Chapter5
Natsu wasn't able to return back the hug. It didn't mean that he hated it but he couldn't do it. He couldn't return the feelings because he was a little shocked but nothing appeared on his face. Natsu and Erza's relationship was more than brotherhood. They acted more than just siblings because Erza got to know Natsu before she meets everybody else and because they were so close to each other, there were some rumors about them going out. But the Natsu she knows now wasn't the same one she knew years ago. He changed and he changed because of his feelings. The pink haired guy was pushing the redhead away from him because he wanted to carry that burden all alone and didn't want anyone to interfere in his life and carry the burden along with him. Erza let go of him and stared at him with the eyes that filled with tears. He looked at her in back unable to draw any feelings on his face staring at her with cold eyes. She ignored it and backed looking at the blonde who stood before the door staring at the ground. She smiled and went to where the girl stood.
"Lucy" she said holding her hands together with hers smiling softly at her friend's face. They were friends all along and best friends. But, so sudden their relation got cut and Erza didn't know anything about her dear friend and was astonished to see her in some place like that. Some years ago -when Natsu had the accident- she didn't come to visit him and Erza started to call her several times and didn't get any answer. She didn't know about that accident and traveled not even looking at the back. She traveled to achieve her dream she wanted to achieve all along. Erza was asking Natsu if they fought or something but Natsu's answer was only silence. And that day, everything changed. Everything around them changed, the pink haired changed into a cold person who quite the basket saying that he won't be able to play again. Natsu made a mess when he quite the basket. He made the journalists to the day talk and publish so much news about him and they even followed him to where he stayed. That made everyone annoyed about that because whenever they were talking about match or something they got to be asked about him.
"Flame-brain" the black haired guy stated smirking and pulling that ponytail that Natsu had.
"Ouch" Natsu said looking at the front of him and not drawing the pained look in his face. He wasn't heartless, he was just so tired to act happily and he actually isn't. Why would he act so happy when he is truly isn't. Why would he act fine when he is not fine at all? After seeing that reaction, Gray's sweat dropped as he crossed his arms feeling angry at how the pink haired treated them after so long of being unable to see each other. He then took his thoughts back because he remembers very well that Natsu was the one who hide from his friends after he was hired hands to help.
"It's good to see you again, Natsu-san" the blue haired girl said as she looked at the pink haired guy who wasn't focused with them at all. Natsu stayed silent as he nodded slowly to the woman and then looked at the white haired girl that was watching Natsu with worried eyes.
"Lisanna, will you serve us juice" he said calmly as the girl nodded leaving them alone and moved the chair holding some books on his legs. He took the books and put them back at the rack with a very calm expression and that made everyone impatient. He returned to where his desk was and looked down at the wooden table waiting them to speak first.
"How did you end up in this city, Natsu?" Asked the redhead as she kept looking at the salamander and glanced at the blonde who was standing next to her to see a strange look in her eyes. She was hiding something and she Erza was sure of it. Natsu froze when he heard that question from his friend. It wasn't that big of question but his decision was kinda weird for them since it was the blonde's home city from the start. No one saw the pink haired guy since that accident and even his own manager who knew everything about him. They were pushed away in order not to get annoyed with him and burden themselves more so he prepared to stay in the dark instead of being in the light and makes people hate him. He was like that since he was young, he hated burdening people even though people were satisfied with that but he had never relied on anybody even if they were his family and that what Lucy wanted to change in him when they started dating but their relation ended up in breaking up with some unknown reason. And that when Natsu became himself and no one else. He quite basket, he stayed away from the family and friends he had, he never called anyone's name, he never relied in anybody, he never trusted a person, he never looked up at any person and that's how he became. That's why he didn't want his friends to come back again because whenever he sees them and even remembers their names he remembers the pain he had a long ago.
"I bought this library years ago and..." he paused raising his head to look at her "when I found nothing better to do, I decided to work in it" he stated knowing that a face between these faces had changed and he knew very well whose this face belonged to, Lucy. Natsu brought this library between six and seven years ago and it was just for the blonde Lucy because that time she liked books more than anything else and he wanted her satisfaction but she ended getting angry at him. Natsu didn't lie because he didn't need lying in anything. He doesn't have anything left for him in this life and want nothing from the life. Lucy bit her lips to hold back the tears at remembering the memory. That time they weren't dating and Natsu did everything to make her fell in love with him and even bought a library just for her. Lucy closed her eyes to prevent tears from coming out. She put her hands to her side and looked back at them.
"Is that so?" The redhead raising her brow feeling something was up and then she turned her head to the blonde's direction to find those sad eyes she wore, Erza decided to speak again.
"I didn't know that you both still meeting each other, are you still dating?" She smirked as she tried to change the atmosphere. For unknown reason, Natsu and Lucy broke up and even when Natsu had that accident, she didn't come to meet him and take care of him and when that all happened he didn't ask for her and didn't order them to bring her to him. They didn't know what was going on and let it slide in order not to make him sad. Natsu didn't comment at that question as he kept looking at Erza but Lucy felt nervous and snapped her head to her having wide eyes.
"N-No, w-we are not dating!" She said quickly as she wanted to clear that misunderstanding. Erza, Gray and Juvia looked at her surprised after hearing such a thing.
"Then... why were you here?" Gray interrupted as he kept looking at both of them.
"Emma" Natsu finally spoke looking at the black haired guy who was looking at him in wondering face. "Emma is her name, she is a writer and she came to here to signs books for readers" he continued to talk and then looked back at the wooden table. It seemed like he was talking about some stranger girl he never met before. Lucy felt pain inside of her heart and didn't know why? She was Natsu's girlfriend and if you were Natsu's girlfriend you would be really lucky and God loves you. Now, Natsu treats her like nobody and she didn't know why does he treat her like a stranger and why did he become that cold? Not only Lucy who felt his changes but also their friends. They started to think that he became a completely different person.
"A-Ah" Erza said feeling that she did a terrible thing when she asked that question. Lisanna entered carrying the tray with the juice on it. She gave everyone his juice and scanned their faces to read the atmosphere. She went out to leave them in their own problems.
"Lucy I didn't realize it but…" Juvia said catching everyone's attention to her, "you have a ring in your finger... are you… by any chance… engaged?" Everyone looked at Juvia then looked back at Lucy. Everyone did, even Natsu himself. Lucy looked at her hand then raised her head slowly to glance at Natsu to find the same reaction.
"Yes, I'm engaged"