For the love of Nalu

Chapter 14

Theme: Peer Pressure

Lucy sat at the bar, her head in her arms as her hair covered her face. Her best friend was missing and she was waiting for him to come so that they could take on a mission. Mirajane watched the blond with slight amusement, knowing that she gets like this whenever Natsu is not here. The guild was pretty tired of the blond that couldn't see how much she was in love. She was waist deep in denial and it didn't seem like Lucy was planning on climbing out any time soon.

"Hey Lucy, is everything alright?" Mirajane asked as she moved closer. A knowing smile was placed on her lips as Lucy peeked from her arms to look at her.

"Just waiting on Natsu. I don't know why he always has to be late." Lucy explained with slight annoyance. They had agreed to meet here at 8am but here it is 9am and there is no sign of him.

"Are you sure you don't just miss him?" Mirajane teased as the blonds face tinted a pretty shade of pink. Everyone knew about how Lucy felt for the pink haired idiot, but they didn't understand how she didn't realize it herself.

"Mirajane! I already told you it's not like that!" Lucy defended, feeling the warmth on her face as it betrayed her. Lucy could never see Natsu actually liking someone, let alone being in love. It just doesn't suit him. He likes fighting and food too much to think about anything else.

"Your face says differently." A voice came from behind Lucy. She didn't have to look to know that it was Levy. One of the conspirators in the regular teasing of the blond. Lucy spun around on the stool and narrowed her eyes at the blunette.

"Oh really? Then what about you and Gajeel? Since it's so obvious that you like him." Lucy retorted. She hated being teased, especially about a subject like this. The blond was touchy when it came to such things. Levy responded with a face that could put Erza's hair to shame.

"W-what?! I don't like Gajeel, besides your the subject of the conversation right now not me!" Levy stuttered out. Lucy and Mirajane both chuckled as they watched her, their eyes showing the full amount of their amusement.

"Sure, right now you might not be, but let's just say that something does happen between me and Natsu. Who do you think will be the next victim?" Levy's eyes widened once she realized just how right Lucy was. She would be next if Lucy hooks up with Natsu.

"So then you do like Natsu?" Mirajane teased Lucy once more. The blond spun around again as Levy took a seat next to her.

"I already told you that I don't!" Lucy exclaimed. Her face increased in color as the conversation carried on.

"But the way you said that just now made it seem like there really is a possibility that you might get together." Mirajane feigned a pout and the blond sighed.

"I only said that so that she could understand what I was saying. It was a what if that has no possibility of happening." Lucy added with exasperation. This was a never ending battle between them and it just seems like she couldn't win. They would never let it down unless she either got with Natsu or hooked up with someone else. Even then Lucy knows that the teasing probably wouldn't stop.

"But what if's are always a possibility. That's why they are a what if." Levy argued. Good point Lucy thought as she realized she should have worded that better as well.

"Why does no one ever listen to me? Can't a girl and a guy be friends without people thinking that there is something more?" Lucy questioned, her eyes moving from Mirajane to Levy and back again.

"Oh yes, it's quite common actually. But when they are as close as you and Natsu are then that changes things." Levy answered.

"How does that change things? So what if we are best friends, there are plenty of men and women that are best friends and never become more than that." Lucy answered.

"You seriously don't see just what you two look like to other people." Levy smirked.

"It's quite adorable Lucy, the nervous glances, all the blushing when you make contact or if he gets to close." Mirajane clasped her hands in front of her as her eyes sparkled with what ever she was imagining,

"They are always together, and he even sleeps in her bed." Levy added.

"Don't forget that he is so protective of her." Another voice added from behind Lucy. People certainly like to join the conversation that way don't they?

"Not you too Erza! You know he is like that with everyone!" Lucy pleaded.

"On the contrary Lucy, he is protective of everyone but even more so with you. I have seen it, it's true that he cares for you." Lucy's face burned red at the requip mages words. Oh how she wished that she could just crawl under a rock and hide right about now.

"See Lucy, even Erza agrees." Levy stated, the blond turned, pouting at her novel loving friend.

"Just because you think something or want it to be doesn't make it true. You all think that we have some deep unrequited feelings for each other but you wouldn't really know unless you were us. We harbor no feelings for one another other than friendship, is that so hard to imagine?" Lucy debated.

"When it's you two it is." Cana joined the conversation, her slurring words evidence to her intoxicated state. Lucy turned to the brunette, never realizing the she was listening in for the whole conversation just two stools away from Levy. It's only 930am and she's already that wasted?

"Cana please, me and Natsu are no different from you and Macao. We are friends, that is all." All eyes around her widened at Lucy's words and her brows rose. Why were they looking at her like that.

"Damn Lucy, I didn't realize you and Natsu were that close now." Cana laughed. Lucy knew that she had to be missing something, or else they wouldn't all be laughing right now. Lucy turned to the only one not laughing, which happened to be Erza.

"What are they laughing at?" She asked the red head who wore a smile on her gorgeous face.

"What you didn't know?" Levy asked between laughs. The blond shook her head as the laughing started to die down.

"Let's just say that they are more than friends but without the title." Lucy's eyes widened in shock as she shot around to look at the brunette who avoided her eyes.

"No! Cana, are they serious?" A smile spread across Cana's lips, silently answering Lucy's question. Gulping Lucy took a moment to take in what she was just told. Cana and Macao, really?

"Me and Natsu are definitely not like that!" Lucy defended, wanting to straighten that out before they started getting inappropriate ideas.

"Oh Lucy, we know that! But you can't stay like this forever, or someone may come along and snatch that dragon slayer right from under your nose." Mirajane stated, her eyes pleading to Lucy. She just wanted to hear the blonds true feelings, even if only once.

"Why does it matter? If he truly wants to be with someone else that I have no problem with it." Another smirk from the girls left Lucy confused once again. Now what did she say?

"Someone else Lucy? So you want to be with him but you don't think he likes you back, is that how it is?" Levy asked of her friend. Lucy just realized what she had said and groaned in frustration. Now she had just made things worse and they would never let her live it down.

"I didn't mean it like that guys, honestly." Lucy mumbled but the girls could hear her.

"Maybe that's your subconscious trying to tell you how you feel. If you don't listen to us then at least listen to yourself. What does your heart tell you?" Mirajane asked. She leaned against the counter as she waited for the answer.

"My heart says nothing when it comes to him except that we are friends. That's it."

"That's a load of bull crap right there!" Cana slurred. She swayed slightly in her spot on top of the bar.

"Lucy you should take their words seriously. I want some grand kids running around spewing fire and waving keys." The girls laughed at the masters response. Lucy's face was red once more, the heat starting to make her feel light headed. "Well, maybe not the spewing fire part. There is already enough damage done to the guild without adding that."

"But Master, it's really not like that between us! I don't like him and he doesn't like me!"

"But your not Natsu, so how can you speak for him? How do you know that he doesn't like you?" Erza was the one that asked this time. There was a good point to her words but Lucy didn't care.

"Because I just do. He is my best friend, I think I know him better than that."

"Apparently not since you can't even see that much!" Cana barked. Lucy felt her temper starting to rise, it felt like she was being ganged up on. She didn't like the increasing number of people that were involved in this conversation.

"What is it going to take to get you all to leave me alone?" Lucy questioned as her eyes darted between each face in front of her. They all looked as if they were enjoying this just a bit too much.

"Once you admit how you feel then there would be nothing to discuss." Erza answered.

"Except for wedding dresses and baby showers!" Mirajane said in a sing song voice.

"Well you can't forget the confession. We would have to plan that as well." Levy added. This was getting to be too much. What is wrong with these girls?

"But even if I said it, it would only be a lie!" Lucy explained, wishing they would understand how she felt. This wasn't something that was easy for her to even think about let alone speak of.

"Once you say it, you'll realize just how wrong you really are." Mirajane said.

"Why won't anyone believe me?! Fine, if this is what you want then that's what you'll get!" The blonds temper had gotten the best of her, no longer able to contain herself.

"Um Lucy," Levy interrupted but Lucy rose a hand in her direction to stop her.

"No Levy, I am done with this. If this gets you all off my back than that is fine with me!"

"But Lucy!" Mirajane looked at Lucy with pleading eyes and Lucy couldn't understand why they were suddenly trying to stop her. All this pressure has gotten to her, all the pushing has sent her over the edge.

"Stop Mirajane! This is what you all pushed me for! This is what you wanted so just shut the hell up! I love Natsu! There, I said it. You happy now?!"

"Lucy?" Lucy felt her blood run cold and her face drain of color. Searching the girls faces, she could see that she was clearly not just hearing things. The deep voice called out to her once more, laying a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw the very man that she had just confessed her feelings for.

"O-oh, um...h-hey N-Natsu." She inwardly cursed herself for not letting her friends speak when they were clearly trying to warn her. She hoped, prayed that he didn't hear her shout her feelings to the world but knew that it was futile.

"Lucy, can you repeat that?" So he did hear her, but why would he want her to say it again? This was so humiliating for her.

"Repeat what?" She was trying to play stupid, he knew, but a smile formed on his lips as he looked at her expectantly.

"Don't be like that, you know what I'm talking about." They had the attention of the entire guild. Lucy could feel the tension rising, all waiting for her to say it.

"No, I-I really don't."

"Yes you do." The smile left his face as he looked at her. Why wouldn't she just say it? She could say it to the guild but not him?

"Why would you want me to anyway?" She spit back, the embarrassment was getting to her. She didn't want to be rejected in front of the entire guild.

"So that I don't make a fool of myself." She was avoiding his heavy gaze, staring at the floor beneath her feet. The dark knot in the wood paneling seemed very interesting at the moment.

"That's nothing new for you." She murmured under her breath before she realized what he really said. "Wait, why would you be worried about looking like a fool?"

"So that I don't get kicked when I do this."

"Do what?" He moved closer, the smirk reappearing on his face as Lucy shivered. What was he doing? She backed up, nervous as to this sudden change in the man she thought she knew so well. She yelped when her back hit into the table behind her, leaving her no where to go as the dragon slayer kept advancing. "W-what are you d-doing?"

"Oh you'll see." He trapped her between his arms, his hands grasping the table behind her. Lucy opened her mouth, ready to say something else when Natsu leaned in, pushing their lips together. Gasps were heard around them as Lucy stared at the man attached to her, eyes wide with disbelief.

Without her knowledge, she found herself kissing him back. Her eyes closed and her hands clutched his scarf, pulling him in deeper. Natsu smirked against her lips, sneaking a peek at the blond against him. The light pink blush, the way her head tilted just slightly to the side and how her long lashes lay against her cheek, it was all so amazing to him. Just simply beautiful.

The world returned to them as they parted. Realizing that people were cheering and sending cat calls their way. He watched as Lucy bit her lip and start to fidget where she stood, liking the idea of her being so bashful. And that he was the cause of it.

"S-so...does this mean...you like me back?" She asked sheepishly. His grin returned as he rubbed the back of his head with a blush coating his cheeks.

"Yup!" He confessed and Lucy felt her heart skip a beat. "I love you Luce, I have for awhile now."

"So then why didn't you say something sooner?" Lucy could see the girls squirming in the corner of her eye as she waited for Natsu to answer but didn't think much of it.

"Because I like teasing you and seeing you all flustered!" Natsu laughed. Lucy's eye began to twitch, becoming more consistent as his laughing continued. She glanced at the girls once more and could see just how uncomfortable they were at the moment. With a swift movement of her leg, Lucy brought her knee up crushing it in the sensitive spot between his legs as he fell to the floor with an omph.

"That's what you get for messing with my feelings! And you!" She turned towards the girls, most flinching at the glare she was giving them. "You knew didn't you?!" Their silence told her all she needed to know.

"Hey now! How is he going to give me grand kids if you do that?!" Master laughed out as the guild joined along.

"You all are going to pay for this!"

A/N: Well here is another, hope you like it! Reviews would be very much appreciated! Thank you, all of you who have followed, reviewed and favorited! I really really appreciate it! You guys are simply awesome! Next theme will be 'Convention'. What do you think will happen? Word count before authors note is 2,650.