Story of Us
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Tenth Grade
Over summer break, it was just me and Natsu. Mom had to go out of town with her coworkers for some type of business trip. Natsu's parents wanted to spend the summer with each other, leaving Natsu alone.
I felt a bit bad for him. His parents are not only strict towards him, but they also treat him like dirt on the ground. I suggested for him to stay with me. Mom already thinks of him as her son. Though, he declined. He said he couldn't leave his parents like that.
It warmed my chest to think that he cares about his parents, even when they don't care about him.
Natsu and I didn't do much over the break. We sat at the couch, eating popcorn and watching old movies.
What bugged me was that...we didn't even share a kiss during that time. Of course, I didn't want to make the first move because I would be a bit too tentative.
Natsu barely hugged me. He would just poke my nose or flick my forehead. I wasn't complaining about it. However...I wanted a little affection. Especially when there's no adults around.
Then again, I have to be rational. We're trying to go slow with this relationship. We didn't want to go fast. I can't really blame it on Natsu.
A week before school started, Mom came back. She had a bright smile on her face. Natsu and I exchanged glances before going over to her.
"Why are you so happy today, Miss Heartfilia?" Natsu asked with a smile of his own.
Mom grabbed our hands, rushing us into the kitchen. "Kids...you wouldn't believe this."
"What is it, Mom?" I urged, crossing my arms. Judging from her voice and her expression, it must be something exciting.
"I just got a promotion!" she cheered.
Natsu and I gasped in unison. Then, we cheered with her.
"My boss noticed how hard I worked when I was on the business trip with my coworkers. So, I got a really huge promotion! I won't have to work everyday, and this time, I only work an eight hour shift instead of a twelve hour one. Isn't that fantastic?" she squealed.
Mom never, ever said it but, she is very stressed after coming home from work. She has worked everyday for the past six years, and I knew she hated it. So, for her getting a promotion where she can't get stressed that much anymore made my heart flutter. Mom has been working very hard after Dad's passing. I can tell.
"We should celebrate, Miss Heartfilia!" Natsu exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.
Her face lit up even brighter, if that was humanly possible. "We should! Great idea, Natsu!" The two high fived and I couldn't help but sigh to myself.
If I didn't know that was my own Mom, then I would think they were related.
After that day that we celebrated for Mom's promotion, it seemed as though time flew by. I would be starting my first day of tenth grade.
I had my school uniform already fitted on. My hair was brushed back into a simple ponytail. I went out my room to walk with Natsu to the train station.
However, I was stopped when Mom rushed over to me. "Lucy, do you want some breakfast?" she asked, eager.
I was taken aback by her tone. "Uh...I actually need to catch my train, Mom...Sorry…"
Mom's shoulders shrugged down. I took a step back. "Dammit, Luce...I made such a huge early breakfast for us. I can't eat it all alone."
I didn't want to deny early breakfast, but I was afraid of missing the train. Though, my words were hitched in my throat at the way Mom's eyes glinted. I sighed, lowering my head. "Alright…"
She immediately grinned. I mentally slapped myself for being so idiotic. Mom always puts on an act to get her way. I'm so happy I didn't take that trait from her. "Thanks, Luce! I promise to drive you to school, though. I won't let my baby be late on her first day of tenth grade!"
I nodded defeatedly.
I can't complain about the food. Of course it was extremely delicious. I just didn't like the fact I was pressured into eating...food.
Like she said, Mom drove me to school. This time, I didn't care. Cars are a bit better than trains. I don't understand why I was embarrassed when she drove me to school during Kindergarten.
I thanked Mom for the ride quietly before getting out the car. I closed the door behind me and made my walk inside the school. I pulled out my schedule.
"First Class: Biology. Upstairs, first door ahead."
Before I even took my first step, someone called my name. Natsu.
I turned around, my lips curling in a smile. But, it quickly disappeared when I saw the despair haunting his eyes. I gasped. "Natsu…? What's wrong? What happened? Please, tell me," I pleaded, taking his hand.
The halls were rushing with students. They are probably glancing at us and whispering. I couldn't care less. I was only fixated on Natsu's demeanor.
"Lucy...let's go outside," Natsu said, turning his back on me and walking to the doors.
There was a small voice in my head saying for me to not follow him or you'll get in trouble. I ignored the voice before walking in his tracks. Natsu needs my help.
We sat at a bench together. Natsu had his head lowered. I was waiting for him to start his talking, but I didn't want to seem impatient. Take as much time as you need.
Suddenly, he looked up. "Lucy...I have a question for you."
I jumped when his saddened eyes came in contact with mine. I cleared my throat. "What is it?"
"When your...Dad died...what did you do?" he asked, leaning his back against the front of the bench.
I raised my eyebrows. "Do...do you really want to know?"
His eyes twinkled in such a begging way that it made me want to embrace him. "Please…"
"I thought...a lot. I thought about how my life would be with only my Mom...I thought if I'll ever be able to see him again, no matter how impossible it sounds...I thought about what he's doing right now...I thought about if he misses us or loves us…" I looked down at my thighs. "Those types of thoughts." I glanced up to see Natsu nodding slowly. "W-why do you ask?" I was starting to get more scared than worried.
A normal person wouldn't ask a question like that out of the blue. There has to be a reason.
That's when Natsu's eyes started to water. At that moment, I didn't think about anything else but to comfort him. I rushed to him and grabbed his hands. "Natsu, say something. I need to know!" I kissed his fingertips.
He sniffled. "R-remember...remember when my parents went out of town...b-by themselves?"
I nodded briskly.
His grasp on his hands tightened. I didn't mind a bit. "I called...and called...and called...and called some more…" His voice was hoarse. "They...they never answered…" A sob came out of his lips.
I widened my eyes. I know where this is starting to go. I could even feel my eyes start to get warm.
"I...I didn't have a thought of them...being…" Dead. "S-so...I investigated some more...My parents went on the vacation with a friend of theirs without telling me...I figured that out because I remember Levy telling me that her Dad was going to go out of town with my parents...she told me that a pretty long time ago, so I didn't...I didn't think too much about it…"
"I-I...called Levy's Dad...just to make sure that my parents were okay...he said…" He closed his eyes shut.
I put my hand on his cheek. "Natsu, don't say anymore…" I placed a chaste kiss on his lips. Then, my head dipped and it landed on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry for your loss...I'm so sorry…I wish I can do something...but...I'm sorry..."
All of a sudden, he wrapped his arms around my body. "I love you, Lucy!" he cried out, sobs emitted from his mouth. "I love you so much…! I don't know what I'll do if I didn't have you...I love you, I love you...Thank you for everything…"
We didn't say anything else. We didn't care if we were missing class. We didn't care if we would get caught.
What trouble would we get into anyway?
Months passed by.
Natsu was still a bit depressed about his parent's passing. He would rarely smile, and it made me not want to smile. His eyes screamed despair and tragedy. But, he got better as time progressed.
He moved in with Mom and I. Since we only had two bedrooms, he had to stay in my room. Since I was a little embarrassed about sharing a bed with someone, he bought a sleeping mat for himself. I apologized. Though, he assured me it was fine with a kiss. I immediately shut up.
Promotion came up.
Natsu finally wore a bright smile that I missed seeing. I really did fall in love with his smiles. They are too enjoyable and they made my chest warm up at seeing it.
After promotion, Natsu and I took a picture. Mom promised to make a frame for it. When she did, she put it in my room, telling me to never lose it. I told her that I won't.
Whenever I get up in the morning during summer break, I would glance at it and grin.
At the back of the picture, I wrote:
"Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia. In Our Memories, this is our New Life."