It's been two weeks since the whole fiasco happened with the joke, and I can officially say I really enjoy where I live. I've gotten to meet a few more people, including a frightening woman named Erza and the other Strauss siblings. It's been nothing more than general introductions really, but I can tell they're all genuinely nice people.

I ran into Erza one day when I was late for a job interview. She stopped me in the hall and demanded to know who I was. Her demeanor was nothing short of terrifying, and I had a weird urge to call her ma'am despite us looking around the same age. Out of pure fear, I told her everything, relaying information like a soldier to a drill sergeant. She listened with an expressionless face, but once I finished, she smiled and hugged me, welcoming me to the building with an affectionate tone. It was a confusing few minutes, but ever since, she smiles at me kindly whenever we cross paths.

I met the Strauss family sometime last week. I finally worked up the courage to confront Lisanna about her joke and decided it was best to just head over unannounced and get it over with. Her sister, Mira, was the one to answer the door. I recognized her as the girl Natsu had in his apartment that one time, and it immediately put a damper on my mood. I lamely asked if Lisanna was in, prompting Mira to smile and call out for Lisanna. She invited me in and continued to stare at me, seeming to ponder something for a while. She finally let out a short gasp, asking if I was the one who threw the cat at Natsu. I meekly admitted to it, and she laughed, saying she still wasn't over how funny that whole situation was. She explained that she was there to help Natsu bring in some groceries because he still hasn't learned how to shop for himself, and she tends to help him out. For some reason, the clarification brightened my mood and could admit that Mira didn't seem so bad.

Lisanna finally came out, and upon seeing me, smiled brightly. She still thought that everything was okay, and when I didn't smile back, she visibly deflated. She asked me what was wrong, and I laid it all out for her. I basically repeated what I had said to Natsu, but this time I had Mira with me who seemed to be on my side. When I finished my rant, Mira went off on Lisanna as well. Apparently, Mira had told Lisanna to stop doing her little prank a while back because it wasn't fair to the new tenants. It was strange, the dynamic between the two. I knew Mira was Lisanna's older sister, but the way she talked to her made her seem more motherly than anything. Lisanna cried a little bit and apologized. She promised not to do it again and hugged me before running back to her room. It wasn't the most sincere apology, but it was more than I expected. Mira apologized for Lisanna again once she disappeared fully into her room, and asked me to forgive her.

"Lisanna's young," Mira had said, "She still hasn't figured out how to really be an adult. It's just us siblings, and it's been like that ever since Lisanna was a teenager. Without our real parents around, she didn't ever get the discipline she probably needed. My brother and I are partially to blame for that."

I sympathized with their situation, but I didn't think it excused Lisanna's behavior. Mira must have seen that feeling on my face, because she continued, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm not excusing her actions, just asking that you don't think too badly of her. She's immature, but we're working on it." She smiled softly, and I smiled back. I didn't fully forgive Lisanna, just as I hadn't fully forgiven Natsu, but I understood the situation more. I decided to get to know Lisanna better, not wanting to base my entire opinion on one incident.

I apologized to Mira for the intrusion, but she insisted it was no big deal. I was about to take my leave when a giant entered through the front door. I assumed it was their brother, based on the white hair, but still stepped back from the towering presence. Mira welcomed him home, and he looked me up and down. The oldest Strauss sibling introduced me to her brother, and I learned his name was Elfman. He asked why I was here, and I simply said I had to talk to Lisanna about something. Mira went into a bit more detail, explaining that Lisanna hadn't stopped her little prank. Elfman sighed at that, but turned to me and apologized for her, just as Mira had done. He said something about confrontation being manly and went into the kitchen area of the apartment.

I had held out my hand to give Mira a handshake, but she took me into a hug instead. I have found that everyone in this building doesn't have the usual boundaries of most people. I was walking back to my apartment when Mira opened the door again and shouted that she was having a little get together with a few of the other tenants in the coming week. She invited me, and I agreed to come. It was the first time someone had invited me to anything during my time living here, and it filled me with a warmth I hadn't expected.

It's been a week since that confrontation, and it's the day of the get-together. I've changed my outfit three times already, not sure how casual to dress for something like this. It's taking place in Mira's apartment, so I'm assuming it's nothing too fancy. I settle on a white skirt and blue top, an outfit that says I tried but not too much. I'm hoping to meet a few more people who live in the building and maybe even revisit with those I already know. My biggest worry is Natsu.

We've talked very little every since our argument, an awkward air seeming to form whenever we try to interact. So far, it's been very basic conversation, never with an exchange of more than five sentences between us. Recently, we even talked about the weather, the lowest form of small talk that has ever passed between two people. I'm no longer mad at him though I haven't truly forgiven what he did. It's a weird feeling of wanting to try to be his friend but being vastly aware of what type of person he can be. It'll take time to truly get over it, but with each day, I'm getting a little bit closer.

I can tell he's holding back, though, for my sake. Each time we interact, he puts his hands in his pocket and kind of rocks on his feet, a sign that he's clearly nervous. He always lets me start the conversation, letting me ask questions and then just reverberating them back to me. I appreciate what he's doing, but it's getting old. I don't want him to tiptoe around me just because he thinks I'll try to leave again. If I'm ever going to get over what he did, I have to get to know him. Part of the problem is that I have limited knowledge of who he is, and one of those few things is that he can be an immature ass. If I knew more, I'd have more reason to realize that that one situation isn't his entire personality. Or, I'd realize he's a complete douchebag. Either could happen, but if he keeps treating me like a wounded bird, I'll never find out.

I hope that, if he's at the event tonight, we can actually talk. I hope we won't be so nervous with me if he's around others that he's comfortable with. I hope we can't start trying to be friends.

I don't know why I'm so attracted to him, and not just in a physical sense. I'm attracted to his energy and the spark he seems to have. Our banter, before I tried to leave, was annoying on the surface but left me feeling lighter. It was the first time I felt like I really clicked with someone. I just want to feel that again.

I got so lost in thought that I forgot to look at the time. When I finally did, I realized I was already 10 minutes late. I live about two minutes away, and I somehow still can't make it on time. Way to make a second impression, I guess.

I quickly gather my purse and lock my apartment door. I try to sprint down the hall, but I feel more like an injured chicken trying to walk thanks to the heels I thought were a good idea to wear. I'm sure it was an attractive sight, but I arrive at the Strauss's place only 14 minutes late. I can hear music through the door and lots of laughter, and I feel awkward for being as late as I am. I'm about to knock when a familiar voice catches my attention.

"Weird, I always considered you as someone who'd show up 10 minutes early, not 10 minutes late." I look over my shoulder and see Natsu, a strained smile taking over his face. He's carrying a bottle of fire whiskey; I'm assuming to give to Mira for the rest of the group to drink. I find it odd he chose such a strong drink to bring, when usually I feel like wine is the more appropriate drink for an occasion like this.

"I lost track of time. That's a pretty interesting beverage to bring to just a little get together." I tilt my head to the bottle in his hand, and his smile shifts from strained to genuine.

"Is that what Mira told you this was," He almost chuckles out. I can tell he loves my apparent ignorance, but I won't let him have his fun too long.

"Should I expect something different?" I urge, hoping he'll just tell me outright what he's implying.

"Well, how about we go in and take a look at this-" He clears his throat,"-little get-together." He moves around me and reaches for the doorknob. He flashes me a wide grin, and I'm momentarily relieved that the awkward air hasn't settled between us yet.

He turns the knob and says, rather excitedly, "Get ready blondie."

Bet you weren't expecting this so soon, huh.

It's not very long but the next one will be so I split them up.

So uh yeah, I decided to just make the whole confrontation with Lisanna a smaller deal because I'm tired of this plot point tbh. Also I made her younger than everyone because I don't want her to be a bad person or villain in the story, I just want her to be kind of an immature perosn who made a mistake.

Fav/Follow/Review, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

XoxoAsh