A/N: Hi guys. Firstly, I hope that you have all been able to keep safe and well over the past year. It has been so crazy, but thankfully, there's hope in sight now.
So, I haven't been doing much writing for a while now, partly because I have been so exhausted, and partly because I have become a new mum! But now that my baby is a little older, inspiration is getting a chance to hit.
This is just a story that I have been wanting to do for a long time now, and that will hopefully ease me back into writing regularly. Honestly, I have never felt as stupid in life than with baby brain and lockdown XD
Summary: A pregnant virgin. A fascination with death. In love with a friend. A teacher obsessed. No one said high school would be easy. The intertwining stories of a group of friends as they attempt to navigate their ways through life, love and heartbreak.
WARNING: This story covers a range of topics that some readers may find upsetting and/or triggering. Foul language. Drug abuse. Sexual references. Violence and harm.
Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing. . .
. . . . . .
LUCY
Vivaldi.
Why I had picked Vivaldi was the most important question in my life at that moment.
6:00AM, the sun had barely come up, and I had been lying awake for the past three hours staring at the ceiling while a montage of all my biggest mistakes ran through my head like a fucking soap opera.
Not my favourite night-time activity, I can assure you.
But Vivaldi? Why I had felt that The Four Seasons was an apt choice in an alarm for a Monday morning, was beyond me.
I didn't even like classical music all that much. But still, I savoured every note as I sat up and silenced it until the day came where I chose it again. And I would choose it again because I was predictable. That's what everyone else called it, anyway.
I preferred routine.
6:00AM – Wake up.
Check.
6:02AM – Start shower and use the toilet.
Check.
Undress. Check. Look in the mirror. Check. Shower, brush teeth and dress. Check. Check. Check.
By 6:24AM, I was pulling my hair into its usual ponytail before I'd head downstairs for a quick breakfast by 6:36AM, where a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a nice, tall glass of orange juice would be sat at the bench closest to the door by my mother.
Okay, so 'routine' was maybe a stretch. I was downright anally retentive.
Today was different, however.
Pulling my ponytail over my shoulder, I looked in the mirror as the clock hit 6:37AM.
I knew I had to go back in and check. I didn't want to, but whether I did or didn't wouldn't make a blind bit of difference. The bathroom door lay open behind me, and from my place in front of the mirror, I could see it sitting on top of the cistern where I had left it.
6:38AM
"Lucy," my mother called from downstairs. "Hurry up, your bagel is getting cold."
With a ragged breath, I replied, "I'll be down in a minute."
Smoothing down my skirt, and straightening the buttons of my shirt, I prepared myself. My father had always taught me to face my problems head on. To never be afraid of the unknown, and that everything in life was fixable.
So, with a rod in my spine, I turned, marched towards the bathroom with military precision, and picked up the little white stick that had been sitting there for the past half an hour.
I didn't dare look until I had lowered the lid to the toilet and sat down. And in the end, I was glad that I did.
"Oh," I gasped, a hand coming to cover my mouth. "Oh, no. No, no, no, no. . ."
The two red lines stared back at me. Mocking me.
"Oh, fuck, no."
I shook it. Tapped it. Turned it and blew on it. I clambered to dig the box out of the trash to compare it to the instructions, but in the end, nothing I did would change my fate.
When two lines are present at the test line window and the control line window, you are probably pregnant.
I could feel tears burn my eyes, a deep panic building within my chest; threatening to burst out with an almighty scream.
"Lucy!" My mother barked again, a shrillness in her voice. "Loke and Natsu are here, you're going to be late."
I brushed the tears from my cheeks and buried the box back into the trash.
"Coming, mom!"
Rushing out of the bathroom, I grabbed my bag and my blazer, fastening the gold buttons before quickly glancing back at the mirror.
"How could you be so stupid, Luce?" I sighed, tapping my cheeks slightly to compose myself.
I wanted to cry. To run to my mom and confess all my idiocies and have her tell me it would be okay. But I couldn't. All I could do was take a deep breath, pick up the purity ring my father had given me when I was fourteen, and put it on like I did every day before slapping a smile on my face and heading downstairs.
6:45AM.
My day was fucking ruined.
. . . . . .
I was seven years old when I first met Loke Céleste and Natsu Dragneel. They had been playing down by the old lake at the edge of town when I had literally stumbled into their lives.
It had been a glorious day, I remember. The sun had been bursting through the trees, and I had stupidly decided to peddle my little pink bike through the woods as a shortcut home.
Natsu and Loke had been swinging from the old willow tree that stood alone at the edge of the lake. I had heard them laughing and joking around, swinging from their branches into the water. To say they had distracted me when I had emerged from the woods would have been an understatement.
I had watched on as a flash of pink sailed through the air, cursing to the sky as he lost his control and hurtled into the lake with an almighty splash. He had made me smile. He had made me laugh, even. When he had come up from the water, coughing and spluttering and firing obscenities to the giggling red head hanging from the tree, I wanted nothing more than to throw my bike down and ask them if I could play.
But in my joyous stupor, my attention to the path in front of me waned, and straight into the lake, I cycled.
I remember being filled with fear and embarrassment. Not wanting to come up to the surface in case the two boys had seen me. In the end I didn't have a say though, because before I had even known what was happening, Natsu had swam over and pulled me up.
"Are you okay?" He had asked with a smile as I coughed, wiping the water from my eyes.
"Yeah," I had gasped back. "I just got a bit distracted, is all."
We stared at each other for few seconds, wide eyed and full of innocence.
I remember thinking that Natsu had a nice smile. He had helped me swim to the embankment where Loke was fishing my bike out from the bullrushes. Both boys walked me the rest of the way home, and from that, our friendship had been born.
I loved them.
When I finally came downstairs, I found the boys in the kitchen with my parents. Loke, shamelessly flirting with my mother as she poured him a coffee, and Natsu, eating my bagel all the while pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose.
"This is fucking disgusting, Luce," he mumbled, helping himself to my orange juice as he slumped over the breakfast bar.
Slapping him up the back of the head as he walked past, my father smirked. "Hey, watch your fucking language."
I smiled. And for a second, I forgot how messed up my life had just become.
"Rough night, Natsu?" I asked, coming round, and lifting his shades up.
"Oh, leave the boy alone, Lucy," my mother giggled, packing sandwiches into three separate bags.
With his usual smirk, Natsu looked up at me, bags under his eyes. "I may be in need of a little TLC, Luce. You offering?"
"Would you listen to that, Loke?" My father chimed in, a jovial glint in his eye. "Hitting on your girl right in front of you!"
"Dad!" I blushed.
Sipping his coffee, Loke chuckled, coming to stand next to me and wrapping an arm around my waist.
"If I felt threatened in the slightest, I'd offer to fight for you, Lucy," he began. "But this moron here is half dead already. It would be cruel."
"Hey, I could take you day or night, man," Natsu smirked, jumping up from his seat and drawing his fists up playfully. "Just say the word."
My mother laughed, bringing each of us a lunch bag before planting a kiss on each of our cheeks.
"Don't you have anything to say about this?" I asked her, smiling.
"Just keep the blood off my new tiles, boys," she ordered.
"You know, most mothers would defend their daughters against two brutes." I chuckled, kissing her cheek in return.
"Ah, c'est la vie," was her smirked reply. "Now, get out of here you three, or you're going to be late!"
We bid our farewells and left.
It was a particularly beautiful day as we walked down my street. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and their petals fell like snow. Planting a kiss on my cheek, and holding my hand tightly, Loke pulled me in closer as Natsu raided through his lunch bag.
"Your parents are so fucking cool, Luce," he mumbled over the unlit cigarette that he had quickly pulled out. "Firecracker chicken! Thank you, Layla."
Tapping his pockets in search for his lighter, Loke eventually took pity on him and brought out his own, holding it up elegantly to allow him to light it. Letting go of my hand, he reached into his breast pocket for the silver tin where he kept his own cigarettes, offering me one while taking one for himself.
I shook my head. "I think I'm going to quit."
"Very admirable," he smiled, his hooded eyes holding my gaze as he lit up.
Loke was handsome in the conventional sense. It was something I was never able to deny, and after calling him my boyfriend for the past six months, something I was unlikely to. Since we were kids, he had always been charming. Debonaire, as my mother would say. He toward over my 5'3 frame with desirable poise.
I knew he was attractive.
And so did every other girl in the school.
And he knew that.
Known to be a flirt and a bit of a ladies' man, I had never once looked at Loke as more than a friend. He had a new girlfriend every other week, but after some gentle 'nudging' from our business minded fathers, he asked me out, and I had no reason I could admit for saying no.
And Natsu had agreed.
Which was hard.
Clearing his throat in awkwardness, Natsu pushed his glasses further up his nose, a cloud of smoke escaping from his lungs. "Hey, I've got an idea, how about we stop making googly eyes at each other and get to school."
"Aw, are you jealous, Natsu?" Loke smirked, playfully.
With another draw from his cigarette, he only smiled.
. . . . . .
The hallways were busy, and I trudged slowly behind Loke and Natsu as we made our way to our usual spot in the common rooms. They were caught up in an animated conversation about a party happening on Friday night down by the docks, and I could already see the plan turning in their heads to pick up their booze and some molly the night before.
I had always believed them to be an odd duo. Even down to the way they dressed.
Loke would fasten his blue blazer, straighten his tie, and shine his shoes every day. He believed regardless of where you were going, you always had to look your best.
Natsu, on the other hand, wore his blazer open with his shirt tail hanging out. He hadn't worn a tie in his entire life, and his faded red converse were in desperate need of a clean.
They matched up to each other in height, but as much as it irritated Loke, Natsu was slightly broader in the shoulders and chest.
I liked his shoulders.
"Are you coming on Friday, Luce?" Natsu asked, turning to look at me while carrying on walking backwards.
I hesitated.
"Uh, I'll see," I smiled my reply.
He looked confused, but said no more, and was quickly caught up in conversation with Loke once again.
"Seriously, dude," he sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I was up until four this morning. I'm in desperate need of a pick me up."
"What were you doing at 4AM?" Loke chuckled, a brow quirked in bemusement. "Did the lovely Lisanna happen to pop round?"
"Ha ha, very funny," Natsu grumbled as they came to a stop outside the bathrooms. "Just give me the damn stuff."
Looking over his shoulder, but his smile never faltering, Loke reached into his pants pockets and pulled out a small round tin, handing it out to Natsu who quickly disappeared into the bathrooms.
Leaning against the wall by the door, I sighed.
"Are you okay, beautiful?" Loke gently asked as we waited. "You seem a little off today."
"Oh, I'm alright," was my lazy reply. "I'm just a bit sleepy too."
He put his hand on my hips and leaned down to kiss my forehead.
"That big brain of yours needs to learn to shut off," he chuckled.
"Don't I know it?"
We didn't have to wait long for Natsu to return. Pinching his nose and sniffing, he subtly handed the tin back to Loke who just rolled his eyes in amusement.
"Better?" I giggled as he smiled down at me, eyes bright.
"Much better, M'lady."
Carrying on, we finally made it to the door of the common rooms, the noise coming from within already deafening from the hallways.
Levy and Gray were already sat at our usual table while Erza and Cana sat off to the side talking to a blushing Lisanna. Only then did I wonder if she and Natsu had actually spent some time together last night.
"Hey, Natsu," she smiled.
Her cheeks were rosy and Natsu smiled and nodded in reply as he took his seat next to me.
"Hey guys," I sighed.
"Lucy, will you please explain to Gray here, why Friday night will in fact be fun," Levy groaned out, clearly having spent the past long while trying to convince our overly subdued friend to liven up a bit.
"What's up popsicle breath," Natsu chuckled, his knee bouncing as he sat back in his seat. "Worried you'll melt when the sun comes up?"
"Hey, fuck you, man," Gray smiled, throwing a tiny rolled up ball of paper at him. "I didn't say it wouldn't be fun, I just said I'd see what my plans were like."
"Gray, please," Levy exclaimed, her hands flailing in annoyance. "What plans could you possibly have that didn't already involve us? Ugh, you're such a jackass sometimes."
"I love you too, Lev," He smirked. "Hey, do any of you guys have some skins?"
Reaching into his breast pocket, Natsu threw his pack of cigarette papers to Gray, who with a silent thanks, took a few before getting up and heading out the room.
"Why can't he just nail down plans like a normal person?" Levy whined, falling back into her chair. "It's so infuriating."
I laughed. "He does it because he knows it irritates you."
She sighed and rested her chin her hands. "Stupid Gray."
Levy McGarden and Gray Fullbuster had lived next door to each other since they were born. They were each other's first friends, first play dates and first dances at the freshman prom. It wasn't until Levy developed boobs that Mr McGarden decided that she couldn't go anywhere were there would be boys unless Big Brother Gray was going too. An arrangement that Gray seemed to pride himself in abusing from time to time.
Best friends who fought like cat and dog.
"Don't worry," I soothed. "You know he'll say yes eventually."
"Why does he have to torture me in the meantime, thought?" She finally chuckled.
"Because he's fucking Gray," Natsu laughed.
We were interrupted by the warning bell signalling us to start making our way towards class, Natsu letting out a loud groan of frustration.
"Oh, Natsu, I have a book belonging to you in my locker," I said as we stood. "You left it at my house after studying."
I felt Loke's grasp on my hand tighten when I held back from following him.
"Would you save me a seat in class?" I asked, sweetly.
Relaxing, he smiled. "Of course."
Leaning down, he gently pecked my lips before following everyone out of the common rooms.
Once Natsu and I were alone, I turned to look at him. He was still fidgety from his 'pick me up', crossing and uncrossing his arms, and running his hand through his hair.
"Are you okay?" He asked, taking a small step towards me.
I nodded, reaching out for the lapels of his blazer.
"Were you with Lisanna last night?" I asked quietly, looking up at him.
I had no right to be upset, but still, I felt my eyes tear up and I wanted to punch myself for it. Smiling softly, he gently reached out and placed his hands on my hips, pulling me into him.
"No," he confessed. "She texted me a couple of times asking to meet up, but my mind was on someone else."
I sighed in relief; my smile difficult to control. Tugging on his blazer slightly, I pulled him down until our foreheads rested together, our eye closing as we savoured the small moment where we were alone.
"I took the test," I whispered, his hands tightening on my waist.
"And?"
Pulling back to look at him, I could see the fear in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Tears falling, I nodded, my lip quivering. "And I'm pregnant."
His eyes closed, and he sighed. But he didn't let me go. Instead, he pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me as I broke down, kissing my hair and rubbing my back.
"It's okay," he whispered. "I promise. We'll figure something out."
Hands on his chest, I pushed back slightly to look at him, and with his own hands moving to my cheek, he wiped my tears away with his thumbs.
"I love you."
It was my whispered confession. One he replied to with a kiss.
"I love you, too."
. . . . . .
A/N: And there you have the beginning of Lucy's story.
I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter guys. I will try and update as soon as possible.
Please let me know what you thought xoxo