Stone Cold Heart
(Same day as the previous chapter, but Lucy's version.)
'Order's ready, Lucy!' Dan rung the bell and I rushed around the counter.
'Thank you,' I smiled as I reached for the plates.
'When are you going to go out with me,' He asked before I turned around.
'Dan you know I have a baby right?' I didn't understand why he kept this up.
He shrugged, 'that doesn't bother me.'
I playfully rolled my eyes, 'yeah, okay.'
'Seriously,' his blue-eyes remained honest.
'I'm not at that place right now, Dan. I'm sorry.' I said with a small frown.
I'll most likely never be.
'Ouch,' he placed a hand over his heart, 'rejected again.' He said with a small smile.
'You're a nice guy but, friends?' I offered with a smile of my own.
'Sure, sure.' He sighed helplessly.
If he'd stop asking, I'd stop hurting his pride. I didn't a relationship, the thought of being vulnerable again— no, thanks.
I walked out from behind the counter and onto the Diner floor, Salamander VS. Kageyama was plastered on the TV hanging in the corner.
'Pa, Salamander is going to wipe the floor with that Kageyama bastard!' A tiny voice bellowed from a side booth.
'Romeo,' I scolded. 'Language.' As I pushed their meals in front of him and his father, Macao.
'Ah, thank you Lucy.' Macao adjusted his plate. 'How's Nashi?'
'She's great,' I smiled. These two are regulars in this place and Macao had some parenting tips he shared with me on occasion.
'Who do think is going to win Lucy?' Romeo asked gaining my attention.
'Hm,' I watched as Salamander's padded fist collided with Kageyama's ribs. The damage Natsu inflicted above his right eye caused blood to blur his vision.
He had a good chance, he's been training hard— anyone could tell. His fists were on fire as the blows toward Kageyama's body kept coming in, faster and faster.
'Definitely Nat— Salamander,' I corrected myself quickly.
'Right!' Romeo cheered, 'I'm going to be a Boxer too.' He pumped a fist into the air before digging into his mac'n'cheese.
Macao and I shared a laugh before I checked my other tables.
I've been working at this Diner for five months and I managed to save enough money to get Nashi and I our own apartment.
Levy's home was great but, I didn't want to over stay my welcome. She's been generous enough and I owe her plenty.
When I called her in tears that night, a year ago today, Levy didn't hesitate. She arrived in Magnolia within two and half hours flat and didn't even question my sanity.
It wasn't until I was constantly hugging the toilet that she demanded some answers and I trusted her enough to share what I had done.
I didn't plan this— God, no but I was foolish to think that this wouldn't happen.
It's sex 101– protection!
But, with the argument and tears it intensified the situation and in the end, I just wanted to feel important, loved.
It was all my fault.
'I'm home,' I called out as I dropped my keys and purse on the table.
Levy came tip-toeing from the hall, 'I just laid her down.'
It dawned on me that it's 11 p.m. at night, 'sorry I took an extra shift.'
Levy shook her head, 'she's not a bother.' She reassured me, 'besides what else is there for me to do?'
I laughed, 'uh read your manuscripts.'
Levy made a face, 'Nashi is way more fun.'
Levy used to have her nose in a book twenty-four hours a day but she's seemed to take on a new obsession— Nashi Dragneel.
She's obsessed with my three-month old daughter, completely infatuated with her.
I can't say I blame her, Nashi is such an adorable baby no one could resist her.
Not only that, Levy remained by my side my entire pregnancy. When I was worried, scared and happy; she held my hand through it all.
I could never repay her.
(Flashback)
'Lu, you have tell me the truth,'
I couldn't move from the bathroom floor, my body stopped working.
'Lucy, what's going on,'
Oh no.
God no.
My stomach churned, I quickly covered my mouth before kneeling over the toilet.
'Oh, Lucy.' I felt Levy's hand caress my back as I dry-heaved. 'Hold on,' she walked off toward the kitchen.
'Here,' she handed me a water bottle before I slumped up against the counter. 'Why'd you leave Magnolia, Lucy?'
She crossed her arms and looked down at me, I sighed as I caught her stare.
'I left because I had too.'
She scoffed, 'details woman. I need more than that,'
'The details aren't that important.' I didn't want to tell her about Zeref and his threats.
'Bull, this is pretty damn important.' She motioned with her hands.
'Just— I left for a reason, and before I left I may have engaged in so— some activities.' I looked away.
Silence—
'LUCY HEARTIFILIA, YOU HAD SEX!'
I tensed, 'and had the nerve not to tell me!'
My face flushed in embarrassment, 'stop that.' She had a sly smile on her face.
'Levy, look away.' I whined.
She laughed, 'wow! So, whose the lucky dude?'
'Is he why you left?'
I stilled and she read me like a book,
She gasped, 'Lucy, you have to tell him. It's the right thing to do—'
My mind went into overdrive— oh God, Natsu!
I'd have to tell him! I couldn't keep this secret!
He'd never forgive me! He probably hates me.
I felt everything so fast, the overwhelming feeling was burying deep in my skin.
My heart is pounding painfully in my chest, I couldn't breathe— 'Lucy,' Levy's voice filled with concern.
I felt as if I was on fire as my body trembled I began to panic.
'Lucy— breathe,' Levy held me by my shoulders, my tears blurred my vision as I started hyperventilating.
'Lucy look at me,' My eyes locked with hers, 'concentrate on breathing,' I did as I was told.
'It's going to be okay,' she soothed me. 'We'll figure it out, it doesn't have to be right now.'
My breathing slowed but my tears didn't stop, 'What's going to happen Levy?' I sniffed.
'Well, first we're going to get off this uncomfortable floor.'
I giggled softly as she placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed, 'we'll worry about the rest tomorrow.'
'Thank you,' I placed my hand over hers.
'So no trouble,' I asked as I reheated my dinner.
'Never, Nashi is an angel.' She paused, as if she wanted to ask me something.
'What,'
'Have thought more about it?' I knew what she meant.
I frowned, 'I've thought about it but, I'm not ready.'
She sighed softly, 'I understand.' She doesn't, Levy wants me to confess to Natsu.
But because she's tired of watching me struggle and I refuse to reach out for money.
I smiled, 'are you going to be okay heading home this late?'
'Mhm.' She grabbed her things, 'I'll see you beautiful girls tomorrow.'
A small laugh left my lips, 'bye Levy and thank you.' I walked her to the door, and soon she drove off.
I grabbed my plate from the kitchen and sat in front of the TV, I smiled at the note Levy left on the coffee table.
'I recorded the fight. You can thank me later ;)'
She knows me so well, I couldn't wait till tomorrow— the remote was taunting me now.
By the second hour, I was convinced that this boxer was not the Natsu I watched from the rundown Gym Zeref owned.
This was Salamander, he was lethal and belligerent.
The final blow to Kageyama's face knocked him to the mat, the referee counting down the seconds as Natsu bounced around on his toes.
His face had caught a couple hits, especially above his left eye... he'd definitely have a black eye in the morning and a few broken bones.
'TEN!'
The crowd erupted in screams as the ring filled with their teams.
'How do you feel Salamander?' The Sport's Reporter thrusted the mic toward Natsu's face.
'I feel great,' He ran a hand through his sweating hair, 'It was good fight.'
'Indeed it was!' The crowd cheered, 'can we look forward to seeing more of those flaming fists?'
Those wild green-eyes looked right through the camera and my heart skipped a beat, 'I don't plan to stop now.'
I paused the recording, his face changed— the soft features have turned rough and hard. His salmon-colored hair is longer and his once naked skin is painted in black.
He's changed, I can tell by his empty stare and harsh voice.
It hurts me to see him this way, the show he puts on for the crowd, this stone cold man.
That's not the Natsu I remember.
Thoughts so far? Thank you to the few that commented, it makes me happy and motivated.