Hey I'm back in black! (Not cool, but anyway)
To the Anon guest reviewer who asked if I'll be finishing this story; YES! I will finish this story. I mean, I have the whole plot and even half of the last chapter already written! Oh, and I update every 2-4 weeks, because I love writing, but I'm also lazy and take ages to update!
P.S I'm trying to add in more romance, but usually when I write… romance comes slow… xD
Not the best chapter, but I still hope you like it.
Also, when people Natsu and 'Karen' (ahem Lucy) sing together now it goes like:
Lucy singing
Natsu singing
Both singing
So yeah, enjoy this chapter! ^_^
(OOC Wendy warning)
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"Oi, you two!" a gruff voice shouted. Lucy and Wendy froze.
Two and a half hours ago, Erza had agreed to let Wendy come, as long as Wendy promised not to tell anyone about Karen and Lucy. Wendy, being the sweet girl she is, promised to cross her heart, hoped to die, stick a needle in her eye, if she ever told anyone.
"What are you two doing out here? If you're paparazzi then shoo! This is a private party. VIP invitations only!" The man stepped out from the shadows and revealed the typical pot-bellied security guard.
"Ah… no… um, you see…" Lucy struggled to find the right excuse for being caught. Erza would be mad if she didn't turn up at the back doors in less than a minute! "We forgot our invitations?"
The man raised an eyebrow and pulled out a clipboard, "What're your names then, hmm?" he started flicking through the pages, scanning for names that hadn't yet been ticked off.
"We're stylists. Karen from IGNITE's to be precise. She had a little accident and called us over here." Wendy held up her mobile phone for good measure.
Thank Mavis for her quick thinking.
"K-Karen? Y-You don't mean Karen Lillica… do you?" the man's eyes widened as he stuttered.
"Uh, yes! If something happens to Karen and her clothes, we won't forgive ourselves!" Lucy almost gagged at what she was saying.
"D-Do you think you could get her autograph?" he asked hopefully, "She has an amazing voice."
"Well, that all depends. If you let us in." Lucy sighed dramatically as Wendy eyed her, seeing if there was any reaction from the man's statement.
"A-ah! Of course! Anything for anyone who knows Karen!" The man saluted as he moved out of the doorway and Lucy dragged Wendy through.
Once inside, Lucy fished her phone out of her pocket to call the scarlet haired woman.
"Erza! We're at the front; we don't know how to get to the main hall. The guard caught us but we made it through." The blond whispered breathlessly as she flashed a broad smile to a waiter walking past. At least the two were in formal wear… although Lucy had to rip off some of Wendy's frills to their dismay. Otherwise Wendy wouldn't have fit in too well. Both had redone their hair differently as well.
"Wait there, we have to perform in ten minutes! So make sure you're hydrated." Erza's strict voice spoke and then the connection was cut.
The two took their time to regain their breath and they heard footsteps coming toward them. Of course, it was Erza and she led the two to the backstage area.
"Lucy, take this microphone. You know the song." The said device was pushed into Lucy's hands as she stood behind the stage nervously.
"And Wendy, hi I'm Erza. It's nice meeting you, but I have a performance to run. And it would be nice if you kept quiet." Erza said rudely since she was in a hurry and walked briskly away.
Lucy covered the microphone with her hand. "Don't worry about her, she's nicer than she seems." She reassured the nervous looking Wendy.
The two stood in silence as a muffled shout was heard.
"And now, let's give a round of applause to IGNITE, who have helped us with a lot of the music for 'Retreat'." Kagura announced and walked off the stage as the band came on to set up.
A few strums of a guitar were heard and a small beat on the drums was played.
After a while Lucy heard Gajeel count in and the music blasted from each instrument.
Holding the microphone up to her mouth, she quickly checked to make sure it was turned on properly and started singing.
Hey, girl, there was something on my mind,
I don't know but it just didn't feel right,
I couldn't bring myself to deny,
Couldn't wash away, all that doubt
Find my way back home,
Feeling like I'm being followed, yeah,
On the other side of town,
You face reality!
To retreat…
All the way back to my past,
Retreat…
Wash away all the pain,
RETREAT…
I was homebound yesterday,
Say, say, hey, did I get it right?
Know things might, not go plan
Didn't know what you were thinking,
How could you get it so wrong?
Find my way back home,
Don't you dare forget,
I wish I were so strong,
So I could hold you close!
To retreat…
All the way back to my past,
Retreat…
Wash away all the pain,
RETREAT…
I was homebound yesterday,
Run away, go back, which way do I turn?
I can't help, but feel like, you wanna watch me burn,
Fist fighting, can't hide it, I know it hurts,
And because, you left me, all alone,
Turn away and retreat! (RETREAT)
Retreat…
All the way back to my past
Retreat…
Faster than I ever have,
Retreat…
Wash away all the pain,
'Cause we were homebound yesterday
Lucy sighed as the song finished. Sadly, it wasn't over for her, she hoped she'd kept up with Karen's lip syncing on the other side of the curtain. But it seemed to be okay for that moment as there was loud cheering vibrating through the hall.
Erza's head popped around the corner and she gave Lucy thumbs up. Lucy nodded thankfully in relief and Wendy just stood there, staring at Lucy wide-eyed.
She quickly turned off the microphone and clutched it tightly, breathing heavily as she finally regained herself.
"So how do you feel?" Wendy asked, worried. Lucy was quite deathly pale and she was sweating a lot.
"I-I'm fine… a little stage fright." Lucy waved her hand sloppily.
"You weren't even on stage though…" Wendy said softly.
"It's okay… I'll be fine after some water." Lucy mustered up a smile.
"Sure?"
"Sure."
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"Oi, Wendy? What do you want on your pancakes?" Lucy called from the kitchen. She'd already made a stack of pancakes, which were resting on the table and were 'blowing off some steam'. She had all types of fruits, syrups and spreads were scattered across the bench, waiting to be dumped alongside a vanilla pancake.
"It's okay, I'll fix it up myself." Wendy walked into the dining area and sat on a chair.
Reaching over to grab a pancake and place it on her empty plate. Looking up cheekily, she popped the question she'd been meaning to ask for a while.
"So, Lucy, who are you going out with? Laxus? Sting? Or is it Rouge?" she asked, sweet but innocent.
"What?!" Lucy spat out her milkshake, "NO! Where did you come up with that idea?!" she said, horrified.
"Well, I just think either of them with you could make a good couple." Wendy shrugged, "Besides, you were talking to all of them at the wedding."
"Jeez, you remind me too much of a particular someone right now…" Lucy slumped forward, groaning.
"Oh, hey, that reminds me. I heard Mira was back in town! She's so amazing! Did you know she made a blog about matchmaking and stuff? It's so cool!" Wendy suddenly gushed and Lucy sweat dropped. She really didn't need a mini-Mira right now.
Her phone buzzed and Lucy quickly checked the message.
"Wendy, I've gotta go. You should be fine for an hour or so right? If not, call me. You know my number." Lucy said hurriedly, she scraped her chair back and grabbed her bag. Slamming the door closed, Wendy looked at Lucy's uneaten pancake sullenly. It wasn't like she was five. She could stay at SPARK's agency without making a fuss.
What Wendy didn't know, though, was that, the message Lucy received was no work call.
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"So, I didn't know it was Blondie you liked." Sting leant back on the couch in Laxus' office and fiddled with the Rubix cube.
"Does that really matter?" Laxus grunted, continuing to fill out some paper work.
"Yeah, well. If you told me sooner, maybe…" Sting trailed off, as if he was unsure to whether or not her should really be speaking.
Laxus' head shot up, "Maybe what?"
"Anyway, how do you even know her? I've never heard of her name from this agency before." Sting continued as if nothing had happened.
"That's non e of your business… and why are you avoiding the question?" Laxus eyed his brother.
"Never mind. I'm going for a walk." Sting sighed and walked out of the room.
It felt like years to Sting before he finally hit the ground floor, the elevator music ringing in his ears as he walked out of the agency. It had been playing a recent hit for a popular T.V show that had recently been released.
In Sting's point of view, the song was good, but one of the voices was all too familiar… just where had he heard it from.
"Whoa." He mumbled as someone bumped into him forcefully. Instead of pausing to apologise, the person kept running, shoving its way through the street.
Blonde hair.
Was that… Lucy?
Sting finally jumped to his sense and started chasing after her like a maniac. Adrenaline rushed through his body as he kept closing the space between them. He had no idea where she was heading, but he'd finally figured out that the person, was, in fact Lucy. Because when she turned the corner, he'd caught a glimpse of her eyes, which were glossed over with tears.
"LUCY!" He skidded to a stop and grabbed her arm, causing her to fall into step with him as well.
She turned to him in surprise, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Blondie, tell me. What's wrong?" he asked breathlessly.
"I'm okay… I'm okay." She gulped, repeating the same sentence, trying to convince herself rather than Sting. Failing, she burst into more tears as Sting pulled her body towards his in a comforting hug.
"Shh… What's wrong?" He stroked her hair and soothed her.
"L-L… She's…" Lucy kept hiccupping.
"L who?" he asked, "L who?"
"Levy." She finally breathed out, her warm breath making the skin under his shirt tingle.
"What's wrong with Levy?" he fought the urge to blush at her actions and be serious for once.
"S-she's in hospital. I've got to go!" she sniffled, snot (unfortunately, but he really didn't care) dripping down his shirt.
"I'll take you there…" he offered, looking into her eye's softly.
She looked hesitant for moments before giving a slight nod of her head.
He wrapped his fingers around Lucy's smaller, softer hand and started walking.
"Magnolia Hospital right?" he checked just to make sure.
A dishevelled Lucy nodded again.
Taking purposeful strides, the two walked there in silence to meet Lucy's best friend.
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A scarlet haired woman sighed as she set her phone down once again. She'd been meaning to call Lucy to thank her again, but the blonde hadn't picked up.
"Hey Erza." Jellal called to his girlfriend.
"Hey." The said woman walked over and plonked herself down on the couch, sighing.
"Something up?" the blue haired man asked.
"Lucy, she won't pick up her phone."
"Maybe she's sick."
"Possibly." Erza nodded.
The door opened and the rest of the band walked in, chattering about nonsense, Karen leading, but not contributing to the conversation. Just checking her new nail design as per usual.
"Yo!" Natsu stopped talking and greeted the couple on the couch with a small wave.
"Great." Erza put on her strict face and got straight into business, "Are you guys ready for meet and greet?"
"Gihi, when are we never?" Gajeel grinned.
Gray smiled in gesture as 'let's do this', and Natsu did his usual jumpy, fist pump routine. In that moment, Erza hid her worries for her blonde friend. IGNITE didn't need to know. They had to be happy and smile for their fans. Now wasn't the time.
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The hospital smelt of disgusting cleaning products and walls of off-white exploded in their faces as Lucy and Sting waked through the doors.
Nurses and doctors ran around everywhere and the receptionists were either on the phone or typing furiously away on the computer.
"Excuse me." Sting walked up to the counter, seeing as Lucy seemed unable to speak at that moment due to nervousness.
"One moment." The receptionist mouthed at the two.
They stood there awkwardly for a few minutes before the woman turned back to them.
"How can I help you?" she sent a very noticeable wink towards Sting, and Lucy felt a little flutter of jealousy in her heart.
Sting grimaced slightly and shook the thought of kissing Lucy right then and there just to get the receptionist (way too old for him) to bug off, away.
"I'm looking for Levy McGarden. She was sent here…" Lucy gulped, "early this morning."
Raising an eyebrow at Lucy, the woman turned to her computer and quickly searched up Levy's name.
"Room 237. Ward 1." She said bluntly then flashed a smile to Sting as they politely thanked her and left.
Lucy gripped Stings hand tightly as they slowly, patronizingly walked towards Levy's room.
Pushing open the door slowly, the first thing that Lucy heard was the sound of beeping.
A pale yet lifeless body lay there, chords and wires protruding out of her.
Letting go of Sting, he almost whined at the loss of warmth as Lucy ran toward her best friend.
"W-What happened…?" Sting was almost afraid to ask.
"She had an asthma attack. They called me because Levy doesn't have any family in the area." Lucy looked down sadly, "I haven't spoken to Levy in a long time… it's my fault I wasn't there to call the hospital straight away."
"But who's blaming you? Has anyone come up to you and said 'It's your fault Levy is in hospital'?" Sting asked, furious of how much Lucy belittled herself.
"I-I don't know… but I feel so bad!" Lucy cried even more if it was possible.
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A large van pulled up to the premises and immediately, everybody crowded around it.
"KYAAAA! It's IGNITE!" all the screaming girls pushed to the front as a few men stumbled back.
"Hey! Don't push in! We've been lining up for hours!"
"First in, best dressed!" the female population all screamed back at the boys.
There was a loud sound of static coming for the front and Erza stood there, holding up a megaphone.
"Welcome to IGNITE's meet and greet. Please line up in an orderly manner. Shake your idol's hand, ask for an autograph. But that is it! NO PUSHING OR SHOVING THANK YOU!" Erza screamed. All the fans looked at her nervously for a few seconds, but then turned back into love struck fans when the five members of IGNITE walked in and took their seats.
Natsu looked positively excited – his usual goofy grin on his face. He had a new marker in hand. One that was sure to run out in the space of the next few hours. Next to him, Jellal and Gajeel sat back in their chairs, putting on a smiling front for their fans.
Gray took the seat next to Karen – unfortunately. He greeted his fans nicely but was secretly pissed off at the fact Karen wasn't doing her job properly. She spent extra time on particular fans, flirting with them, taking their cell phone numbers… whatever.
The band had grown used to this girl's antics, but they were often annoyed at the fact she never did her job properly. Especially when she technically only did half of the work they did. She had yet to even write a song even though she couldn't sing it. Yes, that was Lucy's job… but it wouldn't hurt once in a while. It proved the fact that she was quite talentless in the music industry.
It would be a realistic dream for her to be fired.
The five continued to shake hands and give out autographs for the next few hours, they received quite a few gifts , mostly handmade chocolates – even though it wasn't anywhere near Valentine's Day.
Back in the limousine, they all feasted on chocolates, while Karen exclaimed that eating the sugary sweet would make her fat. So, instead, Natsu took the opportunity to eat it all.
Erza was busy typing away at her laptop, frowning considerably and the others couldn't help but feel that something was definitely up.
"Hey, Erza… want some strawberry shortcake?" Gray tried.
"Not now." She grumbled. IGNITE sat there in a shocked silence. Did Erza Scarlet, Titania of all Managers. A Manager that everyone wanted – wished for even. Just turn down her all time go-on-a-rampage-if-not-given-any strawberry cake?
"Are… you sure?" Jellal looked at his girlfriend.
"Mhmm." She nodded to emphasize.
"Erza what's wron – "
"OH MY GOD!" Karen screamed, causing them to all wince, "I just broke a NAIL. Quick someone give me my phone. I need to book an appointment."
"Anyway Erza, really, what's bothering you?" Jellal said again, the rest ignoring Karen. Erza was much more important in this moment of time.
"Lucy… she just sent me a message saying she won't be able to work for some time." Erza looked worried.
"Then what about songs?" Natsu suddenly fretted.
"Gihi, of course, there's always my songs." Gajeel smirked.
"Uh… no." Gray immediately shunned the suggestion.
"Tch. No one ever asked you."
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CHAPTER SEVEN XD