A/N: Yes, a very short drabble. I was aiming for a little bit of angst, did I achieve it?
Lucy lost track of how many times she'd thought she'd seen Natsu walking about town. She'd take a trip to the market and out of the corner of her eye see a flash of pink. She'd race after the illusion. Bitter defeat always the reward, the pink belonging to a garment or object.
Lucy desired the simple companionship of Natsu. Loud, obnoxious, graceless. Shovelling food into his mouth, blunt, but always truthful Natsu. The pit of the blonde's stomach tightened.
He always had a smile ready. No one else had made her feel so safe and valued as a person - ever. A true friend.
A wry smile bloomed into a wide grin. Alone in her apartment she could admit the truth. A laugh bubbled up from the depths of her guts. There was no sense in lying to herself anymore; secrets in one's own soul had a way of making themselves known. She loved Natsu, but would he ever feel the same?
Dropping the book she'd been pretending to read, Lucy pressed the backs of her hands to her cheeks. Taking a shuddering deep breath and then another. One day at a time, she'd build her life back to a standard she could be proud of. One day she'd move forward. Her secret of loving Natsu would bear fruit or it would just be another old sad fact of what used to be. With or without him.
Lucy leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her knees. Sobbing, she held herself tighter. Secrets were a bitch to keep. She wanted the truth to set her free.