Hello! This is the 6th chapter of Chasing A Dream! This will be the 2nd to the last conflict. I mean, here, there will be a new conflict, colaborated with a conflict from chapter 5. And there will be 1 conflict left that will appear near the end! :)
Surprisingly, I actually can finish this in just 3 days._. So maybe, if I have the time I can update faster. And of course, review amount will help
Anyway! I really hope you enjoy the new chapter of my best seller fanfiction!
Gray hugs Lucy even tighter per second. Lucy seems already freeze together with his hug. After a while, Lucy pushes Gray
"G-Gray…," Lucy looks at the boy who looks surprisingly sad "I… To be honest… I loved you Gray, I really did." Lucy said
"Lucy-"
"But I, already have someone else that I truly love now." Lucy said, she's still putting her hands on his chest, and now she's gripping it hard "If, you confessed to me before Natsu showed up up in my live… I would have accepted you. But reality speaks different." Lucy lets go of her gripping. She smiles with tears on her eyes "I'm glad I loved you. I'm glad I fell in love with you… I'm glad… You felt the same way." Lucy said while smiling as she immediately turns around and runs away.
Gray walks to the nearest wall and punched it as hard as he could
"Come out and laugh, damn it." Gray suddenly said
"How come you realized me?" but Gray doesn't answer. "She rejected you, huh?"
"Like you're any better. Your 'soon-to-be' husband ran away at the wedding. You should me more ashamed than I am." Gray said. The girl behind him smiles
"Yeah. I guess I am ashamed after all." Lisanna said "But… I guess I can't compare myself to Lucy-san after all." Lisanna said "And you can't compare yourself to Natsu."
"Shut up." Gray said
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you should get going." Lisanna said while giving Gray a little push at the back
Tuk… a fallen small box
"Ah, yeah." Gray mumbled "Tomorrow is a special day, and that jerk ran away. How can he any better."
Lisanna smiles at the dark blue-haired man "I'm pretty sure Natsu knows what day is it tomorrow."
"Hmph." Gray said simply.
Lucy runs to the nearest park with a red face. She only wears sunglasses so she attracts a lot of attentions.
She stops at one of the parks and sits on a bench. She exhales heavily
"God! Why are you so cruel?!" Lucy shouted. Everyone looks at her again as she coughs to hide her embarrassment
Bzzt, bzzt. Her phone vibrates. She looks at the screen, and Levy's name is on it
"Hello? Levy-chan?" Lucy said
"Lu-chan! You're home already? I thought we will go and eat at the café downtown!" Levy said
"Ah! I forgot! Sorry." Lucy said
"Something happened, Lu-chan? Why do you go home so early? You usually stay at the dressing room- eh?" Levy suddenly said
"What is it?" but Levy didn't hear, Lucy can hear Levy is talking to someone else
"Hello, Lu-chan?" Levy said
"Ah, yes! Something happened?"
"I should ask you that! Loke is in front of the agency! Where are you?" Levy asked
"Ah… I'm at the nearest park from the agency. I'll be right back." Lucy said as she immediately hangs up. And I thought I don't want to talk about this to anyone. Lucy thought. Lucy stands up and walks to the agency.
The next day,
Lucy wakes up 3 minutes after her alarm rings. She sits up on her bed and reaches her phone. She looks at the day. Ah, it's Sunday, July the 1st. Today is a day off. She opens her email, seeing so many new emails
[ From : Levy-chan ]
[Subject : Happy Birthday! ]
"Lu-chan! Happy birthday! Tomorrow I'll give you your present so tell me about what happened yesterday in exchange!"
Lucy looks at her table calendar. Oh yeah, today is my birthday. Totally forgot. Lucy thought
[ From : Gray Fullbuster ]
[ Subject : Birthday ]
"Happy birthday, Lucy. Thanks and sorry for yesterday. I'll make sure to give you something really good for the present."
Lucy immediately clicks the reply button
[ To : Gray Fullbuster ]
[ Subject : Re : Birthday ]
"Please don't worry about yesterday. But, make sure you give me something expensive! Haha, just kidding. J'
Lucy opens another email
[ From : lisastr .fr ]
[ Subject : It's Lisanna ]
"Lucy-san, I heard that today is your birthday. Happy birthday. I'm sorry for the things I did. I don't ask you to forgive me. But I'm really sorry. About Natsu, and everything."
Lucy smiles at this email. She clicks the reply button again
[ To : lisastr .fr ]
[ Subject : Re : It's Lisanna ]
"Don't worry about it. Let by gone be by gone. You really love Natsu right? Come on, let's just be friends! ;) And… 'Lucy' is fine.'
Lucy looks other emails from her work mates and school friends. One person is missing… Natsu. Lucy closes the flip screen and throws herself to the pillow on her bed "Like he knows my birthday." She mumbled.
Lucy stands up from her bed. She walks to the bathroom in her room and washes her face and brushes her teeth. She changes her clothes and walks downstairs, seeing the dining room is already full with foods and one big wedding-sized birthday cake. Lucy chuckles seeing this. Her personal servants, total of about 15 people already lined up on each side of the stairs
"Happy Birthday, Lucy-sama!" They said while bowing formally
"Then, can I have a request?" Lucy asked
"Certainly, Lucy-sama." They said together
"For today, you guys aren't my servants, but my friends. Formal acts are forbidden! Understand?" Lucy asked
"U-Understood."
"Alright! Let's eat! Come on, everyone! I can't finish all of this myself!" Lucy said as her servants smile at each other and join Lucy as friends.
.
.
.
Lucy takes her coat and glasses. She puts on her high heels
"Then, I'll be at the next town." Lucy said
"Lucy-sa- ehem. Lucy, you're sure you don't me to take you there?" Loke offered
"Nope! I want to take a quick stroll. See you, guys!" Lucy said as she walks outside. She walks to the biggest town in the country. She looks around, seeing a lot of people here. Her eyes suddenly catch a magazine which on the cover, there's a famous model like her but she works in America. She debuted 1 year after her, but she's as famous as Lucy. Her name is Yukino Aguria, from Sabertooth agency-, wait… Natsu worked there. At Sabertooth Agency. Lucy picks that book, full with charming people like Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney. Lucy looks through the book. The book is a full English language magazine. Lucy stops at a certain page, seeing an article with an interesting title "A Talented New Photographer" with a picture of a certain pink-haired guy with the head of Sabertooth Agency, Jiemma.
"Excuse me, miss. Would you like to buy that?" the kiosk's keeper said
"A-Ah! Sorry. I'll take this." Lucy said. She opens her bag and takes out her money. She gives the money to the kiosk's keeper
"Thank you, miss. Come again!" She said. Lucy takes the book and searches for a place that she can read this article peacefully. She walks in a cake shop and sits on a table. She opens the magazine and opens that page.
"To work here, in America has always been my dream. I've always want the world know who I am." – Natsu Dragneel.
His name is Natsu Dragneel, a talented photographer from Fiore. He's 22 years old. Single. His family also photographers, and some say that he has natural talent for photographing.
This is our interview to this newcomer here, at Sabertooth Agency."
Q : Mr. Natsu, how long have you studied photographing?"
A : "Hmm… As long as I remembered (?) I've always like photographing."
Q : "Does anyone demand you to be a photographer?
A : "No. Absolutely not. I've always want to be a photographer."
Q : "Coming here must be an honor to you, right?"
A : "Yes! Absolutely!"
Q : "Do you, at any chance have hard time or consideration coming here?"
A : "(Mr. Natsu stays silent for quite a long time, his face doesn't look too happy.)"
Q : "Mr. Natsu, do you have someone you don't want to leave alone there?"
A : "(Smiles forcibly) N-No!"
Q : "(Cough), next question, so, Mr. Natsu, how long do you plan to stay here? Are you planning to stay here forever and marry a girl here? Or maybe you're interested in Yukino Aguria you're working together with. People said both of you look so good together."
A : "Rumors like that always exist, huh?"
Q : "What do you mean?"
A : "No, things like 'you both match each other', 'they work together so they look so close, they seem so perfect together', always exist. That actually pisses me off."
Q : "You hate to hear rumor about Ms. Yukino and you?"
A : "A-Ah! No, it's not like that. Sorry, I blab something in my mind. Please, next question."
Q : "Is there anyone you're interested in?"
A : "(Stands up) WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS YOU KEEP ASKING ME?! (Sits back) (Takes a deep breath) Omae ni kankeinai (It's not your business)"
Q : "(Clueless) Alright… Next question-"
"Excuse me, miss." A teen-looking waitress said. She seems like a part-timer
"Yes?" Lucy asked
"Can I take your order?" she asked
"Ah, yes. I'll take a cookies and cream cheese cake and a hot chocolate, please." Lucy said
"Okay. Um… Ano… Are you Lucy Heartfilia?" she whispered
"What would you do if I say yes and what would you do if I say no?" Lucy asked back
"U-Um… I won't do anything. I won't make a fuss out of it. But I just want to ask you, Lucy-san…,"
"What is it?" Lucy asked
"Are you really going out with Gray?" she asked. Lucy's face turned cold
"What would you do if I say yes and what would you do if I say no?" she asked again
"No… I think that you don't like Gray. And I thought you would hate it if people keep pressing what they want. I think you also have someone you like." She said
Lucy chuckles at her words. She said the same thing like Natsu "Yeah, I have someone I like." Lucy said
"The person in the article?" She asked
"Why?"
"Because, you looked so happy while reading it. Sometime too, you look nostalgic. I don't understand what you're reading, and I don't know what happened, but, do your best, Lucy-san!"
Lucy smiles at the teen high school girl "Thank you," she said "You too, I hope you all the best." Lucy said
"So, this counts as a birthday present, right?" she asked
"How do you know?"
"I'm a big fan of you after all." She said with a shining smile. Lucy takes off her glasses and untied her braided hair. Everyone immediately looks at her
"What about we take a photo together, then?" Lucy offered
"Yes!" She yelled. Everyone applauses.
Kaching. The cash register sound. Lucy looks smiles at the part-timer. She looks at her phone, it's already 11.50 AM. She walks to her home with her glasses already on again and her hair already braided again
Bzzt… Bzzt. Lucy takes out her phone. 'Unknown number'. She clicks on the answering button
"Yo." A very familiar voice spoke. Lucy's tears couldn't help but falling
"'Yo?!' you disappeared for a month and the first thing you say is 'yo'?!" Lucy shouted. She couldn't hide it anymore, she's positive that Natsu knows that she's crying
"Yeah… Sorry." He said. Lucy doesn't respond. She walks to the nearest bench and sit on it "Luce… Wait… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…. Happy Birthday." He said. Lucy's tears keep falling and falling. This is ridiculous, he doesn't seem to know how much she suffered
"S-Stupid *sob* It's 12 o'clock in the morning here."
"Yeah. But it's midnight here." He said "Here, I'm at the exact time." He said with a heart-warming and calm tone "Hey… Don't cry." He whispered
"I-I am *sob* not!"
"Worst lie you ever made, Luce. Weeeeeeeirdo."
"Stupid Natsu." Lucy said with a small smile. She wipes her tears "You… Better give me something good." She said
"Something good? Is there anything you want?"
"…I guess none. Surprise me." Lucy said "Hey… How come you never told me it was your dream to work in America?"
"I thought it would be useless if I tell you?"
"Mean!" Lucy yelled, Natsu laughs. Lucy smiles widely… His voice… His laugh… I can finally hear it again. Lucy thought "So, how was America?"
"Yukino Aguria is much prettier than she is in the magazines." Natsu said
"Hee…" Lucy said
"Are you jealous?"
"Was that your purpose telling me that?"
"Yep."
"Better luck next time." Lucy teased "Oh yeah, I read the article. 'Things like 'you both match each other', 'they work together so they look so close, they seem so perfect together', always exist. That actually pisses me off.', huh?"
"!" Natsu jolts "You understand English?!"
"DUH! Who do you think I am?" Lucy said, Natsu chuckles
"That's for you though."
"…? What do you mean?" Lucy asked 'innocently'
Natsu blushes "You know what I meant!" Natsu yelled
"…?"
"I-I was irritated okay?! You and that Gray guy!" Natsu confessed. Lucy smiles with a light blush
"I understand… I rejected him already." Lucy said
"He confessed?!"
"Yep. He also hugged me so tightly." Lucy said "My heart is still thumping."
"Hmph." Natsu said, of course, out of jealousy
"It's a lie! Only about my heart, though. Right now, my heart is still thumping so fast… Because of a certain pink-haired boy." Lucy said as Natsu smiles with a light blush
"I've thought about my birthday present for you. And I have 2." Natsu said
"What is it?"
"If I tell you know, it won't be fun. Anyway, I need to go to sleep. Gosh, it's already this late."
Lucy smiles "Yeah, have a nice dream."
"…Luce?"
"Hmm?" Lucy hummed
"I love you." Both Lucy and Natsu blushed. Lucy froze, can't say anything "That was the first gift."
"I-I see…" Lucy said "A-Alright. Good night."
"Close your eyes and listen to me closely, Luce." Natsu suddenly said
"Wha-"
"Just do it." Natsu said. With her heart beating so fast, Lucy closes her eyes "Firstly…, I miss you, Luce. A lot." First stage blush "Second, I really love you Luce." Second stage blush "Finally…. Chu." Natsu kisses the phone. Blush overload. She can die right this second. Her ears are red "…'Night, Luce!" Natsu said as he closes the phone. Lucy's still blushing. She puts her hand on her eyes
"What was he thinking…?" Lucy said
.
.
.
Lucy walks home, seeing her home seems so empty. She strolls around the house, her servants is gone. Suddenly, out of the blue, Layla, Lucy's mother steps out
"Lucy dear, dad is waiting at the living room. He wants to talk to you…" she said. Lucy gulped. The situation seems so tense
Lucy enters the living room with her father already in. Lucy sits across her father and her mother sits next to Lucy's father
"Lucy… You've already achieved your dream right? To be a worldwide professional model?" he said
"Yeah… Why?" Lucy asked
"…Let's just be frank. We need to continue our family business. I'm already this old. I have to retire soon. And you're our only child."
"Y-Your point, father?"
"Lucy dear…, you only have 2 choices." Layla said "You have to choose, between marrying a man that his family has a big name or, you have to continue the family business yourself, despite the fact that you're a girl."
"So… I have to quit being a model?" Lucy asked. Layla and Jude look at each other and look at Lucy. They nod together.
'Life is unfair.' I guess those words are true. Truth hurts
Yes, I KNOW! TRUTH HURTS! *ehem*
Anyway, I hope you guys like it. Actually, because I need to add fillers, there are some scene that isn't really important. Sorry, I just can't think of anything else that can fill the emptiness in some scenes.
Please review! No flames._. I'm very sensitive. Ah, someone asked me about writing 'Wife Of The Teacher I hate'. Well, I was planning to make this a oneshot, but, with this kind of theme, I don't think that's possible. So, any other Future Projects of mine will be created right after my hiatus which in : After I finish Chasing A Dream (For about 2 months) and at November (Student council busy month). More detailed info, I will post it in my twitter
Follow me on twitter, anyway! :3
Sincerely,
Keiko Amano