The cafeteria table jolted as Lucy thew herself down. She'd gotten through a good chunk of her work, but her stomach had grumbled so loud that Lucy could not brush it aside any longer and had come to the cafeteria to lead by the smell of grease and potatoes. Her mind had also been too preoccupied with thoughts of a certain someone to start her newest project. The creative writing club. Mira would really kill her.
From above her head, Gashile and Levy shared a look, both wanting the other to deal with the miserable, hungry blond that has shoved herself between them.
"She was your friend first, you do it" Levy's eyes were challenging,
Gashile slumped back in his seat, "But I just know this is gonna be a girl thing".
Her eyebrows rose, "and I just know we won't be making out for the next three days if you don't talk to her".
Gashile leaned back in her seat, horrified that she would think that would work on him, "and I'll make it four".
Levy threw her hands up in the air, "just help her" her she mouthed.
They both nodded at one and another, mouthing the sacred tool for times like this, rock paper scissors, bouncing their fists over Lucy's back.
Gahshile won.
'Lucy dear, what's wrong,' Levy asked, unsure of herself. Terrified the blond would cry or something, gods Gashile was rubbing off on her, she used to deal with Juvia's frantic every day.
Lucy groaned from the table. Gashile went to get up until Levy grabbed onto his arm with more strength than she'd ever possessed. "don't you dare leave me" her eyes said, 'Lucy… you must be hungry, here, have Gashile's fries'. She slid the fries over from Gashile's place, ignoring the death glare her darling boyfriend was giving, Lucy rested her chin on the table so she could eat. Levy stroked her hair, 'why don't you tell us what's wrong?'
A fry was mid-air, hovering above Lucy's mouth, thinking, a moment after she shook her head continuing to shove down fries. The couple shared a look again. This time nodding in agreement.
Gahsiel took his fries back. 'wha-'Lucy began, outraged, hand reaching out for the precious fast food.
'Sorry, broski no fires until you tell us what's up,' Gashile let out his infamous "gihi" laugh at the absolute betrayal etched upon Lucy's face.
She sat up then, head resting on the palm of her hand. For a moment she stayed hush hush but when Gahshile started eating the fries again Lucy spoke up, 'it's embarrassing okay'.
'it always is' said Levy, looking as unbothered as she could, 'just tell us. were your friends, we are supposed to know the embarrassing stuff.'
Lucy didn't look convinced, but sighed anyways, 'so there's this boy-' Gahshile chocked on his chips. Coughing before muttering a sorry edging her on to continue and failing to mask the brotherly protectiveness coming over him, 'there's this boy who I like' Gashile started again and Levy slapped him. 'that's it I can't do it' Lucy declared, putting her face in her hands as Levy gave gashile the Heimlich.
'no, NO' Levy insisted, getting her hair out of her face as if she hadn't just stopped her boyfriend chocking over a piece of gossip.
Gashile nudged her, giving a nervous but supportive smile, 'fine' Lucy sighed again peeling her hands away from her face, 'so I like this guy'
'We've gathered' Levy said, before shushing herself
'And I've liked him a really long time' Lucy continued, handing fidgeting nervously, 'but I don't know if he'll ever see me as more than a friend despite all my efforts to show him, I'm…attractive'
As Lucy looked down the couple had another silent conversation "it's Natsu" they both agreed, instantaneously, then Gashile, because he really was the older friend, said it aloud, 'it's Natsu'.
This time Lucy had the coughing fit, 'wh-what no way' she refused between coughs, face a vibrant shade of pink, 'he's my best friend, no way, how could you think that'.
'Because he's your best friend, now get over yourself and continue'.
'Well, what should I do? I mean do you think he likes me. Why would he? He's never directly said, Lucy, I like you- well he has but not like that, and how am I supposed to move us up from best friends to make-out buddies. Because we basically already do all the couple stuff anyway so really, I should be content but I'm not I really want to be with him but he's a dense idiot who can't take a hint and I don't want to ruin what we have but I might just go insane if we stay as we are.' Lucy went on like this for a while.
Her hand actions wild, and voice louder until Gashile had had enough, 'if you think he doesn't feel the same then you are the dense idiot that can't take a hint' she shut up then, 'look we all know Natsu is crazy about you. Always has been. We just didn't know you both were so oblivious to it, Jesus' he put a hand over his face and Levy put a hand on Lucy's shoulder.
'I think you both need to talk it out, maybe give it some more time. I think Natsu is in denial, he's never had to confront his emotions before. You know how he can be' Lucy nodded, quitter and calmer now, so Levy's eyes moved to Gashile, 'and you will, of course, be the one to talk girls with him Gashile'.
Had he been eating fries he would have choked. Again. 'And what makes you think that shrimp?' he asked raising eyebrows. There seemed to be a lot of that today.
'Because-'Levy began, an evil aura that challenged Erza's surrounding her, 'not only did your girlfriend ask you to but your friend is upset and needs your support. So, you can see why your girlfriend, who does not apricate being called shrimp, knows you are going to knock some sense into him'
'Y-yes mam'
Natsu had met her outside the school, practically bouncing with joy, 'Lucy!' he all but screamed, 'there's a sale on, buy one get TWO free of sensations, the local corner shops going bust' Lucy wondered if he should be saying that with such glee, but a bargain was a bargain, and she didn't make the rules.
'Race you there' it was out before she'd considered her skirt or shoes, or that she had decided she wasn't that kind of girl anymore.
So, when mid sprint she stopped, thus allowing Natsu to overtake her, Lucy felt a tad like a failure, her first thought around Natsu should have been, do I look pretty, or does this skirt look right, but it was which one of them could race to buy fucking sensations. No wonder he didn't have an interest in her like that. This was the kind of shit Gashile didn't know.
'Are you coming?' Lucy jumped, swearing loudly, nearly falling over had Natsu not caught her, yanking her upright by her elbow very un-romantically.
She flattened her skirt, 'yeah sorry, just my ankle' liar, but what could she say.
And then Natsu was crouched in front of her, facing away, 'hop on' shed had a piggyback before, sometimes begging Natsu to give her one after a particularly hard day of practice. And Natsu hardly ever gave her one.
Oh, great now she felt bad, 'it's okay I can walk' and she was wearing a skirt, although maybe that wouldn't be sooo bad.
The look, you should have seen it, eyebrows raised, 'and slow us down?' his town flat unimpressed, little bitch. Fine, she would have a piggy fucking back, no guilt now jackass.
When I tell you Lucy screamed, Lucy screamed, Natsu was challenging Usain fucking blot with his speed. How can one even run that fast whilst carrying someone? Well, they couldn't. he tripped.
Once more Lucy screamed, but this time with Natsu so it was more of a symphony of chaos and they connected with the ground. Both skidding slightly still all tangled up together.
Natsu was the first to try and move, Lucy's legs and feet still resting on his shoulders. There was a stinging to his left leg and a little wear to his trankies but nothing unusual for him. He dusted himself off, going to help Lucy who was now sitting upright inspecting her ripped tights. There was blood.
Well, they had been full of holes anyway, but this hole was bigger, so now it had fewer holes if you thought about it. 'I'm sorry' ok so he did feel kind of bad, Lucy had told him not to run, and her ankle had already been hurting so he'd just made life worse for her.
'It's good, but you are an idiot' Lucy took Natsu hand as an offering, 'they always look worse than they feel anyways' her hands were a little scarped up, one of her fancy girl-nails a little rough looking having taken the brunt of the fall.
He put his arm round her shoulder, pulling her into a side body hug, that had NEITHER of them blushing at ALL 'well we made it anyways' and that was true, they were pretty close to the shitty corner shop.
Natsu pulled up one of the miniature shopping trolleys because they lived in a pretentious small town where corner shops got more funding than downtown schools. 'this is your chariot' he declared, bowing in front of her with a handout, waiting for her to accept.
Not this. This was fucking girly shit that never came out of Natsu's mouth, she was going in a chariot (a shopping cart) not way never had he said some shit like that before, treated her like a girl. This was a go-kart that he pushed her down the hill in.
She was completely overdramatizing the whole thing. Putting her hand in his, admittedly, nearly as rough as his despite all the creams she'd been applying, however, there was a large improvement. He helped her get in, steading the trolly as she and it nearly toppled over from her very un-lady like way of getting in, old habits die hard.
And thus, they went around the store, Natsu pushing Lucy, although it was more like she was in a stroller despite Natsu's constant chivalry voice.
She had been embarrassed when one of the workers, slightly older than them had given her a look, even more so when she watched his eyes lower. Lucy pretended not to notice; this was a girls problem after all.
She just hoped Natsu didn't notice, 'hey her eyes are up here buddy' he said, snapping the stork clerk out of whatever…daydream he had been in. Lucy and the store clerk went red. Lucy pleaded for Natsu to push them away, he looked down at her, surprised to see her looking, more embarrassed than pissed off. They met eyes for a moment, Lucy pleading for this to not become a huge ordeal and Natsu wondering why the hell not.
They moved on quickly. Settling into a slightly forced debate on what flavour of popcorn they wanted on the side. Both of them knew it would end up sweet and salty, it always ended up sweet and salty because that just how they did things. but it was an argument they had every week,
'why are you so bitter, isn't life salty enough'.
'sorry life's not all rainbows and unicorn shit' Natsu resorted, still clutching the extra salty popcorn. But not resisting when Lucy picked up sweet and salty.
'I think you're missing the real history behind sweet popcorn'.
'I think you're missing how absolutely delicious salty is'.
They left the store with sweet and salty.
And this Friday passed like and others, except it wasn't like any other. Because they watched from coms, although the outfits were just as mocked. Lucy painted Natsu's nails, something he LOVED a lot, despite the hassle of waiting for them to dry and Lucy's lack of skill.
He had tried to paint hers, alas they were her toenails acrylics covering her fingernails and was actually surprisingly steady-handed. Impatient, but steady-handed. He vowed to paint her nails for her. And was inspired to try at the arts. He didn't ever divulge in his skills but Natsu was quite the artist. From what you could see them in the corner of his English book much to his teacher's annoyance.
Coating them in a final clear glossy layer Natsu screwed the lid on, feeling proud, 'I see a career in the making' he chuffed, nudging Lucy, who was looking over at her bag on the floor intensely, 'what' he asked, annoyed she was not gushing over her designer toenails.
'I got some chemistry homework coming up, if I do it now, I'll be ahead of schedule'
'but you've been working all week,' in interjected, 'we've hardly seen each other, weekends are for breaks' he slouched down on top of her, resting his head on her stomach, 'I've missed ya' he admitted, praying she didn't look down and see his VIBRANT blush.
She looked down. Fuck. But then she nodded, 'I've missed you too, dummy,' she sighed, running her finger through his hair, 'but I wanna be something this year, I'm never something. Someone. Just dude-bro Lucy. If I work hard enough maybe I can pull up my grades, go somewhere different. Be different. I don't wanna work for the company, but if I don't get my shit together, I won't have much choice'
Natsu had his eyes closed, Lucy's hands were tunning lightly at his hair, he felt her handball up, 'you are working yourself to death won't get you anywhere neither.' He laughed, 'remember when we had a competition coming up and I twisted my ankle, but I went anyway-'
'I told you not to'.
'and I ended up spraining the thing and on crutches' he continued, ignoring her interruption, 'well this is the same. You're tired, and if you keep pushing sleeps not goanna be your solution'.
When Lucy heard something, she didn't like to hear she would bite her lip, and Lucy was biting her lip. Natsu was right, it was a tad excessive, but excessive had seemed good. A work ethic was desirable wasn't it, and her Hearphilia blood was filled with it. Natsu thumb was on her lip.
'quit gnawing on your lip, luce' he looked up at her, cheeks still that's glowing red, but his eyes, she could, as cliché as it sounded, get lost in them. His concern was sweet. And when he moved his thumb away Lucy ignored the empty pang she felt.
Gods she loved him, 'sorry'.
Hair tossing just enough to melt Lucy's heart as he shook his head Natsu disagreed, 'no need apologizing to me, your lips the one being abused' she giggled in a very un lucy was stopping abruptly when she realised it was unintentional, Natsu looked at her funny but decided this time he couldn't tease her, 'and you're someone. To me at least. I know it's not what you meant but I've always considered you someone' they all had but he didn't feel like mentioning the boys.
If Lucy's heart hadn't been all melted on the floor before now there was certainly a need for a mop and bucket. It was lines like that that made Natsu so damn impossible not to love.
'it wasn't, but I suppose it also was, I know you don't need reassuring but your someone to me too'.
'it's nice to hear it every once and awhile. Bad memory you know'.
Lucy swatted him, momentarily removing her hands from his hair only to weave them back in when she once again was left with that, coldness like leaving a hug.
Lucy didn't know how long they stayed like that. Comfortably silent, Natsu in her arms her fingers tangled in his soft, soft hair. But she knew without a doubt that she could have stayed like that for the rest of her life.
GUYS GUYS GUYS, OMG ITS BEEN SO LONG IVE MISSED YOU ALL. I HAD A MENTAL HEATH BREAK FROM EVERYTHING EXCEPT MY MASS OF EXAMS. AND NOW MY GCSE'S ARE CANCELLED AND LIFE IS VERY STRESSFUL. BUT YEAH, WE MOVE.
SO DIDYA LIKE IT?! LEVY AND GASHILE ARE MY FAVS. I HONESTLY GET TH EMOST ENJOYMENT OUT OF WRITING ALL THE BRO SCENES. THEY REALLY HIT HOME YA KNOW.
WHAT DID YOU LOVE AND WHAT DID YOU HATE. IM A LITTLE LOW ON MOTIVATION AND I LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS.
STAY SAFE AND I LOVE Y'ALL