Chapter Twenty-Five: Every Life Has the Potential to be a Fairytale.
Lucy's POV
As I sat under a tree near the lake, Aquamarine, I tried to think happy thoughts. The Shadows had reported back to me earlier in the day and let me know Gray and Natsu had received the message. Now all I had to do was wait. Which kind of stunk. Sometimes the wait was even worse than the actual problem itself. It was pretty cold too and I regretted not bringing a jacket along since it was eleven at night.
Suddenly, the two shadows I sent to look out for them appeared in front of me. I nearly fell backwards at the surprise.
They're nearly here, said Ikuto and Nikki.
"I see. Thank you," I said.
You're sure about your decision right? said Nikki.
I nodded my head, "Yeah."
Then we're going back, said them both.
"OK," I said, "Thanks. I'll let you know how it turns out."
They disappeared just as two people walked into the clearing. I recognised them both in the moonlight even if they were just slightly lighted silhouettes since one was shirtless and one had a scarf.
I was about to stand up and walk over to them when I froze at the last minute and ran behind the tree I was sitting under, hyperventilating.
I can't do it, I can't do it! I thought, having a mental breakdown behind the tree. I let out large breaths and tried to calm myself down. It was like before a big test. Firstly you feel confident and determined but at the last minute when you actually have to do it, you have a big breakdown and suddenly feel nervous.
"Oi, Lucy, we know you're behind that tree," said Gray.
I changed to stone metaphorically anime-style and my head slowly turned around. I could see them standing near the lake, watching me concernedly.
"Oi, are you OK?" said Natsu.
"I'm fine!" I said, running out before I could run in the opposite direction away from them, "No problem at all!"
"You suck at lying," said both at the same time.
"Shut up!" I shouted at both of them.
"Sorry," said both.
"Anyway," I said, sighing and looking at them both evenly, "I told you to come here because I'm going to make the decision. I thought about it for a really long time and I've finally decided. I just hope that you guys won't be too mad at me or get too sad because of what I've chosen."
"We can never hate you Luce," said Natsu. Gray smiled beside him to show he agreed.
"I know," I sighed, "That's what makes it so… hard. You guys are too nice; I'm afraid I'm going to hurt one of you."
"You're not going to," said Gray. I almost felt like crying which was stupid since I hadn't even begun to say anything yet, really. But it felt good to finally just say what I've always wanted to to the people who were actually involved.
I sighed and looked at the both in the eye. Then I said quickly, "Natsu, can you come with me?" I looked at Gray, "Stay there, OK?"
"O…K," said Gray, cocking his head. Natsu raised an eyebrow but followed me as I walked to the forest of trees. We walked for a while in the forest. I was stalling for time as Natsu followed me, trying to think of what I would say.
Finally I stopped as we reached a large tree. Moonlight filtered through the leaves and it was quite a nice spot really. Dark and kind of eerie but bright and beautiful at the same time.
"Um…" I turned around to face Natsu, who stopped a little in front of me. I let out a breath and calmed myself. Their reassurances had calmed me so I was fine; voice steady and firm yet gentle at the same time, "Natsu, I—"
"It's Gray, isn't it?" said Natsu, completely serious. I tried to read his face. His usually open face was closed now and stoic; his expression unreadable. It upset me to see that but I figured it would better to tell him now than later. I nodded stiffly.
"I figured as much," said Natsu.
"You could tell?" I said.
"The oldest trick in the book," said Natsu, "… Again."
I smiled at his reference to our first time going to the sushi place.
"Why… Gray, though?" asked Natsu.
I flinched. Of course it was natural for him to ask that, but all the same, I had been kind of hoping…
"Um," I said, sighing again and confidence rising in me. Sometimes people just had to hear the truth, "Well, first of all, I had this… situation with Gray way before you asked me out. I never told you about it because it was just too complicated and I just wanted to run away from it. Obviously that never worked though."
I looked up at his expression. He looked at me emotionlessly, not seeming offended I didn't tell him earlier so I continued.
"Basically, I loved Gray first. We had a couple of complications and I rejected him at first because of them. Then I had to run to Demon Crosses and while I was there, I thought Gray hated me or wouldn't bother anymore because I left him the first time. Apparently he thought I hated him too. During that time, you were very nice to me, and I will always be grateful to you because of it, and I thought I'd fallen for you. If I had to move on with anyone, it'd be you. I had felt… something for you when you kissed me then but… I was thinking of Gray at the time," I smiled, remembering Juvia and Cana's point they brought to my attention, "So he was the one who I loved all along. I had always wanted you to just… become Gray but you couldn't of course. I didn't realise at the time but I just thought I was kissing Gray when I kissed you. So that's where that spark came from."
"So you loved Gray all along?" said Natsu. His face was still closed.
I nodded, "Yeah."
"… That's OK," said Natsu. His tone was very convincing but I wasn't buying it.
"Stop lying Natsu," I said.
His poker face finally disappeared to be replaced with sadness and reject.
"Well, you can't expect me to not be sad," said Natsu, sitting down on a large rock at the base of a tree. The moonlight shone off his face and I could see how much my decision had affected him.
"I'm not," I said, sitting down on the rock beside his, "I know I've already expected too many things from you without even knowing but I'm not going to, anymore."
Natsu was quiet for a while. Being Natsu, I didn't really see that as a good sign.
"I'd… always thought you did love Gray," said Natsu finally, "Though I was in denial of it."
I widened my eyes slightly at that but stayed silent. Natsu, despite what I'd thought, was pretty observant, more than I gave him credit for.
"I was always pretty afraid of loving someone," said Natsu, "They always get taken away. Igneel, Lisanna, even Happy was nearly taken away from me at Edolas. So since then, I've been kind of careful. You were the first one after them who I really loved."
"Did you just say Lisanna?"
Natsu looked up and looked curiously at me, "Yeah. It was a long time ago before she 'died'. Though I don't know how she feels now…"
I smiled at his cluelessness. Then I pulled him into a gentle hug around his shoulders. He seemed surprised but then I spoke first.
"'There is always one character that remains throughout the whole thing; loving, protecting and caring for the main character'," I quoted, "A good friend told me that, Natsu. Try thinking about who was there for you, long before I was."
Natsu cocked his head confusedly but then slowly began to register what I said. Then he grinned and I breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the Natsu I knew.
"Guess you're right Luce," said Natsu. Then he stood up and turned away, "You should go back to Gray. It's not good to keep a guy waiting either."
Then he started walking back in the general direction of town, murmuring to himself about his 'special girl'. I laughed slightly that he was so dense, but he would discover her eventually.
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Gray was still standing there when I came back.
"Hey," I said casually.
"Hey," Gray replied. He looked behind me, "Where'd Natsu go?"
"To find his special girl," I said, laughing slightly. I smiled at him, "He was pretty determined."
I could see some shock and hope appearing on his face, "So that means…"
I smiled and nodded.
Gray grinned and grabbed me by the wrist.
"O-OI! What the heck—" I began before Gray's lips met mine. His hands tangled themselves in my hair and I wrapped my arms around his neck. It was our best kiss yet, gentle yet desperate and fiery. TNT explosions were going off inside me as we just stood there with the moon and stars reflecting off the clear blue waters of the lake.
Finally we separated for air. Gray grinned and panted slightly, "You have no idea how long I've waited to do that."
"I get the feeling," I said, "Do you want to go back?"
"Why?" said Gray, lowering his head again as I smiled and waited for him.
My necklace gleamed in the moonlight, the brightest, shiniest silver.
Every life has the potential to be a fairytale. Even mine.
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THE END!
Well, not really. There's still an epilogue after this. :D
But anyways, yeah! That's technically the final chapter! I kept rewriting and rewriting and rewriting, just to conclude this story~ I had so many writer's block moments, it wasn't even funny anymore.
Anyways, review~