11. I Don't Know What To Think

(Lucy's POV)

Exactly one month has passed since Sting and I have said our weird farewells. I guess that's what I should call it…a farewell. I didn't really think so at the time, but now…I just don't know.

Apparently I'm acting really strange, this according to almost everyone at the guild. The only one who hasn't said anything is Natsu, which is kind of weird. I mean, he thought I was a little different before and he seemed kind of shocked. I was too, so how could he not be? However, after Sting had left that day, I went back up to my room, and there Natsu was, cleaning up.

He jumped when I had walked in, but after that he just kind of stared at me. He also asked me the weirdest question, which had been,

"Why are you still here Luce?"

It was almost as if he had known something, but that was ridiculous. This was Natsu, right? The densest idiot ever. There's no way he could have known anything, and especially not about my confusing feelings that seem to contradict itself thousands and thousands of times over.

It all happened to fast.

Sting had kissed me, but then it was revealed that he was drunk, so I brushed off his kiss, telling myself it wasn't on purpose. It couldn't mean anything…but I was still so confused. Earlier on, Sting had told me that it was all "my fault".

What was my fault?

I was still considering this even though it was obvious he had still been drunk off his mind. However, it didn't help when his kiss still lingered on my lips. I was even having dreams about it now, and it was actually starting to seriously piss me off.

I haven't seen the jackass in a month, so what right does he get to be in my dreams when he hasn't contacted me and the fact of his sudden disappearance.

Why does he get the fucking right?

And why does my heart still hurt when I think about it?

Me being me, of course I've considered that it might be…love as one would call it, but I refuse to believe any shit like that.

It's Sting.

Of course, I can't be "in love" with him. Even the thought is ridiculous…but that just brings me back to Natsu.

Natsu.

He was acting so strange lately, being more attentive to how he fought, and when I got hurt. He was acting weirdly motherly in my opinion, but when I would try and thank him he only stared at me with those wide, black eyes of his, and turn away.

It's like…he was taking care of me even more than usual, but he wouldn't actually speak to me…like he was almost afraid to, and I didn't know why.

It was seriously starting to freak me out a little because he was always so loud, and sometimes he really didn't understand the meaning of "personal space", but lately since Sting's left it's like he's trying to be extra careful about something.

I just do not know how to act in this situation.

I seriously need some help.

(Sting's POV)

One… whole… fucking… month.

That's how long it's been since I have seen Lucy, and it was driving me insane.

Pathetic, isn't it?

Of course, I tried everything to not think of her by taking various jobs, but in the end all that would happen was that something…there was always that one fucking something that would remind me of said Blondie soon enough on those fucking missions of mine, so eventually even that wasn't enough to stop my pathetic thoughts.

Why did I fall for her?

Just…why did it have to be her?

Why god damnit?!

I groaned, and placed my head into my hands. Currently, I was in a small café trying to get away from everything, even jobs. Not even Lector was here with me now. Nope. I was all alone. Yippe fucking ki-yay.

I groaned again.

"Are you okay Sir?"

I turned my head and studied the irritatingly happy, smiling, brown-haired waitress. Well good for her. I am so glad that her life is going so well. Hope she wins a fucking award.

Apparently, my thoughts were spoken aloud because she gave a gasp and turned away, shooting a glare in my direction.

Oh.

Oops?

Back to Lucy…this was her fault.

It was her fault for talking to me in the first place…

Or did I talk to her?

Oh, I might have been the one to talk to her first…well she was making such a big racket in those woods. I was taking a nap, so of course I had to talk to her to tell her to shut up.

I closed my eyes, and rested my head on my arms. I was just so tired of all of this.

So, so tired…

(Lucy's POV)

I'm doing another solo mission. That's the fifth one this month. This time it's to help figure out some clues to a series of riddles. It sounded pretty freaking easy to me, so I took it. Plus…14,000 Jewels for something as ridiculous as that?

No problem.

I'll do it.

The problem was where these stupid people were located. It was in the middle of nowhere! Seriously! I actually had to ask for directions to where to go from several other people, and most of them just gave vague directions like,

"Oh? It's somewhere to the right of this city right?"

Like that really helps. I already knew that much. However, one lady was especially useful and really helped me out by drawing a quick sketch of a map for me. So here I was, in the middle of a giant forest-like thing clutching onto this map.

Now where were these hermits…?

"Hello!"

I jumped, startled at the sudden noise. I looked up and saw a bright orange and yellow bird peering down at me with what looked to be a ginormous smile. Did that thing just speak? Oh what's so weird about that when there's Happy, a flying cat! I just sighed as if I came across this every day.

"Hi," I mumbled, not expecting a response.

"Are you Lucy?" it asked. My eyes widened. How did it know that?

"Yeah…I am. How did you know?" I asked. The bird pushed down to the ground and landed in front of my feet. It smiled up at me, and then circled me. What the hell?!

"Yeah, you're her, all right!" the thing exclaimed. I just stared at it. I have know idea how to respond to this.

Then, so suddenly I almost screamed, there was a quick, bright light and standing where the bird had been was a young girl who looked to be almost fourteen. She gave me a dazzling smile.

"It's nice to meet you! I'm Frida!"

Frida?

As in…Frida, the girl who sent in the request. The one I was on right now? The one… where I was to be paid 14,000 Jewels? That Frida?

"Come, come! I'll show you to my house. Don't worry. I won't hurt you like Clara. Clara was a crazy evil bitch. Sorry about her… come on, come on!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. She was running, and running fast at that. I started to pant as I sprinted to keep up, her hand still latching onto mine. Her grip was amazingly tight.

Finally, after what seemed to be a marathon of running, we had both arrived at a small cottage. It looked as if it had come out of some fairy tale…huh.

"Isn't it delightful?! It was my mother's but sadly…she's passed away now…oh well. Well, come in! I need to show you the riddles!" she exclaimed. She dragged me into the house and sat me down at her kitchen table.

Why do I always get the crazy ones to request my missions?

Frida scurried about the house, tripping almost five times and throwing things in various directions. Finally, after a loud, "Ah ha!" she hurried over to me and shoved a stack of loose papers in my arms, making me almost drop them.

"Those are the riddles," she informed me. I looked down at the stack of papers. They were in bad shape…and as I looked closer, I could see that each page had on riddle. That's strange…

I studied the riddles, spreading them out on the table. I picked a few up and read them.

What's in between the black box and golden shoes?

I frowned and looked at the next one.

If you throw me from the window,

I will leave a grieving wife.

Bring me back, but in the door, and

You'll see someone giving life!

What am I?

These weren't weird riddles…they were just riddles that required thinking. I had already gotten both answers just from rereading them twice. I told Frida my exact thoughts. Frida looked surprised, and then asked,

"Well what are the answers?!"

I sighed.

I pointed at the first one.

"Look. It says, 'What's in between the black box and golden shoes?' Well, look at it closely. Don't really think about what the words are saying. Think about the sentence. The word "and" is between "the black box" and "golden shoes". Therefore, the answer would be "and". See it now?"

Frida looked down at it and nodded. Her eyes drifted towards the next one.

"What's the answer to that one?" she asked. I gave a smile.

"It's the letter "n". Think about it. If you take "n" from "window" then it would be "widow" which means a "grieving wife" which it said it would "leave". And if you add the "n" to door, then it could be "donor" which would save a life…like a heart donor. You understand now? These are just brain teasers."

Frida looked down at all the riddles.

"I see it now…oh…well I guess I shouldn't have hired other mages to figure this out…oops," she said.

"You hired more mages?" I asked, incredulously. She looked sheepish.

"Kind of," she mumbled, glancing down at her feet. I shook my head.

"Are they already on their way?" I asked.

"Yeah…actually I think they just got here," she said, moving towards the door. I shook my head again and started to follow her. "They're from Sabertooth," she added.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Sabertooth?

Sting.

Is…is it Sting?! What if it is?! What would I do?! Should I hide?! Why…why oh why, out of all the other guilds, did it have to be Sabertooth?! I frantically thought about jumping into one of her closets and just living out the rest of my life in there, but I calmed myself down.

Cool it Lucy. You are a grown woman and it does not matter that it could be Sting, the guy who kissed you and confused you deeply, behind that door. It does not matter…and it might not even be him, right?

I can do this…

Nope.

I can't.

Forget it.

Just as I decided to be a coward, it was too late. Frida had already opened the door to reveal none other than…Rogue and Frosh.

Oh.

I stared at them for a few quick seconds before walking towards them, extending my hand to shake theirs. I haven't seen any of them since the whole crazy incident with Clara and I liked both of them, so actually this wasn't a bad thing.

Right?

"Lucy?" Rogue asked, stepping inside, completely ignoring Frida who looked as if she was about to send him back to where he came from with a rude, "Sorry, don't actually need you, bye." Oh Frida…

"Umm hi Rogue," I mumbled. I could feel the blush heating up my cheeks, and I cursed inwardly for being such a girl.

"What are you doing here?!" he demanded. I flinched back. What the hell?! Why was he being so abruptly mean to me?! Rogue glanced behind him, almost as if he was worried. What…? Why?

Suddenly, a voice that I knew way to well for me to like exclaimed, "Rogue! You ass! You fucking left me behind! The first time I come with you on a mission you leave me behind! Jackass!"

Oh.

I get it now.

So the jackass was here. I glanced at Frida who looked a little confused, but I tore my gaze away to look at the form that had finally appeared in the doorway.

Sting Eucliffe.

Sting.

(Sting's POV)

Lucy.

It was Lucy.

Lucy Heartfilia.

She was here. Why? I didn't understand. What was she doing at the place of our mission? Did Rogue set this up? I don't understand…I gave a sharp glance at Rogue who looked as confused as I felt, although there was also a mixture of an, "oh shit" somewhere in there. I tore my gaze away from him and locked gazes with the girl I had sadly fallen for.

Damnit.

I thought I had gotten just a little bit over the infuriating blonde. That's why I finally decided to go on a mission with Rogue again. But damnit…apparently I was not over Lucy Heartfilia.

I hated her for it.

It's not fair that she made me feel this way.

I hate her…I hate her…I definitely hate her for making me…lov—no…not yet. I gave her one of my best smiles, as if to hide the annoying pain deep inside of my chest. All the emotions that I've been pushing back and down had come rising up, pouring out, and it took all my effort…all my strength not to take her right then and there.

This was getting annoying.

She didn't say a word, as did I. We were both silent, creating an awkward pressure in the entire room. It was her that tore away from the lockdown of gazes first. She coughed awkwardly, and still remained silent.

I looked at the little girl who was still standing by the door and glared at her. This was partially her fault too.

"Is she doing this mission too? The one about the riddles?" I snapped at her. The girl only nodded…what was her name again? Ferda? Frodo? I don't know…something like that.

"Oops?" she offered. I scoffed. I didn't know where to look…I kept wanting to look at her, but I was afraid she would see right through me.

What the hell?

What is up with me?

Afraid? Me?

Yeah…I guess Lucy did that too me.

I hate her for doing this to me. It's her fault.

"Well what should we do now?" I growled, looking at everything except Lucy. Rogue remained quiet, as did everyone else. Finally, I turned towards Lucy who was still staring at me.

"Well what do you think?" I asked. Her eyes widened and she shuffled on her feet. Finally she looked at me and just stared.

"I don't know what to think."

…I had a feeling that she was talking about more than just this small dilemma.

*Since only TWO people reviewed my last chapter…:( I will answer them for being amazing. I really wished I got more reviews…you guys need to know that I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHAPTER, geesh. So much to ask, really? Well…

SimplyIsabelleS- Awww! Thank you so much. Having one of my chapters called a masterpiece really means a lot to me so thank you. And yup…I agree completely. Lucy should have totally went after him! Argh…but come one…clueless. Haha, plus if she went after him then this story would pretty much be done so yeah…oh well. Well thank you for leaving a review!

Guest: Thank you so much! Means more than you might think. *-* ;)

Well anyways…..I leave you guys for today, and pllllleeeassee leave a review?! Please?

Bai guys. :)

-DiAnna44

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