Natsu sat at his kitchen table, munching on cereal with one hand and playing a game on his phone with the other.

His game was getting harder, and he ended up putting down the spoon to play with both hands. Natsu could've sworn a bead of sweat was forming from his brow. His tongue was subconsciously sticking out as his fingers moved faster and all over his screen.

"Aw come on!" He threw down his phone in frustration as a low pitched bloop sounded from the device, followed by a "you lose."

"I totally beat that guy! This game's a bunch of bs!" Natsu said, angrily pointing at his phone.

"You know, you don't have to play it if it's gonna make you mad," someone said, causing Natsu to look up.

His sister Wendy was now in the kitchen, making a bowl of cereal for herself. Natsu could swear she was a ninja in a past life. She had a tendency to quietly enter a room, and nine out of ten times make Natsu jump when she said something.

Despite smiling, Natsu rolled his eyes and replied, "Yeah, well you should stop playing volleyball because every time you lose you get mad."

She turned around, "That's not even the same thing!" But she laughed anyways.

Natsu was so grateful to have Wendy for his sister. She was the only sibling he had, and though they liked to bicker back and forth, they both know they're joking and can go from fighting to laughing in two seconds.

Wendy's hair was a dark blue, but unlike Natsu, she dyed her hair. Natsu always liked the color she had, too. Her natural hair was brown, but every time her roots start to show she dyes over it.

Honestly, it looked good. Natsu loved teasing her about it though, saying he was the lucky one to have naturally pink hair. Wendy always fired back with "actually, it's not really pink" comments, but Natsu knew he had the upper hand every time they argued about it.

"What all are you doing today?" Wendy asked, taking her seat across from him at the table.

"Just the usual, probably going to the moon at one, working my job as a doctor til five, and coaching my swim team until seven. I should be home at eight," Natsu rambled.

"Ha ha," Wendy answered, her voice heavily laced with sarcasm and an annoyed look on her face. "Can you take me to the mall today?"

Natsu looked at his watch, then picked up his phone and started scrolling through the notes.

"If I call Jimmy and push back the surgery, I should be able to fit you in there. You'll just have to let me know what time."

"I thought it was obvious I was letting you know you're not being funny. Besides, I know you don't have friends so I shouldn't have even asked what you were doing today," Wendy said with a laugh.

Natsu frowned, "Well, with that attitude, it sounds like your chauffeur has better things to—"

"Fineeee, I'm sorry. Are you free after your classes today, and if you are can you take me to the mall? Pretty please," Wendy said, mockingly pouting her lip and clasping her hands together.

"Whatever, I'm not doing anything."

"Knew it!"

"Hey!"

Wendy quickly got up, putting her bowl in the sink and mumbling something about having to go before she's late to school.

What Natsu would give to trade places with her right now. He didn't like growing up. How was he supposed to figure out what he wanted to do with his life so early on?

He still wasn't sure what he wanted to do. What if he changed his mind? All that schooling going to waste? It wasn't fair.

Natsu frowned, looking at his watch and realizing that he, too, would be late if he didn't get going. Only three weeks in and he already couldn't stand it. With a sigh, Natsu followed in his sister's footsteps, grabbing his bowl and rinsing it before leaving for school.

Natsu walked around campus, looking for a comfy couch to sit at while he waited to go to his next class. This week was going to be hell for him, because Gray was out of town. The idiot left him all alone, and while Natsu knew Wendy was only joking about him having no friends, he couldn't help but agree with her.

He found the couch he was looking for, sliding his backpack off his arm and slumping into it. He was still surprised that despite the size of the college, he always felt like there were never that many other students walking around.

Classes were always full, and of course he did see people around campus, eating and sitting down, but always in small numbers. Like now, he looked around and saw only one other person.

Granted, he was in a corridor, but it was wide and there were at least 20 chairs. The other student sat at the complete opposite end of the hall.

Natsu pulled out his laptop and sat it on his lap. He looked like he was being productive, but really he was just playing the same game he was this morning. He put his headphones in and tuned out the world while his eyes became glued to his screen.

Or so he thought.

He cursed himself for recognizing the slightest scent in the air. For taking his eyes away from his game and seeing the same beautiful girl he couldn't put out of his head walking in his direction. He barely noticed when the game once more went red and echoed "you lose."

Because there she was.

And she was crying again.

This time though, it wasn't nearly as subtle as before. Now there were full streams coming from both eyes. She tried keeping her head low, but occasionally looked up a bit to see where she was going, and even with her head bowed, Natsu could see the tears falling from her face.

She pushed the door to the bathroom open, probably 50 feet from Natsu.

What should he do?

Should he say something? Would she think he liked her? Would she think he was creepy for noticing? Would she even say anything to him?

Natsu's head felt like it was spinning with all the questions running through his head. He looked down at his game, the "you lose" words bouncing on the screen.

Natsu heard Gray's voice in his head.

"Fight for her! Show her you're the better man or something..."

He wanted to laugh, because he knew Gray would say those were wise words. He also wanted to gag because now Gray was ruining his thoughts, too.

Still... Natsu debated what Gray had told him. Maybe... Maybe he should try. Not ruining the relationship, but maybe even being a friend?

If he saw anybody hurting, his natural reaction would be to help them. He shouldn't be holding back this time because of who it was, right?

He made up his mind. He closed his laptop, stuffed it back in his bag, and like the creep he felt he was being, he waited.

And waited.

...and

...waited

Finally, she emerged out of the bathroom. For a second, Natsu thought there might be another door on the other side. He wouldn't put it past the school.

And he was shocked.

Because now it looked like she had never been crying. Her face wasn't red at all. It looked like she had touched up her makeup, and she had a sweet smile on her face.

She was good at putting on a fake face, Natsu almost thought he was imagining her crying.

Now or never, though.

She was walking away from him, and with a new-found courage, he picked himself off the couch and followed her.

Hope everyone's had a great new year! Reviews are appreciated, thank you!