A/N: Okay, so I was up writing until 3am last night, so I have a few chapters ready that I'll upload during the day - aren't I nice? :P

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Enjoy!

Chapter 4

The next few weeks went by quickly, and one Friday after school, Lucy was walking with Natsu, as usual.

"Hey, Luce," he said suddenly, "are you going to the party tomorrow?"

"What party?"

"Nobody told you?" he asked. "The football team and the cheerleaders always throw a back to school party a few weeks in,"

"Oh," Lucy said. Why hadn't anyone told her?

"Are you going?" Natsu asked again.

"I guess so, why?"

"Great!" he cried. "Because I need you to help me get some stuff from town!" he cried, grabbing her hand and running towards the gates.

"W-wait! I never agreed to this!" she called as the two ran out of the school grounds.

"Luucyyyyy," Natsu whined. "Can we go back now?"

Lucy stood looking in the mirror. She was trying on party dresses – she figured she should make use of her time in town.

"You're the one who dragged me into town," she replied calmly from inside her dressing room. She took off her current dress and grabbed the next one.

"Yeah, to get party stuff, which we have," he grumbled.

"This is still party stuff," she reasoned, trying to reach the zip. "I need something to wear!"

"Surely you have enough dresses though!"

"That's irrelevant!"

"But Lucyy I'm bored!"

"Too bad!"

Natsu groaned as he sank further into his seat, mumbling "demon" under his breath. He was starving. He just wanted to go get some food. He wondered if Lucy would get mad if he ran to the bakery across the road while she was still in there. She wouldn't notice, would she?

"Natsu," she suddenly called, breaking him from his thoughts.

"Huh?" so much for that idea.

"Can you please help me?" she asked timidly, pulling back the curtain a bit. "I can't get the zip,"

"Uh, sure," he said, standing up.

She had her back facing him, pulling her hair out of the way. She wore a short pink strapless dress. It was tight and showed off her curves. Natsu carefully pulled the zip. Last time Wendy asked for his help, he had pulled too hard and ripped the dress. She hadn't spoken to him for a week.

"There," he told her when she was done.

"Thank you," she replied, and quickly shut the curtain again.

"So I don't even get to see it?" he asked.

"Nope," she replied, and he could hear the smile in her voice.

Lucy eventually picked a dress and paid for it, and Natsu practically ran out of the store and into the bakery. He needed food now. Lucy chuckled and followed him, hungry herself.

"So, why did you buy the dress that you couldn't even do up yourself?" he asked her when they had eaten.

"Because I liked it the best," she replied.

"But if you can't get into it, doesn't that defeat the purpose?"

"I can get into it!" Lucy cried in outrage. "Besides, Cana will be with me, and she can help me if I need it," she huffed. Boys just didn't understand.

"You're weird, Luce," he said simply.

"I am not!"

When they reached the school, the two left their separate ways; Natsu went to talk to the guys organising the party while Lucy went to take her new dress up to her room and look for the girls who failed to mention said party to her.

"We just assumed Natsu had already told you," Erza said. "I'm so sorry for trusting that idiot! Please feel free to punch me!"

"It's okay, Erza," Lucy assured her.

"We are really sorry, Lucy," Mira said sadly. "We should have made sure you knew,"

"Well, I know now, and that's what matters, right?"

"So," Cana interrupted. "Natsu asked you to be his date?" she said suggestively.

"No! Of course not!" Lucy cried, horrified. "Natsu and I are just friends!"

"But he wanted to know if you were going to the party," Levy said slyly.

"Only because he wanted to drag me into town and help him buy stuff!"

"Clearly just a cover," Cana stated. The other girls nodded.

They were all sitting in the third floor common room of the dorm. Each dorm had its own common room with couches, TVs, a kitchen and games for the girls to hang out in. There was also a lobby downstairs, which was the only place the guys could come in, but not after 11. The school also had an extra-large common room in the main building that anyone could stay in until midnight.

"Guys, I'm telling you: Natsu and I are just friends," Lucy stated. "Please don't turn this into something it's not!"

"But you two are always together," Juvia put in. "You've been inseparable since day one,"

"Plus, he picked a fight with Laxus to save you,"

"That was only because I helped him on the train,"

"And why did you help him on the train?"

"Because I felt bad! He looked like he was about to throw up all over his sister! It was for her as well!" Lucy exploded.

She glared at the girls around her, daring them to go on. Every one of them looked back at her with a different expression, but didn't say anything more. Except Lisanna, who had had her nose in a book the whole time.

Lucy sighed and went back to studying.

During dinner, Lucy was very conscious of how much her and Natsu talked between themselves. They still participated in the group discussions, but most of the talking was done between the two of them.

But that meant nothing. They were best friends; of course they talk a lot and spend a lot of time together. They also had every class together, so she'd gotten to know him really well.

She would show those girls that there was nothing going on between them.

The girls had all organised to get ready together, meeting in Erza and Mirajane's room at five for pre-drinks, gossip and picking outfits.

Lucy hit the gym in the morning with Erza and Natsu, then after lunch she went to the library with Levy until it was time to get ready.

The girls had a mini fashion show, as everyone apart from Lucy and Levy had yet to decide what they were going to wear. They each tried on several dresses, and each girl gave their opinion.

Of course, they were buzzed from the alcohol that Cana had smuggled in, so that made it more fun.

"So Erza," Mirajane called over the music, "how are things progressing with Jellal?" she asked slyly, and every other girl turned in her direction.

Erza's face was as red as her hair. This was the first time Lucy had seen her like this.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, turning away.

"I think you know exactly what we're talking about," Lisanna teased.

"W-what about Lucy and Natsu!" Erza called, pointing at the surprised blonde.

"Hey!" Lucy called. "We've already been through this! Just. Friends."

"Yeah, Erza," Lisanna said, a little less playfully. "We already discussed that relationship yesterday,"

"U-um…" Erza stammered. She was cornered now.

Part of Lucy felt bad for the girl, part of her wanted to know as well, and part of her thought she had it coming after she did the same to Lucy.

Just then, Mirajane's phone alarm went off, telling them they only had half an hour before the party started. The girls quickly dropped conversation and hurried to do their make-up.

In the end, they were only twenty minutes late.

Behind the campus, there was a lake surrounded by trees. On the other side of the lake, there was an old, abandoned hall. This is where the students held their parties. None of the staff ever disturbed them.

The girls all dispersed as they got inside, mingling with the guys there. Lucy noticed Cana head straight for the beer. She worried that she would have to look after her tonight. She soon found out that there was nothing to worry about. Cana was an animal.

"Luce!"

Lucy had been standing near the food table with Levy when she heard Natsu calling her. She turned and saw him walking towards her, grinning.

"Hey, Natsu," she called back.

"It's about time you girls got here," he said, looking between the two accusingly.

"Well, you know girls," Lucy replied.

"We are just fashionably late," Levy added, winking.

The three stood there talking for a while, and Lucy couldn't help but notice that Levy's attention often drifted away from the conversation and across the room. Lucy looked up and saw a scary looking guy, with long black hair and multiple piercings in his face, standing against the wall by himself.

Once Levy excused herself to go talk to Lisanna – Lucy suspected that that wasn't a completely innocent move – Lucy immediately turned to Natsu.

"Who's that guy?" she demanded.

"Metal face? That's Gajeel," Natsu replied. "Why?"

"Just wondering," Lucy said quickly. "I've never seen him before,"

"Lucky you," Natsu mumbled, glaring in his direction. "I'd stay away from him if I were you," he added.

Lucy didn't bother asking why.

The girls eventually dragged Lucy onto the dance floor, where they stayed for hours, only leaving to get more drinks. Lucy was having the time of her life.

"Lu-chan, why don't you go ask Natsu to dance?" Levy suddenly called. "He looks lonely," she winked.

Lucy looked up. Sure enough, Natsu was standing by himself, looking grumpy. She wanted to cheer him up, and she didn't mind dancing with him; she just didn't want the girls to get the wrong idea. Eventually, she walked over to her best friend.

"Why don't you come dance with us?" she asked, holding out her hand.

"Why would I want to do that?" he replied grumpily.

"Because it's better than standing here alone," Lucy sighed, pouring herself another drink.

"Promise you won't step on my feet with those," he replied, eying her silver stilettos.

"Of course not!" she replied grumpily, finishing her drink and pouring another. "Now come on!" she grabbed his hand and dragged him back to the group of girls.

"Luce, don't you think you should slow down a bit?" Natsu asked worriedly, watching the blonde scull her drink again. "How many have you had?"

"I don't know; a couple?" she replied, waving off his concern. "I'm fine,"

Lucy eventually left the circle to go to the bathroom. She grabbed another drink on her way back. Before she reached the dance floor, however, a hand snaked around her waist.

"Hey sexy," a deep voice said in her ear.

Lucy gasped and spun around, trying to get out of his grip. Unfortunately she was too drunk to coordinate herself and ended up almost falling over. The arm that was around her waist managed to catch her, and she found herself looking at Laxus. And he was very close.

"Get away from me," she said, trying to push him away.

"Now, now, don't be like that," he replied, tightening his grip.

"I'm serious, Laxus," she warned, trying to get rid of the fog that was in her head. "I'm not interested," she tried again to get out of his grip.

"Careful now, don't want to hurt your pretty self now,"

"Laxus, let me go!" she cried, starting to really worry. He had her in a dark corner of the room, where nobody could make out faces. Everyone would just assume they were another horny couple and leave them be.

Laxus, seeing the terror in her features, decided this was his moment to strike. He leaned in even closer.

"No," she whimpered.

She could feel his hot breath on her lips. She tried turning her head way, but he grabbed her chin with his free hand. Just as he was about to crush his lips to hers, he was yanked backwards.

"She said no," came a stern voice.

Lucy, who had managed to catch herself on the wall, looked up to see the familiar form of her best friend standing over Laxus.

"Natsu!" she cried, running to him. "Quick, let's go," she said.

"You little punk!" Laxus boomed, getting to his feet. Everyone around them managed to hear that, and turned to see what looked like the beginnings of a fight. "I'm gonna teach you not to mess with me," he roared.

"Let's see you try," Natsu replied coolly. He pushed Lucy behind him, getting reading for the fight.

"Natsu, please don't," Lucy cried, holding his arm.

Natsu turned, looking into her tear-filled eyes. After an internal struggle, he sighed and turned away from Laxus.

"I should take you back," he said to Lucy, leading her away. Everyone who had been watching was shocked. Natsu Dragneel walking away from a fight? And against Laxus? Nobody had even seen it done before.

Everyone watched, open-mouthed, as Natsu led Lucy out of the hall and back towards campus.

A/N: What do you think? Isn't Natsu just the sweetest? :3

Please review! :)

Oh, I should probably mention that I'm sort of a realist, so they aren't going to magically fall in love overnight - but that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of Nalu moments! ;)