Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Audiophobia /Audio + Phobia/

(noun)

Excessive sensitivity to noise.

Lucy flinched at the loud ruckus in the common area as she did her best to weave in and out of the various groups of students. Her short week here at school had seriously opened her eyes and made her realize a few things. Being homeschooled for the past seven years really changed her perspective of things. A part of her wanted to find a small corner or niche and hide until her ears stopped ringing.

The cacophony of noise that came from all the students that gathered in a small, enclosed central area between classes was astounding... and very loud. On her second day, Lucy had gone into a type of system shock at how loud it was. Not expecting that many people being able to vocalize those decibels. Painful was a good way to describe the way her head thumped, and her ears rang for most of the day, and she was a music student, so it was saying something.

"Hey, Lucy!"

Pausing in mid-step, she looked around until she saw Gray and Lyon heading towards her. Feeling a smile tug at the corners of her mouth at the way they were shoving each other, as well as other people out of their way. Something she had come to realize didn't ever change. Just as they reached the edge of the group that separated them when she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder.

Lucy spun to look at who had grabbed her from behind, giving an unintentional squeak and jerking away. There stood a new acquaintance, Natsu Dragneel, who was laughing hard enough he was doubled over. Narrowing her eyes, Lucy stepped to the side, avoiding a Gray hug. When Gray shot past her, it was perfectly timed because his arms wrapped around Natsu, who was righting himself.

"Damn, I wasn't aware that was your stick," She quipped as Natsu went red and sputtered incoherently, while Gray looked outright ill.

"You know I am not that way, Lucy," Gray snapped back at her as he pulled his arms from around Natsu. "Besides, if I was, he wouldn't be my type."

The silence that had fallen around them had Lucy feeling suddenly uncomfortable. Trying to be subtle, she shot a glance around her to see that those nearest were watching what was going on with keen interest.

"Damn, Gray, I think you sunk your battleship," Lyon said, his voice showing his amusement clearly.

"What the fuck are you talking about Q-Tip," Gray snapped back.

Lyon gave a dark chuckle, "And I quote, "If I was, he wouldn't be my type. That kinda implies you have a type of guy you are interested in."

Lucy ducked her head to try and hide that she was smothering her own laughter. Gray had walked himself into that one.

"Ugh, you two are impossible," Gray groused good-naturedly. "And sorry if I hurt your feelings, Natsu."

When she got control of herself, Lucy was glad to hear that people were talking again. But as she lifted her head, she saw Natsu was still a brilliant shade of red and looking not at Gray but Lyon. When he saw her watching him, he turned his head away, going almost a purple shade.

"Nah, it's cool," Natsu muttered. "You're not my type either. And I have always been honest about swinging both ways."

At this, Lucy felt her jaw drop open at such straightforward honesty. Not that it was a rare thing for same-gender couples. Hell, Lucy had her share of crushes on her female instructors and a few of her father's business people daughters. And of course, there were her second and third cousins that were just gorgeous. Ares was on the top of her list, and Lucy felt pale in comparison to her.

"Hey, the bell is going to ring; let's all get to our first class, so we are not late."

The way Natsu and Gray went stiff at the female voice let Lucy know it was the tall, amazon-like, red-head that had been introduced to her as the head of the disciplinary squad, Erza Scarlet. A person, Lucy felt, when she got to know her would get along just fine with.

TBC!

NEXT TO UPDATE is A New Weapon for Lucy