NATSU POV ~ 2 weeks before ~
"Yo hot head, why the long face?"
"Shut it, Gray! I just wanna be alone to think."
"You? Think? And no comeback? Where is Natsu and what have you done with him?" The ice mage laughed at his own joke.
"I said shut it, I am not in the mood right now!" I really wasn't. For some reason I had been feeling different lately. I had been trying to figure it out for weeks. Whenever I was around Lucy something happened to me. I started getting nervous and forgetting how to speak to her. It was strange. I have never done this, not even with Lisanna as children. Why was Lucy so different?
"Tell Dr Fullbuster what's on your mind. Go on, get it all off your chest."
"Okay, but don't laugh."
"I won't bro, I won't" I took a deep breath.
"Lately, I have been having problems... with Lucy."
"Don't tell me you tried to sleep with her and she punched you in the D"
"No... nothing like that. It's just I get so nervous around her these days. It's starting to worry me. Why do I feel like this?"
Gray was sniggering on the other side of one of the guild's picnic tables.
"Hey! You said you wouldn't laugh!"
"You are so thick! That's what you get for having a dragon raise you!"
"Don't talk about Igneel like that or I will knock you into next week!"
"Alright bro, calm yourself. We don't want you to overheat now do we?"
"Gray, don't push your luck. I'm warning you"
He completely ignored me before carrying on with his diagnosis.
"You, my friend, are in love"
"Love...?"
"Let me guess? You have no concept of the word 'love'."
I shook my head. Love? What's that?
"If you think someone is pretty and kind and you really enjoy spending every second of every day with them, then you are in love"
"Does that mean you are in love with Juvia?"
"No! I do not love Juvia!" Gray's face turned bright red at the thought of loving Juvia. Must have hit a soft spot.
"I should tell Lucy then shouldn't I?"
"Woah, slow down there. You can't just tell someone you love them. You need to prepare."
"Why not? I am sure she will love me back. Won't she?" I am so confused. Gray was right. Having a dragon for a father did not help me, relationship wise.
"I wish it was that simple, Nat, but it's not. Girls are confusing creatures. You probably never will understand them."
"What should I do then?"
" You know that trip you have been planning for you two? Tell her then! When the time is right lean in reaaal close and whisper 'I love you' into her ear. Then give her a kiss or whatever."
"Thanks man but..."
"What?"
"What's a kiss?"
~ present time ~
We had gotten into the inn just before it had started to rain. I dropped Lucy onto the floor,carefully, as I walked up to the desk.
"Reservation for Dragneel, party of 2" I said to the small lady sat behind the desk.
"Here you go sir, room 103, have a nice stay!" The lady said, smiling at me before returning to her paper work. We went up the stairs to the second floor and into our room. It was huge.
"Woah! This place is awesome!" Lucy said, staring at the ceiling. She was right.
"Umm I am going to have a shower real quick, okay?"
"Yeah sure Lucy. See ya in a minute" she was gone.
I took off my scarf and coat and hung them up on the door. I then sat on the bed and turned on the tv. All I could think about was telling Lucy his feelings. Was this the right time? Or would he just make a fool of himself?
LUCY POV
The shower here was amazing! Natsu really had thought of everything. I quickly washed my hair and body before stepping out of the shower. Crap! I left all my stuff at home. I guess Natsu had not thought of everything. I decided to tell him the issue.
"NATSU?"
"Yes Lucy?"
"While you were too occupied by getting me out the house , we forgot to pack any clothes!"
"Or did we?" Although he was in another room, I could feel his grin.
"What do you mean?"
"Come out and I'll show you!"
"But I am kinda naked"
"Wrap a towel around yourself then."
And so I did and stepped into the main room. Natsu was standing there without his coat and scarf on, which meant he was topless, smirking. As I looked at his face in confusion, I couldn't help but glance down at his torso. damn he had a nice body.
"Check the drawers." He said watching in anticipation as I wandered over to the large set of drawers next to the window.
"I hope you Ike them all." He looked... shy? I opened the top drawer only to find it filled with clothes. They all were.
"Natsu? You bought all these... for me?"
"Yeah, if you don't like them you don't have to wear them" he said, scratching the back of his neck.
"No, they are all beautiful" I walked over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Natsu."
NATSU POV
Is now the right time to tell her? Or will it ruin the journey?
"Ummm Lucy..."