CHAPTER 14

Where is it?

That has been Lucy's question 'til last night. For some reason, she can't find her important accessories. Throwing the blankets off in despair, she then ran over to where the couch stumbled when she kicked it.

"Think Lucy! Think! How on Earth can you think when something important to you is missing?! No, calm down and think."

She took a deep breath and exhaled harshly. She started with a question 'where did I leave it three days ago?'

She can remember it clearly that she left it on the bedside table, but when she came back yesterday, it were all gone; the necklace, the bracelet and the ring.

They were all something that you can just buy again, but Lucy doesn't want to replace all of those. Aside from the fact that it came from Natsu, the thoughts and memories it holds are what most important to her.

With them, she feels the closest to Natsu.

She kicked the couch again then sit; pain soared in the aftermath of what she did. She hissed at her swelling foot.

She was fully dressed for work now. The only things missing are the things she has been finding since last night. She even fell asleep finding it. Being his best friend, she knows that Natsu always gives his past flings; flings cause she doesn't want to call them his girlfriends; accessories. It's normal, but she knows that those girls never took Natsu seriously. In the end, they were just leaving him, in which she is thankful by now. The point is, he gave those girls necklaces and whatever shits they want, but never did Natsu buy the same thing for himself. Natsu was never the one to take relationships seriously too.

That's the reason why they pretended to be lovers, right? Big part of the play is because of the company and a tiny part of it is because he wants to prove to Sir Makarov that he can also get serious in life. Natsu doesn't really have to take Sir Makarov's words seriously, but knowing Natsu, once he set his mind on something, he'll never stop until he makes it.

Sir Makarov, to say has a clever mind and a very keen sense. He is a short, goofy, fun and loving person. He likes to joke around and play with Natsu every time he gets the chance. Natsu and everyone in Dragneel Empire see him as a grandpa, and even her. He plays pranks on all of them, but it's not that big of a deal. He likes playing harsh pranks on Natsu, though. But overall, they love him.

And now that she thinks about it, she did say that the old man has a keen sense. She then remembered when she was still new to the company and she was asked to get some documents from him. She was just standing behind the door, contemplating whether to knock or not. Much to her surprise, the door opened and she suddenly felt something brushing the skin on her legs. Looking down, she saw him with a perverted grin, jumping to see more of her. When he noticed her menacing and not pleased look, he then stopped and asked her to come inside, in which she obliged.

He told her that he knows she's there for an entire five minutes already, raising and taking down her hand as if she wasn't sure whether to knock or not. She thought all of that was just a wild guess, but he said that he can sense Natsu's presence near them; she was surprised to actually see Natsu entered the office.

It's a talent and what she meant with all that explanation is . . . maybe, Makarov was joking when he said that Natsu is a failure when it comes to relationship, since he knows that the latter was just behind the door, eavesdropping on them.

And then, Natsu took it as a challenge and she and her peaceful life and feelings got dragged and jumbled up.

Her ringing phone put her out of her reverie. A cry left her lips when she read the name of the caller on the screen. The name Natsu just made her remember that she lost the things he gave her. She wonders if he's wearing them by now.

Pressing the green button, she called his name in an inquiring tone.

"Hi. I'm outside your house. Let's go to work together." By the sound of his voice, she knows he is smiling.

"Okay. I'll be out in a minute."

She ended the call and rushed to the closet to get a scarf, a pair of gloves and a coat. Despite of wearing a dress, she put on the violet coat atop of her coral colored dress. She wears the gloves and hangs the scarf around her neck.

Natsu raised a brow at her when she walked out of her apartment like she is currently having flu. Opening the door to the passenger's seat, his necklace showed up, like it was taunting the poor Lucy. She gasped, and when Natsu asked her what's wrong, she quickly shoved herself inside, not daring to look at him in the eye.

The door next to her opened up. She remained silent while he fastens his seatbelt.

"Fasten your seatbelt."

"AH! Yes."

"Are you cold? What's with your clothes? Are you hiding from someone or something?" He spat.

"Hiding? What? No. It's the trend, don't you know?"

"Really? It's only November, you know… Winter is still two weeks far." He grinned, in which she pouted.

"Don't spell it out on me. I know what season is it today."

She wants to tell it to Natsu, but she's also scared of what his reaction might be. That's why, while she can, she's doing her best to speak less.

At the front mirror, she can see the pendant of forever dangling on his neck. It looks so new despite of the three years that had passed. Like her, he's also taking good care of the necklace. It's not a hobby of him to clean or keep accessories. When an accessory of him got lost or broken, he doesn't care. For him, he can just buy a new one, or maybe not at all; knowing that he will still look good without those things. Accessories are just a bonus to his good looks.

That's how conceited Natsu Dragneel is.

But when he bought the necklace, he would wear it off before going to bed or taking a shower. Every morning, he would not forget to get it out of the box to wear. He was actually surprised when he realized that he's still keeping the box.

One night, when he took it off to go to bed, he noticed a stain on it. He immediately called Realight's Jewelry to ask for a gold cleaner solution. When it came via delivery, he dragged the delivery boy up to his room to teach him how to clean the piece of gold. Of course, it has never been easy for Natsu because he's afraid that he'll ruin it, and when the delivery boy volunteered that he'll gonna do the cleaning, he got a slap on the hand from Natsu, telling him, "Don't touch it."

He got him scared and muttered a short sorry, which the boy accepted.

That necklace is the second most important thing to him next to his scarf which his father gave him. So on that three days that Lucy was gone, he first tried to go to her house in hope that he'll see her there. But nope, instead, he saw the necklace, bracelet and ring, properly arranged on a shiny jewelry clam. He took it with him, and seeing Lucy that day, he badly wants to laugh at her cuteness.

There she was on his side, covering the part where the jewelries must be put.

He hit the brakes gently and unbuckled his seatbelt when he noticed that Lucy was daydreaming. Reaching out to her, he leaned and did the unfastening of seatbelt for her, which caused Lucy to squeak in surprise.

"Natsu…"

She called out softly. He looked at her, their faces inches apart. She backed away as far as her head can, but the headrest won't allow her to.

"Yeah?"

From their close distance, she accidentally inhaled the mixture of his natural scent, his perfume and breath and God he's so mouth-watering!

"Nothing."

She noticed him leaning and there was only one thing she could think about. Closing her eyes, she waited for his luscious lips… But there was nothing. The next thing she heard is the slam of the door and she was left there hanging.

A vein popped on her forehead. She was about to open the door next to her when she felt something cold hit the tips of her fingers.

It was a black box tied with white ribbon. When she opened it, her expression completely changed. Jaws apart, eyes wide, her breath hitched; inside the box is a very elegant silver black, diamond filled wrist watch. The strap is designed as four leafed, silver black clover flowers bordered by the stones, while the face of the watch is diamond studded. It really is enticing that she got no words for it.

The new accessory had her frozen in her seat.

A knock on the window made her flinch that she almost got the surely expensive watch fall. She looked up to see Natsu looking away, his right hand scratching the back of his head. She laughed a bit. It was her who's supposed to get embarrassed, not him.

Thanks to the tinted window, he can't see her blushing. She let the blush fade away before opening the door.

Fresh air greeted her and her lungs badly needed it. Releasing the pack of air she breathed, she looked at Natsu, only to tear her gaze away when their eyes met.

"Uh. . . Uh. . . A – no. . . . Uh. . . "She doesn't know what to say, but not only her.

"A – no, you don't have to say anything, really. . . Just wear it and everything's okay, I guess. . ." He said.

"Ah! Yeah! Th – thank you."

She smiled and hugged his right arm, only for him to hold it and get the box from her. He opened it and took the still oh-so-gorgeous watch and put it on her left wrist.

"Let's go?" He asked, extending his right hand, but Lucy reached out for his left hand.

Seeing the confused look on his face, she explained.

"I want to show this off." She said, waving her left hand in the air.

"Okay." He smiled at her again and resists himself not to kiss her. At least, not on the car park; it's already bad that he gave the gift to her there. The only thing that makes the company's car park beautiful is the tall trees whose golden leaves are falling down.

But Lucy, who was taken with the course of events, can't seem to stop herself from lifting her feet up and let her lips met his for a short peck. Upon realizing what she did, her face flamed up.

Natsu, who was taken aback with the fact that she's the one who insisted a kiss, put a hand on his face, hiding a blush and smile there.

"We – we better go, right?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, but before that – "He kissed her forehead. "Now, let's go." He grinned and started walking with her with their hands intertwined.

The next day, Lucy is still unable to tell Natsu that she lost it. A private car from the Heartfilia Mansion stopped in front of her apartment. It's the car she's been waiting for.

Lately, she's been up to lots of photo shoots as the model for their new product. Not just that; because of the successful collaboration of Dragneel and Heartfilia businesses, he has to do that with her. It's not new for her; she's been up to modeling before, and so do Natsu. The only difference this time is they are going to do the modeling together for various fashion magazines, billboards and ads.

Because of that collaboration too, news arise that the successors just agree to get engaged because of some business arrangements; which, of course is not true.

It's way more criss-crossed than they think their relationship would be.

Her phone rang again; this time, it's Natsu.

"Hello?" She greeted.

"Hi. Hey, uh, sorry that I can't pick you up today. I'm going to be late tonight."

"It's alright. Go, take your time and finish what you have to. I'll wait."

"I'll finish it quick. Be there once I'm done."

"Thanks."

"Yeah. Thanks too."

"Take care."

"You too."

When she thought that he pressed the end call, she whispered softly; her phone still on her ear.

"Love you."

"What? I didn't hear it. Louder please? We're on phone…"

Her eyes widen in shock. She ended the call right away and covered her face in embarrassment. She's just thankful that he didn't hear that.

She pulled her hair and punched the backrest in front of her, thinking of reasons why she did that.

"We're here, Miss Lucy."

"Oh, thanks."

She entered the building and was greeted by Jason, her photographer. Truth be told, she has a feeling that she looks haggard.

The photo shoot started well. Jason told her that there is another model her father picked, but will be coming late too. She felt a little embarrassed though, because among the three of them, models, she's the only one who is not busy with office works. And to think that she's the Heartfilia Steps' successor, she's been slacking off a lot.

An hour passed, the door opened, revealing a pink-haired boy and a scarlet haired girl.

"Flare! Natsu! Come here!" Jason welcomed them.

Lucy looked at the girl Jason called Flare. Wearing a velvet dress with a plunging neckline and the way she looks at Natsu, Lucy's woman instincts kicked in.

"Hi Luce!" When Natsu reached her, he took her hand and sat by her side.

"Hi." She answered in a firm tone.

She eyed Flare in secret from head to toe. At first look, you would not notice the unchaste looks she's giving Natsu. But if you would look at her carefully, you will see a vixen, just finding a right time to attack its prey; in which Lucy has a great feeling that her prey is Natsu.

She has this aura that can easily manipulate people's thoughts and impressions about her. Lucy bet she finished a degree in Psychology, something that has to do with mind controlling or such. But she can't fool her. No matter what kind of mind-manipulation she uses, Lucy knows the wonders of that science; it's all based on the behavior she shows.

Smiling and laughing like some innocent girl, acting all shy and flattered… Anyone would think of her as a sweet, kind and innocent girl.

But do not underestimate the eyes of a … girlfriend? Lover? Fiancé?

Here she goes again. But then, a woman knows if there's a threat; that for sure is certain.

"Luce? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just thinking of something."

"Me?"

"You wish."

'This… is interesting.'

Those words shot her head. She looked around to see whose voice that was. Turning to the left, brown orbs met red. She has this lop-sided smirk that got Lucy's panties in a twist.

"Alright! Lucy and Flare, please proceed to the dressing room and pick your dresses out. You too, Natsu. We'll start the shoot in ten minutes." Jason called out.

Luce went to the other side of the room where the mirror is located and pinned her hair up. She decided that she will not insist a conversation with her and that will remain that way until the photo shoot ends. She'll never talk to a threat. Grabbing the clothes she first set aside, she started to strip and get dressed again.

Flare walked straight to the hanging clothes and busied herself mixing and matching. When she decided what to wear, she went on to choosing the proper shoes.

"Look at this flaming stiletto! I love this! Can I wear this?" A vein ticked on Lucy's forehead.

Maybe Flare wants to talk with her, but her ways are not right. Does she really have to get the shoes she kept along with her dress just to get her talk?

"I'm sorry but I got that first. There are lots of options there, get yourself a new one." She said while looking straight at her.

"But I really like this, Blondie. And I have a feeling that Natsuuuu will like this too. So please?"

That's it. Her assumptions were right. She grabbed the heels of the shoes and pulled it with force.

"I'm not Blondie. I got this first. And do NOT call his name that way, you – "

"Slut? Vixen? Bitch? Thanks for the compliment. But remember this, I always get what I want…" She grabbed the shoes from her, stepped on it and walked to her own mirrored dresser.

Lucy was astounded that she can't utter a word.

"…by hook or by crook. There are lots of options there, get yourself a new one." She mimicked her tone, making Lucy got more pissed.

The shoot continued. Every break, Flare would get in between Natsu and Lucy, clinging to no end on him. The latter can't just brush her off, afraid that it will create a mess if he tries to snub her. But he's also pretty aware that if that clinginess of hers continues, a bigger problem will come. Either way, no matter what he chooses, it would backfire.

"Luce, I remembered something I have to tell you." He told Lucy after the fifth break.

Once Jason screamed rest, he immediately rushed to Lucy to avoid Flare. He dragged her to his assigned room, making sure that no one sees them.

"What is it?" She huffed.

"Is it already your time of the month?" He joked, but he was given a glare instead.

"Well, sorry? Are you mad at something?"

"Can't you tell?" She said, turning her back on him.

He heaved a sigh. There he was, making a lone time for both of them, but the girl he's giving his time and attention chose to give him the cold shoulder; and that, he is not grateful for.

"Luce?" He placed a hand on her shoulder. Lucy turned around instantly, her eyes reflecting frustration, anger and annoyance. When her eyes met his onyx one which mirrors confusion, her gaze soften.

"I have to go. Save what you want to tell for later. I also have something to tell." She waved him a 'see ya' before completely going out.

Back to her room, all the anger that was once forgotten came back after seeing Flare.

"You don't have to drag my Natsuuuu in his room to have your private time with him. Your efforts to be with him will be proven futile because I can get him in just a week. I can and I will, Blondie…"

My Natsu was the only thing she heard. She's been to a lot of fights before. She's never been the nicest student in school. She's also never the one to give up during sports festival. She's never the one to back a fight, especially when she's right. To live, there are times that she has to grow horns too. The only thing that made her cower and hide was her father. But that's not the issue now.

She has a real fight to face and win.

"You are a threat. But if you think that I'll be threatened, think again."

"I like that attitude. I'm not just you ordinary threat though, so you better think again."

"I'm not your ordinary princess who can't swing a sword. I know how to fight."

"I don't fight. I brawl. So prepare yourself for my blows."

"Give up, because I'll have him, no doubt."

"Say that after a week."

"Bitch."

"Pathetic."

Flare smiled at her compliment while Lucy scowled at her insult.

Both of them struggled to step out of the door first, pushing and pulling each other to get ahead of their love opponents. Lucy stepped her right foot to advance herself, but Flare stepped on it, causing Lucy to wince in pain and fall. Lucy gave her a glare, but Flare just snickered. Stepping completely out of their room, she mocked her.

"I advanced."

Natsu then comes and upon seeing Lucy clutching on her swollen foot, he bent down and supported her to stand.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Lucy hugged Natsu sideways, ignoring his concerned questions.

Looking at Flare, she mimicked the way she snickered at her and says, "I. Advanced."

If she wants him, she has to fight.

Done!

Hi!

*There's a guest here whom I want to thank. She/ He has been a help on SIAR's sixth chapter. Thank you… You could have at least told your name, you know. Anyways, thank you very much!

*I really don't know how Flare got herself included in the story. Lately, I've gotten so far from the original plot. It was supposed to be a 10 chapter story only, but because I'm so greeeeeaaaaat (LOL… There's no harm on dreaming) the story has gotten longer. C: And it's all because of your reviews.

*The original antagonist was really Lisanna, but I don't know; it has come into this so please bear with it.

*And I badly want to have that watch! :3 And those jewelries have secrets hidden on them too! :D

*Have a good day minna! Tomorrow is Saturday and I'm so excited. I got a date! Joke! :D

*Thanks for reading the story and this non sense aspiring author's note.

-A.L.-