Chapter four
There are many things technology has allowed many wonderful people to do, but at that moment Lucy believed wholeheartedly that facetime was in fact the greatest invention of the twenty first century, you see Lucy was on FaceTime to Juvia before going to the arcade, they were choosing her outfit, something that required a lot more thought than originally anticipated. By lucy at least, 'skirts are impractical for arcades so rule them out'
Lucy nodded, mildly afraid at the brutality, eliminating the two skirts in her pile of candidates, 'mom jeans then?' juvua nodded approvingly, ' I was thinking a tank top or should I go graphic?'
Juvia put her hands on her hips, 'well does Lucy want to turn heads?' Lucy thought about it, imagining Natsu double taking when looking at her Lucy nodded, 'then the white tank, some chains and thick trainers oh an Lucy should add a bucket hat an those fire sunglasses they would look so good on Lucy'
'thanks juvs you're the best I love you, oh and tell Mira thanks for letting me off her girl classes today' lucy had feared she wouldn't be able to go, worried the girls would take offence or something, but Mira and Erza had waved her off. Telling her not to worry and to show off her new look.
'Lucy is welcome, juvia was happy to help'
The call ended with a beep, lucys room quite, she cringed. Now that the call was over Lucy had to work on replicating the makeup Mira had done for her. Her eyeliner took a while, she apparently did not have fine motor skills, but the lip gloss and highlighter were easy, it still felt weird on her face though. Sticky.
Beauty is pain, she mused to herself, using her hands to add a bit of bad bitch volume to her hair. She hadn't seen herself looking so…cool before, sunglasses instantly brought out her inner baddie. She even blew a kiss at the mirror before hopping out the door.
Walking into the arcade the boys were all already there. Surrounding one machine like ants at food. She made a face, ants. Going on her tiptoes, wanting to see what they were playing Lucy observed that it was Loke was playing Pac man, natsu was standing over the side, one hand on the top of the machine, Lucy tapped Nasus shoulder, 'hey'
His eyes widened but then narrowed again, a competitive glare she told herself, he snapped himself out of it quickly, whatever it was, 'hey, whoever gets to the highest level gets all their food payed for by us'
A fist was in the air, 'fucking score, I'm winning that' Lucy regretted her lip gloss, couldn't eat like a queen with sicky sparkles over her mouth.
He smiled again, and Lucy decided she had imagined the glare after all, 'luce is next!' he roared much much louder than necessary and suddenly she was noticed
'Lucyyyy' they group cheered, Loke stepping away from the machine, having lost due to the commotion. He didn't seem to mind though, well, not too much if the small kick at the machine was anything to go by.
Lucy walked over to the pack man, if she had sleeves she would have rolled them up, 'Ok ok my turn, get ready to open your wallets boys' she said, putting her coins in the machine, and the game started up again.
Pac man had never been her greatest game, but she managed to beat Loke and Gray's score. Two ghosts cornering her, brutal. Stupid Natsu having beat her by only one level, one! and gashile being champion by an extra two.
'suck it suck it suck it' he roared crowing himself king, pointing his ringed fingers at each of them individually, 'someone by me a slushy'
Humble.
'reminding me to never let gashile win ever again' Gray whispered to Lucy, what kind of dragon had they unleashed into the poor arcade of magnolia.
'remind me to punch him when this is over,' she shot back
The two fit bumped and went to go fined the dance games, Gray had a secret passion for them and Lucy was the only one who knew. 'cools shades by the way' he said as they started up the game. It was still weird looking at Lucy so … glammed up. But alas he was trying. And he supposed it was something he could get used to.
Lucy smiled, the kind of simile that means something good for the receiver of said smile, 'thanks, juvia picked them out for me' bingo, he grinned at t that Gray didn't often say his love for Juvia but he thought her the most stylish, perfect girl in the world. Nothing anyone ever said could change his mind and when anyone proved his point, intentionally or not, he was reminded how great she was.
'okay lets play!' then game began, they held onto the bards behind them for support, the music loud and fast paced with the occasional "cool" or "great" the two had bought a dance mat once, each had a mat so they could practice, Gray because he was in fact the dancing queen 17 and Lucy because she liked to win.
They were silent as they played, both concentrating on the game. Lucy had worn chunky fashion trainers, with neon colours that matched the game quite well, the disco lights from the game screen reflecting onto her hair that bounded around. She now realised the aesthetic juvia had set her up for, looking like she belonged yet still a bad ass girly girl. Juvia was a genius.
And she was learning.
A small crow of four or five people had formed, which always happens when people see talent in the arcade. A slightly unnecessary confidence boost knowing that Lucy's ego was already through the roof at that moment. Once their song was over a girl cam up to them, frighteningly similar to Lucy's old fashion taste of hoddies and sweats, 'erm I really like your outfit' she said, a soft smile on her face.
Lucy beamed down at her ecstatic that a stranger had come up to HER and complimented HER 'thank you so much, I like you hoodie' because she did, had bought one strikingly similar once. The girl smiled and walked off to her own friend group, a mix of boys and girls, more diverse than Lucy being the only representative for gals in her own group. She looked at Gray, who was smiling at her dumbly, 'what?'
'nothing,' but his grin only grew, ' just look at you being all happy, getting complimented' he pulled her into a hug, he had been against the transformation the girls had done on Lucy, but she was still herself at heart, and seemed happier, this was why they gotten the girls to make an effort with Lucy in the first place, these little bits that they just were no good at.
'aww Gray don't go all sappy on me now' it was true that it was very un Lucy. But this was new Lucy she could be whatever she wanted. 'another round?'
He considered it, but ten shook his head, 'lets get drinks and meet with the others, we can go on the racers'
So they meetup with the others after getting slushies, Natsu and Loke were shooting hoops and gashile was eating some fries, no doubt trying to drain their wallets before the night was out. 'Loke' Lucy cheered, he was loosing miserably, sports was not his thing try as he might. Though that never seemed to put off the mob of girls every valentines day.
She watched Natsu jump too, miles ahead of Loke, if was as if grabbing the ball was what was slowing him down. The timer buzzed and both of them collapsed. Natsu raising a fist of justice. Lucy passed him her slushie 'thanks' he panted grabbing her arm so she could pull him up in a very bro-ish manner,
Gray pulled Loke up, who seemed to get his energy back despite having looked as if he were about the be KO'd moments before.
'looking good Lucy ' he said with a smirk, because he was a bit of a fashionista himself and what could he say, she was quite the looker if she tried.
He got a punch to the arm, 'don't practice you charms on me Loke ouch'
'but the only lady worth charming'
'stop you're freaking me out' she deadpanned, ignoring lokes hurt heart clench in favour of stealing back her slushy from nastu, hed been on his phone, ignoring lokes pursual of Lucy. Or trying to. It was kind of annoying Loke only flirting with Lucy when he realised she hand a pretty face
Luc had always been gorgeous…wait no that wasn't his point. What was his point? If you like a girl it should be for her personality! Yeah that !
Giving back the slush without much of a fight the group went to the racers simulator. Each choosing the most glam and powerful car they could. Lucy went with non-yellow, her character the only female in the game.
Natsu on one side and gashile on the other he was ready to race. The siren went off and the checkered flash plashed across their screens. With the words "go" the cars all zoomed off head and head from years of experience.
It was between Lucy Natsu and Loke, his expertise car games. Everyone leaned forward as close to the screens as the could be.
It was the final lap Gray nearly overtook natsu but he sent him spinning off to the side. Cackling as he went. Lucy and Loke were neck and neck, each care seeping ahead of the other, adrenaline high. Tension brimming, neither spared the other a glance. They. Had. to. win!
The crossed the finish line both under or who one lip biting despite the lip gloss, nervous excited, practically buzzing in her heat.
Lucy was announced winner her character waving with a gold trophy in hand, she stood up cheered, Natsu saluted and Loke, clapped a tad dejected. She was champion for another week! And Loke owed her another slushie.
Getting up she put her sunglasses on Natsu, 'hold still I'm going to use you as my personal mirror'. She pulled out her lip gloss and leaned forward, coating her lips in the shimmery gloss. She had a mirror in her bag, but Natsu hadn't really seemed to pay much attention to her transformation so a little push would do him no harm.
Natsu was in hell. What the hell was Lucy doing, well she was putting lip gloss on, using her sunglasses as a minor, on him? Couldn't she ask someone else.. scratch that he didn't want her asking anyone else but it was really hard not to stare at her lips, her gloss soft lips, they looked so… he focused on her nails. Praying his blush would go away, should he close his eyes, that would be weird, he couldn't do that, but just leaving them open, he was staring at her lips again, she took the sunglasses off, ad he blinked slowly eyes still on her lips, Lucy giggled, snapping him out of it. 'l-let go get that slushie, LOKE' he shouted, a little too loud,
'the hell are you shouting about fireball' Gray was looking between him and Lucy, a coy smile on his own face, he-he saw?
Lucy was giggling, did she know what she was doing? Was lucy a demon, having risen from the depth of hell purely to torment him, why!? No it was because of his outburst. Yeah he needed to stop with his wild ideas. He wanted to punch Gray.
Handing the long-discussed slushie over to Lucy Loke put an arm round her shoulder, 'to my defeater and friend'
More games were played, punch more low key and a few group competitions and for a while, Natsu was able to forget about the transformation of his best friend. Things where back to how they should be. But only for a moment.
so its been a while, sorry about that. i now have my mock exams, and with the current state of the world, they might be my actual exams. wooo. also BIDEN WON FUCK YEAH
also thank you all so so much for the reviews they again mean the world and if you don't think I tear up reading them then you are kidding yourselves. I'm a big baby
ok so twenty reviews for the next chapter to be early, a bit more than I usually say but since I have exams...
the spelling in this chapter is interesting, how many ways can I spell gashile. that's the real question. i do apologise and when I'm more free on time I will edit through this story.
anyways ily guys wash your hands stay safe and fight boomers!