Hello everyone! I finally got this written, it took forever, but I'm so happy I finally got it done. I've always wanted to write a FT High School AU, and this fulfilled my wishes. XD

No clue how long this is going to be: it could be anywhere from 5 to 25 chapters. Maybe even more. Who knows. XD It just depends on how much time and inspiration I have.

Rated T because of swearing, bullying, depression, possible violence, and possible blood. This is a High School AU, and I want it to be as realistic as possible. You have been warned.

Also, non-Nalu shippers, this is not the place for you. XD There will be other ships too, including but not limited to Gale, Gruvia, and Jerza, but they will be minor.

Reviews are highly appreciated, especially ones with helpful criticism. But nothing hateful: all flames go to Natsu.

So, without further ado, I present: Dark Secrets.

Prologue

93 Days Before the Truth

It was just another day...or so I thought.

Get up, take a bath, get dressed, eat breakfast, then live the day. I've lived near the boardwalk my whole life, so it isn't anything new. In one day, I'd done everything exclusive to summer. My best friend Levy is coming here for vacation in two days, so I had no one to spend time with. There was no way I'd hang out with any of the girls from the HBSG: they are too stiff to even enjoy your time with them...

I guess I should explain myself. The Haregon Boarding School for Girls is a private school made especially for rich girls learning to be proper. You learn more about manners and etiquette than Science or Math. The truth is, I hate it. I would love to go to a normal high school like Magnolia High, where you learn everything you need to learn about life, hang out with friends, and be with people of all types. Even though the idea of going to school with boys is a little terrifying, it would be an amazing new experience. But I'm stuck... Unless I can come up with a valid reason to transfer, my father won't let me. I've considered sneaking it but...that would be almost impossible.

I sigh, gazing at the melting popsicle in my hand. I don't even want it anymore... It seems bland and unappetizing. I stand up, my flip flops hitting the pavement as I throw the sticky blob of red and orange into the trash can outside Beachside Ice Cream & Yogurt. With a sigh, I gaze out at the horizon. The waves move slowly over the blue water, splashing against the white sand. A few surfers are attempting to ride the waves, but they are so tiny that they barely move at all. It's kind of pointless to even try. In fact, it's pointless to really come to Hargeon for more than three days for vacation, since the boardwalk and beach are the only attractions. Unless you like fishing or sailing, of course. Which I don't.

"Ughhhh, so bored," a voice whines from nearby. I turn my head to the right, glancing over my shoulder. Sitting with his feet up on one of the metal tables was a teenage boy with pink hair and an odd dress sense. He wore a red swimsuit with orange flames on it, black sandals with a thick strap in the front, and a white and black scarf around his neck. In his hands he held the biggest ice cream cone I'd ever seen: five scoops of chocolate ice cream all stacked on top of each other. And there didn't seem to be anyone else around either, which meant it was all for him.

He turns, catching my eye. I blush furiously and look away, embarrassed that I was caught staring. My heart is racing a mile a minute. I've never been good at talking to boys, since I've been going to all-girl schools my entire life, so this is even more awkward. Please, go back to your ice cream...

"Yo. What's your name?" Or not.

"L-Lucy," I stammer out.

He grins. "Hey, Lucy. You by yourself too? I'm bored as hell." Shyly I nod, still not meeting his eyes. He continues talking, evidently not picking up on my awkwardness. "So, where you from?"

"Here," I whisper.

"Sorry, didn't catch that." He grins wider at me, obviously in a good mood.

I clear my throat, and try to gain confidence. "I live here, in Haregon."

"Got it." He licks his ice cream, swallows, then looks back at me. "Is it fun livin' here? I mean, this ice cream is pretty sweet."

"It is rather uninteresting after 17 years," I admit. My eyes widen when I realize that I've told this complete stranger my age. Oh my Mavis, he could be a stalker, or a rapist, or a pervert, or-

"You okay?" he asks, frowning. I start, trembling as I look at him. "You seem awfully jumpy."

"S-Sorry," I stutter. "I'm not used to talking to b-boys...I go to a girls-only school..."

"Dangggg," he replies. "That must suck. I go to Magnolia High."

I perk up. "Magnolia High?! I've always wanted to go there! Is it fun?!"

"Err..." He rubs the back of his neck. "Fun isn't really the word I'd use... More like crazy." He grins again. "Why do you go to a girly school if ya want to go somewhere else?"

"My dad..." I mumble.

"Ah." He suddenly sounds sad. "Must be nice."

"Hmm?" I look up at him, confused. He looks down at the scarf around his neck, deep in thought. I try to catch his attention, but I don't know his name, so it's a bit difficult. "Uh..."

"Oh!" He suddenly becomes aware of the world around him, and forces a smile back on his face. "Nothing. Dontcha worry 'bout it, Lucy." He swings his legs off the table, then stands up. "You want a bite?" he asks, offering me the ice cream.

"N-No thanks," I reply uneasily. "I don't take things from strangers..."

He laughs. "I'm not a stranger, Lucy, I'm a friend. Okay?"

I freeze. "A...a friend? But...I just met you! I don't even know your name, or your age, or your favorite color, or...or anything!"

He licks his ice cream, then replies, "I'm Natsu. I'm seventeen years old, goin' into my Senior year. My favorite color is red. And I have a cat named Happy." He smiles kindly, revealing the chocolate on the corner of his mouth. "There. Friends now?"

I hold back giggles, and reply with, "There's ice cream on your face."

"Aw, shit," he swears, wiping it off with his thumb. I jolt a bit, not used to the harsh word. An awkward silence falls between us, then he reaches out his hand. "So?" I shake it gently, nice and ladylike, just like I've been taught at school. He seems surprised. "Uh...I was aiming for a low five."

"A low five?" I ask, frowning in confusion.

"Like a high five, just low," he explains. "It's better than a high five because it's different." He beams. "Even better is a fistump, then you blow it up!" I take a step back, a little frightened. He reaches for my hands, and I pull back, still too timid. His eyes beg me to let him do this 'fistbump', so I let him take my right hand. He curls my fingers into a fist, then positions my hand in front of me. Very slowly, he taps his fist into mine, then releases his fingers while making an exploding sound. I imitate him, although it comes out more like a flurry of spitting than an explosion.

I laugh at my own stupidity and how adorable Natsu looked, and he laughs with me. Our voices blend into one, a perfect sweet harmony. Suddenly I'm blushing and looking away, feeling shy once more.

"You okay?" Natsu asks.

"Yes," I smile slightly at him. "I'm just thinking about how boys aren't all that bad..."

"Haven't you met other boys in this town?" Natsu questions.

"Barely," I admit. "I tend to be pretty quiet. And every boy I have met has just been trying to court me."

Natsu raises an eyebrow. "Uh, trying to what?"

"S-Sorry!" I stammer. "I m-meant firt with me!"

Natsu smiles bemusedly. "You mean flirt?"

"Yes, that," I reply, embarrassed. I bury my pink face in my hands. "Goodness, that's embarrassing."

"You talk funny," Natsu pokes my shoulder deviously, amused by my formality.

"School," I groan. "I'm still in my ladylike state. We just were released from school on two days ago."

"Damn!" Natsu exclaims. "We got out last week! When do you start?"

"Second Monday of August," I reply.

"Ugh, that blows, we don't start until September 1st," Natsu tells me.

"Magnolia High sounds amazing..." I breathe. "Are the classes fun?"

"Shit ton of homework," he yawns. His eyes widen we he realizes that his ice cream is melting, and he quickly licks all around the cone. I wait patiently, like a lady should, for him to finish. He licks his lips, then continues. "Math sucks, History is cool because we get to watch war videos, English is meh because we write an essay every other week, Science is awesome because we get to work with fire, and PE is great time to show Gray who's the better man!"

"Gray?" I frown.

"My sworn enemy," he replies dramatically. "I hate every inch of him, that bastard." A bit scared, I take another step back. "Easy, Lucy, I won't hurt you." His eyes are sincere. "I only kick Gray's ass. Unless some of the other dudes piss me off, then I might kick ass." He grins at me vibrantly. "But no worries! You're a girl, and unless you're Erza, I won't even consider flicking you!" His face suddenly turns pale. "Although Erza might behead me if I tickle her again."

"Your friends sound...interesting..." I admit as Natsu licks his ice cream again.

He bursts into roaring laughter. "Interesting doesn't it even cover it! They're fucking insane!" I can't help but to smile, even though he swore. The way he speaks of his friends...they must really get along. Another question for him suddenly hits me in the face.

"Excuse me, Natsu?"

He turns to look at me, ice cream on his lips...again. "Yeah?"

"Do you happen to have siblings?"

"Yeah, a little sis, why?" Natsu asks.

"Just wondering," I smile. "You just seem like you'd be a fun brother."

"Wendy's my half-sister," he explains. "But I love her all the same." He frowns almost playfully. "Her cat though...ugh. Poor Happy still is recovering from her latest attempt to use him as a scratching post."

I laugh, seeing his expression. "So Happy's your cat?"

"Yeah," Natsu smiles, a peaceful expression on his face. "I've had him almost his entire life... You see, he was a stray, and I rescued him. He was only a few days old at the time. We have no clue where the mother went."

My heart melts. "That's so sweet...maybe I could meet him sometime?"

Natsu's face lights up. "Sure thing! I'll be Wendy'll love to meet you too!" He touches his hip, as if expecting there to be a pocket. "Dammit, I'm still wearing my swimsuit. Oh well, guess I'll just give you my number. You got your phone?"

I slowly pull my old flip phone out of my pocket. "Yeah...it only calls, though, no texting..."

"That's okay," he replies. He gives me his my number, and I type it into my contacts. I reply with mine verbally, since he has no way to write it down. "I'll try to remember it," he says. "I swear I will! I'll call you first, how's that?!"

I nod. "Okay."

"See you around!" he says cheerily, then runs off with his massive ice cream cone. I laugh, shaking my head. He was definitely an usual person. I've never met anyone like him... I gaze down at his contact in my phone with a smile. I doubt he'll remember my number, he seems awfully scatterbrained.

I walk home with a smile on my face that day. I make polite small talk with my dad (who was home for once) which surprises him big time. I think he suspects that something happened, but who cares. Making friends is not a crime... I smile to myself. I've made a friend... And not just any friend, a boy friend. That came out wrong. A guy friend. I laugh at myself, then collapse on my bed with my phone in my hand. What a day it's been... I really need to get some sleep... I shut my eyes, right about to drift off...

RING! RING!

I sit up bolt upright, nearly flinging my phone across the room. "You scared me!" I yell at it with a laugh. It's probably Levy. But to my surprise, it's no other than the scarf-wearing weirdo I met earlier today. I answer the phone with a smile, "Hello?"

"Told you I'd call!" He shouts, then hangs up before I have a chance to say anything. I collapse to the floor, busting a gut laughing. This guy is insane... I smile fondly to myself.

Yep, a scarf-wearing weirdo indeed.

I hope Natsu wasn't too OOC: I tried my best :)

Thanks so, so much for reading! Feel free to drop a review, I would greatly appreciate it!

~ForeverDreamer12, signing out.