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Pick a card, any card,
I'd like to see you try,
Decide your death, or a lucky chance?
I promise I won't lie,
One minute, two minutes,
Your time is ticking,
I can keep a secret,
But do I really mean it?
Lucy smiled as the theme song of 'Minutes 'till death' ended and she reached for the remote to turn up the volume. It was moments like this she enjoyed, being alone in her house, watching re-runs of her favourite T.V show in the dark, with no-one there to judge her. I mean isn't the cliché thing that girls hate horror shows but watch them anyway to cling onto their boyfriends? I mean, hello, there's an empty spot right there on Lucy's couch just waiting to be sat on (not that she wants anyone to).
Sadly, not even half way through the episode, a loud ringtone made her jump sky high.
"Ugh, people know not to call me at 9.00pm, so who is it now?" she grumbled to herself, running into her bedroom at top speed so she wouldn't miss the call.
"Hello?" she muttered, after a few moments of silence on her end, she pulled the phone away from her ear and hung up, "What. The. Hell. Was that?"
She kept staring at the phone, unblinking as she looked at the caller ID, she knew the number, yes, but that person had barely ever spoken to her before, in fact, it just brushed her off every time they saw each other. The only time they'd spoken was to exchange contact numbers, and even then, that was awkward.
Breaking her focus from her mobile, she tossed it back onto her bed and padded out of the room.
Picking up the remote, she turned off the T.V, causing silence to resonate in her house. Thinking for a moment, she walked back into her room and quickly called someone she could rely on.
"Rouge? Hello?" Lucy asked timidly.
"Lucy? Something wrong?" he picked up almost instantly. She could hear loud cheering in the background and then a few curse words.
"Umm, sorry, did I call at a bad time? I- I could call later you know…" a shriek was heard and Lucy pulled the phone away from her ear to prevent potential hearing loss, "Uh… where exactly are you right now?"
"I'm at a bar." He answered simply.
"A bar?" she said incredulously, as far as she remembered, he couldn't stand bars, let alone alcohol in general. There was a loud rustling noise on the other end.
"Hey babe, what 'cha doin', talking to ma sexy man?" a slurred man's voice came over the line, Lucy could practically smell the alcohol coming from him, but that was the least of her worries.
"W-what?" was Rouge gay? Lucy thought.
"W-w-w-what?" the man on the other side taunted, she could tell he was smirking.
"I… uh, I'm sorry. I'll call back another time." She hung up and sighed heavily.
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"What did you say." Rouge asked seriously, snatching the phone back.
"Ooh, you're a feisty one, cous'. Nothing much, just a chick who may have misinterpreted what I said." The other boy shrugged and smirked sloppily, "and since when did you talk to girls? She hot?"
Rouge stood up abruptly, "I have no business here." He said coldly, "Don't drag me around next time when your brother's got problems and you two feel like getting smashed. Sting, we're 23, get yourself together."
"Aww, don't be a sooky." Sting whined, throwing an arm heavily across Rouge's shoulder, "I'm just here to have fun… loosen up a lil' and pick up a chick."
"Unlike you," he gritted his teeth, "I already have one."
"Really now? Care to share?" Sting sneakily switched Rouge's water with vodka.
"Never." He stood up and walked off, taking his drink with him.
"Sting! My best man!" his brother called him over.
"Rouge just miffed me." He slumped into a seat and pouted, "So, to cheer me up, tell me what your hottie is like. Let the wing man do his job." He nudged his brother hard in the arm.
"She's not hot." His brother slurred.
"Then why the hell you diggin' for her?!" he asked, after all, he followed after his brother; whores and more.
"Cause… she's hot?" he shrugged.
"Man, I think you're smashed as hell… we better get you home buddy, you're a goner for tomorrow morning already." He looked around for his cousin and found him in a drunken slumber at the other side of the bar, "Argh! Mother of god! Rouge was supposed to drive!" he groaned.
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Lucy couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. Ever since receiving that call the night before, she'd become paranoid.
Picking up her bag and keys, she left her home for a short walk to think. Humming lightly, she stepped out on to the street. Locking the door behind her, she walked down the street towards the park, one of her favourite places in town. On the way, se walked past the agency and she stopped to look up into the windows of the sky scraper.
Since it was in the middle of the day, the streets were filled with adults running around to grab some lunch, and Lucy was knocked around for a while. Giving up, she huffed and turned away, only to be confronted with a short, chubby man.
"Hello there!" he said cheerfully.
"I – uh… hi?" she took a small step back from the energetic man.
"I couldn't help but just notice you looking up at my agency. I'm actually scouting for new talents at the moment. Do you want to become a star?"
"S-sorry, n-no. I have no interest…" she stuttered 'His agency?' she thought confused.
"Do you know much about this agency?"
"Well, no…." she replied slowly, she hadn't really needed to know except for where particular rooms were.
"Well then, you must not know that I'm Laxus Dreyar, head of SPARKS entertainment company." He pulled out a small business card and handed it to her.
"Oh really now?" her eyebrow perked up in disbelief. Laxus Dreyar? Him? She felt a sudden rush of anger now stood to her full height, which was at least a head or so taller than the imposter.
"Oh, such a pity! I was hoping that would work since everybody knows a name like mine." He held a hand to his heart in fake pain.
"Well, sorry, I have no interest in joining a business like yours." She smirked.
"Isn't that a first then? Are you sure? It's only $10,000 for a 2 year contract deal." He placed his intertwined fingers across his protruding stomach.
"I've already said no. If you don't stop, I'll call the police." She reached toward her bag threateningly.
"Don't be silly." He snorted, "As far as I know, I've been funding the police force for a while now."
Sighing, she pulled her phone out. Those were all facts you'd find on the internet, everybody knew that. Quickly dialling a number Natsu had given to her, a small force of police that picked up SPARKS agency calls immediately, she waited for about 2 seconds before they picked up.
"H-hello?" she said as soon as a deep voice answered.
"Is something wrong up at the agency?" the man spoke with such authority Lucy almost retaliated away from her phone.
"Ah, yes… we have an imposter pretending to be the president right in front of the premises, um, yeah, he's short and fat… and running away right now." She smiled into the phone.
"On it, Miss, thanks for the update." The called disconnected and almost 10 seconds later a few men dressed in police uniforms rushed out from the building next to SPARKS'.
She stood there a moment longer, proud of her progress in not stuttering.
Noticing the crowds on the street were getting thicker, she ducked into the building and took a deep breath. She walked over to the reception and took a small plastic cup and filled it up with water. The receptionist gave her a small glare and Lucy smiled awkwardly.
Quickly downing the rest of her drink, she tossed the cup into the nearby trash can and turned around… only to be met with a sweet, angelic smile.
"It's been a while… hasn't it, Lucy?" the person held her hand up in a small wave.
The blonde's jaw dropped. The whole time, one of her friends worked here?!
"M-Mira!? You're a model at SPARKS?!" she exclaimed, wide eyed.
"Yep, I've just come back from the world fashion tour." Another sweet smile.
"I… uh… welcome back then." She tried to smile back.
"So, what are you doing in the agency?" Mira leaned forward, her gossip mode on, "Do you work here now hmm? I'm sure I would've at least been notified."
"Ah, no! Me? Famous?" she tried.
"Really now? Then why are you standing in the agency? There are security guards outside you know…" she said slyly.
Lucy sighed, Mira was just too smart, and of course she'd never be able to keep it from her.
"I'm the janitor here now." Lucy shrugged.
"Hmmm… I don't believe you." Mira tapped Lucy's nose and the smile disappeared, "Now, tell me the tr–"
She was cut off when there was a loud call.
"MIRA!" the voice came closer and soon the white haired beauty was knocked over onto the ground.
"Karen?" she exclaimed, "You're the new member of IGNITE… right?"
"Well, yeah, duh. I'm fame material!" she smiled… but it wasn't a nice one as she caught sight of Lucy standing behind the model, "And, what are you doing here?"
Lucy blinked as Mira looked at the two girls in surprise, "You two know each other?"
"Yes." Karen growled while Lucy answered with a short "No."
"Do you, or do you not?" Mira looked absolutely confused at this point.
"Actually… I lied before… I'm Karen's personal manager." Lucy cut in quickly.
"Wait, what?" Karen shouted, "You'd be fired within two seconds if you were my manager!"
"Then why am I still here?" Lucy countered.
"Oh, shut up will you! At least I'm famous!"
"Only because of me!" Lucy spilled out, furious. She hadn't even realized half the things she'd said.
"Because of you?!" Mira cut in, "Why you?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Well… that's because…" Lucy covered her mouth… realising her actions.
"Because. She's my manager… duh." Karen covered up. No way was she letting go of her fame by Lucy saying she did everything but be the cover girl.
"Oh… I see now." Mira nodded.
"Strauss!" someone called out, "we need you over here, we're about to leave for the interview."
"Coming Freed!" she called back to her manager, "Well then, best of luck. Let's catch up one day, Lucy."
As the model walked off, Karen turned to face Lucy menacingly.
"What's your connection with Mira-sama." She jabbed a finger at her.
"T-that's none of your business." Lucy back away slightly, scared of the intimidating aura.
"Well, don't talk to her." She huffed then spun on her heel to walk away, a few steps later she stopped to glare at Lucy again, "Oh and, that demon manager girl needs you for MY new single. It better be good."
"Says the girl with no musical talent whatsoever…" Lucy snorted once Karen disappeared.
Turning back to the reception, she rung the small bell which let out a small ring and the receptionist turned around in her chair to glare at her again.
"Can you call Erza Scarlet down?" she asked. The woman at the counter gave a crisp nod and looked through a small stack of papers before dialling a number.
"She'll be down in two." She told her, and then turned back to her waiting computer.
True to her word, IGNITE's manager was down in exactly two minutes.
"Lucy! Thank heavens you're here. The press have been asking for 'Karen's' next new hit single and they need it in 4 hours! I really hope you've got a song ready because we don't have much time. Jellal and the others are already here, we need to go!"
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I wanna spread my wings and fly,
Falling feathers cloud the sky,
And as my fingers run over the keys,
I say,
What's it like to be free?
I left a wish on my window sill,
Just couldn't let it go,
One thousand paper cranes,
Can you count it once more,
And I wanna know,
What's it like to be free?
And how can I believe,
That it filled the emptiness inside of me,
What's it like to be free?
I wanna spread my wings and fly,
Falling feathers cloud the sky,
And as my fingers run over the keys,
I say,
What's it like to be free?
Just help me break down these walls,
Unlock this door of the cage,
Let me dance with those cranes,
Before I dive too deep,
Because,
I wanna spread my wings and fly,
Falling feathers cloud the sky,
And as my fingers run over the keys,
I say,
What's it like to be free?
I wanna spread my wings and fly,
Falling feathers cloud the sky,
And as my fingers run over the keys,
I say – I say,
What's it like to be free?
Lucy let out a long breath and took off her headphones, looking over at Loke who gave her a thumbs up in return. With a sigh of relief, Lucy walked out of the recording studio and flopped onto the ground.
'And I went out for a walk to relieve my stress.' Lucy thought, sighing.
"That was good, Lucy." Gray commented as the rest of the band walked out of the studio.
"Thanks." She smiled and took the hand that Gray hand offered her to stand up.
"Nice lyrics… for a bunny girl like you." Gajeel smirked.
"Shut up." Lucy glared, "Not like you could write a song like that in five minutes!" she snapped.
"Sure I could." He said.
"No! Everyone, block your ears!" Natsu yelled as Gajeel took a deep breath.
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"Thanks for your hard work today!" Levy's manager called as she left her work place.
"You too! I'll see you on Tuesday!" Levy called back.
Humming happily, she walked down the road and turned onto the main street. Looking through the glass doors of her favourite entertainment company, her eyes widened as she saw her idol talking with his manager, Erza Scarlet, who was known as almost a she-devil for her menacing aura when she woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
'Wait… is that…' he eyes widened even further when a particular person turned around…
"Levy? What are you doing here?" Levy turned around to find her blonde friend standing in front of her, holding multiple take away bags.
"I- wha- Is it just me… or is that…" Levy pointed through the glass doors.
"Yeah!" Lucy nodded excitedly, "I was asked to get some food, and she said she'd bring some friends with her." She lied, the food had been for the band, but it was okay to share.
"Really, well… say hi for me hey? I have to rush home…" Levy said, actually hoping Lucy would inver her to join.
"Alright… I have to go too, they're waving me over…" Lucy answered quickly before walking into the agency.
'Lucy… you've changed…' Levy thought, watching her friend walk away. Sullenly, she continued to walk home, thoughts of losing her best friend whirling around her head.
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CHAPTER FIVE
Hiya! (Not being overly bias or anything but…)Thanks to Littlest1 – I'd like to kneel down to your review; you're right, I should focus on the story itself and then establish the bonds between each pairing. But also, thanks to everyone else for your opinions, and I'll definitely keep it in mind until the time comes. :)
AND SIGN THE FREAKIN PETITION…!