I'll try to update every 4 or 5 days.
But I won't promise. Okay?
Just, sorry 'bout that.
Anyway, enjoy this. I enjoyed writing this.
So yeah, thanks!
Chapter 3
"Good morning Lucy!" Erza greeted her when she saw her by the elevator. She held the doors open until Lucy entered.
"Oh! Hi Erza! Good morning!" They were the only ones in the elevator. Well it's just 7 in the morning and office hours don't start until 8. As usual, they're early birds. It was Lucy's fault, if she doesn't go to work early then Erza shouldn't have go this early too. "Let's close the doors; I'm going to exceed my time of going to my office. I should be seated on my office by 7!"
"Lucy you still have those times?"
"Why of course. Time is money." Lucy said proudly.
"Fine." Erza sighed in defeat. Really? Is she really the best friend of this robot, time conscious girl? Erza shrugged the thought off. Of course she was. Silly Erza. "If I'm your mother I'm gonna beat the crap out of you just to remove that time sickness out of your senses." She mumbled.
"You say something?"
"No. Nothing.." Erza knew why Lucy was like this but she's getting worse. What must have happen these past few days? "Well I was just thinking about that project about the hotel. Is it really okay about the band thing?"
"Uhh yeah. About that some people suggested other bands. So I think it's going to be a Band Battle Royale." Lucy said and the elevator dinged and they were at the top most floor. Lucy and Erza walked towards their wing of the building where their offices are.
"That sounds nice. But a battle like that will just last for about a week maximum."
"I've thought about that already and I'm planning on letting all those bands play on certain times every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Well according to my research those are the days in which our target bracket was out, partying." She smirked feeling proud of the information she researched.
"Did you really research for those days?"
"Yup." Lucy gave her a thumbs-up. She sat on her comfy sit and Erza place her coffee on the table. "I need some verification. Something of that sort."
Lucy, you're hopeless. Erza thought. In her mind she was banging Lucy's head on the nearest wall to extract the teenager's senses out of her. "You should've just asked me."
"Well I've considered that but since you're always with me I thought you also don't know."
"Lucy, even if I'm with you for like always I make time for myself just like how I always tell you. You're only seventeen, a TEEN on that. Okay? You should enjoy yourself." Lucy just rolled her eyes and continued writing things on the papers she was checking.
"And live while we're young.." That song was stuck in her mind ever since that day Natsu had.. Okay she can't think of the main event of that night, screw Pinky. Lucy thought about this. She remembered the smile Natsu gave off when he was on stage. He has the second most beautiful smile she saw. Well first was her mother's of course. She wanted more of that smile. She felt simple joy and some sort of warmth, just like her mother's. But still, she can't just please her father and make him happy when she just go make herself happy all by herself. She will never do that to him. Even as a child, Lucy knew how his father suffered when her mom died and those tears. Oh how she hated them when they flow out of her father's usually sparkly happy eyes. The company is the only memento her mother can remind them of her so she was doing her best on running the company with her father.
"Erza we've been through this a million times." Lucy sighed. "I promised you right? Back then I said I'll be with you whenever you want ones I bring Heartfilia Co. to a stable state."
"I remember that. I even recorded how you promised right?"
Lucy nodded. They were in highschool back then and Lucy was going to be sent on a home school when Erza asked her to go shopping, malling and just have fun with her. Lucy was really afraid back then, Erza's been glaring at her the whole time.
"So Lucy, what happened last Friday?" Erza smirked it's not that she doesn't know. Well she had Jellal to inform her of what the band members do. But she wants know Lucy's side of the story.
At the sound of last Friday, Lucy stiffened. She will never forget that night. "W-What do you mean? You're there right? And I forgot to call you the next day to thank you for giving me a ride home." She smiled at Erza
"I'm with you when we're still at High Life. But when you passed out due to drunkenness and I'm not-"
"I knew it. Something's not right with me when I woke up Saturday morning. I thought it was brain tumor or something.."
"It's called hangover." Lucy's lips came into a circle as a sign of somewhat realization. "That's the feeling of hangover an effect when you were drunk. So what happen?"
Just then Lucy stopped checking and reading the papers. And she punched her desk which made all the things on top of it to jump a little. "Now that you said it.. I felt something brushed on the tip of my nose that night. It was just quick but it was warm and somehow, it just felt nice. Well thank you again for caring for me."
Erza looked at her with confused eyes. "Actually Lucy I was not the-"
"I was like that after you left. And.. I was robbed."
"What I'm saying was I am n- Wait. WHAT!" Erza yelled making the passing employees to look at them.
"Not rob robbed. I mean, when I woke up the next morning my fridge was empty. I think the robbers took everything and just left my fridge. I was thankful they have pity."
Lucy looked at a smiling but still shocked Erza. "What's fun with that?"
"Well having something on your fridge is new."
"Oh that. I don't really care that they robbed everything in my fridge." Lucy goes back to her work. "All of the cakes, milk and other stuff in there have just expired that same day.. I think? Maybe just last week? Oh no, just that day. So I don't really care they even helped me clean up that mess. I was about to clean it that weekend bu-"
"YOU!"Suddenly the glass doors burst open. They both stared and saw Natsu pointing a finger on Lucy. "WHY DO YOU STORE EXPIRED FOODS?"
"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked dumbfounded. "And why are you here mister? Did I give you permission to enter? You don't even knock."
"Well Lucy, I was not able to tell you about-" It was Erza and Lucy stared at her as she spoke.
"WE WERE NOT-" Erza smacked Natsu on the head. She's had enough of being cut off for this day. In a blink of an eye Natsu was on the floor unconscious. Then the other members of Fairy Law together with their manager cam running from elevator side of the building and entered Lucy's office.
Lucy scared of Erza's action, and knowing she's been the one cutting her off earlier, ignored the other disturbance and just look at Erza as she stood in front of her table and cross her arms across her chest. "As I was saying-"
"NATSU YOU IDI-"
Thwack
And in another blink of an eye, another body was on the ground just beside Natsu's.
"Wrong choice of move, Gray." Jellal mumbled soft enough for Erza not to hear.
"I was saying, it was not me who brought you home Lucy." Erza looked at Lucy's surprised and somehow confused face that was staring back at her.
"W-What? Then how did I get home?"
"It was Natsu, Gray and Levy who brought you home." Erza continued. "Natsu insisted on bringing you home so I let him but with company. So don't worry."
Jellal walked towards Erza's side feeling that her dark aura has subsided by that moment. "Yeah don't worry. Levy here.." He gestured to a blue haired petite girl. "..took care of you."
Levy smiled at Lucy and she returned the smile.
"But I was robbed."
"Robbed?" Jellal asked yelling.
"Yeah my fridge was empty when I woke up."
Levy stepped forward. "Actually I know what happened." They all turned towards Levy. "Natsu and Gray were really hungry so they rummaged your fridge. I wasn't able to stop them because I was changing you that time. The moment I finished they were also done. I mean Natsu was done eating.. because Gray is smart enough to read things before putting things inside his mouth."
"So that explains why he just barged in looking angry at me." Lucy stood up from her seat and walked over to Natsu's unconscious body. She sat beside him and poked his cheeks. "Idiot." She mumbled. Lucy finds his face funny and she giggled softly so no one would notice. But Erza and Jellal, being keen observers, noticed it and smirked. Feeling that Natsu was about to wake up she stood up and walks and stared at Jellal. "So why are you here? I didn't ask for any meeting yet."
"Actually were just here because of Natsu." Jellal said as she sat on one of the semi-reclining chairs in front of Lucy's table.
Lucy sat on her chair and continued working. "I don't need any distractions when I'm working."
"I also wanted to introduce my whole band to you, though."
"Fine. Keep it fast." Lucy said while working on the papers.
Jellal looked at her. Why is she not looking at them? She won't be able to know them if she won't look. He turned a questioning face to Erza. "Just let her. She knows what she's doing. She's listening." Erza said softly.
Okay then. "Well Lucy you already know well, me. Jellal Fernandes, manager of Fairy Law." He looked at her and see if she was paying attention. It looked like she's-
"I'm listening. Continue."
"Then the band. You already know Natsu. Well just Natsu." Lucy looked up and raised one brow up. Then back to her work again. "He's the vocalist." Jellal gestured for the other body on the floor. "This other guy here is the lead guitarist, Gray Fullbuster."
"Why's he not wearing a shirt?"
"Habit." Jellal said and Lucy looked at Gray in disbelief. "Here's Levy McGarden on keyboards."Levy waved at her and she gave her a smile. "That's Lisanna Strauss. She's on bass guitar." Lucy looked at the white haired girl. "And lastly, Gajeel Redfox on drums."
"Okay I now know each member of Fairy Law, what now?" Lucy said not leaving her work.
"Actually, we're also here because we wanted to talk about that project. Is it a go?" Jellal crossed his legs and looked at Lucy.
"Erza and I were talking about it before you guys barged in. And it's a go, though the board suggested adding more bands than just yours." Lucy smiled. The business smiled she always had.
"More bands?"
"Yes Jellal." Lucy continued working which amazed the people around her. The Lucy the met in High Life seems really different now. She's working professionally. A very good multi-tasker. She was able to discuss the project with Jellal while working. "I was asked to add more bands and it will be like a Band Battle Royale. Actually it's not really a competition, all bands will be paid." She explained as she continued writing on the papers. "A week, or maybe a month or two will given to all bands to perform on certain days then the most number of audience will be the hotel's newest attraction."
"We're going to have a contract?"
"Not you silly. I mean of course you all have the chance. As I was saying the 'winner'.." Lucy paused for a while and made quotations in the air with her slender fingers. ".. will be getting the sponsorship from the company. In return whenever needed by the company that band will immediately do what is needed."
Jellal smiled. "So what's the sponsorship about?"
"Well we will send the band to different countries to be more popular and such. So that, when needed by the company that band will be nothing but a hit. By the way the band will also have a private jet." Lucy smirked. She turned to Erza and saw her smiling at her.
"Okay we're really in." A familiar voice from the floor said. "I can't wait to beat up those bands-" Natsu was really excited but pain struck his stomach again. "I can't sing normally thanks to you." He glared at Lucy.
"So Pinky's up huh? Why is it my fault?" She asked Natsu.
"That's because he ate the spoiled foods on your fridge." Levy butted in. Lucy looked at her and remembered her empty fridge.
"It's not my fault then."
"Yeah it was all Natsu's." Gray said as he finally woke up and stands.
"Oh yeah mister smarty pants?" Natsu mocked him and head butted him but was stopped by a sudden dark glare.
"No fighting in the office." She said darkly and Natsu backed away from Gray.
"So this whole Battle Battle Band whatever?"
Lucy chuckled at Natsu's mistakes but she shrugged it off for now. "Well all those privilege will be for your band if you guys were able to get the largest number of audience." Lucy fixed her reading glasses. Well she uses glasses whenever she's just in her office.
Natsu walked up to her table. "Yeah yeah, I heard that already." He ran a hand through his hair. He stopped from his tracks when he reached the edge of Lucy's table then he leaned. His face was now inches away from hers. Lucy ignored him and just continued working. "We'll definitely win that. And I'll definitely bring you your firsts." He smirked.
"Back off. You're annoying."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll call the guards."
"They won't stop me."
"I'll call the military."
"They won't be able to handle my hotness." This disturbed Lucy. She stopped and looked up. Now they're looking in each other's eyes.
Then there was silence.
"Never thought you have beautiful brown eyes.." Natsu mumbled softly enough that only Lucy was able to hear it.
With that Lucy immediately backed away and leaned back on her sit. "D-Don't ever stay that near me again. I said b-back off." Her voice is full of nervousness. It was shaking. Lucy doesn't know why but she felt her cheeks warmed up. She fixed her eyeglasses and the imaginary tangles on her hair.
Natsu chuckled and leaned away. "You're really funny."
The other stared at them confusedly. "Anyway, I'm still doing things here so you guys should go now. Erza?"
Erza looked at Lucy at the mention of her name. "Yeah?"
"I have meeting this lunch so I can't eat with you. I'm sorry."
"I knew that before you did." Erza smiled.
"Anyway, please guide these.." Her eyes looked from person to person. "..kind people to the exit."
"Okay." Erza smiled.
Jellal stood up, smiled at Lucy and waved good bye. "Oh wait, can I take Erza for lunch?"
"Yeah yeah, as long as you take care of her and bring her back on time.." Lucy said not removing her eyes from what she was doing. Erza smiled at her. It seems Jellal is earning her trust. "But Erza don't forget to bring your phone and call me once you get to where Jellal will be taking you." Or not. Erza laughed to herself, laughed in her mind about the thought of Jellal earning Lucy's trust.
"Okay." Erza turned to the Fairy Law band members and Jellal. "Let's go." All of the band members stepped out of Lucy's office.
Lucy sighed in relief. She leaned back for a while and started working again.
After a few minutes of silence someone spoke. "Now we're alone."
Lucy was surprised. She looked around and saw the pink haired guy leaning on the glass door where everyone exited. He then walked over to her.
"Pinky.." Upon knowing who it was, Lucy goes back on her work. "What are you still doing here?"
"Nothing really. I just find messing with you, fun." He walked over to Lucy's side and turned her chair towards him. He leaned down to her height and smirked.
"What do you want? Stop messing with me. I have a lot of works to do." Lucy tried to pull the chair to face to her work but his grip won't loosen.
"Well actually, these past days I've learned a lot about you."
"And your point is?"
"Be my girl."
Lucy's eyes widen. Natsu has kissed her again, this time on her forehead. Her cheeks were reddened. And Natsu laughed. "You're face is really funny when you're blushing."
"Stop playing around me." Lucy said and with full strength she was able to face back on her work. "Why are you still here? I already asked Erza to lead you back down."
"Well I stayed here. I was here for the last 5 minutes they were gone and you don't even noticed me." Natsu walked in front of her again. He sat on one of the chairs in front of Lucy. He watched her read then edits the papers and at the same time check on the big computer screen. "How could you do that?"
"What?"
"Back then you were explaining the project to Jellal while working. Doesn't that confuse you?"
Lucy stared at him then back on her work again. "What are you up to?"
"How'd you know?"
"Well in business if you admit you have a purpose that easily you'll be eaten alive." Lucy smiled at him.
Natsu pouted. "Just answer what I ask."
"But I said-"
"Yeah I'll leave if you answer my questions with the answers that I want."
"How will I know you like my answers?"
"Just answer it." Natsu said and grinned at her.
"Well this can be practiced. I was trained for this."
"Really?" Lucy nodded. Natsu leaned forward getting more interested with the girl. "Since?"
"10 years ago. How many questions are you going to ask?"
Natsu shrugged and earned a glare from Lucy. Natsu chuckled. "Fine fine. Just 3 more."
"Are you free this –"
"No."
"I haven't finished my question yet. Why are you so eager to push me away?"
"Because you're wasting my precious time!"
"I'm wasting your time?"
"Yeah."
"How- "
"That's three questions already."
"What? That's three?" Lucy nodded without looking at him. "But you didn't let me finish my first question so that should not be counted." Natsu smirked.
"No second chances. The damage has been done, no remedy."
"Lucy this is no business. I'm just talking to you as a friend."
"But you already-"
"It should not be counted that would be cheating! You didn't let me finish."
"Fine. But you'll leave after that."
"If I get the right answer."
Lucy growled. And Natsu just smiled at her. "Well are you free this weekend? It's the first day of summer plus a holiday."
"How is it a holiday?"
"I just said so." Lucy glared at him. "And don't answer my question with another. That's against the rules."
"Since when did we have rules?"
"Since I said so. So hurry, I still need to prepare."
"For what?"
"Depends on your answer."
"Well in that case I'm not."
"Okay then." Natsu smiled. "I'll see you around!" He blew a kiss to her and Lucy avoided the direction to where he blew it. Natsu chuckled. "I already kissed you like.." He counted in his head. "three times.. so that should not bother you. It's just a flying kiss."
Lucy was shaking. Her face was red. But she won't let this pink haired guy see it. She must show him she was annoyed by his presence. She stayed silent.
"Bye Lucy!" Natsu said as he walked away with a grin. "Guess we'll use force." He mumbled as he exited the office.
As soon as Natsu was out of sight Lucy leaned back on her chair and sighed. "Why does it suddenly felt hot?" She said as she fanned herself with her hand. Lucy thought about her conversation with Natsu. "I already kissed you like three times.." Lucy thought. She counted on her head. It was just two before that flying kiss, which she skilfully dodged. She thought about is but when she looked at the time and it was almost time for her meeting, she shrugged it off and went back to work.