Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. It belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Lucy was joining in the middle of the year, so she was considered a new student. "This is our new student, Miss Lucy Heartfilia. Please make her feel welcome," the form teacher of Class 1-A, Miss Evergreen said. "Lucy, you can sit at the empty seat at the back. Since you're sitting beside her, Natsu, I expect you to show her around."

"No problem! I was planning to, anyway," he replied with a grin. "What a coincidence, huh?" Natsu whispered quietly to Lucy a few minutes later, when Miss Evergreen was writing something on the blackboard.

Lucy nodded. She was really happy that someone she recognised would be showing her around. Being the new student in her class made her feel uneasy. Who wouldn't feel that way, on their first day of school? Since it had already been half a year, many would already have friends. She felt slightly left out. Well, at least she had Natsu and Levy.

"Pass the papers down the row. It is your homework for today," Miss Evergreen said, placing sheets of paper on the desks of the students in the first row. Many pupils groaned loudly and complained. After a few seconds, the person in front of Lucy turned around to pass her her paper.

"Thank you," she muttered, taking the paper from his hands. As she stuffed it into her file, he introduced himself.

"I'm Gray Fullbuster. Nice to meet ya, Lucy. Don't worry, everyone here is nice. Well... Most of the students," he said. Levy had said the same thing to her. Both Levy and Gray were kind to her. She was sure that what they said was true.

Finally, after a few hours, the bell rang for recess. After Natsu showed Lucy around, he invited her to have lunch with he and his friends on the rooftop. "I would love to, if it's fine with you," she answered brightly.

"You're late, Natsu!" Gray yelled when Natsu and Lucy arrived at the rooftop. "Fight me!"

"Wha...Ahh! Wh-why aren't you w-wearing a shirt?" Lucy stuttered, shielding her eyes with her hand.

"Oh, I never noticed. But whatever. Come on, Natsu. Too scared?"

"As if! I was just seeing if you were brave enough to fight with me. I was waiting for you to back out. It's too late now, though! You're gonna regret ever asking me to fight with you!" Natsu shouted. From his pocket, Natsu took out a few bottles of tabasco sauce. "Taste this, you icefreak!"

As Natsu and Gray faced off, Lucy walked over the bunch of students who were sitting in a circle, talking animatedly. She avoided looking at Gray as she walked. "Oh, Lucy! Come and sit beside me!" Levy offered when she saw her new friend standing near the group of students awkwardly.

"Um, okay..." Lucy mumbled. She was a very shy girl, thus she tried to ignore the stares of the students as she plopped down beside Levy.

"So you're the new student Levy was talking about. Nice to meet you, Lucy-chan! I'm Mirajane Strauss. I also have a younger brother named Elfman Strauss, but he's in another class," A gentle-looking girl with long and curly snow-white hair introduced herself to her in a very soft tone. Her voice was also smooth, like a waterfall. She was, without a doubt, a very beautiful girl.

Lucy relaxed a little and smiled at Mirajane. "The pleasure is all mine, Mira... mind if I call you that?" Lucy squeaked. Mirajane was silent for a few moments.

Mirajane, who was sitting in front of Lucy, suddenly moved forward and hugged Lucy very tightly. "You're just so cute!" Lucy's image of Mirajane being the 'perfect rolemodel' immediately broke.

"...Eh?" Was all Lucy could say in response to Mirajane's sudden embrace. Levy and a few other girls in the group giggled.

"Mira might be a dream girl to every boy, and the perfect student who aces all her subjects, but secretly, she has another personality. Her 'perfect student and dream girl' personality and her true personality. This is her true personality. She just loves cute things. Rest easy though, she isn't... Well, she doesn't love females," A girl with long red hair explained. "By the way, I'm Erza Scarlet. The Student Council President that keeps everyone in check. Glad to see you wearing your uniform properly and behaving normally, Lucy. Unlike these two... IDIOTS!"

When Erza shouted "idiots", she ran over to Natsu and Gray, who were still "fighting", and slammed their foreheads together, causing them to both fall to the floor. "Ow!" Natsu said in pain. "Sorry, Erza!"

Lucy laughed softly. "Were they always like this? Natsu, Gray and Erza seem close," Lucy said.

"They were. I heard that they were even childhood friends. The three of them have always been like this, all the time I've known them, anyway. Oh, I'm Wendy Marvell. I attend the Fairy Middle School, which is close by here, so I drop in during my recess sometimes," A friendly, dark blue-haired girl said, putting out her hand.

Lucy shook it. "I see. And, um... Isn't recess almost over? There's only 10 minutes left of it." Wendy's jaw dropped, and she quickly stuffed the rest of the bread she was eating into her mouth, running back to her middle school.

"Bye guys! And thanks for reminding me, Lucy-nee-chan!" Wendy called out.

"Nee-chan...?" Lucy said. "...Never mind. I should hurry and finish my food." All the students tried to eat as much as possible before recess was over. Thankfully, they managed to finish most of their food.

After a few hours, school ended. The bell rang, and all the students rushed out of the school as if they were running for their lives. Lucy picked up her school bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Natsu walked over to her with a grin. "So, how did you like our school?" He asked. "Was it fun?"

Lucy nodded her head repeatedly. "It definitely was! I experienced the most fun I ever had in a very long while! I think I'll stay in Fairy High."

"Really?! Awesome! Then let's all go to celebrate your decision to stay in Fairy High! I'm sure many people would be delighted to come!" Natsu said, beaming.

"Oh, but I wouldn't want to trouble anyone-" Lucy began.

"Hey, who wants to go for a treat? It's on me!" Natsu yelled before Lucy could say anything else. Most of the students raised their hands. Even some just passing by their classroom had their hands raised. "See? In Fairy High, everyone is family. Including our seniors. And of course, you, Lucy. Let's go then." Natsu put out his hand.

Blushing slightly, Lucy placed her hand on his. "Ok... Natsu."

Levy, Mira, Erza, Gray, Elfman and a bunch of other students all went with Lucy and Natsu to a restaurant close to the school.

They chatted and had tons of fun, playing games such as Truth or Dare. They also enjoyed eating mouth-watering food. "I'M A MAN!" Elfman continuously declared at random times. Lucy also met Gajeel, whom Levy seemed to act a bit weird around. She saw her female BFF blushing madly when Gajeel was talking to her. I see what's going on here, she thought to herself with a mischievous smile.

In the middle of a 'competition' that sparked when Natsu challenged all of them to see who could eat the most bowls of ramen, Lucy recieved a text from her father. 'Lucy, where are you? Return home this instant, young lady!' It read. Lucy turned off her phone and ignored her father's threat. She was with friends. The very first friends she made since her mother passed away. She was not going to let her father ruin the amazing time she was having with them.

"And, the winner is... Natsu!" Mira announced. Lucy, along with a few others, clapped for him. Gajeel, Gray and Elfman, however, looked green, like they were about to throw up.

"Ate... Too Much..." Gajeel said, putting a hand over his mouth and running to the boys' bathroom. Levy hurried after him, feeling worried about him. Lucy laughed. Having silly conversations, playing ridiculous games... She had dreamed of this. These were definitely moments in her life she would never forget, and more days like this one awaited her. She couldn't wait.

Above all, though, she felt something. It warm, and fuzzy. Love. Family. These feelings consumed her, and she accepted them. This is what it means to be part of a true family, Lucy thought to herself, feeling elated.

However, of course, there was still an obstacle she had to overcome to continue to feel these pure feelings of love and family.