I know.

Sorry, I wasn't able to update this week.

I prepared 2 chapters though

I'm going to upload the other tomorrow

Or maybe day after tomorrow..

Because I'm not satisfied with the something there.

Hahaha =)

Anyway, I'm really sorry. Just so busy. =((

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 7

Lucy plopped on the chair beside the table inside her and Erza's room trying to work on the papers she left undone. There was a plate of unfinished food on her right and a cup of coffee in front of her. You might get it wrong but it's still night time. She's been staring at the papers in front of her for 3 long hours. She hasn't finished the food she ordered yet, afraid that if she'll get full she'll fell asleep. So she decided to fill herself up with mugs of coffee. Yet, with all the preparations she did, she hasn't started on anything yet. Her pen was on her fingers the whole time making tapping sounds with the table along with her occasional humming. Actually, Lucy knows how to sing a bit. Her mother always sings to her when she was alive so Lucy is quite musically inclined.

She ruffled her head. "What's wrong with you Lucy? You're not this. You should not be shaken by those words." Lucy said to herself as she messed with her hair and her face gets annoyed as time passes by. She's not usually like this. With her normal self she must've done something with the papers in front of her but right now isn't. She can't concentrate. "Lucy you already know what she said. That shouldn't affect you now." She talked to herself as she bumps her head to the table in a soft thud.

She had trust issues. She had this 'I don't want to be a burden to you' thinking. And worst of all Lucy is pessimistic.

A knock on the door made her snap out of her trance of thoughts. Whoever the person behind that door didn't wait for Lucy's permission to get inside, instead the door shrieked open revealing none other than Levy McGarden herself.

"Lucy..?" She asked hesitantly.

Lucy stood up from her seat fixing her messed hair. "Hey Levy? Come inside." As so said Levy made her way inside the room and sat on the rattan weaved circular floating chair.

"Have you eaten?"

"Uhh.. Not finish yet. I don't want to be full so I haven't finished mine."

"Oh. Well first I want to give you this." Levy handed a paper bag which Lucy hasn't noticed she had when she entered the room.

"What is it?" Lucy said with an accusing voice.

"Don't worry Lucy. It's just cookies. I made them and gave everyone this dinner but you left so I've decided I'll keep a set for you." Levy smiled as she Lucy opened the paper bag.

A smile seeped to Lucy's lips. "I'm sorry you have to go here just to give me this. You should've just called me so I could go to you."

"But I know you're doing a lot of things so I came here."

"I'm sorry for the bother –"

Levy cut her off. "Stop saying sorry. You're making me regret I came here to check on you and give those."

Lucy was quite shock. Then she smiled. "I'm so –"

"I said no sorry." Levy said firmly.

Lucy was taken aback but she took it lightly. Levy just doesn't want her to be sorry for the effort she made for her. "Okay. Thank you then." She smiled weakly.

"That's good. Another thing why I was here is that Erza left."

"What? She left me? Why? Where did she go?" Lucy said jumping to the couch where Levy was trying to extract every information Levy had of Erza.

"Relax Lucy she's fine." Those words, it made her calm. Just thinking that another of her best friend would be in danger will definitely kill her next. "She just went back to the city. She said she had urgent wor –"

"Wait I didn't gave her any work. I don't want Erza working too much especially on weekends like these."

"I know Lucy. Someone called her then she dropped her phone then she hurriedly pulled Jellal and talked to him. When they came back Erza said she was going back first, take care of you –" Lucy stood up going to their closet and stuffing all their clothes to Erza's humongous bag. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'll follow her. I think that call supposed to be mine. She left my phone when she picked me up before we get here. So she asked the communications company to connect her line to mine." Levy seemed to understand that and stayed silent for a while.

"So how do you plan on following her?" Levy asked after some minutes of silence.

Lucy's eyes went wide and looked at Levy. "Can I borrow your car?"

"Nope."

Lucy frowned.

"I didn't bring mine. I went with Gajeel."

"Whose cars are there?" Lucy said as she stood up and set the bags she'll bring back with her.

Levy thinks and puts a finger on her chin looking at the ceiling. "Gajeel's is there, but I don't think you can ask him to let you drive his car. I think Gray brought his, Lisanna's also there, Jellal's I think but he won't let you borrow that for sure and of course there is Natsu's."

Lucy won't be able to borrow Jellal's and Gajeel's. So that leaves 3 out of 5 cars available. She stayed silent to think and reduce her options. She can't ask Lisanna because she's mad at her. And she's definitely not going to ask Natsu for his car. He'll just play with her and of course Lisanna will be mad at her. That leaves her the only option.

"Gray.." Lucy mumbled then a smile rose on her face. "Where's Gray?"

"Probably with the boys. Why?"

Right then Levy heard the door clicked close and she was alone.

Lucy walked faster than normal. She needed to see Gray and borrow his car from him. She just badly needed to get awa –No. She just wanted to see Erza. She's concerned about the call, that's all. Nothing more nothing less, maybe knowing what that call was about would turn her back to her usual working self. She runs in and out of the inn. Through every corridor it had and every turn she glances back checking if she hasn't looked at something.

"Hey Lucy?.. What's with the hurry?" She saw Gray standing right in front of her probably heading to their room.

She smiled brightly at him. Lucy squealed like a child forgetting she was exhausted from all the running she's done. "I need to borrow your car."

"What?"

She must have said it faster than normal so Gray wasn't able to catch it. "I said, I need your car. Can I borrow it?"

"For what?" He asked and puts both his hands inside his pockets.

"Well you see Erza le –"

"Oh no." Gray raised his hands in front of him waving side to side. "I can't help you with that."

Lucy looked at him with a disappointed, confused and sad look.

"Come with me. I think you need some nutrition. You look pale." He grabbed Lucy's wrist and dragged her towards the mess hall. He bought some snacks for her and led her to the seats found along the corridors. Gray gave Lucy a pack with sandwich, an apple and milk but Lucy didn't take it, so he placed it on her side as silence enveloped their surroundings.

"You know what? I really wanted to lend you my car." Gray said and leaned on the wall behind him putting his arms behind his head.

Lucy looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"But on second thought I don't."

"Why? You're my only hope here."

Gray looked at her this time shocked at what she said. "Only hope? You had other friends here. But I bet they won't lend you their cars too."

"Why is that?"

"First of all, those cars were only driven by Fairy Law members. It was made only for our use. You saw the plates right?" Lucy nodded. "Those are the only cars that model in the whole world. That's why we put identities on it."

Lucy rolled her eyes.

Gray chuckled. "Well I know that's a lame excuse but you see Erza threatened us not to lend you phone, car or even let you out of the inn by yourself."

Lucy became more curious about the call. Why would Erza do that to her? "Why's that?"

"I don't know. After she dropped her phone while talking she just talked to Jellal about things to do and not to do to you."

"I really need a car."

"No is no. I bet no one will lend you. But if that stubborn Pink –"

Lucy shook her head. "Not a chance. I won't ask for his assistance."

"You know he would be willing."

Lucy looked down. "I know.." She mumbled.

"What?" Gray looked at her confusedly.

Lucy alerted from what she had say. What did she say? Does she trust that man? "I-I said he won't. He'll just tease me and play around me, that's all he's good at."

"He's a good singer."

"Okay. That too." Lucy admitted. If Natsu isn't a good singer slash vocalist then what would Fairy Law be? Not a band of course. She smiled at the thought of a person who's good at only two things.. okay three if fighting with his friends count.

"Well I guess you won't be following Erza then." Gray said standing up and facing Lucy.

Lucy stayed silent.

He yawned. "I really feel sleepy so I guess I'll be sleeping now. You should sleep too. Do your works tomorrow. Okay?" He ruffled her hair and chuckled when she pouted.

"Why do you always have to mess my hair?"

"Because it's fun? Good night Princess!" Gray chuckled and immediately distance himself from the punch Lucy was about to launch at him.

"I said I ain't princess."

"But Natsu said you were." He said then stuck his tongue out and walked to the corner then there he saw someone. "Hey Lis. What are you doing here?" This caught Lucy's attention. Lisanna was here all along? Why? She then walked away as fast as she could so not to encounter the white haired girl Gray met.

Lisanna looked shock when Gray saw her. "N-Nothing. I just came here."

"O-Okay. If you say so." Gray said then yawned again. He walked passed her. "Good night!"

Lucy walked towards the entrance of the inn. She looked at the cars that were parked there. If only she had her money. If only she had her phone. If only she had her car. She would've been away from here the moment she felt like going away. Now she admired those who are poor, those who are primitive who lived without those things. How the hell were they able to get to places without a damn car? How could they see each other without that phone? And lastly how were they able to survive without money? She wanted to be like them for this moment. She hoped she had their knowledge of counter-attacking these situations.

She sighed in defeat as she watched the stars. The stars in the sky were visible at this level. They were on a mountain for god's sake the stars a in a whole lot different level. The size, number and their brightness were all different from what they usually see back in the city. "So pretty." She mumbled and leaned on the railings with her hands supporting her upper body and eyes looking at the sky.

"Lucy.."

She turned around at the call of her name.

The person she wanted to see the least.

Lisanna.

She was here.

Right in front of Lucy handing her a somewhat.. key?

"What do you want?" Lucy answered and glared at Lisanna.

Lisanna put the keys on her face making Lucy step back a bit. "What's with that face Lucy?" She said sweetly and innocently. "I was just giving you a favour."

Lucy looked at her confusedly. She was mad at Lucy right? Why would she be the one helping her right now?

"I got you a car. I rented it because you don't have a phone and money." Lisanna continued to hand her the set of keys. She was.. smiling?

A smile that is very sweet.

"Consider this as a sorry token." Lisanna didn't give up. She reached for Lucy's hand and put the keys on her hands and closed it. "There. Now you can feel all better. You can now follow Erza. She might be doing things for you."

Lucy thought about this. She was right. Erza might be doing things for her. Difficult jobs for her. That's the least that she wants. But it was really weird. Peculiar is it. The reason she wanted to get away from that place is now the one helping her. Maybe at some point it made sense. Lucy shrugged the thought off. She smiled at Lisanna then. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now quick before anyone stops you. Just come back fast. Okay?" Lisanna reminded her.

Okay. She'll accept this girl's help for now. Not that she liked her already, not that she trusted her or wanted to be friends with her but because she just wanted to be away from this place right this very moment. Lisanna pushed Lucy lightly towards a car, she couldn't see it clearly but for a car-for-rent it looks high classed.

"Lisa –" She turned back but Lisanna was nowhere to be found. She shrugged her shoulders and get inside the car. Lucy drove fast and disappeared in the darkness of the night.

Natsu walked towards his room with Gray when he saw Gray's car moving. "Where the hell is that stripper going?" He said to himself while rubbing his right eye with the back of his hand and yawning. The car drove really fast. Very manly indeed, well to Natsu it was still lame because he knew or for himself he can do better than what Gray could. He grabbed the door knob and twisted it open.

"Natsu.." A soft voice came to him. He wasn't able to open the door and he turned to look at the culprit. Who the hell interrupted his plan to sleep?

Levy.

"Hey Lev. What are you doing at this time?" He tried to regain his composure. Really, he was sleepy. They had drank quite a lot but the thing is he was the only one feeling drunk.. what happens to the taking turns in drinking shots? Oh well.

Levy looked away with a worried look that but Natsu didn't notice it. She puts her hands behind her back. "I was just wondering if you see Lucy around?"

"Lucy?" Oh yeah. She was here. He almost forgot. How could he forget about his toy? Alcohol. Right.

"She went to look for you guys. Almost 2 hours ago, it's getting really late so I went to look for her."

"You mean she came to look for us? At the bar? How come we haven't seen her there?" Natsu said feeling sober at the lost of one of his treated friends.

Levy just nodded. "So you haven't seen her?" Levy looked with hopeful eyes but Natsu didn't look at her.

He shook his head.

Levy looked down and her face turned to another level of worry.

"But I can help you in looking for her. Better yet let's wake up everyone so they could help." Natsu grinned making Levy's hope increase. She nodded and quickly went to Jellal and Gajeel's room. "I'll go change first."

First of all Natsu stinks. The scent of alcohol attached to his clothing and there are some spillages due to their frequent fighting and he's all sweaty. Why didn't they have air conditioners at the bar? He entered their room and hears a very loud snore. The snore that could rival his. "Gray really is annoying."

He went to clean himself up and change. After a while he's done he kicked the side of Gray's bed. "Stripper wake up! You are needed. We need to find Lucy." He was replied by soft moans and grunts. Maybe Gray was really into his sleep. He felt annoyed and left. Gray not helping them finding Lucy won't even count. They won't feel it. He met with the others on the same corridor their room was in. There stood a very bored yawning Gajeel, Jellal who had his phone on his ear looking frantic, Levy who's looking hopefully at Jellal and Lisanna.

"Hey Natsu!" Lisanna happily walked up to him. "You wanna do something."

He shook his head. "Need to find my reckless girl." Natsu chuckled.

Lisanna frowned but kept it hidden. She did all these for their sake. Well not entirely for their sake but she felt like she was being left alone. All of the members were into Lucy. She's the center of everything. Even to Natsu. He doesn't pay much attention to her now. She just wanted to bring back that time by simply disposing of Lucy or if possible.. ruining the contract between Heartfilia and Fairy Law and forever be apart.

"The guard said there's a car that left just minutes ago." Jellal said after talking to the man on the other line of his phone.

"I saw that too. It was Gra –" Natsu cut himself off. That doesn't make sense. Who is snoring inside their room? It was Gray's car that he saw moving at a high speed.

"What is it Natsu?" Levy asked.

He didn't answer instead he rushed into their room. Opening the door and now opening the lights for a clearer view. On the bed he saw Gray, sleeping shirtless. "STRIPPER!"

Gray turned away and buried his face on the pillow.

"Get up!"

"Noooooo." He said very annoyed Natsu had interrupted his sleep.

Natsu shook him. He slapped him lightly. And even tried to punch Gray but Jellal stopped him. Jellal shook his head. "Gray.." He said ever so calmly. "Your car is gone."

Immediately Gray sat up blinking his eyes wide open. "My car?"

"Yes. It was kidnapped."

He immediately stood up and reached for his keys but it was nowhere to be found. "Shit!" He ran outside and the others followed him.

At the park in front of the inn stood 6 glorious cars. A red one, blue, black, white and a dark blue one. All their cars were there. Gray went to the dark blue one and hurry in front of it. 'Fairy Blue'. Yeah. This car is his. He sighed. But everyone behind him looked confused. "Who among you made this joke?" Gray asked the three boys.

"I-I really saw your car moving a while ago." Natsu said trying to figure things out.

"But it was here. You could see it too, right?" Levy said.

"Stop the prank where are my keys?" Gray snapped.

"Spares." Gajeel said clearing things. "I made one butler bring the spare. And in this case he must've brought Gray's spare." He smirked.

Levy smacked the back of his head.

"What was that for?!"

"For not telling us earlier."

Then there was silence. Who would've get the keys in Gray's room? Who drove the spare car? You see each of them have spares that they used for things like just going on somewhere near or maybe to disguise themselves. It had the same color as what they usually had.

"S-Sorry Jellal." Lisanna mumbled in a low tone. "Lu-Lucy she threatened me that she'll ruin our career if I won't help her find Gray's keys." She sobbed lightly which made Levy hug her and comfort her.

"She threatened you?" Gray asked in disbelief. Suddenly a flashback of Lucy's honest and innocent face came to his mind. No. She can't do that. At least that's what he wanted to believe in. But Lisanna said she did.

Levy couldn't believe her too. But this was Lisanna. Why would she lie to them? She was the sweet bubbly and very caring member of their team. "Shh. Be calm Lis. Everything will be alright. You just did what you think is right."

Natsu couldn't say anything. Lisanna, his friend is crying. He clenched his fist. But Lucy is the one who made her cry and his fist loosen. How could Lucy do that to his friend? Natsu immediately went to his car.

"Where are you going?" Jellal asked.

"Going to give that girl a piece of my mind." He said angrily. Natsu quickly get in his car and drove fast looking to where Lucy might have gone.

Unknown to them was a smile that made to her lips when Natsu gets angry. She knew it was for her. And now, everything will be perfect.

Breaking the stares on Natsu's fast disappearing car Jellal spoke. "In any case, we still need to find her before Erz –"

"Who are you going to search for?" A familiar low commanding voice came. Oh yeah. There was the truck that's why there were 6 vehicles. How could they overlooked at that humongous truck.

"E-Erza." Jellal said in a panicked voice.