Chapter 4
Practice is over by now and Lucy takes the time to take down the locker signs left by Natsu. She puts them in her car along with her other school things so she can enjoy the downtime before the spread. When she returns to the band room where she left her friends, there are three people who graduated last year.
Erza Scarlet played quads and was the leader during her time. Her long dark scarlet hair cascades down to her waist and sideswept bangs to her right. She has fierce dark brown eyes to go along with her strong personality.
Cana Alberona is the daughter of Mr. Clive and played trumpet. She has wavy dark chocolate brown locks that frame her face and a lovely shade of indigo blue eyes. No one is totally sure when she picked up her drinking habit, but she always has a bottle hidden on her somewhere.
Gajeel Redfox played the largest bass drums and is dating Levy. He has long, spiky black hair that is slicked back to reveal his forehead and piercing red eyes. The muscular guy's most noticeable feature is all of the silver studded piercings on his face. He may have a tough exterior, but it melts away when he is with his girlfriend.
"What are you three doing here?" Lucy asks as she approaches her group. "Alumni Night isn't until next week."
"We still wanted to come by and say hello this week," Erza clarifies.
"Lucy, get over here so I can squeeze your boobs!" Cana shouts rather loudly, holding her hands out. "I missed them!"
Natsu flares his nostrils. "Hey, I'm the only one allowed to do that!"
"Gihi, are ya now, Salamander?" Gajeel questions slyly.
An evil glint appears in Erza's eyes. "You are not married yet and should keep your hands to yourself, Natsu!"
He pales. "I, uh, didn't mean it like that. Don't hurt me!" Natsu hides behind Lucy. "Protect me, Luce!"
"Great, he's using her as a human shield now," Gray scoffs.
"Gray can use Juvia as a shield if he wants!" Juvia says.
"Uh, I think Gray is more than capable of handling himself," Levy comments.
Wendy chuckles. "Unless Miss Erza is involved."
That gets some of the others to laugh.
"Oh, does anyone know what's for the spread tonight?" Lucy inquires.
"Pizza and cookies," Levy replies.
"Mm, that sounds good," Gajeel comments.
Levy whacks him. "Hey, not for you."
"We already ate before we arrived," Erza says.
Cana chuckles. "But that doesn't mean we still won't eat."
"By the way…" Erza looks at Lucy and Natsu. "Congratulations on dating seven years. It certainly is a wonderful feat."
"Hard to believe she's stayed with him that long," Gray comments.
Natsu glares at him and steps around Lucy. "Oi, what did ya say, Ice Princess?"
Juvia stands in front of Gray and holds her arms out. "Juvia will not let you harm Gray!"
Wendy sighs in defeat. "I don't think there will ever be a time the two of them don't fight before a game."
"Didn't they get their daily fight out of the way already?" Cana questions.
"Lucy stopped it before it could happen," Gray replies grumpily.
Natsu cracks his knuckles. "I'm still itching for a throwdown."
"Don't even think about it," Lucy warns in a threatening tone.
He sighs and holds her right hand with his left. "Fiiine."
The two other guys snigger.
"Woow, Salamander," Gajeel chuckles. "You're whipped."
"Am not!" he argues.
Gray rolls his eyes. "Sure you aren't."
"He simply listened to the request of his girlfriend," Erza states, and looks at Gajeel. "Perhaps you could learn something from him."
His mouth drops open and he looks down at Levy. "Shrimp?"
She shrugs. "Don't look me. I didn't say that."
Cana cracks up. "Man, I've missed stupid stuff like this. It's great."
"It's what happens all the time," Wendy comments. "Most of the time my brother starts it though."
"He always likes targeting my darling Gray," Juvia whines.
"Always?" Erza inquires in a grave tone.
Natsu hides behind Lucy once again. "No, not always. Definitely not always. Rarely actually." Then he grabs her hand and pulls her along. "Let's go outside, Luce!"
She goes along with it, knowing he just wants to escape Erza's wrath.
"Don't go too far, Lu!" Levy calls. "The spread will start soon!"
Lucy glances back. "We know!"
The couple makes their way outside, walking hand in hand. Their destination is not anywhere specific.
"I saw the little note you left me in our band locker," she says.
He smiles. "That was just something I did real quick for ya."
"It still means a lot that you did it. Thank you."
Natsu smooches the side of her head. "Anything for you, Luce."
"Same goes for you, too."
He waggles his eyebrows. "Oh realllly?"
Lucy playfully whacks his firm chest. "You know what I mean."
He chuckles. "I know."
"We're both in this relationship. It's teamwork. That means I'm not the only one who gets special treatment. We don't have to go to my favorite restaurant because we could go to yours."
He bumps lightly into her shoulder with his. "I just like spoiling you is all. You know that."
"But still."
"But still nothing."
Lucy stops walking and just looks at Natsu.
"Yeah?" he asks after stopping a well.
She smiles at him. "I love you. Like a lot."
Natsu just grins from ear to ear. "I love you more."
Without second thought, Lucy steps forward and initiates the kiss. Natsu wraps his hands around her waist and pulls her towards him, molding their bodies together. He is the one who angles his head so they can deepen the kiss. She snakes her arms around his neck to lock them together.
The moment is perfect and the fact that no one is watching makes it even better.
A/N Part 1: Edited as of 3/27/2016
