Chapter three!

Okay, so today's writing was bought about by a route card which needs to be completed for my Duke of Edinburgh exhibition by midnight as well as English revision for my literature exam tomorrow... One of these days I should probably stop writing and just revise...

In the next chapter will be the appearance of Rogue, however until then, enjoy

Ah well... Here's the chapter :)

Chapter Three-

You only hate the road when you are missin' home

Pushing open the heavy, wooden guild doors, I stride inside. A few pairs of eyes look up at me, the same eyes that look up from their business whenever someone enters the guild. But at the sight of me they are slightly wide. Feeling slightly self conscious, I look away from them and head straight towards the request board on the far side of the guild, filled with determination.

Reaching the board, I quickly skim over the requests, pulling down one of the pieces of paper after a few seconds of looking. The request looks older than the rest for it had been situated under a few more pieces of paper. I stand at the board for a minute longer, but before I can talk myself out of my choice, I turn around. Moving just as swiftly, I make my way towards the white haired woman standing behind the bar. She hasn't noticed me yet, instead, she is smiling and talking to a younger looking woman with hair equally as white, just shorter. Her younger sister.

As I approach the bar, the barmaid looks up at me. Her hand stills wiping the glass she is cleaning and her eyes widen slightly, her mouth agape.

"Lucy...?"

Her sister turns on her stool to stare at me in the moment, her facial expression mirroring that of her older sisters.

"Hey Mira, Lissana." I look at the white haired barmaid, Mirajane, before looking over to her sister sitting on the bar stool and nod at her. A small, sheepish smile gracing my lips. The looks on their faces would suggest they had just seen a ghost, and those looks have begun to make me slightly uneasy. Clearing my throat slightly, I look away from the women, thrusting the job request in Mirajane's direction. "I would like to take this job, Mira."

Regaining her composure, Mira takes the request from my hands and looks it over. Closing her mouth, Lisanna turns back to her sister and looks over the top of the paper trying to get a look at the request I have chosen. Looking back to them, I wait for Mirajane's reply. Her eyes flick over the paper, frowning slightly.

"Are you sure you want this request, Lucy? There are others to choose from."

Her voice was questioning, as if she was slightly worried for me. The request I had picked out had been something I would have usually undertaken with 'Team Natsu', instead of on my own.

Mage's help needed!
Magically skilled bandits assaulting young, unarmed women
Very dangerous
Reward of 160,000 Jewels to apprehend the criminals

The job is located in Fressia Town, a good few hours train ride away and also somewhere I don't recall ever visiting before. It'll all be new; the city and undertaking a mission like this alone.

Nodding firmly towards Mira, I answer her question.

"I'm sure, Mira. I want that one."

Still with an uncertain look on her face, she nods before disappearing behind the bar to retrieve the request book all jobs are recorded inside. I have seen Mira write in it many times before, but my name hadn't been in it for months now. I watch as she takes note of the request details, my name and the date, Lissana now holding the piece of paper and reading over my choice.

Once Mirajane has finished taking note, she returns the book to its space behind the bar and looks up at me.

"There Lucy, the job is yours." I nod, taking the request sheet back from Lisanna, before going to turn away and head out of the guild towards the train station. At that moment, a hand lightly grabs my wrist. Turning to look back at who had grabbed hold of me, I see Mira's face, her smile soft and eyes slightly sad. "It's good seeing you again, Lucy."

"Same here."

I smile back. Releasing my hand, Mirajane picks up the glass she had been cleaning before I arrived, beginning to rub at it once more. Lisanna sends a small smile in my direction before turning back to her sister, beginning their conversation again in lower, more hushed tone. Walking towards the guild doors, I leave without talking to anyone else. Heading towards the train station is my first priority, getting to Fressia Town and kicking some perverts arses.

It's about time the 'old Lucy' made her reappearance.

.

The train out of Magnolia is unusually quiet compared to what I remember. The trip a lot longer than it used to be. Then it hits me, before I used to share the train journey with the others; Gray, who I could sit and have a conversation with, laughing along to jokes or stories of Juvia's stalking. Happy who, although I hated it I am finding I am missing in this moment, would make comments on my weight or fish. Erza, who would scold Natsu for loudly moaning as his motion sickness kicks in. Whimpering and whining, face green, almost. I would stroke his head and say how we were almost at our destination, smiling at his cute face and listening to his rambling as he dribbles.

Sighing, I now realize why the trip is so lonely and quiet. I didn't have my friends, and I hate that. In fact, I hadn't properly had my friends with me in a long time. It had been the first time I had spoken to Mira in a while, and I passed so many of my friends without talking to them.

I had passed Levy sitting reading, Gajeel sitting next to her, watching her intently while Jet and Droy sat scowling at him. Probably annoyed they weren't next to Levy. Romeo was keeping Wendy company, making her laugh as he blushed. Cana, as usual, drinking some poor soul under the table. Gulping, I sigh.

I miss home...

However, I violently shake the thought from my head moments after they come to me. Instead, I lean my temple against the train window and watch as it fogs up from my warm breath. The world outside is flying by in blurs of shapes, molding into a mash of colour.

A few more hours and I'll be in Fressia Town.