A/N: Hello again! It's the third chapter now! Thanks a lot for your kind responses with the second mean a lot to me.

The next morning, Natsu realized how annoying rumors were. The incident with Lucy and the senpai whose name he refused to know quickly became hot gossip and boy, did his schoolmates loved gossips.

It didn't really surprise him that people were talking about it as there were lots of spectators at the time. But what got him was how the story went.

People agreed that the senior was a jerk ("He pushed himself at Lucky Lucy when she clearly said no!"). Honestly, he couldn't agree more but when they get to the part where he saved Lucy, people had varied reactions.

Most of the girls would grin and squeal, gushing about how brave he was ("It was like from the movies, the boy saving his girl!"). Some guys nodded in approval (He did what was needed to be done.) but most of them groaned and complained ("There goes our chance on Lucky Lucy."). It would have been entertaining if not for their unanimous conclusion: that he and Lucy are dating.

What the hell. His best friend needed help so he went out there and almost punched the jerk's face to oblivion. How does that equate to dating?

"People see what they want to see." said Gray from behind him. Both boys were lining up to buy meat buns and yakisoba pans. It was a long queue that Natsu had the opportunity to rant. "You and Lucy are practically connected by the hip. When people see that, they almost always assume that you two seem too close to just be friends."

"But that's what we are! We're just friends!" Natsu wanted to punch a wall in frustration. "Lucy doesn't need more rumors following her."

"So you're not dating Lucky Lucy?" asked the guy in front of Natsu who accidentally heard Natsu's frustrations.

Natsu felt his eye twitch, resisting the urge to roll his eyes for the hundredth time that day. "For the last time, Lucy and I, we're not dating!"

The whole cafeteria fell silent for a whole ten seconds except for the lunch lady who continued selling her sandwiches. She handed Natsu two packs each of spicy meat buns and Yakisoba pan. The boy accepted the goods silently, inwardly freaking out at the silence.

Gray was too amused to say anything so he just followed and walked out the cafeteria behind his friend, hands crossed behind his head.

He was still within hearing range when a brave soul in the corner muttered, "So we can still ask her out." It would have been a whisper if not for the utter silence in the room.

Laughter bubbled up in his chest. Those people are definitely blind to not see that they don't really stand a chance. Natsu and Lucy are not dating YET. It will happen soon.

Maybe he could start a betting pool about that.

Lucy slumped on her bed, mind exhausted from her day at school. The gossips she heard today were worse than the usual rumors.

In the morning, a lot of people were talking excitedly about the little incident with Dan Straight. Like the worst confession she ever received was some entertainment for them.

But what's worse was how Natsu got dragged into the mess. Almost everyone in school thought they were dating.

"If only", Lucy thought bitterly.

She could deal with the usual rumors about her, the sarcastic smiles other girls threw at her whenever she talked to them. She always felt their animosity against her but over the years she learned how to ignore them.

But how do you deal when it's a rumor you secretly wished to be true?

Just before the classes started today, she already lost count how many times she was asked if she liked Natsu. She also lost count on how many times she lied.

She liked him, a lot. She might as well say that she's in love with him.

Lucy has liked other boys from her previous schools before but she knew her feelings for Natsu are different.

He made her laugh, made her feel great about herself. He's a good listener and understood her sadness. Sure, he calls her weird sometimes, but she knew he never meant anything bad with that.

So naturally, she fell for him. She never denied it with herself knowing that self-denial won't do her any good. But it didn't mean she had act on it.

So getting asked if she liked Natsu was frustrating. She almost answered yes at some point, wanting to get over it but she held back. She didn't want him to know that way.

She felt trapped. If only could be as open as Juvia with her feelings or as brave as Erza or as sweet as Levy, things would be easier.

A sigh escaped her lips unto her pillow. If only. She buried her face on it, the silk sheets smothering her face until her eyes felt heavy. She let the sleepiness claim her, thinking a nap would get her out of her mopey phase.

She woke up an hour later when her phone buzzed from a notification. She felt around her bed, searching for her phone and saw there was a message from Natsu:

[U ok Luce?]

A small smile curled up on her lips, the remnants of sleep slowly fading away as she typed her reply.

[just woke up from a nap. I feel fine. :) ]

Natsu was quick to reply back.

[that's good then. :3 Thought you were sad earlier at school.]

Lucy's heart raced a little upon reading that. It should be illegal how sweet and sensitive he can be.

[i was. a little bothered by the rumors. Sorry you were dragged into it Natsu.]

[nah, it's okay. :3 dont let them bother ya]

[if you say so]

[btw, saw this on my way home earlier. Wanna go?]

Natsu sent her a picture. It was the poster for the Magnolia Fireworks Festival on the weekend.

"So unfair," Lucy thought to herself as she looked at the picture. "He knew I was sad so he's trying to make me happy. Don't give me more reasons to like you, idiot."

She could have typed that but she stopped herself in time. Instead, she sent him a safe reply.

[sure do. but I have to ask dad first.]

[i'm sure he'll let ya. U invite the girls, I'll tell Gray and the others to come with us. ]

[alright. thanks Natsu.]

[what for? :3 ]

[just thanks. Good night! :) ]

[u r weird. Anyways, night Lucy! see ya. :3 ]

PS: Just wanna respond to that guest reviewer for chap 2.

Yes, I tried to keep their canon histories and personalities intact as much as possible. A writer I look up to from tumblr once said that you should always let your characters be themselves. You put them in a situation in a fic and let them do their thing. Don't dictate them on what to do. You write what they will do based on the situation. If I don't follow this, I always get stuck in the middle of writing.

and that was a long rant. Thanks for reading! See you next chapter!