Lucy stared with broken eyes at the door in front of her for a while before turning around to head back to her bus stop, muttering quietly to herself.

"A recommendation from one of the current or alum students? It didn't say anything about this on the website."

She thought back to her conversation with the headmaster, Master Makarov. "I'm sorry child, but in order for us to filter applications, all applicants must have a recommendation from a current or alum students. If you can find someone to recommend you, we will accept your application and allow you to showcase your skills, but until then I am afraid you cannot apply."

"But I-" Lucy had tried to think of a reason why she deserved to go there without a recommendation, but without throwing her father's money and title around, which she had sworn to herself not to do, there wasn't anything that set her apart from the other applicants.

"Child, I would love to have you here. I never object to new talent, but we would be swamped with applications without a condition, and that condition is a recommendation."

"Alright." Lucy had responded, holding back tears. She had gotten up and walked out of the Headmaster's office without another word.

Now Lucy stared up at the hotel room ceiling, finally out of tears. Reflecting on the conversation, her resolve returned. She sat up on the bed and said to herself, "I'm going to get into Fairy Tail. Like something small like a recommendation could get in the way of Lucy Heartfilia. I've spent enough time pitying myself, and now its time to find someone to recommend me." She stood up and marched to the door, almost forgetting to fix her make-up. She stopped just before her hand reached the doorknob, realizing that she probably looked a mess. She put off her goal for a few minutes in order to apply her make-up again before finally heading out.

"Ugh," Lucy slumped down into a booth at a diner after three hours of wandering around town, asking anyone who looked her age if they went to Fairy Tail and finding no one. She laid her head on her arms and groaned again. Who knew it could be so hard to find someone in this little town. Her resolve had turned into frustration. "Why does the universe hate me?" She whispered to herself.

"Well, I wouldn't say that. People always say that it's when you aren't searching that you find the lost remote...or something like that."

Lucy's head snapped up at the voice. Sitting across from her looking at her menu was a boy with pink hair who looked about her age.

"Do I know you?" Lucy asked the complete stranger. She glanced around, thinking maybe the diner had filled up and the spot across from her was the only one left. That wasn't the case; her table was still surrounded by empty ones.

"Nope." He said happily, as if it was completely normal for someone to just plop down at a stranger's table like they had been friends forever. "I'm Natsu Dragneel. Nice to meet you…" He looked at her expectantly.

"Lucy." Lucy was still confused. Why was this kid talking to her?

"Hey, should I get the hamburger or the fish'n'chips? What sounds better to you? Ah, doesn't matter, I'll just get them both."

"I hope you're paying for that appetite of yours." Lucy responded.

He looked up at her, surprised. "But I'm offering good conversation, the least you could do is pay for my food."

"I didn't ask for you to sit at my table. Why are you here, anyway?"

"Ummmm...I had a reason... Oh yeah!" His eyes light up as he remembers. "I saw you asking around for people from Fairy Tail, and so I followed you here."

He forgot that? Wait...Fairy Tail?!

"You go to Fairy Tail High?" Lucy asked, hope lighting up her eyes.

"Yep. I'm guessing you need a recommendation?" Lucy nodded enthusiastically. "I might be willing to give you one if you buy me dinner." Natsu leaned forward with a glint in his eyes like he was selling her something under the table.

"Deal." Lucy didn't even hesitate to accept his offer. Natsu leaned back, satisfied.

"So, what are you getting?" He asked, back to acting like they had known each other for forever.

"I think a salad." Lucy figured she should eat light, since it seemed like the pink-haired boy would be taking full advantage of the free meal.

"Cool. I'm going to get a hamburger, the fish'n'chips, some french fries and onion rings...ooh, and a slice of chocolate cake."

Lucy wondered how this boy could eat so much and still be so toned.

A half an hour later, Natsu was leaning back against the booth, rubbing his full stomach happily. "It's been awhile since I've eaten so well. Thanks Luigi!"

"It's Lucy." She replied through gritted teeth, trying to be polite in case he decided to take back his offer.

"Give me your hand." Natsu said suddenly, reaching for her.

"Why should I?" Lucy leaned away from the pink-haired boy.

"So I can give you my number, duh." Natsu rolled his eyes, as if it should have been obvious.

"Why do I need your number?" The blonde was getting more and more confused as the conversation continued.

The boy across from her sighed. "The recommendation."

"Oh." Lucy gave him her hand as he pulled a pen from his shirt pocket.

Noticing that she was looking at the pen, Natsu said, "I'm a songwriter. I take it with me everywhere."

"Oh."

Once Lucy had paid for the food, sighing while she did so at the state of her wallet, the two teens left the diner, and headed in opposite directions, Natsu back to the school dorms and Lucy to her hotel.

Before she went to bed, Lucy spent a few minutes looking at the number written on her hand. The day had been one long emotional rollercoaster, but she had pulled through. Tomorrow she would called the strange pink-haired boy and finally be able to apply to Fairy Tail.