Hey guys. Thank you for all the reviews last chapter; I loved hearing all your opinions or theories for the story. I 'm actually contemplating going off script and doing an additional last chapter as a time skip. If that is something I should do let me know.
Please enjoy!
"I'm such a horrible person! I mean, why would I put my family through this?! Especially my father?! It was his dream to meet my future husband and I just stomped on it!"
"You didn't stomp on it, Lu-chan. You did a rather odd thing, granted, but you still had kind intentions."
Levy was able to catch up to her blonde best friend and calm her down enough to sit on a park bench and take a breath. All Levy could do in this moment was be there for her friend... for encouragement, for comfort, for advice...
"My intentions don't fix the fact that everything is ruined." Lucy placed her face into her hands.
"Why would you think everything is ruined?"
Lucy removed her face to sigh and rest her elbows on her knees once more. "Where should I begin?... The whole town knows I'm a liar so I can never show my face here again, my father will probably never want to speak to me again, I can't imagine how Grandine and Igneel must feel and…" Lucy paused. Her next thought made her heart sink, "I've ruined my friendship with Natsu."
"What makes you think you two were just friends?"
Lucy turned and glared at her blue-haired friend, "What's with all the psycho analytical questions?"
"Lucy, I've known both of you for a long time. I've seen how the two of you have interacted for years… you and Natsu have been more than friends for longer than you think."
"Well if you already had the answer, why did you bother asking the question?" Lucy deadpanned.
"Because I wanted you to realize the answer." Levy smiled.
"Levy… Natsu was just a friend who helped me out by doing me a favor."
"By pretending to be engaged to you." Levy added.
"No, by pretending to love me." Lucy clarified.
"He was never pretending to do that." Lucy glared at her friend once more. "As my best friend, isn't it your job to console me and take my side in things like this?"
"No, it's my job to tell you the truth, even when it doesn't seem like it is true." Lucy rested her chin on her arms to ponder what Levy was saying. Levy placed her hand on Lucy's back reassuringly. "Natsu has always loved you. Sure, the meaning of that love has changed over time and developed from acquaintances to friends to romantic… but he does love you.
Natsu wouldn't have played along if he didn't love you. He would have kept your secret but revealing it allowed him to tell you how he really felt. And you know Natsu, he may show how he feels, but he NEVER talks about his feelings, so you know he means it when he does."
She has a point, she thought. Lucy immediately furrowed her brow. How could her own thoughts betray her?! Natsu played his part and that's what it was, just a role for an actor. Maybe they both got too caught up in the charade? If that's true, then she would also be at fault. She shook her head to get that notion out of her thoughts.
"The only thing he showed me was how good of an actor he was."
"What was your deal with him for this trip?"
Lucy furrowed her brow to question her friend's motive, "To pretend to me my fiancé around our families."
"Okay, so the deal only extended to being in public basically… so, he did ever do anything when it was just the two of you to SHOW you he loved you." Lucy's mind replayed all the moments of this week.
"He rescued me from that horrible party Grandine and Igneel planned, he took us to hide in our tree house after that." Lucy looked at her friend who smiled at her. Lucy couldn't help but begin to smile at the memories of this week. "He took me dancing at the school because I missed the prom, he bought me earrings because they reminded me of my mom, he comforted me all week, he organized that game night because I was having a rough week…" She paused for a moment. "I mean we didn't get to talk about last night, but…"
Levy's eyes went wide and she tried to hide the huge smile on her face, "What exactly happened last night?!"
Lucy shook her head, "That's complicated."
"Please, this whole situation is complicated."
Lucy couldn't help but blush and grin like a schoolgirl; her chest tightened at the thought of Natsu. He does love me… she frowned, ?
"But I saw him with Lisanna…"
Levy sighed, "Yeah… yeah I understand how that must make you feel, but you have to trust me, Lu-chan," Levy placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder reassuringly. "Natsu loves you; he is completely over her."
"But I…" Lucy began but Levy interrupted her.
"You need to talk to Natsu then."
"I already did…"
"No, the town tried, not you. You need to talk to him."
"About what?"
"About what you want… what do you want?"
Lucy opened her mouth to respond but her phone began ringing. Levy and Lucy both looked down at her screen and were confused to see Wendy calling. Lucy reluctantly clicked 'accept' on her phone, "Hi Wen, I'm a little busy…" Lucy's eyes shot open. "What?!... I'll be right there!"
Lucy clicked off her phone and frantically gathered her things. "Lu-chan, what's wrong?"
"My dad is in the hospital!"
"I'll drive you!" Levy and Lucy quickly stood and ran off towards where Levy parked.
