Chapter Seven

Hey, peoples! How's life? Mine is kinda sucky at the moment. I'm about to start midterms... ugh. I have Latin and History tomorrow, and I'm about to fail. Jk, I should be fine... hopefully. Anyway, you don't care about my life, as boring as it is. So, here is chapter seven! I hope you enjoy! R&R

Normal P.O.V.

Lucy was looking through some old records and listening to music in a back corner of the shop. She was bobbing her head to the beat. Natsu smiled, loving how she was so into the music.

The lady on the other side of the cash register that Natsu was leaning against turned to him. "Is she your girlfriend, Natsu?"

Natsu blushed furiously. "Wh-what?! No, she's, um, just a friend," he stammered.

The lady raised her eyebrows knowingly. "Ok, sure, Natsu. I'm totally buying that. You've never brought a girl here before, not even Lisanna."

Even though Natsu hadn't moved to Magnolia until recently, he had visited many times, because this was where his mother's family lived. They came for holidays, and some summers.

"Honestly, Lyra, she's just a friend, that's all." Natsu then fully stood up and walked over to the blonde.

She took off her headphones and smiled up at him. "Hey, Natsu. I was listening to some U2. Wanna hear?" She held the headphones out to him.

"No, I'm good, thanks." Lucy just shrugged and went back to looking through the records.

Natsu put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "Luce, can we talk?"

"Um, sure. What do you want to talk about?" Lucy looked nervous, like he was going to say that he never wanted to see her again. Maybe that was what she was scared of, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that when someone said that they wanted to talk, it didn't tend to be a good thing.

"Well, I just wanted to say that I really admire you for confronting Sting." Natsu sighed. "And, I'm really sorry that he turned out to be such a jerk. I wish I'd been wrong about him."

Lucy smiled sweetly at the pinkette. "Thank you for saying that Natsu, but you have nothing to be sorry for. You helped me get out of a bad situation, and for that I will be forever grateful." Natsu let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. "So, let's stop talking about depressing things, and listen to some music." Lucy picked up a record and placed it on the player. Then, she put the headphones next to one of Natsu's ears, and one of her own. "Here, listen to this."

"Come back soon!" Lyra shouted as the door jingled, closing behind them.

"So, what did you think? I've never brought anyone there before. It's sorta, my safe place, you know?" Natsu said almost uncomfortably as he walked her home.

"Really? Well, I thought it was great. Lyra was so nice, and they had such great music that I've been searching for FOREVER!" Lucy laughed as she held up her bag of new records and CDs.

"Yeah, I can see that," Natsu teased. He loved that Lucy felt like she found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. He loved that she was happy.

It was cold outside, because the sun had set, and Lucy tried to heat up her hands with her breath. She shivered, just looking at Natsu, who wasn't even wearing a coat.

"How are you not cold?" She was exasperated. It was freezing outside!

"Dunno, I've always been like that. I guess I'm warm blooded?" Then Natsu noticed the blonde with her chattering teeth next to him. He put his arm around her to warm her up,

His arm touching her was like a line of heat across her back. His blood seemed to pulse through her body and warm her up like hot chocolate on a winter day. It was sudden and unexpected, but welcomed. It made the rest of her body long for his touch.

Lucy shivered again, this time from his touch.

Natsu noticed and said,"You okay? Are you still cold?" He looked genuinely concerned.

Lucy laughed,"No, I'm fine, thanks though."

They came to a stop at Lucy's door. The light was on, which meant that her dad was already home. They hadn't talked much since her breakup. Not that they really talked before that. Ever since her mother, Layla, had died, it seemed like all ties between the father and daughter were cut. Layla had held them together, and without her, they were a shattered window of a family.

"I guess this is where I leave you, then?" Natsu said, turning to Lucy in front of her door.

"Yeah, I guess it is."

There was an awkward silence between them, as neither wanted to leave the other, yet didn't know what to do to fill the silence.

Suddenly, Lucy burst out laughing. Natsu looked like he'd seen a ghost. He had no idea why she was laughing, but it was contagious. Her laugh was sweet, and light. Soon enough, he was holding his stomach, uncontrollably laughing as well. His laugh was deeper, more hearty. They both let out a sigh as the fit came to an end.

Lucy smiled up at Natsu. "I haven't laughed like that in a long time. Thank you."

Natsu scratched the bak of his neck, he didn't know what to say to that. "Um, you're welcome?" He glanced towards her house. "I think I should go now, my parents will be expecting me to be home."

"Yeah, right." Lucy turned to walk inside her house. She turned back in one swift motion. "Goodnight, Natsu Dragneel," she said with a smile unlike any other.

"Goodnight, Lucy Heartfilia." Natsu grinned that magnificent grin that only he could pull off as he walked away form her house. To him, the night had been a success, he had gotten closer to Lucy,

To her, the night had been one of the happiest since she lost her mother.

So, how was it? Be honest. I can take anything you can dish out. Thanks for all of your reviews so far. It means a lot to me. I know that I say that, like, every chapter, but I'm serious. It's so great to see your reviews and think that someone, somewhere, likes your story. They like what you've created, you know? So, please review, and the next chapter should be up soon enough!