"Oh Gonzo, you're so funny! Of course Natsu is the best on the team!"

"He is one of my best, Yuki. We still have the seniors ahead of him, remember?"

"I doubt it," the silver-haired freshman scoffed as she crossed her leg over her knee and gazed lovingly at the pink-haired player. "Natsu is the best."

Without knowing, Lucy snapped her pencil into two listening to Yukino talk about Natsu like that, the two turning to see what the sound of something snapping was. The blonde was quick to hide the broken pencil as she flashed a sweet smile making them look away and continue their conversation.

"Quit talking about Natsu, already... he doesn't even like you," she muttered under her breath as she reached inside the backpack to take out another pencil. "well... he doesn't like me either but I bet he likes me better!"

After finding out that Yukino was the other manager, Lucy tried to stay away from her the best she can. And seeing how the boys were friendly towards her, she realized that Yukino has been a manager a bit longer than she had.

That irked her even more. This pretty female was going to grab Natsu's attention even more.

But wait... why did she even care? She doesn't like him! She hated him! He was rude and obnoxious and she rather go single the rest of her life if he was the last person on earth!

But why... why was she so pissed off when Yukino praised Natsu like that? Why was she so angry when she spoke to him? Why?

Lucy was brought back into reality when she broke her second pencil, her chocolate brown orbs gazing down to stare at the pencil that was broken into two.

"Hey, Heartfillia, stop breaking my pencils!" Gonzales yelled out jokingly making Lucy quickly apologize and flush in embarrassed. "Hey, Yuki, I think you should go help her."

"Aw, but I was having so much fun watching Natsu!"

"You have plenty of time to do that, now go on."

Letting out a soft sigh, the silver-haired woman turned towards Lucy's direction and walked on over to her, a friendly smile appearing on her face.

"Do you need some help?"

"It's fine," the blonde denied. "I'm done, anyways." She said as she closed the binder to stuff it inside the black backpack which she zipped up.

"Well if you insist," she shrugged as she went back to go drool over Natsu making Lucy let out a huff and glare at her retreating figure. Soon, she joined the two as well as they entire team did push-ups.

"Go, Natsu, go! Go, Natsu, go!"

"C'mon ladies, just fifteen more to go!" He blew in his whistle as the boys struggled to get their fifteen done.

Lucy just stood there with her arms crossed across her chest as a pout forming on her face.

"Hey Lucy," Yukino suddenly spoke up making her turn and look at her. "how come Nastu gave you his sweatshirt? I'm kind of jealous." She pointed at the blonde who looked down to see she was still wearing the said male's sweatshirt. It somehow made a smug smirk come to her face as she finally got something to brag about.

"Natsu gave me this to wear because I was cold," she said making Yukino gasp. "and it's his favorite sweatshirt, too."

"Hey, I'm pretty cold, too... Natsu, do you have another jacket I can wear?" Yukino suddenly shouted towards the jock who was sitting and waiting for his other teammate to finish their push ups. The pink-haired male shrugged as he nudged his head over to where his bag was.

"I don't know but you can check," he offered making Lucy's jaw drop and her brown orbs follow the squealing figure of Yukino.

She watched how the silver-haired female ran on over to where Natsu's bag was and dig inside to look for a spare sweater, soon pulling out a hoodie he stuffed in there a while back.

"I got one!" She cried out happily making Lucy's inner turmoil run. "Thanks so much, Natsu!"

"Whatever," he said as he glanced over to where Lucy was standing, watching her pout and glare at the other manager.

He couldn't help but smirk at her jealous behavior.

"Alright boys! It's time for a cool down run! I want you to run three laps around the field!" The coach yelled making the players groan. "What's that? Is that whining I hear? Should I add another lap?"

"You suck, Gonzo!" One shouted from the group making the bald man scowl.

"Four laps around the field!"

"What?!"

"Is that five I hear?"

"Guys, shut up!" Natsu shouted making the others become hush. "You're making it worse!"

"Thank you, Natsu," the coach nodded towards his direction. "now let's go boys, the girls are getting cold and tired." he nudged his head towards the two girls making them smile.

"Oh, no, please, it's fine!"

"As long as Natsu is here, I'm fine, as well!" Yukino piped up making Lucy shoot her a dirty look.

"Then why don't you go run with him, Yuki?"

"I would love to, but you see, I just got these boots and I don't want to wear them out already!" She presented her foot out to the coach to make them look at her new vintage boots. "But it looks like Lucy is all prepared to run. She's wearing sneakers!"

Looking down at her feet, Lucy realized that she actually was wearing sneakers making her curse under her breath.

"Perfect, Lucy, why don't you go run with the boys? Since you're running one lap, I'll take a lap off their four laps." He said making her gap and flicker her eyes towards the group of jocks and Yukino. "Come on, do it for the team!"

"Yeah, do it for the team, Lucy!" One of the boys pleaded from the group making the pressure and attention shift to the blonde.

"Please! I don't think I can take anymore of this running!"

"You don't even have to run, just jog or something!"

Cursing under her breath, Lucy twirled around and walked over to where the boys were all waiting making them cheer and the coach grin.

"You're the best, Lucy!" One of the boys praised making her scowl and mutter a thank you.

"It's just one lap around the field, right?"

"Yep! Have fun!" He said before blowing into the whistle.

All at once, they all started to run with Lucy dashing past all of them, being used to running as she did track during her sophomore and freshmen year of high school. And since she hadn't done anything running-related since then, she couldn't run for a long period of time. But she couldn't slow down or stop or else the boys might make fun of her since they were all athletes and fast.

Now, she hated Yukino even more for putting her in this position.

But even though she was slightly out of breath, she was in front of the jocks.

"I didn't know... you can run," a player suddenly came next to her making her turn and see it was an unfamiliar face. "you don't look like a type of person who runs."

"I—I used to run back in high school..."

"Oh really?" He huffed. "What else you used to do in high school?"

"I read a lot."

"Y—you're full of surprises, aren't you?" He chuckled making her smile slightly.

"What? I don't look like the type to read?"

"No, you don't. If I could guess... I would have thought you were some kind of cheerleader."

Laughing breathlessly, Lucy felt her cheeks redden even more.

"Never," she sighed. "I was that bookworm who stood at the top of her class every year."

"Let me guess," he huffed out as his stick moved with his body. "you got a scholarship to attend here?"

"Yep, how'd you know?"

"Well Magnolia isn't known for their sports..." he laughed breathlessly making her laugh along with him. "the only reason I'm on the team is, well, I had nothing else to do. And I used to do l—lacrosse in high school."

"That sound," the blonde let out a breath. "sounds cool."

"S—so, Lucy, was it?"

"Yes, and I didn't get your name—?"

"Names Sting," he offered a grin her way. "Sting Eucliffe." He introduced himself making her smile and nod his way. "By the way, could I ask if you're friends with Yukino?" The blonde asked as the two just passed the silver-haired student who was watching the boys run, more specifically, Natsu.

"Yukino?" Lucy glanced over at the woman. "I mean, more or less... why?"

"N—no reason," he said as his cheeks started to redden slightly. "just think she's pretty cool."

Snorting to herself, Lucy only half agreed as she finally came to a stop, her breathing slightly ragged.

"H—have fun running two more laps."

Smirking her way, the blonde nodded his head behind her. "I bet you I'll beat Dragneel!" He shouted as Lucy turned around just as Natsu was coming towards her with the look of annoyance stretched across his face. "If I win, I get to take you out for lunch!"

Blushing slightly, the blonde was puzzled to think this player was openly asking her out in front of his teammates and coach.

Did he have no shame?

"U—Uhm, sure?" She squeak, unsure what to say and that was when Natsu dash past her and practically sprinted right after the blonde who was trying his best to beat the fast player. But in matter of time, the pink-haired jock was in front and the two were struggling to beat one another in their stupid little race.

It wasn't a surprise when the blonde watched Natsu beat the panting blonde jock who trailed behind him moments later, the two being the first to finish as the others were still halfway through their last lap.

Lucy could only watch as her housemate also breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling as his dark eyes soon locked with hers. It seemed like he was glaring at her for some reason but she didn't let it bother her as she was used to all the dirty looks and scowls she got from the male. So instead, she just stuck her tongue out towards him making him scowl even deeper.

Just then, Sting went on over to where she was to offer a sheepish smile her way.

"Can I still take you out for lunch even though I lost?"

"Uhm, I guess—"

"Sorry, we already have plans." Natsu suddenly cut in between them, his stick being shoved right in the middle of their conversation. "why don't you go ask Yukino, Sting, since you're so into her." He said as his eyes flickered towards the silver-haired one who was making her way over to where they were before looking back at the blonde male.

At the mention of that, Sting made a face of embarrassment as Lucy couldn't couldn't help but stare back and forth between the two.

She honestly didn't know what in the world was going on between the two but she didn't want to in the middle of it. After all, drama between two guys are worse than two girls at certain points.

"Hey Natsu! Hey guys! What you guys talking about?" Yukino asked innocently as she jumped right into the conversation.

When she didn't get a response right away, she quickly dropped it and changed topics.

"Hey Natsu, you want to grab something to bite with me?"

This time, it was Lucy's turn to scowl as she shoved her arm between the two. "Sorry, we already have plans."

It surprised both of them since it came out of nowhere but neither of them corrected one another as Yukino blinked in surprise and confusion, her smile dropping slowly. That is, until she got some sort of idea and smiled widely. "How about I join you two? We can make it a double date—Sting, why don't you join us, too?"

"H—Huh?" He squeaked in surprise and confusion. "Me?"

"Yeah! What do you say, Natsu?" She completely discarded Lucy as she furiously burned holes into her head.

Natsu, who only glanced down at Lucy before offering a shrug, he yanked his stuffy helmet off. "I honestly don't care, you three can settle this 'cause I'm gonna go grab my shit."

"U—uh, I'll come with you." Sting offered as he felt how thick the air felt around the two leaving them to deal with the problem.

Once gone, Yukino turned to Lucy and quirked her brow at her. "Where you and Natsu trying to head to?"

"I don't know," Lucy tried her best not to be rude. "why are you asking?"

"No reason," she cleared her throat. "so, where are we all going to go for lunch?"

"I don't know," she repeated as she felt slightly annoyed that Yukino was trying to tag along with the two who didn't even know they were going to have plans together till three minutes ago. "why don't you go ask your precious Natsu?" She hissed making her face brighten at the sound of that.

"Okay!" She turned around and skipped away making her gawk. "Natsu! Hey, Natsu, where do you want to go for lunch?"

"Brat," Lucy muttered under her breath as she walked over to grab her bag and say goodbye to the coach. "I'll throw lacrosse balls at her if she continues to do this." She angrily mumbled before offering a bright smile towards the coach who returned the gesture. She quickly said her goodbyes and promised to be back tomorrow before turning around to quickly walk away, not wanting to get caught up in the trio who were still talking about going out for lunch, together.

She rather be caught dead then spend any more time with Yukino. She rather go home and rant to her mother and Grandine who she knew would side with her immediately.

Only if Natsu was like his mother, it would have made her life so much easier.

"Hey, Lucy, where you going?" A voice behind her made her turn around to see who was calling her. She noticed it was Sting who looked so much more handsome without his helmet covering most of his face, her head tilting to the side at his questioning face. "Aren't we all getting lunch?"

Her eyes flickered towards Natsu and Yukino who were looking in her direction as well, irritation building up inside her as she noticed how close Yukino was to the rosy-haired player.

"I think I'm going to pass. I feel a bit light headed," she lied making him frown. "maybe next time, yeah?"

"You promise?"

Smiling at the male, Lucy nodded. "I promise."

"Oh, what are we going to do, then? Sting is going to be third-wheeling!" Yukino frowned deeply as if she deliberately did that on purpose. "Lucy, why don't you tag along?"

"Don't force her if she doesn't want to," Natsu said as he swung his bag around his shoulder as he started to walk towards the blonde. "why don't you and Sting catch up? I got lots to do today, anyways." He ignored the look of disappointment and disbelief on the female's face before he placed his hand in the small of Lucy's back. "Let's get going before we get caught up in anything else," he muttered against her as he gently started to push her along.

Lucy couldn't only smile at his words as a faint blush painted her cheeks.

In your face, Yukino. I won this round.

X

"Oh my god, are you serious? Did that actually happen?" Grandine gapped in shock as the blonde and blunette spoke about earlier events that happened that day.

Grandine was angry that Natsu was so oblivious to everything but she was sort of proud of him for rejecting going on the 'date' and brought Lucy home along with him. She thought about giving him a pat on the back and a job well done but she still was slightly angry to think her son was this stupid. Who did he go after in the family?

She knew immediately when she realized how slow and oblivious he was to everything.

"I guess it was a mistake marrying that fool..." she muttered as she pressed her palm against her forehead making Lucy quirk her brow.

"What do you mean Grandine?"

"Oh nothing, nothing," the woman smiled sweetly, waving it off. "anyways... where is my idiotic son, now?"

"I heard he had some classes to attend to so he'll be home around dinner." Lucy spoke up making her nod and look at the ground as it she was thinking about something.

But as a minute past, a sigh only came out of her mouth and the two females leaned against the table in wonder.

"What do you want for dinner, Lucy? I'll cook you whatever you want!"

"Uhm... Hmm, I don't know, you can cook whatever you feel like. What does Romeo like?"

"Romeo eats anything, y'know how boys are," the blue-haired woman sighed, waving her hand around in front of her. "ah, guess I'll go with my gut. Why don't you head up and do your homework, I'll bring a snack up, okay?" Grandine offered making Lucy smile and nod her way before she got up to go to her own room.

She practically dragged her feet against the floor as she forced herself into her room, her eyes flickering towards the door that belonged to her rude housemate.

What was going on with them these days? What was their relationship? Why was this all so messed up and what we're all these new emotions she was feeling?

Was she starting to actually like Natsu?

Natsu Dragneel?

How was that possible? She hated him! He was so rude to her and she went crazy just arguing with him everyday but why did she always want to be around him? Why was she itching to see what he was doing and why was she so angry when Yukino or some other pretty girl was talking to him?

Why?

What was she doing?

Unable to handle the stress of arguing with herself anymore, the blonde stomped into her room and didn't come out till later.

X

Letting out a huge sigh, Lucy couldn't help but feel some kind of coldness as she gazed up into the starry night sky where millions of bright stars twinkled. Dinner was ten minutes ago, Natsu was supposed to be home, but he wasn't and she felt sort of disappointed she couldn't eat dinner with him.

Which sounds totally weird for her to say even in her point of view.

But she let it go as she waited for the male to return home so she could bother him, soon. Romeo was sleeping over at a friend's house and the house seemed oddly quiet making her super uncomfortable and frustrated. Normally, she would be the type to love a quiet atmosphere but nowadays, she just gets all jittery when it was too quiet.

"I wonder where Natsu is up to, now... maybe he's stuck somewhere knowing his idiotic self," the blonde muttered to herself as she trailed her finger against the railing. "ah, whatever, he doesn't really concern me anyways." She let out another sigh as she turn around to walk inside.

But as soon as she walked in, she noticed Yukino walking in making her eyes widen and the blonde shove her body back outside, her back pressed against the cover hiding her body behind it.

"Wow, this is a very nice place you got here, Natsu!"

"Thanks," the voice of the said male soon came making Lucy furrow her brows in confusion.

What in the world was Natsu thinking bringing Yukino home? Maybe they were some kind of—?

"Hey, c'mon, let's hurry up and finish this project so we don't get a failing grade tomorrow." Natsu suddenly said, answering her question.

Somehow, it made her relax some knowing that it was just for a project.

But... why was she even hiding? Now she couldn't go anywhere since it'll look like she was stalking them!

Now she's done it... she probably was going to be out there for the rest of the night.

It always had to be Yukino.


notes: I honestly did not know why Yukino was put as the antagonist in this. maybe because she's grateful over natsu or she was the first person I thought of. I swear she isn't as mean as i portrayed her as.

notes2: leave a review about how much you missed this story ;*