Hey guys! So this is a short chapter and it only took like an hour to write but… Thanks for reading Enjoy!

After I had made it to my real class, I took my normal seat in the back of the class. I rested my head on my hand with a sigh. Maybe life could be better, maybe there was something more than just whips and hot irons. I sighed again. Maybe my dream wasn't just a dream, but maybe's are risky things. Maybe's aren't always true. Maybe's can deceive.

Levy broke my concentration on the topic of unforgiving maybe's with a poke on the shoulder.

"Hey!" she cheered.

I smiled in return. Friends. Such an interesting word. People usually used it so loosely. I had never had a friend, so I couldn't say what it meant to me. I thought it meant someone who was there for you, someone you could trust. I know better now, friends are more than just reliable people. Friends are an extension of family, or in my case, just plain family.

Class started, but i couldn't get my mind off of Natsu's friends. I wondered why they were acting so weird. "Was it me? No i-it couldn't be…. Could it?" I sighed for a third time. I knew I shouldn't think about it but I had never felt true love before, this was a first.

I heard the teacher call my name, and I looked up from my desk. "Oh, uh could you repeat the question," I asked timidly, as a few students began to giggle. "Who would you like as your partner for the project, Ms. Heartfilia," I thought for a second. "I won't be able to go to anyone's house so I guess I'll have to do it by myself." I took a quick breath,

"I'll… do it by myself," I tried to say with as much lightheartedness as I could. I gave a reassuring smile, hoping the teacher would let me. He nodded before moving on. I breathed in relief.

I jumped as the bell rang to signal my off period. I gathered my books and headed off to my usual spot to study. As I was walking, someone stuck out their foot causing me to fall and land face-first on the floor of the school. I heard a snicker above me. I looked up to see a blonde staring at me.

"I heard you and Natsu are a "thing" now," she made air quotes around 'thing.'

"Just so you know Natsu is mine and he'll always be, even though he doesn't know it, and if I ever see you around him again then i might have to…" she paused, "Let's just say Natsu won't really see you again," she smiled menacingly.

I stood up and gathered my books. I started to walk away but she called after me.

"Hey slut! Nice scars!" she began to laugh as I realized my shirt had come up revealing some old scars that hadn't healed right. Tears began to form in my eyes as i pulled down my shirt and started to run off. I started to cry in spite of myself. I felt the the warm tears running down my flushed cheeks.

I continued running until I hit something tall and buff. I looked up to see a smiling Natsu above me.

"Hey Lu…" he stopped and his smile faded. Before long he was next to me helping me up.

"What's wrong? Who hurt you!?" i could hear his voice rising and anger boiling inside of him, "I swear to God when I find them, I'll…" I cut him off, "Natsu it's fine. I'm fine," I looked at him reassuringly, but his expression didn't change. He took my shoulders in his arms. "Luce," I tried to wipe away my tears to show him I was fine, but I found myself unable to move. He held his gaze. "It almost looks like…. No it can't be i couldn't get my hopes up who could ever love me?" I thought. "It was just some blonde chick…" He cut me off "Elle!" He said with irritation. "Sorry she thinks that i like her, no biggie." I smiled. That was reassuring.

Soon school was over and Natsu was walking me home. When we were a block away from my house, I paused in shock. My dad's car was in the driveway. He wasn't supposed to be home until later. I told natsu that I was ok to walk the rest of the way alone. He hesitated a little before running off with a wave. I hurried off into my house.

"LUCY DEAR!" My father said sarcastically. I cringed. He walked in the room obviously drunk. "So…. who's that Natsu kid?"