A/N: The month of June had been pretty exciting—I went to NY for my sister's wedding (I was the maid of honor ^^) and short vacation. It was lovely, and I met a lot of new people! Anyway, I should have been back the 24th, but thunderstorms in my hometown delayed my leave till the 28th. The reason this chapter took so long was because I have a busy work schedule; also, those of you who received an alert for a new chapter yesterday, I'm sorry I had to take the chapter off because the system was down and a scene got cut (I had to edit/revise it). But yeah, excuses are only excuses...
A small disclaimer for OHSHC episode 15 and Maid-sama! episode 8 because some of the ideas in this chapter is inspired by them. Thank you reviewers and guest reviewers for leaving these nice comments! Please, enjoy this chapter and I would love it if you all continue to support Decoding! *O*
Decoding
Laxus Dreyar was entirely too many things: too hot, too rich, too manipulating. And he has his sights set out for a certain, unsuspecting Heartfillia.
Chapter Three
Some Kind of Compromise
"Perfect."
Lucy nodded approvingly at her reflection in the small body mirror. Her blond hair fell past her shoulders like two silk curtains, a cute star-ornamented hairband served to hold a handful of hair into a side ponytail. Taking a step back, Lucy admired the pristine Fairy Tail uniform.
The red blazer was customized to fit her body—not too tight, but certainly not too loose (she idly wondered how the school got her body measurements down with such precision). The Fairy Tail logo was stitched on the right chest, indicating that she was officially part of the prestigious school. Instead of the black slacks male students wore, the female uniform had red and black plaid skirts that rested mid-thigh. The material was so soft, like velvet.
She looked just like any other girl in high school, saved for the fact that her uniform reeked of rich people elegance and, she wouldn't doubt, cost ten times more. In fact, the cost of the uniform alone would probably have left a nice sized dent in her savings if the scholar program didn't offer to pay for it.
It really was heaven-sent; Fairy Tail was known for being a school only for the higher society, up until two years ago when Headmaster Makarov tossed the intelligent, hard working bunch of "commoners" the scholar-funding program.
Lucy smiled with serenity. That was the primary reason she decided to go there. Because she knew she was capable. It really was no surprise she got in, and she should have no problem with it staying that way just as long as she keeps up her 4.0 GPA.
"What's with the smile, Luce? Ye look creepy."
Lucy jumped, startled at the intruding snicker behind her. A pink and blue blob peeked out from the corner of her mirror, realization making her eyebrows knit closely together in anger.
"Natsu!" she threw the closest thing around her—a hairbrush. "What did I tell you about coming into my apartment unannounced? At least use the door!" she chastised, flailing her arms at the opened window. An eye twitched irritably when her salmon haired friend paid no mind to her reprimands; instead he continued to scratch his long time companion's back with a goofy grin etched on his face.
He even had the nerve to lie leisurely on her bed! It was a wonder how he didn't get caught by her strict, no-nonsense landlady, with his record of breaking into her apartment at least twice a week—and she lived on the second floor! What was he, a salamander?
"Awe, you're too uptight! Ain't she, Happy?" Natsu asked the blue cat. Happy meowed in return, like he agreed wholeheartedly to what his owner said.
Lucy rolled her eyes. She became friends with the goofball shortly after she ran away from her high status life—he was the one who accepted her with an open heart and helped her settle down. In one year, they became inseparable. He was never too shy to show up in her apartment unannounced, sometimes even barging in while she was bathing. But that was Natsu Dragneel—annoying, loud, stupid at times—and she still loved the boy to death.
"What are you and Happy doing here anyway? You're going to be late for school." As if Natsu was ever on time, anyway. "And you're going to make me late on my first day."
"I came to wish you good luck!" Natsu smiled genuinely. Of course he was sad that his best friend was leaving, but she was happy with her decision and he will support her. He cracked his knuckles with a playful fire in his eyes, "If any of these stuck up rich jerks bully you, tell me! I'll be sure to blast them-"
He never got to finish as Lucy pulled him into a warm, thankful hug. Happy purred.
. . .
"Did you know that Laxus Dreyar is actually Headmaster Makarov's grandson? He's the next heir to the infamous Dreyar Corps!"
"Dreyar...Corps?"
"Yeah! By the way, where did you go last night? I thought you were with the President so I tailed him when he slipped back into the ballroom. You would not believe what I saw though; it looked like somebody bumped into him or something because the front side of his shirt was wet...and he did not look too happy. That weird twisted scowl was enough to scare me home."
"Wait, Levy, we are talking about the student body president, right? He's the heir to the Dreyar Corps?"
"Mhmm, that's what I said."
"Awe, crap."
. . .
The first week had been relatively peaceful, much to Lucy's relief. The teachers were indifferent about having scholars, and the students―the nicer ones―were friendly enough to strike up a conversation here and there. And aside from the occasionally whispers and chatter about her in the halls, Lucy really has been enjoying Fairy Tail.
Now second week in, she continued to avoid the president for obvious reasons, though he made no sign of appearance or want for communication―not that Lucy was complaining. She found out that he was a grade ahead of her, so there was a slim change to none of crossing paths. She also taken up avoiding any questions people threw at her about her past or family. She would, of course, tell stories about her mom with endearment, but ever once mentioned her estranged father. Whatever the case, she just didn't want anyone to find out or bring up her relation to the Heartfilla Konzern.
"Lu-chan!"
Said blond turned around; it was Levy, a couple feet away, waving happily.
"Levy-chan!" Lucy called, lips pulling up into a big smile. They always walked to the cafeteria together. "How's it going?"
Before the petite girl could answer, a commotion from the far side the of hall cut her off. Two guys were racing to get to them.
"Levy-chan~! Wait for us!"
Lucy raised an eyebrow, "Who are they?"
Levy visibly sweatdropped, shoulders sagging comically. "That's Jet and Droy. Today is the first day I actually talked to them... and um, they've been following me ever since," she explained briefly.
One had wild orange hair spiking in all different directions, sharp eyes and nose. The latter looked like he liked to enjoy the sun more than his friend, as shown with his tan skin. He had jet black hair and a few cowlicks on the crown of his head, forming the shape of small a whale tail. Without the obvious smitten expression of both their faces, they could have passed for the "bad boy" type.
The blond of the duo cracked up at the sight of two gentlemen hunched together in front of them, out of breath, and giving her bluentte friend the googly eyes. "Hey, why don't you guys come eat with us? If you want, I mean."
They nodded vigorously, following behind the girls like two lost puppies.
They sat at a vacant table near the windows that replaced walls; it had the perfect view of the court yard with sakura trees in bloom for the season. Not a whole lot of the students ate at the cafeteria, since most of them opt to leave school grounds and dine out. Why, Lucy didn't understand because anything they served at this school would be considered gourmet.
For Lucy and Levy, having a taste of the school's lunch was out of the question. They simply don't have the money to buy gourmet food everyday. So, homemade bentos were the next best thing.
It took less than twenty minutes for Levy to become best buddies with Jet and Droy. Lucy was happy for her friend; they were goofy, generous (the guys offered them some of their mouth watering food, hell yeah!), and surprisingly not a couple of snobs.
"Is this caviar I'm eating?" Levy gushed; she has never had the opportunity to taste them before.
"Yes, McGarden-san, it is."
"Wah―Vice President Freed!"
Freed inclined his head slightly to acknowledge the group as a red blush painted across Levy's face when she realized who answered her question. When it came to rich, powerful people, she was preservative and shy. The Vice President then trained his eyes on the blond.
"Sorry for interrupting," he apologized. His face was stoic as ever―he wasn't sorry at all. "Heartfilla-san, please come with me."
Lucy furrowed her brows, "What for?"
"I do not know, but I believe it is nothing bad."
Well, it wasn't as if she could decline. Lucy stood and waved goodbye to Levy and her new friends, then followed Freed out of the cafeteria.
There were very few students in the hallway, and the walk was in painful silence. If someone were to drop a pin on the floor, she would surely be able to hear it. Walking besides the stoic young man, her mind wandered to the Vice President's face. He was very handsome, if a bit feminine. He had long, luscious hair that would make many girls jealous, and by the way it glossed over with such a healthy shine, Lucy was tempted to ask what brand of hair product he used.
"Soooo," He was too quiet, and for someone who liked crowds and loud noises, Lucy couldn't stand the silence. She'll even talk to herself if she had to. "How long have you been Vice President?"
"During my first year, with Laxus," he said.
"Oh. Is it fun?"
"It's enjoyable."
"Ahhh," Lucy stopped there. He left no room for conversation.
"We are here."
He stopped in front of a wide mahogany door and nodded at Lucy as he pushed them open. Lucy walked in, not paying attention to the sign outside. It looked like a conference room and she wondered if she was meeting with the headmaster. She never actually seen Headmaster Makarov before, only in pictures and that obnoxious sculpture in the middle of the court yard. It was told that the little old man liked to express himself, and that included stone carvings of him with a clown suit.
Freed opened the door for her, noting that there was ample sunlight lighting up the room this time before letting her in and stepping out with the door closing behind him. Lucy was about to object when another voice cut her off.
"We meet again, Lucy Heartfilla." Laxus could see the surprise in the female's eyes when he presented himself. He wouldn't put it past him that Freed didn't tell her what this was about; she clearly looked perplexed and annoyed now to see that she was meeting with him. The sharp rise and fall of her chest indicated that she was trying to take a couple deep breaths to calm herself down. She was evidently still ruffled about their previous encounter.
It was all the more fun for him.
"Laxus Dreyar," she gritted out bitterly. If he's bringing me in for ruining his shirt, he has another one coming.
Said male smiled; it was small and malicious. "Let's talk."
"I have nothing to talk about with you,"Lucy said. "I'm leaving."
"Then you will be expelled on the spot, I'm afraid."
Lucy furrowed her brows. He was only the student body president, even if he was the headmaster's grandson, he didn't have the power to expel a student. "You wouldn't be able to."
"You'll be surprised on all the things I know about you, Lucy-san. It will be more than enough to request your expulsion for one reason or another," Lucy noticed that his eyes were positively gleaming blue today. "One - giving the school board false information. You forgot to mention that you're the heiress of the Heartfilla Konzern."
"You've been keeping tabs on me?! That's violating my personal privacy!"
"I wouldn't say that," he was grinning; it made her hate his guts. "You ran away, then lied so you could be enrolled in the scholarship program." Laxus smirked at the disbelief and sudden anger that flashed across the busty female's face. Lucy bit her bottom lip, trying hard not so lash out at the knowing arrogance he was displaying.
"You know you can't kick me out for that, besides, I chose to not associate with that man any more; I am no heiress."
"But," he walking towards her now, his eyes glinted wickedly like the evil being he was, "Heartfilla-san must be worried sick about his missing daughter."
"I don't care about what he thinks."
"How cruel of you."
Lucy was up in the taller blond's face within seconds, it didn't matter that he was a good head taller than her. He had no right to bring up any of this, especially to reprimand her of what she's doing wrong. He knew nothing about this matter. She raised her hand to slap him, but Laxus, never making the same mistake twice, caught her hand before she could make impact.
"Do you always answer with violence, Lucy-san? Fairy Tail doesn't tolerate this kind of behaviour," he whispered in her ear. The smell of soap and a faint hue of vanilla filled his nose, and he found it more pleasant then the overbearing fumes that always surrounded him.
"But I like you, so I'm willing to offer a compromise."
"Go to hell, Dreyar, I won't accept. Let go of me!"
She's got spunk, definitely. He loved it.
"Well, then, unless you quit that job at the animal clinic, I'm afraid Fairy Tail really will expel you."
Lucy stopped tugging, "What?"
"Oh, did you forget to read the rule pamphlet? Students are prohibited to take jobs during the school year. You're in the scholar program; you should know better than to have a job distracting you from your education."
He was so full of horse shit, she was sure of it. All these heirs and heiresses to large corporations―she'll be damned if a good majority of them don't already take care of some company matters!
"Don't believe me?" He let go of of her and was picking the pamphlet up from the table. He dangled it in front of Lucy, "Read," Laxus said with a lazy smirk.
She snatched it from between his fingers and scanned the pages, all the while her frown deepened.
He wasn't joking. Lucy held back the trembling fear that threaten to give her away, but she knew she was already at the bottom of a very deep hole. It made sense to have this rule, particularly for scholars, since they can't afford to have any kind of drop with their GPA―a dropping GPA meant dropping out of Fairy Tail. But if the school were to find out about the job, she would get expelled.
But she needed that job! Without it, she can't pay rent and would be living out in the streets. That was as bad as dropping out―she couldn't let either happen.
"Ready to take the deal?" He rested a hand on her cheeks, caressing it ever so gently. As much as Lucy wanted to sock that smirk off of his face, she knew whatever he had to offer will save her. Even if he was the one who threw her under the bus in the first place.
Wicked, pompous, arrogant, manipulative―and his insides were ugly. Very, very ugly.
"What kind of deal?" Chocolate brown clashed with icy blue, the tension between them was thick enough to be cut with a butter knife.
Laxus leaned really close to the blond female, smirking when her body went rigid with the vanishing space between them.
"I'll keep your secret…in return, you will entertain me as I please."