Lucy rolled her eyes from the balcony of the second floor, watching all the girls rushing towards the cafeteria to get a glimpse of the one and the only Natsu Dragneel. A month had passed by in a blink and now it was fourteenth March, White Day of this year. The day which girls of Fairy Tail Academy excitedly waited for, only in hopes of receiving Natsu's gift.

Which he never gave to anyone.

He was the biggest playboy to ever exist, at least as per Lucy. There probably wasn't a single girl left in the school with whom he hadn't hooked up, obviously excluding the blonde topper. As if she would ever fall prey to him!

Yet all the girls Natsu broke up with or cheated on were crazy for him. Even girls from other high schools were head over heels for this one guy. It would almost seem like he had any spell cast on them, in reality there were had plenty of reasons as to why he was loved so much.

Even though Lucy wasn't on good terms with Natsu, she was well aware of his qualities.

Firstly, Natsu was really hot. His deep black always gleamed with playfulness. He had a sharp nose, his well defined cheekbones curved down to his flinty jaw. His spiky locks were unique since he was the only one around with salmon coloured hair, though, Lucy thought it suited him the best. His skin was tanned, a shade darker than hers, he had broad shoulders and he was fit from his regular training and exercise.

The most enticing thing about him was his signature grin, a dazzling smile. He could easily steal away people's breath with his smile, it was indeed one of his breath-taking features. But the thing that attracted Lucy the most was the scar on his right neck, for some reasons he looked extremely sexy with it, Lucy thought so.

Lucy had never once bothered to deny that he was extremely handsome, not that she would ever say that aloud but she was definitely attracted to him. His fashion sense was great too. Stylish tshirts, fitting jeans and leather jackets only added to his looks.

He was real nice to others, he had great relationships with his classmates and teachers. He was a general member of the school's charity and donation club. Lucy often used to see him visiting the orphanage nearby so she had once gone there out of curiosity and what the authority told her almost melted her heart. Natsu was sponsoring their needs and finding families ready to adopt the kids.

He never misbehaved with the girls he hooked up with, even if the relationship was for only a month or even a week, he was a caring boyfriend to say the least. And so, it was no surprise that the girls who he had broken up with once still wanted to go back to him.

Anyways, yeah, Natsu Dragneel was like who would be called every girl's 'dream man' no doubt. Not to mention he was also the top basketball player of Fairy Tail. He was nice, handsome, talented as well as...rich.

Did Lucy mention that he was the son of Igneel Dragneel, a great businessman and her father's rival? Lucy Heartfilia was the daughter of Jude Heartfilia, who was also a great businessman.

And Igneel Dragneel and Jude Heartfilia were rivals for years, literally years.

Lucy shook her head off the thoughts and saw the pinekette standing at the entracnce of the cafeteria, surrounded by many many girls, he was cheerfully talking to all of them as if most weren't his ex once. Her chest constricted with a familiar emotion, an emotion she didn't want to think about. She wanted to forget it every time she saw him with other girls. The blonde tsked, moving away from the railing and then padded towards the study room which she desperately hoped was empty. So she could cry her heart out without anyone noticing.

Just when Lucy thought the study room was completely unoccupied, a blue head peaked from behind one of the shelves. But it was none other than her best friend Levy Macgarden, much to Lucy's delight. The blonde sighed in relief and then smiled sadly at her petite friend.

"Levy-chan how are you?" Lucy stood beside the bluenette, absentmindedly tracing her fingers on a book on the shelf. Levy didn't answer, instead she took the blonde's hand and led them to the nearby table to sit. "I'm fine but what about you, you don't look fine to me?" She sat across from her depressed friend and asked.

"Yeah I'm not fine..." Lucy agreed.

"Lu-chan, just talk to Nat-" Levy was cut off by a glare from her best friend.

"It won't matter if I do."

"It will. You're just making excuses."

"Levy-chan..." This one came out more as a sigh. "Fine, I am making excuses!" She accepted.

"Lu-chan why aren't you willing to talk to him when you know you need to?" Levy spoke in an accusatory tone. "It's been three years-"

"Please Levy-chan," Lucy faced away scrunching her eyes shut, as if to escape the reality anyhow. she didn't want to recall the past and Levy understood her best friend, though, she still had to play her role.

"Lu-chan, how Natsu has been all these years is because of you." Levy placed her hand atop the blonde's, then squeezed and Lucy visibly relaxed. "You know you love him, some business rivalry between families shouldn't stop you from doing what's best for you both. If you just sort things, I'm sure things will fall back into place."

Lucy looked at her, a dejected look in her brown orbs. "Levy-chan I'm just afraid... what if after everything is fixed, something bad happens and affects us? I won't be able to..." Lucy trailed off.

"Lu-chan love comes with ton of hurdles and it's not love unless you struggle to be with the person you love." A small smile playing on Levy's lips as she gently placed a hand over her heart, "you do know how Gajeel and I started right? I was scared even of his shadow back then and see where we're now." She reminded.

"It's different for you two!" Lucy poorly reasoned as she withdrew her hand from underneath Levy's and the bluenette huffed, "absolutely not Lu-chan. Our case was worse than yours, Gajeel was sent to jail for physically assaulting me but I still gave our relationship a chance after he redeemed right? Then why can't you!" Levy almost yelled in frustration.

"I just...don't wanna hurt him or myself in the future," Lucy slowly stood up and proceeded to walk towards the door. Levy didn't stop her, she knew it was no use. But the petite girl sincerely hoped her friend would stop hurting herself and the pinkette. "It pains to see him with anyone else Levy-chan but I know I can bear with it. Someday, maybe, both of us can move on and be happy...or at least he can."

With that, the girl walked out of the study room leaving behind a sighing Levy Mcgarden. Lucy didn't know where she was going but she desperately needed some alone time to clear her head.

Just as the girl was about to go inside the ladies washroom, a calloused hand gripped her wrist, yanking her to his hard chest. Before the blonde could let out a startled yelp, Natsu's other hand covered her mouth. Lucy let out a muffled noise and struggled to get out of his tight grip.

"Luce, Luce it's me, Natsu." He assured and felt her relax as he slowly withdrew his both hands with an audible huff. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Lucy furiously turned around and put some distance between their bodies. "Do you want me to report you to Porly-sensei?" Natsu rolled his eyes at her threat.

"Calm down will ya? I wasn't gonna hurt you." He defended himself, "I just came to see you...for the last time." "What?" Lucy hadn't meant to yell but she couldn't digest his words at all. Her heart almost stopped beating as it clenched painfully in her chest. What did he mean? Was he leaving Fairy Tail or something... Why?

"Umm yeah, dad wants me to pursue my higher business studies in Australia and I can't say no to him..." he awkwardly smiled, it took all of Lucy's strength to not run away and cry in some dark corner of the school. "We aren't on best terms so I just wanted to meet you once before I leave." The pinkette reasoned, not realising the mere thought of not seeing him ever again was killing the blonde from inside. Natsu took a deep breath and reached his pocket to bring out a small box.

For a brief moment, Lucy's somewhat obvious pained expression was replaced by a genuine baffled look. She patiently waited for him to say anything, instead she saw Natsu fidgeting with the small object as if he didn't know what to say. There was an uncomfortable silence for a minute or perhaps a few between the pair. But Lucy was reluctant to speak first.

Her wish was granted when the boy spoke up, "uhm, and you see this...I just wanted to return this to you." He held out the box to her. "I didn't want to keep it anymore so yeah." He added then. Lucy held her breath for a moment and took the pink box from Natsu. Honey brown eyes widened when she opened it, a band. It was a very much simple handmade friendship band. Half-hitch knots tied diagonally, three maroon red strings forming the candystripe pattern with a tiny 'L' in the centre.

Lucy had made it for him all those years ago, when they were in middle school. It was a gift for friendship day, so that he would think of her every time he looked at it and so that he would never forget about her.

Their beautiful bond, despite all of the issues and misunderstandings between their families. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes as the girl stared down at the thing in her palm, recalling the time.

She traced her fingers on the wristband gently.

Natsu had stopped wearing it some time after their big fight and Lucy had chosen to pretend to not care. When in reality breaking their friendship had affected her to the point where the blonde had spent nights after nights locking herself inside her spacious room, crying for hours. No one knew except for her close friends.

She had repeatedly consoled her own mind assuming that he had kept the band with him, and that he might've still cared about her. Now they were in the senior year of high school and here, Natsu was returning the band to her, the only momento of their beautiful past. So he didn't want to even remember her anymore...Yeah he wanted to move on from her.

Even though, she herself wanted him to move on so that at least he could be happy if not both of them, she couldn't shoo away the pain in her heart. She knew she loved him and maybe would continue to do so until the end probably but God it hurt, oh how she was tempted to let the tears fall down her cheeks but Lucy guessed it was for good.

He was going to fulfill his dreams and possibly find someone far better than her in the future. What else could Lucy Heartfilia want right? She had to at least say goodbye properly! So what if she wad going to shatter to pisces after he left? It didn't matter, it really didn't, as long as Natsu was happy in his life. Lucy would be fully contended with that.

"Oh." The blonde muttered, placing the maroon band inside the box and then closing it as she forced a fake smile but still didn't glance up at him. "I never thought you would keep this for so long guess I was wrong?" She cleared her throat, trying hard to not let him see through her emotions.

"Y-Yeah." He stiffly chucked. "So how's it going for ya?"

"Just fine. W-What about you?" Lucy's voice almost cracked and she instantly bit on her bottom lip. "I'm all good. I'm flying to Sydney tonight." The pinkette informed and before he could go on any further, the blonde girl flew to his chest, grabbing him too hard that it almost hurt. She had dropped the pink box, not caring about anything else for the time being.

Lucy knew she was being selfish and she shouldn't have done what she did. But she couldn't hold back herself anymore, she just couldn't. She too had emotions after all, she had to break at some point. It had been three fucking years and she longed for him, for his warm embrace. She missed being held by him, missed being with him. But she was confining those feelings, being content with just seeing him from afar. Now when he was going to leave her, what was Lucy supposed to do? Although she tried, she failed.

No, Lucy couldn't possibly live without him around. God help her, she was too messed up. Natsu's strong arms draped her like a blanket, it felt like centuries since had been held by the boy. "I'm...I'm s-sorry Natsu, I don't w-want you to... leave." She sobbed into his chest and he didn't dare speak, instead he rubbed her back up and down to comfort the girl and placed his chin atop her head. He would let her finish.

Natsu Dragneel couldn't even describe how he had felt when Lucy had broken their friendship three years ago after his love confession to his best friend. They had been best friends since their very childhood and it hadn't taken her even a minute to leave behind their bond. Had he been so unworthy of her love? She had cut him off from every single of her social media and had even missed several classes to avoid him.

It had been extremely torturing for him yet Lucy hadn't bothered about him. After a fucking month of disappearing, the blonde had gone to her usual routine just one differenece, she had totally forgotten the pinkette's existence. As if he had been invisible. It had taken him multiple days after that to be fully accustomed to the new Lucy Heartfilia. But he had still tried to talk to her only for her to act as though she had hated Natsu Dragneel.

After many more days, Natsu had decided to play along with her antics as long as she would've played. He had taken several flings out of frustration but none of them had worked for more than a month maybe? Some of them had been for a week and even two or three days. But Natsu had learned to flow with it, needing something to keep his mind off of Lucy. Flirting with random girls, late night parties and his favourite game basketball had been his entire world.

At some point, Natsu had become Fairy Tail's most famous playboy.

"I c-can't live without you Natsu, I don't want y-you to leave please..." Lucy wailed like a child and held onto the boy she loved more than anything. "I had always loved you...but I w-was too afraid too c-cross the line...I wanted to be with y-you. But I was worried, f-father would n-never accept that...what if our families found out later and wouldn't l-let us see each other again, what if they sent u-us away from each other in future, we'd never be able to m-move on, at least I wouldn't. So...I kept my feelings locked inside me 'cause...'cause I was a-afraid, I was an idiot and I couldn't trust in o-our bond. I deliberately p-pushed you away...from myself before it was too late. I didn't want it to be painful for us in the future. I'm sorry Natsu..."

At last Lucy stopped, panting as she fought to breathe properly. Her body shook in his grasp and he pulled her more into his grip. "Shh now, you really are an idiot." He mumbled and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry...Natsu, don't leave." She pleaded as more tears streamed down her eyes, drenching his shirt where her face was buried. He sighed and smoothed his hand down her long blonde hair again and again, while the other one remained on the small of her back.

"I ain't going anywhere weirdo," he said and the blonde stopped crying after a moment, "yeah I promise." Lucy hastily leaned her head back a bit and glanced up at him with a perplexed expression. "What...?" She blinked a couple of times, expecting an answer from the pinkette and he swore, she looked the cutest like that. "I said, I'm not going anywhere."

"But then...what...why did you say all that?" Lucy almost sounded angry as she asked and he laughed, letting go of her slowly. The girl straightened her dress and stared at him. He shook his head in disbelief, "you don't understand do you Luce?" The boy grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him again, his face inches away from hers. It was long since the last time she had the chance to properly appreciate his features. He was so damn handsome...

Before she could contemplate anymore, the pinkette seized her plump lips with an urgency which sent electric jolts throughout her entire body. Lucy kissed him back with same kind of desperation. His lips were soft and chapped against her own and the girl felt a faint tickle of hot breath beneath her nose as they breathed each other in. Natsu ran his tongue along the seam of her bottom lip and she parted her lips to let him enter.

Freeing her wrist from his grip, she then wound her arms around his neck and ran her long fingers through his unruly hair. His hands landed full on her hips, pulling her even more. He dominated her mouth and their tongues sensually rubbed along each other's. Even though it was neither's first kiss, it was the best by far.

But the desperate duo had forgotten the fact that they were practically making out just outside the ladies' washroom until someone cleared their throat almost too loudly and they broke the kiss, springing back like two same poles of magnet who repel each other.

"Natsu, Lucy, I hope you two know that you're prohibited to do anything even remotely improper inside the school campus?" Erza Scarlet crossed her arms over her bosom, expecting an answer from

the pair who blushed furiously at her comment and gulped hard recalling how strict the red haired student council president was. "I'm sorry Erza!" They apologised in unison.

"As long as you don't repeat the same thing, I can forgive." She said.

"And Natsu Dragneel," Erza glared at the pinkette and he started sweating visibly at the thought of any punishment from the scarlet haired girl. "You do know that Makarov-sensei and Porly-sensei have forbidden all the boys to stroll anywhere near the ladies' washroom and changing rooms right?" Natsu nodded instantly, "I just wanted to meet Lucy..."He gulped again, waiting for whatever was to come next.

"That I can see but how come there isn't a single girl here during an off period? I only saw a few girls in the chemistry lab and one in the study room. Where are the rest?" Erza mused, putting a hand under her chin, even Lucy had the same question but none of them missed the relaxed look on Natsu's face. "I told Gray to keep them occupied till the period ends."

Both girls raised their brows in confusion as neither could figure out what he meant by that. "Gray and the girls are in the volleyball ground as far as I know. He probably announced something about the winner getting a white day gift from me or something along the lines." He explained and received exasperated looks from the girls, especially from the blonde topper. "That was the only way to escape from them!" He quickly clarified.

However, Erza Scarlet wasn't the least bit interested in the couple's bickering but inside, she was glad since they most probably had gotten back together. She decided to do what was right, to leave them that was. So she cleared her throat again, "the off period ends within twenty five minutes. I hope you'll find any other place to resume whatever you two were doing. Also, I'm going to end the stupid volleyball match now so I assume the girls are going to come back in the school building and probably look for you," the redhead girl motioned towards the pinkette and continued, "I suggest you to go elsewhere to talk. Am I clear?"

"Yeah thanks," Lucy's face resembled a tomato at the direct words of the council president. "We'll leave now. Let's go Natsu." Lucy urged him to follow and her followed gladly. Once they were reached the roof top, safe from everyone's eye, hopefully, Lucy stood before the boy with a fierce look and her hands on her hip. "Why. Did. You. Lie. To. Me?" She angrily paused at every word.

"To get a reaction from you babe," he shrugged his shoulders. "And to push you over the edge." Lucy blushed at his words but she was still mad at him. "What do you mean by pushing me over the edge you dummy?!" She nearly shouted but then lowered her voice, "and what was that returning my band to me?" Natsu chuckled. "I'm sorry Luce."

"No answer me!" She snapped.

"It has been fucking three years since you stopped talking and yet I couldn't get over you. No matter how many girls I hooked up with, they could never be Lucy Heartfilia, the girl I love. They were only distractions for as long as you didn't appear on my mind again. Everytime I see you passing by or even talking to any other guy, it's so hard for me to control myself and pretend as if it doesn't bother me." Natsu took a deep breath and looked at the clear sky above them. While Lucy remained completely silent.

"At times, I spend several hours outside your dorm just to get a glimpse of you. I leave once I see your face. I tried so hard to move on but you're on my mind every time I think about my own happiness," he paused briefly to look at his blonde lover and leaned on the nearby wall. "I've been trying for all these years but it's too much to expect from myself. I can never erase what I feel for you, nor forget. I possibly couldn't Lucy. Even though I almost believed at one point that you don't care about me or us, I still couldn't regret loving you." Natsu smiled sadly at the blonde, she was biting down at her bottom lip almost too hard, he thought she might draw blood.

"It's not your fault Luce, don't be guilty idiot. You did what you felt was right. Not that it was the right choice though, to push me away, you know since I tried that too. I wanted to go away from this place but the mere thought of not getting to seeing you again was enough to scare me. I can't live a day without watching you, even though it's from afar Luce. No matter how many times you push me away, it won't change the fact that I'll keep wanting you."

Lucy didn't stop the tears that fell down this time as she ran to his arms and clutched him like a lifeline. As though he was about to disappear shortly. She was to blame for all the time they both had suffered. Had she put some faith in their relationship, all of this wouldn't have happened. "I'm sorry Natsu," she cried with staggered breaths, "I hurt you and myself...I'm sorry." The boy embraced the wailing girl again and kissed the crown of her head to ease her. "It's okay Luce calm down now will ya? I can't leave you even if I want to, I told ya." She nodded faintly but didn't look up.

"I had planned to continue doing what I was before Levy and Juvia told me to talk to you once. I was reluctant 'cause I didn't want to force you anymore," Natsu heard Lucy sniffle and inaudibly mumble something into his chest as the pinkette continued, "but a part deep inside me agreed with them that you do love me and I wanted to try one more time." This time though, Lucy nodded.

"And I heard some of your words from outside the study room and so I had to make you say all that..." He sighed and then waited for her to say something in his response. But Lucy let out a low whine and a "you're mean~" making the boy grin. Suddenly he was pushed back, the blonde's hands on his chest as she put some distance between them to look at him. A concerned expression on her face. "What's wrong Luce?"

"The wristband Natsu, we left it the-" before the girl could finish, Natsu pulled out the pink box from his pocket and winked at his lover, "It's important to me and I just can't leave it behind can I?" Lucy smiled widely at Natsu and pecked him on the lips, blushingly brushing the back of her hand on his cheek with a

"thank you" on her lips. Natsu pressed his forehead against hers, "anything for you babe." He emphasized on the last word more than the others and Lucy's cheeks tinted pink for the nth time that day.

He was calling her babe...yeah babe.

"Accept that my plan was actually really great, best way to make you confess." He grinned evily and nudged her nose with his pointed one. "Right Luce?" Lucy rolled her eyes at his antics, though, she nodded. She brought her other hand to his cheek and pulled him into a loving kiss yet again, Natsu gently threading his fingers through her golden hair. Both basked in each other's warmth.

Natsu broke the kiss first and lifted up the box in front of his blonde lover and beemed at her, "put this on me Luce like you had all those years ago, though I dunno if this will fit me now..." Natsu pouted making Lucy giggle in amusement. "Let's see if it does." She and took out the band, Natsu held out his right hand quickly and the blonde rounded it around his wrist. Much to their delight, the band had long enough strings left on both ends for larger wrists to fit into and the maroon band fit Natsu perfectly, albeit a bit tight but he didn't complain.

"Where's my white day gift?" Lucy faked an 'hmph' and pursed her lips. Natsu cocked a brow and instantly shot back, "I didn't get any valentine's day gift!" Lucy poked at his nose and said, "I make chocolates for you every year. I send them to the orphanage you visit every week. Since kids love chocolates!" "You knew?" Natsu gaped at her, both astonished and amazed at her.

"I did." Lucy grinned.

"Okay, then you do deserve a gift right?" He mused as though he was really wondering whether Lucy really deserved or not and Lucy laughed, it almost felt like a dream. How many days was it since the girl had laughed so much? She honestly couldn't remember at all. But Lucy was pulled out of her thoughts when Natsu's right hand wrapped around her left, he lifted it up and then put a ring on her ring finger. The small clear white stone atop the circlet shone brightly in day light.

"Happy White Day Luce!"

Lucy Heartfilia repeatedly looked between the ring on her finger and the boy in front of herself, who had put that on her. What did just happen? Her heart beated erratically inside her chest as she fought to find the right words to say something. "N-Natsu? Wha-" She was cut off when he leaned down and pressed his lips on her for a chaste kiss. "Do you like it?" He asked expectantly after pulling away.

"No," Lucy answered but before Natsu could say anything, she quickly added, "I absolutely love it! Natsu! How and when did you get this?" She brought her hand to her face and kissed the ring sweetly. "It's really pretty." Natsu beemed at her. "It's a momento of mom, I always keep it with me." He said. Lucy looked really beautiful with his mother's ring on her.

"Thank you Natsu," she pulled him into a loving hug as she thanked him. He also embraced her. "I love you, I love you and I love you Natsu Dragneel." Lucy confessed and Natsu visibly shuddered at his confession, it was the first time she said those three words and the oy sincerely hoped he wasn't dreaming. "I love you till the end and more." She added. If it was a dream, Natsu didn't want to wake up ever. He didn't want the dream to end.

"I love you too, Lucy Heartfilia." He mumbled kissing her hair several times.

"Don't you dare go on a date with some random girl winning the volleyball match Natsu!" Lucy playfully warned him and he deviously laughed. "I'll think about it, later." He teased and earned a smack on his shoulder, neither moving from the embrace.

"Don't you dare!"

They both laughed.

Author's last notes :

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