A/N: I apologize for long wait for update, a lot of things came up and I barely managed to grab enough time to write. Still I hope this to change a bit in future and I'll have more time for updates. For now, please enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think about it

Natsu yawned wide. It was another Friday and another class with Mrs. Straus, making it slightly less bearable. She was relentless during her lectures demanding almost absolute silence while allowing only sounds of papers turning and pens scribing to be heard. This was worse at the front rows where she could clearly monitor everyone but Natsu knew where to be during her classes. He only needed a passing grade and attendance and he achieved first on the exams while other was yet to be obtained on paper. To him, being at the very back of the classroom was only salvation and if she saw him yawning there would be hell to pay.

"Haven't slept well last night?" Silent voice from his side was heard, one that belonged to Gray.

"I haven't slept well entire week, not just last night" pinkette said in equally silent voice.

"Still same?"

"Still same."

"You know if I didn't know any better I'd say that you are falling for Lucy" Gray teased with a grin. Natsu would jump to disagree to this statement but he couldn't find energy and instead resorted to using words usually too big for him at this time of day.

"It's not that, It's… She is a mystery. No matter how much I try I can't even make a dent on her ice wall and I am a bit intrigued about her."

"Just intrigued?"

"Well not just that, I mean she doesn't even want to talk to me so I can find out what she likes…"

"And that is annoying you?" Gray asked but instead of any answer from Natsu, Evergreen yelled lough enough for everyone to hear as if she was standing right beside them.

"Mister Dragneel, Mister Fullbuster, scratching room! Now!"

Both of them groaned as they stood up and made their way outside of the classroom. Scratching room was a not a room but actually hallway. No one knew how it came to be named but the terminology was quite simple. Select students that consistently interrupted Mrs. Strauss's lectures were sent outside to prevent further interruptions. It was intended to be punishment but to select few it was a blessing rather than punishment, save for negative points. Name "Scratching room" pointed to fact that they would be sent outside to scratch themselves on head in attempt to think about what they did wrong to be punished. To most it felt silly, ridiculous even as it made no sense but then again, none had the courage to say that out loud in front of green haired teacher. Her gaze made people completely freeze in place and the fact that she married football coach who is twice her size made things even worse so… students learned to accept this term. Gray and Natsu of course would always chuckle whenever they heard this as Natsu once imitated a monkey scratching his head and that image stuck in their heads for life.

They stood by the door, leaned against the wall and now they had chance to properly speak about subject that brought them strange punishment/blessing.

"So… it is making you annoyed" Gray was first to resume the topic

"Yeah it is." Natsu responded looking forward, his brows slightly furrowed.

"So why don't you take a break from her and try with another girl?"

"Because I really want to get her. There is something about this girl, I can't explain it right"

Gray chuckled to these words, he was amused "You can't explain it at all fire-brain. Have you considered that she already has a boyfriend?"

"Nah, she doesn't"

"How do you know? She told you?" Gray asked both of them exchanged glances "If she had one why do you think she'd tell you?"

"If she had one she would tell me just to get rid of my advances but she didn't say it. Not like she would be embarrassed about it."

"Point, I guess… when did you become so observant?" Gray smirked as he looked again at Natsu "Who are you and what have you done to lizard?"

"Screw you…" Natsu huffed at Gray

"At least I'll get some unlike you. Oww!" He rubbed his shoulder as Natsu punched him rather hard "Coming with us after classes end?"

"Nah I have drama class."

"Wait, drama class? You joined?" Gray almost chocked at Natsu's words "When did you join?"

"Few days ago, no big deal man."

To Gray this was something impossible to grasp. He was silent for good twenty seconds with mouth open wide but after this time passed he shook his head quickly to snap out of his trance.

"Well I have to hand it to you… you are really going extra mile just to get Lucy." Gray said, his hand was already moving up to loosen the tie that was clenching his throat.

"What makes you think I joined for her?"

"Natsu, you can't remember three lines from poetry even if your life depended on it and now you joined a class that not only deals with serious prose but also has more text in one scene than you probably read this entire semester." Gray pushed himself from the wall and stood in front of Natsu, perhaps two meters away "Yeah I'm pretty sure you joined because of her."

"Dude, why do you care?" Natsu snorted and crossed arms, sending rather sharp look at him "And I thought you'd cheer for me!"

"I am you firefart but I am also worried about this situation."

"And why is that?"

Gray sighed, this was something that just occurred to him, perhaps not more than ten seconds ago but he had the urge to let it out "Girl is consistently rejecting you on every possible field despite your best efforts! You even tried to buy a kiss from her and she rejected you again."

"I got my kiss" Natsu frowned heavily, this was half right as he did got the kiss but not where he wanted.

"Mhmmm and she walked away from you as if it was nothing."

"So why are you worried? That she'll break my heart?"

"No, I am worried it's going to be other way around. She is really not the kind of girl you usually date and even if you do get through to her and she opens up to you like a book and spreads her legs for you… what's going to happen if she starts believing you actually like her but you only see her as one night stand?"

Gray had a point here, one that Natsu refused to fully accept but no word was out of its place. Still Natsu persisted and shrugged this easily.

"Come on, she'll know it's just for fun and even if she does get a bit hurt she'll get over it and find some other guy."

"You are an asshole Natsu" Gray waved his head, displeased at his friend's words "Look, I know you like challenges, I know you have this weird feeling right now but before you actually make her warm up to you, remember to remind her where you stand in all of this."

With this bell rang and it was time for the break. They both waited for Mrs. Strauss to leave classroom and they entered to pick up their belongings that were on desks. Natsu took some of these words to his heart. He knew well that it would clear out a lot of potential misunderstandings but he also decided that he should deal with consequences as they come, for now his priority was to first get closer to her and idea occurred to him. He ran off to the third floor of the faculty and knocked few times on the door before entering. Large library room had numerous shelves filled with books, countless authors for literature of all kind along with any required book for classes that were taught at Fairy Tail. He moved toward the desk where a woman in mid-thirties was sitting siting, scribbling something.

"Good day mister Dragneel" she smiled wide at him as he approached

"Yea hello, ummm… this is going to be difficult…" he said a bit nervous

"Oh do not worry, it wouldn't be first time for you to bring girls in here" she replied still having her smile

"No no no, not about that, I am actually looking for a book"

"What kind?"

"Ummm…" he tried to remember, his eyebrows lowered "I don't know name but I think author was… what was it again… Yeast?"

"Yeast?" she arced her brow, slightly baffled at this "You mean Yeats? William Butler Yeats?"

"Yes, him!" he suddenly said loud "do you have anything about him or from him?"

"Yes, second row at the end" she pointed to the right and he nodded in return and went there. His eyes scanned books as he was looking for name that was said and found a number of such one beside another. He picked one and opened it, going through pages but as he reached a certain one he stopped searching and began reading. A small idea went through his head and for this idea to be realized he needed something to give him at least some sort of advantage and he believed this would be good one.

Final bell of the day rang and students began leaving the building, most were just pleased weekend is about to start however few remained at Fairy Tail for their extracurricular classes. One particular classroom began filling slowly and students were consumed in their small chat before professor would arrive. Lucy was sitting at the middle of the classroom, reading a book but this small peace was quickly interrupted.

"You know I sent you like… 10 messages yesterday and you didn't answer to any of them" she sighed at the words and responded

"I had nothing to say. I found none of them to be interesting or worth replying to" her voice already sounded annoyed.

"Don't be like that I was worried something could have happened to you." Natsu said leaning forward to be a bit closer to her as he was sitting right behind "At least respond with anything."

"Will it be enough if I reply with "go to hell" She asked turning head to look at him

"Yes, it would" he grinned. This particular response was something she did not expect, least for him to actually care.

"Fine fine… next time I'll find a better way to say to stop bugging me" She responded, not having enough energy to further argue and she believed that this kind of answer would at least make him shut up for the moment.

Couple of minutes later, doors closed and rest of class looked as professor Justine arrived, carrying book and couple of chalks in his hand. Instead of his usual routine where he would stand in front of his desk, now he stood at the board and looked toward the students.

"Good day" was first thing he said and continued "Today's class will be a bit shorted due to teacher's conference that will be held in about twenty minutes. That being said I believe we should begin discussing the upcoming play. Anyone has any idea that he or she wishes to share regarding choice of play?"

"How about "Terrors of Galuna?" voice was heard from back of the class

"I believe we already had that play a year back" Freed responded "We should look into something else for a change rather than fantasy-horror"

"What about "Inferno"?" Another voice, female this time, was heard

"Dante Alighieri?" Freed asked, pondering for few moments "Interesting choice." He placed book on his desk and wrote "Inferno" on the board then turned again toward students, asking for more ideas. Some even said Romeo and Juliet to which Freed responded that it is a bit of a cliché but he still wrote the name on the board along with Hamlet.

"I request that you write the play that you wish most to see be played and put paper on my desk. Majority wins, as always and in the meantime, miss Heartfilia I hope you had sufficient amount of time to look into works of W.B. Yeats."

"Yes professor" Lucy replied taking her notebook and started going through pages while Natsu extended hand and began playing with strands of her hair, much to her annoyance.

"You missed it" Natsu said to Lucy, smiling from ear to ear

"What?" She asked angrily

"It's on other page"

"How do you know?"

"I was paying attention" he chuckled and she growled, turning page finding that he was right. All of that did poorly for her composure but it greatly amused him. He took another patch of her hair, moving fingers through it and she quickly turned growling at him "Stop it!"

"Mister Dragneel" Freed interrupted this exchange of glares "You seem to be distant from the class yet again." As a response Natsu looked at him, confused at professor who continued "I asked you to place your vote for play but since you are preoccupied with miss Heartfilia, perhaps you are more willing to aid her then?"

"Umm… yes, of course professor" he responded, confident and with a slight smile on his face

"Very well, do you perhaps know any work of the W.B. Yeats then?" Freed asked as he was looking with great interest at pinkette while rest of students formed a line to place their papers on the desk. Natsu cleared his throat and turned first page of his notebook and looked down for few seconds and then his gaze turned toward Freed... his confidence was clear and noticeable, almost overwhelming as if this was just something he would be asked every day. His voice was strong and clear"

"Had I the heavens' embroidered clothes,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths,

Of the night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet;

But I, being poor, have only my dreams.

I have spread my dreams under your feet,

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

He finished this little recital, his voice was neither irritating nor annoying to Lucy as it used to be but rather, oddly pleasant to listen and she was in complete awe. All the time she was watching him and not for single moment did his look wandered down to read his notebook other than first time before he started. Her eyes widened and lips slightly parted.

"Very impressive mister Dragneel" Freed smiled wide at this unusual scene, knowing Natsu's nature made it even more impressive "Do you by any chance understand the meaning of those words?"

"Well if I had to guess" Natsu grinned and scratched his ear "I would say that the author displayed the desire to have only the best and finest for the one he loves and he would spread heaven's cloths under her feet to walk upon. As we can all agree there would be nothing more beautiful than something that exists in heaven but he is poor and he cannot afford it so instead he is placing the only thing he has… himself, his wishes, his desires, his best and worst of thoughts and most of all… his dreams. In a way, he is giving himself to his beloved, asking only for her not to hurt him."

This was second time today where Lucy was in complete shock and she simply couldn't believe that a… jerk like him could remember entire poem not to mention to understand it, but there he was… standing tall and proud with smirk on his face. Natsu spared a short glance at her and winked. Her heart was uneasy again but this time it was not due to anger but rather, her heart fluttered at this unusual and rare display. Perhaps, just perhaps… he was not a complete moron that she expected him to be.

"Very profound of you, mister Dragneel" Freed nodded, keeping a smile on his face and his gaze was fixed on pinkette "I must say I haven't expected you to be so well versed in works of W.B. Yeats but I am pleasantly surprised to say I was wrong. In that case, I suggest that you and miss Heartfilia work together for the next class as I am afraid I will not have enough time to enjoy the discussion on the topic."

Natsu sat down and closed his notebook. His head turned to look at Lucy who quickly averted her gaze and looked forward, still unsure what to think about this whole situation. On one side there was a shock that he actually had enough brain to think about anything else but sex, on the other, there was uncomfortable thought of having to work with him and finally there was third, still confusing feeling that lingered inside of her… weak and difficult to grasp but it was there.

Professor Justine took all pieces of paper and stacked them neatly into a pile and placed inside his book "Very well, I shall examine your votes and deliver results during next class on Wednesday. For the moment, class is dismissed."

Students started getting out and for some reason Natsu was oddly quiet. He followed Lucy closely, almost brushing against her shoulder but he said nothing all up until they reached main gates of Fairy Tail.

"So how about this Saturday? You and me?" He said, breaking the silence between them

"What?" She quickly asked and looked at him.

"You heard professor, we need to work together." He said triumphantly "So how about it? You and me this weekend, restaurant or some coffee shop. You decide."

"Ughhh…" she groaned wishing this was just a bad dream but she knew that he would stick to her no matter what argument she would throw at him. Lucy knew well that there was no escape from this "Fine, Saturday at 14 in front of public library. No coffee, no restaurants, no walk in park, half hour at most, understand?"

Natsu nodded with grin and moved faster, going toward his home. As he walked he waved and said loud "It's a date!"

"It's not a date!" she yelled back at him and frowned, knowing that this would be one living hell of a weekend.