Hey, I uploaded another one.

I decided to add some humor because

a) I was feeling funny and sassy

b) even though i haven't wrote the rest of the story, i feel as though shit's gonna hit the fan very soon.

Enjoy.

{thanks to those who followed and favourited and whatever else}

p.s the linebreak is being weird. i don't know if it's actually working

-0-

When Lucy awoke it was still dark outside. She could hear Erza's soft snores and ticking of the clock as it rested on their wooden bookshelf. Cold air circulated the bedroom, she pulled the blanket higher and closed her eyes once more.

When sleep still didn't come she sighed. She pulled the blankets off and quietly stepped down the ladder. She made sure Erza was still asleep and crept out of the room. She turned right down the hallway, heading for the stairs. She tip-toed down them and made her way to the fridge.

After a quick snack she took the steps two at a time. As she turned left at the top she stared blankly at the open window. The curtains had been pulled aside and were flowing delicately. She made her way towards it. As her hands closed around the frame, ready to pull the glass down, she saw a head of brown hair; Simon. She pulled herself up onto the windowsill, resting her behind on the wood. She turned slowly, careful not to fall backwards, and stuck her legs through.

Her feet met the roof tiles and a shiver ran up her spine. Outside was cooler than the inside of the house. She walked slowly towards Simon, "You shouldn't be up here, you know?" he only shrugged.

She sat down, the cold air freezing her face "Do you come out here often?" she asked instead.

"Most mornings." He stared ahead.

"Any particular reason? Or just an escape?" she hugged her legs, hoping to generate some warmth.

"Nightmares." She nodded.

"So an escape then." She got no reply.

From where they sat they could see into the neighbour's backyard. It was large and spacious, and the grass seemed three shades brighter than theirs. A new colourful swing set looked abandoned and Lucy felt a craving to go on it. There was a large outdoor table and a complex, shiny barbeque.

"Why did you come out here?" Simon asked. She looked at him impassively.

"I was going to shut the window, but I figured you wouldn't've liked being locked out." He smiled and shook his head.

"Why did you really come out here?"

Lucy was silent. "…nightmares, I suppose." He nodded.

The mood became solemn and dreary, Lucy found it suffocating.

"What do you think of all of us?" Lucy frowned.

"I haven't really thought about it."

"You've been here three weeks, you must have thought a little of us."

Her frown deepened, "Well…" she licked her lips, "The house is nice."

Simon scoffed. "The truth is appreciated."

She swatted his arm. "Don't be like that," he laughed, " the house is nice… it feels like a home." she smiled slightly, "A real home." He stopped laughing, "I don't remember ever feeling that."

"What do you mean?" she sighed.

"My dad died when I was little," the way Simon paled made her think that that probably wasn't the best start to a story. "Mama was a little… different after that. She still loved me and was a good mother, but I think something died with her that day." Simon frowned, "The house was… cold after that." she smiled slightly. "But here the house is always warm."

"How so?" the sun was starting to rise, small flickers of orange peeked over the horizon.

"I don't know." She sighed, smiling more now, "Maybe its Ms. Green's cooking or the heat from her cigarettes, or maybe it's the fact that she screams so loud you think a volcano erupted." Simon laughed loudly.

"Maybe it's your laugh that makes it warm, or the fact that even though your suspicious and calculating you still see the best in people." He smiled at her, she smiled back. "Or maybe it's the smile you keep hidden, or the blush on your cheeks.

"Or maybe its Erza. Her hair or her giggle or her innocence." She stared back out at the sunrise, listening as the birds awoke. "Maybe it's the fire that burns in Jellal's eyes, or the anger he reserves for anyone that hurts Erza…. maybe it's the hatred he feels towards me."

"He doesn't hate you." Lucy laughed.

"And the sun doesn't rise every day."

"I'm serious." Simon said, "He doesn't hate you, he might not particularly like you, but he certainly doesn't hate you." She laughed again,

"Is there really a difference?" Simon was silent for the longest time.

"If you came from where we did, yes."

She shut up after that.

When she and Simon both agreed they should go inside, they both split ways and went into their bedrooms. Erza had been awake when she returned, sitting on the floor with her dolls.

She climbed up the ladder and into her bed as Jellal opened the door. "Breakfast will be ready soon." Jellal stayed at the entrance his eyes on Erza, but somehow still observing her.

Erza kept playing with her toys, "Where were you?" she asked.

"Outside." Lucy answered, not missing a beat.

Jellal clicked his tongue, "And what might you gain from lying, Lucy?" Lucy sighed climbing back down, ready to make her way to the kitchen.

"What might you gain from telling the truth, Jellal?" Lucy asked. She walked passed him, "Certainly not trust."

Breakfast was silent. Lucy wasn't sure if it was because of the delicious tasting food or whether it was because of the tension. Each was plausible. Ms. Green had noticed too, and had tried to resurrect the friendly atmosphere that had evaporated since her arrival.

Jellal had glared at her during the entirety of their meal, and Erza had glared at Jellal for glaring at Lucy. She, on the other hand, just smiled politely at everyone.

Jellal's agitation and anger was oozing off him, smashing into Lucy like tidal waves. She sighed, cutting some more bacon, "So, Jellal," she addressed. The table seemed to quieten more."Why is it that you hate me?" she popped the bacon in her mouth, staring at him.

Jellal seemed to glare at her harder, "I don't hate you."

"Told you." Simon interjected. She stared at him briefly.

"It looks to be otherwise." She told Jellal.

He smirked, "Looks can be deceiving."

Lucy nodded, "That makes sense," his smirk widened. "Before I met you I wouldn't have thought you were a coward."

He sneered at her across the table. "Well, had I seen you on the street I wouldn't've have known you were a snobby, selfish–"

"ENOUGH!" Ms. Green slammed her hands down on the table, the cutlery rattling. The table was eerily silent. "Both of you come with me." She stood from the table, seething, "Now." Lucy stood, following, glaring at Jellal as he did the same.

"I've just about had it with the hostility between you two." Ms. Green mumbled.

The smoker turned left at the top of the stairs and walked into her and Erza's room. She bent down at the waist and picked up all of Erza's toys and walked out the door, "Stay here." After several trips back and forth the room was practically empty. "Jellal, Lucy," her lips were pulled into a straight line. "Close your eyes."

Doing as she was told Lucy shut off her view of the room. She felt cold and wrinkled hands pick up her right arm, she felt a cold bracelet on her wrist and a click resounded in her ears. Another click. "Open." Lucy looked down in horror at the chain that connected her to Jellal

"What?" she whispered. She tugged on the handcuffs, eyes wide.

"What are you planning?" Jellal said angrily.

Ms. Green smiled maliciously, "From now on you two will be sharing a room."

"WHAT?"

Sleeping arrangements were difficult, Lucy discovered. She was on the top bunk and Jellal on the bottom. She was forced onto her back with her hand hanging off the bed. It could have been worst though, she was sure Jellal's arm was already cramping.

"I just want you to know that I hate this." He said. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"What? Unable to handle the fact that your precious Erza is in the protection of another?" she scoffed, "Get over it, buddy."

"Would you shut it?" Lucy hummed thoughtfully.

"Maybe, if you search hard enough, you might find a strand of that scarlet hair you desire." She smirked, "Take it back to your layer of creepy."

"You have no idea how much I hate you."

"I've been told that I'm a lovely person."

"It's a shame you've been brought up around liars."

"It's a shame you were brought up at all." She felt a pull on her wrist that sent her tumbling of the side of the bed. She landed on the floorboards facing the roof, gasping as the air was stolen from her. She heard Jellal chuckle.

She sat up with much effort and hit him as hard as she could, right where no man wants to be punched. Jellal started wheezing and coughing. She moved onto her stomach, letting her arm straighten more comfortably. She looked under the bed, sucking in large gulps of air.

"Hey Jellal," she croaked,

"What?" he gasped.

"You need to move my hand away from there." Lucy didn't know what she was touching, she hoped to God it was just a thigh.

"Just a knee." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey Jellal,"

"What." He said curtly.

"I found something under here."

"What?" he turned over. His head dangling off the bed.

"There's something under here." She repeated,

"I heard." He snapped, "What's under there?"

She smirked. "Your dignity."

When Lucy woke up she was greeted by Jellal's face. He was sleeping, his mouth agape, snoring loudly. She watched, hypnotised, as a sting of saliva dangled dangerously close to her face. The drop landed on her cheek, sliding down to meet her ear. She lay so still she was sure she resembled a statue. She could feel herself paling and honestly thought she was going to be sick.

She sat up and grabbed Jellal by a strand of messy blue hair, tugging lightly. When he woke slightly, she took a fistful and slammed his head against the wood of the ladder. He groaned immediately and his hand shot out to his head, bringing hers with it. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?"

Lucy sat up quickly, glaring at him with all her might, "The next time you dribble on me," he frowned, eyes squinted as he clutched the side of his head. "I will not hesitate to slaughter you."

Lucy wasn't sure what his reaction would be, but it wasn't at all what she had expected. Jellal started laughing. Really laughing. Tears sprung to his eyes, and he sat up, folding himself over, laughing.

Had she hit his head too hard?

"Get up." Only light chuckles remained, but when he made eye-contact with her, his laughter started over, full blast. "GET UP!" He paused and stood, and kept laughing. "THIS IS NOT FUNNY!" He kept laughing. She dragged him out of the room, "MS. GREEN!" She thundered down the stairs, "I need you to take the cuffs off."

The woman raised an eyebrow, he lips twitching upwards, "No."

"I need to have a shower." The woman smirked.

"Too bad." Lucy's face became blank.

"Ms. Green, I need to shower." Ms. Green bent, her face in line with Lucy's.

"Well that is something you and Jellal will have to figure out."

Lucy noticed Jellal had stopped laughing. "You're kidding, right?" Ms. Green stared at her impassively.

Lucy had never appreciated shower curtains until that day.

Probably wasn't as funny as I made it out to be.

Eh. What can I say?

Hope you enjoyed.

Reviews are appreciated.

Until next time :)

~MyFictionalFantasy