A/N: Okay, this is the last chapter that I had waiting, so I probably won't be updating as quickly from now on. Although, I'll still probably be able to update a couple chapters a day - at least for a little while :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

After Lucy had cried out her confession, she was closer than ever to Natsu. While he went back to his cheerful self, and didn't mention it outright, she knew he still remembered and cared. She noticed right away when he stopped bothering her in English, and would leave her alone when she was reading a novel, or when she said she wanted to do some writing.

Lucy didn't know how she got so lucky in finding a friend like him.

It was Saturday now, and the whole school was buzzed all day about the game that night. Everyone wished the football players luck as they passed them around campus, and the guys were super excited, eating a hearty breakfast and lunch. Everyone was in high spirits.

"Lucy, if we win tonight, will you go on a date with me?" Loke asked her in the morning.

"No,"

"Why are you so cruel?" he grabbed his heart.

He got over it quickly, though, when another group of girls walked past.

Lucy was flattered when a couple of girls even came up and wished her luck. It made her even more excited for tonight. She was practically bouncing out of her seat by lunchtime.

"Luce, calm down," Natsu told her, whilst shovelling food into his mouth. "You're gonna have no energy for tonight,"

"I can't help it, I'm just so excited!"

Natsu laughed and rolled his eyes. "It's just a game,"

"How can you say that?" she asked him. "You're the one playing!"

"So?" he asked. "It's still the same as every other game – except for finals,"

"Wow," Lucy stopped bouncing.

"What?"

"You actually just said something intelligent which makes sense!" Lucy cried in fake astonishment.

"Shut up!" he grumbled, mouth full. Lucy had given up telling him to chew first that lunchtime.

Natsu went fro a run around campus after lunch, so Lucy didn't really see him. She found herself going through the routines in her head - even physically making some of the moves - all afternoon as she pranced around campus grinning.

The football players and cheerleaders had dinner early that night, because most people would eat at the game, and they obviously wouldn't get the chance to.

Lucy could barely eat because she was so excited.

"Are you still bouncing?" Natsu asked her.

"Yup,"

"How do you have that much energy?" he asked. "Don't pass out on top of that pyramid," he warned.

"I won't!" she sang. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face, no matter how hard she tried.

It was there when she was eating. It was there on the way back to her dorm. It was there as she got changed and gathered her stuff. It was there as she walked – practically skipped – down to the field with Cana. It was there when the bleachers started to fill. It was there when the other team came out. It was there when the match started.

"She's definitely a cheerleader," Cana muttered to Levy, smiling at their friend.

"Surely her cheeks are killing her," Levy replied.

"Nope! I'm fine!" Lucy called, overhearing their conversation. She twirled around in her purple uniform, loving the feel of it.

She cheered her heart out during the first half, groaning when the other team scored, screaming when theirs did. At the short quarter time break, the two cheerleading squads had a little cheer-off, which the Fairies won.

Lucy cheered just as hard in the second quarter.

At half-time, it was the girls' turn to shine. They performed their half-time routines flawlessly, ending with the pyramid. Lucy grinned proudly and radiantly from the top. She was on top of the world! It was the first game back, the boys were winning, and the girls had performed flawlessly.

Lucy made an effort to look out for Wendy during the game, but it wasn't until she was on top of the pyramid that she found her, sitting about halfway up, next to a boy with dark hair. She grinned widely, and Wendy grinned back, waving. She turned to her friend, saying something, and pointing to Lucy.

When Lucy dismounted, and half time was over, she walked back to the sidelines and grabbed her pom-poms, ready to watch the second half.

She noticed quickly that something wasn't right. Natsu and Laxus were completely ignoring each other!

Lucy groaned inwardly. They must have fought again. How are they supposed to win when their two key players don't acknowledge each other?

At three-quarter time, when their team was down, Lucy found herself storming over to the boys. They all looked at her in shock when she broke into their huddle.

"You and you," she point to Natsu and Laxus, glaring. "Whatever it is, get over it. You're gonna lose if you two don't work together! You can argue or ignore each other or do whatever you want, after the game! We need you two! How are you supposed to win if you don't have a functioning team?" she demanded.

Natsu smiled slightly at her, even though she was scolding him. He looked...proud.

"So I suggest you two grow some balls, and get on with the game! If you lose this game because you two are being childish, then you will have to deal with me," she glared, hands on hips.

Natsu looked suddenly afraid, and nodded vigorously. Laxus hadn't met 'Demon Lucy' yet, so he just scoffed.

"You're not that scary," he said.

"You don't know what you're talking about, man," Gray told him, looking scared.

"She's as bad as Erza," Elfman said.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mess with her," Jellal added.

Laxus seemed to reconsider as he saw half his team shaking at the threat of this girl.

"Whatever," he said, looking away.

Lucy nodded once.

"Well then, good luck boys!" she smiled before turning away and heading back to the girls.

She noticed that a lot of the spectators and other cheerleaders were whispering, looking at her. I guess it is unusual for a cheerleader to join the huddle.

"What did you say, Lu-chan?" Levy asked.

"I just told Natsu and Laxus to grow up, or they'd have to deal with me,"

"We should win this, then!" Cana smiled.

Sure enough, they did win. Natsu and Laxus were playing even better than the first half, which Lucy was happy to see.

When the players were leaving the field, some of them stopped to talk to the girls. When Natsu came past, Lucy was just so happy that she launched into his arms without thinking, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Congratulations!" she cried as he hugged her back.

"Thanks," he said, letting go. "It was all because of you," he grinned. Lucy noticed the looks the other girls were giving her, so she made sure to hug all of her friends as they headed into the change rooms after the other guys. They weren't quite as enthusiastic hugs, but they were still hugs.

"Lucy-san!"

Lucy turned to see Wendy coming towards her, waving, after all the guys had left.

"Wendy!" Lucy cried, hugging the girl. "Did you enjoy the game?"

"Yeah!" she cried. "I especially enjoyed when you went and yelled at Natsu-nii. They did a lot better after that," she chuckled.

"Yeah," Lucy laughed, turning slightly red at her outburst.

"Romeo-kun, this is Lucy-san!" Wendy introduced.

"It's nice to meet you, Wendy-chan talks a lot about you," Romeo said.

"You too," Lucy smiled, shaking his hand.

"Lucy, you were really good tonight as well!" Wendy cried excitedly. "But wasn't it scary on top of that pyramid?"

"Not really," Lucy shrugged. "We practiced a lot, and I've done it heaps before," she told her. "The main thing was, though, that I trust those girls with my life," she winked.

"I would love to be a cheerleader!" Wendy cried.

"You should try out when you get into high school – I'm sure you'd be great," Lucy smiled.

"Really? I'm not so sure," Wendy said shyly.

"Of course you will be," Romeo cut in before Lucy could reply. "You're the best in PE – especially gymnastics – and you're always super cheerful. What makes you think you won't be a good cheerleader?" he asked her, smiling kindly.

Wendy blushed and Lucy smiled knowingly.

"Wendy?" Lucy asked. "Do you mind if I intrude again tomorrow? I kind of promised to take you and Natsu to get pizza, is that alright?"

"Of course!" Wendy cried. "I assumed you were coming, anyway," she smiled.

Lucy leaned into her ear. "Why don't you invite Romeo as well?" she whispered.

"Really?" Wendy blushed. Lucy nodded. "O-okay!"

Wendy turned to Romeo, who had politely turned away during their secretive exchange.

"Romeo-kun, would you like to come with Natsu-nii, Lucy-san and I into town tomorrow?" she asked.

"Are you sure that's okay?" he asked. "Will your brother mind?"

"He shouldn't," Wendy told him. "He's bringing his best friend, so I should be able to bring mine!"

"Are you sure you shouldn't ask him first?"

"Unless you don't want to come?" Wendy realised sadly.

"No, no!" Romeo assured her. "I just don't want to make him angry,"

"Don't worry," Lucy interjected. "I'll talk to him," she winked.

"Okay, then," he smiled.

"Great!" Wendy cheered.

It wasn't long before Natsu and the other guys came out, and Lucy was still talking with Wendy and Romeo.

"Hey there kiddo!" Natsu called, patting his sister on the head.

"Natsu-nii!" she growled cutely.

"Who's this?" Natsu asked, pointing at Romeo.

"That's Wendy's friend, Romeo," Lucy told him. "He's going to be coming with us tomorrow,"

"Oh," Natsu said. "I still get my pizza though, right?"

Lucy sweat dropped. "Yes,"

"You were really great tonight," Romeo told Natsu. "I hope I can play as well as you one day!"

"As long as you train hard and don't give up, you'll be even better!" Natsu told him.

Natsu wanted to make sure his sister got back safely – not that he'd admit that – so the four of them walked towards the middle school dorms, talking. Romeo seemed to idolise Natsu - something Wendy didn't understand at all, which made Lucy giggle.

After they dropped the kids off and were back at Lucy's dorm, Natsu pointed to the fountain that was in the middle of the courtyard.

"Same time, same place tomorrow?" he asked.

"Sure," Lucy nodded. "You played really well tonight, Natsu – when you weren't acting like a child,"

Natsu frowned. "He started it,"

"Don't start," Lucy warned him.

Natsu sighed. "You were great tonight, too, Luce! I missed part of the routine in the middle, but I saw most of it,"

"Thanks," Lucy mumbled. It was then that a breeze blew past, making her shiver. She was still only in her cheerleading uniform.

"You should get inside before you catch a cold," Natsu told her.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed, hugging herself. "Goodnight,"

"I'll see you tomorrow," Natsu said, turning. "Goodnight,"

Lucy smiled and waved before heading inside, where warmth and sleep was promised.

She couldn't wait to see Romeo and Wendy's love blossom tomorrow.

A/N: How was it? I really don't know the rules of American Football, but I kind of imagined that, because here is Australia, we don't have cheerleaders at our football games, and it's not a big school thing at night, like what I've seen in movies and stuff haha and that's the kind of atmosphere I wanted, so I hope it's okay! :)

Please review! :)