12: Because I Fell For You.

(Lucy's POV)

This was just so…complicated.

Like seriously.

Here I was, trying to do my mission, and well doing it, but then he has to come walking in and screw up my entire focus.

Who does that?!

I meant what I said. I really didn't know what to think. Honestly, if I couldn't even do a mission without seeing him, or hell even thinking of him, then I might just be DONE with missions.

"So you guys know each other?" Frida asked, breaking my train of thoughts. I nodded numbly, and Sting looked away with pursed lips.

Jackass.

"Yeah, I know her," he mumbled.

His lips were still pursed. Huh. I wonder why…

"Yeah…" I said softly.

Why was I paying so much attention to his lips? Geesh. I knew why though…I could still remember how those lips felt against mine.

God damnit I need to stop all thinking whatsoever if this was where it was going to lead…I seriously hate feelings. Rogue coughed, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"So, do you need us for this mission?" he asked. Frida focused her attention on him, and smiled.

"Yeah. Why not? The mission could finish earlier if we did that. Here…let's work in groups. I will work with the two cats and the dark-haired boy, and Lucy you can work with…whatever his name is," Frida said, gesturing her head towards Sting.

You have got to be kidding me.

"Umm I don't really think that's really necessary Frida…I'm sure I could manage without—"

"I'll pay you exactly 5,000 more Jewels if you do…that goes for both of you," Frida cut in.

I stilled.

She was offering me a lot more money just to work with him?

Well that's weird…but I needed the money no matter how much I didn't want to work with the guy who has some of the softest lips in existence.

"Fine…" I grumbled, walking over towards Sting picking up some of the riddles on the way. Sting's eyes widened as I walked over towards him. "Let's just do this," I said.

I sat down at one of the tables and Sting sat across from me. I placed down the cards in front of us, and we got to work. All the riddles were simple, like before…all of them just brain teasers and it made me wonder why was this even a mission?

I finished in record time, but Sting was only on his third riddle. Huh.

Wish he would hurry it up already...

(Sting's POV)

I cannot focus on anything right now, most of all these stupid ass riddles.

She was right in front of me…no more than two feet away.

I could hear every movement she made. Her breaths, her soft sighs, when she crossed her arms…everything.

Why did the little girl-brat think that this would be a good idea?

Lucy finished right away just as I was on my third one…how?! Oh wait…she's Lucy, of course she did.

I huffed, irritated because that also meant Lucy was obviously not suffering from a severe case of attraction like I was.

I hated her for it.

"Aren't you done yet?" Lucy sighed, crossing her arms for I think was the sixth time. I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry that I'm completely bored by this," I said, forcing a glare. She cracked a smirk.

"Oh yeah? Are you sure it's not because you just can't figure it out, idiot," she retorted. My glare hardened.

"No it's because unlike a book-nerd virgin that I might know, I actually have a life." She blushed.

"I am not a virgin!" she protested.

This time it was my turn to smirk. It wasn't a bad thing that she was…in fact there was that stupid part of me that was glad she was.

I don't even want to imagine anybody besides me doing that with her.

Oh for fucks sake…did I really just think that?

"Sure you're not…" I couldn't help saying. Her whole face became tomato-red and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. I haven't talked to this chick in ages and no matter how fucking sappy it was, I sort of missed it.

Still hate her.

"I'm not!" she kept protesting.

"Whatever Blondie," I muttered, figuring out the answer to the third riddle and moving onto the fourth... these were some easy riddles…all you had to do was look for clues actually in the sentence.

"Jackass," she mumbled, holding her arms close to her chest. My eyes flickered back to her to see her pouting while looking away.

"Why do you have to look so damn cute?" I wondered….

Her head snapped towards me. Her entire demeanor changed. Oh shit…did I just say that out loud? Fuck.

"What was that?" she asked, leaning in a bit. Shit. I did say it out loud…what the hell is wrong with me?!

"Nothing, go back to your pouting," I told her. She glared at me, but didn't question it any further.

Good. I really don't think I could handle that right now.

I glanced over at Rogue and the others and saw that they weren't even really working. Actually…they were staring at the pair of us.

Oh?

So we're just entertainment for them, huh?

Fuck no.

I stood up and announced that I was going to be outside completing my riddles.

Lucy's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything. However, just as I was finally through the door and away from those freaks, I heard Frida say something along the lines of, "Here Lucy. Take some more riddles and go with him! I'm sure this job could be completed in no time!"

I stopped in my tracks, listening for the response.

"No…I'm sure it's okay…" she said, but then the little bitch cut in saying,

"I'll give you an extra two thousand Jewels if you do."

What the fuck?

Where the hell was she getting all of this money from anyways? And why did she keep giving it away for pretty much…well blackmail! I shook my head, pissed beyond belief.

I didn't turn around or look back as I stormed outside and sat down in the middle of a small clearing. Lucy joined me, sitting a good six feet away from me.

Good.

At least she was further away this time, rather than two feet.

I just focused on the riddles, while Lucy focused on hers. Neither of us said a word, and I'm pretty sure both of us liked that…that is until Lucy decided to speak up.

"So why'd you want to leave the cabin?" she asked. I rolled my eyes at how nonchalant she was trying to sound.

"Why? You worried or something?" I asked. Lucy bit her lip.

"No. I'm tired of the freaking silence. I'm already done, so…yeah," she said. Her excuse was pathetic, but I didn't have the energy to make a comment on it. And she was already done?!

This is why I fucking hate her.

"Yeah, whatever," I said, letting it pass.

She stilled, and I noticed her gaze drift off towards the forest. A small, secret smile flickered on her face as she completely zoned out. It seemed like she was remembering something…freaky.

I looked towards the forest and it hit me.

I met Lucy in a forest.

That's when this whole fucking mess all began…ironic, huh?

"Hey Sting?" she asked suddenly. My head snapped towards her and we met gazes.

"Yeah?" I asked, placing one of my riddles down.

"Why were you taking a nap in the forest? You know…the one I met you in," she said, as if I forgot when I was literally just reminiscing about it a few seconds earlier.

I thought back.

Oh yeah.

She woke me from my nap…man…it was a good nap too. Wait, why was I in the forest? Huh. I don't…

"I don't remember," I informed her, looking back down at the riddles. She looked a little disappointed.

"Oh," she said simply.

"Yeah," I responded.

Why do I feel like I disappointed her? I mean what the fuck did she expect? Some long elaborate story on how I went into the forest to think about life or something? Is that what she—oh yeah. Actually…wasn't that why…?

"I went in the forest to think," I finally said, surprising myself. She looked surprised too. I went on. "I got in a fight with my old master…he had just kicked someone out of the guild and I kind of said something. He didn't really do anything since what I said wasn't really a big deal, but it meant a lot to me. I was just thinking about how screwed up our guild kind of was and…I don't know, I just went into the forest to think about it."

Why was I telling her this? However…I kept telling my story.

"I mean…when I was little I always wanted to be in a guild where they made you strong…which Sabertooth did do, but there was always that part of me which knew it wasn't supposed to be like that. My best friend, Lector…he got bullied a lot and I made a promise to him that I would beat your best friend, Natsu to prove to all of those who bullied him that I had defeated a dragon.

I also joined the guild to get stronger for him…I wanted to prove all of those bullies wrong too, but also…I wanted to prove to myself that I deserved the title of being a dragon slayer. You might know that…yeah, I killed my parent."

Sting, shut up. Stop talking, I thought. I kept talking though.

"I didn't want to…but he made me. My dad…he told me that it would make me stronger and I would be able to protect those who would become dear to me, and when I met Lector I finally realized the truth behind those words, but I hated it.

I hated knowing that most of my power was from killing me father who yeah, I loved.

I wanted to be strong because it was me. I didn't want my strength to come from my dragon slayer powers…but of course it did.

Because that's what my strength was, and it pissed me off to no low end. I didn't grow up in a guild like Fairy Tail where it's important to fight for your friends and just your friends. No. I grew up in a guild that taught you survival of the fittest and yeah I am grateful for that. Because I fear for the day when…"

Stop talking. Why are you spewing your whole fucking life story? Why to her?

I kept talking though…I just couldn't stop. Lucy was listening with rapt attention and I looked at her straight in the eye and kept on with my story.

"Because I feared the day of when I would lose those friends.

I'm glad that I didn't grow up in a place like Fairy Tail because what if one day…you lost all of those friends…why keep fighting? What then? What would be the meaning anymore?! So, I never thought like that…but when Natsu told me that, for a quick second I wished I was him…or at least someone like him.

I wanted friends.

People who could really rely on me, and people I could go see in my free time. Not people who saw you as strength and nothing else. Not people who looked at you with hate when you messed something up once.

I hated it, but at the same time…I am so grateful.

So yeah Lucy. That's what I was doing in that god damn forest…that's what I was thinking about…and I guess somehow I had started taking a nap, and that's when you came traipsing through screaming like a fucking banshee. And I think you know what happens next," I said.

Why the fuck did I just tell her all of that?

What is she going to think of me now?

I swear to fucking god if she offers me a place at Fairy Tail…

"I did not sound like a banshee," she mumbled, as a blush spread across her cheeks. She was avoiding all eye contact with me. I was about to respond but she beat me to it. "I'm glad you grew up in Sabertooth too Sting, and I'm sorry about your father. Thank…thank you for telling me all of that…you didn't have to," she finally said.

Yeah, I didn't…so why in the hell did I?

"Yeah," I said.

What else could I say?

Damn…I mean I was sort of afraid that if I said anymore then every single fucking little secret in me would come pouring out.

I'm pathetic.

What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

How hard have you fallen, Sting?

(Lucy's POV)

I was…I was not expecting that. Sting…oh god, Sting. He was such a jackass! He was just a fucking jackass for making me feel this way!

Damn him!

Just…just damn him!

Damn him. Damn him. Damn him. Damn him. Damn him!

"I hate you," I whispered to myself. I froze realizing I just said that in front of him. Oh god…now he thinks I hate him…but I do.

I do hate him.

I hate everything about him.

I hate his smile.

I hate his smirk.

I hate his attitude.

I hate his personality.

I hate his skill.

I hate him.

I hate him.

I hate him…

I hate him.

I…I have to hate him. Because if I don't hate him then what else is there?

What else is there besides hate towards him? I hate him even more now…after telling me his life story. Why did I have to know that?

God damnit, I hate him!

"Yeah. I figured," Sting said, cutting off my thoughts. I looked up at him.

"What?" I asked, unintelligently.

"I know you hate me," he said, meeting my gaze. Oh fuck. His eyes…those damn eyes! Oh fuck. I have a serious problem. I cannot even stop thinking about the jackass!

"No I don't," I said without thinking. I do though! Why did I deny it?! I do! I do….

Right?

Because…if it's not hate then what is it?

I closed my eyes.

Why have I been denying it for so long?

Why?

I know exactly what it is…so why do I keep denying it? And why do I keep insisting I hate him?

"Actually yeah…yeah I do," I said, still without thinking.

Yeah…I do hate him.

I hate him for making me feel this way.

I opened my eyes and saw him staring at me. I couldn't read the expression on his face. I'm not sure if I even wanted to, to be perfectly honest.

"Why?" he asked finally. Why to what? What was he asking? Wait…what did I say? Oh yeah… "I hate him".

And he was asking me why?

Was he being serious? He had to know why…right?

This is so confusingly complicated….

Pshh. "Why".

What a funny word.

And what an enormous question to ask of somebody. What would I say? And why would I say it?

Why?

WHY?

How can three letters cause so much emotional turmoil? Like how does that even make sense?

W. H. Y.

I know why. I already confirmed it earlier so just say it. What is there to lose anyways? Just get it out now…and be done with it.

Sting was still watching me, waiting for my answer. I still couldn't read his expression, but I took a deep breath and finally the words slipped out of my mouth.

"Because I fell for you," I finally said. "Because I fell for you…that's why…that's why I hate you."

*Whooh. This story already has 77 pages in single-spaced, twelve font. Geesh. I write more in this fanfiction than my actual STORIES that I wish to get published one day…anyways…did you like the chapter?

I liked it.

It was fun to write.

It might have gotten a little confusing at the end though. Haha. Sorry.

ANYWAYS….so at the end of the eleventh chapter I MAY have hinted that I wanted more reviews and POOF. I GOT EIGHTEEN REVIEWS FOR MY LAST CHAPTER. THAT IS THE MOST I HAVE EVER GOTTEN AND I WAS SO HAPPY. YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE MADE ME HAPPY WITH ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK. SO THANK YOU.

And wouldn't it just be WONDERFUL if you…*cough, cough* left just as many reviews? Huh? Think you can break the record of eighteen? Haha…well thank you for reading guys and I love you all. Seriously. You guys are amazing, and you would be even MOOOOOREEE amazing if you left a review. Haha just kidding.

No seriously.

I like reviews.

Well…

Bai guys.

-DiAnna44 :)

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