Recap:
"What..." I mumbled, words making their way to my lips. That comment was the last straw.
I was shaking with emotions. Confusion, anger, betrayal...
"Just what are you saying?!" I yelled, standing up abruptly. All attention directed onto me.
"This was not the plan, Natsu!" I inhaled deep, uneven breaths to try to calm down. I looked around at all the curious eyes as I mentally cursed myself for blowing up like that. I wasn't gonna be seen like this, at least not here.
I glared at Natsu, trying to convey to him just how deeply I felt he betrayed me.
With not another word said, I hastily strode off the stage.
A Surfers Love
Chapter 29
This was unbelievable! Just too unbelievable! This couldn't be happening.
I immedietly stomped off of the set, pushing away anyone who tried to prevent me from leaving.
"Ms. Heartfilia, we're still interviewing you," Kinana said, trying to get me to stay. "We need you back on set, A.S.A.P."
"Make up an excuse or a lie, I don't care. I can't even stand being by Natsu right now!" I huffed as I continued my stride towards the doors.
"Wait!" she called after me.
As soon as I made it the the exit, I swung the door open roughly. As I did so, strong hands gripped around my arms, pulling me back. I glanced up in alarm to see two somewhat familiar men in black suits, and tinted glasses.
"No can do, Lucy. We're filming in here, so you just can't leave on a whim."
I glared at the man, too mad to even think straight. "A whim?!" I exclaimed, "This is no whim. Natsu cheated me. There is no way I'm going back in there! Who do you think you are, laying your hands on me, anyways?"
One smirked, "Who the hell do you think we are? You should show us more respect, after all, we're that bubblegum head's body guards. And we sure as hell know how to handle any opposers."
My eyes widened, as he took off his shades, "Bacchus!" I gasped.
"Finally remembering us, eh?" The other guard mused.
"So you must be Bixlow," I concluded, staring at the two people I hadn't seen in ages.
"Yeah, he is. Now get your little ass back in there, before we really have to force you," Bacchus warned.
I bit my lip as I furrowed my eyebrows and stared at them in contemplation. Should I really go back in there? Could I actually show up now, without completely making a fool of myself?
No, there was no way. Not as long as Natsu was in there.
"Get in there!" Bixlow boomed, "Commercial break is almost over!"
I put on my best puppy dog face, and I pouted. "Can you guys please let me go? Pretty please?"
Bacchus shook his head as he pushed me back in, closing the door shut behind me. "No can do."
I huffed as I angrily stomped back towards the stage. Just because they 'needed' me in here, didn't mean I had to completely oblige to anything they told me to.
I sat back on the red, leather couch with about two feet of space in between Natsu and I.
He stared at me with a rather confused expression, and I must say, it ticked me off.
"What are you staring at?" I snapped.
Mira looked at me also, probably wondering why I had stormed off of the stage and then came right back.
"Sorry, hormones," I lied.
She nodded her head, understanding what I was trying to say. "You think you'll be alright continuing?"
"I'll be just fine," I falsely assured.
"Whoa, are you really having mood swings?" Natsu whispered. Why in the world was he acting like he didn't understand the real reason as to why I'm mad?
I sent him a glare, but didn't say anything.
"We're back on air in three...two...one!" A lady yelled from the side.
Mira adjusted her posture as she smiled towards the camera, I did so too, despite my foul mood.
The show's signature music began to play and the cameras came closer to us.
"The secret has been revealed!" Mira exclaimed, excitedly. People roared and cheered. I slightly scoffed, but there was nothing I could do about the matter at hand. Natsu had already revealed the truth and no one would believe me if I denied, since they now think I'm just 'shy'.
My life has already changed, and I'm angered at the fact that I'm powerless against it.
"It turns out Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia do indeed like each other!"
She faced us, a bright gleam in her eyes. "Why don't you two just go out already? We all want to know the reason."
"We—" Natsu began.
"That's classified information, Mira," I answered smoothly.
"Classified?" Mira asked in question, "Is there another juicy secret you don't want us to know about?"
"I wouldn't really call it juicy," Natsu told her, "But like I said before, it's very complicated and well...we would be going a bit too deep into our own personal lives if we were to reveal any major details."
"We wouldn't want the world to know everything about us, now would we?" I added.
"Oooh?" she cooed playfully.
I laughed as I felt a warm arm sling around my shoulder, willing me closer to the body it belonged to. I found my head laying comfortably in the nook of Natsu's neck.
Mira giggled. "Oh my. Natsu, you're so bold!"
Natsu grinned. "Yep, so know you my love is requited, and our feelings for each other are genuine and mutual," he lightly squeezed my shoulder and the warmth from his hand sent a wave of heat throughout my body. I still had to refrain from not pushing him off of me, though, because that wouldn't be a very good look for the cameras.
After all, I was still mad that he was saying all these things without a care in the world.
I gently removed his arm, as I lengthened the distance between us once again.
"We're not a couple, Natsu," I reminded him.
He pouted.
"This will be the last time I ask but...would you be willing to tell us why you two aren't dating?" Mira beckoned, "It's just hard for me to believe that two people in love with each other, refuse to make it consensual."
Tired by her constant nagging, and with my bitterness towards Natsu rising, I just decided to tell her.
"He made a mistake," I answered vaguely, "And now he's paying for it."
I smiled, as 'Oh' was the only thing she could say.
OoooOoooO
We hopped onto Natsu's Moped as we began to speed away from the facility. Ever since we left, I hadn't said a word to him. Pure silence surrounded us, and all you could hear was the steady lull of the engine. Sure, he tried to talk to me, but I refused to speak in return. As we strode away, everything went by in a blur. The sky suddenly didn't seem as blue anymore, the area not as lively, and...
I noticed that my grip on Natsu's torso wasn't nearly as tight.
OoooOoooO
"Want something to eat?" Natsu asked, digging through his refrigerator. I ignored his comment, as I was currently grabbing anything I had left, before leaving.
I checked on the couch, trying to rack through my brain. I felt like I was missing something, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint just exactly what it was. I'll know when I see it, though.
Natsu sighed as he sat down on one of the red stools at the island in his kitchen, unsuccessful on finding anything to eat. He propped up an arm as he rested his head on it.
"Why haven't you been talking to me?" He asked, calmly.
I stayed silent as I continued to search.
"Why haven't you been talking to me?" he repeated a little louder, as if I didn't hear him the first time.
"Why won't you say anything? I don't really like getting silent treatment."
"Well you should've told yourself that before you went and blew the plan," I answered bitterly.
"Plan? What plan?" he asked, in complete confusion.
Feeling a nerve tick in my head, I exploded.
"Stop acting so freaking clueless! Did you seriously forget the whole reason I even agreed to be interviewed?"
"Of course I remember!" He exclaimed in defense, "I did exactly what we agreed to do."
"What? You mean completely blow every last bit of provisions we could've used? After your big confession there was nothing I could've said as an excuse!"
"Why would you need to make excuses? What I told was the truth," he reasoned.
"That's exactly it," I seethed, "You were suppose to have told them we were just friends so we could get the press off of our backs. I did my part, but you completely blew yours!"
Natsu's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "I never agreed to do that!"
I took a pillow off the couch and threw it straight to is face. It hit with a loud 'plop', and when it slid down, a glare was evident on his features.
"What was that for?!"
"For betraying me," I replied, "Now my life is completely, and utterly ruined."
"Your life is isn't ruined, Lucy. The press won't be on your back. We already clarified that we weren't going out."
"Oh?" I exclaimed sarcastically. "What would you know about my life? You've been self-wallowed in your own fame for years! You're used to this stuff, I'm not. All I wanted to do was live an easy life...why can't I even be allowed an easy life?"
"How should I know?!" Natsu shot back, "It's true, I really don't know much about you, Lucy. You've just kept yourself bottled up and you won't tell me anything. It's true that I'm used to all this stuff, but I can't help it!"
I glared at him. "I've never told you anything about me? Well, I'm not the only one keeping secrets here!"
Natsu looked as if he was taken aback. "What are you talking about?" he whispered, "I've told you more things about myself than I've ever told anybody. Yet you say I'm the one keeping secrets?"
"Those rooms in the back of your house really do paint a pretty confusing picture for me, don't you think?!" I closed my mouth shut as I realized the words I had let slip out.
Natsu gasped. "You...you saw those rooms?"
I kept my mouth shut tight.
A crazed chuckle escaped his lips. "Wow...you even invaded the privacy of my home? Yet you dare try to argue with me about making you mad?"
"Natsu..." I whispered, I was kinda scared. I definitely did not want to see the side to him I had saw this morning again.
"Those rooms weren't suppose to have painted any picture for you at all!" He yelled. "If I wanted to show them to you, then I would've!"
A frustrated breath escaped his lips as he ran his hands through his hair. "Just...just let me calm down for a second, okay?" he whispered quietly. "I really don't want to be mad at you right now, but...I just can't even look at you or I'll yell again."
"You took the words straight from my mouth," I muttered angrily. I was suppose to be mad at him, not the other way around!
He stepped off of the stool as he began to walk towards the entrance to the hallway. He stopped midway.
"By the way, I didn't betray you. I did exactly what we agreed to do..." Natsu paused.
"I agreed to clear up any misunderstandings, and clarify ourselves. I never said I would lie about anything. Especially not us."
He turned around to look at me, an expression of pain clearly evident on his face.
"I just wanted to remind you of that," he muttered, before he disappeared around the corner.
I stared at the doorway, with my mouth agape.
"Damn it!" A frustrated yell escaped my lips, as I roughly tugged on my hair.
I messed up, I...shit...I made a mistake.
God, how could I forget?! In my mind, I thought clearing misunderstandings would be lying, and telling people there was nothing going on between us...but in Natsu's mind...in his mind...
It was coming clean and telling everyone the truth.
I should have specified what I was talking about. I was too vague. Natsu did exactly what I told him we would do!
He wasn't doing the wrong thing, and yet I yelled at him and accused him of lying to me, of betraying our trust.
But it wasn't him...it was me. I've ruined my own life, and for some stupid reason,
I just had to blame it on Natsu.
Without realizing it, I had took off running. I ran straight through the doorway, and made a sharp turn nearly slipping on my footing. I dashed down the long hallway running past his immense bathroom, past the peculiarly pink bedroom, and past the strangely unique wooden door handle, till I reached the familiar door to his room.
I burst the door open to see Natsu lying face down on his bed, his face buried in a pillow.
"Natsu!" I yelled as I ran in, my shoes sinking into the plush carpet. I kicked them off as I lunged onto his bed rolling over so that I was on top of him, me facing his back.
"What do you want?" he grumbled, "Didn't I tell you I didn't want to see you?"
"I'm sorry, Natsu," I apologized, "I'm so so sorry."
"Oh?" he questioned, his voice muffled, "And why in the world should I believe that? You obviously don't believe a word I say and think I'm some liar."
"I'm sorry," A heartfelt whisper escaped my lips, "I really don't know what else to say, Natsu."
"How about a better apology? Something that will really make me believe you?" he answered bitterly.
With the way he was speaking, it made my heart twist into a knot. I hated every word he spoke in this tone, and it made me regret my actions even more.
I tucked my lip under my teeth as I stared down at the back of his head where there were small, rosy pink curls lining the nape of his neck.
A small, yet melancholy smile spread across my lips just as I remembered exactly when I had discovered these curls, which were the exact opposite of the rest of his spiky hair. At that time, his warm arms were wrapped around my slighter colder legs, as my arms wrapped around his broad, muscular shoulders. My head was pressed against his hard back only barely being able to hear his strong, yet steady heartbeat as he carried me up that slope on the side of that rocky cliff.
Slowly, I inched my hand forward, before I lightly caressed his hair. He slightly flinched as I lightly moved my fingers through his pink stresses.
"I was wrong, Natsu," I whispered, "This time, I made the mistake. I'm sorry for saying you betrayed me, for calling you a liar, for yelling at you, for going places where I wasn't wanted, and for...for weakening our trust in one another. I'm sorry for everything."
I waited for a response from him as I stared down with hopeful eyes. He had to say something soon.
Something...Anything!
My lip began to tremble as I closed my eyes, tightly.
"I...I love you, Natsu..." A tear fell from my eye and onto the nape of his neck, as it splattered into small droplets of rain dissipating into the air.
Slowly, Natsu began to turn around. I quickly wiped my eyes and shifted my weight so he could move easier, before I gently sat down on his stomach, whereas I was on his back before.
Now I could fully see his face. His widened, olive green eyes stared back at me, with an unreadable expression.
"Why would you say that when you don't even want to be with me?"
I stared back at him, as my golden hair softly swayed over his face. "I.." I choked on my words. What do I say?
"You what?" Natsu asked cautiously.
"I...I want to be official," I whispered.
"Huh?" Natsu asked in unbelief.
"I want to officially become your girlfriend."
A wide smile spread across Natsu's face. "Are you serious?!"
He wrapped his arms around my torso before he pulled me in a magnetizing grip, I smiled digging my head into his baby soft hair as I inhaled his sweet and salty scent.
"Yeah."
I smiled as I returned the hug, digging my arms under him so I could wrap them around his body.
"We've both made mistakes, so now we're even. I was getting really tired of this kind of confusing relationship anyways. We both like each other, and it already looks like the press won't be giving me a break any time soon so...we might as well just become a real couple," I explained, a giddy smile plastered onto my face.
I used my arms to slowly lift me off of him before I was propped up so that we stared into each others eyes.
The bright smile on his face, made me feel just as happy too. His eyes gleamed with joy.
"About that other matter..." I began
Suddenly, I felt a hand on the back of my head before I was pushed down onto something warm and moist, yet inviting.
Natsu...these were Natsu's lips...he was kissing me!
I gasped at the contact, before I smiled and returned the kiss.
It was sweet...very sweet...and tasted of cinnamon. The warmth he provided shot through me like electricity, heating up my insides and making me feel warm and fuzzy.
My heart rate sped up as he moved his lips in sync with mines. They melded together perfectly and I inwardly smiled in content. His lips were sweet, but then a hint of saltiness would spike up before the two sweet and salty flavors combined, making the kiss so perfect...making my heart beat so uncontrollably...I felt I would go crazy.
Natsu pulled away panting heavily, and I stared back in disappointment at the lack of contact. My breaths came out in small pants.
"I'll tell you about that stuff when I'm ready," Natsu whispered huskily.
"Right now, I just want to enjoy this moment with the girl I love."
My cheeks began to heat rapidly, as if the previous kiss wasn't enough to make them burn.
We laughed as we felt our troubles float away and into the wind.
OoooOoooO
I never figured out what it was that I was missing...but maybe, just maybe it was a piece to my heart.
Cause now, I couldn't help but feel complete.
I swiped the key card to my suite emitting a soft 'clicking' sound soon after. I pushed the door handle, stepping into the room.
Silently, I closed the door behind me as I remembered just how late it was. Time had flown by so quickly today.
As soon as I turned around, I saw my mother standing in the kitchen, staring at me with her arms crossed.
No...she wasn't just staring at me, she was glaring. My mom...my hyper active mom, was glaring?
My eyes widened at the glare I hadn't received in ages. She held a look I was positive I would never see again in my life.
I cowered back in fear as old memories began to resurface. All previous feelings of happiness vanished in an instance, and I felt like I was once again, that same helpless, little girl.
"Where have you been?!" she barked.
"I—"
Before I could even reply, I felt flesh smack against flesh as my head whipped to the side. The stinging pain burned through every nerve in my cheek before it spread throughout my whole face.
I hesitantly turned towards my mother, as tears stung my eyes, on the verge of slipping out. We agreed never to do this again...I thought she had changed!
A weary hand slowly made its way up to my burning cheek as I lightly cupped it.
A hoarse whisper croaked from my lips...
"W-Why?"
A/N
Hehe! BAM! Bet you guys didn't see that coming. Of course you all know, I can't leave my fic all cute and mushy for an extended period of time. I like to have that 'darker' tone sometimes. At least, after nearly 30 chapters, they're finally together right? I think that should get me a few more bonus points. (Reviews XP) Well, in the next chapter or two, we will be venturing into Lucy's past! Yaaay. (Cause if you've ever noticed, I've hardly told anything about it, in comparison to Natsu)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I promise it won't change so drastically that you'll want to quit the fic because of the abrasiveness.
Blaze-chan, OUT! Love you all!
