Temptation is a Sin, Right?!
(A/N: Oki so I know I have been M.I.A for like a while, but alas I am back and with a vengeance. Agter a bit of searching I found my agitating muse and promptly tied his illusive arse up. You will never escape again you $ &%*#!. Anyhoo, enough with my personal life and on with the story. )
I do not own Fairy Tail. That would be Hiro Mashima.
Chapter Five: Could Really Used A Reset Button About Now
Lucy regretted her childish display of frustration almost instaneously. Muttering a not so nice word under her breath and flashed a fingr at her closed door, before stomping across her room and dove headfirst into her pillows. As much as she wanted to let whatever the hell transpired between her and more than just the usual teenage hormones. She could admit that, as much as it left a bad taste in her mouth just thinking about it.
Rolling onto her back and folding her arms under her head, she eyes the white speckling ceiling. Her mind delving into her memories of the day, replying the events slowly and almost dream like. Putting all thought or the pastel haired boy with the intense eyes aside, it was quite an extraordinarily eventful day. She had a home now, something she hadn't had since her mother;s passing and her father began drifting through life as a ghost. Sure he was living and breathing at the time, but he lost the light of his warm caring soul.
Sighing loudly she rolled onto her side, her eyes finding a small framed portait easily in the dark. Placed on her small dresser next to her large blue-tooth headphones and a random assortment of novels she'd dug out of her suitcase earlier. Her mother sat proud in her high back chair, her hands resting in the lap of the beautiful powder blue dress. Her pale blond hair twisted into a fancy chignon and her bangs brushed to the left with long tendrils falling on either side of her face. Her large mocha eyes held such innocence and warmth, even more so framed by laugh lines.
Layla Heartfilia was every bit as sweet and caring mother one could dream of, and oh how much Lucy resembled the old photo. The blond toyed with the idea at a very young age that the uncanny resemblance to Layla was the reason her father ignored her existance after his wife's passing. Yet if that was the true case, why didn't he love her all the more? Why go out of the way to ignore your own flesh and blood? Couldn't he see his child was hurting too? That she needed her father to be there for her at such a heartbreaking time?
Why couldn't she be enough to ease her father's loneliness? It wasn't until she tasted salt at the corners of her lips, that Lucy realized that she was crying/ Swallowing the empty feeling in her chest, she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. Lucy was in great need of a distraction and one that didn't include a certain boy, past heartbreak and blue cats. If only one would materialize before her.
As if on que, the door to her dorm swung open so fast it hit the far wall with a deafening BANG. Lucy jumped clear off her bed, her arms flailing in a most unattractive aswell as embarrassing way. Moving out of the shadows of the hall in a slow and almost trance like way, Juvia stepped ovr the threshold of the room. Her dark eyes looked murderous and cold as they swept across the expnse of the room, lingering momentarily on the pale blue haired girls bed. With zero hesitation she crossed the room kicking her shoes off as she moved, and crawled under the covers quicky passing out after rolling onto her side.
Lucy eyed her roommate warily, her posture straight and unmoving. After a heartbeat or two she crossed the room to shut the door Juvia failed to close before going to bed. A clearly masculating sigh of defeat reached her ears, making her curious enough to easedrop on her mystereous roomate. Poking her head into the hall, her eyes landed on the slowly retreating back of a boy with messy snow white hair and slumping shoulders. The aura of a broken heart emmited from the pale hair boy so strong. Lucy contemplated calling out to him. Thinking better of it, she chewed her bottom lip as she shut the door as quietly as she could in hopes of not waking her snoozing roommate.
"Is he gone?" Juvia asked in an almost hostile tone.
Lucy's shoulders jerked in surprise, "Your awake?"
"Is he gone?" She repeated, her voice rising slightly.
"Yes." Lucy replied with a nod, "He was walking down the hall when I went to shut the door."
"Good." Juvia muttered, before rolling to face the wall.
Sleep didn't come easy once Lucy managed to crawl under her thick covers. Her bed was comfortable and the room was quiet, the absolute opposite of her slingshot mind. Her thoughts drifted between two seeminglu different boys, one with messy pastel hair and the other with neatly styled pale blond hair. Choosing the lesser of two evils, she let her mind drift off with thoughts of Sting. Atleast he seemed remotely interested in her and hadn't accosted her in public after belittling her. Sure the blond seemed more interested in her past, it still felt refreshing to hold a conversation with a boy who managed to keep his eyes level without flicking to her chest.
Out of the handful of people she'd met during the time span of half a day, the only person aside from the head of the school to make her feel as though she belonged was none other than Sting. She did however know rationally she couldn't create an even remotely adequate judgement on him, seeing as they met twice and spent under an hour together if she was being completely honest with herself. The blond though attractive in a "pretty rich boy" way, also seemed to be equal parts charming aswell as humorous with a winning personality. Lucy wouldn't mind getting to know him, maybe not necessarily in a romantic sense just yet. Being in a relationship was the last thing in the well structured plan she mapped out for her life.
Nothing good comes from giving your heart away. She pondered with an air of both skepticism and the kind of coldness one only feels after a shattered heart.
Rocking her head from side to side she tried in vain to escape the pull of the rabbit hole that utterly consumed the majority of her turmoiled thoughts since she bumped into the annoying boy litterly on her first day in Fairy Academy. She tried her damnest to fight, but before she could escape Natsu and his cocky attitude she began to drown in the memories of his scent and the way he held her tight as if afraid she would disappear. Was it wrong of her to expect respect and kindness after what he did to her? She hated the way he made her blood boil and her heart flutter at the same time at the mere thought of him. The sloppy dare she say bad boy was one hundred percent jerk, that much she was coming to realize on her own. What type of guy goes around assulting girls, then comes down with almost instant amnesia on the event?
A complete asshat! She raged internally.
Rationally she knew her pride as a woman was tad bruised due to the boy stealing her first kiss without asking, then pretending it never happened. She wished more than anything it could be that easy for her, yet she could still feel the urgency in his kiss. The bitter metallic taste of his percing made her tongue tingle in a pleasant way. With her eyes closed she could replay the entire event, the smell of nature on his skin and the soft whisper of her name.
"What is wrong with me?" She mumbled under her breath, her eyes snapping open to stare up at the ceiling.
I will get through this and get over that poor excuse of a human! She thought with an air of resoluteness she haped she would actually feel next time she saw him.
Morning greeted Lucy with the scent of coffee and the irritating buzzing of the alarm she set on her phone. Sluggishly she rolled off her bed, a jaw cracking yawn escaping her as she moved about her morning routine. It was only after she was lazily towel drying her hair that she realized she was alone. Giving her wall clock a quick sideways glance, she breathed a tad easier knowing she hadn't slept in too late. With a sigh of relief at realizing it was only quarter pass nine which meant she would have ample amount of time to gather and purchase the last of her academic/personal items and even have some time to sightsee before curfew.
It would've been nice to have Juvia with her so she wouldn't end up getting lost, but there was no trace of her and Lucy had no idea when to expect her roommate back.
It will be my luck she will return after the sun has left the sky like the other night. She mused.
Her assumption was proven true by the handwritten note tucked under a full lukewarm cup of sweet smelling coffee from the campus cafe'. With a toothy grin at her roommates sudden offering of goodwill, Lucy sipped at the cup to her leisure as she threw on a short dark denium skirt, thigh high black heeled boots and plum colored ruffled layered tanktop. She shoved her cell phone into her grey purse, along with a small map she purchased at the train station, a map of the Fairy Academy grounds that she recieved with her admissions packet,aswell as her book and supply list. Her plan consisted of roaming the halls to map out the quickest routes to her classes, before slipping off to town for lunch and to get what she needed for her classes.
A rush of adrenaline coursed through her as she slipped her card key into her purse after closing the dorm door behind her. Shuffling down the long corridor at a rushed pace, she reached the end of the girls dorm wing in record time. The few girls she passed along the trek seemed pleasant enough, a few even flashed her a warm smile and welcoming waves. By the time she stopped at the top of the stairs which lead to the common room a warm bubble surrounding her, until loud male laughter filled her ears. Pausing on the first step, she tilted her head to her right and stared down the boy's dormitory wing.
It was printed in bold script in the student handbook members of the opposite sex were under no circumstances to cross the threshold of either wing, Lucy knew this but something about the racket down the hall felt familar to her. In all honesty it wasn't so much of a racket, as a collective of raised voices and masculine laughter. Nevertheless it called to her on a cellular level, so before she could think better of it she was already in motion down the hall. Moving as stealthily as she could in high heeled boots was difficult enough, add the dark hall and the stinging sensation of her toes smooshing into the tip of her chosen footware as she attempted to tiptoe didn't make it any easier.
"I bet I look like a total idiot." She mumbled under her breath, as she quickly glanced behind her for any hint that she was being followed.
Like it even matters how I look. As long as no one sees me than I have nothing to worry about. She mentally rationed.
After reaching what appeared to be the halfway mark of the long hallway, her vision picked up the soft light spilling from a room quite a few yards away. The door was ajar and from where she stood she could make out a large shadow moving in an oddly spastic yet hillarious way. It took her far too long to realize she had absolute zero cove if the person stepped out of the doorway and turned in her direction. Te very real chance of being discovered in a forbidden are sent her brain into a tail spin and caused her heart to hammer like a base drum against her ribs. Panic gripped her insides and made it hard to form a rational thought let alone breathe.
I am so getting expelled. Even worse I'm going to be kicked out before the term starts. She thought in deep melancholy as her stomach clenched painfully.
Closing her eyes to the inevitable, she tried her best to come to terms with the fact she wa mere seconds from returning to Heartfilia Manor with her tail between her legs. Heartbroken she flinched at the sound of a distant door clicking closed, no longer able to see the faint sign of light from behind her closed eyes she gave up. So deep Lucy was in her personal pity party, she missed a loud whoosh of the door behind her open. It wasn't until she felt her body falling backwards, that her eyes snapped open. She landed on her bum hard enough for a hiss of pain to catch in her throat, startled she looked up not at all perpared for the reason behind her aching backside and spinning vision.
Natsu stood in the doorway angled so he was blocking her from the boys walking pass, his back to the girl laying on the floor as he leaned on the door frame. Lucy had perhaps a moment to register he spared her from a rather uncomfortable encounter with a stranger, before he turned to face her with narrowed eyes as the door clicked closed behind them. Lucy fumbled for an excuse for her brave venture down the boy's wing, something, anything to save her from the verbal lashing the salmon haired boy's ebony eyes promised. He stood motionless for what seemed to be an eternity with his ear to the door, but in all actuality was mere moments.
He moved away from the door signaling or so she hoped anyway, that it meant the coast was clear. Once he was a good distance away from her, she picked herself off the floor and made a show of dusting off her skirt. Embarrassment burned in her cheeks, bringing color to her pale face when she tilted her head in the direction he moved. Natsu stood on the far side of the room, his posture giving off slight annoyance as he sat on one of the beds with his face in hands. She wanted more than anything to thank him for coming to her rescue, but something about the aura he emitted made her gratitude catch in her throat.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked in a clearly harsh tone.
Lucy nibbled her bottom lip nervously, "Um...I don't know. I got lost."
"I doubt that." He leveled his eyes on her, "Even a noobie would know better than to wonder into the men's wing. As a matter of fact I know there is a large bronze sign like the one on your wing that reads 'Boys Dorms'."
He got her there, "Ok fine you got me. I was looking for someone."
"Not that it is any of my business or anything, but who exactly?" He asked, his hands dangling at his knees.
"Your right it is none of your business." She snapped, her eyes narrowing.
"Luce."
"Natsu."
He shook his head clearly loosing his patience with the conversation that wasn't going anywhere. His mess of spiked pale pink hair swayed with his head, for a moment Lucy was transfixed by the motion. Enough so, she jumped when he stood and pocketed his hands. He moved pass her to the door in quick strides, his hand resting heavily on the knob. He gave her a sideways glance before turning the brass ball.
"What are you doing?" She hissed, moving behind him.
Natsu chuckled, "Checking to see if the coast is clear."
He poked his head through the tiny sliver between the door jam and the door, after a moment he stepped back almost knocking into her as he closed it. Natsu shot her a narrow eyed look but said nothing right away. He shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning into her personal space in an almost rude way. The teen was close enough for his thick bangs to brush her forehead, which brought even more color into the blond's face. His expression gave away nothing, which made her all the more nervous and uncomfortable.
Flashes of the last time he was this close to her danced across her subconsious, the pressure of his lips against hers caused her body to react in a most undignified manner. The taste of his silver lip ring on her tongue made her head spin. The weight of his arms wrapping around her waist made her skin tingle. She was being pulled deeper into a memory that try as she might, she couldn't put behind her. She had no doubt in her mind there was something definately wrong with her, but she couldn't even begin to think of the classification or remedy.
"Are you feeling alright?" Natsu's voice ripped her from what felt like a pleasant dream.
"Yeah...totally."
He didn't look convinced but instead of pressing the issue he said, "The coast is clear but maybe I should go with you."
"Huh?" Lucy sounded more than a tad confused, "Why? I'm pretty sure I can make it on my own. I don't think I am too far from the stairs."
Natsu shrugged, "Doesn't matter, I'm heading out anyway."
Lucy felt an odd feeling warm her stomach, not completely uncomfortable which worried her. Deciding to ignore it for now, she nodded and made an 'after you' motion with her arms. He nodded and moved into the hall, Lucy on his heels. The hall was quiet and not as dimly lit had been when she first tiptoed down the narrow walk way earlier. She held her breath as she followed, the fear she would be spotted making her move shakily.
Natsu seemed to sense her discomfort and reached back, his hand closing around hers. His touch seemed to calm her nerves, but replace it with something else she couldn't quite identify. His palms were rough yet warm and comforting, so much unlike his prickly ever changing mood. Lucy couldn't couldn't help the half smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth, so instead of dwelling on his nearness she focused her attention on the backs of his black sneakers in hopes he wouldn't notice. It was out of character for the boy she'd met the morning prior. Had she pegged him wrong?
In a new and somewhat foreign place it was nice to have atleast one friend, maybe he could fill that role.
Growing up the way she had after her mom's sudden death, she was taught she was better than the poeple just outside her gated mansion. Jude though she hoped he was simply trying to spare her the same lonliness he was saddled with, she followed his teachings. Lucy never felt like she was any different than the middle and lower class, sure her father was loaded but that didn't mean she was. When she ran away in the dead of the night, she pocketed just enough of her jewelry to purchase a ship and train ticket with just enough left to buy her school uniform and phone. If it wasn't for the dean, she doubted she could hardly afford her school materials let alone a few things to decorate her dorm.
"Natsu." She spoke lowly, "I need a favor."
He made an oddmasculine sound to let her know she had his attenion.
"Do you know where we are suposed to go to pick up our school materials?" She whispered, "I am still missing a few things."
He nodded in reply.
"Um...would you mind-I mean if you are not busy I mean...showing me?" She asked, "I'll treat you to lunch."
Natsu halted his movements so suddenly Lucy was caught unaware, she bumped into him jarring her mind free of her nervous thoughts. She gave his back a questioning glance, before peeking through the gap between his arms swaying at his sides. She didn't see anyone, but she did notice the shining wooden railing she passed on her way down the boy's wing. She released a long breath before moving around him, her hand circling around the railing. Lucy had every intension of rushing down the stairs as fast as her feet would carry her, what was she thinking inviting someone she hardly knew on a venture around town?
Natsu cleared his throat an unreadable look on his face, "Sure, I don't mind."