Where we left off:
I gulped and grabbed my bag and tried to worm my way out of his hold, but it didn't work. I guess it was okay for friends to hold hands, right? This felt weird though. I shook my head and then walked with him towards the gym. That would be the last time that I would see Natsu today, or at least that's what I thought.
NATSU
I don't know what exactly was going through my head on the way to Lucy's last class. I was sure everyone noticed how awkward Lucy was being during lunch, but I also realized everyone was now seeing my hand in hers as we walked down the hall to the gym. I looked down at our hands interlocked and smiled like nothing was going and this was nothing, but it most definitely was something because I felt protective and possessive. It felt like her hand was mine and in the short moment where I had it I wouldn't let any harm come to it, "So, Luigi. Since you can't come out with us for a month.. How about we all come over and hang out. Surely your old man isn't against fun, right?"
I watched Lucy's eyes narrow, "I wouldn't have you over at my house if you were the last person alive. Besides, there is nothing there to anyone." Her eyes died and I wasn't having it. I squeezed her hand as she kept talking, "When you live in a house you ran away from nothing is the same anymore. You don't want to be there anymore. I don't want to be there anymore, so as soon as I can I'm going to move out and live on my own." She stated and then looked hopeful, "I can't wait for that day."
I smiled as hope filled her eyes and I snorted, "You know, I don't think your father is doing it on purpose, you know. Everyone copes differently. When I became an orphan a few years ago my life changed, but I guess that's just the thing. Nothing stays the same. Everything changes. People change whether we believe it or not. You aren't the same person you used to be as a kid, right?"
Lucy nodded, "I guess not, but that's not the point Natsu. The point is he won't change. He was so nice before my mother died and now.. He's..." I watched her get frustrated and if I had to admit she looked adorable. She was pouting and then she stopped walked and squeezed my hand like she needed the strength that was coming from it and I gave it to her in form of a returned squeeze, "He's impossible." She looked up at me and I almost hesitated. Her face looked so sad like it was suffering from the loss of life it's self.
I looked at her and with my eyes widening slightly, "Luce... It's going to be okay. You know what? I'll come home with you today and we will say you are helping me with Chem, okay?"
She seemed to snap out of it, "He won't be happy about that. His seventeen year old daughter bringing home a boy." She laughed, "Not that I've ever been interested in that stuff, but you know."
"Oh trust me, that is not what I am going for here. I just want to help a friend who needs it." I smirked and then we reached the gym. We had to go our separate ways. She clearly didn't think I was going to stick around, but I would be a friend for her as long as she needed it.
"Bye, Natsu. I'll see you after class. Meet by my locker if you are serious about actually going home with me. Besides, you might learn something you'll regret." She muttered under her breathe as if not to let me hear it, but of course I did.
"I'll see you at your locker." I said as I let go of her hand. I'm not going to lie I liked the feeling of her hand in mine. It felt natural, not like it did with Lisanna when we had been dating. This felt like there was a connection to last decades. Not that I believed in that that soulmate hocus pocus, but that's what is must have been.
"See you." Lucy said a smile crossing her face as she watched me back off and then start walking away.
On my way to my guitar class Gray raised his eyebrow at me to see me walk in late like I had all the juicy gossip, "So, pyro finally got another lady? What's this I hear about you holding hand's with Lucy?"
I huffed like it didn't really matter, "Nothing. I didn't want Sting bothering her, so I took it upon myself to make sure he realized to back off."
"You like her, admit it." Gray smirked, "Nothing wrong with liking her. I mean, if I didn't have Juvia writing death threats to half of the school I would like her too. She is very unique. She's always acting like she has something to hide."
"She my friend. Of course I like her, in a friendly way." I muttered.
"There is friendly and then there is friendlier, Natsu. Get a clue." Gray said walking next to me.
"Well, I mean, we are friends. At least I consider her to be mine and I know she considers me to be hers. She's strong in more ways than one." I smiled and then sighed, "What's it matter dude. It's not like I want to date her. I'd rather get to know her first this is only her second day here."
"Yeah, man that's true. Don't rush her into anything. She doesn't deserve that from a pyro like you." He smirked and then elbowed me.
"Like I would do that to her. I'm a good guy, Gray. Unlike you who keeps leading on that poor girl and rejecting her. How rude can you get." I pointed at him, "Don't put your bad behaviors on me, dude. You know that it won't work. You have to tell her."
"Only if you tell Lucy that you are in likes with her." Gray laughed and then started running when I glared at him in a sign of telling him that if he didn't run I would beat him to a pulp. I chased after him all the way to the classroom and then we both laughed as we toppled over each other in the doorway.
LUCY
I walked into the locker room and sighed as I opened up my gym locker and started getting dressed when Mira showed up, "Hey, Lucy!" She said hugging me from behind and I screeched out of fear, "What's going on with you and Natsu, huh?"
"N-nothing. I don't know what was going on in the hallway. He just kind of grabbed my hand and started walking with me. Seemed pretty on point about not letting go." I stated shoving my shirt on so she didn't get any ideas, "It's not like it a big deal right?"
"Oh, I'd say it's a pretty big deal. He hasn't held a hand like that since he dumped my sister. I mean, I don't blame him. That Sting guy did play some pretty nasty tricks. I almost feel bad." She sighed, "He was pretty bent up about it. Not to mention he really hurt Lisanna later too."
"Oh no. I'm sorry. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy." I commented and then nodded, "I'll heed the warning anyways, thanks, Mira."
As gym went on I seemed a little panicked and Erza took notice, "Lucy, are you alright?" She asked, slowing down to walk as we were doing laps on the track.
"No, I mean, yes, but no." I sighed and wanted to crumple to the floor, "It's just been a day. I want to go home, but I don't at the same time. I'm feeling kind of trapped." I muttered and then Erza did something I wasn't expecting. She looked around and then walked under the bleachers.
"Okay, now we can talk. So, what's wrong with home that you feel trapped. You looked so absent yesterday and today you seem a little out of it."
"Well, if I'm being honest my father is kind of being a pain in my ass. Ever since my mother died he's ignored me and I don't blame him at all. I mean, I look so much like my mother. I just wish he'd let me live my life, but now I'm not allowed to go out for a month and I just. I'm going crazy here Erza. Boys are flirting with me, all this work, and I just, ughh!" I exclaimed, if she didn't believe I was going insane she would be wrong, "Natsu even offered to go home with me so we can study for Chemistry."
Erza smiled softly and put a hand on my shoulder, "What you need is a break. Relax a little bit. Hell, we are all right here for you. Anytime you need to talk. If you want our numbers I'll give them to you." She offered in terms of comfort. She wasn't the best at comforting, but somehow she got me to calm down.
"Don't worry about it. I'll ask Natsu later if he was serious about coming home with me. Besides, he needs all the help in Chem that he can get. Stupid pyro almost lit me on fire today." I chuckled and then smiled back at her, "Thanks a lot though."
After I said that I quickly ran off like nothing happened.
I was at my locker putting the books I needed in my backpack and I felt a hand on my wrist. It was cold and light. Why did I want to punch it for some reason. Though I decided to be nice, "Hey, Sting." I mummbled as I pulled my arm from him and then kept packing my backpack.
"Hey, Lucy." Sting stated with a smart tone, "What are you doing tonight?"
"I'm digging my own grave, why?" I said in a more smart ass tone as he took my hand again.
"Oh come one now. You wouldn't want me spreading your secret around the whole school would you?" He smirked and then held up a journal. It was the journal she had written in the day prior about all the happenings at school. If anything it was more like a diary and I full on panicked.
My eyes went wide and then I looked at my hand. He read it, probably took pictures of it too. I wanted to cry, "Give it back, Sting." I said reaching my hand out, but instead he moved it just out of reach. The most horrible feeling wiped over me as suddenly my back was to the lockers and Sting's face was super close.
"You are going to have to earn it back." He whispered in my ear and I felt shivers roll up my spine, "You will date me and stop talking with Natsu." He stated, "Then I'll give it back."
I was terrified, so I agreed and he walked away. I quickly finished with packing up and I waited. Natsu eventually showed up and I looked around before writing on a piece of paper and shoving it in his face before running off. The note read to meet her a block away from the school and they couldn't walk there together.
I eventually reached the car and at the same time Natsu ended up getting there as well with a raised eyebrow as someone opened the car door for us. I seemed to answer his question just by simple coincidence, "Capricorn, this is Natsu. He needs help with Chem, so I agreed to help him. Natsu, Capricorn."
"Nice to meet you, Capri." He laughed and then looked at me and I immediately looked away. He definitely noticed something was wrong as we drove off and the whole ride was silent. However, he didn't ask because it didn't seem like she would answer her anyways.
When we pulled up to a giant house Natsu seemed completely in awe. His mouth was hanging wide open and it kind of relaxed me a little bit, "Yeah, didn't tell you I was rich did I?" I smirked and then we got out of the car and I walked him inside. Luckily my dad wasn't even home today. It turns out he had left on a trip in the afternoon. I took him into my study and we sat at the desk, "I know we aren't actually doing Chem, but I like to be in this room after school. I grew up in this room." I said leaning back in a chair and looking around the book covered walls.
"Seems kind of lonely. Though I spent most of my time with fire as a kid because my father was a fire fighter. He.. died one day and I never knew my mother." Natsu explained with unreadable eyes. I tried to read him, but it really didn't make much sense for me to even want to.
"It was. I barely see my father and I my mother died. According to Aquarius, I look just like her." I sighed and then leaned back in a chair, "At least I don't think I could hold a fragment of what she was though. She was beauty incarnate." I said looking at a picture that was on the desk of my family and I when I was younger. The sad look I had in the depth of my eye was unmistakable.
"Hey, you have us now, right? You can be part of our big happy family." He had a grin on his face and it made my eyes widen and the sadness only grew. He seemed to notice, "What is with you, Luce.." He asked as his hand touched my shoulder, "You can talk to me you know. I won't hurt you. Ever."
I shook my head, "I'm fine. I guess it just feels weird to know that someone actually cares. Truth is, I'm feeling kind of lost right now. I'm sure once I adjust t life I'll be okay, but you know?" I said, unconsciously taking his hand and looking at it with a puzzled look on her face, "Thanks."
Natsu shook his head, "No need. It's what friends do right?" He said, taking her hand and showing her some of the light. I must've looked really out of it, "Seriously, let's do something to get our minds off today. Want to listen to me play guitar?"
I raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged, "I didn't know you could play." I tilted my head in wonder. A small smile making it's way onto my face, "Come on. I'll take you to the music room." I said, taking his wrist and pulling him out of the room and leaving the huge weight there. I dragged him to a room that was filled with different musical instruments and I laughed when I saw Natsu's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"How many instruments do you need!?" He shouted like he was going to have a fit. I thought his surprise was kind of cute, "Now I understand how you know so much. Do you play all of these?" He asked, starring around the room.
I shook my head, "No. Not at all. I play piano and guitar, but my mother could play everything." I scratched the back of my head and looked away, "We were a big musical family when I was younger. We'd spend afternoons messing around on all of the instruments." I smiled softly and then stroked the piano, "Haven't been in here since she died."
The pink haired guy picked up a guitar and strummed it a bit, tuning it with that information in mind, "Damn, Luigi. You have a lot of talent." He said and I blushed which made him smirk, "Okay, I'll play for you if you play for me." He offered and I being the hopeless girl I was nodded in agreement.
He played a peaceful song and it touched my heart. It was a slow song that I had hear my mother sing to my once. All of that making me more nervous now to play the piano. I stroked my fingers over the cover and then looked at Natsu and then picked it up and sat down. I could feel his eyes on my back, burning their way into my back. I wanted to cry in embarrassment as I started plucking keys. It was the song that my mother had taught me and it felt so nostalgic to be playing again that a few of the house staff came in to see what was going on.
Lrya, my music teacher as a kid, came in and sat next to Natsu. While Aquarius leaned against the wall with Scorpio and soon the whole room was full of people all watching me, but I wasn't paying attention to that. I was lost in the music. Something I tended to do with anything and as soon as I hit the last key I heard a room explode in clapping. My face turned red and I looked at everyone and nearly started crying. They all had bright smiles on their faces and tears coming from their faces, "Great job, Miss Lucy!"
I wanted to run. I hated being in the spot light. I hated being watched. So, I did just that. I ran as tears poured from my eyes. I ran to my room and then hid under my blankets. Natsu had tried to stop me, but I was just too fast. Later, once I had calmed down someone had brought Natsu to me. Without thinking he walked in without knocking and shuffled over to her direction. He didn't forget to take in the light blue room, filled with many different books and wall hangings. He looked at her and heard her sniffling, "Luce..." He said softly as he sat next to me, his arms wrapped around me, "Hey, it's okay to be sad, Luce. Come on."
I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed, "I'm sorry. I just.." I couldn't finish talking. I was a mess, "Maybe you should go? I'll see you tomorrow, okay? I'll have Capri talk you home."
Natsu shook his head, "No, get it out of your system. I'm here for you. You need to cry. Cry. It's healthy." He smiled and cradled me as I cried into his chest. It felt so good when he rubbed my back. Why was it so easy around him. It's like he didn't care if anyone else was around. He would always be there to hold me, but starting tomorrow I wouldn't be able to have this. I couldn't have anything good ever again.
After remembering this fact I seemed to cry harder and held him close, "Thank you." I sniffled out as he continued to soothe me. He didn't know it, but things were going to change tomorrow. It got to around dinner time when I was feeling okay again. I looked at him and smiled softly, "Hey, do you want dinner? My father won't be home until later tonight, so I usually just eat and go to sleep. You can go home after you eat. I'll be okay." I reassured him and then looked at the hand he was holding protectively.
"Yeah, sure." He stated. After he ate he left and I was left to ponder if my fate was going to change. Was I made to always feel alone, or could I change that. The answers swarmed in my head as I shut the lights off. I was glad the goodbye was long with Natsu because it would be the only one for a long time.
A/N: Hey everyone! Yes, Sting is going to be a bit of an ass in this story. That is his role here. I am sorry.
Anyways, How long is it going to be until Natsu is in Lucy's life again? I don't know yet.
Please tell me what you guys think about the story as it does mean a lot to know if you guys are still following it.
Reviews:
sarara1.8: Yeah, Natsu was pretty cute last chapter, huh? I needed some fluff and foreshadowing of something going horribly wrong. Anyways, hoped you liked this one as well!
Much Love,
~StellarLucy
