Awakening the next morning, Lucy realized that Ashley had never came back. She wasn't sure where her counterpart went last night but she hopes that she is alright. Today is the day that they had planned the double date and with the way things are going Lucy wondered if they were still going through with it. Pulling out her clothes she headed into the shower to start getting ready. She would check the guild to see if Ashley had went there last night.
She hoped that the girl didn't get lost. Thinking over the night before she wondered why Fireball did such a thing. Was he about to kiss her or was she just imagining it? But at that moment, she could have sworn she heard a small gasp behind her. Was someone following them? What if it was Natsu, or Ashley? More than anything, Lucy believed it was Ashley since the blond clearly had feelings for Fireball just refused to say it out loud. Plus there would be no reason for Natsu to follow her.
She couldn't say much when it came to people not admitting how they feel since she was in the same situation. Even if she wasn't pretending to be Fireball's girlfriend, she still wouldn't have the guts to fess up and tell Natsu how she feels. She was too afraid of rejection and the loss of their friendship to risk it.
She walked out of the bathroom and was startled at the sight of her blond counterpart that sat on her bed. She was reading Lucy's novel and acting as if she didn't have a care in the world. Lucy scrambled over and snatched the book out of the other blonds hands who shouted in return.
"Hey! I was reading that!" Ashley exclaimed.
"It's not finished yet. The only person allowed to read it right now is Levy and that's because I promised her. You can read it when it's finished." Lucy explained. Ashley just shrugged her shoulders. She was just reading because she was bored and had nothing better to do but now that Lucy was out of the shower she can take this chance to get ready herself. "Where were you last night?"
"Oh, um, I was with Natsu last night. We uh...spent the whole night talking." Lucy could tell that it wasn't the truth but the only other alternative would be that they spent the night doing other things and she really didn't want to believe that so she accepted what her counterpart was telling her. To Ashley, it was the truth. She just withheld the part about which Natsu she was with.
It didn't take long for the girls to get ready as they wore matching dresses. It if wasn't for Ashley's short hair you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. That and the different colors they wore. The long, form fitting dresses reached down to their ankles with a slit reach up the the mid thigh. The thick straps hung over their shoulders and crossed in the back. Lucy's dress was a light shade of pink while Ashley's was black. Slipping on their shoes to match the dress and using Cancer to do their hair, they made their way out the door and headed for the meeting spot.
Fireball arrived at Natsu's shortly after dropping Ashley off at Lucy's. They had an amazing night and talked for hours. They eventually agreed to continue with the double date in order to help this worlds Lucy and Natsu since they were too dense to work things out on their own. They both dressed similarly, as Fireball wore some of Natsu's clothes. Happy told him that they should wear something different, at least Natsu should.
So Natsu decided on a pair of dark jeans with a red polo as Fireball chose the same but with light jeans and a white one. Walking out the door, Natsu felt nervous as he walked towards their meeting spot. He was told to leave early because the woman is never supposed to wait for the man, which he thought was weird but went along with it since it was Erza that said it. He was really hoping that this was the day that Lucy became his. They waited there, anticipating the arrival of their dates as they wished that they could have the opposite. The blonds were spotted a few minutes later, exactly on time. Natsu watched as they approached unable to comprehend just how beautiful Lucy looked. Each of the males focused on the girl that currently wasn't their date.
Once they reached the men, Natsu released a breath that he hadn't realized he was holding. Ashley stood in front of him but his eyes were on Lucy. She glanced sheepishly in his direction before quickly turning away to look at Fireball. He felt a pang of jealousy hit him before he brushed it away knowing that it wasn't Fireball that she liked.
"Well you two clean up good." Ashley spoke first, admiring the way Fireball currently looked but wishing that it was her he was dressing up for.
"Yeah, you're right. If it wasn't for Natsu's scarf and Fireball's goggles, we wouldn't know which is which." Lucy added with a giggle. She herself couldn't believe the way both Natsu's looked.
"It's the same for you two as well. If not for the hair and the color of the dresses we would have to guess who our dates were." Fireball joked. They all knew that even without those things they would still know who was who.
"So lets get this over with." Natsu said with a sigh. He didn't like having to watch Lucy, once again, on a date with another guy. Whether it was his counterpart or not.
"You don't sound very happy about our date Natsu." Ashley scolded smacking him lightly on the back of his head.
"Just playing around, chill out other Lucy." Lucy giggled at them, and was inwardly happy that he still called her other Lucy. Natsu flashed his thousand watt smile at Ashley as Lucy's smile faltered. That's the very same smile that makes her heart melt, the one that change her mood no matter how she felt. That same one that she loved so much, he was now giving to Ashley.
Lucy hated the idea of having to watch as Natsu dated another woman. It was painful and somewhat humiliating. Even though he had no idea of her feelings, but if things kept going like this then her and Fireball's attempts to get them together would be for nothing and they would be left alone without the ones they love. It also didn't make it any easier that Natsu was dressed so nicely and it was for Ashley.
She didn't even know that he had clothes like this until now. They started walking as each stood next to their respective date. Natsu could see the frown on Lucy's lips but could nothing to prevent it. This was how it had to be. Glancing at Ashley he saw a smirk on her face and a gleam in her eyes. She had something planned, he just wasn't sure what.
They arrived at the restaurant and were shown to a booth. The girls sat on one side and across from their date as each looked over the menu. He was going to use this date to show Lucy just how good he could be on a date. Mirajane had scolded him about his eating habits and insisted that he not order everything off the menu and eat as neatly as possible. The girls talked between one another as Fireball and Natsu kept silent.
Their meals came and they made small talk here and there in between bites and Lucy was shocked to see Natsu actually eating like a normal human being. He ordered only one thing off the menu and not a piece of food went anywhere but straight into his mouth. He knew he could be like this. Ashley sent a look at Fireball, trying to relay a silent message before switching her gaze to Natsu.
"So Natsu, say we decide to continue dating. What are we going to do about us living in two separate worlds?" Lucy's ears perked up at this, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Are they really discussing the future, already? Natsu could see where this was going, he understood immediately, which is strange for him.
"Well, you can either move in with me or I can move in with you but if your bed is as comfy as Lucy's then I will move in with you." Natsu smiled at Ashley as he watched Lucy's reaction from the corner of his eye. He saw the stunned look on her face and his smile broadened.
Lucy couldn't believe what he just said. He would actually leave our world, leave behind his friends, his family and his home to live with her. He would even leave behind his chances to find Igneel? "Don't you think that your moving a little too fast? You two just started seeing each other and this is only the second date."
"No why?" Natsu asked and was feeling even happier as he watched Lucy. She was clearly jealous and he wanted to push it just a little further, maybe then she would finally admit her feelings.
"I completely agree, this is something that should be spoke of later on in the relationship." Fireball stated. He didn't like where this was going and he could see the pain in Lucy's eyes. Natsu was being an oblivious fool once again, not seeing it because all he thought this was was jealousy. He knew that something bad was going to happen.
"Besides, he can't just abandon his friends here. This is his home, and his family is here. Not to mention if he leaves this world there would be no way for him to be able to search for Igneel." Lucy really knew Natsu. She was completely right, it's not something he would do but he was going to convince her otherwise.
"Well there isn't much of a difference between this world and theirs. All the same people are there so it would be like I never left." Natsu didn't realize what he said until the words were out of his mouth. His eyes widened before they quickly turned to Lucy to see that she had her head lowered and her bangs hid her eyes from view. He could smell the salty sweetness of her tears as they trailed down her cheeks.
"Hey Lucy, are you okay?" He wasn't sure why he was asking because he knew she wasn't. If he heard any of his friends say something like that he wouldn't take it lightly either.
"How dare you!" Her head shot up, a look of pure resentment filled her eyes as she glared at him. Gulping, he felt guilty and wished that he could take back what he said. He would never mean something like that and he wished that Lucy would understand. Fireball and Ashley turned away, unsure what to do about this upcoming fight.
"How could you say something so despicable about your friends! They are my family, your family! That world may have our counterparts but that does not make them the same as us. Our friends can never be replaced. I never expected something like this from you, the man who always preaches about friends and family coming first and doing everything in your power for them. I admired you for that spirit and attitude but I never thought you would sink so low! And to think that I actually fell in love with suck a jerk!"
With that said, Lucy ran out of the restaurant, leaving behind Natsu and their counterparts. Natsu stood there, silent, as he replayed it over and over again in his head. She loved him, she actually said it!
"What the hell are you doing you idiot, go after her!" Ashley yelled as Natsu quickly shot out the door to follow behind the woman he loves. Ashley turned to Fireball as he frowned at her.
"Well that didn't end like I planned."
"What were you expecting? Her to jump up and beg him not to leave and confess her feelings for him?" Fireball was upset that this wasn't thought through better but at the very least she had actually came out and said it.
"Something along those lines. How was I supposed to know that Natsu would say something so stupid." Ashley defended. She was right, there was no way to truly know what he would reply with but they should have talked it over first and discussed what he was going to say to avoid her getting hurt. Fireball truly felt sorry for Lucy. She was the only one who didn't know what was really going on and he could only imagine how she has been feeling lately. He just hopes that Natsu can make things right once again.