Hello, how's life guys? Mines just meh right now. What story should I update next? Tell me! I need motivation! Anyways, that's it so have fun!

Natsu didn't know what this strange feeling was. He watched her… He watched how concentrated she was. He watched her take notes during class and chew on her pencil eraser when she was confused. He watched how cute she got when she figured a problem out and how adorable her small victory smile was. He watched her talk with Levy, how kind and loving she was, and then he watched her talk to him. He could see it… the tightness in her lips while she smiled at him and how she looked like she wanted to say something else, but would always hold back. Then he watched her talk to Gray… how she wouldn't act so fake with him and genuinely seemed to enjoy their conversations. It made Natsu feel strange. Unlike Lu… Natsu realized what he wanted from Lucy. No he didn't want to be yelled at and see the intense, yet amusing look on her face. He wanted to have a real conversation with Lucy. He wanted to be her friend. But it felt like she was holding back with him. And that made Natsu angry. Why was she so nice to Gray and acted so… so tense and uptight with him. It irritated him. Natsu was the one who befriended her, and yet she seemed to tolerate Gray more than him. He didn't understand what he did wrong. Yeah, he may fail tests on purpose just to spend time with her, but she never voiced her distaste of it. Maybe she had something better to do?

"Hey, Luce."

"Yes?" She turned her head towards him and smiled widely, but it didn't show her teeth. Lucy had such a beautiful smile around Levy, but she never showed him the same expression.

"I was just wondering… Do you have somewhere else to be? Or you don't want to tutor me?"

Her smile dropped and she stared at him like he was an idiot. Natsu wasn't sure which way that smile went. Did she think it was a stupid question because she did or didn't mind? Natsu didn't know what he was thinking though. Maybe what Gajeel said last week was getting under his skin more than he thought. He hasn't seen Lu since she started their little game, but he was always thinking about her… thinking that maybe she really does hate him and isn't just playing hard to get. Maybe all that anger and hostility towards him is serious. The thought made him feel strange because was he really a bother to her? Did she hate him that much and he's not thinking about how she feels? And then once he started to think about that, Lucy popped into his head and he wondered if she was in the same boat.

"I don't mind tutoring you." Her eyes were almost closed she was smiling so big. It was way too big of a smile for what she was saying. He would understand a small smile in reassurance, but that was too big for this situation.

"Be honest." His fingers inched over to her desk until he was close to touching her, but he hesitated before doing so. "I just want to get ta know you better, but you wouldn't hangout with me after school so I'm stuck failing tests to get your attention."

Lucy looked at him differently now. Her jaw went slack so her pouty lips parted, and her big, brown eyes stared at him in confusion with an adorable cock of her eyebrow. "What about Lu? I thought you only cared about her."

"Oh, so you did hear about that." Natsu carefully thought his words over before he leaned one elbow against his desk and curved one corner of his lips up into a smirk. "I was just joking. I'm interested in you, Lucy."

Apparently that wasn't what she wanted to hear because she rolled her eyes and sent him a glare that made him straighten out his back and sit up straight. He just doesn't understand girls. He told Lu practically the same thing and she got mad at him just like Lucy did. Why are only these two girls difficult? That had always worked in the past. Girls want to hear that kind of stuff so why are they the only exception?

"That may work on some other girl, but it won't work on me. Just because you said one sweet thing, doesn't mean it makes up for your manwhore tendencies. Don't think I'm as easy to seduce as those brainless girls you spend your nights with."

Ugh, Natsu just doesn't understand what's going on. But he knows one thing for sure, and that that he doesn't want Lucy to hate him. Natsu quickly reached his hand out to grab hers, pulling the blondes attention and causing her to snap her unamused gaze over to his panicking one. "Sorry. I just thought you maybe… I don't know… l-liked me or something and wanted to hear it."

"I don't like you." She snatched her hand back. "But let's say I did. Let's say I wanted to hear that, and I swooned over your words and jumped into your arms. You like Lu, don't you? How could you try to have your way with me if you like someone else?"

"I don't know… I mean, Lu and I aren't even together so what's it matter? If she said she'd date me then all I would need is her. But until that happens—"

"You'll still be a manwhore?" Lucy sighed in annoyance, but she didn't pack up her things like he thought she would. Instead, she stared at him deeply with furrowed brows and lips pulled down in a stern frown. "That's not what love is. You don't love her if you still think like that."

"And what? Are you an expert on love?"

As far as he knew, Lucy hasn't been with anyone before. Sexually or romantically. But Lucy wasn't like any virgin he's ever met. She didn't blush at his sweet words or the attention he gave her. She didn't hang onto every word he spoke and tried to find excuses to talk with him more. No, it was actually the other way around. Natsu was desperate to make her eyes look at him. He was desperate to keep their conversations going and fucking failed tests just to spend time with her. He wasn't the type to do that. Girls came to him, so why was he desperately chasing after this blonde girl who has zero sex appeal and only has studying on her mind? It was confusing because yeah, Lucy was pretty, but she was not his type. Lu was his type. The type who doesn't give two fucks and is maybe a little off the deep end, but she was so interesting to him. He wanted to learn more. And then there's Lucy… the complete opposite as Lu. She only focuses on her grades… she talks properly… she doesn't put any effort into her looks, and she doesn't party or do anything bad. Lucy was not his type, and yet… here he is, staying after school to learn as an excuse to just be with her instead of spending time with a someone who can offer him something more pleasing. But despite how his brain is now putting these pieces together, he still isn't moving. He is still sitting here after school and trying to keep the conversation going so she doesn't leave.

"I have more experience in love than you."

That irritated him. Is she saying she has somebody she loves? That she has a boyfriend who's probably rich and smart enough to keep this girl who only cares about school, entranced and in his grasp? He won't believe it until he sees it. There no way she loves someone.

"Prove it." He grit the words out so hard he surprised himself, and leaned forward while clasping her small chin between his fingers. "If you're so experienced, then show me."

Lucy wasn't the least bit affected by the close proximity. In fact, she sighed like she was bored, and pushed his hand away with the back of her palm. "This is why I'm more experienced. I may have never loved anybody, but your view on love is warped. It's not about here." Lucy pointed her index finger down to the thing he uses on a daily, either with someone else, or with himself. "It's about here." She then pointed to his heart. "You look at your feelings. You don't prove your love by fucking someone.." Natsu's eyes widened, never hearing a curse word come out of her lips. "You don't prove it to someone by being sexual. Love is about what's in the heart, about what you're feeling. Yes, I've never loved someone, but I know what it'll feel like when I do. While you're stuck being delusional and following your dick around. You don't love Lu. You know nothing about her. It's all about the chase and amusement to you. And no one with a brain would be stupid enough to fall for your half hearted moves."

Natsu was stunned for a moment and he just stared at her. Despite the strange relief he felt that she's never found love, Natsu couldn't spend too much time feeling happy about it because Lucy started packing up her things and pulling her phone out to text her driver. He watched her in anxiety, unsure of what to say to keep her here as Lucy pushed her desk back to its proper place, then walked down the aisle and out of the classroom. Natsu chased after her while leaving his stuff inside. He didn't know what he was doing. He didn't want to make her even more mad at him, but he also didn't want her to leave.

"You're the naïve one thinking love is all about what's in the heart. I heard love is just a chemical reaction happening inside you. It means nothing… you could love anybody without any meaning! Y-you could love me and you'd have no control over it!"

Natsu couldn't help his sigh in relief when she stopped, but then he gulped when Lucy turned around to face him. He expected an angry face, but she was smiling genuinely. For some reason, it scared him even more. "If love is only a chemical then I suppose you fell in love with Lu, right?" Natsu wasn't sure why, but he was scared to nod his head yes. But he's backed into a corner because he basically said that's why he loves Lu, she's just stating that for her next sentence.

"Y-yeah…"

"Well if you loved Lu the moment you saw her and it's all about chemicals, then shouldn't it be the same way with her? But wait…" she popped one hip up so she was leaning all her weight on one foot, and oddly, the way she was acting right now reminded him exactly of Lu. But it just can't… they can't be the same person. The body is totally different. Lu is thinner than Lucy and he swears she's taller too. Plus, there's no way Lucy Heartfilia would go to a party, get her belly button pierced and get an ass tattoo. That's physically impossible. "Lu hates you right? Ooh, that sucks. Looks like her body didn't have the right chemical reactions while looking at you. And it's the same way with me. I guess you're stuck with one of those idiotic girls you waste your time with."

"Lucy?"

"Yes?"

"Lift your shirt up."

Her brows furrowed and she made sure to push the top of her school uniform down in unease. "There's no way I'm doing that."

"What, are you afraid I'll see somethin down there?" He took a step closer to her and placed on hand on her hip. "Come on, Luce. I just want to know somethin…"

"You can learn about human anatomy with some other girl. I'm not about to give you a health lesson."

To her surprise, Natsu laughed. He threw his head back but slithered his hand around to the small of her back and pressed her close to him. "This brings back memories with that sass I love so much. The first time I met you, I held you like this. Remember, Lu?"

"Are you delusional? I'm not Lu!"

"Then lift up your shirt. Prove it to me."

"I don't know what you're excepting to find, but fine!" She shoved Natsu back with all her might and lifted her uniform up just enough so her belly button was in view but the back of her shirt still covered her tattoo. She looked down in anxiety hoping he didn't notice the clear retainer she placed in there after she could remove the piercing that she first got. She was having anxiety about the piercing, because it was the one thing that connected her back to Lu. You're probably thinking, what about the tattoo? Well, she had even more anxiety about it after she got the tattoo. With that, she can always call it a a black henna tattoo. She's gotten a henna before. Levy bought a set and she drew just a simple star on her hand. Her father got so mad about it and wouldn't let her hang out with her best friend for weeks. The tattoo is still extremely black because it was on her top layers of skin. It honestly looked like a fake tattoo right now or sharpie because of how opaque it was. It was her excuse for now. But since she got the tattoo, she thought it would be even more obvious if Natsu saw the tattoo and the belly ring. So she went to the store and bought a clear one that filled the hole so it didn't close. If you don't look very hard and aren't very close, you can't tell. It would probably look more suspicious without the retainer because you would be able to see the hole that was once there.

Once Natsu saw her bare tummy with no ring, he sighed in disappointment and looked away. It wasn't necessarily that he didn't find Lu. He thought she was a real person this whole time, not someone pretending to be her. His guess was wrong that Lucy was Lu. Yeah, he's sad he didn't get to meet her again, but he's mostly disappointed because if Lucy was Lu, then it would have been perfect. He would get the best of both worlds, and now that he had the idea that Lucy and Lu were the same person, but it just got ripped out from under him. Lu suddenly seemed a lot less… great to him because she wasn't Lucy. How disappointing.

"Sorry, you can put your shirt down now."

He didn't catch her sigh in relief and just scratched an awkward hand behind his neck and refused to look at her. "Damn, why am I so disappointed!" He seemed overly happy for his words, like he was trying to fake what he was feeling. Because he was. "Hey uh… can you get in contact with Lu? I kind of want to see her."

"I don't think that's a good—"

"Please."

He still wouldn't look at her, but the broken face he was wearing made her sigh. "Fine. I'll some how get the information to you."

Lucy turned away to leave, but was stopped when Natsu placed a hand on her arm. "Can't I just have your number?"

"No, father doesn't let me talk to boys. I'm not even allowed to hang out with them. He always catches me and I get in big trouble."

He nodded shakily, and laughed a bit awkwardly as he let go of her arm. "I guess I really messed up then. You're obviously not Lu."

"Yeah."

She pulled her phone out as she walked away, a silent Natsu watching her dial a number and talk on the phone with someone. He stood there and watched her until she turned down the corner, and when she was finally out of view, he felt like he almost wanted to cry. But he pulled himself together. He would get to see Lu.

Lucy had Capricorn drop her off the the observatory, then Levy met here there and brought all the supplies she needed to transform herself. This time, it was a high low shirt where the front revealed her belly button which she slipped her star ring back in, and the back swooped down to cover her bottom and tattoo. It was light grey and went off the shoulders, then she pared it with black shorts that hung low on her hips, and some black and white sneakers. She placed her contacts in, let her naturally straight hair down, and put on some simple eye liner and mascara. Levy left after that. She didn't know why, but she felt like Natsu wanted it to be just them and she already deceived him once today so she figured she should do something nice for him. She waited in the public observatory until Natsu showed up. When he walked through the door, she doesn't know why, but she smiled at him. He made his way over, and was out of his school uniform. Just a pair of skinny jeans and sleeveless hoodie that showed off his strong arms. Once he was in front of her, he looked her up and down, and laughed dryly.

"Seems fate really wants to prove a point."

"Hmm?"

"It's nothing." Natsu sighed in disappointment once again but looked around in interest. "So… this is a giant telescope?"

"Mhmm," she walked around him, her long shirt trailing behind her until she stopped at the front of the big telescope. "Come'er, I'll show you." She beckoned him over and leaned up on her tipy toes to look up into the lenses. "I set it up to look at the moon. You know… Cancers have an affiliation with the moon. I feel drawn to it. I love looking up at the sky during the night and seeing whatever phase it's in. It's beautiful."

Natsu stared at her long and hard before he boldly placed a hand on her hip and leaned down so he could look too. "Can I…?"

She nodded and moved to the side a bit. Once Natsu stepped in front of the telescope with his hand still settled around her waist, he hummed at the bright moon he was seeing and nodded in agreement. "I guess I don't know much about the planets."

"When's your birthday?"

Natsu turned his head to look at her. "April 17th."

She nodded with a small smile and little giggle. He didn't know what she found so funny, but she was pretty cute. He couldn't help but see Lucy when she smiles like that. It's the same smile Lucy shows Levy. But he knows they're two different people. He learned that fact today.

"Of course. I should have known you're an Aries. I mean, you lit yourself on fire once."

"Hey, what's that mean?" Natsu pouted at her, and he couldn't help but turn his eyes back to the telescope when she giggled again. It was almost hard to look at her. He just felt so disappointed, but he also felt himself grow happy being with her like this. It was so confusing. He didn't know what he was feeling, but right now, all he knew was that she was acting kindly. And he could feel it… the way Lucy described how a heart feels. But this was strange too because this wasn't the Lu he knew. She was always full of sass and snide comments. She was rude and didn't give a damn about keeping her mouth shut. It felt like he was talking to someone else, somebody who didn't hate him, but had Lu's face and body.

"Aries is a fire sign… I feel like they always end up catching things on fire. You're no exception to that either."

"Well if it has fire then its awesome." He peeked back over at her and cleared his throat when his eyes glanced at her face again. She had the same pouty lips as Lucy and big brown eyes. Natsu shook his head. Damnit, now all he can see is Lucy when he looks at her. This is ridiculous, his brain needs to stop with that stupid dream of Lucy and Lu being the same person. It's just his hopeful thinking altering his vision. That has to be it. "So you're a Cancer?"

Her eyes widened for a moment but she stiffly nodded. "Y-yeah… I don't really relate to the sign that well though. I just find it interesting."

"You said you like the moon though and that's a Cancer thing."

To his surprise, Lu glared at him and pulled out of his hold so she took a step back. "I said I don't relate to it, okay?"

Why the hell was she getting mad at him? He didn't do anything wrong! They were talking about signs and he just mentioned something she already stated! She can't get mad at him for that! But despite that, he didn't say anything and nodded.

To his surprise once again, Lu sighed and scratched at her wrist a bit guiltily. "You know you can get mad at me. I deserve it sometimes."

"I just don't want to make you hate me."

She rolled her eyes and pushed him a bit so she could look through the telescope. "Nobodys perfect, Natsu. Everyone has flaws that need to be pointed out so they can grow. I'm no exception to that and neither are you."

Her words kind of reminded him of what Lucy said. When she was telling him how he wasn't in love with Lu and telling him the flaws in his thinking. This was really strange. It's like Lucy and Lu switched places for the day. Lucy was so rude and sassy to him while Lu was actually being kind. But despite their similarities, Natsu knew it was just a coincidence. After all, if Lucy was Lu, then he wouldn't be getting treated so kindly. Lucy was mad at him. He wondered if Lu felt bad for him… He didn't want to be pitied though.

Still, he found what she said to be curious. Most people don't like to admit their flaws, but Lu seemed pretty accepting towards hers, but still didn't… "Well if you know your flaws then why don't you fix them?"

She turned her head to look at him and gave him a small raise of one brow. "Why? Well, it's a simple answer, but I won't tell you. Let's just say, I do fix my flaws, just not around you."

That made him gulp because it seems she really does hate him. He didn't know how to change that. The two girls he actually wants attention from don't seem very fond of him, and he had no idea how to make it better. "Hey, Uh… do you know a lot about Lucy?"

She looked a little shocked by his question, and unsure of what to say. "She's more Levy's friend then mine, but I still know her. Why?"

"It's just… I want to be friends with her but I keep doing everything wrong. I was just wondering if you knew how I could make it better."

"Are you stupid?" Natsu flinched and looked down at the ground in worry, afraid that there was nothing he could do. "If you know you did something wrong then there's only one thing you should do." Natsu leaned forward, hoping that she knows some secret about Lucy. "Apologize Natsu. If you did something wrong and you want forgiveness then all you need to do is apologize and do it sincerely. Don't try to seduce her or use your 'charm'." She used air quotes and it made Natsu pout. "Say Sorry like you mean it, then don't make the same mistake again."

"But I'm not really sure what I did to make her hate me so much. I'll apologize, but I don't really know what I'm apologizing for."

Ahh, that made Lucy feel a little guilty. After all, she took out most of her frustration on Natsu after what he does to her as Lu. If she was just Lucy, she really doesn't have much to hate about him, but she's also Lu, so she's mad at him for what he does to her as Lu.

"Remember what I said about flaws?" Lucy asked, making Natsu peek back up at her from his pout. "Everybody has them. Sometimes they just need to be pointed out so they can correct them. Be honest with her, be sincere. Tell her what you're feeling and maybe she'll forgive you, and say sorry herself."

To her surprise, Natsu grinned at her. One that he never showed Lu. It was pure, and childish and made her heart do a little flip. "Thanks! I'll be sure ta do that!"

"Good." She smiled at him and tugged in his arm a bit, causing his grin to widen. "Hey um… you're not so bad. You should trying being more honest like this."

To her utmost annoyance, Natsu smirked at her and took a closer towards her with one hand circling around her waist and the other cupping her cheek. "Why don't we finish the game we started them."

"Fuck off." Lucy rolled her eyes and pushed out of his hold. She gathered her things which were in a tote bag then walked to the door with that attitude he liked so much. "The games still going, just know that I have eyes everywhere, and I won't be submitting if you're still being an ass." Then she walked out of the door, leaving a grinning Natsu standing in the observatory with his hands shoved in his pockets. He stood there for a moment before he went to leave as well but he paused when he noticed a plaque near the door. 'In loving memory of Layla Heartfilia'. It was probably just a coincidence that Lu took him here. After all, the Heartfilia's own half the businesses in Magnolia. Despite how much he wants it to be true, he knows it's not.

Lu and Lucy are two different people.