Chapter 7: Don't Look At Me Like That

The intense surge of light blinded Natsu for a moment, but died down after a few moment, enabling to finally able to see.

The group of friends was from high school, he remembered; he's seen them in his honors classes. Toward the front, was Juvia Lockser. It took a moment before he recognized the ocean-blue eyes.

Juvia took in his gaze quickly and met his with her own, her soft features hardening into disgust. Natsu took his own stance as well, striking up his chin to peer down his nose.

The rest of the group grew quiet as they surveyed the two. Wendy bit her lip and hovered in the middle, before coming closer to Natsu. Lightly touching his arm prier him away from the intense starting that the two shared.

"Uh, Natsu? You ok?" She whispered, her gaze never truly locking on his. She was too busy eyeing up Juvia, who still assumed her position. It took a moment but he answered. "Y-yea, I'm good. Why? What's the matter, Wendy?" She nodded towards Juvia, and his brain finally registered what was happening in complex thoughts.

He smiled, letting it lift his features softly. "Yeah, of course I'm good! You don't need to worry about me, Wen," He said, ruffling her blue hair. Juvia watched on in a crippling gaze as Natsu and Wendy continued their wholesome interaction. Lucy stepped up from behind her, took her by the shoulder, and set her straight.

Her eyes flashed danger as they both watched as two other figures came into frame. The two reconstructed their goals and patiently awaited the duo.

Once they reached further up, Juvia could see them much closer: there was two, a redhead and a white-haired one; one carried a very familiar backpack of two dragons; and that they both looked way too happy to be here.

The blue-haired teen backed an inch up, when the two reared their journey, farther than Lucy.

The redhead shoved the backpack into Natsu's gut, causing the teen to double over in faux pain. "Here you go, son. I'll see you tonight, ok? I'll be making chicken parmigiana~!," he said, using the same ruffling as Natsu did only a few moments ago.

'Does it just run in the family or something?' She asked as the other figure - the white-haired one - hugged Wendy tightly, like a snake immobilizing it's prey. Then, Wendy was snatched up into the air, and laughed as if it was the funniest thing she's ever heard of. The older figure whispered something into the little teen's ear, giggling both softly.

Juvia felt more and more like an intruding parasite as moments went by, reveling in the sweet moments each teen shared with their supposed parents. She backed up and reached for the door before-

"Wait!"

She picked up her head to see Wendy before she rammed into her. "Don't go, not yet. Can you walk home with Natsu and me, at least," She offered, throwing her puppy dog eyes out on Juvia. Complete with big fat tears.

"I-," Juvia tried to speak, but Juvia knew she was rendered useless at this point. Thankfully, Lucy spoke up. "Sorry - Wendy, was it? - Juvia, here needs to finish an essay by Monday," she said, escorting Juvia off from the door.

'It's a project though.' Juvia whispered. Lucy flashed her a, 'Keep your ass quiet or else.' And it was very effective!

"I'm sorry I never introduced myself, sir. I'm Juvia Lockser, this is Lucy Heartfilia, and that's... um, uh-," Juvia stuttered. Lucy's two other friends stepped in for themselves and introduced each other. "Well, it was nice meeting you girls. Have a safe trip home!"

"

Wait. Oh shit.

Juvia hurriedly surveyed the Igneel Dragneel as he talked teasingly with his son. 'How the fuck did I not notice this before!? Am I that dumb?' She said, as she recalled the information she was told in her first day of school.

"... and that's Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel Dragneel. He's super rich; he has a mansion down on Mulberry Street. Well, not a mansion per say but it's close enough. He's not someone you want to mess with. He like lifts 235 pounds and deadlifts 240. He works out literally every day-"

"How do you know that, Miss Lucy!"

The freshman blushed with embarrassment as she twirled with her hair. "I- well, I see him every day at the gym becauseI work there?" She proposed and executed her statement in such a questionable manner that it caused Juvia to honestly question her newfound friend.

"Uh huh, and how do you know how much he lifts!" Lucy only waved off Juvia. "I have a friend who's like in love with him. Besides..." Her voice dropped into an intense tone and narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't want to fall in love with him, or be his girlfriend. He's a horrible person and his friends are even worse."

"How?"

"Erza Scarlet is just a menace and bullies people in the hallways; keep close to your locker or you'll get in her way. Her mom works for the government so she's like amazingly rich. Gray Fullbuster is also horrible and disgusting. His mom owns a dojo in the downtown area. I don't know, it's somewhere. They're all horrible and I just want you to stay safe." Juvia nodded slowly, taking care to memorize the information in case she needs it one day.

"So, you good?" Lucy asked. Juvia smiled. "Thank you, Miss Lucy!"

Anytime.

It's weirder to put a face to the name that's everyone's been talking about. The famous chef and his deadbeat son. What a surprise.

Juvia watched as Natsu escorted Wendy out of Grandine's clutches, laughing about only goodness knows. She felt a sense of dread; as if a long, wire cord was their only connection that was being snipped before her very eyes.

It wasn't before long that the wire cord burned and become only tweeds of fabric because of Juvia's glare. 'Stupid Dragneel.'

'You're a horrible person.'

So, I'm sorry because this chapters so late. I'll still stay on the every two weeks, just bumped a little to for in. So the next update will be Tuesday, December 13. Hope to see you soon!

Have a good day/night, and I'll see you next chapter! Bye~!