I don't really like this chapter... it just felt really all over the place but I'm tired of working on it. In case anyone wants to know, we will not be focusing on Natsu this fic. He genuinely likes Lucy and he will honestly not be a big manwhore. Lucy will be the one who needs to change because she is not healthy right now. I don't have anything else to say so have fun

The rest of her summer went by without any incident. It was the same as usual… Just being stuck with tutor lessons and finding barely any time to hang out with Levy. It was a boring summer… Nothing changed there either and she had pretty much forgotten about Natsu Dragneel and her encounter with him.

Lucy felt a small shake and gladly smiled at her fathers servant Virgo when she woke her up that morning for school. She greeted her properly like usual, then quickly got started on her morning routine. She was excited for school to start again so Lucy showered the night before. So once her hair was up in a bun on the top of her head, and her glasses were positioned on her nose, she found herself wondering over to the mirror where her school uniform was hung on a hanger along with a fresh pair of panties and a bra. Lucy discarded her pjs, then slipped the uniform on. It was a sailor uniform in a black with two white stripes around the collar and a red scarf hanging over her breasts. The skirt wasn't very short, but it wasn't necessarily conservative either, and she wore a pair of thigh high socks with a few strips at the top. Don't get Lucy wrong, it was a cute uniform. Except it just didn't look good on her. She looks fat in it… the uniforms were made for taller people or petite ones like Levy, but she was stuck between the two. Lucy was only 5 2' but she hand the breasts of a pornstar which made her body look a bit awkward in the uniform. It just didn't look the best on her so nobody really paid attention to her.

With her uniform on, Lucy made her way to her bathroom and brushed her teeth, removed her glasses to wash her face, and applied her creams to keep her skin healthy because according to her father, woman are submissive dolls who need to look good so a man can show them off. Lucy couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she still finished with her creams, then made her way out of her room, down the halls and stairs and into the dining room. Her back instinctively straightened out with her hands held together in from of herself as she made her way to her spot at the end of the long table and across from her father who was reading his morning paper.

"Morning, father." Capricorn pulled her chair out for her and pushed it back in once she was seated. She whispered a small thank you, then began spreading some raspberry jam onto a piece of perfectly toasted rye bread.

It was silent for a moment before Jude took a sip of his coffee, then placed the mug back down gently, along with his newspaper. "You have to be on your best behavior today, Lucy. You only get one chance at a good first impression."

Lucy nodded curtly with her toast held in her hand. She didn't take a bite yet because her father was actually conversing with her for once. It wasn't for her sake though, but for his own. He wanted her to get on the right foot with the new year starting and whatnot. "I know, father. Keep my back straight, make sure to be ladylike, don't socialize with people who would damage the Heartfilia reputation, and keep my grades up exponentially."

Lucy finally took a bite of her jammed toast, and chewed thoroughly with her lips shut tight. Can't be chewing with her mouth open, that's for sure.

"Good. I expect you to be a true Heartfilia. I won't accept anything less." He seemed to be done with the conversation because he ruffled his paper so it was in his view and read over whatever he found interesting. It's probably the business section since the Heartfilia's own a lot in Magnolia. Their name was originally strictly railroads, but mom wanted to expand the business into something she would enjoy, so they invested in a new observatory so she had a project to work on. After that they started to venture out of the norm and take on other businesses as well, but the observatory is one of the only things her father truly cares about, since her mom put so much work into it. He keeps it running and actually put more money into it than her mom did. Jude let's her visit the observatory on a regular basis. It's a safe haven for her, and Jude seems to understand that because he respects her boundaries there. After all, they both loved mom more than life and he knows it was Lucy and her moms special place. There's of course a public telescope that people can use, but she and mom always had a private room where Layla would give her lessons about the stars and space, and how amazing it is. Just thinking about it made Lucy want to go there.

"I'll be back after dark, father." Jude looked up from his paper with a raised brow, like he was daring her to say that again. "I would like to visit mother after school, if that's alright with you."

His expression faltered into something sorrowful for a moment, but he cleared his throat and moved the paper in front of himself so she couldn't see his face. "Please let Capricorn know when you'll be home."

Lucy nodded, but he couldn't see. The rest of breakfast was eaten in complete silence.

"Lu!" Her best friend jumped onto her back like some sort of jumping shrimp, and grinned when Lucy looked over her shoulder at her after steadying the both of them. "We're in the same class again!"

"Really?"

Levy jumped off her back and walked around her so the bluenette was standing in front of her with her hands clasped behind her back. "Really! And guess who else is in our class."

Levy wiggled her eyebrows at her, and Lucy raised her own. "You mean Gajeel? That's great Lev! Maybe you can—"

Levy smacked a hand over her mouth with a very obvious blush on her cheeks. "N-no! I mean, yes he is but that's not who I'm talking about!" Levy leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Natsu Dragneel."

Lucy just stood there for a moment with blank eyes when Levy pulled away. "And that matters because?"

Levy rolled her eyes. "Never mind, Lu. Let's just get to class." Once they found classroom 2-B, they looked up at the board to find their seating assignments and sat in their respective chairs. Levy luckily sat in the next row over and one chair in front of her while Lucy was stuck in the second to last row from the back. Not a bad seat, except it would be to her father. He'd much rather her be sitting in the front row, but it's not like she could control the seating arrangements.

Lucy got ready for class by pulling her folder, notebook and pencil bag out, and once that was done, Levy moved to sit at the chair to her left since the one on the right was already occupied. "So, how was your father this morning?"

Levy really was a good friend. She was always checking in with her and asking how things were at home because she knew it wasn't great. Lucy felt bad though… they're always talking about her, so she's determined to set her and Gajeel up one way or another. Even if it involves using "Lu" to get her way.

"It wasn't so bad. Dad talked to me, but he was just making sure I knew his expectations for me. I told him I was going to visit mom today and he got a little sad, but allowed it."

"Well at least you talked!" Levy chirped, but her eyes soon wondered over to the door and she immediately straightened out her skit and made sure her uniforms scarf was laying nicely. "Gajeel's here. Help me look natural."

Lucy's got this. She's the queen of improv.

She laughed loudly at the 'joke' levy 'said' and reached her hand across the aisle to hit her arm playfully. "No, Levy! You would look so cute with a nose piercing! You should get it!"

Levy looked horrified for a moment, but she soon seemed to piece it together. Gajeel is a man of metal so he'd probably find it sexy if she had a piercing, and may actually join in on the conversation. "You think so, Lu? I don't know… don't you think I'd look a little silly with it?"

"Nonsense… you'd be hot, Levy chan."

Levy seemed to suddenly get anxious as Lucy felt a tall body looming over her. "Bunny girl, shrimp…" he nodded to the two of them, then focused on Levy hard. Lucy noticed her best friend getting a bit anxious at his piercing gaze, but a smug smirk spread across his lips and he sat on Lucy's desk so he was facing Levy as well. "Bunny's right. You'd look good. You've got a petite, cute nose. It'd suit your feisty, little body too."

He's flirting with her! Go Levy, go! Keep fighting and never stop!

"T-thanks… I uh, don't know if my parents would allow me to do it though. I-I'm not old enough yet."

That just made Gajeel grin. "I've got everything we'd need. Did all my piercings myself, you know. Tell me if your interested."

Then he left and found his seat on the other side of the room. They sat there in silence for a moment, but once Levy determined Gajeel wasn't looking, she grasped onto her hands and leaned over into her space so she was looking up at her. "You are the the most amazing best friend I could ever ask for."

Lucy giggled and patted her dear friend on the top of her fluffy hair. "I'll be here whenever you need me, but are you going to go through with it? Will your parents be upset?"

Levy backed away and thought for a moment. "Yeah, they will be. But I won't regret it! I can just take it out if I don't like it. But it would make me feel better if you got something with me."

Lucy's brows furrowed. What in the world could she get without her father knowing? She supposed there were plenty of piercings she could get, but none stood out to her. Except one maybe. "I'll get my belly button pierced. I've always wanted it, but could never get it because of my father."

"Okay, its settled!"

The warning bell rang so Levy stood up and wondered back over to her chair in the row on the other side of Lucy. They kept looking at each other in excitement because they would be getting piercings together! It was just fun and crazy and an amazing way to get her year started!

But then reality sunk in because he walked in the door. Natsu Dragneel. Lucy suppressed an eyeroll and fiddled with her pencil to distract herself. She started to doodle in her notebook. Just a nice shooting star with little swirls around it. It seemed god didn't have any pity for her because instead of a being a good distance away from her, Natsu Dragneel sat in the chair Levy was just sitting in, which was directly to the left of her and his best friend/the guy he always gets in fights with, Gray Fullbuster, sat directly behind her and kitty corner from Natsu. This literally couldn't have gone any worse. At least Levy is near her.

She didn't even look at Dragneel as he tried to study her, but Lucy just leaned her elbow against the desk and hunched over so he couldn't see her face, despite that she wasn't acting like a proper lady. Her teacher glanced up from his desk once the final bell rang, and it made her sit straight with her hands in her lap and her eyes on the teacher. Her father said you have one chance at a good first impression, so she had to make her class introduction count.

The teacher introduced a little about himself, then skipped straight to the students. One by one, everyone went, until it was Natsu Dragneel's turn. She didn't look at him, but kept her ears open. "Hi I'm Natsu. The dictionary's definition of sexy. Single ready to mingle. Hit me up ladies."

Lucy was too stunned to even move. What the actual fuck is wrong with him?! This isn't some dating app to find hot singles in your neighborhood! Why do people like him and why are girls giggling like they're actually interested in him?! This is so annoying, aggravating… her foot was bouncing on the ground and she squeezed her mechanical pencil hard. You're fucking Elsa Lucy Heartfilia. Conceal don't feel… don't let them know. Nope, nope! Her life will be over, literally! If she cusses out the bad kid in her class, she'll wind up in the principles office and her father will not be happy to receive that call. She needs to control… conceal. And the last person she needs in her life is a fucking Natsu Dragneel/Hans looking bitch ruining her life!

So, Lucy took a deep breath to clear her mind and nodded with the teacher when he called Dragneel's introduction inappropriate. The class moved down her row until it was her turn. She stood up straight and gave a small smile to Levy when she gave her a thumbs up. "Hello, I'm Lucy Heartfilia." Her dad would want her saying her last name so the class knew who she was, but she would honestly rather leave that out. "I like to study in my free time, and enjoy learning new things. Please take care of me." Lucy gave a short bow, then sat back in her chair with her eyes on the teacher. He smiled at her, and she knew she nailed it. Not too much, but stated that she was here to learn, and she used the shyness that most teachers like from their students. They definitely don't want someone loud like Natsu, or even how she actually is. Lucy knew father would be proud.

Gray Fullbuster went, but Lucy wasn't really listening very well. Somebody suddenly leaned over into her space, and she looked over to find olive green eyes looking at her with a bit of interest. "There's gotta be more ta ya than that."

Why is he talking to her? She's Lucy Heartfilia now, the girl who's good at school and keeps to herself. Nobody really paid any attention to her so why was he talking to her? She didn't want to talk to him, but father wouldn't appreciate any sass so she had to play nice. "No, that's all." Then she turned her back towards him so he didn't have an opening. Levy sent her a concerned look, but she just smiled at her friend and shook her head. The rest of homeroom went without incident, same with all the other classes. It was a shorter day, so there was no lunch, but she and Levy approached Gajeel and his friends to tell the bluenette's crush about the plans to get their piercings done.

While they approached, his friends straightened out for some reason, but Gajeel just grinned at her best friend. Lucy knew she would get them together. It was one of her most important goals right now. "Bunny girl, Shrimp…" his voice dropped a little more on the risqué side while he said his nickname for Levy. She really wouldn't have to do much work for this. They were already so into each other, but it seemed like only she knew about it.

"We're here to tell you I'd like to get my nose pierced."

Dragneel raised a brow at her. "You mean little Miss. Perfect is getting one two?"

Ha! That's funny! If only he knew what she was really like. Well he does, he just doesn't know it. "Oh, no… I could never get something as scary as a piercing."

Levy discreetly nudged her side and gave her a knowing smile. "My friend is coming with me instead. You actually know her Natsu."

Too far, Levy! Too far! He doesn't need to know 'Lu' will be there! But it seems it was too late to turn back because Natsu's eyes widened and he suddenly looked as excited as a toddler looking at a fire truck. "You're Lu's friend, Lev right?! She's getting something pierced?! What?! What's she like?! What's her last name?! Tell me everything you know about her!"

Lucy was taken aback and so was Levy. His friends just rolled their eyes like they were used to it, but listened intently to Levy's next words. "My name is Levy, that's just what my close friends call me like Lucy." She nudged her in the side again, but much more obvious this time. Suddenly all eyes were on her, and she liked it better.. This way, Levy didn't say anything unnecessary like before.

"You know her too?!" Natsu looked even more excited, like proof of her existence was something to throw a victory party for. It probably was because it's not like she showed up ever again after the first time.

"I wouldn't say I really know her, she's more Levy's friend than mine. But she wants to get her belly button pierced, and neither of us will give out any of her information because she doesn't like you."

Despite how she thought that would shut him up, he only grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder. "So she talks about me, huh?"

What the fuck goes on in his brain? How did he pick that out of everything she said. It's like he only hears what he wants to.

Ignoring Dragneel, Lucy grabbed Gajeels phone out of his hand and made a new contact for Levy labeled Shrimp with a little blue heart on the end. She handed the phone back and grabbed Levy's hand. "Text her the address, she'll be at your house at 6."

Then Lucy tugged Levy away leaving a stunned group of boys behind them.

"So Lu really is a real person?" Gray questioned with a raise of one brow. "I thought you just made her up."

"Now I've gotta see this." Loke muttered. "Who's this hottie Natsu won't stop talking about?"

"I called dibs ages ago!" Natsu yelled.

"She doesn't seem very interested in you, flame brain."

"She's just playing hard to get." He flipped his friend off, then focused on Gajeel who had been staring at his phone with a tiny blush on his cheeks. "I'm coming over too, iron breath."

Gajeel snapped back and he cleared his throat with a scowl. "Whatever, just don't mess things up for me."

And they made their way to Gajeel's apartment, making sure to stop by Cana's house to grab some alcohol for the small party they would be throwing. And Natsu will be sure to get something Lu will like instead of beer. He was looking forward to this.

She and Levy have been looking for some clothes to wear for the last hour. This store had nothing good, so they moved onto the next one with determination. Levy's wanted to impress Gajeel while Lucy was trying to trick everyone there that Lu and Lucy were two different people because she had a feeling Natsu Dragneel was going to be there now that Levy had such loose lips.

"You like this, Lu?"

She held up a white romper with two sleeves detached from the dress that would go on her biceps. Classic Levy. "That's cute, you have to try it on!" Then Lucy held up her own shirt, hers not as dressy. She didn't want it to look like she was trying too hard, so she went with a vibrant dark blue, aqua blue, magenta, and purple tie dye crop top camisole that said Stay Weird on it with all the phases of the moon around it in a circle. "You like this for me, or no?"

"I love it! It's totally you!"

After Lucy picked out a pair short white shorts, and some Adidas sneakers, they paid, then left the store to head back over to Levy's. Lucy quickly straightened her hair so it was like silk down her back, then did her makeup into a simple winged eyeliner and put in the contacts she kept at Levi's, which she bought for occasions like this. She looked good and the shirt would be showing off her soon to be pierced belly button, so Lucy made sure to steal one of Levi's oversized sweatshirts so she could coverup for when she goes back home.

Levy looked fucking adorable in her little romper made of lace and innocence. She'll definitely catch Gajeel off guard, and she knew he would love the piercing she would be getting on her nose. "How do I look, Lu?"

She fixed her headband and straightened her outfit out a bit. "Gorgeous. He won't know what hit em." Then Lucy turned to the mirror and ruffled her long hair to make it lay more naturally. "How do I look? Do I look like Lucy Heartfilia?"

"I can tell you're my best friend, but I'm sure they won't know the difference. For some reason, that uniform just looks awful on you."

Lucy couldn't help but laugh. "I know. No need to rub it in!"

They turned to each other and fixed the others hair and brushed any extra powder on the others face. "Ready to go? It's six right now so we'll be fashionably late."

Levy giggled. "I'm ready to get my nosed pierced!"

Natsu was nervous as fuck to see her again. He's never thought about one girl as much as he's thought about Lu. He doesn't know what it is… the sass, the fact that she hates him and doesn't try to get in his pants the moment she lays eyes on him. She did the exact opposite, really. It was a catch 22. He wanted nothing more than to have sex with Lu, but he also didn't want that at all. Because if she acted like all the other girls he's been with, then that's a deal breaker. But he knows she's not like that. She actually hates him and he found it fucking hilarious, and adorable. She was so different and he wanted to learn more. He knew nothing besides her name and that she has a strict father, and she told him neither of those. He'll get her to talk to him. He doesn't know how, but he will. He'll make her actually fall for him and have real feelings for him, and then it won't matter if he fucks her and if she wants him to fuck her. He just wants someone to like him for him and she's the first girl he's wanted that to happen with.

"She better be hot, ashface."

"It doesn't matter what you think because I already called dibs, you freezer burned popsicle!"

Loke just snickered while Gajeel focused hard on his phone like he could barely sit still. The blonde bunny was smarter than she looks, adding the heart at the end of Shrimp's name was a sneaky move on her part, but luckily, she wouldn't be here tonight. It was just Shrimp and her friend who Natsu was gushing over, so she must be pretty stupid.

There was a knock at his door, and Natsu quickly stood up to answer it, but Gajeel stuck his foot out to trip the flaming idiot and took the prize for himself. It is his apartment so he should be the one to let Levy inside. When he opened the door and saw how gorgeous she was, Gajeel couldn't even look away. He was stunned into silence, his mouth agape and eyes eating her up. He's never seen her outside of her school uniform, and Gajeel had to say, it did absolutely nothing for her. He thought she looked cute enough in it, but this was a whole other level. Truly breathtaking.

He had to look away away to move and let them inside. He thought he caught a smug smirk on the Shrimp's friends lips, but he ignored it and shut the door behind them. It was silent as they all sat or stood in their respective place, taking in each other or for Shrimp's friend, his apartment. He found it odd that she didn't seem to find at least one of them interesting. I mean, Gajeel himself has his own appeal to him, but Natsu Gray and Loke are some lookers but it's like she didn't even care.

"Soo…" Shrimp's friend cleared her throat, and ran a hand through her hair so it parted on the other side. "We gonna do this or what?"

"What's the 'this' we're doing?"

Natsu's confidence in woman never ceases to amaze him, but he's never seen him fail. He always gets the girl by the end of the night and this one happened to come out unscathed over the summer. They'll have to leave the apartment though because no one will be doing anything here except him.

"Maybe kicking you out of the apartment? Shoving a dildo up your ass to shut you the fuck up? Or… or!" She jumped like she could hardly stand still and pointed towards a door she assumed was the bathroom. "Lock you in there so you gets distracted by your own face. Perfect plan. He won't ever stop looking at himself."

Levy tried to suppress a small smile, but she didn't have to for long because all the boys except Natsu burst out laughing, so she joined along with them and let her giggle out. Levy expected Natsu to get upset, but it was like nothing could bring him down because he stood up and approached Lucy's unflinching body with confidence and like he already has her in his grasp. Poor, naïve Natsu… he doesn't know what he's getting himself into. Both personality wise, and all the baggage she carries. Most guys would run once they have to impress a man like Jude Heartfilia, and despite how Levy is happy that someone is interested in the real her with all her sass, she was a little worried that Natsu would drop her once he learns about how strict her life is, and how secretly broken she was. He wouldn't know that though because he's one of the lucky few people that get to see this side of her. Levy only learned about it by complete accident. As Lucy likes to say from the words of Frozen, 'conceal don't feel, don't them know…', but she could no longer conceal it from her and she blurted something out that was quite shocking. She loved Lucy even more after that though and Lucy opened up to her. She's just scared Natsu won't be able to hold up to his 'no fear' motto. She wasn't entirely sure if he could.

"You must think you're pretty cute."

"I think I deserve someone better than you." She crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow in challenge. "If you think you can handle someone like me, then you're gonna need to step your game up, kid." Lucy walked forward and jabbed him hard on the chest. "I've dealt with your kind before. You want someone who speaks their mind, but the moment I cross the line, it's over for me. You dump me like trash."

She healed her shoes off then sauntered on into the apartment and sat on the floor by the coffee table where there was a cheap bottle of wine. She knew all the higher end labels and this was not one of them. Lucy took the bottle and unscrewed— yes, unscrewed the cap. That's how you know how cheap it is since it didn't even have a cork. Once she poured a plastic glass with a little bit of the alcohol, she spun the drink around and brought it up to take a whiff. Nothing like the wine lessons she taken, but it didn't seem so bad. So she took a small sip and let the deep red wine melt down her throat. "That's not as bad as I was expecting." Lucy held the glass up to her friend and tilted her head at her. "You want to try a sip, Lev? I'll show you how wine connoisseurs do it. It's kind of gross, actually."

Suddenly, there was an arm around her shoulder, and she looked back to find a man with ginger hair smiling down at her with class. "Hello beautiful, how do you do? I'm Loke, and I'm at your service."

"Ahh, and I've dealt with your kind as well. Acts charming, but is actually the complete opposite. Total manwhore."

Loke recoiled, and mumbled things about witchcraft, but Lucy ignored it and smiled as Levy took a seat next to her. She could tell the bluenette was out of her comfort zone here, so she just gave her the glass without pressuring her, but she eventually took a small sip. Levy immediately brightened and downed the little bit left in the glass. "That was much better than that beer, Lu. Where was this at that party."

Lucy giggled. "It was a bad party, and that's saying something coming from me. You know how much I hate going to gatherings."

"I've got a question." Natsu was sitting across the coffee table, looking at her very seriously like he was studying her, and Gray silently sat on the couch next to him with the same look of interest. It made Lucy a bit nervous, and she purposely sat a bit more improperly to try and divide Lucy and Lu. "You seem like you know a lot of shit. How old are you?"

Lucy suddenly remembered something completely unrelated and searched the room for Gajeel. He was setting up the piercing equipment. Lucy ignored Natsu and refilled Levy's glass to halfway, then nudged her with a nod to the the raven haired boy with piercings. "Go talk to him, Lev, and spend some alone time with him. It seems like he's pouting a bit, so why don't you go see about cheering him up?"

Levy blushed a bit but curtly nodded and stood up to waddle her little bottom on over to Gajeel the pouting brute. He's probably sad that it wasn't just him and Levy, so she'll watch over them for a little.

With an open space next to her, Natsu took the opportunity to sit practically right on top of her and placed an arm around her waist. She just stared at him boredly, despite the quick spike of her heart rate from being touched. She may be used to suitors her father sets her up with, but they had to act properly, as did she so she was not used to being touched by a man. It made her uncomfortable, and she didn't want to be touched. Lucy just came to get her belly button pierced so her friend wouldn't be alone and that's all. How did she get so unlucky?

"So are ya gonna answer my question?"

"Sorry, what question? I wasn't listening."

Natsu grinned that charming smile he saved for special occasions and leaned closer to her. "How old are you?"

"Same age as you."

"What school do you go to?"

"None of your business."

"How did you know who I was?"

"Doesn't everybody know of the idiot who caught himself on fire?"

Natsu was silent as Gray chuckled from the couch. "She's got you there, man." Then Gray leaned forward so his elbows were on his knees and he smirked at her. "I'm Gray, by the way. Don't let Natsu or Loke get to you, they don't care much about women."

He ran a hand through his raven hair and opened his mouth to continue, but Lucy cut him off. "That's rich coming from you. You may not be as whorish as Dragon and lion boy over here, but you're much worse. You're the type to lead a girl on and treat them like they're special, but once they get too close to your secrets, you discarded them like used condoms."

His eyes widened as he stared at her in shock, but lucy just grabbed a new plastic cup and filled it with some wine. She was about to take a sip when a gruff voice spoke up. "And what do you think about me, huh Shrimp's friend?"

Lucy paused mid sip, but just nodded. "You're cool."

"What the hell, man?! Why is Gajeel the only one you're cool with?!"

After she took a sip, Lucy set her cup down and and smiled at Gray. "Please… Gajeel hides behind his grumpy face and piercing red eyes but he's actually a big teddy bear. Completely harmless."

Once again, it was silent. Lucy was just making everyone speechless today and she thrived in it. She liked being the center off attention so this was fun for her. Having new people to tease was fun.

Gajeel's face was a striking shade of red as he kept looking between her and Levy. Oh, he's embarrassed that he thinks his tough charade act is up. Except, Levy never believed it so it was too late for him to try and keep that up. Lucy will be nice though and keep that to herself. "S-shut up…" he went to back to his piercing equipment with a smiling Levy right next to him. Gray, Natsu and Loke were laughing, but Lucy just drank her wine and waited for them to be ready.

"O-okay, Lu. It's time…"

Lucy quickly hopped up off the ground and ran over to the kitchen counter Levy was sitting at. "You want to hold my hand?" Levy nodded so she stood to the side and out of Gajeel's way and held onto her best friends hand tightly. "You picked blue, right Lev?"

"Yes, Gajeel suggested it when he texted me."

"I'm sure he did." Gajeel snapped his gaze over to her from setting things up, but she kept her eyes on Levy. Gajeel underestimate the Shrimp's friend. He guesses the myth about blondes being dumb is false because he's stuck dealing with two of them now. Fucking hell. "Okay… just do what he says… and it's not permanent, so if you don't like it, you can just take it out and it'll be like it was never there."

Gajeel nodded in agreement. She was pretty knowledgeable. "Shrimp. This is the alcohol wipe. I just need to clean it." He cleaned Levy's right nostril right around where the needle would go. He was being very clean and even has a pair of gloves on. Lucy didn't know what she was expecting, but she didn't think he would be this thorough while doing it. Once her nose was clean and they decided on the location of the piercing, he took a new needle out of some brand new packaging and carefully held it in his hand. Lucy had to wonder if he bought all this stuff for them or had all this on him. Lucy has a feeling he bought it because she doubts he'd have stuff for Levy's piercing, let alone her belly button one. "Now on the count of three, I want you to breath in through your mouth, then exhale back out. It'll be over before you even realize it." Levy mumbled a quickly okay, and she squeezed her hand hard, despite the fact that he hadn't started counting yet. "One… two… three."

Levy did as Gajeel said and inhaled, then on the exhale, he pierced the needle in at an angle with a stopper on the other side to stop it from stabbing her inside. Gajeel was quick about it, seeing as Levy was crying and her whole body tensed. He pushed the needle all the way out of her nose, then slipped the small, blue piercing in after it. Once it was finally complete, Levy sneezed so cutely, then latched her arms around her back with ears watering her eyes. "I did it, Lu! I got it!"

"Good job, Lev."

Then she pulled away when Gajeel poked her shoulder, and she accepted the small mirror to look at it. Lucy could tell Levy liked it by the growing smile on her lips and Gajeel definitely also found it attractive by the stunned look on his face while looking at her. "Thank you so much, Gajeel. I love it."

"N-no problem, Shrimp." He ruffled her hair, making Levy pout, but she didn't do anything else to complain. They're so in love.

"Is it my turn now?"

Lucy doesn't know why, but she was just really excited to get a piercing. Maybe it was her way of rebelling? Whatever the reason, she just wanted to get it done now!

"Yeah, I already set yours up." This time he lead Lucy through the small apartment and towards the couch. He grabbed all the stuff, then sat down with Lucy standing in front of him. Everyone else was behind the back of the couch except Levy who was standing next to her.

He got a new pair of gloves then sanitized the area like he did with Levy. She had to pull her pants down a bit, which secretly made her embarrassed, but she pretended it didn't matter to her. "Gajeel, don't you think her pants are just in the way? Maybe she should take them off."

Lucy glared the stupidly handsome face smirking at her. How annoying. Gajeel just grunted his reply, like he wasn't really listening, and Lucy had to push her breasts down so she could see her belly button. Damnit all, and they come back to make her regret her big ass breasts again. The three boys behind the couch snickered at her, but before she could say anything, Levy shot them a look Lucy had never seen before. "Say one more disrespectful thing to my friend and I swear to god I'll—"

"Shrimp's friend. It's time." That's all he said before picking up the clamp wrapped with a elastic band then placing it around the spot they thought was good. He wasn't nice to her like he was to Levy and just took the needle and pressed it into her skin. It surprisingly didn't hurt. It just felt like pressure, so she stood there nonchalantly as she squeezed Levy's hand with reassurance. Soon, the needle was almost to the end, so he put the jewelry in the hole the fished it all the way through so the only thing left was the star shaped jewelry she picked out. He screwed on the other end, then it was done.

They all stared at it in the silence, and Lucy couldn't control the fond smile tugging at her lips. She loves it and it's perfect.

"Father will be so mad."

That seemed to shock everyone in the room for some reason, except levy who placed a hand on her forearm with a gentle squeeze. "You okay?"

"I-I feel great." Lucy looked up with unhealthy determination clouding in her brown eyes, but she looked back down at her new jewelry again and smiled big. "Father will be so mad…"

"You already said that, Lu."

"I-I wanna be bad." Lucy met Levy's gaze and she grabbed onto her forearm. "Let's do something bad, Levy! I-I like this feeling… I feel high. I'm so excited I can't stand just standing here. Let's do something illegal! Something fun, and exciting! I need to feel this more! I need this rush, it's what's keeping me sane!"

Lucy turned around to pull Levy to the door, but she bumped into a hard body and looked up to find Natsu's gaze on her. "Woah, woah… calm down, Lu. You don't wanna do anything that'll get you arrested."

"I won't get arrested… I-I just need to get this energy out."

"Lu, weren't you going to visit your mom today? I think talking to her will help settle you." Levy was nervous… never has she seen Lucy get like this. She's never gotten so much pleasure out of rebelling her father before. Levy wasn't sure what she would do. She needs to get her to the observatory… that always calmed her down, talking to her mother, that is. "Come on, I'll go there with you. Let's go say hi to your mom."

Before Lucy could protest, Levy grabbed Lucy's hand and tugged her to the door. She grabbed both their shoes under her arm and waved a hand back at Gajeel and the three boys who were standing there stunned. Now this was a test. She bets Loke will immediately stop pursuing Lucy after this. Gray is a probably also out, but Natsu… will seeing how emotionally and mentally broken she is scare him away? Or will he find her to be some sort of entertainment that he finds amusing? Or will he actually care and try to figure it out? Levy hopes it's the last one, but she doesn't want to jinx it. Because Lucy really needs someone else besides her right now. She so close to being completely broken that Levy is scared for her best friend. Hopefully it works out, and hopefully Lucy doesn't do something she'll regret. This is a test, and they'll see where it goes.