A/N: Here's another chapter! I still feel bad about not updating yesterday, so I spent my morning writing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail!

Enjoy!

Chapter 16

The truth was, Natsu knew exactly what Lisanna had meant. He saw her like a sister, and her confession shocked him greatly. He had no idea how to handle it, so he played the Natsu that everyone thought he was.

She would get the message. It was easier this way.

Lucy didn't know what to think. She'd had no idea about Lisanna's feelings, and she felt terrible. All the jokes and comments the girls made must have killed her. Lucy wouldn't be surprised if the girl hated her.

Although, now that she thought about it, Lisanna was always quiet during those discussions, focused on something else. She was also silent during the classes where it was just the three of them – Lucy had assumed that that was only because her and Natsu were so loud, it was hard to get a word in.

Lucy felt so guilty. Lisanna was her friend.

She couldn't figure out what she felt about Natsu's rejection, though. Her heart had been racing when she waited for his answer, and now she felt…relieved?

But that didn't make sense. Why would she feel relieved? Maybe it's because she would have felt even guiltier if he liked her back. She would have definitely felt like she'd gotten in the way then, even if it was unintentional.

She tried to shake it off so that she could get some rest. She had so much to process, but it would have to wait.

She wondered if Mira or any of the other girls knew.

When Lucy woke up, she noticed straight away that she was surrounded by people.

The closest face was Wendy, who was sitting in the chair next to her bed, with Natsu leaning over her head. Then around her bed were Cana, Loke, Erza, Jellal, Juvia, Gray, Mirajane, Elfman, Bisca, Alzack and finally Levy. The Dragneels, McGardens and Strauss' were standing in the background talking together. Lisanna was nowhere to be found.

"What are you all doing here?" Lucy asked, sitting up.

"We wanted to make sure you were all right," Levy told her, smiling.

"Lucy! Is she awake? Let me through!" Lucy heard Grandine yelling, as she pushed her way through Lucy's friends, grabbing the blonde in a tight hug.

"G-Grandine?" Lucy tried.

"Oh, I was so worried!" the bluenette cried, not hearing her. "Are you okay dear? Don't you worry, I'll take care of you!"

"G-Grandine!" Lucy tried again, turning blue.

"Mum!" Natsu yelled, seeing Lucy's face. "She can't breathe!"

"Oh!" she cried, jumping off the girl immediately. "I'm so sorry,"

"It's fine," Lucy panted. "I'm fine," she added, looking at everyone. She tried to get up.

"No, no," Grandine gently pushed her back down. "The nurse said you're not allowed to move yet. Igneel will go get her, and she wants to check you one more time before letting you go, okay?"

Lucy nodded reluctantly. She didn't like everyone watching her like this.

Although, when Grandine was fussing over her, she felt very warm. She hadn't felt this feeling in years. Not since her mum died. She was very happy to be able to feel that again, even if it did make her miss Layla.

Virgo eventually came and let her go, but told her to take it easy – no exercise for at least a week. Lucy's jaw dropped.

"But what about cheerleading!" she cried.

"You'll have to take some time off," Virgo told her sternly.

"But–"

"Lucy," Erza cut her off. "We will have to do without you this week. I will not let you hurt yourself even more; got that?" she said dangerously.

Lucy nodded mutely.

Just then, Lucy's stomach grumbled. Her face turned bright red as she looked down, realising she hadn't eaten yet.

"We should get you some food," Natsu laughed. "You must be hungry, considering you missed lunch,"

"Was I really asleep that long?" she asked.

"Yep," he replied, helping her stand.

Natsu and Jellal helped Lucy limp towards the dining hall, ignoring the blonde's complaints. She just hoped that she wasn't going to be half-carried everywhere for the next week.

That week was terrible.

For the rest of the weekend, Grandine was fussing over Lucy, making her feel bad for taking her attention away from her children. Of course, Natsu and Wendy were always there as well, laughing at their mother's antics.

Grandine dealt with the healing side of their family's company, and Lucy found out quickly why: she loved to take care of people. Wendy told her stories from their childhood of their mother always being there with a first aid kit, always going into overdrive at the smallest cuts and bruises. Natsu being Natsu was a constant patient of hers.

Once the parents had gone – Grandine making Lucy promise to visit sometime – school resumed, and Natsu and Loke kept trying to help Lucy places. Everyone else saw that she was fine, but those two were always there.

Lucy suspected that Loke just wanted to hold her, so she tried to avoid him as much as she could. Natsu was just trying to be a good friend, taking his promise to Layla seriously.

It wasn't until she showed up to the gym on Thursday that he realised that she didn't need his help.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Just because I can't use my ankle, doesn't mean that I can't sit and do weights," she told him primly.

"But how did you get here?"

"Walked," she shrugged. "I can walk by myself, you know. My ankle feels a lot better,"

Natsu didn't say anything after that, but he stopped being so overprotective.

"Yes!" Lucy cried, jumping up.

She was with Virgo, who told her that her ankle had healed enough that she could try cheerleading again.

"But you have to take it easy," she warned her. "On little tweak and you stop, got it? Erza has asked me to send her my report as well, so she knows where you stand,"

Lucy sweat dropped. Of course she would.

After promising to be careful, Lucy practically ran out of the office to find her friends.

"That's great, Lucy!" Mirajane smiled. She was the first person Lucy ran into.

"I know," she smiled.

Lisanna suddenly appeared in her mind. She hadn't seen her much at all in the past week, and when she did, Natsu was around.

"Hey, Mira," Lucy asked. "Did you know about Lisanna's feelings for Natsu?"

"I did," she replied sadly. "Lisanna has liked Natsu since we were children. He's always seen her as a sister, though, and it was clear that he would never return her feelings. She tried hard, and last year she told me that she had finally gotten over him. I could see that she wasn't being completely honest, though,"

"Oh," Lucy replied she didn't know what to say.

"Why do you ask?"

"I heard her confess to Natsu last week," Lucy admitted.

Mira gasped. "What happened? I knew there was something up with her,"

"He didn't understand her," she shrugged, although Lucy knew that wasn't quite true. Natsu wasn't that stupid.

"Poor Lisanna," Mira sighed and Lucy nodded. "I'll talk to her,"

"Yeah," Lucy told her. "You should go find her,"

"Thanks, Lucy," she smiled. "You really are a good friend,"

Lucy smiled as Mira walked off, but she didn't believe the words. She still felt terrible about the whole thing.

On Wednesday, Lucy was excited to go back to cheerleading. Erza, knowing she had to take it easy, only gave her the simplest routines, but Lucy didn't mind. She was just glad to be there.

She got through training perfectly fine, and was glad. Having a week off was terrible.

"Lucy!" Lisanna called as they were walking away from the pitch. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," Lucy smiled. "What's up,"

"Mira told me that you heard," she began. "And I want you to know that I was just being stupid,"

Lucy's eyes widened.

"I thought that I was over him," she continued. "But then I saw you two together, and I heard what the other girls were saying and I got jealous. I wasn't as over him as I thought. Anyway, I want you to know that I never hated you – I tried, but I just couldn't. I don't think anyone could hate you, Lucy. And, if there's someone who deserves Natsu, then it's you,"

"Lisanna, that's really nice, but we really are just friends," Lucy told her.

"I know," Lisanna said. "For now," she winked.

"Lis–"

"Look," she cut her off. "I've known Natsu my whole life, and I've seen what he's like with girls. With you, he's different. I don't know if he realises it yet – you obviously don't – but there is something there. Just don't get too freaked out when you both realise your feelings," she winked before walking away.

Lucy stood there in shock. She didn't believe it. She refused to believe it. There was nothing between her a Natsu, when would everyone see that?

Lisanna suddenly stopped and turned back.

"You know, I think confessing and hearing his rejection has helped me finally move on," she told Lucy. "So don't ever worry about my feelings for him. They are finally purely platonic – the way they should be," she smiled.

Natsu, having the worst timing, chose that moment to call out, "Hey Luce!"

Lucy looked up to find him waving at her madly. She smiled and waved back quickly before turning and walking away.

After that, Lisanna joined the other girls in teasing Lucy. She was almost as bad as her older sister, and it was driving Lucy insane.

For the rest of the term, Lucy found herself abandoned by her friends at the last minute, leaving her alone with Natsu. Nothing ever happened, of course, but they had gone and seen three movies and had dinner twice. Natsu didn't seem to notice and acted as if nothing was wrong, so Lucy followed suit.

"Hey Luce," Natsu said one dinner that Levy had ditched. "Do you wanna come to our beach house for the holidays? Mum's dying to see you and she keeps pestering me to ask," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

Lucy froze. "Y-your beach house?"

"Yeah, it's warm all year round," he grinned.

"Oh," Lucy replied.

"If you don't want to come, or already have plans, I'll tell Mum," he said frowning. "I'm sure you're excited to go home,"

"Actually, I hadn't really thought about the holidays," she shrugged.

Honestly, she would love to see Grandine and Igneel again. And she always loved to see Wendy. The idea of spending three weeks with the Dragneels at the beach sounded amazing. What didn't sound so amazing was the girls' reactions when they heard.

You know what? Lucy was tired of those girls making all her decisions for her. Enough was enough; she wasn't going to worry about what they thought or said any longer!

"Sure," she smiled at her best friend. "I'd love to."

A/N: What did you think? There are a few bits that I struggled with, and couldn't word it quite right, but I think it's alright.

Please review, follow, favourite - let me know what you think! Much love x