.
I swear this time I saw a smile on the corner of his lips. I sat straight up on the mattress and starred at him for several long minutes. How dare he ignore my attempts to wake him up! My body moved before I had made up my mind. My legs shot out from under me and slid to the floor where the rest of my limbs were pulled along. I found myself sitting on him with both hands on the previous shoulder.
"Natsu Dragneel, you wake up right now!" I commanded with a tremor of laughter to my voice.
Natsu burst into laughter; probably because of my childish behavior. He rolled over causing me to fall to the floor, and my leg to get stuck under him. I struggled to free my leg but Natsu made it difficult by grabbing my knee, just inches from one of my most ticklish areas. One he didn't know about. His back was to me and I couldn't see what he was planning but I wasn't going to wait to find out. My fists pounded on his back and I wrestled over my leg.
"Let go of my leg!" I giggled.
"No." Natsu chuckled.
I sat up as far as I could to peer over his shoulder and grasped his hand, trying to lessen his grip. Yet, despite my efforts, Natsu was just stronger than me.
I saw no other ending for this. I laid back against the floor, a little too dramically and sighed in defeat. However, that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted a full surrender.
"Okay, Okay! I admit defeat!"
"About time." Natsu joked and rolled back over, still on my leg. He smiled triumpially and my heart raced.
I was going to miss this.
"Why?" Natsu asked, looking more puzzled than he should.
"Why what?" I shot back, leaning up on my elbows.
"Why would you miss this?" Natsu clarified, all humor leaving his face.
Time stopped. All there was, was me and Natsu forever paused in this moment. The moment before I told him some bad news. My body went numb again for the millionth time that week and I was finding it difficult to collect all the air I needed.
"Because, I'm grounded. Starting monday." I said, barely above a whisper.
"Grounded?"
"Well. grounded for someone from my family."
"Luce, you're not making any sense."
"My dad is sending me to a private school just outside of town." I explained, looking away from him. I didn't want to see his face.
"Is this what was bothering you yesterday?" Natsu whispered.
So he had noticed. "Yes."
Natsu place a warm hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. "Luce. Just because you are going to a different school than us, doesn't mean we'll stop being your friends."
"I know that." I mumbled.
"Then it's no big deal. I promise I'll still steal you every weekend." He smiled and let go of my shoulder. Then he looked amusingly serious. " Just no skipping school, or jumping into the school pool in your uniform."
"I only did it because you made me!" I laughed.
...
After our little conversation, we went downstairs for breakfast and I changed back into my skirt, feeling weird wearing Natsu's pants. As I changed, Natsu called a few people and insisted we all meet in the cornfield. He didn't even give me a chance to think about it before he was pushing me out the door and into my car, just not where I could drive. He did that. We arrived twenty minutes later and the last ones to get there.
All my new friends supportively assured me that they will await hearing from me after school hours and on weekends. I didn't dare tell them about my Father's after school activities. Those just weren't important and he had to learn that.
At the moment, the only thing I cared about was this moment. I finally had great friends who would be there for me and I was accepted into all their rituals. I had a place in the cornfield.