Storyline: Continuation of 'Hate' - Part Four

Natsu released what must have been the millionth sigh as he made his way to his bike. He tried to ignore the fact that Lucy was trailing behind him, her hands behind her back innocently as she looked up at him with her big, amber eyes. He met her gaze unwillingly.

"What?" he asked, raising a brow at her needy expression. She grimaced and cast her eyes down to the floor.

"So, I was wondering if you would give me a ride-"

"No."

"But Natsu!"

Natsu hung head back in exasperation, trying his best not to look at the form in front of him.

"Lucy," he groaned. "It's bad enough you forced your way into staying at my place, especially when you're the last person on earth I'd even want to be within a hundred-mile radius with, and now you want a ride. Just fuck off."

Lucy sighed and dropped the sweet act, folding her arms stubbornly across her chest.

"I can't walk, Natsu! You live in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have another choice but to stay here. I've got nowhere else to go."

"You can't just stay at your parents place?"

Lucy's gaze turned hard.

"No." she responded in a stoic voice. Natsu arched a brow.

"Your parents not here?" he asked as he got onto the back and kicked the stand. He gestured with his head for Lucy to get on.

She got on but didn't respond. He drove slow enough that she could still hear him talk.

"Well?" he asked as they began driving. Lucy sighed.

"No Natsu, they're not here."

"Well, where are they? Thought you guys were inseparable."

"We were. Past tense."

Natsu chuckled as he leant to the left the make a corner, shaking his head.

"Did Princess Lucy have a falling out with her parents? That's not like you."

Lucy growled.

"No, I didn't fight with them. God, Natsu drop it."

"Whoa, where's all that new fight in ya, Lucy? That was quick."

"Natsu, I could beat your ass in any argument - I just don't want to discuss my parents."

"And why's that?" he asked in a more serious tone as he began to pull up into their school.

"Because there's nothing to discuss."

Natsu parked the bike and kicked to stand down as he stood, not helping Lucy as she got off clumsily.

"So, what?" He began again as they were walking to the school, making Lucy groan. "You left to come here, and they stayed behind at wherever it was you fucked off to?"

Lucy scoffed and shook her head, her eyes firmly ahead of them. Natsu sighed and stopped in front of her, halting her in her tracks. She looked up at him with a harsh glare.

"So, what?" he asked again, squinting his eyes in confusion at her reluctance.

"They're gone, Natsu." She snapped, folding her arms back over her chest as Natsu's eyes widened.

"They're what?"

"Gone. Dead. Deceased, whatever. They're gone."

Natsu almost groaned. How could he go on expressing his hate to her now? He knew how awful it was to lose a parent, and she'd lost two.

He allowed this. "I'm sorry."

The surprise that sparked in her eyes just because he said something semi-decent made Natsu's stomach clench with guilt, but he chased it away quickly.

"It's fine, was a while ago now. I'm fine." She said as she made her way around him, walking towards the school again.

Natsu caught up and walked - kind of - beside her as they made their way through the parking lot.

"So, what happened?" he asked, burying his hands in his pockets as he didn't know what to do with them.

"Mom died first – Cancer. Dad died in a car accident. I survived, he didn't."

"Fuck..."

"It's fine, wasn't anyone's fault."

They walked in silence before Natsu spoke up again.

"Were you hurt?" he asked, looking to her out of the corner of his eyes.

"Huh?"

"In the car accident that killed your dad, were you hurt?" Lucy chuckled.

"Concerned? Thought you hated me."

"Oh, I hate you, Lucy. Think of it as morbid curiosity."

She laughed.

"I was in the only secure spot in the car. If I'd sat in any other seat, then the one I was in I would have died. My dad had no chance. I got away with a small concussion and a few cuts and bruises."

"Hmm," Natsu hummed, nodding thoughtfully.

"…It's why I left."

Natsu looked at her. "What?"

"We found out my mom had cancer right after I… told you." Natsu's pulse quickened. "We moved because she got a spot in a clinical trial that could have saved her. It didn't."

He didn't know what to say to that. He could hardly compute the information. They walked in silence before their friends came into view, causing the two to sigh with relief.

"Hey guys!" Levy called, waving at the two excitedly.

Lucy hugged Levy and the sisters, and they began to talk contently. Natsu met with Gajeel and Gray somewhat reluctantly as the lecherous grins were plain on their faces.

"So," Gray began when Natsu came within hearing distance. "Heard Lucy was back in town and that you ran into her."

Natsu nodded but didn't respond.

"We also heard that she wasn't at Levy's this morning. Even though she's been staying there for a while," Gajeel continued, tilting his head at Natsu with a grin. "And that all her shit was packed up and everything"

"And she was now seen coming into school with you. Got anything to tell us?" Gray finished for them, raising a brow. Natsu sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Okay. Lucy is staying at my place but it's against my will." He shot an angry glance at Gray. "Don't even know why you're even asking since you're the one who gave her the key to my place, you moron."

Gray laughed and placed his hands in his pockets, shrugging. "I wanted to see if you'd admit it."

"But seriously, Natsu," Gajeel piped up again. "Have you seen Lucy now? Damn, I've got Levy, but Lucy is fucking hot."

Natsu snarled. "I cannot stand her."

The two men groaned and stepped away. Natsu glared at them both.

"Man can hold a grudge," Gray muttered.

""I'll say," Gajeel nodded.

"Oi!" the boys laughed, and the bell rang. The group of seven made their way to class contently, not missing all the looks Lucy's way. No one else knew Lucy was back in town but the six at her side.

Natsu couldn't suppress the way his blood boiled as wolf whistles were aimed Lucy's way and ogling eyes on her body. Lucy giggled along with the girls beside her and shook her head. Natsu gritted his teeth and stifled a growl.

She just had to come back and fuck up his life.