12: Meeting People Again
Startled, Lucy Heartfilia's hand leapt off Natsu's so quickly one would have thought she had been burned. His eyebrow arched and his onyx gaze peered curiously at her, taking in the widened eyes and agape mouth. Lucy was transfixed on the stage, unaware of the male's intense study. It was a full minute later when rock music once again filled the air, drowning out the screams and shrieks, when she regained her senses and turned to face him. A look of embarrassment came into her eyes as Lucy furrowed her eyebrows at him.
"Wh-what…? Is there something on my face?"
"You said you had something to tell me. It sounded important."
"Something to tell… you? I did?"
"Yeah. Aaaaaand…?"
"Uh, don't recall. You sure it wasn't you who had something to tell me?"
"Oi! Heartfilia!"
"Eep! What are you yelling at me for now?"
"Dude, you spaced out for like, an hour! And your ha-" Natsu's mouth suddenly clamped shut and his brows furrowed.
"My… ha-?"
"Nothing! Shut up and watch the show."
"What the hell…?" Lucy folded her arms over her chest, the movement inadvertently drawing an onyx hued gaze to the area where her cleavage filled out the V-shape of her top generously.
Natsu sucked in a hiss and clenched his fist, the cool wind that brushed across the skin of his hand an unpleasant reminder of the loss of a female touch. Lucy had acted like she'd been caught in an act she should not have been doing. He was not stupid; the second that her hand had leapt off his was the exact moment her blonde friend had winked at her. The band name had also caught his attention, and Natsu had turned just in time to see Lucy's childhood friend wink right at them. The crowd had instantly gone wild, and the way the Lucy had reacted…
Natsu did not like it. And then he got pissed knowing that he did not like it.
Lucy grumbled but did not argue when he snatched the leftovers from dinner and started stuffing his face. Jellal and Erza looked over once or twice, clearly suspecting something but they did not say anything. Instead they shrugged and continue snuggling. The first song ended, followed by the second and the third and then the band members started shifting their equipment off the stage much to the consternation of the crowd.
Lucy paused mid-clap when she suddenly yawned. "Ara? That's odd."
"The meds?" Natsu peered at her.
"Probably…" Lucy yawned again.
"Do you guys want to head back first? The concert's almost ending anyway." Erza asked from where her head was lying on Jellal's shoulder.
"Nah, I'm ok. Besides, looks like Sabertooth isn't done anyway."
"Huh. What's blondie doing now?" Natsu muttered, skeptical.
The stage had been cleared except for a keyboard and a microphone stand. All the members were gone except for a silver haired girl behind the keyboard and Sting, whose guitar was propped up on a stand behind him. Sting stripped off his jacket to reveal a grey Threadless tee that clung to his body. Instantly, the girls – and some guys – started catcalling.
"Seriously, what is he, a flasher?" Natsu grumbled, his bottom lip cringing.
"You're the one to talk."
"Shut up."
"You shut up. The song's starting."
I don't mind you coming here, and wasting all my time.
'cause when you're standing oh so near I kinda lose my mind…
"Is that… a love song?"
"Kind of. Just what I needed." Lucy nodded, her finger tapping the table to the rhythm of the song.
"You needed a kind of love song?" Natsu arched a brow.
"That's the title, idiot. Just what I needed by The Cars. Hmm… Sting's pretty good. Better than I remember."
"Meh. He's ok." Natsu grumbled and folded his arms again. "Thought you were tired?"
"I'll stay till the end and… what's he doing?"
Lucy's eyes widened when the blonde male leapt off the stage with the mike in his hand, crooning to his audience as he circled one end of the pool, the crowd parting like the Red Sea as he moved.
"He's coming over here." Erza noted, surprise in her voice as she sat up in her seat.
True enough, Sting stopped a meter short of their table and smiled at them, or rather, smiled at Lucy, who was now wearing a mortified look. Lucy had frozen up in her seat, her entire body tensing as he stepped even closer, his stonewashed jeans brushing softly against her exposed knees.
"Uh… what are you doing?"
It doesn't matter where you've been as long as it was deep
You always knew to wear it well, you look so fancy I can tell.
Red flushed her pale skin again and Lucy's fingers twiddled nervously in her lap. Her head ducked lower towards her chest and her lips curled inwards as she glared at the blusish – white tinted denim.
If it was any other time, seeing the usually calm and honestly, a little full of herself sometimes, blonde act so nervous and awkward in front of a huge crowd would have filled him with amusement. But for some reason, watching Lucy's childhood chum serenade her with a love song in what felt ridiculously like a public declaration made the pink haired male feel more than a little uncomfortable. Natsu continued to watch Lucy, who was doing her best to disappear into the chair; her body hunched over and her legs tucked away tightly underneath the chair. Her face was a dark red as her gaze burned into her lap in her futile attempt to block everything else out.
Damn.
Watching her discomfort just made him feel worse. Natsu moved to get up from his seat but Erza's hand was on his arm, and she gave him a subtle glare and shake of her head. Before he could protest, Sting paused mid-song and smiled, before reaching out a hand to lightly caress a thick lock of Lucy's blonde hair. Lucy visibly flinched when Sting's calloused finger skimmed across her skin and fresh pink blossomed across her cheeks. Letting her hair fall gently back onto her shoulder, Sting stepped away and circled the other end of the pool, reassuming his spot on the stage. Gradually, the glares and stares that Lucy knew were burning her way shifted back to the front and her body relaxed a little.
"Luce, you ok?"
Bang!
Natsu jumped when her palm slammed down on the table forcefully enough to make the plates jump and the – thankfully – empty drink cups to topple.
"Lu-"
"Godamnit! That stupid bee! He knows full well I hate being the center of attention. He really hasn't changed a bit all these years!"
Lucy leapt to her feet, and her fingers tugged messily at thick locks of blonde. "Argh! Stupid bee! Baka baka baka! See if I get you back afterwards! I bet you've forgotten how good I was at punching your stupid face in. Obviously you need a reminder and-"
"You're going to remind me?"
"Kyaa!"
Sting Eucliffe stood beside Lucy, grinning, with his guitar case strapped across his chest. The other members of Sabertooth stood a ways from him, grinning and entertaining fans in the audience. Any fans who attempted to come Sting's way were smoothly intercepted by a guy clad in full black, with a green cat perched on his shoulder.
"Aww, Lucefilia, you're so adorable! Kyaa-ing at me... You trying to show me your cute side?"
"Wh- You stupid insect! What the hell was that about? You know I detest being in the public eye, why on Earthland – do – you – keep – doing – it?!" Lucy punctuated each word with a punch in his shoulder. "Arghhh!"
Sting easily stopped the fist coming at his face. "Woah woah! 10 years since I last saw you and now your violence level has upped a notch? Crybaby Lucy, relax already!"
Natsu couldn't help it; he let out a loud snort and pointed a finger at Lucy. "Cr-crybaby…?"
"Shut up!"
Sting smirked and folded his arms. "Didn't you know? This girl would cry over the smallest things when she was young. Like remember the time your Loke doll- guagh!"
"Shut up meant you too, Eucliffe!" Lucy huffed as she glared daggers at the blonde collapsed on the floor clutching his cheek.
"That hurt, Lucefilia!"
"Serves you right, you stupid insect! Mou… whatever. I'm tired and I'm going to rest now. Gotta wake up early tomorrow anyway. What time again, Erza?"
"9."
"Heard that, Natsu? 9!"
"Yeah yeah. Don't be a nag."
"You- Whatever! I'm out of here and- Ow."
Lucy groaned and her weight listed sideways as she lifted her injured foot off the ground. Touching the bandage wrapped securely around her foot, she flinched. "Damn it."
"You suck, Luce."
"Dragne-"
"Shut up and get on. I'll carry you back." Natsu turned around and knelt down, his arms reaching behind him.
"I don't need your help, yo-Gah!"
"Yup. It's hurt really bad. Man, Lucefilia. You really are as clumsy as ever." Sting commented with a straight face as he lightly poked her ankle with his finger. When he saw Lucy glaring at him, he chuckled amusedly and begged a quick apology.
"Luce. My knees are starting to hurt. Hurry up."
"Sh-shut up. Just stay still and woah-Hey!"
"Sorry!" A pair of girls tittered as they nonchalantly slipped through the gap between Natsu and Lucy. Lucy stumbled backwards, but her fall was instantly halted by a pair of strong arms holding her upright.
"You alright?" Even in the dim light, the worry in Sting's blue eyes were apparent at such close proximity and for no apparent reason, her cheeks heated up.
"Uhm… yeah. Thanks."
Damn it, was she blushing again?! Natsu gritted his teeth and whipped around to grab one of the girls by the sleeve, halting her movements. "Hey, bitches. Can't you see her ankle is injured? Watch where you're going!"
"We said we were sorry. What's the big- Hey, aren't you Natsu Dragneel from Magnolia U?"
"Oh damn. Listen girls-"
Lucy rolled her eyes and sighed. "Great. Not again."
"You are, aren't you?" One of the girls suddenly latched herself onto his arm, her fingers digging into his flesh, as she swooned at him. "Carrie! Take a photo! Quick, photo! Kyaa! The girls are never going to believe we met the Dragneel!"
"Wha-Hey! Let me go!"
"Aww… Just one photo! Please?"
"Sorry girls, I've got to-Lucy?"
Natsu froze up when he saw the female heading away from him, her arm wrapped around Sting's shoulder as he supported her while she walked. With two long strides – and a significant amount of force – he broke free and caught up with the pair. "Hey, Luce. Where are you going?"
"Back to my room of course. Doy."
"Then let me help you. Your leg…"
"The stupid bee-" "Is this your way of thanking me?" "-Shut up. I'm still pissed at you. He's free to help. So you can just go entertain your female fans and don't bother me."
"Bother you? Oi, Luce-"
"I don't your help, Dragneel. Goodnight." Without a second glance, Lucy turned back around and continued hobbling away into the lobby.
What the hell?!
Natsu stood there alone gaping in shock as the pair of blondes disappeared into the crowd, Erza and her boyfriend having disappeared long ago. The pair of girls came back up again, but this time he was too stupefied to argue back and in the end they got away with photos of them kissing his cheeks.
"Lucy… What the hell was that?! Bother you? So that's what you think of me offering to help you. You stupid bimbo, see if I-"
"Natsu? Is that you?"
"Aren't you done with your photos? Just get lo-Lisanna?"
"Oh it is you! What are you doing here?" Lisanna giggled loudly and flung her arms around the shocked male, hugging him tightly.
"Li-Lisanna? Wait… What?"
"I'm here on a student internship silly. Hotel management, remember?"
It was then that Natsu realized Lisanna's manner of dress was in stark contrast to anyone else. While they donned tees, shorts, jeans and swimsuits, Lisanna's petite figure was clad in black dress pants and a white short-sleeved blouse with a golden badge in the shape of an 'M' above her right chest pocket.
"Oh right, right. Your family works in the hotel industry. But why are you interning here instead of the Strauss hotel chain? I'm sure they'd be willing to accept their boss' daughter anytime?"
Lisanna shrugged her shoulders. "I got bored. I've always been with my family hotels whenever the holidays swung by. So this year I told my parents I wanted to experience something different, somewhere new. Dad acquired the Mercurius hotel last year so I told him I'll come check it out in place of him."
"I see. And your siblings?"
"Sis is working with Dad this year back home. And Elfman nii-chan… sighs."
"Something wrong?"
"Nah, it's nothing. It's just that he defied our father's orders again to pick up the family business and has disappeared somewhere off to, well, train. As if he doesn't already have crazy-looking muscles… Anyway, enough about me. I heard you're here with Erza for the Student Council Convention? Where is she?"
Natsu shrugged nonchalantly. "Dunno, making out with her boyfriend somewhere I suppose. And that stupid bimbo-Grrr… never mind. Just thinking about her pisses me off."
"There's someone else here too?" Lisanna peeked curiously up at him from underneath her bangs as she was wont to do. "I only heard from the gossip grapevine that someone had spotted Natsu Dragneel here by the pool."
"Oh, it's just Lu-No. It's nobody important. So… you're like an acting manager here?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just the acting boss."
"Wait. What?!"
Lisanna giggled again and hooked her arm around Natsu's, leading him towards the concierge as girls around them all stopped to stare and gossip. "I'm just joking. Yes, I'm the acting manager in charge of guest hospitality for these two months. My dad's still the top, top boss, but being his daughter, and having already earned the respect of most the staff here, I do enjoy quite a few premiums. For example, check this out."
They came to a stop in front of a second hotel lobby behind the concierge desk, this one equally or more ornately designed than the main lobby for guests. The floor was polished linoleum, the walls were Calacatta marble that shone under the light emanating from the crystal chandelier hanging above their heads. Friezes reminiscent of those from the Roman Pantheon were etched along the lengths of the tops of the walls, a cavalry of soldiers on horseback and fearsome beasts that danced and sprang and prowled above their heads.
"What the hell… this lobby is just for you guys?" Natsu gaped, as he circled to take in the full panoramic experience.
"The management spared no expense in their attempts to please the top bosses. Look over there, and there. Those little corners with the flowers? Those are new, added in after it got out that my mother's favourite flowers are those of the lilium."
"They don't really fit in with the soldiers and animals…"
"Yeah…" Lisanna laughed again. "The management tried too hard, but oh well. Come on, lift's here. I'll show you my private rooms. They're really, really awesome. "
And… I have no excuse. I won't be surprised if I've lost most readers by now. Few months. Say whaaat?! But I'll try my best to pick up where I left off… for not just this one.
Bear with me! Sorry!
Faie.
