CHAPTER 10
Driving the road back to Magnolia, the pink-haired president silently drove while keeping a cautious attention to the blonde actress seated on the passenger side. It has been almost an erring 45-minute ride since they left Hargeon and the two haven't spoken since then.
In all honesty, the ride was growing awkward. The two just shared a kiss in front of the cameras and yet they haven't discussed anything about it. Despite Lucy explaining to Natsu that it was all for the lens, the two knew there was some discussion that needed to be made. But it seems like, none of them wanted to start the discussion first.
When Natsu couldn't take the silence anymore, he decided to break the silence first since Lucy was keeping her attention to the scenery outside. Clearing his throat, he successfully catches the attention of the actress, and then he said, "So where do I drop you off?"
Glancing at him, Lucy had a relaxing face when she replied, "Back to my condo would be good,"
"Alright," Natsu answered back but then it was silent again. Natsu wanted to break the silence all the way, so he decided to make another conversation.
"Will you be working in Hargeon for the whole week?" Natsu asked as he gave a short glance to the woman before looking back at the road
"Not really," Lucy answered, "Just until tomorrow. Then on Wednesday I'd be working in another location…"
"Oh," that was all Natsu could respond. Unsure of how to continue the conversation, he felt blessed when he sees the next corner to Lucy's condo building and so he said, "We're here…"
Just as he drives the car up the driveway to drop Lucy off, Lucy suddenly looked at him and asked, "Do you want to come up? I'd make you a cup of tea…" Lucy then smiles at the man but then he shook his head and said, "No thanks, I have to head back to the office"
"Office? But it's almost 8 and…I was thinking we could talk…" Lucy shifted a bit in her seat to face the man to show her sincerity but then she still gets the same response.
"Lucy, I left work to pick you up at Hargeon because you told me to. I'm getting delayed because of your scheme. Now I have to get back to work because I needed to finish my work."
It was weird for Lucy to feel something odd stirring in her chest. Not knowing what exactly what it was, she just sighed and said, "Alright, fine. Just being a good person…" and with that Lucy turns to open her door and stand up quickly.
Natsu didn't go unnoticed the sudden sadness in Lucy's eyes as if he had hurt her after declining her offer. But since he thought that he couldn't mind this right now since he had somewhere else to be, he just watched the actress step out of his car. Right when Lucy stood up, she bent down again and said to him, "Pick me up tomorrow again. Same time same place" and then Lucy slammed the door shut. Surprised a bit with the strong push to the door, Natsu concluded that Lucy was mad at him. But like he said to himself, he can't deal with this right now and so, he left the building.
When Lucy was back at her condo unit, she sighed in exhaustion. Taking her shoes off, she quickly slips on her home slippers. Walking to her living room, she dropped her handbag on the plush chair and took a seat on her couch. She then laid her head on the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling.
"I was just offering a tea. Who refuses tea?" She mumbles to no one when suddenly she sat up and stared ahead, "Why does he have to sound so mean? I was just being nice…" Lucy then grumbles in her seat before she punches the couch in frustration, "He doesn't have to act so mean. I mean it was part of the deal, so why the heck is he like mad at me…" When Lucy knew that no one could answer her, she just sighed as she drops her back to the couch again and crossed her arm.
"I shouldn't be upset. It's not like we're a real thing or something. He's not even my friend, he's just an acquaintance…" realizing that fact, Lucy couldn't help but feel bothered about it because she was indeed feeling upset. Laying her head on the back of the couch again, she mumbled softly, "Yet I feel upset about this…"
When the next day came, all things that needed to be finished was done without any hassles for both Natsu and Lucy. And just as the day ends, as instructed to him by Lucy, Natsu was back at the Hargeon shooting location and waited for the blonde actress to approach him. Just like the previous day, a few freelance photographers were there to capture every move of the actress and that included her actions whenever she is around the pink haired man.
"Hey babe," Lucy said almost with a monotonous voice, as she approached Natsu and gave him a kiss on his cheek before she side steps to enter the car. With the way Lucy greeted him and compared it from the previous day, Lucy was sure to be distant. But Natsu decided to shrug it off before the media even takes note of it. And so, entering the driver's side, he gave a short glance at the blonde first before he starts the car. When Lucy remained silent, Natsu decided to have a talk while they were on the road.
After a 10 minute silent drive, Natsu decided it was time to break the silence. And so, he clears his throat, hoping to catch the attention of the blonde. But when he looked at her, she still looked outside and silently gazed at the road.
"Lucy," Natsu called hoping that he wouldn't be ignored
"…Yes?" Lucy softly answered without even looking at him
"Um…So, where will you be located tomorrow?" Natsu asked, trying to message her that he was willing now to play the role of her boyfriend
"You don't have to pick me up anymore," Lucy replied with an expressionless voice, still not looking at him. And somehow this surprised the president because at some point he knew that Lucy was indeed mad at him, "No, um, I'll be off early tomorrow so, picking you up won't be a bother," Natsu answers, giving a grin to the blonde, hoping that she'd see it, to show her that he was sincere. Finally, turning her head to look at the pinkette, Lucy sternly gazed at him and said, "And like I said, you don't have to. I don't want to be a bother," and she quickly looked away before Natsu could even look at her too. When Natsu had enough of the silent treatment, he turns the steering wheel and parks the car at the side of the road, making Lucy wonder why he'd stop. Looking at the driving pinkette, she asked, "Why'd you stop?"
"Luce, we need to talk," Natsu said as he puts the car in a break and shifts his position to look at the blonde, "Are you mad at me?"
"Mr. Dragneel, we do not make any nicknames for one another. We are just an acquaintance, so we are not that close. I know, making you pick me up in my location is a damn hassle for you, so this would be the last." And with that, Lucy looks away again as she crosses her arms under her chest.
With the words Lucy said, it was no doubt Lucy was mad at Natsu and he has to fix it because they were in a deal. Working with a person they were in conflict only makes the situation worse. And so, Natsu decided to apologize.
"Look, Lucy, I'm sorry for the way I acted last night. I know that you had a good intention when you asked me to come up for a tea. But I really just had to leave because I had a dinner business meeting last night and I was running late," Natsu then waited for the actress to give any reaction
"That is why," Lucy hastily looks at Natsu, "You don't have to Mr. Dragneel. Not anymore!"
"Luce-"
"It's Lucy, not Luce" Lucy immediately interrupted
"Fine, Lucy—that's not what I meant, okay? I was just not prepared…" Natsu then seriously looked at the blonde who was still fuming in annoyance
"That is why no more. I'm not obliging you. I'm sorry if I interrupted you yesterday. I was hoping yesterday that you'd at least let me know what was up but since you never contacted me, I thought I could try and make you come over. I'm sorry Mr. Dragneel for forgetting you were a president and that you were too busy." After that rant, Lucy looked away and somehow she turned herself, fully facing the door.
When Natsu sighed, he realized that Lucy really didn't know that he had a full schedule for that day and that she shouldn't be taking any of his furious last night. Trying to think of what he could do to avoid any troubles like this again, he suddenly thought of a good idea.
"Lucy, what's your email?" He asked as he pulls out his mobile phone and started typing something
"…What for?" Lucy plainly asked
"So that, my schedule could be synced to your email and you can see if I have a full sched…" Natsu said when suddenly he hears her chuckle. Looking at the actress with pure confusion, he asked, "Why are you laughing?"
"Is this how you deal scheduling with your previous girlfriends?" Lucy asked with curiosity in her voice, "You get their email, sync your sched, and plot an available time for them?"
"Well…" Natsu started but was cut short immediately
"Oh my goodness…really? You're ridiculous!" Lucy said it more like accusing than finding it amusing, "How can you do that to your previous girlfriends?!"
"Okay, technically no. I was not as busy as I am now. I used to be a general manager and schedule wasn't much of a problem. But now that I'm the president, things have gone a little bit more hectic," Natsu said bashfully before he rubs the back of his neck, "Lucy, look I'm sorry. I guess doing this deal needs me to play my part more than I do now. So, let me do my part more efficiently this time…"
Staring at him for a moment, Lucy couldn't place a finger on how Natsu could manage to convince her to give him another shot when she was just about to cut the deal off. She felt like ending it but with the way Natsu was asking for a second chance, she couldn't bring herself to say no.
"Fine," Lucy couldn't believe herself, "Another try. You do your part as my pretend boyfriend and I do my part as your fake girlfriend. Do what a boyfriend usually do, and I will do what a good girlfriend does." Lucy then sees Natsu's face light up, "Yosh! Lucy! I promise I'll be doing my role better"
"Good, now we have a deal. Can we go home?" Lucy then gives a smile to the man who was smiling back at her, "Of course, babe…" and with that, Natsu shifted the gear while he and Lucy laughed together.
The week went on. With Lucy being located at different locations, Lucy has insisted to Natsu that he shouldn't force himself to pick her up anymore because at least they have made an appearance together already. But Natsu just wouldn't accept it and said to the blonde that, as a boyfriend role, he just wouldn't give up easily. And so, just like that, Natsu picked Lucy up the whole week without much complaining.
It's Friday already and Lucy was just having a tapping in one of the studios of the network her series is being shown. So while at their break, Lucy got her phone and started dialing the number of the pink haired president. After three rings, the call connected, "Hey Natsu," she greeted
"Oh, Lucy, what's up?" Natsu replies
"Not much. Just having our last break for the day…" Lucy answers as she checks her fingernails and sees that her nail polish was beginning to chip off
"That's great. So around what time do I come by?" then a sound of paper being flipped, making Lucy think that Natsu was actually busy, "Um, about three hours from now…are you busy? I didn't mean to disturb you…"
"No, it's fine. Just reviewing some reports…" and with that Natsu loudly closes a folder and slams his palm on the table, "So in three hours I'll be at the open parking lot of FBS…"
"Great!" Lucy cheeringly replies, "Alright, I won't disturb anymore, and go back to your work again. Bye!" and with that, Lucy ends the call.
Just as she returns her personal phone back to her bag, her assistant suddenly comes up to her with a worried expression. "Laki, what's wrong?"
"Um, Lucy-sama, the director and the producers of the show wants you to come and join the meeting later after your last scene." The purple-haired assistant said with her fingers fumbling with the papers she was hugging to her chest
"Meeting room? What will we be discussing?" Lucy asked back, a little bit nervous
"Ms. Margaret didn't tell me," Laki then looks down to her feet as she felt guilty for not asking enough questions to the secretary of the producer, "I'm sorry Lucy-sama…"
"It's fine Laki…will Mira be there?" Lucy then leans back to her director's chair as she crosses her arm, to hide the shaking of her hands. Looking up at her boss, she answered, "Mirajane-sama is supposed to be, but unfortunately she can't come because she's in a meeting with another producer for Ms. Yukino's new project"
"Oh, I see…" Lucy then sighs when she realizes that she has to deal this meeting alone, "Alright, remind me later after my last scene."
"Yes, Lucy-sama" and with that Laki bows to Lucy before she walks off to start fixing the things of her boss.
As Lucy was left alone to think, she started to have bad feelings about this because being called for a meet up with the director and producer of her show means a bad omen. The moment her assistant told her that she was being called by the higher ups, she felt her nerves shaking because she instantly remembered the last time she attended the meeting, and she was close to tearing up.
Haggardly sighing, Lucy mumbles, "I wonder what they will tell me this time..."
"...And cut!" Director Warrod then shouts after a few seconds passed after Lucy delivered her last line. "Alright everyone, let's pack up the set! Thank you, everyone, for your hard work!" Warrod exclaimed as he stood up from his chair before he started clapping. Soon everyone copied the director and starts clapping as well as they bowed and shook hands with everyone on set.
When all of the staff has started to pack up, Laki immediately walked up to Lucy and handed her a bottle of water and a face towel. When Lucy took it, the actress gave her thanks and sat down in her director's chair, "Lucy-sama," Laki politely called and Lucy looked at her with curiosity in her eyes, "You should start freshening up because you have to attend the meeting with Warrod-sama and the producers" Laki then takes the bottle that Lucy handed back
"Yes, right...I should start getting changed" and with that, Lucy stepped down from her chair and turned to get her clothes from Laki. When the actress left to enter the bathroom, the assistant definitely noticed something different.
"Lucy-sama is pretty sure nervous..." Laki mumbles to herself as she watches her boss enter the bathroom when suddenly she was startled by a voice, "Why do you think so?" The person asked. Looking at whom the person she was standing next to, she sees a sand-ish blonde haired man with confusion on his face, "Max!" Laki exclaimed
"What?" the man replied, who seemed to be clueless of what he did to the purple haired assistant
"You startled me!" Laki then slaps the man by his arm, making him flinch in surprise
"Hey, that hurts..." Max said back as he stepped back a bit while he rubbed his inflicted arm, "I didn't mean to surprise you. I was just wondering what's wrong with our actress..."
Looking up at the taller man, Laki pushes her glasses in position first before she tiptoed to softly whisper to Max's ear, "Lucy-sama is asked to join the meeting of the director and producers of the show"
"Nani?!" Max half whispered, half shouted as he widens his eyes to the woman who just nodded, "Do you think she's being cut off from the show?" Max asked again
"I don't know...but the last I heard, the show was being cut short" Laki then nods to the man who seemed so surprised to the news.
"Oh, this is not good. Her rumors might have affected her credibility as an actress and now producers don't want her..." Max then pulls his hair in frustration for the actress but instead of being supported by the assistant, he receives another slap on his arm.
"Don't say that Max! No matter what rumor Lucy-sama has, her acting credibility never fails to impress the audience" Laki then straightens her back, boosting her boss' ego. Before Max could even reply, Lucy finally stepped out of the bathroom, wearing her white sheer top with sleeves folded until her elbow, tucked under her faded blue jeans, and finishing her style with white open toed heels. The moment Laki sees the blonde, she rushed to her boss to take the costume and bowed before her as the actress turned to leave and head towards the meeting room inside the main building of their network.
Soon enough, Lucy reached the meeting conference hall and she sees her directors, producers, and even the head manager for the entertainment of the Fiore Broadcasting Station, seated around the table. With a few of the main cast of the show present at the meeting, Lucy sat next to the woman with a few gray hairs and quietly waited for the meeting to start.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming-" The head manager of the network, Mito Ikawa, spoke as he stood up to get the full attention of the attendees, "despite the short notice of this urgent meeting…" everyone in the room then nodded as they waited for the manager to speak again. "Well, barely a month ago, we had a meeting regarding the ratings of the drama series, and unfortunately, the show receives low ratings"
Despite the sad news, everyone nodded their head, admitting that the series was beginning to lose their audience, "And one of the things we have discussed before was the official date of the finale." The manager then sits back to his chair as he sighs in sadness, "We, the producers, directors, and the FBS have discussed back then regarding the date, hoping to postpone the plan of an early finale. With the hope that the ratings will ascend, we are sad to say that it didn't reach its goal. So, I, and Ms. Yumata and her production have decided to plot a finale week."
Soon everyone widens their eyes and looked at one another as confusion lingered in their faces. Warrod didn't seem fazed by the news and for Lucy, she somehow expected it sooner. And so, silently waiting for the producer to speak up, Lucy made sure to hide her fidgeting hands.
"In the television, it hasn't been announced yet but two weeks from now, the show will be ending. And basically, the last three weeks that we had been taping, covers the last two week episodes." The head producer of the show said as she looked at her cast, who seemed uncomfortable to the news
"Wait, so you're saying that today was the last shooting?" An actor in his mid-thirties asked
"Yes Raiten," the lady replies as she looked at him apologetically
"But the last scenes in the script are very cliff hanging. No audience likes cliffhangers especially if the show has no season two," this time, an actress in her early thirties stated as she made eye contact with the producer. But instead of the producer speaking, it was Warrod who did, "Jekka, we know that the script is pretty much unfinished but with the low ratings we got and the cut costing of our budget, I doubt we would be able to finish the whole story."
"But if we have a season two, will we be able to finish it?" the actress name Jekka asked again
"Most probably. But I doubt people would want a season two," Warrod said before he leans back to his chair and sighs
When everyone fell silent, thinking of the sudden sad news for the show, the young series princess was suddenly called attention, "Ms. Lucy," Mito called, and so, Lucy looked up, "Yes, Mr. Ikawa?"
"Do you have any concern you want to address?" the manager asked
"…I-uh…I just want to apologize…" Lucy said as she places her hands on the table and let it fidget despite knowing her co-actors looking at her, "I was somehow expecting the show would be cut short. I know that you wouldn't verbally blame anyone from the show, but it's obvious that the ratings were somehow affected because of the numerous rumors about me" Lucy said with hint of embarrassment and sadness in her voice
"Lucy Ashley, please, don't blame yourself for the low rating of the show. It just so happens that our rival shows got more attention than ours," Era Yumata, the producer said, as she smiled genuinely at the actress
"I know that," Lucy said, still not looking up at the producer, "But usually, rumors bring attention to the show. But instead of attention, we lost the interest of our audience and negative quotation about me and the show started coming"
"Oh dear," the veteran actress seated next to Lucy rubbed her back as comfort, "Don't be harsh on yourself. We all know that rumors are plain rumors because you're nothing like those bad news mentioned. You are one good actress and no one blames you for the negative response of the people to the show"
"Thank you Gema-sama. But I just feel responsible enough, because if it weren't for those bad rumors about me, the show wouldn't be even bad mouthed. They called the drama as cheap, shallow, and boring, all because I was cast for the lead role. They saw me as a stalker to Loke, and considered me as cheap and pathetic…" Lucy then felt her eyes sting as salty tears begin to pool
"Ms. Ashley," the manager called, making Lucy look up with tears rolling down her cheek, "there was no better actress to play your role. You portrayed the character well that she seemed to exist,"
"that's true Ashley," Era added, "You are talented and some bad rumors can never take that away from you"
"As you director, Ashely," Warrod suddenly speaks, "to all of you actually, I have never been honored to take part in such project. Despite the sad outcome of the show, I would never regret taking this project. All of you are talented and the show would never have come to life without you."
"True," Era agreed, "I am happy to have this cast. And Lucy, you being cheap and pathetic is far too opposite from the truth. So please, forget those rumors" Lucy then nods as she slowly tried to smile at the producers, managers, and directors, but her effort didn't change the fact that she was devastated.
"I hope this won't be our last meet up…Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication," and with that Warrod, Era, and Mito stood up and bowed before the cast. Soon enough, a loud clapping was heard before they all stood up and gave hugs and goodbyes to one another.
It has been almost an hour since Natsu arrived at the parking lot of Fiore Broadcasting Station and he has been trying to call the actress, but the call would always be too busy. So, he decided to patiently wait in the open parking lot of the network, wherein he sat down on the hood of his car as he played games on his phone.
"Mr. Dragneel?" a feminine voice suddenly called out making Natsu look up and put away his phone to see a purple haired woman walking towards him. Unsure of whom the lady was, Natsu just stepped down from the hood to stand and talk to the approaching woman, "Uh, yeah, that's me…who are you again?"
"Oh," the woman then bows her head before she introduced herself, "I'm Laki Olietta, Ms. Lucy's personal assistant"
"Oh! Hey!" Natsu then grins at the woman who blushed when she saw the kind and very cute gesture of the man
"Um… are you perhaps waiting for Lucy-sama?" Laki asked once she composed herself
"Yeah. She told me to come over here around 6:30 but I haven't seen her yet…is she still in tapping?" Natsu asks back
"Oh my, Lucy-sama had an urgent meeting with the producers and the FBS management an hour ago. Do you want me to check if they are almost done?" Laki was about to turn and run back inside the main building when Natsu called out and said, "Wait! No, it's fine."
"But, how will she know that you're out here?" Laki asks as confusion becomes obvious in her face
"She knows that I will be waiting here…" and with that Natsu smiled at the purple haired woman
Before Laki could even reply back to the young president, the phone of Natsu suddenly rang, making the two startled at the sudden sound. Fishing out his phone from his pocket, Natsu saw Lucy's caller ID, and so, quickly he answers the call, "Lucy, I'm out here in the parking lot…" Natsu quickly said without even greeting the actress. Without notice, Laki has turned her back to leave the young man to have his private conversation with the actress
"Did you wait too long? I'm sorry I forgot to tell you that I had an urgent meeting…" Lucy said back
"Nah, it's fine…is everything alright?" Natsu suddenly questioned when he noticed that her voice sounded different
"Yeah…I'm at the parking lot already," and with that Natsu looked up and saw her stepping out of the building. Without answering back, he ends the call and quickly walks up to the blonde.
The moment he was a meter away from her, he quickly notices that she seemed to be lost in her thoughts and that her eyes were puffy indicating that she recently just cried. So, quickening his steps, he quickly grabbed the shoulder of the blonde to snap her out of her thoughts and ask, "Luce, are you alright? Why did you cry?"
Surprised with the man, Lucy had her eyes widen when she realized Natsu was standing in front of her already, holding her shoulders, and had an expression of worry. Not being able to respond immediately, she just stared at him until she felt warm hands cup her cheeks and thumbs brushing her dried tears.
"Why'd you cry?" Natsu softly asks again as he lowers himself so that they could be same eye level
"I uh…" Lucy uttered as she tried to gather her thoughts, "just had an emotional parting with my co-actors…"
Without saying a word, Natsu pulled Lucy to his chest and hugs the woman. Weird enough for her, the gesture actually gave her comfort and so to prolong the feeling, she wrapped her arms around his waist and sighs in relief.
"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" Natsu mumbles to her hair but she just shook her head and answered, "This is enough for me..." and with that, she felt his arms tighten even more around her waist.
They hugged one another for a good five minutes without even talking. It was silent, but it was not awkward. From time to time, Natsu would stroke her back to give her an assurance that everything was fine, and Lucy felt grateful for the gesture. When Lucy felt like the silence was too long already, she decided to speak, making the man alarmed.
"Will it be fine if we walked a bit?" Lucy mumbled to his chest. Pulling away from their embrace, Natsu cupped her cheeks once again and stared at her eyes as he said, "If that will make you feel better…" and with that, the two started their short stroll around the network.
With their silent stroll, they ended up at the small garden within the network, and they sat at one of the stone benches of the garden. When they were seated, Lucy immediately wraps her arms to Natsu's bicep and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Today was our last day of tapping…" Lucy suddenly mumbles, making Natsu look down at her and observe her sad expression, "The show was cut short, we have low ratings, a lot of bashers, many rumors…" Lucy then heaves a sigh.
Natsu didn't dare to make any comments because he knew that Lucy needed someone to share her troubles in life. Her sadness was overflowing that she needed to let go some of it so that she will be able to collect herself once again.
"I knew that my rumors with Loke would actually affect the shows I work on. I know it's really not my fault but I just feel bad, because something great was underrated all because I was part of it…" Soon, Lucy felt her tears roll down her cheeks and this somehow stained the sleeves of the president. So, as soon as he felt wetness to his shoulder, Natsu knew Lucy was crying again.
Instead of pulling Lucy to him again to give comfort, Natsu decided to mumble his words without looking at her, "Do you remember the first time we met at Fairy Tail?"
Lucy then lifts her head as she wipes her tears and stared at the man with confusion, "What about it?" and with that, Natsu looked at his side to glance at the blonde actress, "You were confident. You didn't give a shit about things… You were strong. Lucy, this is just some obstacles you always overcome. One day, those rumors will be forgotten to the point it would feel like it didn't exist"
"Why do you think so?" Lucy asks back as she looks down to her fumbling hands
"I just know so…" and with that Natsu genuinely smiled at the blonde, whom slowly looked up at him and returned the gesture before she leans her head back to his shoulder. Before she felt tiredness, she softly mumbles to Natsu, "Thank you for listening…"
"Glad to…especially without those media around…" when Natsu didn't hear any response back, he looked at the blonde and saw she has fallen asleep already.
Chuckling at first, Natsu silently admired the peaceful look of the blonde while she slept. He took note of the fact that Lucy looked like an angel, and there was no chance that he will forget her lovely appearance, "Weirdo…" Natsu teasingly said before he gently placed his hand on her head so that he could stand and carry her back to the car.
Soon enough, the two was back at the car and Natsu gently placed Lucy to the passenger side. Within a few minutes, they were back to the road and headed back to the condo building of the actress.
To be continued…
