Lost and Found

notes: sorry this one is so short guys. i thought it was a good place to stop. i think there's only a couple more chapters left, maybe even just one. we'll see. this story got much longer than i expected. i originally thought it would only take about 5 chapters but look at me now. hahaha anyway enjoy! don't forget to let me know if you'd like to see my take on everyone's relationships a year after the end! my imagined epilogue, i suppose you could say

/home

"Have you heard from Natsu lately?"

I sigh at her overly innocent tone. "Levy-chan, you know I'm not in contact with him. Why do you ask every time?"

After I left Magnolia, I'd called Levy-chan and told her everything. She had been frantic but as soon as I explained everything, she'd calmed down and told me she wasn't happy about it, but she understood my reasons, even if they were shitty reasons (her words, not mine). Now, I was starting to regret telling her everything, though I know it would've happened eventually somehow.

"Just making sure you haven't forgotten him or anything."

I roll my eyes though she can't see. "Levy-chan."

"Oh wait, how could you possibly forget since you're, like, in love with him or something," she giggles and I whine at her.

"Levy-chan, stop! You're not helping me get over him!"

She sighs heavily and I know what's coming next. "Lu-chan, you didn't even give yourself a chance."

"Levy-chan—"

"And honestly, I think you really had a chance. Do you know how angry and sad he was when you left without a word? He sulked for days! He was really disappointed you didn't leave him a letter!"

"Lev—"

"He's still not back to normal! He misses you more than you know, and I know you miss him just as much."

"Levy-chan!" I snap. "Please, just...stop."

"Sorry," she whispers, sounding properly scolded and I sigh.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. It's just—I left to get over him so it really doesn't help when you talk about how much he misses me."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I just wish you hadn't left. Where did you go again?"

I giggle. "You know that's not gonna work."

She blows a raspberry on the phone dejectedly and whines, "But Lu-chan! Why won't you just tell me where you are? I promise not to tell anyone! Don't you trust me?"

"Hm...no."

"Lu-chan!"

I laugh this time. "Sorry, can't risk it." Can't risk it accidentally slipping out of her and having everyone come after me because I know they would, if given the chance.

"If I guess it right, will you tell me?"

"Nope."

"Aw come on! Maybe I'll be able to tell from your voice. Let's see...I think you'd either go really far or stay really close. Crocus? Nah, you don't like big cities...Hargeon?"

My breath catches and my heart pounds. Crap. I didn't think she'd actually guess it! "I don't know, is that it?" I tease cheerfully, keeping my voice as light and carefree as possible.

"Lu-chan..."

"I'm not gonna tell you, Levy-chan. Not yet. Okay?"

She sighs heavily. "Fine, I won't bother you about it anymore. But I better be the first one to know when you do decide to tell!"

"Alright, I promise."

It's quiet for a while. I begin cleaning up my desk, getting ready to go to my apartment—home, I correct myself. It's home now.

"Say, Lu-chan. Any chance you're gonna visit me soon? I promise I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to."

I sigh into the phone, tucking it between my shoulder and chin as I shuffle the papers on my desk into a neat pile and stuff them into my bag. "I don't know, Levy-chan..."

"Oh, come on Lu-chan, please! I miss you! Don't you wanna see me?" Her voice is pleading and I can imagine her pouting face.

I giggle. "Of course I do. I miss you too. But, I mean, I just became a teaching assistant—"

"What do you mean, 'just'? It's been like a month already!"

"—and I just don't know if I'm ready," I continue as if I hadn't been interrupted.

"Not enough incentive, huh," Levy-chan murmurs thoughtfully to herself. "Hey, I heard Lisanna was planning to confess to Natsu soon. Finally!"

My heart pangs. "Good for her. I'll have to ask her how it went."

"Wait, don't tell her I told you! I heard it from Mira, and you know how reliable she is about these things." Her voice is sarcastic. "Anyway, I should hear about the result, whatever it is, as soon as it happens, if it does. I'll let you know."

"It's fine, don't worry. I'll wait for Lisanna to tell me."

"You sure?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Okay, then don't blame me when you feel out of the loop!"

"I won't—"

"Oi, Shrimp, who're ya talkin' to?" The voice is muffled and scratchy with sleep, but very recognizable. "What're ya doin' up at this time anyway?"

"Oh my Mavis, what—" I start to squeal uncontrollably, random gibberish exiting my mouth at high frequencies.

"Gajeel, it's ten in the morning! That's not even early—Gajeel! No, stop tickling me! I'm talking to Lu-chan! Gajeel!"

There's some giggling and rustling and murmuring—are they still in bed? I wonder giddily—before Levy-chan's voice returns to the phone.

"Sorry about that, Lu-chan—"

"Oh my Mavis, Levy-chan, you didn't tell me! I asked you so many times but you didn't tell me! When did this happen? Mavis, I'm so excited for you!" I blabber into the phone, jumping around the classroom.

I can hear the embarrassment color her voice as she groans, "I didn't tell you because it just happened a few days ago—"

"Oh my, moving fast, aren't we? Only a few days and already sleeping together—"

"Lu-chan!" she screeches and I laugh. "It's not like that!"

Gajeel's voice reaches the phone again. "Hey Shrimp, get back here. Yer gonna catch a cold, sittin' around naked like that—"

I can't help it. I scream. Thankfully the school is empty.

"GAJEEL!"

Eventually, we settle down and she tells me everything. I giggle like a little girl for a little longer until she tells me that I should go back to Magnolia to celebrate with her.

"Levy-chan..."

"Fine, fine," she relents. "Oh, but see if this isn't incentive enough. Gajeel just reminded me. For the past few days, someone has been asking after you."

I blink. "Me?"

"Yeah. Well, she's been walking around flashing your picture everywhere. She has short pink hair and a really expressionless face. Doesn't talk much...oh and always in a maid uniform. But—"

"Virgo?" I gasp. She was my personal maid back at the manor. Why is she looking for me? Why now?

"Oh, you know her?" she questions, surprised. "But anyway, it's weird 'cause she kept saying you're Lucy Heartphilia. She came into the store one day and I told her that was a picture of you, Lucy Heartley, and she was like, 'No, this is Miss Lucy Heartphilia.'"

Oh, poop. I knew my lies would catch up with me sometime, though not this soon. Unless Virgo independently decided to seek me out, which I doubt, she must be acting under Father's orders. But he already disowned me; why would he be looking for me now?

"Lu-chan?"

I snap out of my daze. "Oh! Um, sorry. Um..."

"So what's all this business about Lucy Heartphilia? That's...not you, right?"

I hesitate, gulping down air. I have to tell her. I can't keep lying any longer. I can only hope she doesn't hate me for lying after I'm done. "Levy-chan, please listen to my story. Dont' say anything until I'm done. And...I hope you won't hate me."

So I tell her everything. When I'm done, I wait with bated breath for her reaction.

"Are you stupid?"

I wince. "I—I'm so sorry—"

"Why did you think I'd hate you? It's not even your fault! You were disowned so technically you weren't a Heartphilia anymore. Aren't. Whatever. You're still Lu-chan and I still love you."

Tears prick my eyes. I choke down a sob. "Thank you, Levy-chan. I-I was so worried you guys would find out and hate me for lying to you. I just—it wasn't something I wanted to broadcast or talk about so I just—"

"It's okay, Lu-chan, I understand," she says firmly. "And knowing the truth doesn't make me trust you any less because I know you didn't lie for the sake of lying. It's okay. But what are you gonna do about Virgo?"

"I...I don't know. I can only think that my father told her to look for me, but I can't fathom why. I guess...I guess I have to go back and see."

She whoops, then quickly apologizes. "Sorry, but I'm just so excited to see you for the first time in I don't know how many months!"

I laugh. "Don't worry, I can't wait to see you too. But please don't tell anyone else I'm coming? Please? Just...not yet."

"Of course, whatever you want."

We talk a bit more before hanging up and I hurry back to my apartment—home—in order to pack. I quickly work out the details with the school, telling them it's a family emergency, and manage to book a flight for the next day. Then I settle down to sleep.

At two in the morning, I'm still wide awake.

I can't stop thinking about Natsu, and Lisanna, and Natsu and Lisanna. I want to see them; I don't want to see them. Will it still hurt? Just thinking about him still prompts a dull pain in my chest; seeing him in person definitely won't be any better. I'm not over him nearly enough to see him again. Seeing Lisanna will hurt too, I know it will. But I do hope she confessed, and that he accepted. That should make moving on easier, right?

I'll just have to avoid the two of them. As long as Levy-chan doesn't spill, and I know she won't, I'll be fine. In and out, in and out. No one else will have to know.

© Copyright 2015 by The Siege