A/N: Ha, the chapters are getting a little longer (albeit a bit rushed ; n ; sorry!) Anyway... It's midnight, and aside from finishing this chapter, I came across the two minute clip on youtube of Cobra turning himself in so Kinana wouldn't be arrested on... ah, I cried. Again. T^T
Sorry if there are any grammar/spelling errors... I try to catch them all but some still slip through. Send cookies to this hard working (or hardly working?) author, yeah? She's sad because school is starting soon and she has a feeling that the school photo she took today will look like shit...
Btw, I have nothing against j-rock if any of you are interested in it…
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 Seven
Joy Ride
"What the hell are you doing?"
It was already weird enough that the stubborn girl got inside his car without him holding a threat above her head, but she was glancing over her shoulder for the past five minutes, checking for something. It looked like she was trying to run away from the police or something.
Or something.
"Just…checking…" she murmured without paying Laxus much attention.
"Heartfilla, if you're running away from some crime you did, I will turn you in."
She couldn't quite place his tone, but he sounded like he despised her just a little bit more today despite the playful remark. The lot of her actions came down on her like an anchor—she was in his car, and he could do anything to her at this point. Why am I so stupid?
Pulling on a brave face, Lucy puffed up her cheeks and glared. "Oh please—I'm not you. Don't act like you're a good guy. You're still an egoistic slave-driver and I still hate you."
Laxus gave her an odd look, "Yet you're hitching a ride in my car."
That got her to shut up and the car ride was silent again. He was right and she knew it—and he liked that feeling. Laxus let the female sulk in her seat as he reached over to turn on the radio.
Rock music came out in full blast through the high tech speakers. Lucy's hands flew to her ears at the sheer volume that shook and buzzed the whole vehicle. It was not her thing; j-rock had always been too hardcore for her because the band members all like to bang on their guitars and drums as hard as humanly possible as they shouted into their microphones.
"Turn it down! You're going to go deaf at the age of thirty if you keep this up."
Laxus speared her a brief glance and feigned worry. "What terrible misfortune I'll have," he mocked, earning another glare. She stuck her fingers in her ears to emphasize how horrible the music was, and he simply turned it up to spite her.
"—an asshole!" He heard her shout before she cranked down the volume to a sensible level. "Maybe you like to live the rest of your days in painful silence but I..."
She was interesting, but even then there was a limit for his tolerance.
Does she ever shut up?
Laxus suddenly smirked, noticing three sleek black SUVs lining up from behind in his rear view mirror. They intended to cut him off.
Gripping onto the steering wheel, he turned to address the complaining blond.
"Shut up and hold on tight."
"Why—!" Lucy paled as she was suddenly lurched back into her leather seat with the increasing speed. The odometer climbed to 80 on a 35mph street in five seconds flat. "Y-you're crazy!"
The noises and surroundings around her were blending together, almost like the feeling of being on a rollercoaster without actually feeling the force of the wind.
"Stop!" she was screaming now, the reckless way Laxus zipped between the other vehicles was jerking her back and forth. Then and there she became the most religious person she knew and prayed up and down with all of her being.
Help me LORD!
Was this some type of retaliation for mouthing off at him? He was practically driving on the opposite lane! "LAXUS!"
Laxus almost stopped for her—key word being almost. It was the first time she ever said his name so it was just mildly shocking... But the agents took that as an advantage and gained on them. Playing cat and mouse with Ivan's hired specialist was something he never lost in, but the screaming girl next to him—
She looked like she was about to puke.
For the love of...
He veered around a corner and Lucy suddenly latched onto one of his arms. "What are you doing!" he barked, but Lucy was too scared let go and buried her whole face on his muscular arm.
"I'm holding on tight like you asked! I'll l-let go when you slow this monster down!" Lucy whimpered as an excuse. In truth she was just scared out of her wits and needed someone to hold on to—it was only a coincident that Laxus happened to be her first pick.
She heard him curse but he made no motion to throw her off. "Troublesome girl..." he was growling under his breath. "Heartfilla, make yourself useful and grab my phone out of my pocket."
"I'm not doing anything until you slow down!" Her stomach did a flip flop when she felt the car go even faster. "Okay okay!" She quickly stuck her hand inside Laxus' pant pocket and pulled the phone out and held it to him.
Laxus snatched it with his free hand and quickly dialled someone. After a few seconds the line on the other end opened up.
"Meet me at the Crocus cliffs with your car. Now."
The phone was dropped and he made an immediate U-turn and drove into a wide alley-way. After making a few turns, he finally slowed down to a legal speed. He's lost the agents, for now.
"You can let go now," Laxus drawled, holding in the wince of pain that was caused by Lucy's vice like grip. "Though I always knew you couldn't keep your hands off of me."
That got her to let go abruptly with angry pink stained cheeks. "How can anyone in their right mind let you out on the streets..."
"You spoil all the fun princess," he rolled his eyes.
"Fun?" Lucy groused, disbelievingly. What was wrong with him? She was dearly regretting the decision of climbing into his car... A fairly empty road came to view and Lucy furrowed her brows. "...Why are we going to the cliffs?"
"To see someone."
"Why?"
"You ask too many questions," Laxus smirked. "Maybe I'm selling you to a drug dealer."
"Funny," Lucy grumbled. She wasn't going to get a straight answer from him, so why even bother. She pulled her feet up to the seat so she could lay her head on top of her knees. That earned a disapproving glare from Laxus.
"This car is new."
"And I don't care," she retorted. "You broke at least fifty traffic regulations in the past twenty minutes—I deserve to be comfortable in this nice Porsche before I get thrown into jail."
He was probably already formulating another ploy to make her life miserable at school anyway...
They reached the Crocus cliffs in no time. Laxus had told someone to meet him here, but who? There were a couple of girls in bikinis hanging around the edge bathing under the sun and hanging out, as it was a popular hangout spot with a magnificent view of the beach and ocean.
Laxus cut off the engine and Lucy scrambled to get out of the car. She could just kiss the sweet, steady ground! There was a reason why her mom always cautioned her getting into stranger's cars... Turning to face the reckless driver of the century, she was muddled when she found no one there.
Girlish giggles on the other side filled her ears.
Of course, she rolled her eyes. Everywhere Laxus went there seemed to be woman flocking him. Bastard. He was enjoying himself with the company of two scantily clad females. Perv.
Just because he had a handsome face and expensive clothes... these girls were low, just as low as the president himself.
A silver Mercedes pulled up besides Lucy, gaining faint attention of the occupants around the grassy ledge. The driver side door opened and out stepped the vice president.
"Vice prez..? What are you doing here?" Lucy paused her inner rant to question the green haired male. Realization came to her a second later. "Oh... he called you."
"That would be correct," he confirmed. Lucy noticed how Freed always carried out the blond president's orders at top priority... Wasn't he the son of a wealthy businessman too?
"Why do you take orders from him?" she asked genuinely.
Freed took a moment to look into the horizon before answering. "It's the least I can do," he replied, crossing his arms as he leaned against his car. There was a look of serenity on his face. "I wouldn't be here without Laxus."
"What do you mean..?"
"I've known Laxus since I was seven, though I really was only the son of his mother's friend at first. He was always kept away from outside influences by his father so he was very weary of me."
"Oh..." Lucy was stunned with the new information. Laxus was shy as a child... whatever happened? She urged Freed to continue.
"Then one day, I was out by the pond in the Dreyar's backyard and missed my footing... I didn't know how to swim at that time and no one knew I was out there. Laxus saved me that day..." Freed clenched his car keys. "He may be manipulative and mischievous... but that's just his way of having fun."
Some twisted way... Lucy supplied incredulously.
"And... he's a good friend."
Was Laxus really capable of being everything Freed was telling her? It seemed so unreal—except for the part about being manipulative and mischievous.
There must have been some serious issues during the blond male's upbringing.
"Nice to see you two making friends." A rather sarcastic voice droned. Laxus had abandoned the bikini clad girls (though they seemed reluctant in letting him go) and walked towards the parked cars. He nodded at Freed appreciatively before turning to Lucy. "But we need to go, princess."
There seemed to be an endearing pattern for his name calling...
"We?" Lucy huffed in ridicule, no way was she going to make the same mistake twice. "Nuh uh, you're a threat to the wellbeing of pedestrians—and me!"
Laxus threw the other male his car keys. "You're free to ride with Freed. Though... don't complain when you come across the Black Ops Squad."
"The what?" Lucy squeaked. The Black Ops were the nation's top police force... "How would they know... But they're just traffic violations! Isn't sending the private force a bit much?"
"Quit your whining and hop on," he rolled his eyes, opening the door of Freed's Mercedes.
Why are they switching cars?
Freed was already inside Laxus' Porsche, ready to drive off. They really must have been close, for the vice president not but looked at his friend to know what the situation was.
If she walked home it'll take two hours. Oh hell.
Was this worth getting away from Capricorn? Probably not. Lucy hesitantly got in with the blond. The moment Freed drove away, three black SUVs appeared and followed after in hot pursuit.
"Are they the..?" Yes, Lucy answered her own question as she watched with cynicism, if this continued, they were going to catch Freed—most likely for all the violations they think he did with Laxus' car—and throw him in jail. Maybe Freed didn't know... "You did you frame Freed? But, he didn't do anything—oh you're so evil!"
"Don't sweat it. He's just taking them for a spin."
How could he stay so calm after all of this? And Freed considered him as a 'good' friend!
"How could you do this to your friend!" Lucy frowned, "You're absolutely cynical, the worst human being out there, rotten, cruel, and—"
"Are you done." Laxus grabbed her chin to make her face him, there was nothing gentle about it. His hands were atypically calloused.
"No because what you did wasn't cool," Lucy replied plainly, albeit a bit muffled with his hand puckering her lips. "Am I making you feel guilty about what you've done?"
She was trying his patience.
"The Justines own the private police force. They won't dare harm him, otherwise I wouldn't have let him do this." Laxus gave her a penetrating glower and released her. Suddenly speechless, Lucy humbled down into an embarrassed pout, sinking into her seat. "See what happens when you assume?"
The Mercedes rumbled to life and pulled away from the Crocus cliffs. Lucy expected Laxus to speed off again, but they cruised off surprisingly smooth and steady. Thus they sat in an awkward silence...
"They were hired, anyway, to bring me to a meeting I don't want to attend." He didn't know what compelled him to tell her this titbit of information, but the response he got from Lucy was pure, unbelieving shock.
"...Sorry..." she muttered, averting her gaze to the window. A moment of truth revealed a moment weakness he liked to exploit...
"Your apology was weak," Laxus teased, smiling with nothing but pointy teeth. "But I'll let it slide if you... flaunt that certain something of yours."
"What?" It didn't hit her until a minute later and she widened her eyes. "Oh. OH—go rot in hell, Dreyar. I am not one of your groupies that will kneel to your ever order!"
"What a waste," he smirked. Lucy was ready to punch him when he changed the subject. "Why don't you tell me why you stowed away in my car, then?"
"That's none of your business!" Lucy glared out the window because she didn't want to look at the egoistic pig. They were somewhat nearing a street home of the local attraction.
"It became my business the minute you decided to get in the car with me, Heartfilla."
. . .
"I'm telling you, something smells fishy."
Natsu kicked a pebble across the sidewalk as he trudged behind Erza and Gray. Happy yawn on his shoulders. Gray raised a degrading look at the sulking boy. "Well yeah, that damn cat had ten dishes of fish."
"Meow!"
"Not that!" Natsu grumbled, rubbing his cat's head in defence, "I meant Lucy! I'm worried about her."
There was a long silence that clouded the group.
"We all are," the redhead president finally said with a sigh. Lucy was so secretive around them at times; Natsu could be dense but when it came the wellbeing of his friends, he was pretty preceptive.
There must have been something that got Lucy so alarmed—she took the first chance to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Erza knew she shouldn't pry, but sometimes she wished the blond would let loose and tell them what was on her mind.
They were her friends, and friends help each other out, don't they?
"Then let's go back and find her!" The flame head shouted without thinking as usual. He dragged Erza and Gray the other way, his mind set on going back to the diner.
"She wouldn't be there now, dim-wit," Gray scowled though he still followed behind. He was worried too, after all. "Hey Natsu! Are you crazy just crossing the street without—"
The sound of tires screeched as Natsu swiftly flipped over a silver car. He caught sight of a certain someone as he was in the air.
"LUCE!—?"
It was déjà vu all over again; Laxus wondered just how the fuck he gets himself into these kind of situations.
"Natsu! Oh no!" Lucy jumped out of the passenger seat as fast as she could and ran to aid the male. He looked perfectly unharmed, just a bit bewildered. "Natsu! Oh my goodness, are you okay? What are you doing here?"
Natsu rubbed his head sheepishly, "I was worried, so I went to go look for you..." he glanced at the other blond getting out of the silver car. "But what are you doing in the car with that guy? Who is he?"
"Oh, he's just a..." Lucy tired to look for some kind of explanation. She wasn't sure she should tell them who Laxus really was and why she was in his car of all places when she'd told them she was going home.
"Lucy!"
"G-guys?" Lucy blinked in surprise as Erza and Gray ran up to meet her. Talk about bad timing...
"Hot ride," Gray whistled at the shiny vehicle, impressed. Not the time, Gray! Lucy prayed that he wouldn't ask what she think he was going to ask next. Tough luck—he then turned to her with a suspicious squint. "Hey Lucy, weren't you going home?"
Busted.
"I, uh, I-"
"I was giving her a ride home in exchange for a favor."
Upon hearing Laxus' rescuing excuse, Lucy nodded vigorously in agreement. She couldn't believe the arrogant president would come through and help her—she froze. He was grinning down at her, his words telling the half truth. She was going to owe him a favor.
She cursed internally for falling right into his trap.
"Do you go to Fairy Tail?" Erza questioned with her no-nonsense authoritative voice. She was skeptic of the blond male...
"Ah, yes. Laxus Dreyar, student body president," Laxus said charmingly, though Lucy could see right through that deceiving facade. He was quick in realizing what the situation was and he knew he had her wrapped right around his fingers if she didn't want the truth to come out.
"Erza Scarlet, student body president of Love & Lucky," the redhead glared.
Laxus smirked, interesting... "I see Lucy-san was well taken cared of in her old school," he said, wrapping a finger around her blond locks and not missing the glares he was receiving from the males. "I'm glad."
"We're barely acquaintances!" Lucy blurt out when she had enough of his lies. He was trying to make it look like he was prince charming or something! That lying little—she slapped a hand over her mouth in horror when her friends shot her a questioning look. "I-I mean I can take care of myself well enough, there's no need for you to worry..?" she ended with shamed squeak, not wanting to look at the infuriating blond or her friends.
Silence filled the air, and finally Erza spoke again. "You do realize that Lucy's apartment is the opposite way you were heading?"
"T-that's the thing!" Lucy chuckled nervously, "Ol' air head here made a wrong turn. He's not so bright with streets." Payback's a bitch...even if it was in the form of childish name-calling.
"Don't rich kids have like personal drivers or something?" Natsu piped, he was suspicious but his mind suddenly decided that getting away from the silver Mercedes was more important. He felt queasy just looking at it.
Laxus smirked, "You should know, after all, Lucy Heartfilla is-" his sentence was cut off by Lucy's hand.
"Ha ha, we should go now! Homework assignment, remember?" she tugged on Laxus' sleeves urgently. Her friends look skeptically between her and the blond president. Lucy offered a smile and waved. "See you later!"
"I take it your... friends don't know about your little runaway," Laxus said after driving away from the trio. "How could you do this to your friends?" He spat out the term 'friends' mockingly, making Lucy eat her own words. He made it sound like she was undeserving of her friends...
But however Lucy wanted to retort, she knew he was right. How could she consider herself friends with them if she couldn't even tell the truth? Lucy sunk into her seat with guilt.
"But since I helped you out back there..."
"You call that help?" Lucy gritted under her breath. She didn't like the malicious look he was giving her and she made a point in telling him so—in between angry curses.
His grin grew. "Listen carefully doll, you're practically under my debt... I can do as I please with you, and you will let me because the scholarship is precious to you, no?"
She tried hard not to lash out and send them both into a tree.
"Have some fun and live a little," Laxus laughed, an idea popping up in his head. "Lets start by cashing in that favor you owe me."
. . .
Angel Aguria narrowed her indigo eyes at the sight before her. What a low blow and completely degrading... it did not sit well with the young model.
"How insulting," she purred, locking eyes with the figure across the room. She stood, and her body guard, Caelum, stayed close behind as she made her way towards the exit. Though... her eyes briefly travelled to the other figure. "I suppose I could have some fun."
(Confused? It'll be all cleared up next chapter!) And actually, send me pumpkin pies... I like pumpkin pies...