Hello, my wonderful readers, I am back! I will address things concerning this story and others by me in the notes at the bottom so without further a due let's get started! * I own no right to the characters in this story all right belong to Hiro Mashima*

Accidental Second Dates

"MY FAULT!" Lucy screeched at Levy once her friend finished reporting back to them on what Gajeel learned from Natsu.

"That's basically what I got out of it." Levy nodded along clearly equally upset as her friend was over the news.

"How in the hell is him not messaging me or even trying to contact me at all my fault!" Lucy huffed out. Lucy pushed the button to up her speed on the treadmill as she tried to run out her anger and frustration caused by that pink haired idiot.

Gahh why the hell would it be my fault! I mean he was the one who said he wanted to hang out soon and then never called! He is the one that ditched me the first chance he got after what I thought had, in the long run, turned out to be a great date! I mean sure I could have tried a little harder a bit sooner but dammit he said he was going to call me! Lucy thought this huffing out little barks of rage every now and then when particularly fired up over a point she was making to herself. All the while her friends looked on in concern that they might have just added fuel to the fire in a way that they hadn't anticipated.

"Lucy I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding between ya'll. If you two would just talk it out yourselves there wouldn't be an issue here." Cana spoke up as she leisured her way to the end of her work out.

"She's right. I have no idea what it was Gajeel was really referring to when he came back from talking to Natsu. I didn't really hear what they said to each other, so I might have gotten it a little wrong in my hurry to get back here with information for you." Levy said in a rush hoping to help ease her friend down off the edge of insanity.

Lucy looked back and forth between her friends and their pleading looks for her to calm down and think rationally. Think rationally, right the thing she was normally known to be good at but ever since meeting Natsu she has done anything but that. He just got under her skin in a way she couldn't really explain and it was driving her nuts. So maybe her friends were right. She had acted a bit harshly towards him as Cana said. But only because she was so hurt by what felt like his blatant rejection! Then he came up to her like nothing at all had happened. How else was she supposed to react to that?

But maybe nothing had happened.

Maybe it really was all in her head and she was making too much out of nothing at all. She was also really well known for over exaggerating things a little too much sometimes. It's what helps her be so creative in her writing. However, outside of that, it does tend to cause some problems in areas like this where her imagination begins to run too wild.

"You know what, Y'all are both right. I have been acting a little crazy lately and that means not thinking straight so I'm going to go find Natsu and figure out what exactly is going on here." Lucy said a determined gleam in her eyes as she set off to go find the elusive pink haired man.

On the other side of the gym, Natsu was finishing up cleaning and resetting one of the many weight benches that were recently vacated.

"I just don't understand why she didn't just come up to me and ask what was going on ya know?" Natsu asked Gray who was cleaning a nearby machine.

"I don't know man maybe she was just pissed that you ghosted her for nearly two weeks," Gray said with a sarcastic smirk.

Natsu shot him a look that clearly showed he was not amused in any way at his friends comment seeing as how it was his fault that he couldn't call Lucy at the moment. Something he was going to be sure Gray paid for dearly.

"Either way she should have just talked to me when she finally saw me." after a pause he added, "or maybe slapped me. That would have even made sense after everything that happened."

"And what did happen between you two because you still haven't told me or Gajeel anything beyond what we saw before we left," Gray said a brow quirking up in curiosity.

"Nothing that you need to know." He stated for what felt like the hundredth time. And honestly, he didn't know why he hadn't told the guys what had happened on their date yet. Normally he would have told them that night. He had for every other date he'd been on since high school. But there was something about his date with Lucy he wanted to keep to himself.

"Well, it must have been good to get you to clam up like this," Gray said snarkily before going stock still staring at something behind Natsu's shoulder with wide eyes.

Curious Natsu turned in time to watch Lucy cross the last few feet towards them looking for all the world like a modern goddess in her comical work out top and form-fitting leggings. It took all of Natsu's fading willpower to keep his eyes from wandering over the luscious curves of her body and showing how much she affects him from being painted across his face.

"Hey Natsu." She said simply when she reached his weight bench.

"Hey there Lucy." He said simply back wary of her reasons for seeking him out.

"Do you maybe have a few minutes to talk," Lucy asked nodding towards the entrance of the gym in a silent question to follow her outside.

"Um, yea give me a second to go tell my manager I'm taking a break and I'll meet you out front ok?"

"Yeah sure I'll see you out there." Lucy gave a small smile before turning back around and heading outside to wait for him.

Natsu watched her walk away for a few seconds too long before he turned to Gray and said, "Hey think you can cover for me for like 15 or so?"

"You're just trying to get fired tonight aren't you?" Gray shot back a hint of worry in his voice.

"No I just know that if I don't go out there now I might ruin any shot of Lucy ever talking to me again. Plus I really need to explain that it's your fault I went M.I.A for the past 2 weeks, not mine." Natsu shot back.

"Fine but you get 15 mins max and then if you get fired it's on you." Gray conceded.

"Thanks, I would say I owe you one but it's your fault to begin with so you kind of owe me in the first place." Natsu grinned at his friend quickly running towards the door that Lucy had just walked through.

Once outside it was easy to find Lucy. She was waiting for him on one of the park benches right outside of the gym. He had to stop a moment to appreciate the sight of her sitting there in the glow of the setting sun. The light making her hair look like it was pure gold and her skin was flushed a pretty pink from her work out just moments before.

"Hey," Natsu said as he walked up and plopped down onto the bench next to her.

"Hey, so I guess you're wondering why I asked to talk," Lucy replied looking slightly uncomfortable as she shifted to face him better on the bench.

"Not really." Natsu lied not looking at her as he said it.

"Um what?" Lucy said back shock and a hint of anger clear on her face and voice.

Natsu peered at her from the corner of his eyes before bursting out laughing.

Not understanding what was so funny Lucy simply stared at Natsu like he had just grown a second head. That seemed to only cause him to laugh harder and before long Lucy started to laugh with him too amused at his strange behavior even if she didn't understand what was going on. Natsu just had that kind of personality and his smile and laugh was infectious

After a few deep breaths on Natsu's part he was finally able to look at Lucy and say, "I was kidding you know, about wondering why you wanted to talk. I just said that to see your reaction and damn am I glad I did your face was priceless!" He began to chuckle again as he recalled her face all puffed up and turning red in anger. It was just too cute.

Pouting Lucy shot back, "Well that was just rude, and speaking of rude I have a question for you."

She waited for him to look her in the eyes before saying, "Why didn't you call me Natsu." hurt clearly shining in her voice.

"I'm so sorry Lucy I really did mean to call you. I was going to call you the very next day even but something happened to my phone and I didn't have a copy of your number anywhere so I could let you let you know what happened." Natsu said pleading with her to believe he really was sorry.

"But you knew my roommates and they know your roommates too why didn't you try to have one of them tell me or even just find me on campus. You know I work at the writing center during the week." She shot back crossing her arms in frustration.

Natsu just sat there and stared at her eyes wide and mouth hanging open a bit as what she said sank in. He had actually forgotten that she worked on campus too and that they have mutual friends. He could have done any of that if he could have just gotten over the loss of his phone and thought things through a little bit more.

Lucy just watched as the gears in his head slowly turned and he realized all the steps he could have taken over the past 2 weeks. She also saw the panic in his eyes as he realized how that made it look as if he really wasn't into her if he hadn't tried any of those things.

"Lucy I am so sorry!" He pleaded, "I really didn't think of any of that. Honestly, I spent most of my time pissed at Gray for breaking my phone and trying to figure out how to get a new one. I really didn't mean to make it seem like I was ghosting you."

"Do you promise?" Lucy said her expression guarded

"Yea I promise. Next time I will be sure to find a way to let you know what is going on I swear!"

Lucy sat quietly deciding if she would believe him or not before sighing and saying, "Ok. I believe you, just try not to kill your phone again ok?"

"Deal!" He said laughing as he relaxed back into the bench they were sitting on.

The pair sat in comfortable silence for a few moments when Natsu suddenly sighed heavily and peered daggers at the entrance to the Rec. "I guess I should go back now that everything is cleared up between us."

"Yeah, I should head back inside and get my things to head home myself."

"You think you could hang around campus for a little while longer?" Natsu asked

"I don't know how late are you thinking?" Lucy questioned

"Just another hour. My shift will end soon and I thought maybe we could grab a bite to eat on campus since we are both here and I kinda messed up getting to ask you out again these past few weeks." Natsu grinned back at her hand musing up his hair in embarrassment.

Lucy just looked at him in shock for a few seconds causing Natsu to squirm under her stare before she finally grinned back at him and said, "Sure I'd love to. Think you can meet me at the grill over by the Quad?"

"Yeah sounds great. I should be off by 7 so give me till 7:30 to get there?"

"Hmm yea I guess that works I can still work out a bit more and then have time to clean up before meeting you then," Lucy said back with a smile as she stood up from the bench.

Natsu rose with her and walked beside her on the way back to the main entrance. Once inside they both parted ways Natsu heading for the weight room and Lucy back to her roommates at the cardio machines.

There was a clear space with mirrors and wood floor in between the two sections usually used for yoga or stretching and as Lucy passed it she had a wicked idea came into her head.

I think it might be fun to give a little payback for the past few weeks. Even if it wasn't his fault that his phone broke he still left me high and dry for 2 weeks before this chance meeting. That in and of itself deserves a bit of punishment.

With those thoughts churning in her head she made it back to Cana and Levy explaining her plan to tease the unsuspecting pink haired man. Both thought it was hilarious and decided to help out for their own reasons as well.

The three girls cleaned the machines and gathered their belongings from the machines they had been using. Making sure Natsu and his roommates were all still over at the weight room the girls began walking toward the open yoga space. Each swaying their hips a tad more than they normally might have without being obvious about it. By the time they made it to the studio and placed their towels and water bottles down, bending at the waist only of course, they had caught more than a few male gazes including the three they were hoping for.

Lucy spared only one glance through her lashes and partially over her shoulder back to Natsu and the others to be sure they were indeed watching. Natsu had stopped dead in the middle of whipping down a weight bench his eyes drawn straight to Lucy mouth slightly open. Smirking to herself she turned her attention to the mirror in front of her, Levy and Cana flanking her on both sides slightly and behind her. The girls opted to follow her lead half because it was her plan and half because of Lucy's formal dance training she had a better list of stretches to pull from for this particular idea.

Since they were already warmed up from using the cardio machines Lucy decided to skip that part and go right into a leg stretch. Spreading her feet to be shoulder-width apart she dropped her arms to her side and slowly leaned over one foot for a few moments before releasing her back to lay flat against her leg as she reached for her toes. She continued leading her friends in the stretches for the right leg then repeated the same motions for the left. This is where things will get really fun. Looking into the mirror to the weight room behind her she found Natsu's gaze easily and then began her very slow very deliberate slide down into her center splits. She didn't let it show on her face that is burned like crazy the whole way down nor did Cana or Levy as they followed her down. She was proud that they had kept up with their stretching and could go all the way down in their splits as well. Now with all three girls on the ground, they continued similar stretches as they had done while standing. Stretching out the muscles in first one leg then the other. Once satisfied she rolled into her right split and held it for a moment or two before rolling back to her center split where she rocked right into her left split. This one had always been her hardest to keep the muscles never worked as much as her right side causing them to burn the whole time she used them. She bounced a few times to get a deeper stretch before swinging her legs together in front of her and out of her splits.

After a few slow rolls of their neck muscles and shoulder, the girls all got up from the ground trying to be as fluid as possible so as to not ruin the effect. They gathered their belongings together, Lucy casting one more glance to Natus who looked like he was about to combust after the little display of her flexibility. Noticing her stare he quickly straightened and closed his mouth which had been hanging open just a bit. She gave him a slow smile and winked at him before she followed after her quickly disappearing roommates to the women's locker room to shower and change.

Fuck...Fuck, Fuck Fuck FUCK! That seemed to be the only word his brain could seem to come up with as he watched Lucy do stretches that shouldn't have been allowed to be seen in public. He honestly could not stop staring as he watched her bend this way and that his eyes glued to her well-toned ass in those yoga pants that left nothing to the imagination. It was all he could do not to combust on the spot as he made direct eye contact with her and she began slowly sliding into a center split. The look in her eyes as she stared him down the whole way should have been illegal! Dammit, he liked to believe he was raised to be a gentleman and could control himself but that look, that body moving the way it was, was pulling at ever primal male instinct in him to drag her to some dark corner of the building and test out just how well that body moved under his. Damit if his mind didn't stick to that thought even harder when she went into both her right and left split and bounced, fucking bounced in her left one.

Once she seemed content with her little show, because that was definitely what that had just been right then, she slowly gathered herself up off the floor and strode towards the locker rooms with her roommates. Just as she passed by where he had been standing completely dumbstruck and frozen in place as he watched her body move, she turned to look over her shoulder at him once more. A slow sensual smile working its way across her plump lips and a glimmer of what could only be pure mischief in her eyes before she simply winked at him and continued walking. Her hips swaying in a way that had him hypnotized until she disappeared behind the first turn into the locker room.

He let out a low appreciative whistle that had his roommates slowly nodding their heads both gazes drawn in the same direction he had by her own roommates who had sauntered in before her. "Well fuck I don't think I'm gonna be able to get that image out of my head for a few days at least." He mumbled under his breath.

"You and me both." Gajeel murmured shaking his head in disbelief.

The next hour came and went in a blur, he saw Lucy just as she and her roommates were heading out all in different clothes than they came in with. She happened to see him too and waved a quick goodbye before heading out to wait out the end of his shift somewhere on campus.

He helped Gray with cleaning up the weight benches and machines, spotting the guys who came in alone and showing new members how to use the machines so they didn't hurt themselves or anyone else. Once the clock hit six he damn near sprinted to the back room where he clocked out grabbed his stuff and ran out the doors of the rec.

He and Lucy were supposed to meet at the grill on campus which was about a 10 min walk from the rec and he had until 7:30 to get there. Still, damn him he couldn't get the sight of Lucy bent over, her skin flushed from working out, out of his head and the sooner he got to her the better.

The campus was always fairly busy around this time of day. Students who lived off campus lined up around the square waiting for the off-campus busses to get back. Those who had time to spare or lived on campus were either heading to get food like him or to meet up with friends on campus. There were also a few of those poor souls who had night classes and were rushing through the crowds to get to their class on time. He thanked his lucky stars that weren't him this semester. He knew that struggle a bit too well. One of his classes last semester that he needed for his degree had only been offered as a night class. Worst semester to date hands down.

Finally after dodging 3 speeding bikers and a campus golf cart he made it to the grill they were eating at tonight. He was a little early but figured it would be better if he grabbed a table now before they were all overrun. Once he walked in though he found that he had been beaten to the punch. Lucy had managed to take over a whole 4 person table with all of her books and what looked like a new writing journal. He had managed to destroy her other one the first time they met. It didn't seem that she noticed he was there yet which made a devious thought pop in his head as plans of retaliation for earlier formed.

Quickly before he was noticed he ducked behind the pillar near the front door and poked his head around to be sure she hadn't noticed him. Her head was still bent over her work and her face was scrunched up in concentration. Perfect. There was a line of booths that ran right behind her table, slowly he snuck behind the booths gaining curious stares from the other patrons nearby but still not enough to draw his targets attention. There was a gap between the last booth and Lucy's chair he would have to move quickly, but quietly, so she didn't see him before he could act on his plan.

Thankfully, Lucy was completely oblivious to the world as she worked through something in her journal. He almost felt bad for doing this but then he remembered how she had deliberately tortured him at work and a wicked grin covered his face.

Slowly he leaned his face down so his lips almost brushed her ear, her hair having been piled on top of her head in a quick messy bun. Just before she noticed his presence he whispered into her ear, "That was quite the show you put on back there." She jumped half out of the chair when he started talking and whirled around to stare daggers at him. Her hand was half raised to smack him for his little prank before his words registered in her head and a deep blush spread on her face. Oh, that is a look I can get used to. He thought to himself with a chuckle. Slowly she lowered her hand down to her chest as if to push her racing heart back into her chest.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack!" She hissed at him face still burning. " You're lucky I didn't throat chop you just then!"

Chuckling he moved around to the empty seat across from her and dropped his belongings on the floor. "It was so worth it for the look on your face. Besides, it was payback for that little show you put on at the rec while I was working. I almost got yelled at by my boss. Thankfully I pushed Gray at him and ran to the other side of the rec for the rest of my shift." he finished off a wide grin on his face.

She began to blush an even brighter shade of red and ducked her head. " I'm sorry I didn't even think about you getting in trouble with your boss."

"Eh it's all good. The guy can be scary at times but he can't really say anything cause he's always chasing after the manager for the rec classes."

"Oh well good." Her face was still flushed a light pink and she turned her head away a bit to try and hide it. "So did you want to order food or are we just going to sit here and hog a table?"

He snorted a laugh his signature grin on his face, "Hmmm, I could go for some food. Do you know what you want?"

"I think I might just get a regular burger and a small fry or something. That kinda sounds good right now." She said while standing to head over to the line.

"Nah you stay here I'll go order and come back with food. You looked like you were concentrating pretty hard before I got here. Plus I owe you for being such an ass the past few weeks intentional or not." He said as he started to back away to the line.

"Ok if you insist," Lucy said returning to her seat.

A few minutes later he returned with their food and a few bottles of water. After handing Lucy her tray of food he pulled out some of his own classwork he needed to do. The two ate in companionable silence, each focused on their food and the work in front of them. At the end of their meals, Natsu offered to take their trash.

"Thanks Natsu," Lucy said as she began to gather her belongings.

Noticing this Natsu asked once he came back, "Were you wanting to leave already? I thought we could maybe hang out here for a little while longer."

"Actually I have a better spot in mind if you care to join me. Plus they are planning to close up here soon I figured we should get out of their way." Lucy replied a smile on her lips that he just couldn't say no to. Not that he particularly wanted to anyways he was enjoying their little impromptu date after all.

"By all means please lead the way." He said with an over the top gesture grin firmly in place.

Lucy lead him out of the little burger shop and he took her hand as the began to walk down the sidewalk the crowds having thinned out while they ate. They turned down a little half hidden side path and walked past a few of the older buildings on campus before turning into a small courtyard that was bathed in moonlight a single wall lamp near the door glowing with a yellow light. The place was surrounded on three sides by the building that if Natsu remembered correctly housed the Language building. There were vines crawling up one side of the building and a classic three-tiered fountain in the center with an old store laid out in a decorative pattern. Spaced along the outer edges of the little courtyard were cement benches nestled within the manicured shrubbery.

Lucy steered the two of them over to a bench near the vine wall and set her things down before taking a seat. Natsu followed suit and joined her grin still in place but a question clear on his face.

"I like to come here and relax between classes or intense study sessions. It's usually pretty calm because most students use the entrance on the other side of the building since its right next to the elevator. Plus later at night, there isn't as much light pollution and you can see the stars more clearly."

As she said this last part she drifted her gaze to the heavens. Natsu followed her line of sight and noticed for the first time how well the stars shone. Because of the campus and his apartment being in the middle of the city it had been a while since he last really saw the stars.

"It's a pretty nice place you got yourself here on campus." He said in awe of the site before him though he wasn't sure if he would rather stare at the stars or the blonde on his left. "I'll have to show you my favorite spot next time." He said with a grin, "It's a bit too far to walk to easily get to from here plus like your spot. Might have to crash it every now and then."

"Hey don't go getting any big ideas. Remember I said I come here to relax and I have a pretty good hunch that you wouldn't let me do that too easily." Lucy said with an indignant huff.

"Ha! That's what you think I'm the master of chill and calm! Just watch." He said before going completely slack and a dazed look came over his eyes.

Not really sure what just happened Lucy poked him in the face and said, "Um Natsu? Are you ok? You kinda look drugged, or dead."

Natsu popped back to his normal expression light returning to his eyes saying, "Yup I'm all good Luce no need to worry."

"Yeah well, easier said than done when you pull a face like that." She said with mild disgust mixed with amusement.

Natsu decided to ignore the gab and instead asked Lucy about her current classes. She readily obliged and dove into her current writing assignment in one of her Lit classes. Natsu fascinated with the way she got so excited kept up the questions. Lucy asked after his own classes after explaining how most of her classes were in the afternoons every day of the week but Friday. He told her that his schedule was pretty close to the same except he had one class every other Friday thanks to a lab. That professor was sadistic so it wasn't really a surprise.

They spent a few hours sitting in that courtyard just talking. About classes, work, their friends and how living with people you know can be both a blessing and a curse at times. Before too long it had gotten late enough where the only people left walking about campus either lived there or where headed for the last bus to take them home after leaving the study areas.

"Wel,l I guess we should head to the busses soon. I really don't want to walk back to my apartment." Lucy said as she slowly rose from the bench and stretched her arms over her head lazily fighting back a yawn.

"Yeah I hear you on that," Natsu replied also needing a good stretch out after sitting still for so long, "I'll walk you to your bus."

"Thanks I appreciate it. I hate having to walk through campus alone at night. I know more than likely nothing will happen but still rather not chance it if I have the option."

"Plus I am headed that way anyways it would be weird if I just left on my own when we're headed to the same place and all."

"True." Lucy replied with a grin

It wasn't a long walk and thankfully they made it to her stop before the last bus of the night pulled in. She heard Natsu chuckle softly to himself as she tracked the bus with the app on her phone.

"What are you over there laughing about?" Lucy asked surprised he chose to stay and wait out her bus with her.

"O,h nothing I just didn't realize we shared the same bus. It's a funny coincidence considering the past few weeks and our similar class schedules that we managed to miss each other everyday."

"What really?" Lucy asked astonished that they managed that for two full weeks if he was telling the truth.

"Yup. Looks like I have another way to crash into now." He said with a stupid smirk.

She had to hold back her resulting giggle, his words bringing back to mind their chance meeting. "Well, I guess our date will be lasting a little longer than we thought."

"Looks like it." Natsu grinned as he watched the bus pull up in front of them.

Author Notes: Hello Lovelies and welcome back! Its been a few years since I last touched on this story but don't worry I have many big plans for it and won't be giving it up anytime soon. This chapter turned into a bit of a monster I think it is one of my longest to date, but I just couldn't find a good way to tie it off. Quick update on me I am still trying to figure out life and what a career is! I will be spending the upcoming free time I have found myself with working on this story. As of right now, there is no set schedule so please be patient with me and hang in there, we will get through this together. I am working on a few one-shots as well so keep your eyes peeled and I will see you all again real soon! As always thank you to my beta readers for looking out for me and this story! Love yall