Hot Spring Heart-to-Heart

The frost in the air nipped the tip of her nose and her cheeks were a faint rose. Outdoor in the winter was around five degrees Celsius, but Lucy Heartfilia was unusually calm even though she was practically naked in the cold. She dipped her right toes into the water carefully, testing its temperature. Steam arose from the hot spring and it was very warm. When the blonde got in, the spring waters comfortably accommodated her figure and she let out a contented sigh. Submerged up to the middle of her chest, Lucy sat near the rocks that rimmed the hot spring.

Before long, she heard quickened footsteps headed towards where she was.

"Eek! It's so cold outside!" She easily recognized Levy's voice.

"Yeah," Erza responded. "Let's hurry up and get in."

"Lucy already went ahead without us," Juvia said.

"That hot spring fanatic!" Levy exclaimed.

"Geez, I can hear you guys, you know?" Lucy yelled.

One after another, the three ladies got in with Lucy and they all soaked in the warmth together.

"Ahh~ Hot springs in the winter are the best." Erza spread her arms out wide and claimed the side opposite from Lucy.

"Mmm, it feels so good," Levy agreed. She sat next to Lucy.

"It might just be Juvia's imagination but," Juvia said. "Lucy, did your boobs grow bigger again?"

"EH–? What are you saying, all of a sudden?!" The blonde blushed.

"Lemme check!" Without warning, Levy groped her bust from behind before Lucy could defend herself.

"W-What are you doing?! S-Stop! Levyyy–!" The victim shrieked.

"Uwooh~ I think you're right, Juvia," Levy said playfully.

"Erza, save me!" Lucy looked toward the relaxed redhead.

"Once in a while is fine right?" Erza said matter-of-factly. "We're all girls anyway."

Erza…! Not you too! The voice in Lucy's head cried.

"Alright, alright," the short-haired blunette took her hands off and sat back down.

The blonde immediately crossed her arms across her chest protectively and moved away from Levy to settle down next to Erza.

"Juvia wants to touch them too."

"NO!" Lucy kept her arms crossed.

"Now, now…" Erza turned to Lucy. "If it makes you feel any better, you're welcomed to feel mine," she offered with a big sister-like smile.

"N-No, that's alright," Lucy stammered.

"Come on, don't be shy! Hahaha!" The redhead put an arm around Lucy and pulled the blonde against her chest in one of her infamous grips.

On the other side of the same spring, Levy had begun attacking Juvia and, for the next few minutes or so, peals of laughter and high-pitched shrieks filled the air as the four of them fooled around in the hot springs. After a while, when things had calmed down, they sat quietly in each other's company.

"Ahhh~" Levy was the first to break the silence with a sigh. "It's almost winter break eh?"

"Yeah," Lucy acknowledged.

"Tomorrow's already the last day of school," Erza said. "We'll get our exam results back as well."

Our exam results… Upon hearing that, Lucy became pensive.

"Shall we go somewhere after school tomorrow to celebrate?" Juvia asked.

Recalling the promise she had made with Natsu, Lucy said, "I might not be able to go with you guys tomorrow."

"Eh? Why?" asked Levy.

"I…" Lucy hesitated.

"Ohhh! Could it be, Lucy has a date with Natsu-san?!" Juvia's keen sense for these things triggered straightaway.

"Yea… No," replied Lucy. "I mean, maybe?" She wasn't too sure because she didn't know if Natsu would pass.

"What do you mean?" Erza asked.

"It's just that," Lucy explained. "I agreed to go somewhere with him if he passes…"

"I see," said Levy. "And you don't know whether he'll pass or not, right?"

The blonde nodded.

"Juvia thinks Natsu-san will pass," Juvia said.

"Why?" Lucy looked at the wavy-haired blunette.

But it was Erza who answered. "That guy's a natural idiot but when he sets his mind on something, he usually gets it done."

"Hmm, I guess that means the three of us will go ahead without you tomorrow! Enjoy your date with Natsu then, Lucy!" Levy teased.

"Ahh, geez," the blonde blushed and hugged her knees up to her chest.

"Actually, Juvia has been wondering about something for some time now," Juvia said out of the blue.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

"Is Lucy going out with Natsu-san?"

"No… It's not like that," the girl replied.

"Then why hasn't Lucy agreed to be Natsu-san's girlfriend?"

"Eh–" The blonde was caught off-guard by that question.

"That's right!" Levy jumped in. "I've been wondering the same thing!"

"That's…" Lucy dug around for an answer.

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to," Erza said. "Although, I'm pretty curious myself."

"I…" Lucy was still searching.

"Seriously, I don't get you," Levy went on. "Why? When you so obviously like him too…"

"Eh? What makes you think I like him?" Lucy was surprised.

"Am I wrong?" Levy answered her question with a question.

"I don't– No, I'm not sure…" Lucy rested her chin on her knees. "What does it mean to like someone?" She wondered out loud. Although she'd had several partners before Loke, none of those relationships had any substance and the blonde had never felt anything for them like she did with Natsu. But this feeling – whether it was 'like' or not – this feeling had grown to be so deep that it scared her.

"Juvia doesn't know but, when Juvia sees Gray-sama, Juvia feels so happy that Juvia just wants to hug him!"

"Hah? Isn't that just you, Juvia?" Lucy asked.

"No," Erza stepped in. "She's not entirely wrong there. It's something like that for me as well. Although I see Jellal every day, just being with him each time makes me immensely happy." A saccharine smile formed on her lips when the redhead spoke about Jellal.

"On the other hand," Levy added. "When you don't see him for a while, you start to think of him and miss him…"

"Ahh~ All of a sudden, Juvia wants to see Gray-sama~!" Juvia exclaimed.

"Don't tell me. Lucy, all this time, you haven't realized your own feelings?" Levy asked.

"…" The blonde kept quiet.

"I doubt that's the case," said Erza. "Judging by the look on her face, she's probably aware of it, but Lucy being Lucy, she's avoiding it."

Erza's words hit the nail on the head. Lucy had no idea that the redhead knew her so well.

"That's no good, Lucy!" Juvia chided.

"Juvia's right! Why aren't you being honest with yourself?" Levy asked.

"Ok, let's say I do like him. If– Just if," Lucy said. "If I really do like him, so what?"

"Huh?" Levy didn't get her question.

"So what if I like him? Just because I like him doesn't mean I want to be with him."

"HUH?!" Juvia exclaimed. "Juvia can't understand." The thought of liking Gray but not being with him has never occurred to the blunette.

"Lucy, could it be that you…" Erza cautiously approached the matter. "Are you afraid of something…?"

"I…" The blonde spoke in a soft, weak voice. "I… don't know… What if… What if he's actually like one of my exes?"

"You mean what if he's just after your looks and not you?" Erza clarified.

Lucy solemnly nodded her head.

"If that happens, I will be there to beat the crap out of him, but–" Erza paused. "Deep down, that's not what you think of him right?"

Lucy was speechless. The scarlet-haired woman was right again!

"Besides," Levy supplemented. "Someone who's secretly after you for your looks won't grope you so openly on the very first meeting."

"Ah, that's right, something like that happened," Juvia just remembered.

"…that idiot," Lucy muttered under her breath as she recalled that incident.

"What are you afraid of, Lucy?" Erza's voice was lined with concern.

"I've only known him for a month…"

"So what?" Juvia retorted.

"I've only known him for a month…" The blonde repeated. "…but I already like him so much."

"Oh, Lucy…" Juvia sighed.

"I know nothing about him," Lucy continued. "Yet I like him so much that it scares me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with these feelings. I don't know how to deal with them. I don't know how to contain them."

Upon hearing these words from their best friend, Erza, Levy and Juvia smiled. Now that they had heard these words from the blonde's own lips, they can finally stop worrying about her.

"You silly girl!" Levy chided affectionately as she gave the blonde the biggest bear hug her arms could manage.

"It's okay even if you don't know what to do with your feelings," Erza followed up. "You already know he likes you – heck, we all know he likes you. There's no need for you to hold back your feelings."

"B-But–"

"But what?" Levy cut Lucy off. She released her from the hug. "But you've only known him for a month? But you don't know anything about him? Who cares?! Just look at Juvia!"

Lucy turned to her other blunette bestie and was met with a heartwarming, encouraging smile.

"Lucy," Juvia started. "Lucy gave Juvia courage before. Now, it's Juvia's turn to return the favour."

"Thank you," the blonde smiled back. "Thank you, all of you," she turned to Levy and then Erza.

With the support of her friends, there was no reason for Lucy to deny it anymore and she came to a decision; she finally had an answer for Natsu.

The next morning, the chilliness seeped through the seams of her duvet uninvited; Lucy had forgotten to turn the heater on last night before she went to bed. As such, she woke up exceptionally early due to the cold. Yawning as she switched the heater on, she began lumbering around her room, preparing for the day at a snail's pace. The first thing she looked for were her black stockings because the floor was cold to the touch. Then she threw off her pajamas, grabbed her uniform from the hanger and got dressed. Snatching up her schoolbag and pink winter coat that was slung over the chair, Lucy went off to school.

The trees along the streets of Magnolia were bare for all the leaves had fallen off and the surface of the lake in town square had slowly begun to freeze over as Jack Frost crept in. It was the kind of weather which left no doubt that winter has well arrived. Even in her pink fur coat, Lucy could still feel the chill in her bones. Normally she would hurry to get out of the cold and get to school, but that day in particular, she rather appreciated a stroll.

When she arrived, she headed straight to the hall for the closing ceremony. She wasn't surprised to find that Erza and Jellal were already there, but apart from that couple, Lucy was the first student to arrive.

"Morning," Erza greeted the blonde at the door.

"Good morning," Lucy replied with a smile.

"Have you seen the noticeboard?" The student council president asked.

"Ah, not yet." Lucy didn't walk pass it on her way to the hall. Plus, whether Natsu passed or not did not really seem to matter anymore so it had slipped her mind.

"He passed," the redhead flashed a reassuring smile.

"Oh." Although it was good news, the butterflies in Lucy's stomach just multiplied.

"Erza! Could you come over for a sec?" Jellal's voice hollered from the stage.

"Sorry, I have to finish a couple of final checks," Erza said to Lucy. "See you later."

The blonde nodded and went to take her seat. Despite distracting herself with her hand phone, at the back of her mind she was constantly thinking about Natsu. She was so conscious of him that she knew he hadn't arrived yet but the ceremony was already about to begin.

Don't tell me, he's skipping the ceremony? Lucy wondered.

She stared down at the screen of her phone as Headmaster Makarov began his speech.

Playing truant? She typed a short text.

Within the next few seconds, her phone vibrated with a reply.

:D

The girl stared at the lone smiley, wondering what it was supposed to mean. Then another message came in.

I passed.

Her heart skipped a beat. Is it really okay for me to like him? She wondered again, but then shoved that doubt aside.

So where are you bringing me today? She texted.

You'll see.

Lucy frowned at that cryptic reply. What is he up to? She pondered, but then decided it did not really matter.

Where are you? She typed; She wanted to see him.

She waited and waited until the closing ceremony neared its end but Natsu did not reply. Damned idiot, she cursed inwardly. She could not stop thinking about him.

Finally, the ceremony was over and the student body was dismissed. Without missing a beat, Lucy got to her feet and made a beeline for the door. She checked her phone on her way but there were no new messages. Then, the screen abruptly changed to display the caller ID of an incoming call.

It was from him.

Lucy answered with a swipe and put the phone to her ear.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?" His husky voice replied and her heart was pounding. She really liked him.

"Where are you?" She asked.

"Ehh… Walk five steps more then turn around and look up," he ordered.

The girl was confused. She glanced around at first before doing as she was told. When she looked up, Natsu was waving at her from the rooftop.

"What are you doing up there?"

"Wait there, I'm coming down now."

"Wait!" Lucy called. She grasped the opportunity. "Stay there. I have something to tell you."

"Hm?" The look on Natsu's face was now puzzled. "Ok."

Without bothering to hang up, the blonde rushed towards the stairs and climbed up to the rooftop. The moment she opened the metal door to the roof, she was greeted by a gust of icy wind. That was when she realized she had forgotten her winter coat in the hall. She made a mental note to retrieve it later.

"Lucyyyyy!" Natsu waved madly from where he stood at the railings. It was obvious that he was excited and happy – his usual cheerful self.

"You!" The girl was shocked upon seeing his attire. Although it was winter, there was nothing different about his uniform compared to when it was autumn. "It's freezing! What are you doing up here?!"

The pink-head beamed his sunny smile in response. "What are you talking about? It's perfect out here! Look, the clouds look so yummy like cotton candy!" He pointed to the sky and Lucy raised her head to look.

Ah, they really do look like cotton candy, she thought to herself.

"Do you think they sell cotton candy in winter? I suddenly feel like eating some," he went on.

"Pfft! What's with that?" He's as random as ever.

"Oh yeah, what was it you wanted to tell me?" After being sidetracked, he remembered her saying something like that.

"Ah– that… Um…" Lucy didn't know where to begin. How did people confess? The people around her were crazy, bizarre examples; she had no idea what was the norm. "Natsu, I…"

"What is it? It's not like you to stammer, Lucy," the pink-head had no clue what she was trying to say. "Ah, could it be that you've fallen for me?!"

For a moment, Lucy was stunned. Although Natsu had said that as a joke, she thought he'd seen through her for real so she tensed up, unable to utter another word.

"I'm just kidding," Natsu said lightheartedly, trying to ease the atmosphere. Then he said in a more serious tone, "Lucy, whatever you want to say, I'll listen to you so, you can tell me anything."

"You're right," she muttered.

"Huh?" Unable to hear Lucy clearly, Natsu took a few steps towards her. "What did you say?"

"I said–" Lucy took a deep breath. "You were right. I don't know when it happened but I like you."

"Wha…" Natsu couldn't believe his ears.

The blonde turned red with embarrassment as soon as she'd confessed.

"EHHH? FOR REAL?!" He yelled at the top of his voice once her words had sunken in.

"D-Don't make me repeat myself," she turned away, abashed. At that moment another bout of icy wind blew, raising her goosebumps and sending chills over her skin. "It's freezing out here!" She screamed. "I'm going back to the school hall for my coat," she turned to leave. "I'll meet you at the front ga–" Eh–?

All of a sudden, her back was met with an all-consuming warmth that could only be Natsu's and toned arms enclosed her slim waist.

"W-Wait a minute, Natsu…" Her heart rate skyrocketed from the unexpected back hug. She was totally not prepared for his reaction.

"Me too," his voice tickled at her ear. "I like you too."

Her face flushed once again. "I know," her attempt at a retort came out as a mere whisper. To hear those words from him right after she'd said it, blissfulness welled up in her heart. Ahh, she thought. So this is what it's like to know it's mutual.

Before, when she refused to acknowledge her own feelings, she had always been holding back. But now, it was different. Before, she probably would have struggled to push him away. But now that she'd decided to accept this feeling, she felt the fullness of her emotions overflow and radiate throughout her being. She leaned into his front and let him hold her.

"I like you, Natsu," she said it again to make sure he knew.

His arms around her waist squeezed in response and Natsu planted a kiss in her sunny blonde hair.

"I like you too."

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter! ^^