Chapter 4: Study Buddies

It was a Friday morning in Magnolia. The birds were chirping with excitement and the sun was shining so bright you would need sunglasses. It was surprisingly warm outside, warm enough for short-sleeved shorts, but not cold enough for heavy fall jackets. I got out of bed gracefully as my eyelids were light with determination to start the day.

Bullshit.

I woke up an hour late, second block was just starting. I scrambled out of bed and ended up on the floor, banging my head against the hard-wood headboard of my bed. After stumbling into the bathroom and hurriedly brushing my teeth, I left my white pajama shirt on and threw on some sweat pants and worn tennis shoes.

It was frigid outside with a low forty-six degrees in Fahrenheit. The sky was filled with gray clouds as rain hammered the streets and windows of homes. Throwing on a hoodie and grabbing an umbrella, not forgetting my backpack, I ran out of my apartment and raced to school.

My umbrella had flown away with the wind along the way, and after a string of curses, I managed to get my hood on over my soaked hair and made it to school, dripping wet. Luckily, I had a spare set of clothes in my gym locker for times just like this.

After putting fresh clothes on and discarding my wet clothes in my locker, I went to class twenty minutes late for second block. I burst through the door with an unintended "bang" and stood there, everybody's eyes on me.

Gildarts raised an eyebrow in question and sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Well, Natsu, since you decided to join us here today, would you care to tell us why you're late?"

I scratched the back of my head and chuckled awkwardly. "I, uh, I woke up late and ran to get here, but I had to change my clothes 'cause of the rain."

Gildarts nodded in approval. "Take your seat."

I walked to the back of the class and slumped at my desk, sighing heavily as I leaned my head on my arm. My eyes heavy with sleep, I started drifting off in a dreamless nap.

I jolted awake as the bell sounded, signaling the students to go to second block. I collected my things and headed for the door, being the last one out of the classroom. Just as I opened the door, Gildarts said, "Natsu, come here for a second."

I turned around with a scowl on my face. "I need to get to my next class, old man."

He chuckled. "I'll write you a pass." He replied, gesturing me to come over to his desk.

I walked over reluctantly and stood in front of his desk, putting all my weight on one leg. "What do ya want?"

"Natsu, I think you should get a tutor." Gildarts said bluntly.

My scowl returned. "I don't need a tutor."

He sighed. "Natsu, your average for the year is a D minus. You need to get your grades up or you won't be able to graduate. I know math is the least interesting thing to you, but it's a mandatory class."

I sighed in defeat. "Who do you suggest?"

"Lucy Heartfilia."

My eyes widened. Shit.

"She had straight A's in this class all year and is still going on strong. Plus, I know you've got a thing for her." He winked.

I felt the tips of my ears turning pink. "N-No I don't." I deny.

Gildarts laughed. "Natsu, you never blush or stutter."

Without another word, I briskly left the class, Gildarts' laughter sounding softer and softer the farther I get away from the classroom, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

How the hell am I supposed to ask her to be my tutor?

{~•~•~}

I was sitting at lunch, eating my greasy, school-lunch pizza, contemplating this stupid tutor thing.

Why the fuck do I need a tutor? I've been doing fine in that damn class, in my opinion. I have no aim to go to college after high school so who cares about getting good grades?

Even if I needed a tutor, why did it have to be the person I'm hopelessly in lo-like with? Pshh, I wasn't going to say love, what're you talking about?

I dropped my pizza on my plate and sighed, looking around the courtyard. Students were bustling about, heading to all sorts of directions, but all avoiding mine.

You would think the student body would've gotten over the whole incident by now. It's been almost three years and I still get thrown hateful glares. They don't even know the true story. Just Sting's side.

As I was looking around, my gaze fell onto the one girl I wanted to avoid making eye contact with. But alas, our eyes met each other and my heart palpitated. Not because of the weight of her stare but because of what I had to do in order to get my grades up.

Fucking Gildarts. I mentally cursed. Then something completely and totally unexpected happened.

Usually when I meet people's gaze, the glare and look away, obviously wanting nothing to do with me or my presence. Occasionally, they turn to their friends and point at me, either laughing or sending me more death glares. One guy even motioned his index finger across his throat. I wasn't scared of him.

But of course, Lucy was different, in more ways than one.

After smiling at me, she got up from her table after waving to her friends, and started walking towards me, and a wave of fresh panicking sent shivers down my spine.

What the fuck is she doing? I mentally ask, scrunching my eyebrows together in confusion. Does she know what will happen to her status?

I followed her with my eyes as she walked, not missing any details. She had a white top with lacy sleeves, a light pink skirt that swayed when she stepped, and white ballet flats.

The way she dresses, Lucy reminds me a lot of my little sister…

I shook my head, getting rid of the depressing thoughts. Lucy stopped in front of the table I was sitting at and smiled. "Hey," she waved.

I blinked awkwardly. "Hi…"

"You're Natsu right?" She asked.

I nodded. She sat down across from me. "So, I'm guessing Gildarts-sensei told you about the tutoring thing?" I nodded slowly. "Are you up for it? I'll be glad to tutor you."

I stared at her for a few seconds and smiled awkwardly. "It's not like I have much of a choice." My eyes widened at how mean I sounded.

I thought she would snap back at me, or call me a name, but no. She giggled. And let me tell you, it was the most beautiful sound I ever heard, and I knew I would never get tired of it.

"So, when are you available?" She asked.

"Um…I can do today, if you can?"

Lucy smiled. "Great, I'll meet you at the library around…7?" I nodded. "So, how come everybody here keeps throwing us weird looks?" She asked, looking at all the students in the cafeteria.

I shrugged. "I did something a couple years ago so they all hate me for it. They don't even know the full story."

Lucy nodded in understanding. "They're all jerks, even my friends." I raised an eyebrow. "They're just using me for my money. Ever since they found out I'm Jude Heartfilia's daughter, they asked me non-stop to buy them something or pay for lunch."

"I don't even know who Jude Heartfilia is, honestly…" I answered, looking down at my half-eaten pizza."

Lucy sighed. "That's a relief, actually. Anyway, what are you doing after school, other than tutoring?"

I scratched the back of my head. "I work at as a waiter at this place called Fairy Tail."

"That's pretty cool. Maybe you could take me there sometime." She subtly winked and smiled before getting up from our table and walked away.

I stared at the spot where she sat with wide eyes.

What the fuck does that mean?

I looked around the courtyard and noticed that everybody was glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and got up with my things, threw my trash away, and walked into the building as the bell rang.

{~•~•~}

I was at Fairy Tail, wiping down some tables before we opened for the night, deep in thought.

Am I really meeting Lucy at the library tonight?

I was still mulling over the thought when my boss, Mira, came over. "Natsu, you've been cleaning this table for the past ten minutes. Are you alright?"

I snapped out of my daze and looked over at her. "Uh…yeah. Just thinkin'."

She giggled. "It's not like you to think, Natsu." She gasped dramatically. "Is it about a girl?"

My face flushed as I looked away and started stuttering. Mira gasped again. "Oh my! It is! Natsu has a cruuusshhhh!" she started squealing.

"Mira, stop!" I whined. "I do not have a crush!"

She pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit across from her, to which I complied. "What's her name?"

I looked at my hands awkwardly and twiddled my thumbs. "Lucy…"

"That's such a pretty name! Are you two friends?"

"No, but she's tutoring me after work in math. Wait, what time is it?"

"6:45, why?"

My eyes widened in horror. "SHIT!"

I scrambled out of my chair and rushed into the staff room and grabbed my things before running out of the building, waving to Mira on the way out.

I ran all the way to the library in my work uniform. I burst through the doors, receiving a displeased look from the librarian, I immediately saw Lucy sitting at one of the nearby tables. I was actually on time for once.

I made my way over to her and sat down at the opposite chair. I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry if I'm late."

She smiled back. "Nope, you're right on time, which is surprising because you're always late to class."

I playfully glared at her and she giggled. For some reason, it felt so natural to talk to her, and yet it was unnerving 'cause I was afraid I would say something wrong. Hopefully I would at least have a chance to be friends with her.

"So," She started, pulling a textbook out of her backpack. "Let's start with factoring."

~Two Hours Later~

I threw my pencil down in frustration and rubbed my face with my hands as I sighed. I was not getting it. All this stupid talk about radicals and shit was making my head hurt. We've been at it for two hours, and I hadn't gotten one question right on my own. "I can't do this."

"You're not going to get it right so fast, Natsu. It takes time to get this stuff, and I'll be here to help you." Lucy said with a reassuring smile

"We've been at this for two hours; my brain is about to explode." I deadpanned.

Lucy started packing up her stuff. "Well, we'll just have to meet up again. You'll get this, Natsu. I'm sure of it."

I sighed. "Thanks, Lucy."

Before she could respond, the librarian came over. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but the library is closing now." I could tell she still had a grudge on me, because she sent the smallest hint of a glare my way before smiling at the blonde.

"We were just about to leave, thank you." Lucy said. I got up from my chair and followed her out the building. We stood outside for a few minutes, until I noticed Lucy had a slight shiver and goosebumps rising on her bare arms. I took a coat out of my work bag and put it on her shoulders.

She looked at me in shock before smiling gratefully at me and putting the jacket on. A black car rolled up by the curb and honked. "Well, that's my ride." Lucy said.

She walked up to the car and opened the passenger door, placing her backpack in the car. She looked down at her arm and back at me. "Don't you want your jacket back?" She called.

I smiled at her genuinely. "Keep it." I called back.

She returned the smiled and waved as she got into the car and drove off into the night.

One word can change lives.

{~•~•~}

I really didn't have to change much with this one

am proud