Days when they couldn't fit in their usual coffee break were the worst.

Lucy's heart shrinked at least two sizes when she read his text.

Swamped with appointments today. Won't make it to coffee time:/

She sighed, all the while trying to convince herself that her decline in mood was not bound to him exclusively. She'd miss her caffeine, too.

Yeah, right.

How much longer would she be able to kid herself?

With a smack, she dropped the bag of potting soil onto the floor, continuing to push it into the corner with her foot. With one last kick and a grim nod, her work was done. Maybe it would do her good. It was a busy day for her, too. Still…

Lucy sighed again.

Of course - she could easily get a coffee just for herself. But somehow, the thought didn't sit right with her. It had been so long since she had bought a single cup, she'd feel empty-handed doing so. And Natsu had become a part of her routine, one she did not want to miss or exclude.

This was their thing. It didn't feel the same, all alone.

She had just started preparing an order when the doorbell gave its usual jingle - and hope rose in her heart despite herself. It was around one o'clock. Maybe he had managed…?

"Lu?"

"Levy!"

When Lucy recognized the voice of her best friend, her troubles were momentarily forgotten. She wiped her hands on her apron and tried to dust off the remaining bits as she hurried into the show room.

"Thought I'd surprise you," Levy grinned, holding a cupholder with four cups of coffee as she stood there in the middle of the room. Lucy's lips almost started wobbling at the sight.

"You're the best!"

"Is Natsu not here yet? I thought he always visited you around this time?"

Lucy didn't miss the playful tease in her best friend's voice, but as usual, a sassy enough answer wouldn't come immediately. Instead, she grimaced, allowing her disappointment to show.

"He can't make it today."

"Talk about great timing. Damn! I soo wanted to see you two together."

"Dammit, Lev, I told you it's not like that! We're not teenagers anymore! Will you ever stop teasing me?"

"Of course not. It's my duty as your best friend."

Lucy rolled her eyes, but returned her grin anyways.

"Give me a sec, I'll be right with you. Just gotta finish this bouquet."

A little while later, after Levy had taken her usual spot on the counter, where she let her feet swing loosely, Lucy got the ribbons out of one of the drawers.

"Ooh! That sounds really interesting!"

"It is! I'll start the article after lunch break. I've been doing voluntary extra hours to research it some more - it's just so fun!"

Only Levy could manage to make working extra hours sound like fun. Lucy grinned.

Then again, it did sound awfully interesting. She couldn't wait to buy the next issue of National Geographic. The origins of art, cave paintings in South Africa, 100000 year-old tools made of bones - and that was just what Levy would be writing about.

"But now, the important stuff. Tell me about tattoo boy some more."

And just like that, Lucy's grin wavered.

"What's there to tell?" she asked as she peeked at her friend, wary of the impish look that had settled on her face. Her matchmaking look.

Only higher forces could save her now.

"Don't try to tell me you don't like him. You're obviously disappointed that he's not coming to see you today. And you're always gushing to me over him. Natsu here, Natsu there. Of course you have a crush! Time to stop denying it to yourself."

"But I can't!"

"You can't what? Stop denying it?"

"Leeev." The sound of her name being drawled out in that so very familiar - yet everytime skin-crawling - manner made Levy shiver and laugh at the same time. She was getting there.

"What is it then, Lucy?"

"I - I don't know!"

"Oh come on, Lu. It's the same reason you've never managed to be in a relationship with anyone for long. The longest you had was, what, a little over a year with Leo? Just admit it."

Lucy's hands had stopped working on the ribbon she had been winding around the bunch of flowers.

"Admit what?!"

"That you're scared."

"…"

"You're just really scared of people leaving you. Always been. And I know you don't wanna hear this, but Lu, you're holding yourself back."

She turned her head towards her, and Levy knew she had been spot on. Her face looked guilty, as if she had been caught. Lucy sighed, giving her a fond yet exasperated look.

"I thought best friends are supposed to agree with you, not analyze your state of mind and tear you apart better than a psychologist."

Levy chuckled.

"You know me - just being honest. You know, it's really been a while since I've seen you this happy. You're always so cheerful, having more fun than you did these last years. Just stop overthinking. You like him, don't you?"

"I do," she finally admitted. "But… I don't know if he feels the same way. He's so hard to figure out, ugh! Sometimes he'll say or do things that make me all… I don't know! I feel like a schoolgirl all over again. But then sometimes it's like he doesn't even realize I'm a woman, or something, and it's just - I don't know what I'm feeling anymore!"

"Hey, Lu?"

"Hm?"

"You're head over heels."

"Shut up," Lucy laughed, leaving her little chamber to lean against the doorframe. They smiled at each other. "My coffee turned cold, didn't it?"

"Probably."

Levy handed over the cup, and Lucy opened the lit to peek inside. Then she took a careful sip. Luke warm. With a shrug of her shoulders, she gulped half of it down.

"Good enough."

Levy jumped off the counter, her black low boots hitting the floor with an audible clank.

"Lu, I'll be heading out now, or Erza will kill me. Wanna get take-out tonight?"

"Oh god yes. I love you."

"Same." She winked. "Around seven?"