A/N: Hi all - sorry for the sporadic updates - I'm finishing up my final semester of college and it's a bit of a crazy ride. Hope you like this little tidbit - I don't normally write this pairing but it came out like this and I like it.
Lisanna Strauss loved Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, her elder sister Mirajane stayed late at school for cheerleading practice, and her elder brother Elfman stayed late for wrestling practice. With the two of them caught up with after school activities, she was able to walk home alone with her favorite person – Natsu Dragneel.
She liked to think the feeling was mutual. Every Tuesday, Natsu would wait outside her last period class (she never thought to question why he always got there right as the bell rang) with a huge grin on his face and another crazy idea for an adventure.
"Lisanna!" she loved the way her name sounded in his voice. "Over here!"
She grinned. "Hi Natsu."
A few of her classmates tittered. Natsu and his best friend/worst enemy Gray Fullbuster were the most popular guys in their grade. Lucky for her, Natsu was completely dense in that department.
"Hey Lisanna!" He greeted her. "I've got the best idea for today!"
"What is it?" she asked cautiously. She loved spending time with Natsu, but she'd learned to vet his plans before agreeing to anything.
"Let's go to an amusement park!" He said excitedly.
Lisanna stared at him. "Natsu…you'll get sick on all the rides…" Natsu's motion-sickness was legendary.
"Crap!" He smacked himself on the forehead theatrically. "I forgot!"
Lisanna giggled. "How did you forget?"
"We'll have to something else instead," he said, ignoring the question. "What to do…what to do…" He scratched his head. "How about the movies?"
"The movies?" Usually Natsu's plans wind up involving tests of physical prowess – like the time he suggested going to the lake and convinced her to swim to the island in the middle (she almost drowned) or the time he wanted to visit shrines in the mountains and he decided they should scale the side of what turned out to be an active volcano (lucky for them it hadn't decided to erupt). But the movies sounded perfectly safe and normal.
Like a place you'd go on a date.
Lisanna felt herself blush at the thought. Natsu noticed.
"Why is your face all pink like they, eh?" He poked her cheek and she slapped his hand away. Natsu's way too dense for that anyway.
"Movies sound fun!" She said.
"Great – I want to see the new Captain America movie! Let's go!" He grabbed both their bags and slung them over his shoulder.
"He's such a gentleman," Lisanna heard someone whisper as they walked past. She rolled her eyes. As much as she adored Natsu, she knew he was anything but a gentleman.
Her point was made when they made it to the theatre and Natsu turned to her. "Errr…I didn't bring any money…"
She'd been expecting that, and handed him the jewels without complaint.
"Thanks!" He turned to the ticket window. "Two for Captain America!" The clerk gave Natsu a disapproving look, which the pink-haired boy ignored.
"Awesome!" He said, handing Lisanna her ticket. "You want popcorn or candy or something?"
This is so not a date… Lisanna thought as she sighed. "I don't have much more money."
"Who said anything about money?" He asked, grinning slyly. "I got everything we need right here." He shook his bag and winked at her. "I bet you want pop rocks – I know they're your favorite!"
Lisanna was pleasantly surprised. "You remembered?"
"Of course I did!" He said. "They've been your favorite since we were kids. Remember when I tried to get you to drink coke after eating them and Mira beat me up for it?"
Lisanna shook her head, laughing. "You could have killed me!" She scolded.
"Eh – urban myth," he said. "Hey so wanna kill some at the arcade while we're waiting for the movie? Laxus taught me how to hotwire the machine so you don't have to pay."
"Dragneel!" A shout cut through the crowd. Lisanna groaned – she knew what was coming next.
"Gray?!" Natsu wiped around, and sure enough Gray Fullbuster was standing in front of them, in all his half-naked glory. It never ceased to amaze Lisanna how often Gray misplaced his shirt. This was probably one of the reasons he was so popular.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Gray snarled. "Your attention span is so small you can't sit still more than three minutes – how are you going to sit through a movie?" Gray paused when he saw Lisanna. "Hey Little Strauss," he said in a nicer tone.
"You know I hate that nickname, Gray," she said. "Why are you calling us by last name anyway? We've been friends since we were kids!" Lisanna liked Gray, but she wasn't particularly happy to see him. Natsu plus Gray inevitably meant a fight, which usually ended in property damage, which ultimately meant running from the cops. She didn't want her only day alone with Natsu to be ruined.
"Sorry, school habit. I-"
"Lisanna! Natsu! Gray! " Gray was cut off by a tipsy-looking Cana, who threw her arms around the three of them. "I didn't think I'd run into you guys here!"
"Your breath reeks, Cana," Gray said, shrugging her off. "School just got out – are shot gunning beers in the bathroom again?"
Cana put her arms up nonchalantly. "Guilty as charged."
Lisanna sighed. So much for her alone time with Natsu.
"Hey what movie are you guy seeing?" Cana asked, plucking the ticket out of Lisanna's hand as Gray and Natsu glared at each other over the girls' heads. "Ohhh-Captain America – me too! But it doesn't start for another 45 minutes."
"Natsu and I were going to kill time at the arcade area…" Lisanna said, defeated.
"That's a great idea!" Gray said, turning away from Natsu. "I can kick this idiot's ass at Street Fighter!" He began running towards the game.
"In your dreams, stripper!" Natsu shouted at him as he gave chase.
Lisanna sighed once again and Cana noticed.
"Something bothering you?" She asked.
"It's just that Tuesday is the only day Natsu and I really hang out…"
Cana took a sip of what appeared to be a theatre soda but Lisanna suspected was something else. "Don't you Mira and Elfman walk home with Natsu every day?"
Lisanna blushed, realizing her mistake. "Well…yeah…I-uh-I meant…"
"You meant it's the only day you get to hang out with Natsu alone," Cana said knowingly. "I getcha. It must be hard to date with two older siblings."
Lisanna turned even redder. "We're not – this isn't – I"
Cana slapped her on the back and laughed. "Your stuttered responses say it all, kiddo." She looked over at the boys, who were shouting insults at each other as the battled it out via video game. "I'll distract Gray so you can sneak some time in with Natsu."
Lisanna didn't both arguing with Cana. "Fine, sure. How do you plan on distracting him though?"
Cana smirked. "Like this." She cupped a hand around her mouth and called out. "Hey Gray, I think I just saw Juvia and her friends walk in!"
"WHAT?" Gray immediately hit the floor, abandoning his game. "Don't shout my name so loud! Where is she?" He crawled along the floor, hands over his head. Lisanna found it very difficult not to burst out laughing. She almost felt bad - Juvia was Gray's biggest fan from school, and she pretty much met the requirements to be considered a full-blown stalker.
"Come on, I'll help you hide," Cana said, winking at Lisanna. "Have fun!" She whispered.
"That bastard walked out just when I was winning!" Natsu fumed as Lisanna approached.
"I'm sorry," Lisanna said, trying to hide her excitement. Natsu was so cute when he was angry! "I'll play you instead."
He brightened up immediately. "Great! Don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're a girl!"
"I wouldn't allow it!" She said. "But don't cry when you lose!"
The next half hour passed in a flurry of flashing lights and friendly trash talk. Lisanna glanced at her watch. "Hey it's getting late, we should use the bathroom and go sit down."
"Sure," Natsu said, walking with his elbows resting on his head, again carrying the bags. "I think they're over there…"
"OHHH look!" Lisanna pointed to a photobooth next to the bathroom. "I love those! Can we take a quick picture?"
Natsu made a face. "I hate pictures."
"Please?" She asked, giving him puppy dog eyes. She was a master of the puppy dog eye – Mira and Elfman couldn't deny her anything when she brought them out. Natsu was no stronger.
"Fine, fine." Natsu grinned mischievously. "But you go first!" He shoved her through the curtain.
"Oww!" Lisanna smacked into something hard and cold but definitely human. "What the-"
"Lisanna? Is that you?"
"Gray?" she said. "What are you doing in-"
"Here I am!" Natsu jumped in at that moment, squishing Lisanna's face into Gray's chest so she couldn't finish her sentence. "What the heck – this thing is small."
"It's not small, it's just not made for four people," Cana piped up.
"You're stepping on my toes, Natsu," Lisanna complained.
"Sorry," he said. He tried shifting, causing Cana to yelp.
"You just elbowed me in the boob!" she complained.
"You're making it too warm in here, Natsu," Gray complained.
"Shut up, snow fairy. It's not my fault you walk around naked and can't adjust to normal temperatures."
"You wanna fight?" Gray snapped.
"Guys…" Lisanna said as she got jostled between the two of them.
"You bet I do!" Natsu shouted.
"Guys…" Cana said it this time.
"Come at me, flame brain!" Gray yelled, right into Lisanna's ear.
"GUYS!" Lisanna shouted. "Can we just take a picture?"
"Mmm? Oh, sure Lisanna," Natsu said, pushing Gray behind him so he and Lisanna were in front of the camera.
"Hey, I want in on this!" Cana said, throwing her arm around Lisanna and smiling.
"Don't cut me out!" Gray protested, shoving his head under Natsu's arm.
"Watch it-" Natsu was distracted by the flash and forgot what he was saying. "So bright…"
"Wait – it takes three more!" Lisanna said. "Quick – funny faces!" She stuck out her tongue, Natsu made a fish face, Cana turned up her nose, and Gray went with an exaggerated wink. The camera flashed again
"Now, serious!" Lisanna crossed her arms, Natsu stroked his chin thoughtfully, Cana pursued her lips, and Gray stared intently at the camera.
"Now what?" Natsu asked.
"Now we all get naked!" Cana cackled.
"What? No way!" Lisanna and Natsu said in unison.
"What's the big deal?" Gray asked as he removed his pants and began to climb out of his boxers.
"Gross!" Natsu shouted, shoving Gray away.
"That was a joke…" Cana said.
"Don't you push me, asshole!" Gray cried, trying to punch Natsu.
"Guys…small space!" Lisanna reminded them hopelessly as the camera flashed again.
"Punk!" Natsu yelled, punching back.
"Small space!" Cana echoed. But it was too late – Natsu missed Gray and sent his fist through the wall of the booth.
"Oh crap…" He said.
"Not again you guys," Cana said, exasperated. "Go, go go –before someone catches us!"
"Wait – the pictures!" Lisanna grabbed the strip. "Now – RUN!" Without realizing it, she grabbed Natsu's wrist.
"See you guys later!" Gray said, rushing off.
"Gray – your clothes!" Cana called after him, his pants in hand.
"Don't worry about him – worry about yourself!" Lisanna said. Security had noticed the gaping hole in the booth wall and was heading toward them.
"Right - best to split up – see you guys later!" Cana saluted them and ran off.
"Lisanna – go!" Natsu urged.
"Right!" She rushed toward the theater – with the combination of the dark and the crowd, they could hide and still see the movie.
"Stupid Gray just had to come along and ruin our date," Natsu growled as Lisanna tugged him along.
Lisanna stopped short and whipped her head around so she was facing him. "Did you just say date? Like, we were on a date?"
Natsu raised his eyebrows. "Of course we were on a date. What did you think it was?"
Lisanna saw security gaining on them and began to run again. "It feels like we're running from the law!" But she had a smile on her face. It was a good Tuesday.
