Whoo hoo! Another long time jump, but I'm happy that people are enjoying the story. I've been working on another story while fleshing out this once, hence the long wait. But I hope you're still waiting! Let's jump right into another chapter, shall we?
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Fairy Tail kind
Chapter Eight: Mistaken Perception
"Why are we up so early?" Natsu complained, yawning while stretching his arms over his head. Lucy let out a long sigh, shaking her head while glancing down at the list in her hand.
"Well, you wouldn't be up if you would just sleep in your own house. I can't even remember the last time I had my apartment to myself." In fact, Natsu had been stuck to her side since her birthday, which she expected. He bought her lunch, and then brought her to Fairy Tail so everyone could sing her Happy Birthday. At night, the two of them watched all of Lucy's favorite movies. When it was nearly impossible for Lucy to keep her eyes open, Natsu had transferred her dead weight into her bed. It shouldn't have come to a shock to her to see him snoring away next to her the following morning.
"Why is Mira making you get the supplies anyways? Shouldn't Erza or Laxus be taking care of this crap? They do it every year!" Lucy had planned to let Natsu sleep the morning away, but her cell phone ringing disturbed the guy's slumber. Mira, who was always so busy around this time of year, had called to ask Lucy to pick up some stuff for the annual Fourth of July party. Deciding she had nothing better to do before she went to work, Lucy wrote down all the supplies Mira needed before yanking Natsu out of bed. It wasn't much, but Lucy decided to drag Natsu along for some company.
"We're almost done, Natsu. All we have left on the list is the sparklers, and then we can head to Fairy Tail to drop this stuff off. Maybe I'll even treat you to a movie after this. If you stop complaining, that is."
"Only if it's Iron Man 3, and we see it in 3-D…and you let me buy the largest popcorn they have." He sure was pushy for someone receiving a present. Lucy rolled her eyes but nodded at his demand.
"That's fine; you know I have a Tony Stark crush anyways!" She looked up at the summer sky, letting out a dreamy sigh. "When he showed up in Avengers, I nearly melted in my seat. Do you realize how sexy that man's smile is?"
"I'm kind of into boobs, so I haven't really looked," He said bluntly, making Lucy scoff.
"You have the manners of a Neanderthal." He scrunched his nose at her comparison, showing he had no clue what she was implying.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Only to the people who associate with you." She laughed at her own joke, ignoring his grumbling while looking around the shopping plaza. Her eyes darted to the store she was looking for, skimming the windows while she walked toward the entrance. When a neon pink flyer caught her attention, she read the title while waiting for the automatic doors to slide open. "The carnival is in town again. Looks like it'll be even busier at Fairy Tail, now."
"That thing takes over the town every year; I'm surprised you haven't noticed all the tourists." Now that Natsu brought the information into light, Lucy did see an increase of customers in the shopping plaza. Many were taking pictures, probably enjoying the sunny day of sightseeing.
"Me and Erza were talking about it at Fairy Tail last night. Her and Jellal are going there for their "second official date". It's kind of cute!"
"He's still around? Damn, I thought she'd have kicked him to the curb by now," Natsu grumbled, Lucy glancing back at him and smiling. Though Natsu continued his tough guy act around Jellal, she knew that her best friend was accepting Erza's relationship. Jellal had even been seen around Fairy Tail, though for very limited amounts of time. This process was slow, but enough to keep Erza satisfied.
"Are you gonna go? To the carnival, I mean," She asked, watching him quickly shake his head.
"No way! I don't do rides, remember? Anything too fast makes me…" Even the thought of the fast moving carnival rides seemed to sicken Natsu. Lucy laughed, rubbing his back while walking through the aisles of the store.
"There's other stuff to do there, you know. They have some games you can play, and there's always tons of food choices. Plus photo booths and dunk tanks; lots of ways to show your strength." As if forgetting his previous queasiness, Natsu shot his head up and grinned.
"I forgot about that stuff! Man, I should get Gajeel to go so I can finally show him which one of us is the strongest. Gray, too!" Lucy nodded while she leaned up on her tiptoes, grabbing her desired items.
"If Gajeel and Gray go, expect to see Levy and Juvia."
"The more the better! Maybe I'll show them what a real powerhouse looks like." He flexed his arm, though Lucy barely noticed while continuing to count the sparklers.
"Sure, sure. I'll probably hear your cheering from wherever I am at the carnival."
"You're not coming with us?" She lifted her head, surprised at the downcast look he wore.
"I promised Loke that I'd go with him to the festival, since I bailed on him last year. Remember when Levy got hurt and I had to take her to the hospital? I promised him this year I'd be his 'ride buddy' or something. Last night, when we were at Fairy Tail, he asked me to go with him Friday."
"But we're best friends! Not you and Loke."
"Well what about Lisanna? Shouldn't you be bringing her?" As if enjoying the stabs of pain in her heart, Lucy mentioned the white-haired beauty. Natsu hadn't brought up any details about the date, but he had gone to talk to her when they visited Fairy Tail last night. There seemed to be no tension or awkwardness between them, smiles always full and honest. Lucy couldn't watch for long. The scene was bittersweet for her, and only reminded her of her feelings for Natsu. Feelings, she was now sure, he didn't think of in the same way. It was probably why she was so willing to go to the carnival with Loke; Natsu would be too busy with Lisanna to hang out. She didn't want to stand in their way. Natsu, however, barely considered the idea before helping Lucy carry the sparklers to the front counter.
"The Strauss siblings don't hang around town after the fourth of July. They have that family reunion or something. I thought Mira would have told you she'd be gone for a few days?"
"She did, just not the reason. I guess that explains why she's working with Kinana so much." Kinana was a fairly new employee to Fairy Tail, who was hired to help both the kitchen and the bar. Since Lucy's astrology went far better than expected, her time behind the bar was much less help then Mira originally thought. Having extra revenue from Lucy's appearance, Master hired Kinana as an exclusive Fairy Tail worker. Despite only being around for a short time, Kinana was quite good with the regulars. "Normally Lisanna would take over if me and Mira both have the day off, but now I can see how that'd be a problem."
"So you'll come with us to the carnival, right?" At his hopeful look, Lucy smiled but quietly shook her head.
"A promise is a promise, Natsu. Loke's only in town for a couple days, and he really wants to hang out with me. But I'm sure we'll run into each other at some point. And you know that the boys will have no problem going with you!" Despite her optimistic reply, she watched Natsu's shoulders sink and his head lower.
"It won't be the same though." She only looked away from him to pay for the sparklers, thanking the cashier before grabbing the full bags. She thought about her predicament as she walked out of the store, a depressed guy tagging along behind her. Finally she snapped her fingers, swiveling to face him with a bright smile.
"Well why don't we agree to go on one right together? I know you don't like motion, but the Ferris wheel is pretty slow moving. I'm sure Loke will be dragging me on every other ride, so he won't mind skipping out on this. Plus, it's not even a real ride! Do you think you could stomach your motion sickness for it?" He looked up at her beaming smile, not losing the uneasy look on his face. She understood that Natsu really hated testing his fragile stomach, but the slow motion of the Ferris wheel shouldn't make him throw up. She would know; she had been by his side for many of his vomiting sessions. By now she had a pretty good gauge on his stomach's capabilities.
"You're not going to get mad if you're wrong and I barf on you, right?" Was that a serious question? She felt her eyebrow twitch, but she kept her smile while forcing a laugh.
"I can always just bring a bag in case you need it; there's no need to go to that extreme."
"Then you've got yourself a deal." He reached his hand out, sending her a smile that made her heart skip. "I'll take you on the Ferris wheel right before the fireworks start! They always do fireworks the day after the fourth to try and get people to come."
"I've…never seen fireworks on a Ferris wheel." Lucy quickly lowered her head while grabbing his hand to shake. Praying her bangs would cover the huge blush on her cheeks, Lucy worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Natsu was offering to take her on a Ferris wheel ride with fireworks? Just how cliché could you get? And yet, her mind knew the truth. Natsu didn't see any difference between riding with her or riding with Erza. To him, the romantic ambiance would be lost. The only time he'd probably notice it was if Lisanna was the passenger with him. The thought made her heart drop.
"Hey, is that Juvia?" Lucy slowly lifted her head, following Natsu's gaze to see the blue-haired girl on the sidewalk. Her eyes lit up when she realized Juvia was happily chatting away with none other than Gray Fullbuster.
"Her and Gray must be on a date!" She squealed, her earlier melancholy disappearing at the thought. Natsu shook his head, throwing one hand over his head and waving.
"Yo! Gray!" Lucy panicked at Natsu's loud call, trying to throw her hands over his mouth. He easily sidestepped her, now waving both of his hands wildly. "Look over here, bastard!"
"Natsu!" Lucy hissed, yanking on his arm hard. He stumbled a bit, glancing down to her in confusion.
"What's up with you, Luce?"
"Don't you see they're on a—" Before she could finish, Natsu got knocked hard across the back of the head. Lucy gasped, Natsu crouching on the ground while swearing loudly. Both of his hands now pressed to the spot the black-haired man had hit, Gray crossing his arms in front of Natsu and scowling.
"Why were you screaming my name like an idiot?" At the annoyed question, Natsu seethed while glaring up at Gray.
"You fucking asshole!" Lucy was quick to step between the two glaring boys, pressing a hand to both their chests. Her hand instantly reeled back from Gray's when realizing he had already lost his shirt. Feeling an ominous aura behind her, Lucy peeked over her shoulder and tensed at the glare she received from Juvia. She moved so fast away from Gray that Lucy ran straight into Natsu's rising form. The two yelled as they ended up on the cobblestone, receiving a few look from the tourists.
"Gray, Juvia…so nice to see you." Lucy groaned as she sat up, rubbing the arm that had landed against the ground. She sent a smile up to the couple, trying to salvage the awkward moment. "We were just out buying supplies for Fairy Tail's party on Thursday!"
"Juvia and Gray-sama were just going for lunch before Gray-sama heard his name being called." Standing close to Gray's back, Juvia sent a death glare at Natsu. The pink-haired boy tensed, a look of pure fear on his face. If she wasn't sure that Juvia would kill Natsu for ruining their date, Lucy may have laughed. Instead, she helped her frozen friend to his feet while brushing herself off.
"Well, we didn't mean to intrude on you two." At her apologetic tone, Gray smiled and shook his head.
"We're more than happy to talk. I'm sure Juvia wouldn't mind if you joined us for lunch."
"Well, uh…" Lucy hesitated, glancing over Gray's shoulder. She expected another threatening glare, but was surprised to see a bright smile on Juvia's face.
"Juvia wouldn't mind! Natsu and Lucy should join."
"Cool! Can we get Chinese?!" Natsu was snapped out of his fear at the mention of food, grinning while pointing over their shoulders. "I know an awesome buffet down the street! Let's go!"
"Wait—" Lucy couldn't get another word out before Natsu was on the move, the sparklers left forgotten at Lucy's feet. Letting out a tired groan, Lucy gathered the bags before looking to her friends and smiling. "I guess we accept your invitation."
"I'll help you carry that." Lucy thanked Gray for his offer, splitting up the load between the two of them. Once situated, the three followed the over excited Natsu down the busy street. They soon caught up, Gray snatching Natsu's shirt to keep him with the group. Once certain the energetic idiot wouldn't run off again, Gray allowed him to lead the way toward the restaurant.
"Juvia is amazed at how many people are in Magnolia." The street was so crowded that it was hard to walk without bumping into anyone.
"I guess it'll be much busier for Fairy Tail, too. Makarov will be pleased, I'm sure." At Gray's response, Lucy smiled and nodded.
"Of course! Any influx of people is good for business." Seeming to remember something, Gray looked over to Lucy with a concerned expression.
"Speaking of businesses…has your father tried to contact you since the incident at the bar?"
"No, not yet. It's only been a couple days, so I know I shouldn't be hopeful that his appearance at the bar will be last time I see him. I'm actually very worried about what his next plan of attack is."
"Don't be," Natsu said, seeming uninterested in the conversation. Lucy looked up at him, watching his carefree shrug. "Even if your dad comes back, Gramps would stop him. That old man would die before he let anything hurt the members of Fairy Tail."
"But Lucy's father doesn't seem like he'd play fair. Juvia can understand Lucy's fear," Juvia said, Lucy's smile dimming at the response. Her father had always gone with the idea that everything was fair in love and war. Would that mean he would continue to come after Fairy Tail? "Lucy?"
"Huh?"
"Juvia wishes to know if Lucy would ever consider taking over Heartfilia's corporation."
"To be honest, I never had an interest in running my dad's company. Especially after I ran away," Lucy replied, shaking her head. "Once I became a member of Fairy Tail, I knew I'd never be able to go back to that life. Fairy Tail is where my heart belongs, no matter what my father may think."
"Good. I don't think I'd like a Fairy Tail without you in it, Lucy." Despite Gray's friendly implication, Lucy saw the slight tensing of Juvia's shoulders.
"I'm sure you'd be fine without me," Lucy said, trying to laugh off the awkwardness.
"No way." Lucy looked up at Natsu, who had stopped walking to give her a stern stare. "Fairy Tail without you in it wouldn't be the same. So don't even think about going back with your father!"
"Of course I wouldn't. Don't say such weird things." Her eyes widened when he threw his arm around her, pulling her quickly to his side.
"I'm not kidding, Luce! You belong right here, with Fairy Tail." Instantly she shoved away from him, trying to sound upset. Even without looking at herself, she could feel her face overheating.
"Knock it off, Natsu! People are staring. "
"Come on Lucy, don't be like that!" He laughed when she scowled, balling her hands next to her waist. Behind them, Juvia and Gray exchanged knowing looks. It was only when Gray looked back to his Fairy Tail friends that Juvia let a look of relief cross over her face. From Lucy's obvious embarrassment, Juvia knew her romantic fantasies had nothing to do with Gray. An enticing smell quickly distracted Natsu from Lucy's growl, Natsu cheering when realizing they had reached their destination. "Alright, we made it! Let's go pig out!"
"Juvia has a bad feeling about this." The four walked into the restaurant, Natsu not hesitating to charge the buffet line. Embarrassed over his outlandish behavior, Lucy pressed her palm to her forehead and groaned. Gray seemed to feel the same, a vein appearing on the side of his temple.
"He really needs to learn to control himself when he's on a date."
"Yeah, I kno—Wait! This isn't a date!" Both Juvia and Gray brushed off Lucy's rebuttal, moving to get in line for food. She slowly dropped her hand from her forehead, wondering if others saw Natsu and Lucy the same way. While it was true that they spent most of their time as a pair, Lucy had just assumed that was Natsu's style. Until her girl's night out, she hadn't spent much time thinking about their intimacy. But now, realizing her feelings…was it still okay to be this way? Her eyes lowered while the troubling thought came up. If Natsu was seeing Lisanna, was it still okay for Natsu and Lucy to share the close bond they always had? Or would she lose him? Even if she kept her feelings a secret, and faked her happiness for Lisanna and Natsu, would she be left alone anyways?
"Lucy!" Looking up, Lucy saw Natsu's bright grin fill the room. "We came at the best time. They even have those shrimp things you love."
"They do? That's great." Despite her attempt to show her enthusiasm, Natsu wasn't sold. His concerned look quickly ensnared her heart again.
"What's wrong? Do you not like this place anymore?"
"No, it's not that." Doing her best to fake a smile, Lucy leaned up and ruffled Natsu's hair. "It's nothing, actually. I'll meet you at the table, okay?"
"Well…hurry up, or we'll leave you behind." She kept her smile bright until he turned his back and headed back toward the table. Despite the happiness she felt by his side, Lucy was sure it was now limited. Like a freight train, Gajeel's ominous words came back to haunt Lucy. You won't always be by her side. One day, even you'll be paired off with some weirdo.
Lucy feared that day was coming sooner than she expected.
7:53
Levy nervously paced in front of Fairy Tail, trying to keep her nerves still. As it was, Levy was certain she would leave before eight even showed up. For the seventh time, Levy glanced to the black capris that she had worn with her teal tank top. Would her choices be okay? She had rushed to Fairy Tail from her job at the library, giving her much less time to get ready than she wanted. Should she have spent more time on her outfit? Was there even a reason to get ready?
7:55
This was all Gajeel's fault! Being as stubborn as he was, he never told her what this was. While Lucy had said several times that this was normal behavior for a Taurus male when it came to dating, Levy wasn't sold. What if she had the wrong impression? Gajeel wasn't close to many people in the guild; what if he just wanted to make a friend? As soon as she thought that, Levy shook her head. Gajeel didn't make friends! That wasn't his style. So then, why was he asking her to hang out? Was it really a date?
7:58
And where was he taking her? For the past several days, he refused to speak about what they were doing tonight. Because of it, Levy felt completely unprepared. While some of her enjoyed the fact that Gajeel was taking the reins, another part of her wasn't pleased. What if she didn't like it? What if this was all a joke? Could she deal with the humiliation of being stood up? So many questions raced through her head, and caused her to fidget with the yellow headband in her hair. Though she had fixed her hair several times after work, Levy couldn't stop herself from checking it again.
8:00
The loud rumble of an engine caught Levy off guard. Pulling her attention away from her hair, Levy glanced down the road that Fairy Tail sat on. Her eyes widened in shock when a black motorcycle came into sight. It was fast, and yet managed to stopped perfectly in front of her. She covered her hair when a gust of wind blew past her, Levy closing her eyes to keep the dust from damaging them.
"Yo." Levy slowly opened her eyes again, blinking at the voice. Looking up, Levy gasped as the rider yanked his helmet off his head. Gajeel stood over the bike, keeping it up with his long arm slung over the front. Without warning, Levy felt her body shiver at the sexy image Gajeel made. Who knew a bike could make Levy's brain go blank?
"Gajeel? What is…" She took a step toward him when he kicked the stand down, letting the bike lean on its own. He threw his leg over the side, sending Levy a confident smirk.
"This is my motorcycle."
"You own this?!"
"I stole it." She gasped, staring up at him in shock. Before she could manage a sentence, Gajeel scoffed and crossed his arms. "It's mine, shrimp. Don't get too worked up."
"That wasn't funny!" He looked away from her glare, giving Levy time to take in his attire. Wearing a dark blue t-shirt under his leather jacket, Gajeel wore black slacks and a pair of matching boots. Though they looked the same, Levy knew they were not the pair he wore around Fairy Tail. Did that mean he actually tried to look nice for her? She peeked up at his face, which still refused to look back at her. Taking a chance, Levy approached the bike and placed her hand on one of the handles. "This is…a really good looking bike, Gajeel."
"Trust me, it's not cheap."
"How come you've never brought it to Fairy Tail before?"
"I've never had a reason to." Until today was in the air, even without his actual vocalization. Seeming frustrated with himself, Gajeel pushed off the side of the bike to stand in front of Levy. She glanced back to him, surprised to see him holding something out to her. Looking down to the helmet in his hand, Levy suddenly understood the point of the pants. She hesitated to take it, causing a cocky smirk to appear on the biker's face. "What are you, scared of a little speed?"
"No. But what are you going to wear? Don't you need a helmet too?" Not expecting her concern, Gajeel's face slipped into shock before he quickly covered it.
"I've got a spare underneath your seat, don't worry. Just put the damn thing on." Not giving her a choice, he tossed the helmet at her before turning back to his bike. Levy grasped the helmet tightly, turning it in her hands. What he was able to palm in one hand, Levy could barely hold in both of hers. He sure was a big guy. That should have scared her, not comforted her. Still, she could only smile and hug the helmet closer to her. Even if Gajeel was gruff, he took care of her.
"Have you ever taken anyone else on your bike?" He turned back to her at the question, his annoyance apparent in his sigh.
"What's that got to do with you?"
"I'm just asking!" She closed her eyes with her shout, which gave him the opportunity he was looking for. Reaching forward, Gajeel grabbed the helmet in her hands and pushed it over her head. By the time she realized what happened, Gajeel had secured his own helmet onto his head. A buzz of static ran through her ear before Gajeel's voice was transferred through a headpiece in the helmet.
"Will you be able to get on the bike, shrimp? Or do you need a step stool?" She glared at him, but realized he wouldn't be able to see it through the visor.
"I'll be just fine, thank you." When she spoke, she could hear slight ruffling in the front of her mouth. So it was a voice activated microphone? Just how expensive were these helmets? Gajeel laughed at his own joke, hopping back onto his bike easily. Watching him play with the handles of the bike, Levy realized how natural he seemed sitting there. Gajeel's figure didn't look so massive, and his bad boy persona fit well with the jet black color. She saw his helmet turn her way, and she hurried to the side of the bike. He offered his arm, turning his head forward again.
"Use my arm to hoist yourself up like you would a horse. Swing your leg over, then get ready. This thing is made for speed." She nodded, pressing her little hand onto his bicep. Praying she didn't make a fool of herself, Levy yanked herself over the top of the motorcycle and landed safely on the seat. Mentally she cheered, then pouted at the chuckle that rumbled through her helmet.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing; just hold tight." She barely heard his warning before he revved the engine, making Levy jump.
"W-Wait a second!" Instantly her hands wrapped around his waist, barely able to link over his abdomen. Once Gajeel felt the soft touch, he smirked and pressed the gas. Though she had prepared herself, Levy still squeaked when the bike lurched forward. Levy gasped as the wind hit her body, most of it being blocked by the driver in front of her. He really wasn't kidding about the speed! At first, her head pressed into his back, too scared to look at the blurry scenery behind her. Her eyes were sealed shut, and her arms stayed tense around the firm body in front of her.
"Stop hiding woman."
"No! You're going too fast and we're going to crash!" Her shrill went right through the microphone, causing a sharp feedback.
"Will you stop shouting?!" His sharp voice caused her to pause, giving him time to speak. "I'm not gonna crash with you here; I won't let you get hurt."
"Gajeel…"
"So just look up already, shrimp." The reassuring tone in his voice made Levy pull away from her safety net. Hesitating to open her eyes, Levy slowly peeked out at the scenery and gasped. Now out of the city part of Magnolia, Levy was floored as they sped along an open highway. Though Gajeel was still going fast, Levy was in awe at the beautiful sunset that rested over the ocean beside the paved road. Never before had she been able to experience the scenery so intimately. In a car, there was the radio or other people distracting her senses. Being on such an open mode of transportation let Levy divulge in the moment. Leaning away from his body, Levy's grip slightly slackened. The fear that once coursed through her was chased away by the beauty around them.
"This is amazing, Gajeel!" She called out, laughing in pure pleasure. Her eyes followed a flock of birds above the water, slowly outstretching her hand in the wind. It was a struggle to keep it from flinging back, but Levy enjoyed the cool breeze on her skin.
"Told ya," he said into the microphone.
"Can it go any faster?" She asked, Levy squealing when he started to increase the speed.
"Only if you hold on. I don't need you falling off." Smiling, Levy pressed her body against his back, resting her helmet on his back. Though her eyes were still watching the sunlight reflecting on the water, her mind was focused on how content she felt resting against Gajeel's muscular body. Her hands were comfortable against his stomach, feeling the softness of his shirt. Even though the speed should have still scared her, Levy couldn't feel anything but relaxed having Gajeel with her. When had that happened? "Don't fall asleep. We're not done yet."
"We aren't?" She glanced up at his shaking head, Levy realizing that they were slowing down again. She glanced to the exit that they were taking, not quite sure where his destination was. They had been riding for a bit, and she hadn't been paying attention to the roads they were taking. She stayed quiet while he weaved along the side roads, Levy still lost. It wasn't until Gajeel pulled into a parking lot and shut the bike off that Levy recognized the area. She yanked the helmet off her head, grasping the front of the seat when Gajeel moved off the bike. His helmet was off in a second, being hung on the handle of his bike. She blinked when she was lifted off the seat, Gajeel easily placing the petite woman on her feet.
"Put the helmet in the holder under your seat and follow me." She did as he asked, though their location didn't tell her much about their final destination.
"This is Magnolia park…what are we doing here?"
"Hoping that Juvia can follow instructions." His mumble was soft, making Levy glance to him suspiciously. She wanted to ask, but her mind derailed when he offered his hand to her with a scowl. Even in the darkening sky, Levy could detect the blush he held. Smiling before grasping his hand, Levy allowed Gajeel to lead her through the empty park. Though it was gorgeous, Magnolia park was a far ways from the city itself. Many people didn't like the hike, and only came out here during the daytime. The grass kept their feet from making much noise, leaving them in silence for their walk. Not liking the quiet, Levy tried to make conversation.
"How long have you had that bike?"
"A few years, I've been riding bikes since day one. I don't like driving cars. I can fix them just fine, but they're too much of a pain to take care of. Plus, I've been told I look pretty good on a bike." He sent a smirk back at her, Levy frowning at his statement. She had noticed it, but the thought of others reaching the same conclusion bothered her.
"Who says that?"
"Just people."
"Like girls?"
"Maybe."
"I bet you use it to pick up chicks all the time." She knew it wasn't true; Gajeel hated interacting with people. It had taken him years to even think of forming friendships at Fairy Tail. Seeming to agree with Levy's mental process, Gajeel scoffed and faced forwards again.
"Nobody else has worn that helmet, shrimp. I don't make it a point to let other people on my bike."
"Then…why me?" She asked softly, looking down to their linked hands.
"I know you're smart; put the pieces together." He was a contradiction in himself. How could he be so blunt while still avoiding the question? It was making Levy angry and embarrassed at the same time. Gajeel finally stopped, yanking her to stand beside him. "We're here."
"What's 'here'?" But once she looked ahead of them, she got her answer. The sun was now gone, leaving nothing but stars in the darkening sky. The spot Gajeel had taken them was actually a hill, giving a beautiful view of the area around them. Though the lights from the city were visible, they did nothing to block the clear night sky in front of them. Her hand tightened on his in surprise when noticing a picnic blanket laid out on the grass. It had a basket, which she was sure had some sort of food inside of it. Resting on the basket was a bouquet of flowers, confirming that this was in fact a date. But what really caught her attention was the tripod that rested in the middle of the checkered blanket. "Is that a telescope?"
"I figured it'd be easier to see the stars away from the city lights. You kept blabbing about the constellations last time, and you looked pretty happy telling me about them. I guess I didn't really mind it, either. I had Juvia come set this up when I went to pick you up." There a pause of silence, Levy unsure of how to react. Gajeel seriously thought of this by himself? He even asked Juvia for help? Gajeel's pride was huge; asking for anyone's help was nearly impossible to him. And yet, for one moment between them, Gajeel caved. "If you don't want to do this, it's fine. I don't care either way, you know. And the flowers were Juvia's idea; I've got nothing to do with those. Stupid woman, going crazy with my credit card…"
"This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." She looked up at him, unable to hide the huge smile that tugged at her lips. Instinctively he scowled, running his free hand through his hair to try and play casual.
"Don't get all emotional; this is the only time I'll do this." Levy ignored his response, knowing it was all to save face. Even if he didn't say it, Levy could feel a slight tremor in the hand she held. Was Gajeel nervous she wouldn't like the date? The thought struck deep in the bookworm's heart.
Moved by his effort, Levy ignored her nerves and better reasoning while turning to Gajeel. Without permission she wrapped her arms around his neck, catching him off guard. Her body slid along his intimately, giving Gajeel a clear understanding of the curves the bookworm possessed. Even though she was on the tips of her toes, Levy was unable to reach his cheek. Not willing to give up on showing her gratitude, Levy improvised to make up for the lack of height. His eyes widened at the soft pressure of her lips against his neck, Levy leaving an opened mouth kiss to the exposed skin. Feeling his pulse jump under her lips, Levy pulled away before burying her face into his shoulder. Even with her boost of bravery, Levy could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Had she really just kissed Gajeel's neck?
"Thank you, Gajeel," She whispered, feeling his body tense from the foreign touch. Levy had never seen someone touch Gajeel so familiarly. Even Juvia, his best friend, rarely placed a hand on Gajeel. Natsu did, but it was only during a fight. Now that Levy had crossed his personal space, how would he respond? They stood there in silence, Levy refusing to let go of him. Half nerves, half fear of rejection, Levy was too scared to see Gajeel's reaction.
"Jesus woman…" A second later, Levy felt a rough hand slide through her hair while an arm slung around her waist. She was hoisted up into his body, Levy gasping when his eyes captivated hers in a hungry stare. She knew Gajeel was strong, but holding her with one arm was more than she expected! She was sure it would have scared her with any other man. Instead, red stained her cheeks at the feel of his breath against her lips. His body was flush against her, allowing her to feel every crevice of muscle he had. Even with the forceful hold, Levy wasn't scared. Her breathing was short and her heartbeat was racing, but neither was from fear. He leaned forward, Levy's eyes fluttering closed at the brush of their noses. Her mouth parted gently, anticipating the rough capture of her lips. Never before had she wanted a kiss from a man like him. But here, in his strong embrace, Levy felt her body trembling in excitement. Her eyes were screwed shut, her lips eagerly accepting the strong kiss. She arched closer to his body, enjoying the soft growl that poured into her open mouth. It thrilled her, enticing her mouth to move slowly against his. The way his tongue slipped against her lower lip made her moan, a soft fire sparking in her lower belly. It was the first time a man had ever made her toes curl. There was no doubt about it; Gajeel was an expert kisser.
For a naughty second, Levy wondered what else he specialized in.
Instead, she felt his fingers tense on her lower back before she was abruptly dropped back onto her feet. She fell to the ground, her knees turning to Jell-o from the anticipation. By the time she focused her eyesight on him, all she saw was his back.
"Gajeel?" She asked timidly, unsure of what had just happened. Even with him looking the opposite way, his voice was clear to her.
"Public or not, next time you do something like that, I ain't holding back. Whatever happens will be on your shoulders, not mine." His hand pressed over the side of his neck where she had touched, sending her a serious glance before walking toward the blanket. Levy, immediately understanding his warning, flushed. What had just happened? Pressing a finger to her lower lip, Levy replayed his warning and shivered. Just how serious were Gajeel's feelings for her? And did she feel the same? Was it enough to do that? "Shrimp."
"Y-Y-Yes!" She scrambled to her feet, instantly regretting answering his call when noticing his smirk. She pouted, walking over and dropping to sit on the blanket. She crossed her arms and legs, looking at the telescope in front of them. "What?"
"Are you going to show me where all these constellations are or not?" After fighting with herself for a few minutes, Levy glanced over to Gajeel. Her resolve to stay angry at him disappeared when watching him toy with the telescope in front of them. It was obvious that he had no clue how to use it or what to even look for. He sure was hopeless at times. Letting a slight smile return to her face, Levy crawled to kneel between the telescope and Gajeel, her back barely brushing his chest.
"Where do I even begin?" It didn't take long for Levy to start explaining the night sky, taking turns between herself and Gajeel when using the telescope. During one of the explanations, Gajeel's hand slipped onto Levy's hip while Levy leaned against him. By the end of the night, their hands had linked together once again. He glanced down at the woman in front of him, smirking to himself. He could play nice with Mr. Perfect for the rest of his life if got Levy to stay by his side. For once in his solitary life, Gajeel didn't want to be alone.
"Happy Fourth of July!" Mira's joyous shout was echoed by the completely packed guild. Everyone who considered themselves a true member was there, tossing back drinks and enjoying the festivities. Mira, Lucy, and Kinana were all working, doing their best to please the members. Plates of food were lined up along one of the walls, feeding the huge stomachs of Fairy Tail. Natsu's plate was taller than he was, and he didn't shy from diving right in. Others kept distance from him in fear of getting hit with scraps that didn't reach his mouth.
"Did you grow up in a cave? Or were you just raised by wolves?" Laxus asked distastefully, sending a disgusted glance at the messy eater. Natsu paused in eating, taking a moment to mull over Laxus's rhetorical question. After swallowing a huge lump of food, Natsu shook his head.
"Dragons, actually." Giving a cheeky smile after his sarcastic answer, Natsu picked up his plate and moved to another table to resume his devouring of food. It was obvious Laxus did not see the same humor as Natsu, a slight snarl pulling at the top of his lip. The look was quickly wiped from his face by a hard pat on his shoulder; Laxus glancing over the elderly man responsible for the touch.
"Leave the boy alone, Laxus! We're all here to celebrate the beauty of freedom and another year of shenanigans by Fairy Tail." Despite leaving most of the managing of Fairy Tail to Laxus and Mira, Makarov always made it a point to join in during the Fairy Tail festivities. Nobody knew his true age, but he was the oldest by a good twenty years. Despite that, his smile reflected a youthful soul that knew nothing but mischief and fun. "Tonight, you should loosen up a bit. Why don't you have some fun; you're only 28! These are the best years of your life!"
"And what 'fun' would you like me to partake in?" As Laxus rolled his eyes, Makarov lifted his hand and snapped. Like magic, the strumming of music started to fill the bar. Makarov laughed heartily at the sound, and then grinned even wider when Mira placed a new beer mug in front of him.
"Are you enjoying yourself, master?" She smiled down at him lovingly, respect quite obvious in her eyes. Makarov nodded his head happily, taking a swig of his beer before pointing to his grandson.
"I'd be much happier if Laxus would crack a smile. Mira, why don't you let Lucy and Kinana take over the bar for a bit?"
"Then what would I do?" She asked, amused by her employer's grin. He leaned in closer to her, as if to whisper a secret. His voice, however, boomed louder than the music.
"Why, take Laxus out on the dance floor of course," Makarov said, giving Mira a wink. Immediately Laxus stood, sending a glare down to his drunken grandfather.
"Treat Mirajane with respect; she's a bartender, not your servant."
"It's okay, Laxus." The two exchanged a look, Mira lifting the skirt of her dress and curtseying to Laxus. "I wouldn't mind taking a break to dance with you."
"See? How can you say no to such a beautiful woman? You better not decline; I'm sure many other men would be happy to dance with our favorite bartender." At Makarov's teasing, Laxus grimaced before walking across the floor to Mira. She lifted her head when his hand trailed along her arm, grasping her hand in his own. Her eyes never wavered from his even when goose bumps appeared along her skin. Instead, she stepped closer to him and rested her free hand against his heart.
"I'm quite the dancer, you know." She sent him a kind smile that started to erode the scowl marring his lips. His hand grasped her waist, Laxus using their linked hands to yank her body against his.
"You shouldn't play into his diluted fantasies. When you do this, he assumes you enjoy being by my side." In response to his words, Mira's smile only grew.
"Sometimes living in a fantasy isn't so bad. We all have something we wish was reality. If I can grant master a piece of his dream, then I will." Her fingers curled around his own, her voice lowering so only he could hear. "Is this fantasy too hard to bear for you, Laxus?"
"Don't sell yourself short, Mirajane. You should know anyone's answer to that." Even as he scolded her, Laxus led Mira away from his grandfather and onto the dance floor. Makarov watched the two from his table, quietly sipping on his mug. A few seconds later, he dropped down the mug and closed his eyes.
"You sure like to play with fire, child." A few seconds passed before he glanced to his left, watching the blonde haired bartender poke her head out from behind a pillar.
"Thank you for helping me out, master," Lucy said, bowing her head to him. In response Makarov laughed, waving his hand.
"I'm happy to help my children! But, if Natsu hadn't distracted Laxus with his obnoxious eating habits, my grandson would have seen us talking. He would not have hesitated to tell Mira about your schemes."
"I know," Lucy mumbled, glancing over to the couple. Mira's smile was small but completely genuine as she talked to Laxus, laughing at a sour face he made. Even with the lack of a smile, the softness in Laxus's eyes proved to Lucy that she knew what she was doing. "But isn't it my job to match my clients up? Laxus is in my matchmaking business."
"You have been doing quite a good job, Lucy. I'm very proud of your progress. Please, take a seat." Lucy glanced around the bar, making sure that everyone had a drink before sitting in front of Makarov. Once she was settled, Makarov finished the beer he was drinking before looking at her. "How is your progress with 'Operation Layla' going?"
"Y-you know about that?!" she squeaked out, feeling uneasy with Makarov's knowledge.
"Shouldn't I know about the things going on in my bar? I'm not just here for my good looks," He said, his laugh easing Lucy's tense shoulders. "Besides, it'd be hard not to know about it. Natsu talks about your plan every time he comes into Fairy Tail; he's quite the spokesman."
Though she was feeling embarrassed, Lucy glanced over to Natsu and smiled. By now he had finished his plate of food, and was caught up in a conversation with Gray and Gajeel. Knowing she would be bound to break them up soon, she looked back to Makarov and nodded.
"Natsu's been a huge help for my operation. I owe him everything. I don't know what I would do if he wasn't by my side; he's my best friend." She spoke from her heart, knowing hiding anything from Makarov would be pointless. Being as old and wise as he was, he would see through any façade she tried to put up.
"Is that all he is?" He really knew more than she probably wanted him to. Lucy's smile turned sad despite her positive nod.
"That's all he wants to be."
"You know this?" At his odd question, Lucy paused before answering.
"It's not hard to see."
"Ah, so that's how it is." Despite the understanding reply, Makarov glanced to Natsu with a smile Lucy didn't quite get. "Edward De Bono once said 'Most of the mistakes in thinking are inadequacies of perception rather than mistakes of logic'. Do you understand what that means?"
"I…I don't understand why you're telling me this," Lucy answered truthfully, watching the owner of Fairy Tail slowly rise to his feet.
"You will, soon. I'm sure of that." She wanted to ask him what he was talking about, but she never got the chance.
"Lucy!" Hearing the loud call of her name, Lucy jerked her head in the direction of the voice. Instantly she saw dark eyes staring at her. She turned to say something to Makarov, only to realize the momentary distraction gave him ample time to escape. Sighing, she turned back to the teenage boy now sitting across from her.
"Romeo? Are you okay?" Quickly he shook his head, but didn't speak. Too tired from running around serving drinks, Lucy leaned on her arm. "If you don't talk to me, I can't help."
"I know that!" but yet after his shout, Romeo remained silent. His intense stare was on the table, his hands clenched into fists. Whatever was wrong with Romeo, it was serious. Taking a stab at what it involved, Lucy used her womanly instinct.
"Did something happen with Wendy?" He looked up quickly at the name, both fists slamming on the table.
"Tell me how to beat Natsu and Gajeel!" Lucy tilted her head at the command, unsure of why he changed the topic.
"How would I know that? If anyone would have that information, it'd be Erza. But why do you want to fight them?"
"I have to beat them before tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Isn't that kind of soon?" Trying to calm him down, Lucy placed her hand over his fist and smiled. "If you talk to me, I may be able to help you. Whatever you need them to do for you, I'm sure they'd do it without a fight. You're their Fairy Tail family, remember?"
"But that's not good enough this time," He mumbled, his frustration evident in his face.
"Why not?" She asked, worrying over her introverted client. Though she was sure Romeo could handle himself in a fight, she didn't want to see him challenge either man. Natsu and Gajeel took fighting very seriously, and could wipe the floor with Romeo. Even with that information, Romeo would never back down from the challenge once it was issued. While she was fairly certain Natsu would never accept Romeo's fight, Gajeel might.
"I…" he hesitated, Lucy trying to urge him with her eyes.
"Romeo!" Both looked up at the call of the teenager's name, Wendy's worried face appearing next to the table. Any chance of Romeo talking evaporated at the appearance of the girl. Wendy panted as she pressed her hands to her knees, two unlit sparklers in her hands.
"Happy Fourth of July, Wendy." At Lucy's introduction, Wendy straightened and smiled.
"You too Lucy!" Once the girls shared warm smiles, Wendy turned her attention back to Romeo. "Why are you inside? You promised to sit with me at the parade, and Master just said they're about to start. We need to go outside or we'll lose our spot!"
"Sorry, Lucy needed my help with something."
"What?!" Both teens looked at Lucy, who quickly caught onto the troubled look Romeo sent her. Whatever his problem was, he didn't want Wendy to know. Even if he hadn't opened up to her yet, Romeo was still her client. Mentally apologizing for lying to Wendy, Lucy nodded quickly. "Oh yeah! How could I forget I asked Romeo to help me...pass out fliers for the carnival! I must be tired or something."
"Are you going, too? Romeo invited me to go with him tomorrow, since it's my only day off from work. I told him I wasn't very good on roller coasters, but Romeo said it was fine. He's really a good guy." Wendy blushed, and it only took Lucy a second to realize why Romeo was so frantic about tomorrow. Looking to Romeo with a shocked expression, the brooding guy didn't lift his gaze from his fist against the table. So that was why…"Lucy, do you want to watch the parade with us?"
"Hu-huh?" Lucy asked, slowly looking up to Wendy again.
"You're probably planning to watch with Natsu, huh?" Even Wendy thought of them as a packaged deal? It almost made Lucy slam her head into the table.
"I think I'll be okay on my own. You two should hurry up, though. I wouldn't want you to miss it."
"Oh you're right! Romeo, let's hurry."
"Calm down Wendy, I'm coming. Oh, and thanks, Lucy." From the gentle nod of the teenager, Lucy knew Romeo was thanking her for backing his story up. She only smiled; trying to hide her concern. Would Romeo really try to challenge the boys in order to date Wendy? And would they really accept the challenge? She waved the two off, watching the crowds of Fairy Tail start to exit the bar. The Fairy Tail parade was certainly a sight to see. In truth, it was probably the highlight of the night. Laxus had even allowed Mira to pull him out to watch. Normally, Lucy was the first one outside to enjoy the show. Summer was her season; it had always been her favorite. Last year she had even participated in it. And yet tonight, she couldn't get herself pumped up for the parade. Her heart just wasn't in it.
Trying not to think of her weird behavior, Lucy started to clean up the beer mugs that many of the patrons had left behind. The quiet clanking of the glass disrupted the otherwise silent area, a nearly impossible feat for the bar. Lucy glanced out the window when she heard the music for the parade start, a loud set of cheers quickly following. Lucy smiled sadly before moving the beer mugs toward the bar, nearly dropping them at the piercing gaze staring at her.
"Na-Natsu! Jesus you scared me!" She laughed to try and shake off her melancholy feelings, knowing Natsu would be the first one to pick up on it. She dropped the beer mugs onto the counter of the bar, and turned to grab some more. "What are you doing inside?"
"Luce—"
"The parade is going to be done before you can even get out there!" She made it one step before Natsu's hand was around her wrist, stopping her from moving again.
"Something's not right with you lately." She stiffened at his angry tone, knowing that her façade was not working. Just like the restaurant, Natsu saw through her fake happiness. Her eyes stared at the floor as he rose from his barstool, keeping his hand on her wrist while standing behind her. "Is someone causing you problems?"
"No, it's nothing like that," She answered quietly. Really, she wasn't lying. Even if Natsu was the subject of her problems, he wasn't actually causing them. That was her heart's doing. Natsu was just being Natsu, and Lucy couldn't stop herself from falling for him. It was the age old problem; the girl having a crush on her best friend. Maybe this was why so many thought women and men weren't meant to be friends. It only ended in heartbreak. "I think I'll be okay after the weekend. A lot of my clients are moving into the dating phases of their relationships, and it's a lot to keep up with."
"That's all?"
"What else would there be?" The way she avoided the conversation would make Gajeel proud. She heard Natsu blow a frustrated puff of air between his lips, but his hold on her wrist didn't loosen.
"You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm your best friend." While normally spunky and unable to have a serious conversation, the soft tone Natsu was now using showed a different side to him. All the times Natsu threw the 'best friend' statement out, it was loud and more of an annoyance than anything. But here, in the quietness of the bar, Lucy understood. This was really important to Natsu. No matter how many times he said it, he needed her to understand him this time.
"Of course. Best friends, no matter what." Turning to face him, she smiled while clasping the necklace he gave her in her hand. His eyes glanced down to her hand before slowly looking back up at her emotional eyes.
"That's a promise, right?" He asked, watching Lucy nod her head.
"I promise." Another loud crackle of something from the parade was accompanies by blue light bathing the dark room, Lucy sliding her hand into Natsu's. Tilting her head, she tugged him toward the door. "So as your best friend, I refuse to let you miss any more of the parade."
"That's why I came in here to get you! I had the best seat for us, too." Lucy laughed while the two moved toward the entrance of Fairy Tail, falling back into her comfortable friendship with Natsu. With her hand firmly placed in his, Lucy knew their friendship would eventually have to change. But worrying about it wasn't going to do anything but stress Lucy out. Instead, she would enjoy her time with Natsu for as long as she could. And when it was time to let go of that warm hand, she would do so with a smile and a broken heart.
Aww, our poor Lucy! Stuck in her own love troubles. But with great power comes great responsibility. What will happen with our blooming couples? Will Erza and Jellal survive their first real date? Will Lucy and Loke hit it off? Just what does Romeo have up his sleeve? Will the Ferris wheel fireworks have any effect on Lucy and Natsu? And who else loves Gajeel's shy side? Stay tune to find out!
Chapter Nine: Carnival Confessions