A/N: We're on the fifth chapter now! This is the penultimate chapter as well. So yeah, this fic is almost done now. Thank you so much to everyone who left reviews, I appreciate them a lot! and to the new followers too, Hello~!
so let's get on with the next installment…
Natsu didn't have to wait until Monday to punch Gray. His friend showed up on Sunday morning in his room and went straight to set up his Wii.
"What are you doing?" he asked Gray.
"Mario Kart." Gray answered simply.
"I should punch you." Natsu stated as he sat beside Gray and reached for the second controller.
"Nah, you don't." He wiggled a finger at Natsu. "It's just Sunday. You said you're gonna punch me on Monday."
"I should punch you." Natsu insisted, fingers already fiddling on the controller buttons. "Let me punch you."
Gray turned to his friend. "Natsu?"
Natsu heaved a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging. He brushed a hand over his face and left it over his mouth. "I like her," he mumbled against his hand.
"What?" Gray scratched his head, weirded out by his friend. "In English, man."
Natsu glared at him and dropped the hand that was previously on his mouth into a fist. He let it fly, fast and swift, aiming for Gray's face. But Gray was quick to guard and his fist slapped against his open palm.
"What the hell?" Gray, too, punched retaliation but Natsu simply deflected it. They continued parrying each other's punches, not one fist landing on its target.
Natsu growled, frustration written all over his face. "Just let me punch you!"
"No!" answered Gray as he stopped both of Natsu's wrist. "What the heck is your problem?!"
Natsu hung his head, huffing. He tried to push Gray but the ravenhead got a good footing on the laminated wood. "I said I like her."
"Huh?"
"I like her." Natsu repeated, louder this time. "I like Lucy."
"Oh." A smirk quickly formed on Gray's lips. "That's why you want to punch me?"
Natsu grunted. He pulled his fists from Gray's grip and sat on the floor. "Yes. Maybe. I don't know." He slumped on the floor, hands on his forehead. "It's weird, like Lucy-weird."
"Lucy-weird?" asked Gray, who also sat on the floor. He scooted over and got the game started. He passed the other controller to Natsu who then repositioned himself to face the TV.
"Last night, I got some urges. Like those boys she writes in her novels."
"Omigosh Natsu, keep it PG!" Gray quipped, as he selected his character.
A throw pillow smacked him in the face at that. Natsu's eyes had murder in them and were all directed at him. He raised his free hand in defeat.
"I guess I deserved that. Continue."
Natsu directed his glare at the TV monitor and selected the random character roulette. The shuffling sounds became the background noise as he started talking.
"I feel like a walking contradiction. I wanna tell her. Heck, I wanna tell the whole world I lo-*cough* - like her. But then I know she will turn me down 'cause she got this guy she likes already. I don't wanna do that to her. It'll make her sad and I don't wanna make her sad. I want her to be happy. But I have this feeling, this little voice telling me to go ahead and tell her. That if I tell her, she'll be happy. She was so happy last night, I love it when she's happy. Her eyes would pull down just a little bit and then her lips would pull upwards and you her perfect teeth and her cheeks will turn pink when she laughs."
Natsu sighed at the picture of Lucy that formed in his mind then violently shook head upon realizing that he just daydreamed right in front of Gray.
And said man had his cheeks puffed up in his desperate attempt to hold back his laughter. He lost it when Natsu groaned, his skin practically steaming in shame.
"You're adorable," Gray said as he wiped the tears that formed in his eyes while cackling so much. "Almost as adorable as Juvia."
Another pillow flew at him but this time the ravenhead was ready. He caught in between his hands and threw it back to Natsu. "Don't worry. It's the good kind of adorable."
Natsu groaned once again and flattened his back on the floor. "I should kick you for that but I'm so confused right now I don't wanna do it."
"Lazy ass." Gray teased.
"Ice Prick." Natsu called back but the nickname was without its usual bite.
Gray noticed it and that was how he knew his friend was really confused at the moment.
"You should tell her."
Natsu grunted as he curled up on the floor. The controller lay abandoned by his feet.
"This isn't like you. Just go tell her." Gray tried again.
"What about the rumors?" asked Natsu.
"What about them?"
Natsu looked up in the ceiling and raised his right hand. "If in case I do confess to her, surely there will be rumors again. It might be worse than before." He put his arm over his eyes and sighed. "I don't want to do that to her."
"How thoughtful of you."
Natsu's arm slipped a bit and rested over his nose. He shot another glare at Gray. "I'm serious here."
"Are you really chickening out because of rumors?"
Natsu paused and thought about it. "No."
"So tell her." Gray suggested nonchalantly.
Natsu sat up from the floor. "Simple as that?"
"Simple as that." Gray nodded. "Wish someone told me this during that time with Juvia. So let me tell you this now, don't let what people say affect you. Nothing shuts up rumors like the truth."
"What if she turns me down?"
Gray cocked an eyebrow. "Why would she turn you down?"
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Gray, she likes someone!"
"Who?"
"I don't know!" Natsu put his hands in the air. "I … I think it's Loke."
Gray almost choked on his spit. "Who is it now?"
"Loke! I think she likes Loke."
He knew Natsu has his dumb moments but this took the cake. Has he never considered himself a possiblitiy? "Does it matter?" he asked instead.
"Yes! … No." He pulled down his hands. "Actually it doesn't matter. I just want her to know. It doesn't mean she has to date me."
"Right." Gray approved of his plan. "So you're gonna tell her?"
"Yeah."
"Good luck then."
"Err, thanks?"
"Mario Kart?"
"You're on."
A/N: See you next (and last) chapter!