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!

P.S. You guys are AMAZING! I'm totally inspired by your sweet comments! I LOVE YOU!

-CHAPTER FIVE: CONFRONTATIONS AND DISCOVERIES-
"You're in love. You love Lucy and you're afraid to admit it!"

It was all quiet, yet Happy was very, very entertained. It was like a silent theater or a pantomime—both weren't speaking, yet they were absolutely amusing.

"Hey, Lucy, do you have fish?" he asked, wondering if he could ask for a snack, like popcorn during a movie. Lucy didn't do so much as a blink.

"You actually have the guts to spy on my first date?" Lucy said, breaking the silence between her and Natsu. She had dragged them both inside her room and forced them to tell her what was going on. But Natsu just sat, completely silent, and definitely not talking.

"Ugh!" Lucy grunted. "You're such a jerk!" She stood up and shouted at him some more. "That was rude and pathetic and idiotic and plain stupid! It was embarrassing that Jacques couldn't take me anywhere but home with you on our tails!" Lucy sobbed. Not because what she said was right (Jacques did say that it would be awkward for Natsu to spy on their date), but because Natsu still couldn't see how she felt! "How dense could you get?"

Lucy, now shaking, covered her face and fought hard not to sob, and failed. Her tears just kept flowing and her voice was escaping her mouth. She turned around so that Natsu couldn't see her. What she didn't know was that Natsu was feeling the same pain that she did, but with a different reason.

"I-I'm sorry… Lucy…" Natsu said ruefully. He, too, was now standing up. "I know… What I did was wrong… But I still…" Natsu couldn't continue—he didn't know what to say next ("I think I'll leave now!" Happy said).

"You still had to get in my business." Lucy said, still fighting back tears.

"I'm sorry, Luce…" Natsu said again, putting his hand on Lucy's shoulder. "I was just—concerned." Natsu had to find an appropriate word to use. "I wanted to make sure you were safe so bad, that I—"

"What am I to you, Natsu?" Lucy said emotionally.

"Wh—What?" Natsu was taken aback.

"What—" Lucy faced Natsu, her tears still flowing. "—am I to you?"

"Y-you're a comrade… A great mage and a friend to me…" Natsu said, puzzled. He stepped back, because he and Lucy were too close, and his body grew hot again. He could feel it rise up to his neck, his cheeks and his ears.

"That's it, isn't it? That's… that's what I will always be to you…" Lucy chuckled, despite her tears. "Too bad for me…"

She let out another sob that she couldn't hold in on. Natsu was about to go to her but she stopped him.

"Please leave… Please…"

"Lucy… Luce, I'm sorry…" Natsu said apologetically.

"It's not gonna change anything (*sniff*)… Natsu…" Lucy sobbed. "So please leave…"

"Luce…"

"Leave!" she shouted.

Natsu had no choice but to do as Lucy said. He went out of the apartment by jumping out the window. He didn't even bother to say goodnight. He knew far too well not to add fuel to the fire.

When he already left, Lucy stood up and climbed on the bed. She cupped her head in her hands and wailed. She cried her heart out, and cried herself to sleep.

"What did you tell her?" Mirajane asked Natsu, who was seeking advice (for the first time). He had told her about the recent happenings the night before. He knew he had to ask another female, because they would understand Lucy's weird behavior, yet he couldn't ask Erza because she would definitely kill him.

"I told her that I she was a nakama, a great mage and a good friend. Was it wrong?" Natsu said innocently.

Mira only sighed. "I see. You know, Natsu, we women are very complex—more complex than you think. Sometimes, at times like those, we want to be told that we are special to feel secure."

"Well, that's stupid. I didn't do anything wrong! I was only being honest."

"We have expectations, Natsu. And when these expectations aren't met, we practically get depressed and lose self-worth. The fact that Lucy asked you what she meant to you was like a way of saying that she lo—"

Natsu's mouth hung open. "Too many words, Mira…"

"Okay, to cut things short, did you feel anything when you saw Lucy and Jacques dating? Like when they held hands or laughed together?" Mira asked.

Natsu took himself back. He did feel very awkward at that time.

"My chest felt heavy and my head was pounding. But I don't know where this is getting me…" he confessed.

"Ah…" Mira nodded. "I know now."

"Mira, do you think I'm sick?"

"No, Natsu."

"Then, what's wrong?"

"You're in love. You love Lucy and you're afraid to admit it!"

It felt like the burden on Natsu's chest just disappeared. His eyes widened, his heart thumped in his chest. Though his mouth hung open still, Natsu felt—different. He felt tingly and warm. He also had a desire to see Lucy. He wanted to see her so bad that he felt like exploding. Yes! He did like Lucy more than anyone else in the guild. He wasn't confused anymore. In fact, he was trembling in excitement!

"Natsu?"

"I'm—in love? I..I've never really thought about it like that..." Natsu couldn't hold back a smile.

"You want another advice, Natsu?" he nodded. "Think about how you can tell Lucy about how you feel—the best way possible."

Natsu thought long and hard. He doesn't really know about stuff like these. He would probably mess up and risk Lucy getting even angrier.

"Fire, Natsu." Mira winked as he gave him a hint.

"Huh?" the dragon slayer held a puzzled look on his face.

"Use fire when you tell her how you feel. You know how to do that, right?"

Natsu's mind was racing. Mira's hint gave him loads of ideas to choose from. A small grin emerged from his face.

"What if it doesn't work?" he said, slightly doubting his abilities.

"If it doesn't work, at least you let her know how you feel. That would awaken her, and lessen the burden on you." Mira said while continuing her work. She knew that she had already done all she could for Natsu—and that the rest was up to him.

"Thanks, Mira! I'm super hyped up!" He said as he balled his fists and knocked them against each other. He looked as if he was going on a really interesting mission! Mira gulped.

"Natsu, don't—" but too late. Natsu had already left.

"I just hope that he doesn't do anything stupid and rash like what he always does. 'You go', Natsu!" she cheered. "And 'Good luck!', Lucy."

Mira-sensei is teaching the Natsu tricks!

But what would Natsu do?

frankly, i'm out of ideas... a little help please? any suggestions?