something cute and random. Happy Valentine's!
Lucy chewed on her bottom lip, anxiety visible in her hands as she tied the ribbon on her handmade box.
She looked at it with worry bubbling in her chest, wondering if making this was a gigantic mistake. Would he actually even want to eat this? The girly pink box stood out a bit too much, but so did Natsu.
He was the exact opposite of her presumed type, Lucy unsure how she even fell for a guy like him in the first place. She usually looked toward the studious types, those who liked reading and general quietness. Someone who would fit into the business aspect of her life, someone to basically be her father's business partner.
Natsu caught her eye, caught everyone's eye, really. He was a loud and active person raring to participate in just about anything. He liked to play stupid pranks on his friends; Gray, Gajeel, and Erza. They could usually be found chasing each other around campus, but everyone knew they were just messing around.
His smile was probably what stole her heart first. He was really cute.
Her plan was to get to school early and slip it into his locker before anyone could see. She stuck a note on top, doing the cliche thing by asking him to meet her on the rooftop after school.
Cana was the one who talked her into this, but what was she expecting to happen? It wasn't like he knew who she was. Agreeing to go out with a girl he barely knew seemed terribly farfetched.
The morning air was sobering, the early spring chill calming the blush on her cheeks. She let out a shaky breath with every step, her fingers anxiously tapping the sides on the box.
What if he just tossed it out without even opening it? What if he showed up only to laugh in her face at her confession? Maybe she should've prepared an extra change of clothes…in case he tossed it right in her face.
"Even I know that's a bit over the top…" She pouted, trying to calm herself down. "It's totally okay if he rejects me. Totally embarrassing but totally okay."
Lucy came an hour ahead of time, knowing that no one would bother to wake up this early for school. Save for anyone else planning to slip something in someone's locker.
She felt more comfortable when she saw that no one was around, Lucy quickly making a beeline for his shoelocker. They were in the same aisle, Natsu's name three rows to the right. Undoing the latch seemed so hard with her shaky hand, shoving the box in and closing the door. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding in, staring at his nameplate as panic slowly rose in her throat.
"Oh god…I hope this isn't a mistake."
Lucy felt like she was sitting in a puddle of sweat all day, glued to her seat, too scared to receive news from her friend across the hall. Cana was thankfully in his class, so she'd know his reaction first. As long as he didn't hate it, she'd survive.
"Is this how it always feel when you want to confess your feelings?" Lucy whined as she dropped her head against her desk, Levy rubbing circles on her back.
"You're worrying too much, Lu-chan! I think Natsu would be really flattered to know you like him." She encouraged her. "You need to stop being so negative. I'm sure if you confess with confidence, he'll at least give you something positive."
"Yeah, cheer up, Lulu! He loves the cake!" Cana whispered her last sentence to the blonde, Lucy quickly popping her head up.
"Really? He's eating it?" A smile graced her lips as the brunette nodded.
"He wouldn't let anyone else touch it! Gray and Gajeel couldn't catch a crumb, he wanted it all to himself."
"One obstacle down, right? Now, all you have to do is tell him you like him.
"Right…all I have to do…"
Classes ended in the blink of an eye, Lucy spacing her way through the rest of their classes. Her mind couldn't focus at all, smothered entirely by the worry creeping up her back.
Her plan was to pretend to go downstairs and use the opposite set to go through the second entrance to the roof. Natsu would go through the one closer to their classrooms, so Lucy could easily surprise him. Levy and Cana promised to go ahead of her, heading to Lucy's house to wait for the good news.
"I'm such a dork," Lucy groaned under her breath, stopping shortly as Natsu exited from the door opposite to her.
"You're actually going to the roof?" Gray laughed as he walked beside him, Lucy slowing her steps to fall behind them.
"Why not? It'd be rude to ignore her after she made me a cake." Natsu shrugged, Gajeel shaking his head.
"C'mon dude, you don't owe her anything. Sounds like a waste of time to me."
"Guess it's a good thing no one gave you any gifts, then. Don't be a dick and you'll get a cake."
Lucy smiled as they continued to playfully argue, watching as her crush detoured to the roof stairs. There was no going back now.
She took a deep breath with every step to the other set of stairs, her panic turning itself into excitement. She never had the chance to talk to Natsu, he was always moving too fast for her to catch up. Maybe that's what she liked about him most; that forward-thinking personality of his.
She pushed open the light blue door, swallowing the lump in her throat as her eyes settled on Natsu's back. He leaned against one of the concrete blocks that most people sat on, the wind softly rustling his hair.
Lucy clenched the straps of her bag, wanting to run right up to him and shout her confession right then and there.
But he turned around before he could even get close, probably hearing the creak of the door as it shut.
"...Lucy?"
"Um…hi, Natsu," She waved shyly, feeling her heart race as he approached her. "I…oh, I didn't think you knew my name."
"Of course I do! I-I mean, you know Erza, right? She told me your name once," He coughed, choking on his words. "I asked."
"Really?" She felt warmth bubble in her chest as he nodded, a smile gracing his lips.
"Was that cake from you? I loved it, chocolate's my favorite," Her lips twitched at his nonchalant words, her head nodding as he perked up. "Thank you so much for the gift."
"My…my pleasure, I'm glad you liked it."
"So, what did you want to ask me? I read your note." A blush rushed up his face, Lucy feeling her nerves fly all over the place again. Saying it all at once would be easiest, she thought.
"Will you go out with me? I…I really like you, Natsu." Her words escaped through the tightness of her throat, her eyes shut as she confessed.
It was silent for a few seconds, Lucy too scared to open her eyes. Maybe it was too silent, wasn't he going to say anything?
She carefully opened her eyes, staring at her feet before slowly looking up at him.
He was bright red, more than she thought possible. Was Natsu Dragneel ever this quiet or stunned?
"You like me?" His voice was barely above a whisper, Lucy almost wanting to laugh at how adorable he looked. You…like me?"
"Yeah," She nodded with a bit more confidence. "I like you."
"I like you too. He finally answered. "I've liked you since…I don't even know. I didn't think you even knew who I was."
