BlackLynx17: I'm really, really tired everyone. I know it's only, 10:08 in the morning, BUT IN MY DEFENSE I went to bed at 2am! It's not my fault I have trouble sleeping at night, it's insomnia and it sucks. So anyway, it's been a week so I thought I would update today. Lucky you guys, lol. I'm still not over my Hetalia phase. It's getting worse, I'm starting to buy Hetalia things on Ebay and if you haven't checked they are expensive!

Anyways, back to the fanfiction. Thank you everybody for reading and reviewing! I've had some really good reviews lately, well I always have really good reviews, never mind that first part! I hope you enjoy this chapter today!

rebel . angel .1995 - I feel so special and I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes I'll read fanfictions and can't finish them because they'll have an interesting story plot, but everything else was just... boring. I'm glad this fanfiction was able to keep your attention.

AnimeStalkerz - Yeah, in the high school fics I always make Lucy the more evil and interesting one. In Fairy Tail Natsu's the more interesting because he's a dragon slayer and Lucy's only a mage, but I like Lucy better so I try to make her seem more interesting then him. I used the word interesting four times in this reply, including the last one.

Eyeshield21girl - And that's exactly what I'm looking for!

lilobsessive - I'm sorry to here that, if you have questions you can message me but if they have something to do with the future of the story I can't answer them or you could wait until this story is finished and I'm sure it'll all make sense in the end.

Dyeni - I completely forgot that Hunter was the name of that guy in Never Ending Fairytail! Wow, thanks for reminding me! That's crazy! Oh, the memories.

A lot of you reviewed about the mystery man wondering who he is and some of you guessing that he was Natsu's Father or Sting. Can't tell you anything people, you will find out soon though. Take your time and enjoy it!

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Mythical Creatures

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Chapter 37

Charcoal Eyes

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Natsu jumped up as he tried to get a better hold on me and continued walking.

"I'm heavy." I whispered into his shoulder.

"Nah, light as a feather," he laughed.

I sighed closing my eyes. There were footsteps behind us, the Slobs were following behind. It was silent after my break down and was still silent now. Natsu didn't ask me anything, he just picked me up and carried me home on his back. The street lamps were lighting up now, the Scarlet's must be worried about me. I sighed again and dug my head deeper into the crook of Natsu's neck.

"I don't know what I did to make her so angry." I whispered.

"Cana. She... she, hates me." I whimpered, squeezing his shoulders.

Natsu laughed. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but I took offense to it.

"No she doesn't, how could anyone hate you?"

I didn't respond and stayed silent after that. Figures, Natsu doesn't understand. Or maybe he did and was trying to cheer me up? Either way I didn't care, not only did I lose my best friend tonight, I lost my dealer too. What was I suppose to do for my coke now? Go to the same guy Gazille did? But then, he beat Lisanna. Who knows what he might do to me.

So maybe this was it, the ending to my coke days. For me to come clean and go to rehab. I wouldn't be alone, I'd try to go to the same rehab classes as Gazille but... what would my family think? What would my friends think? The Slobs seemed to have accepted Gazille's problem no worries but for me? They hadn't known me there whole lives, I was still the new girl.

Why did I even care about things like that? I sighed a third time that night and gave up.

"Hey guys, I'll be right back." Natsu said.

I looked up and saw the familiar porch to my home. Natsu rang the doorbell and Erza answered it seconds later.

"I thought she'd be wi-... what's wrong?" Erza asked.

"Partied herself out, I'll take her to her room." Natsu said taking a step inside.

"Go ahead..." Erza said but her eyes were else where.

Probably staring at a certain blue haired fellow. As Natsu passed her I stretched out my hand to rub Erza's cheek. She looked at me and I tried my best to smile at her, to show her that it was okay. Erza smiled back and closed the door, walking into the living room.

"Do you want to watch soaps with me Lucy?" She asked.

Natsu paused at the stairs, waiting for my reply.

"I don't feel like crying right now, thank you." I said.

Erza and Natsu laughed.

"All the way down, the last door." I instructed.

"Alright," he said following them.

Natsu opened my door and walked in my room, gently placing me on my bed.

"Need anything?" He asked.

You. I shook my head and got under my covers, my hands searching for Slobster.

"Well... you'll see Lucy. No one can hate you, Cana will come around. Definitely!" Natsu smiled.

I nodded and yawned, closing my eyes. I felt lips against my temple and fingers against my hair.

"Good night Lucy."

"Wait," I mumbled but didn't open my eyes.

"Your... scarf."

"Keep it, I'll get it back tomorrow."

I curled up into a ball, hugging Slobster in the middle, and buried my nose into Natsu's scarf. It was almost like he was here with me.

Big, black, beating eyes were staring at me. Just staring. No matter where I went, no matter where I hid, I felt them on me. Watching. Staring. Gazing. Never blinking, always on me.

TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!

I opened my eyes and wiped the sweat lingering on my forehead off. That... was a weird dream. Really weird. I rose up from my bed and rubbed my eyes. I was still in my uniform, great. Now it was going to get al- I felt my stomach act up and ran to the bathroom. I opened the toilet seat up... nothing came up.

"Phew, false alarm." I sighed happily.

Maybe it was because of that dream... hmm. I looked at myself in the mirror and pinched my cheeks.

"Well, better get started."

"Lucy, you aren't going to eat breakfast?" Auntie Scarlet asked.

"My stomach's been acting up, I don't feel hungry." I told her.

Auntie Scarlet got up from the table and placed her forehead against mine.

"You are a little warm, maybe you should stay home today and rest up?" She asked.

"I've had plenty of rest, I'm sure it'll past by the time I come home! I'll be looking forward for your lunch Auntie Scarlet."

Auntie Scarlet smiled at me and pinched my cheeks.

"Okay! I'll make a grand lunch to make up for breakfast just for you!" She cheered.

"Hey! What about us? Your loving husband and daughter?" Uncle Scarlet asked putting his paper down.

I giggled.

"Of course dear, enough for you and Erza too."

"Yeah! Good thing for Lucy being sick! Can we have sandwiches?! Oh and muffins! And C-"

"Alright! Alright dear, aren't you late for work?" Auntie Scarlet interrupted.

I watched as the husband and wife bickered. My parents were never like this. Sure they smiled, they laughed, they loved each other but they didn't display it like this. I've never seen them argue at all, Father and Mother would usually just agree with one another. It was... enlightening to see another way two people could love each other.

Like Natsu and I. We bickered, we argued, we'd hardly agree on anything and I'd boss him around and play pranks on him all the time but... we liked each other (love on his part).

"Come on Lucy, you ready?" Erza asked.

"Yeah, let me just grab my bag." I said.

Erza and I put our shoes on then left the house, only to be greeted by a Slob.

"Hey ladies!" Loke smiled.

"Loke? What are you doing here?" Erza asked.

I was more worried on the account that he knew where we lived. Dammit! The Slobs walked me home yesterday, now all of them knew where I lived... well, it's time the Scarlet's move now. I'm sure they could find a better house less Slob infested in Magnolia somewhere.

"Why, walking these two beautiful, no sorry, gorgeous ladies to school of course. Now don't be shy, there is plenty of me to go around." Loke sighed.

I rolled my eyes and walked up to him, elbowing his ribs so he'd stop flattering himself.

"You got a special lady Loke?" I asked.

"Yes, I have several special ladies. I was planning on making you my specialist lady but alas, Natsu had claimed you first. That was a dark day for mankind."

I snorted and started laughing while Erza just shook her head.

"I mean-"

"I know what you meant. I'm not afraid to have relationships like Natsu is, and when I have a girlfriend I don't cheat on them. It's just why have one when you can have a dozen? Not at the same time of course, I mean. I'm only human." Loke bragged.

Again, I elbowed him.

"Fine then, do you have an eye on anyone special?" I asked.

"Well, I'm still hoping you and Natsu will break up but if not... hmm... I did have my eye on Lisanna." Loke said.

I tripped, but caught myself, Erza tripped, but Loke caught her.

"Falling for me already darling?" Loke asked.

"Lisanna?! Are out of your mind?! Erza yelled.

"She won't sleep with you, you know." I said.

"I know, I'm not looking for that though. She just got her heart broken by Natsu though then kidnapped, I figured I could try and cheer her up by shining a little Loke magic on her." Loke said.

I stared at him, "so your going to... pity? Date her?" I asked.

"No, dating doesn't mean kissing and having sex. Dating can just be steady, back in the old days. Where people just went out, had a great time, and at most hold hands. I think Lisanna could go for that kind of dating right now, not that I'm saying she's not attractive! I'm just waaaay to scared to really date her with those siblings of hers." Loke shivered.

"That... actually sounds pretty sweet." I said.

Maybe I was wrong, maybe Loke was the gentlemen of the Slobs.

"And surprisingly nice, are you okay there Loke?" Erza asked.

"Yeah, nothing can keep me down. Besides, all my current girlfriends found out I was seeing other people so they're all out to get me. I love my guys, but I need some lady company every once in a day." Loke said.

"I thought you just said you didn't cheat on girlfriends?" Erza asked.

"Well girlfriend is a nicer word to call them in front of you two instead of what the Slobs and I call them." Loke explained.

Erza and I nodded, seeing his point. Wow, Loke really was a gentlemen.

"Well good luck with Lisanna, you have my full support." I said.

"It's not like that!" Loke complained.

"I know, not like Lisanna would fall for you anyway. She's still head over heels about Natsu and is planning on stealing him from me."

"Is that a challenge I hear young Heartfilia?" Loke asked.

"You aren't making my friend a challenge now are you Loke?" Erza glared.

"No." Loke squeaked.

I laughed. Wow, walking with Loke seemed to make time fly by so much faster. Before I knew it we were at school and walking inside the gate.

"If I can suggest, when asking Lisanna out make it seem like it's not a date and just... a fun day... out."

"Good thinking, I'll keep that in mind. AND I won't steal her heart," Loke said glancing at Erza, "though I can't completely turn my charms off sometimes. I am a natural born heartbreaker."

I snorted and started laughing as we walked up to the Slobs.

"I think I might love you Loke, Natsu do you hear the things that come out of this man's mouth when he speaks? Is that why your friend wi-" my voice hitched up in my throat.

My stomach ache and headache came back as I stared at him, so did the feeling of nausea. Natsu looked beaten up. His nose was purplish, several bandages covered his neck and face and there was a long gash right above his eyebrow. He smiled at me but then quickly gave up, probably realizing I wasn't about to let this go. I'm sure it went worse, his clothes were just hiding them though.

I swallowed hard.

"What happened?"

Natsu didn't respond. Gazille walked up to me a placed a friendly hand on my shoulder.

"Sting and him just had a friendly brawl last night, that's all." He told me.

Sting? Now that I noticed, Sting was standing with the Slobs too today. His cheek was swollen but other than that, he look fine. Then again, I couldn't see under his clothes either. His eyes met mind and I asked, "what happened?"

Sting sighed and looked away from me too. I grinded my teeth together and stomped my foot on the ground.

"Fine then!" I yelled ripping Natsu's scarf off.

I lifted it up and threw it at his face.

"Don't talk to me unless you can answer my question." I pouted and left.

Though I wanted to stay. I wanted to cry and pull Natsu into my arms, to try and comfort him. I didn't want to leave him, I'm being a horrible girlfriend at the moment. The worst part of it all though was that I knew!

I knew who did it! I knew who the culprit was and yet I still asked him! That fucking Father of there's, why do they put up with him?! Why? Why didn't I be the nice little girlfriend and keep my nose in my own business? Why am I even his girlfriend in the first place if he's keeping secrets from me? Then again, I was keeping secrets from him too.

"Oye, Lucy! Wait up!"

I turned around and saw Gray trying to catch up with me.

"It's not his fault, he just doesn't want you to worry." He sighed out.

"He should have worn a paper bag over his head then." I whimpered hugging him.

Gray laughed and wound his arms around me.

"It's not as bad as it looks."

"Why does he do it Gray? Why does he stay with a man like that? Why does he live there?!" I asked.

"I keep forgetting how much you know, your one of us now. Natsu... he feels like... I don't think you'd understand but he feels like he owes it to him."

I pushed Gray back and yelled in his face, "he doesn't owe that man nothing!"

"See, not understanding. Listen," Gray started walking me some paces down to sit on a bench.

"Igneel, that's his Father's name, he kept Natsu and Sting. When their Mother left, Igneel kept them and raised them all on his own." Gray started.

I nodded.

"Natsu was afraid as a child, he thought since his Mother left that the Father wouldn't want them either. He developed some abandonment issues which is why he sees Nurse Strauss. She's also a define psychologist you know. Anyway, Natsu didn't want to abandon his Father like his Mother had. He thought he at least owed the man to take care of him, but that quickly faded away when the beatings started. Even then though Natsu couldn't just abandon his Father in cold blood, besides he'd have no where to go. Natsu's very independent, he wouldn't accept our help for something as big as this. He believes he has to do it all by himself, with Sting."

"But he's going to leave that bastard anyway when he's 18? So why does he stick around?"

"Natsu isn't leaving when he's 18, he's leaving when school ends."

I froze.

"We might never seen him again, that's why Natsu stays. He wants to enjoy his high school life to the fullest before he started his new life. Sure we'll try to stay in touch, but it seems all of us are going our different ways. Igneel won't just let Natsu leave, if he tried to move in with me or Jellal he'd just file a missing case report or find him here at school. He's goes through it Lucy for us, so we try to do the best we can to make Natsu's last year enjoyable. That tantrum you pulled back there though, that was not helping at all." Gray sighed.

"But, but. Natsu's in our grade! He's in 11th! This isn't his last year, it's Sting's!"

"Did you know? Loke, Jellal, Gazille and I all failed a grade too?" Gray asked.

I shook my head.

"We all failed second grade together, that was the grade where we all met each other for the first time. We were just a bad little bunch of kids, it made us happy though. We got to stay together, we practically did everything together. I'm sure if one of us wouldn't graduate that we all would try and not graduate. The Slobs have a no man get's left behind kind of thinking."

That... was a true friendship, a brotherly bond.

"It makes me wonder how the rest of us will go on our senior year without Natsu in the picture?"

"He's dropping out?"

"Moving. When your 18 you can sign yourself up at another school Lucy, you're a legal adult now. He's taking Sting and leaving us, going to finish up at a different school while Sting takes a year off and works. Sting's trying to go to college at the same time as Natsu to hopefully graduate together unlike this year so he was going to help Natsu study. They have it all planned out Lucy, they're just waiting for time to run out."

I only, I only have Natsu left with me for the rest of the year. I never thought, I never thought I wouldn't see him again. I mean, I knew he was moving. I knew he was leaving at 18 but... I didn't really think of all the details. I didn't remember why he was in the 11th grade with me or realize that he was 17 and really close to 18.

It left... a sort of hollow feeling inside.

"It makes me regret liking him, knowing he's going to leave me in the end."

"And that's when the Slobs become hopeful." Gray suddenly smiled at me.

I stared at him.

"Because of you Lucy. Because you came in and Natsu, Natsu just turned into a whole another Natsu. He became happier, though he was pretty happy before, he didn't complain about much. He stopped his playboyish ways and actually started... caring about women's feelings and what they thought. He didn't think they were just something to bang, he actually started respecting him. Because of you, Natsu changed. Your all he talks about anymore Lucy, and that is what makes us Slobs think he might stay. Because he loves you so much, because your here. That is what makes us hopeful."

I blushed, "but- but-"

"Igneel can't do anything to Natsu and Sting once there 18. They're allowed to move out and Jellal and I have already planned everything. They're going to move in with us, any of us or switch around every month or so. We'll help them get back on their feet, help Sting into college and help Natsu find a job and actually mature. We'll help him graduate, watch his back to make sure Igneel doesn't hurt him any longer and... make sure you two stay together."

I, I, I was speechless.

"We're dropping subtle hints to him, hoping he'll realize this on his own and make the decision. We're sure if we told Natsu he'd refuse. Anyway now that your in on the plan, and if you want to see Natsu and stay with him for a whole another year, then you have to start doing your part." Gray lectured.

I gulped, "which is?"

Gray smiled and ruffled my hair.

"Start making him love you even more. So much more that the thought of ever leaving you seems impossible."

"That's a tall order. I'll think about it... on one exception." I said.

"Anything." Gray said without a seconds hesitation.

Wow, Natsu really had some great friends. Friends... that really cared about him. I felt jealous a little inside, but then again weren't these my friends too?

"Juvia-"

Gray didn't let me finish, his head sunk low as he sighed.

"Please don't make me da-"

"No Gray, God no. It would mean nothing if I forced you to date her." I interrupted him.

He sighed out again and looked happy.

"I was going to ask you to tell me what you really feel for Juvia. I was wondering if you liked her or if your still scared of her."

"Scared? I'm not scared of Juvia! Who told you that?" Gray asked, but it was clear by the way he flinched at her name that he was lying.

"Scared, not scared, doesn't matter. How do you feel about her?" I asked.

Gray bit his lips.

"Pissed off when she talks about Lyon, other than that then like you. A girl who's a friend... who I'm occasionally not scared but... cautious around." Gray explained.

I resisted the urge to snort, Gray's just a big woose.

"Have you thought of why you get angry when she talks about Lyon?"

"Because maybe, I don't know, I might subconsciously like her or something?"

Wow, I blinked. That was easy.

"Then why don't you act on those feelings?" I asked.

"Because she's Juvia! She's the girl who jumped me back in 3rd grade and stole my first five kisses! That scared me man, I haven't been able to kiss a girl since!"

My eyes widened and I blinked again.

"You... haven't kissed another girl... since?" I asked.

"I still do things with girls, but no. We never kiss, I never kiss the girls I'm with. It's just Juvia's image comes to mind with her spit covered lips and her tongue darting in and ugh!" Gray shivered.

I scooted over to him and pulled him for a hug.

"Maybe, and now I'm no doctor, but maybe the reason you can't kiss other girls is because that memory haunts you."

"You think?"

"So maybe you should try confronting that memory, and then you won't be scared of it anymore or whatever you called it."

Gray pulled back, "you mean... kiss! Juvia again?" He asked.

I nodded, "confront your fears Gray. Maybe if you, stop shaking your head and let me finish! Maybe if you confront your fears, find out it wasn't that bad in the first place, then you can move on and have a normal kiss relationship with girls!"

"But Juvia-"

"Is not some little girl anymore, she's a grown woman who knows how to kiss now. Trust me, I'm a doctor."

Gray nod-" Wait, no your not!" He yelled.

"That seemed like a good thing to say at that moment though. Just think about this and I'll think about making Natsu love me more. It's annoying that he loves me so much already, I don't think I can handle mo-"

"I'll do it. I'll definitely do it, but you will definitely have to try and make Natsu love you. Promise me." Gray said.

I gulped, screw me for trying to be a good friend to Juvia.

"Alright Gray, I promise."

"Then I promise too, to k-ki-kiss Juvia... I don't have to do it now do I?" He whispered.

"You can do it whenever you want to, as long as you do it."

"Okay," Gray whispered like a little kid and I couldn't help but feel the need to pat his shoulder.

Now how on Earth was I suppose to make Natsu love me more if I didn't even know how to make a person love someone?

"I'm sorry." I mumbled to Natsu when he sat down next to me.

Natsu blinked, "Gray talked to you?"

I nodded.

"What he said?"

"That you looked like a kicked puppy when I left."

Natsu smirked, "an irresistible kicked puppy you're about to kiss?"

"Don't push it..." I said then leaned up and kissed his cheek anyway, right on his bandage.

"I meant the lips."

"I don't see a cut there."

I saw a certain glint in his eyes.

"And do not make Gazille put one there."

"Or Gray."

"Any of the Slobs."

"And Sting!"

Who was I missing? Why did Natsu still have that glint in his eyes?

"Or anyone at school!"

"What about outside of school?"

I groaned and slammed my head against the table.

"You're impossible."

"And your cute."

I blushed and turned towards the windows. I saw Gray catch my eye and give me a thumbs up, so this was making him love me? Annoying the crap out of me? I think I might just be better off with Juvia being alone.