Dear Journal,

You will NEVER find me in a café on my own will.

I'm usually forced by my mom, or something.

Today was that "or something".

Levy forced me to go.

After a day of being called "Ramen Dumper" and "Hot Guy Finder", she decided I needed some cheering up.

She expounded about this café a few miles from Fairy Tail Academy.

Not many students went there because it was dubbed "lame" and "boring".

But not for Levy.

She expounded about the gloriousness of the place, until Cana and I had migraines.

We finally agreed to go, and the bluenette was ecstatic.

So we left for the café an hour after school was dismissed.

Why the wait?

Because Cana had decided to cuss Nab-sensei out and was held back for a detention.

That's why.

Levy wasn't too happy when that delinquent we called our friend emerged, careless and bored.

Cana was the only one of us who didn't have a bike. She walked to school, she claimed.

So she had to ride tandem with me.

Someone as crazy as her should not be allowed to ride tandem.

She kept on hitting my back, and squeezing my neck, and shouting at passersby.

Cana leaned so far to the right one time that we almost crashed right into a bush beside us.

So I've learned my lesson: Never let Cana ride on your bike.

You can imagine my relief when we reach the café - Dragion's Heaven – a last.

The name was so confusing that I had to read it a couple of times to make sure my vision wasn't fading.

Drag..ion? I had to check it wasn't "dragon".

It was a pretty strange name to give a place that served coffee and donuts, but who was I to judge?

I didn't even own a business, and neither did any of my family members.

As soon as we entered the eatery, a collage of smells hit our noses.

Hot chocolate, coffees, lattes, and chocolate donuts. It was a heaven that would make sweet teeth ache.

A part of me celebrated the fact that I was there, and I gladly took a seat in a far off booth in the corner of the café.

Levy had this huge smile plastered on her face, like this was the one location she had always dreamed to be in.

As for me, I immediately picked up a menu, which was lavishly decorated with tiny flowers and such.

Every waiter and employee was wearing some sort of get-up to attract more customers.

I would be an otaku about that later.

The time now was to be spent wondering what I should order.

Only about three minutes pass before we're confronted by a worker.

And by that time, I had only decided what dessert I wanted. The beverages were hard to choose between.

"What would you like?"

I can hear Levy making a strangled noise, and she's hitting my arm urgently. I don't care.

I'm ordering Levy, can't you see?

"What would you like?"

The voice sounds familiar.

"Coffee and five red velvet cupcakes please," Cana says, a snicker arising in her voice.

"Um…ch-chocolate muffin with…uh, hot chocolate," Levy says quietly.

I don't know what's wrong with them.

I keep looking at the menu as I order my food.

"Could I get two glazed donuts please?"

"Of course."

"And, uh…what beverage-" I look up, and my voice immediately cuts off.

"…would you recommend?"

Natsu is standing before me – wearing a butler cosplay. Inside I'm going adhfasldifnavitbali because he looks like an absolute BISHIE, and outside I'm also stammering enough gibberish to make my head explode.

He stared down at me, his mouth dropping open slightly as he realizes who I was.

"You…you're…" He's at a loss for words as he blinks dazedly at me.

Then, Natsu turns around and hightails it back to the kitchen.

I stare after his figure, and collapse onto the table.

Levy's making a choked sound behind her hands. "Sorry, Lu-chan, if I had known-!"

"It's not your fault, Levy."

"That's so freakin' damn funny," Cana says, sniggering softly.

I lift my head and give her my best glare, and rest my chin on my hand.

I clench my jaw, thinking…

He had actually RUN away from me. He was scared of me probably.

I mean, if I had met me that way he had met me, I would be scared of me.

Just another frightening otaku who couldn't let go of her anime fantasies even in public.

"He still looked pretty HOT in that outfit," I muttered, and coughed as I realized I had voiced my opinion out loud.

Cana looked as if she wanted to crack up.

Levy was staring at me, completely dumbfounded.

"I mean…you know, not that it matters much."

"Does this mean we're not going to get to eat?" Cana asked, her voice a high-pitched whine.

Levy shot her a look, and said, "I'm sure Natsu won't risk not getting our food here. I mean…this is his job, right?"

"With my luck, he might just be hiding behind the nearest chef in the kit-"

"Here are your orders."

I look up, surprised to see Natsu's face a little ways from mine. He's only handing out our orders, but I feel the need to push his face away.

He sets a plate before me. It's two donuts, just like I asked for, but he puts down something else as well.

"Um…I-I d-d-didn't o-order th-this."

Right in the cup in front of me, which Natsu had just put down, was a peppermint hot chocolate – which happens to be my FAVORITE.

I look up at him, and UNEXPECTEDLY…

He gives me a tiny smile.

"You did ask what beverage I recommended, right? Don't worry…it's on the house…since I didn't wait for you to give the okay."

I grip the cup in my hands, and manage to utter a squeaky, "Th-thanks."

Natsu's tiny smile erupts into a huge grin. "No prob."

And he walked away.

And that beverage he gave me was AMAZING.

When we were done with our snacks, we decided to pay for everything. I got out my share of the pay, and excused myself to go to the bathroom.

And THAT'S when the second most unexpected event of the day happened.

When I emerged from the restroom, and started to head back to my table, I bumped right into Natsu at the kitchen doors.

And that means I LITERALLY bumped into him.

It was a good thing that he wasn't holding anything.

Or we would have had a repeat of the other day.

He smiled at me, confronting me so that I couldn't escape him.

"Hi…uh…"

"L-L-Lucy."

He grinned. "L-L-Lucy."

"Hi."

He cocked his head. "Are you scared of me?"

I shook my head, shrinking back.

Natsu sighed running is hand through his hair. "Ah, look…I'm sorry for avoiding you and everything…it's not that I'm mad; I was just embarrassed to face you is all. 'Cause, apparently, you think I'm…HOT?"

I nodded and then shook my head, and then nodded.

He chuckled, crossing his arms across his chest.

"I'm glad we got that out of the way."

"U-um, y-y-yeah."

He looked as if he were on the verge of walking away.

"U-um, a-aren't y-you a l-little too y-young to h-have a j-job?"

He looked at me, and laughed. "Well, it's not a job. More like…volunteering. My dad and stepmom own this place, so I help out. They still make me wear the customary uniform though. Says it attracts the GIRLS."

I could see his parents' logic in that.

"Y-you h-have a st-stepmom?"

Was I an idiot for bringing that up?

"Yeah, Wendy and I are step siblings…didn't you know that?"

"Ah…no."

"Well, her mom and my dad got married, and so yeah…"

"O-oh. D-do you l-like W-Wendy and h-her m-mom?"

Natsu laughed. "Yeah, I do. You sure ask a lot of questions for someone who's supposed to be shy, huh?"

"S-sorry!"

"Nah, it's all right."

We looked around awkwardly. I was about to bade him good-bye when the kitchen doors swung open.

A beautiful woman emerged with blue hair and a bright smile, and she looked at us curiously.

"Ah, Natsu, there you are…and who's this? Don't tell me…your G-I-R-!"

"Mom! She's just a friend."

'Friend'? For me to be 'friends' with Natsu Dragneel, that could be the equivalent of being his girlfriend.

Natsu's stepmom smiled at me. "Hello, dear. I'm Grandine Marvel…never did change my maiden name. And I must say, you DO have a nice figure."

"Mom!" Natsu said exasperatedly, his face turning pink.

Embarrassed, Natsu looked even more lisvksdunbdijnb;l.

"I'm just saying…it's these kinds of girls who would attract the BOYS. But, on another subject, Moe-chan just quit…she has to visit her Grandmother after school now…such a nice girl."

"Uehara-san quit?"

"Yes! Didn't you just here me say that? And not to mention that Tetsushi-kun has to study for quizzes every night for school, as well. It's only a matter of time before he has to leave us too…I'm afraid all the college students are becoming very busy…we'll be short of employees soon."

Natsu scratched his head. "I'll work tenfold."

Mrs. Marvel patted his cheek. "That's fine Natsu…but you've got football practice as well, don't you?"

I stood there, not sure if I should leave or stay.

"I'll…quit football, if you want me to."

It was difficult for him to say that, I could tell.

"No, Natsu! You've been going on and on about this ever since you graduated junior high!"

"Well…"

Hearing their distressed voices, I blurted out a sentence that I had not given much thought to.

"I'll help out!"

They turned their heads towards me, blinking.

Mrs. Marvel waved her hand dismissively, "Dear, children under eighteen – was it that age? – can't work…"

I clasped my hands behind my back. "Uh, think of it as v-volunteering, o-or a f-family f-friend helping y-you out. N-no pay."

"But without pay, wouldn't it be even more illegal?"

"J-just think o-of me h-helping out…and apologizing."

I glanced at Natsu as I said the last bit.

He shook his head, and muttered, "You don't really need to apologize for that…"

"Are you sure about this, dear? You'll have to wear a maid's costume."

I cringed inwardly at the mention of such a thing, but nodded. "I-I'm sure."

Grandine smiled, and hugged me. "That's wonderful! Do you mind coming in tomorrow? Natsu will be here to help you out!"

"I'll c-come."

"Thank you dear!"

The woman hugged me, and trotted away, humming.

I glanced at Natsu, and he shot me a smile.

"Can't wait for tomorrow," he said, and sauntered away as three people came in, and seated themselves.

I pumped my fist weakly. "Me too."

So I got myself a job.

And I have to wear a maid's costume.

Great.

Hooray.

Signed,

Lucy

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