Lucy sat at the picnic tables outside again. But this time by herself. Solitude was great for creativity. Plus she needed time away sometimes. It all got so suffocating.

Taking a deep breath she took in the area. The outside of the school wasn't too flashy. Hell. They're lucky they have green grass. Let alone flowers like some of the other schools

"So you're painting this time?"

She looked up. Natsu stood there with his arms behind his head. "Yeah." she answered and looked at her little set up. She bought a small watercolour traveling set a month ago. She figured it was time to try it at school.

"I wanted to use some colour this time. So.. I brought these watercolours." she smiled as he stared at the paints. It all amused him. "Can I watch?" he asked as he sat down in front of her. "Uh.. Sure." she answered.

"I'm not sure if it'll be great or anything." she told him before getting started. He shook his head in disagreement. "Your art is amazing." he told her, when she looked at him a smiled played on his lips.

Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. "Really?" she smiled "thanks.." she clasped her hands together. "And thanks for the dragon." he thanked and grinned at her making her chest tighten. "It's amazing. How could you draw like that?" he asked her as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Self taught mostly. My mom used to paint. I.. Probably got my talents from her."

When she was done talking there was a silence between them. She breathed in again before breathing out. When she calmed down completely she started to sketch out what she was going to paint.

Flowers would be nice. Flowers reminded her of her mom. A smile played on her face as it started to come together as she sketched.

Natsu noticed her small smile. He watched as her hands moved. The way she smiled was different from the one she usually gives though. The smile was almost like pure joy. It made his heart go a bit faster.

"You must really enjoy art." he commented. She stopped and looked at him. "Um.. I… I guess." she said as she put a stray hair behind her ear.

Finally she started to mix the colours now. Trying to get the right purples. Dipping her brush in the water then to the paint she started to make brush strokes.

Water colours are tricky. Too much water and it'll bleed or make the color fade. Too much paint and it'll show the hairs on the brush. And also be too bold of a colour which might ruin the picture.

Natsu watched as Lucy carefully made soft strokes. Making sure she didn't go too far. She dipped into the paint again.

Natsu could see why she liked art. It was calming. Soothing. And you created something beautiful with your hands. He wished for her talents.

Lucy felt her hand shaking, she took a deep breath. And continued.

When it was done Natsu wasn't even surprised it was amazing.

It was a scenery. Grass and flowers filled the picture. The flowers you could tell were tulips, and they were a lovely shade of violet. And the sky a baby blue.

She handed it to him. He grabbed it and stared at it even more. Again, like with the dragon picture he took in every little detail. From the inside of the flowers to each little strand of grass.

"Keep it." she said as she cleaned off her brushes. He looked at her surprised. "Seriously?" he asked her. "Yep." she smiled softly. "Thanks." he started to fold it. "Ah!" she snatched it away from him.

"What are you doing?" she asked him as she smoothed it out. "If you want it to stay good then you can't fold it! It'll make cracks in the paint!" he stifled a laugh as she frantically tried to smooth it out. "O-Okay" he said as he snorted.

"I'm serious Natsu." she sighed. "I can keep it if you want." she said as she started to pack away her supplies. "No. It's fine." she handed it to him again. She stared intently to make sure he didn't try to fold it.

Natsu put it beside him. He smirked at her. She jumped and looked down again. His smirk was a little too intimidating for Lucy.

He started to laugh at her. "You're so easy to fluster Lucy." she sighed again before putting a hand on her forehead. "Sorry." she apologised. "No need to apologise Luce." he got up and grabbed the paper. "I gotta go." she clasped her hands together again.

"Oh yeah. Luce?"

She looked up at him. "I really do think you should be confident with your art. And your self. People need to see your beauty."

He walked away. Lucy felt her entire face go to a burning hot, so did her ears. And her heart started to race.

She had beauty?

Lucy sat down at the couch with Levy and Gajeel. She was wedged between them. Lucy felt as if she was getting in the way of them. But Levy of course was spooning her arm. Giving her relief.

Lucy had the same words stuck on her mind all day.

"I really do think you should be confident with your art. And your self. People need to see your beauty."

Her ears still go red at the thought. Oh god.

"Lu you okay?" Levy asked her as her brown eyes looked at her. She smiled "Uh..Yeah" levy raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me." she said as Gajeel paused the movie. "What?" Lucy asked confused as the two stared at her. "C'mon bunny we're your friends." Gajeel looked at her as she shifted around. "Well.. I.. I guess since you guys are my best friends."

She sighed. "Well first of all it's Natsu." she stopped as Gajeel groaned and threw his head back whilst Levy smiled and leaned in.

"Bunny you shouldn't get involved with him. He's a jackass."

"Ooh I knew it was Natsu!"

She groaned too and put her head in her hands. "I knew I shouldn't have said anything" she shook her head. "Just tell us." Gajeel sighed.

"I really do think you should be confident with your art. And your self. People need to see your beauty."

"I'll just say this... He.. Said I have beauty."

The two just looked at each other before looking at her. Gajeel crossed his arms. "So he called you beautiful?" he asked her before getting a no. "He said I should be more… confident with myself. And my art. For people to see my... beauty?" she squeezed her own hand.

"I agree with him on this one." Levy nodded and smiled. "What?" she asked. "It's true! You never show any one your art yet when I see it, it deserves to be in an art gallery."

Lucy hid her face with her hands. Her neck going red. "I just.. don't get it though." she mumbled behind her hands.

"Don't get what?"

"I just… don't think I have beauty."

"Bunny. You realise you do have beauty."

"Yeah! Like Natsu said, in your art and yourself."

Lucy sighed and put her hands down. "Thanks guys.." she smiled. "No problem lu." levy giggled and started to spoon her arm again. Gajeel sighed and leaned back. They pressed play on the movie, and didn't say a word.

Later on when they were watching the movie again, she still thought about his and their words.

How come people saw the beauty in her when she couldn't see it for herself?

"Alright class. Before we head inside just no flash photography. Phones would be alright, just take the flash off. And also absolutely NO touching anything."

The bus finally stopped and everyone got in a line to get off the bus. Lucy stood up and waited for an opening in the line.

"Luce." Natsu said as he stood in line and held a spot open for her. She smiled "Thank you." she squeezed in front of him.

Natsu felt her back on him. And she smelt of vanilla. Lucy felt nervous as Natsu stood towering over her. She could feel his breath on her neck sending chills all over her body. Her shoulders tensed.

Finally the line started to move and the two got off the bus. A huge gust of wind hit Lucy and sent her hair flying. "Oh geez" she said as she held her hair down. He grinned "Come on." he lead her inside.

When they entered the gallery it was huge. Everyone gasped at the sight. Lucy couldn't help but gasp too. And at the entrance a sculpture of Zeus was there made of lego's. The guys of course stood there and gawked at it.

"Hello everyone! So today we'll be seeing some pieces of Greek art. But before we do I want everyone to gather in this room."

A small young woman smiled and pointed towards the room. Everyone started to flood into it. "Coats and jackets to the side room over there." she pointed to another room. Lucy and Natsu stood close to each other and headed into the room where everyone was.

The room was a yellow with pictures of the Greek gods. From Zeus to Hestia. Lucy felt her little heart dancing in her chest as she tried hiding her excitement.

They all sat down. The woman came back and smiled as she stood in front of everyone. "Alright who know's about Greek mythology?" she asked. Everyone went quiet. Lucy noticed and put up her hand slowly.

"So you do? Can you name any of the Gods and Goddesses?"

"Um.. Yeah there's Poseidon god of the sea, Hera the Goddess of marriage, and even a god for wine Dionysus."

"Great! Just so you guys know there are a lot of them. But anyways let's get started on the tour shall we?"

Later on they were put into group. Girls and Boys so Natsu and Lucy were separated. They were all given a pad and pieces of printer paper with a pencil. Lucy grabbed a handful of the paper and attached it to her pad.

"The assignment as we go along is to sketch as much things as you can. There will be a lot so take your time."

Lucy squealed. Natsu smiled. "Of course you're happy." he nudged her. She laughed and clutched her pencil. Soon the two groups left on their ways. The boys group were lead by a small old man, who Lucy liked since he was nice.

They showed them a family tree of the Gods and Goddesses. And a huge foot of a broken statue from thousands of years ago. It was weird since it shimmered gold. Lucy still enjoyed it though.

They got to a second room. That room was connected to 2 other rooms that didn't have doors. The doors were replaced by a huge hallway, the rooms were open,and they didn't have roofs so you could see the huge buildings roof top.

The room had those white sculptures. And even the real columns.

They were all assigned to draw a picture of them. Either just a jewel or the whole thing. The lady gave facts as they drew.

Lucy drew the Goddess Aphrodite, Goddess of love. She figured it would be nice since everyone else was drawing the other sculptures.

They gathered again as they were done. "Everyone put your pads down and walk in a circle going clockwise."

When they started to walk they looked at each picture. Some of them half finished or not even done. Some finished and they looked amazing.

"Woah look at Lucy's" one of the girls said as the girls gathered around hers.

"You're lucky you can draw like that Lucy"

"It look's real!"

"Omg that's awesome."

She blushed and gave a half smile. "Thanks. All of your drawings look pretty cool too."

They headed off to the other room. In which had pottery next. They started to draw again. And again the lady told of the tales of the pottery and what they meant.

"Oh it looks like we found the girls group" The old man chaperone chuckled.

Lucy looked up and seen the guys group, as they headed into the room of sculptures. Lucy continued to draw as the guys group passed by.

Natsu tried to wave at Lucy. But he just smiled and watched as she was in the zone, concentrated as she stood in front of the pottery. Natsu just smiled again before heading off with the rest of the group.

"You draw very nicely."

Lucy looked up once someone started to talk to her. She held her breath as she realised who it was.

Lisanna Strauss.

Ugh. I just want to curl up in bed.

Please review and enjoy