NOTE: This story has characters which do not exist in Hiro Mashima-sensei's work. They are my ORIGINAL CHARACTERS and they are mine. Everything else is not mine, but sensei's. Also, even if I do not write very well, please respect my work! Thank you!

-CHAPTER TWO: DENSE-
"He's as dense as he is dumb!"

Lucy Heartfilia had a daily routine that was never disrupted, unless on special occasions.

When she wakes up, she exercises and does yoga. If she wakes up late, she skips stretching and goes straight to the bathroom for a bath. She always uses a lavender-scented conditioning shampoo and her soap is always papaya. If in case she couldn't buy them, she just scrubs away all the dead skin, dirt and stress.

After choosing her outfit for the day (on special occasions, Cancer would come in and help her choose), she brushes her teeth and checks all the locks before she steps out of her apartment for a stroll to her local guild. There, in the guild, she would eat breakfast and chat with close friends.

On normal days, Lucy's routine would lead her to go to the request board every day in search for jobs with high pay. But today wasn't normal. Lucy briskly walked, as if someone was following her, and had set her mind to get to the guild as fast as possible. Her heart was still pounding from last night's events: flashes of Jacques visiting, his proposal—everything.

As Lucy opened the huge, wooden doors, she sniffed a scent which smelled like a mixture of alcohol and cigarette smoke. To a visitor or a newbie, this scent would be very unappealing. To Lucy, and any other guild member, it was the scent of home.

Lucy smiled as she walked in, pausing only to smile and greet people who notice her as she walk past them. On normal days, she would sit with them on the circular chairs and laugh at corny jokes and embarrassing moments, but today was not a normal day as far as Lucy knew. She walked straight to the bar counter, to a tall, female figure with long silver hair.

"Mira-san!" Lucy said, almost excitedly.

Mira turned, revealing her beautiful, angelic face. She smiled before she replied. "Lucy, why so energetic in the morning?"

"Mira-saaaaan~~" Lucy paused and looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping "—I'm going on a date!" she said joyously.

"A DATE?" Mirajane burst out.

"Shh!" Lucy put a finger over her lips. "It's a secret!"

"With whom?" Mirajane stopped wiping the wine glass and put it on the countertop. She leaned towards Lucy to catch everything she says.

"Jacques… We ran into him on a mission once. He's from Lamia Scale…" Mirajane handed her breakfast. Lucy took a bite and realized just how famished she was!

"Ah… That guy that looked like Natsu, only he's got jet black hair, doesn't get motion sickness and is not dumb like Natsu."

Lucy froze. Someone was actually eavesdropping on them. And he was not supposed to be listening!

"Gray!" the two girls exclaimed. Lucy turned beet red and started to fidget in her seat.

"I don't blame ya, Lucy. That guy could kick some serious butt." Gray paused to look at her. "When?"

"E-eh?" Lucy stuttered. She knew where this was going. She secretly tells herself that she's got telepathy and by God does she think she's right!

"The date. When is it?" Mira leaned closer as Gray finished his sentence. She was obviously going to ask her the same thing!

"Uh… Tuesday night. He said he'd be waiting for me at The Harbor." Lucy revealed.

"Oh~~ The Harbor!" Mirajane squeeled. The Harbor was known in Magnolia for its romantic ambiance—and, its price. "Hey, Lucy. Don't you think Natsu will be jealous?" Mira teased with a sudden change of attitude.

"As if." Gray scoffed. "Heck, that flamehead wouldn't know an important clue if it bit him on his face! He's dense as he is dumb."

"You trying to pick a fight, snowman?" Obviously, Natsu heard Gray. "You wanna say that again?" Natsu threatened.

"I said you're so dense, you'd sink in the damned Red Sea!"

"Yeah, well put a sock in it!"

"Maybe I will—on your face!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

Lucy heaved a sigh. "If I wasn't used to this I'd think they're both dense!" Lucy exclaimed.

Suddenly, all the yelling cam to a halt. All three pairs of eyes were one Lucy, eating her breakfast innocently.

"So this Jacques guy… you like him?" Gray interrogated.

Lucy knew she liked Jacques. He was kind, sweet, humble and not dense—unlike other people. She looked at Natsu. He, too, was staring at her.

Her eyebrows met. There was something in Lucy's gut that wanted Natsu to tell her to not date Jacques. She didn't know why, but it was getting stronger. It wanted Natsu to tell her that Jacques wasn't the one for her.

"Jacques…" Natsu started. He was serious for a moment. He paused and thought for a while. "You should go, Lucy!" He said as he put an arm around the Stellar Spirit mage. "Bring me back flame roast!"

"Aye! Fish flavored flame roast!" Happy butt in.

"There's no such thing!" Gray said.

"Hey, Lucy! Who knew this day would actually come?" Natsu teased.

Lucy froze. So that's how it is? Yeah… That's how it will always be. Natsu was dense and she knew it. Yet, she still hoped that someday, he would see through her eyes. Lucy quavered under Natsu's arm.

"Lucy?"

Lucy stood up. She turned her back and started to walk.

"Lucy?" Natsu repeated.

"You dense little moron…" Lucy said slowly. She tried hard to stop the tears from coming, but failed. She figured that she didn't just want Natsu to stop her, she also wanted him to hold her and tell her just three words.

"I love you…" Lucy said softly.

"What? I can't hear you, Luce!"

Lucy started to walk again. She wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to Natsu.

"Fine," she said. "I'll go on that date. And I'll make sure I enjoy it!"

well, that was awkward...

i ask myself: why do people just stand and not confess? won't it be easier if they did?

Man, people are SO weird!