Natsu P.O.V
Next week: Friday
I took out my secret stash of cookies, and walked over to the T.V. I jumped on the couch and began to flip through the channels to see if there was anything good to watch.
I then heard my front door open. "Natsu! I'm home!" yelled Zeref while coming in with a bucket of ice cream.
"What do you mean you're home? Don't you mean, I'm here in your home to be a freeloader," I retorted while staring at the T.V.
"Ha ha ha...very funny..." He replied while sitting next to me.
I ignored him while I stuffed my mouth with cookies, watching T.V to get my mind off of my growing feelings for the girl I could never have.
"Hmm...I think I want a cookie," he said as he reached over to grab one.
I quickly turned over to glare at him. "Don't you dare mess with my cookies," I growled.
He quickly backed away, "Okay okay...jezz..."
We sat there watching the current show that was on in silence until he spoke: "Hey...so...I got my fortune told by the lady that runs the ice cream shop in the plaza."
"Which one?"
"P C's Ice Cream."
"Never been there."
"You should. The lady that runs the place is amazing, and the ice cream is too good. It's all handmade."
I looked at Zeref with a bothered look. "So are you ever going to finish your story?"
"Oh, that's right! She said..." He held up his finger and began to speak with an accent, "...You will have a lot of cross dressing days in the future. Oh! I also see there will be a lot of problems with your brother! It looks like...love problems..."
My eyes widened as he brought up my reality. "Tch. It's a bunch of bull."
Zeref quickly snached a cookie from my hand and stuffed in his mouth. "I don't think so."
"You just took my cookie!" I yelled angrily.
"Shhh, I'm your big brother. Anyway, I think she's right tho...except for the cross dressing part of course! HAHA...haha...I mean...I hope she's wrong..."
I rolled my eyes and directed my attention to the T.V again. It was silent, nothing but the sound of the show being aired, but like always, Zeref had to speak again, "Do you like someone?"
I nearly chocked on air at the sudden question. I turned around in shock, looking at him with a pink face, "What?! You can't go asking someone that question!"
"Oooh, so you do! Who is it?!"
"Nunya beeswax."
"Wow, very mature."
"Shut up," I said embarrassed.
"But seriously, if you do, you need to hurry and make her fall for you...cuz if you don't, Dad's gonna make you marry that girl."
I stayed silent and thought about his words. He's right...If I don't do something, I'm going to have to marry Cana. But I can't marry the girl I actually want to be with because of unfortunate circumstances...
I sighed loudly and closed my eyes. "Maybe I should just marry Lisanna..."
Zeref gasped loudly as he dropped his spoon into the tub of ice cream. "You did not just say that."
"I mean it's the best option."
"But you don't even like her!"
"I know...but what other choice do I have?"
"You have the choice of marrying whatever girl you're actually in love with!"
I sighed and looked at the T.V in sorrow. "If only it was that simple..."
The sound of the television filled the room, and the pain in my heart intensified at thought of my upsetting future.
"Natsu..." I heard him say, "Who are you actually in love with?"
I gave a weak smile, looking at him sadly. "She's a sweet and caring girl."
"Really...? What's her name?"
"Lucy..."
The thought of her made my heart sing, and her name rolled off my tongue like the sweetest honey. I loved her. I loved that sixteen year old girl that I met by chance that day.
"Just by saying her name...you seem like you're in love with her...So why haven't you done anything to be with her?" He asked innocently.
"Because I can't be with her..."
"Huh? Why not?"
I shook my head and directed my attention towards the T.V. I don't want to talk about this anymore...
"Wait, Natsu! Tell me, I wanna know!"
I can't tell him. He'll find me disgusting...what kind of 30 year old man falls in love with a 16 year old child?
He kept poking me. Repeating the words 'tell me' over and over again. "Natsu, please! Tell me!" He yelled even louder.
Why won't he just drop it?!
Finally, I snapped. I stood up off the couch angrily and began to shout. "You really want to know why I can't be with her?! Because she's a 16 year old fucking child! She's just a kid that's barely been alive long enough to probably experience love herself!"
His eyes widened with shock then narrowed with pity. "Natsu..."
I turned away from him, as I felt tears begin to form in my eyes. "You must think I'm disgusting...Go ahead and laugh at me...I'm nothing but a disgusting thirty year old man that fell in love with an innocent sixteen year old girl..."
Tears flowed out of my eyes, hitting the floor as stared at the ground in shame.
"Natsu," he said as he stood up, "I'm sorry..."
He wrapped his arms around me, embracing me as I cried. It was silent, and he allowed me to cry. He didn't make fun of me, he just allowed me to express my sorrow.
I'm so stupid...
"You know..." he whispered softly, "I don't find you disgusting..."
Huh...?
"I mean I guess it's kinda crazy or even weird how you could love someone so much younger, but it's not like you purposely fell for her...Listen Natsu, the heart wants what the heart wants, and even if the world says it's wrong, then make it right in your own world with her, if she feels the same way, of course."
In my own world...?
"Look Natsu, you're not the first guy to love someone 14 years younger than you, trust me. And just like you, there are a bunch of other people going through the same thing."
"But...isn't it wrong...?"
"Wrong? Hmm...I dont think so. I mean it's not paedophilia cuz she's not a baby, she's a young woman. She's turning 18 soon, right? So maybe then, if you still feel the same way for her or if she likes you too, it would be more okay to be with her."
I felt peace in my heart at his understanding lecture, but there was still one problem. "But...I only have a year to marry someone, not two..."
He released the embrace and thought to himself for a moment. "Hmm...Natsu, how badly do you need your job?"
"Are you an idiot?"
He laughed to himself and smiled. "I have a plan! First you need to know if she likes you, right?"
"Uh huh..."
"Well, why don't you ask, and if everything goes right, maybe you'll have some fun tonight!"
My face burned red at the thought of her body. "Are you crazy?!"
"Natsu, desperate times call for desperate measures! Besides, it'll be consensual."
"But-!"
"Listen to your older brother, for I am the embodiment of wisdom!"
"More like the king of idiots! Zeref, you've never even had a girlfriend before!"
"Fool! Single people tend to give the best relationship advice because we aren't biased!"
I stayed silent and crossed my arms in annoyance.
"I have a plan. Just follow my instructions and you'll be set for life."
I quickly hopped into my car and buckled my seat belt. Zeref walked up to my window, knocking on the glass to get my attention. I then pulled down the window to let him speak.
"Natsu, don't forget the plan. If she says yes, stay cool! If she says no, don't cry till you get home."
I nodded and sighed. I can't believe I'm doing this...
I rolled the window back up and pulled out of the drive way to find Lucy.
