FULL SUMMARY: There is really nothing wrong between BFFs Natsu and Lucy, except that many things have influenced how they show their affection for each other. A personal notebook, romantic comedy movies, fandoms, fan people standards, everlasting BFF codes, family and friends. The challenge, done like some sassy God, has made them insane. They must face their fears, denials, and insecurities, because it will very well affects their lives. The problem: this whole thing is too messed up to be "Cliché, huh?"

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail or it's characters. This guy does: Hiro Mashima

"past conversations"

'cited from Lucy's notebook'

Natsu

The taxi was silent and that was what Natsu wanted. His mother and sister should have accompanied him (they demanded it), but he felt that another minute with them would stop him from stepping on the plane or stepping off the taxi. Gladly, his family was okay with the one-man trip and he was left with his pressing dilemma.

This shouldn't be bothering him. Normal people like him, those sturdy types, should have forgotten this. Unfortunately, it demands not to be.

He didn't know why he was holding Lucy's notebook. Maybe because it will be the only thing he had of Lucy besides pictures. He wasn't meeting her today or was her meeting him. Their last meeting, talk and everything would be yesterday. Seriously, it was their worst moment together. It wouldn't have been yesterday if she had given him a chance to talk.

STOP THINKING DRAGNEEL, he bellowed in his head. But alas, something 'this' is important if he is still thinking about this now.

Lucy was known for being dramatic. Ignore the fact that she loves romantic comedies, Lucy has a shyness problem. There were many boys that liked her. No joke. Her well kept silky blond hair, her fair skin, curvy and perfectly proportionate body, her warm brown eyes and that wonderful smile. Who in their stage of puberty and in their right minds cannot notice Lucy's beauty? His friends find her pretty. Even a dense person like him can tell those perverted stares purposely thrown at her. There were a handful of suitors waiting for her hand. To any threat of romance, Lucy had the tendency of rejecting guys in a very rush and visible moment.

For example, in a case where Natsu was involved, which referred to everyday. Natsu and Lucy were oblivious to the fact that everyone in Fairy Tail knew about who likes who and those involved in the liking game. These people who in the liking game are purposely thought to be 'stupid'. Thus, their closeness and ignorance had made it reasonable to create a series and never-ending teasing. It was fun to tease them anyway!

"What?! He is my best friend." A mental picture of Lucy kicking Natsu for being so close to her. "That is not happening!"

All those bashful moments that Lucy experiences made Natsu guilty. There're times that she would momentarily ignore him when someone teases them. And that hurt Natsu. His best friend did not know because he refused to accept pity from everyone. He didn't want anyone to see him hurt and importantly, he did not want Lucy to patronize. Of course, he was the guy who was feared by trouble-making jerks. He was like the Jackie Chan without professional training. If it weren't for the words and signals of prioritizing friendship from Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu would let her know.

"I love you."

"Love me?"

Asking for clarification? Was Natsu wrong to do it? Nah.

"Of course, weirdo. You're my pal."

That's why Natsu had level up his pranking and teased Lucy. He made sure that it look like she was a sister or even someone not a girl. He had covered his gestures like removing himself when their hands joined or bodies too close in bed. He made sure Lucy got the impression he is not always interested in talking to her every minute. He also went clueless about romance to be not liked (but still watched romcom and chick flicks with her). According to Natsu's observations (which are lacking), girls tend to hate guys who are not gentleman-like. If friends hungrily eat or take any food their friend and when you are a boy who does it does not define you a gentleman, why not? Natsu loved eating and he was fine when Lucy scolded him about being the opposite of a gentleman. Also Natsu had done all his might not to stare stupidly like Gray or Gajeel to their girlfriends. Although it failed at times, the important thing is that he was not caught. He had made sure that Lucy would not get a trace of anything beyond friendly.

"Natsu, stop!"

"I am your best friend. It's my duty." He could still feel the whack from the wooden bat. Natsu would have suffered from a critical concussion if Lucy had not thrown one of Natsu's precious Molotov to scare the bastards away. (How he had a molotov with him? Remember, he is a pyromaniac. He had secret stashes somewhere.) All he thought was keep Lucy safe. And it was an important best friend code: friends protect each other. What he didn't know he was overboard with that duty.

When minds are hopelessly occupied by unwanted occupants, lovesick people check out past remnants of memories. In other words, the young Dragneel, unlocked his phone. The menu appeared and with the Fairy Tail gang and the waterfall in the background.

"Natsu, you are not one for a coward."

"Together. You are strong."

'Squeezing my hand, the second jump into the waterfall's end was nothing to fear.' His mind opened up to a sentence pertaining to his phone's background.

They had held hands—fingers intertwined—twice. The type in movies that all of the suddenly it was perfect to hold hands. First was when they jumped together and the second at prom.

The first jump was hilarious. It was almost a fifteen-feet-tall cliff. Lucy preferred climbing down, but Natsu grabbed her waist and they plummet downwards. Lucy was screaming her head out while Natsu was laughing his head out. As they broke out the surface, Lucy nearly killed Natsu with her fingernail. Luckily, Lucy hated when she realized how a chicken she was at that pathetic dive, so she asked for another.

Natsu was not really good with details, so he read. Leafing through the pages, he found last summer's latest activity.

'I know that gravity had a acceleration of 9.81 meters per second. My heart was racing probably at a thousand miles per second. A second. It was quick. Fast and almost unnoticed. But as we have gone down for the second time, our hands locking each other, our eyes met. Natsu, with his hair flying behind him, smiled that was probably for a second or more. I must have, too, for a second or more, but I decided it is a second. We both looked down which probably ran for a second. The excitement coursing in our veins had made us squeezed each other's hands tighter had been for a second. Second after second. An action I notice between us as we are falling down measured for a second. How was this all possible? The dive should not have been longer than 2 seconds, but an eternity went before my body met the water.'

Natsu had not felt it yesterday as he read the paragraph for the second time. Lucy had valued every second with him. To which, his heart raced. He remembered and could actually feel the intensity of them holding hands. (Though he was that the fall was really quick.) It was not everyday any one can hold a beloved's hand if there has not been an acknowledgement between the two people. In this case, Natsu and Lucy.

Natsu regretted immediately that he encouraged Yukino and Sting to help him date anyone except Lucy. Every second, he did. He was even jealous when Sting offered to walk her home. Heck yeah, he prayed that the dancing shit starts, so he can be with Lucy. Or at least see how she was doing.

He saw her drinking and was slightly drunk. Of course, Natsu had more rounds but he was immune to alcohol, one of the few things that Lucy forgets about him. It was nice hanging out with slightly drunk Lucy—not drunk. (STAY AWAY WHEN SHE IS. 50m-RADIUS IS RECOMMENDABLE.) And even at her slight drunkenness, she looks awesome. Her red dress looks beautiful on her and he couldn't believe she was wearing all those colors. If only he could tell her.

That was when the rain started.

'To me, once was harsh and cold, pelting rain, together, we danced in the cool liberty.' Because you let fear loose and fought it, Natsu wanted to say, reading. Lucy had been against anything extreme or situations that would lead to dismissal or perpetual shame or death. Some people labeled her a scaredy cat, which Natsu detested inwardly. That was one of the reasons why he had led Lucy into mayhem. Both of them love fun. Natsu wanted Lucy to have it.

'His hand on mine and the other on my waist, it was not that romantic but I enjoyed it.'

He feared that Lucy might not want to. Last time they held hands, it was for comfort or support. The situation that presented was incredibly different. Oh Mavis he was happy when she placed her hand when he asked for it. If only she knew, that night, he wanted to confess how he loves her. While she was spinning before him, he had love her smile, had love the way she dresses, love how concern, responsible, smart, sweet and loving she is. Natsu wanted to praise her that way. He wanted to…

"Love her for I hadn't. Love her because she loves you. Love her because you do."

If it weren't for the words of the people around him, Natsu would have kept it shut.

If it weren't for his stubbornness, he would have too.

For the first time of the day, Natsu smiled genuinely. There might be time to go back to town and talk to Lucy. He wanted a last minute conversation with the girl he loves.

He was interrupted before he could speak up to divert the location.

"Here we are," he driver said. Natsu's blood went cold. "Magnolia Airport."

Maybe he should have gone back. He was early for his flight. It was totally ironic because Natsu hated being early. He hated waiting.

Waiting was like a torture to him. While waiting for the announcer to call for his plane, he had read again Lucy's notebook. He had better perspective than yesterday. Last night, he wanted to hate Lucy for being so selfish and annoying. For not understanding. As the words got into his head for the second time, he wanted to see her so much.

Despite their friendship, Natsu wished that he ignored the boundaries. He wished that he had shown her how much he cared, how much he love her.

Natsu fished out his phone and dialed. He had repeated this step multiple times. Again, the call made him terribly disappointed. "Hello. You have reached Lucy's voice mail," it said with Lucy's voice. "We're out, so, do leave a message after the," it continued with his voice. BEEP.

He wanted to cuss. Natsu doesn't want to leave a freaking message. He wanted to hear her voice; he wanted to talk to her, tell her he was sorry and a stupid person. Why won't she answer? She can't be asleep at this time. He had hoped that Lucy was at her apartment. Or at least wanted to talk to the phone.

Before Natsu could actually decide on making a voice message, the intercom announced. "Flight NL2388 is now boarding. Please proceed to gate 1."

It's time.

Natsu turned off his phone and took his backpack and joined the line forming at gate 1. The attendant asked for his ticket and he showed her. With a quick gesture, Natsu obtained his ticket and followed the other people.

"Good morning!" A flight attendant greeted as he entered the cabin. In return, Natsu dipped his head and showed her his ticket. "At the middle," she motioned, "enjoy the flight."

It was a tough journey to his seat. Natsu was not as excited as before. He easily placed his belongings at the compartment and even helped another passenger.

"Your girlfriend must be lucky to have a nice and strong boy like you," the passenger he assisted complimented. At this, Natsu blushed and slipped in to his seat. From there, looking at the window, he was anxious leaving Magnolia, his family, Fairy Tail and his friends. Lucy. He will miss Lucy the most. Then he said, "If she was."

He heard running. For some reason, it caught his attention.

"Please, let me go!" A girl. Natsu's ear perked to the voice.

"You are not allowed here." A masculine voice. Rough and deep. Security guard.

"Let me talk to my best friend," she begged.

"I am sorry miss," the flight attended said. "You must leave."

Natsu's head jerk up from the window. Best Friend. His heart beat to the words. Natsu was afraid to know, locating the owner's voice. He was sure that he knew who that was. He was half-happy to have standing people in front of him. Needlessly, he stood up around with a dramatic flair.

"Na-Natsu!" She screamed, wriggling herself out of the hands of the attendants. One of them fished out a walkie-talkie.

Natsu's body heated in an instant and everything went illogically slowmo. His eyes maintained on Lucy. She was wearing her pajamas in public, her eyes red and puffy. He couldn't believe that she was right here right now running towards him. Natsu could tell she had not sleep last night. He noticed that she had cried and most probably because of him. That would have hurt him, but he was enslaved by her beauty; by the way her serious face is trained on him, he knew that he was precious to Lucy. She ran like the first time he finally admit to himself that he love her.

She stopped in front of him. "Luce," he said. Natsu was so out of his mind he was speechless. No wonder her phone was on voice mail. She had actually left her apartment to go to him. To see him again? To talk? To what? Did she came to confess? She has to, Natsu decided. There was no other motive that would make her do this embarrassing thing. For this insight, Natsu fought the urge to smile. Just wait to be sure.

Lucy spread her arms. "Cliché, huh?"

Natsu snorted, a small smile appearing on his mouth. He can't agree more. He knew what she met. They have watched almost a hundred romantic comedy movies to get many references to this moment. If this was just some prank show, Natsu would be laughing and everything would just be fine.

Would it?

Hoooray! One more chapter to go. A review to know any thoughts. :)