Lucy woke up feeling fresh and happy. Today was the day her dreams would start coming true. She had no doubt that after the application process, she would be going to the school of her dreams: Fairy Tail High.

Once dressed, Lucy pulled out her phone, the one expensive thing she had taken from home, and called the number written on her hand.

"Hello?" His voice asked after three rings.

"Hi. It's Lucy...from last night. You said you would recommend me at Fairy Tail." Now that Lucy was talking to him, she was starting to feel a little awkward. She'd never had to ask anyone for anything before, and she didn't know how to go about it.

"Oh yeah! I did, didn't I? How about we meet at the school? I can talk to Gramps for you." Natsu sounded bright and awake, even though it was only about seven in the morning.

"Sounds good. I guess I'll meet you there then."

"Bye." Natsu hung up.

Lucy walked up to the gate that led to the courtyard of the school grounds, where Natsu was waiting on the other side.

"Hi Luigi!" He greeted her brightly, tilting his head with a grin.

"Lucy." She corrected in return. She wished this pink-haired idiot would just remember her name.

"Right." He opened up the gate to let her in and led her through the courtyard to the door of the actual school building, pulling it open to let her in. He was still smiling, and Lucy had to admit it helped her calm down a little.

The two walked into the headmaster's office where Master Makarov was sitting at a desk that looked way too big for him.

"Oh, hello Natsu. Lucy." He welcomed them with a smile. At least he remembered my name, thought Lucy.

"Hiya Gramps!" Natsu said, plopping down into one of the chairs facing the headmaster's desk. "I'm giving a recommendation."

"I assumed that was so." The old man said patiently, obviously used to the pink-haired boy.

"How do I do that?" Lucy nearly face-palmed. This kid didn't even know how to recommend her?

"Lucy, I need you to fill out this sheet. Natsu, all you have to do is sign it." He handed me a sheet of paper with a questionnaire on it, and a black pen. "These questions are just to outline why you want to come to Fairy Tail, which area you want to specialize in, why you should be chosen, etc. Feel free to fill it out here."

Natsu and the headmaster talked while Lucy worked on the survey. Why should Fairy Tail consider you for enrollment? (What makes your talent/dream special?) She froze, remembering her thought process the day before. There wasn't anything about her that made her special. Lucy made a split second decision, picked up the pen, and wrote her answer. Nothing. She almost crossed it out, but didn't, because she realized she didn't even have another option. She could lie, but it hardly seemed right to start the beginning of her life with deception.

She handed the sheet to Natsu for him to sign, and turned red when he started to read her answers. A few seconds later, he placed it on the table and signed it with a flourish, and Lucy felt her heart speed up. What if she just ruined her chances?

Natsu handed to sheet to Makarov, who also looked it over. After he was done, he glanced up at her and smiled, "I like your answers. Now all you have to do is provide us with a sample of your work. An audition, of sorts." He set the paper on his desk as a dismissal, but Lucy didn't stand yet.

"But I didn't have a reason as to why I deserve to go here." She was confused. She had been ready to be turned down.

He grinned, almost like a child. "That's good. We need more people like you here."

"People like me?"

"Modest." He cast a meaningful glance at the pink-haired boy sitting next to Lucy, but the subject of the look remained oblivious, just looking between the two people staring at him curiously.

"What?" He asked.

Master Makarov just sighed and looked back at Lucy. "How does a week sound? You said to wanted to go into creative writing, right? Do you think you will be able to write a short story by then?" Lucy nodded. "Alright. I'll see you then. Unless you have any more questions?"

"No. I'm alright. I'll be back in a week." Lucy smiled at happily before jumping up to head to the door, Natsu right behind her.

They walked out of the office and by the secretary's desk, Natsu throwing a quick, "Bye, Mira," over his shoulder at the young white-blond haired girl sitting there right before they walked out the door.

Lucy was practically skipping by this point. She was so close!

Natsu didn't say anything as they walked out of the school, but he kept sending glances at the now happy-go-lucky girl walking beside him. She was so different from the day before. Frustrated and upset had been replaced by happiness and excitement. Natsu decided he liked this side of her. Maybe when she started going to Fairy Tail, they could be friends.

The two teenagers separated several streets from the school grounds, saying goodbye before walking in their respective directions. Lucy paused to wonder where he was going, since she was pretty sure he lived on campus, but quickly dismissed it, her thoughts returning to the week ahead of her.