A/N: As you move through the story you will notice few things. First is that I am slowly preparing for firs big complication of the story, second is my modeling of characters who though unique in their mentality had a template to follow. Among them are two most prominent ones who will be getting bigger roles in chapters to come. Juvia is first and you will notice distinctive lack of her addressing in third person and I modeled her after dubbed version of Fairy Tail. Reason is because I took both versions, subbed and dubbed, and came to conclusion that college students on their roads to academic degree do not often talk in third person... i needed to make her more decisive, more aggressive. Second is Freed Justine and that is purely because of the voice and I stand firmly behind my ascertainment that John Burgmeier did him justice! There is great deal of smooth lines when he spoke and among many roles he did I really found it easy for him to fit Freed's character, especially now when Freed is professor in this story of mine. I truly hope this did not disillusioned you, but I felt as if this was needed to be explained.

"You are shitting me, you have to be shitting me…" Gray said looking at Natsu as they moved past college gates, going further into the premises and toward main building.

"Nope, not shitting you." Natsu said having the grin on his face. It didn't take long for them to enter building. Heat was slowly catching up to Gray who was on the verge of removing his shirt, but fortunately Natsu was there to 'politely' remind him not to. Despite that he still listened to him closely as Natsu unraveled conversation that occurred in the sweet shop the other day. The shock on Gray's face disappeared and soon, heavy laughter was heard "You are not serious!" he said in-between laughs.

"What?"

"Hold on, hold on…" Gray cleared his throat but the urge to laugh "You said that? No, you 'swore' not to hurt her? And you said it out loud?"

"Yeah?" Natsu was a little confused, of course this all made sense in his head but Gray seemed to disagree with this entire fact and he burst into laugh yet again. This of course angered Natsu to a degree. "Hey popsicle, just because you got your life in line doesn't mean you get to laugh at others."

"No no no" Gray cleared his throat yet again, trying to calm himself and this time he succeeded "I am not laughing at her life, trust me I am surprised how she manages all that, I am actually laughing at notion that you can be friend with a girl without having sex."

"Have you not heard about male-female friendships? They work cube-brain." Natsu looked on his phone to check the time and at his locker he placed books, taking out single one from it.

"Ok name one girl you are friend with whom you haven't fucked… one girl." Gray crossed arms, waiting for reply.

"Erza" Natsu said after good minute of thinking.

"Erza doesn't count, she is demon. I meant is human girl." Gray frowned but not before he looked over his and then over Natsu's shoulder to make sure she isn't around.

"Ok so she will be first one." Natsu closed locker still frowning.

"And you are going to be ok with that? Because, that means you are probably gonna be reminded every time you sniff her like a dog during mating season. You really won't break the promise?"

"Well not yet…"

"Not yet?"

"Ok look, I didn't exactly lie about the hurt thing but that doesn't mean I am going to just give up. I feel that this girl is really special. First I'm going to show her that boyfriend is that big of a deal as she makes it, and when she is loosens up a bit, I will make my move."

"And you think that's easy? Having you as boyfriend?"

"What's not to like having me as boyfriend? I am smart…" Gray tried to contain another burst of laugh but Natsu continued "I am athletic I mean look at this!" He raised his shirt, showing his abs. It really wasn't like he wasn't a good piece of young man, quite the contrary his muscles were well defined and few whistles from girls around just proved him right. He released his shirt and continued "And I know how to handle a girl in bed, this is a win for both sides."

"Ok, tell you what…" Gray raised his right index finger toward Natsu "Why don't you spend some more time around her NOT trying to screw her 5 minutes after conversation start, and if you manage to endure everything she is enduring in one day… I am going to accept that you are right."

Natsu groaned but accepted. It did interest him, spending entire day with Lucy brought him light feeling in his chest and a smile on face. Problem was finding enough time for her to be free but he could probably work something out, after all she won't call him stalker anymore if it's friendly visit. Gray felt slight chill climb up his spine as he was watching Natsu plot yet again but his train of thoughts was interrupted by pair of hands that wrapped around his chest from behind and a feel of lips on his neck.

"Hey Juv" he smiled placing his right hand on top of hers and turned enough to catch her lips, a small peck, nothing more but enough to change his perspective of a day. "Ready for class?"

"Mhmm… Oh and I am free tonight." She winked at him and Gray simply turned toward Natsu grinning from ear to ear.

"Hear that? That is the sound of me getting some and you… getting nothing for the first time! I mean honestly I am the one who is usually lagging beh-…" he started but he stopped, his mouth gapped open as he widened his eyes as he just witnessed revelation of a decade "Oooh shit Natsu are you actually liking her?"

"Of course I like her."

"Who does Natsu like?" Juvia asked, slightly confused at conversation that she didn't follow.

"Not your business Juvia." Natsu responded with grin.

"He is starting to like Lucy." Gray added, having Natsu frown at him, yet again "And I mean really like."

"Natsu!" Juvia's smiling face turned quickly "Don't you dare hurt Lucy, you got it?"

"Why does everyone think I am going to do something like that?"

"We know you." Gray chuckled as he patted Juvia's hand again. "Besides you know who her childhood friend is?"

"Enlighten me." Natsu crossed his arms.

"Gajeel." Juvia said and Natsu's eyes widened. He really didn't want to cross path with him, not on bad terms after he watched preview of his last fight for Magnolia Heavyweight Championship. It didn't end well. "And if you hurt Lucy I am telling him you did it." Juvia concluded and it was last drop in Natsu's glass and he had to interfere with their organized front. He balled up the fist and slammed it against the doors of his locker.

"Enough already I get it! I haven't even done anything and you already treating me as if I broke her. I get it, she is in rough spot, I get it that I may have started on the bad foot but it doesn't mean I am going to force it on her! Can you two not believe me that sometimes I can be a good guy? Come on Gray, have you ever seen me force a girl into sex?"

"Very well, you made your point, just… Listen to my advice, before going after her, see if you can endure."

Juvia decided to say nothing, she knew well Lucy's situation being one of her few friends and in all honesty she wanted to protest against this idea but two main arguments stood in her way… first was that Lucy actually talked about Natsu to her friends, Juvia included, and there was a spark of possibility of her accepting him to a certain distance. Other, more compelling argument, is that her beloved was right there, making a decision and if he trusts him, she should as well.

"Now if you will excuse us, we have classes, and something fun to do after." Gray chuckled as Juvia pulled him by his hand toward other direction, leaving Natsu to groan. The whole mushy stuff almost made him puke, which is common thing for him to feel when it came to mushy stuff in one exception… when it was about him. It did gave him a thought though, if he could endure to be a friend with a girl without having sex as ultimate outcome, but then again, almost every girl in his life was eventually in his bed, except family of course and that one demon. This made him look around again, knowing that Erza is like probably like on those demons who, when you he says her name or think about her too many times, and will appear out of nowhere to eat his soul and beat the living shit out of him…

"She really needs to get laid…" Natsu said in hushed tone as he leaned back against the locker, closing eyes for a second.

"Who needs to get laid?" a familiar tone interrupted his profound thoughts.

"Nothing, just some random thinking. How are you Jenny?" he asked, smiling as she moved in and kissed him, a bit too long for a greeting.

"Feeling good today. Better than yesterday when you left me waiting." She purred as she tried to be as close to him as possible. He didn't object but he felt a little uncomfortable as he kept forgetting about her, mostly due to fact another found her way into his head.

"Yeah, sorry about that sweet cheeks."

"Then how about today?"

"Today sounds fine, yeah, I'll see you after practice." He nodded and she smiled wide, giving him another deep kiss before leaving. He grinned wide but it didn't last longer than ten seconds as he looked to his right, spotting Lucy who merely glanced at him before continuing to place her books inside locker. Uncomfortable was not strong enough word for feeling that he felt.

"That was… ummm…" words had hard time coming to him

"What?" She asked, looking confused at him.

"Well with me and umm… Jenny."

"What about it?" She asked, closing the locker. There was not a trace of anger or jealousy that he expected to find.

"I mean… that and with you and me?" He stuttered, every word was elongated, trying to find correct one to follow.

"Natsu, you don't need my approval for that. You can have sex with whomever you want." That did not sound right to him one bit, it felt odd, weird… as if he could continue to get closer to her but he had permission to have sex with other girls… Tiny alarm started howling in his head, one that told him that he was to be extra careful for one step will bring hell on him.

"Can't you like, at least pretend to be jealous?" He asked.

"Why?" And now she asked.

"I mean because of yesterday and the talk…"

"Natsu, look… I am honestly having second thoughts about what you said yesterday. But I am counting that at very least if you are not going to listen to my words, you are going to listen to yours. You gave me your word yourself and trust me I am not that comfortable trusting you but… I am willing to take a shot, knowing you are going to regret that."

"Then allow me to confirm your trust." He quickly said, moving one step closer but she took one herself, making distance from him.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

Idea occurred to him, devious one, terrible one, completely lunacy even… he will listen to Gray's advice and it actually seemed attractive to him.

"When is your next free day? When you don't have to work shifts."

"This Saturday. I have work on Friday and double shift on Sunday but Saturday is free for me."

"How about you let me spend time with you all day? I'll help you with any work you have in house or with Michelle and you can see that I am not just soma baggage you need to carry with you. I may even ease up your day so you can relax."

"Is that another one of your plans to get me on your 'date'? Because I filled my quota for entire month." She looked at him suspiciously but he quickly waved his head.

"No joke, no low blows… You point with finger, I'll help with that. Think of it like having your own personal butler for a day." He smiled wide, taking another step closer to her but she responded by taking another one of her own to make distance. Of course this sounded suspicious but the look on his face showed determination that made her absolutely sure he will not back down. There was nothing she could do anymore so she sighed.

"Very well then, my day starts at 6:30 so you can come at 7."

"Beautiful, but…" his tone changed along with the topic "Still nothing? I mean you were not even least bit jealous she kissed me like that?"

She sighed, deeply and lowered her head. One deep breath, then another and she looked up at him. Her hand raised and quickly moved, slapping him across his left cheek, rather hard before she growled at him "How dare you kiss another girl thinking I won't find out?! I trusted you!"

Heads turned to look at both of them and she quickly smiled saying "Drama club, we are just rehearsing". That made them continue with their own business and she looked back at Natsu who placed his fingers on his cheek. "How was that?"

"That actually hurt!" He protested but she didn't flinch from his glaring eyes.

"I know, consider that payback for making me kiss you at Sabertooth." She winked before taking moving past him. Natsu was struck with more than just her palm, the pain on his face was deeper… unlike any pain he felt before and Gray caused him many painful moments on field… yet this one hurt him in odd way. He smiled as he moved toward the classroom, oh yes, he smiled.

Lucy on the other hand was not smiling… well not too much at least but it did brought her odd satisfaction. Was it the slap or was it the expectation of a day she could order him around. What am I thinking he is not my butler!

She sat down on her seat in classroom, feeling a very small blush creep up on her cheeks. A butler for a day…

"You feeling alright, Lulu?" Levy asked her as she sat right beside her "Natsu didn't say much about what happened the other day," and boy in question entered the classroom, he wanted to sit right behind Lucy but the one who occupied the seat made him just move past and go toward the end of the amphitheater.

"I am feeling fine, do not worry Levy." Lucy smiled at her, giving bluenette a small bit of relief "He just helped me, that's all."

"Yeah, well when I get my hands on that punk I'll help myself with his face…" Growling voice came from behind both of them; he didn't miss the chance to send his glare toward Natsu.

"For seventh time, we just talked!" Levy slowly turned to glare at Gajeel "And I was too worried about Lucy to even think about that!"

"Didn't sound like that to me!" He growled louder.

"When are you going to get it into that thick skull of yours?" Levy narrowed her eyes.

"When he stops messing up with my woman!"

"Stop calling me your woman! You are making it sound as if I am old!"

"Well if I don't someone might take you for a shrimp!"

"Oh so now I am a shrimp too?" She sounded even more annoyed but Gajeel didn't sound like he was anywhere near close to end.

"Well maybe but you are still my shrimp!"

"Geez shouldn't you two marry first to in order to have marriage counseling?" Lucy giggled as she was listening to them.

"We are not married! I mean not marrying, I mean married!" Gajeel quickly tried to deny Lucy's claims despite him being way too easy to read but this seemed like overboard, even for Levy to take. He screwed up…

"So now I am not good enough for you?" Levy huffed before turning to face forward.

"Wait I didn't mean that"

"I am not speaking to you, Gajeel!"

"Damn it!" he grunted, lowering his head down, pressing forehead against the wooden surface of the amphitheater table. All the while Lucy giggled even more, she knew that their spats do not last more than a day and this hardly makes it to top ten of their argues… they knew to argue more for lesser reasons and for some reason, Lucy was happy for them, to be able to overcome the differences and small disagreements. Despite her adamant stance… she did feel as if she was missing someone… someone who could do things like Gajeel does to Levy and stays with her regardless of their love spats. But there was great difference between want and need and she couldn't understand if she needed someone or wanted someone.

Class started soon and with it everyone's focus turned toward professor Justine entered in his usual but full splendor. Immaculate suit, well combed long green hair and pair of slim reading glasses. There wasn't much doubt that he was by far the most desired professor of the College.

"Good morning, class." Freed nodded as he reached desk and from his bag he pulled out textbook. Of course he looked alright but Lucy couldn't understand why all the sighs. Even Levy let out one but that was purely to annoy Gajeel and that did not need extra effort to achieve… he was ready to let out hot steam through his ears and nostrils.

Class ended right on time and as it did, everyone stood up to leave. Levy was first to rush out, Gajeel followed close but not before Natsu managed to slip past them. He was not going to stand over her head? Perhaps she hit him too hard. All that could not bring down her mood but something else could and that something appeared.

"Heeey you are Lucy, right?" A voice and she looked up to the girl. "Hi, I'm Jenny!"

"Pleased to meet you… Jenny." Lucy replied, feeling slightly uneasy. She looked cute enough, with more make up than needed so she expected that this girl needs something from her.

"I noticed you hang around Natsu a lot." Girl smiled again, but Lucy could see she was annoyed; it was hard for her to hide.

"It's other way around, trust me." She replied.

"He is dreamy, isn't he?"

"Oh yeah, he is a real treasure." Lucy smiled, feeling the discomfort rise with every second.

"Well he is also taken, plus, he is really not your type."

"He really isn't. You can have him as far as I am concerned." The smile on Jenny's face quickly disappeared, there was clear sign that she expected from Lucy to make any kind of possessive comment or even offensive but there was none. Her complete lack of interest was getting on her nerves but she knew better than to initiate any kind of trouble, yet.

"Well as long as you understand, it's all that matters." And with that she left the classroom. Lucy sighed, heavily, not knowing what to think of this entire situation. There wasn't need for any explanation, the simple fact Natsu is dating her means a whole load of problems for Lucy, starting from jealous girlfriend to possible jealous ex-girlfriends and the power of rumors and gossips should never be underestimated…

"Oh Mavis, what have gotten myself into?" She closed eyes and rubbed her temples with both of her hands... all she wanted was quiet time in college.