Things had settled down with Lucy once she got her to the observatory. Levy wasn't allowed in the room with her, it was a private place that only Lucy and her mom would go. She had so many memories there, and Levy didn't want to intrude on such an important place. Instead, Levy texted Gajeel, thanking him for the piercing because Levy did rather like it. They talked about Lucy… about how he was sorry for piercing her belly button and causing her strange behavior to defy her father. Levy wouldn't really call it strange though… It actually makes a lot of sense. Lucy may not have a filter and she may come off as a no it all, but it's because she's never allowed to say her real feelings. She's pent up all her emotions practically every second of the day, so when she has opportunities to be herself, things come out of her mouth that a normal person would hold back. She extremely honest and says what she thinks, but Levy loves her for it.

She patiently sat with her back against the door making sure to check up on her every so often and make sure that she was alright. Levy doesn't know what she does in there, but it always helps. Lucy is always able to calm down no matter how distressed she may be. Once it reached 9:30, Levy got a text on her phone from an unlisted number, so she opened it and smiled when it was Natsu asking how Lucy was. She saved his number and replied a moment later.

Levy: She's talking to her mom now. I'm not sure how much longer she'll be.

He replied a moment later.

Natsu: I guess I just don't get what's going on. Why did she start actin like that?

Her brows furrowed in thought. It wasn't her place to tell him, but she was rather happy. Natsu was still interested in her even after learning how broken she was. He may get around, but he seems like a good person. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell him? No, Levy knows she shouldn't. Lucy wouldn't forgive her if she told him about her past, despite how he seems sincere with his interest in her.

Levy: I can't say, but I'll tell you one thing. She has daddy issues.

The three dots on the screen indicated that he was replying until his message popped up.

Natsu: I could tell. Her dad seemed strict over the summer

Levy couldn't control it. She was happy somebody was interested in her best friend, despite knowing about how she is and how blunt she can be. Levy knew Lucy hated Natsu, but she wanted this to work. She wanted them to at least get to know each other a little better. Maybe it wouldn't be romantic, but at least Lucy could be herself around another person. The thought made her lips loose—or her thumbs…

Levy: so imagine you have a strict father with strict rules you're never allowed to break. You have to be on your best behavior all the time. And finally… she got to see what defiance tasted like. Never has she broken her fathers rules. Never has she went against his orders, and she felt high. It's… only normal.

She knew Natsu read the message but he didn't respond right away. He must be taking it all in, and she hoped he doesn't make her regret telling him. It should be fine though because even if he decides not to peruse her, he wouldn't really hurt Lucy, since he thinks they're taking about Lu. But Levy was starting to regret it because if Lucy found out she told him that, she would certainly be very mad. They can both hide behind Lu, even though she and Lucy were the same people.

Natsu: I get it

Natsu: is she still talking to her mom?

Levy didn't really realize this until now, but they just kind of added another barrier between Lucy and Lu. Everybody thinks Lu is talking to her mom, and she is, but Levy didn't notice how literally they took it until he said that. Who can blame him though? She literally said Lucy was talking with her mom, even though it's not quite what he thinks. Levy didn't know if she was happy about it because it's common knowledge that Layla Heartfilia died when Lucy was small. The whole town knew about it since the Heartfilia's are so big. But that will make it harder for Natsu to figure out who Lu truly is. Levy wasn't very happy about it, but she knew Lucy would be.

Levy: yeah. She'll be in there for a while. It was the first day of school so she had to talk to her mom about that as well, plus she needed to calm down.

The bubble of dots came up a moment later, but Levy wanted to talk about something else. She has nobody to share her worries about Lucy with and she needed to shut up before she says too much. She quickly typed again, causing Natsu's bubbles to stop. It made her sigh in relief.

Levy: so why do you even like her so much? You don't really know much about her.

Natsu: ur right, I don't know a lot but I know enough. She's different. She amuses me. She fucking hates me and says it to my face I love it

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips and she quickly typed her response.

Levy: ya know… Lu calls you a masochist and you're really living up to the name

Natsu: so she does talk about me!

He made her snort.

Levy: nothing good, but yes I suppose she does.

The conversation kind of died out from there. At 10:07, Lucy emerged from the room, looking much better, despite her tears and a lot more stable. Levy stood up and smiled at her friend, who had puffy eyes and red cheeks, with makeup smudged around her eyes. Lucy smiled at her a bit bashfully and yelped when Levy pulled her into her arms and squeezed her best friend tight. "You're so loved, Lu. Just remember that.

"Thanks." She sniffled, weakly hugging Levy back and nuzzling into her shoulder.

They both walked home, and separated at their different streets.

The rest of the week went by without incident. Lucy seemed to be very annoyed with Natsu, which wasn't helping the ultimate goal, but Levy supposed it wasn't Natsu's fault. He was interested in Lu, and all he knew about Lucy was that she was the prestigious Heartfilia daughter who didn't know how to have fun, was uptight, and didn't really want to talk to him. One of those were true and the others weren't, but since Lucy wasn't anyone who interested him, they just didn't talk. Natsu was always talking to her though, asking how Lu was and if she was doing okay. It was funny because he could ask her himself, but she didn't blame him for not knowing Lucy and Lu were the same person.

Soon, Monday came around again and Levy didn't know how she was supposed to make this happen. No, she did. She had to do the dirty work and go behind her best friends back and make them spend some time together. So that's how Levy found herself strolling through the halls during lunch break and making her way to the staff room to talk to their teacher. Levy happened to know that Lucy got the best grade on their test last Friday and Natsu got the worst. She will have to play her cards carefully, but Levy knows how to do this. Lucy won't say no to the teacher so she has to use that to her advantage.

Levy entered the staff room and tapped her teachers shoulder, who turned around swiftly in his desk chair. "Hi, sensei… I wanted to talk to you about something."

He leaned back in his chair and pushed his glasses up his nose with a tilt of his head. "What's brought this on?"

"Well… Lucy was looking for some community service, but was too shy to ask you." Levy shifted slightly and clasped her hands behind her back innocently. "I told her you might want some help with after school tutoring, but she didn't want to bother you. I just know Natsu is a behind already and I thought they could help each other out, maybe. We don't want him failing, right?"

He crossed his ankle over his knee and leaned back even further with furrowed brows. But a smile soon split across his lips and he sat up straight with his arms crossed over his chest. "That is a fine idea, Levy. Lucy should have came to me though."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. She's shy and may even deny that she wanted to help, but she does. Lucy is such a good person like that."

"Yes, she is quite the student. I'll be sure to talk to her about it today, and Natsu… well, I'll handle him."

Levy excused herself after a moment and slipped down the hallway with a grin. Operation nalu was now in session.

Why did god hate her so much?! What did she do to deserve this much shit?! And what fucked up person was enjoying her misery from above and laughing at her pain?! Ugh, she seriously hates life so hard, but there's no way she could say no. Father would be thrilled that she's getting community service, plus getting on her teachers good side would be something he's happy about too. She personally wouldn't mind tutoring, but why did it have to be Natsu of all people?! Why was he such an idiot and why did he have to suck at school?! She doesn't want to do this! She doesn't want to spend anymore time with him than she has to!

But Lucy smiled at her teacher and tapped her foot on the ground in frustration. "Thank you so much Sensei, I'd be happy to teach my dear classmate Natsu a thing or two."

Her voice was almost too happy, but her teacher didn't notice. Natsu on the other hand looked at her with a raised brow, and reached his hand up to rub his upper lip with his knuckle to hide his amused smile. "I'm free today, so I don't mind."

What the fuck?! Natsu was willingly staying after school to be tutored by her of all people?! Oh no… he wouldn't make this easy on her. He wouldn't shut up and learn like a good, submissive student should. No, he'll be a pain in her ass just to spite her. God she hates him so fucking much.

"I'll leave you to it then." Their teacher excused himself after handing Lucy the test Natsu failed last Friday and a few other things. She politely dragged herself to their seats, then pulled her phone out to call her father. She dialed his number which went straight to voicemail, and straightened her back while she moved away from Natsu a bit.

"Hi, father. I'm sorry to bother you at work. I may be home late today. Sensei gave me a wonderful opportunity to tutor my most… u-uh…" Lucy cleared her throat and continued to pace around the room with Natsu's eyes following her. "Sorry, excuse my stutter, please. He gave me the opportunity to help my classmate who fell behind, and I thought you would like the community service hours I would acquire from it. I'll be sure to tell Capricorn as well, so don't worry, father. It won't cause any problems. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast. Goodnight."

She hung up, then called her driver a moment later who told her he would wait for her in the usual spot. Once that was out of the way, Lucy sat at her desk while ignoring Natsu's gaze, then pulled her notes out of her bag. "Are you ready?"

He gave her a look Lucy couldn't quite decipher. It was almost a look a pity… or she would say more of understanding. Like he now understood why she may be uptight in school or not want to talk to him in the middle of class.

Natsu silently nodded and sat next to her with his elbow leaning against the table and cheek in his palm. Lucy taught him the needed information about biology, Natsu somehow seeming more interested in her face than the material she was teaching him, but whenever she would ask him a question, he would answer relatively well.

"So do you understand?"

"Yeah…" Natsu nodded as he leaned closer into her space with a brow raised in curiosity. "So… you're the famous daughter of the Heartfilia family?"

Her own brows furrowed in confusion and she tilted her head to the side a bit. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"That must be hard…"

"I don't need your pity." She sighed a bit annoyed. "I can take care of myself. Father may be hard at me sometimes, but I know that he cares deep down..."

Her lips started to tremble, not sharing these feelings with Levy in a long time. The last time the spoke about this was a few months ago when Lu was first born on her birthday. She tries to be strong. She tries to not bother Levy so much because Lucy knows even she gets annoyed with herself. But for some reason, she felt the urge to cry, and worse of all, it was around Natsu of all people!

"Hey… uh… you wanna talk about it?"

"No." Her voice was almost a pout, but her shoulders started to shake and a small tear slipped down her cheek. "I-it's just been so many years since mom died… I thought he would be better by now. I though her would try to talk to me again, but it's the same. It's always the same." She suddenly popped her head up towards Natsu's concerned face, and quickly rubbed the tears off her cheeks and fixed her glasses. "Sorry… you're the last person I wanted to look so weak in front of. Why do you of all people have to be so stupid?"

Natsu chuckled as he leaned an elbow against the table again with an amused expression and fond smile. "Maybe I failed that test for a reason?"

"What reason?" Lucy's brows furrowed. "Please don't tell me you believe that everything happens for a reason… If that was true, I'd love to know what was so important to take my mom away from me and change my father forever."

"Maybe your mom sacrificed herself for your happiness."

"I would have been happier if she never died and went up to the stars." She sniffled and continued to rub her cheeks. "If mom never died, then I'd be happy and dad would still love me. It only caused problems. Nothing good came from it." Natsu's handsome face looked at her seriously and it made her pause and stare at him a bit confused. "W-what?"

"Maybe right now it all seems hopeless, but it'll only stay that way if you keep being so negative, princess."

P-princess…? Why did he call her that of all things? But she still frowned and crossed her arms over her chest with a pout. "So what about you? What happened that brought something so great into your life?"

"I'm still waiting to see. I think it's this girl… Oh, you know her. Her name is Lu… she's the good that made all the bad worth it."

Lucy just doesn't understand. What made her worth it when nobody seemed to feel the same way? Why did Natsu think so highly of her when she's a major bitch to him and he knows like nothing about her. Maybe she should be nicer to him as Lu? But the fact that he likes her doesn't change how much Lucy hates him. He gets everything… he has everything, and Lucy refused to give herself up so easily. Natsu was just a playboy and she hated him because he gets everything. And she will not be adding herself to the list, even if he doesn't know who she truly is. Maybe he's a nicer guy than she originally thought. But that doesn't change anything. He's still a cocky asshole. He still thinks everything is his. He still has confidence that annoys Lucy like no other. And it's not like he shows the softer side of himself to Lu. It's like he doesn't want to look weak in front of her, but Lucy sees all sides of him without him even knowing it.

Sighing, Lucy pushed her glasses up her nose again and stared at him with neutral eyes. "Maybe Lu would like you more if we're weren't so… you know… indecent all the time."

"But that's my only charm."

"No…" Lucy shook her head, but sighed again. She wasn't going to give him anymore pointers on how to woo herself. She doesn't want Natsu and she still hates him, so him being gross all the time will give her an excuse to feel disgusted by him. "Whatever… I guess being all indecent could win her over." W-wait! She has to remember that this is herself she's talking about and she still doesn't want to deal with Natsu touching her and being all over her. "Actually, just be in the middle… you can say things to her, but don't touch her… She doesn't like to be touched. But I guess like some touching is fine… but don't touch her bottom or anything or tug her to your chest like the first time you met. Don't say sappy stuff because that makes her cringe, but some sappy stuff is okay. You know, there's a line you can't cross… you need to figure out where it is." Fuck! That's insinuating that he explores where her line is! "N-never mind! Just don't touch her how about! Yeah, just don't touch her."

Natsu looked amused as he leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "You know you're kind of cute, princess."

"Shut it." Lucy stuffed her things into her bag then got out of her chair while patting her skirt down. "Don't tell anyone I had a weak moment, especially Levy. And pass all your damned tests so we won't have to do this ever again." Lucy hmphed as she threw her bag over her shoulders and left the room with elegance. She tried to ignore Natsu's stupid smirk, but it was hard. He was just so stupid.