Guess who just got over 100 reviews! It makes me super happy! This chapter is also longer, so think of it as a late Christmas present! Also, some of you will probably be mad at me for this, but here's the chapter!
Natsu looked at me wide eyes.
"Just kidding, Lucy invited Levy and I for a sleeping over" I grinned, playing along with his earlier comment about living with Lucy (myself).
Natsu chuckled. "You actually almost got me there. Now that I think about it, you actually remind me a lot of Lucy"
I started to become nervous, "I-in what ways?" I asked. I really am curious to know now.
"Well...you guys have the same blonde hair. And both of you are smart. And now that I think about it, you both are about the same height and your facial features are similar also. Damn, you guys can practically almost be sisters" said Natsu chuckling.
I giggled nervously. 'If only he knew.'
"What time does your sleepover start?" he asked.
"Um..around eight" I lied. I mean, it doesn't really matter what time I say since the sleepover is fake anyways.
He checks the time again.
"It's six-thirty, so it's still a little early for the sleepover," he says. "Oh, I know! Since we have time to spare, how about I treat you to dinner. You must be starving, I know I am."
"That's alright," I said out of modesty. "I'm not all that hungry"
(Grumble. Grumble.)
Natsu laughs. "I think your stomach says otherwise" I blush. How embarrassing. "Don't worry I'll bring you somewhere good to eat."
He brings me to a five star restaurant called "Amber". Inside everything was decorated in shades of red making it seem like we were inside a fire. Natsu says that it was suppose to resemble a fire dragon. The waiter leads us to our table and gave us two menus. Natsu orders the brazied pork loin and I ordered the chicken tetrazzini, bread sticks, soup, and salad. Natsu seemed amused by the amount I ordered.
"What?" I asked him.
He shuggs. "Most girls would just order a salad, but you're really interesting." I blush. 'Is that what normal girls do? Who would want to eat just a boring, ol' salad anyways?'
"I-is it wrong that I eat a lot?" I asked.
The pink haired boy shook his head. "Nope. Not at all."
For some reason I was starting to get nervous. Now that I think about it, I never had dinner with a boy before. There was a awkward silence between us as we waited for our food.
Finally the waiter brought out the food. Everything looked so delisious and I dig right in. It wasn't until a couple minutes later that I realized that Natsu was staring at me the whole time. His food still untouched.
"What?" I asked with my mouth full. "I'm hungry."
Once again, Natsu gives me his amused look. "Nothing. I like how you have a big appetite. You're not like normal girls, and I like that" I blush. What a weird way to be complimented. 'Maybe I'm doing this dinner thing all wrong.'
"Do you like the food?" he asked. I nodded. "I'll make sure to tell the chef later. I'm sure he'll be pleased to here"
"You know the chef here?" I asked.
"Yeah. I kind of own the place" he says. "I actually helped design it too"
If I was a poor girl, I would have been shocked. However, it only made sense that he might own a restaurant or two. He does own the second most influencial company in Japan.
I nodded. "So why do you have a fascinating with dragons," I asked attempting to start a conversation. "I mean, you have a group called the 'Dragons' at school, you made up a dragons game that you play with the kids at the hospital, and even this restaurant is designed after a fire dragon. (Not to mention the necklace he gave me, but I can't tell him that) So why the fascination?"
Natsu studies my face for a moment and sighs.
"It's a long story if you want to hear it," he says.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..I mean..yes..but I won't force it," I said a bit flustered.
He took a deep breath in before telling me his story:
flashback
"Look at that boy with the pink hair."
"He looks like a girl."
"Yeah he's weird."
"What a freak."
"My mom told me not to hang out with him."
"He's always alone, it's creepy."
A little boy around five sat alone on the swings. He looked to the ground as he drew circles in the woodchips with his foot. He knew what the other kids were saying about him, he isn't stupid. He already knew that his hair was an unnatural color. It wasn't his fault that it is. He was born with it. His eyes started to water and tears were threatening to fall. He tried his best to hold him in, until he couldn't any longer. And then they did. Hot tears streamed down his face as he messily tried to wipe them away with his sleeve.
"What's wrong?" a gentle voice asked. The boy looked up. A girl no more than a year younger than him stood in front of him. She had soft hazel eyes and beautiful blonde hair. And for some reason, he felt compelled to tell her all his problems.
"People don't like my hair," says the boy. "They think that I'm a freak because of its color. I hate it. I wish I was born with normal hair."
"I like your hair," said the girl, "It's pretty."
"You do?" the boy questioned.
"Of course! My mommy told me that lying is bad. I really really do like your hair. Pink is my favorite color" the girl said happily.
"It's not pink, it's salmon colored" pouted the boy.
The girl shugged. "Pink, salmon, same thing. Either way I like it"
The boy blushed.
"You might like it, but the other kids pick on me because of my hair," the boy said.
The girl frowns. "That's not very nice."
The boy saddens again. "Yeah, but they do it anyways"
"Do your parents know?" asked the girl.
The boy shook his head. "I didn't want to tell them. They're too busy."
"Oh," says the girl.
They stood there silent for a few moments.
"I know!" the girl said excitedly. "We need to make it so that the kids don't pick on you anymore."
"How do we do that?" asked Natsu.
"I don't know..um..." the girl was in deep thought. She thinks silently for a couple minutes before she shouts, "Oh I know! Tell them that a dragon turned your hair pink when you were trying to save the princess! I can be the princess and you can be my prince!"
"The kids won't believe that" says the boy, "That only happens in fairy tales."
"Well, if that doesn't work then..then..stand up for yourself! Show them that you're strong and that you're able to do big things!" says the girl, motioning 'big' by spreading her arms wide apart.
"I don't know if I can do that.." says the boy.
"Sure you can! Just believe in yourself!" says the girl. "I need to go home now or else my parents will get worried. And don't be afraid to stand up to the kids. Even if they don't want to be your friend, you'll still have me!"
The boy nodded.
"I need to go now. Bye, Natsu!" says the girl as she ran off.
The boy waved back, until he finally realized. How did she know my name?
"Wait!" he called out, "What's your name!" But it was too late. The girl was already gone.
The next day. Natsu took the girl's advice.
"Look, its the pink haired weirdo," says a boy.
"Eww. Can't he get the hint that no one likes him," says a second boy.
Natsu clenched his fists and gathered up all his courage. "I am not a weirdo! And I like my hair! Who gave you the right to judge me!"
All the kids shut up. They probably never thought that the boy would ever fight back.
"Come on, let's leave him alone. He's no fun to tease anymore." the first boy says to the second.
After the kids left, Natsu let out a huge sigh of relief. Maybe his days of being bullied were finally over. And it was all due to the help of a little blonde girl with hazel eyes. He knew that he had to thank her the next time they meet. Only problem is that he didn't know who she is.
"Yo, Natsu!" said a voice.
The boy looked over and sees another boy with black hair and dark blue eyes and a girl with scarlet hair and brown eyes.
"Do I know you?" asked the pink (salmon) haired boy.
"No. I'm Gray and that's Erza. We want you to be in a group with us."
"But why? None of the kids like me," said Natsu.
Gray shugged. "So what if they don't. I like your courage and how you stood up to those kids."
Erza nodded.
Natsu was hesitant, but he agreed. "Alright..I guess I can be in a group with you two."
"Great! Now all we need is a name" said Erza. The three kids thought for a moment before the salmon haired boy finally spoke up.
"I know! We can call ourselves the Dragons," exclaimed Natsu.
"Dragons?" Erza and Gray both said in unison.
"Yeah, because they are strong, like us" said Natsu. 'And because the little girl who gave me the advice said something about them' Natsu thought.
Erza and Gray looked at each other for a moment. Before saying, "Alright."
Natsu's face lit up. "From now on, the three of us will be called the 'Dragons'!"
End of Flashback
"So I guess that was how I became to have a fascination with dragons and how I became friends with Erza and Gray. It was all because of this girl that I met. I'm still trying to find the girl so I can thank her. But I'll probably be impossible now." said Natsu as he finished his story.
"Wow. I never knew people picked on you in the past" I said, "It's hard to tell since people praise you so much at school."
"Yeah. It's an really embrassing story. You're one of the few people that I actually told" he says.
I was a bit shocked to hear that news. 'One of the few people he ever told?' I thought to myself. For some reason I felt honored. It's almost like he trusted me.
Natsu checked his watch again. "Crap! It's already eight! You're going to be late for your sleepover"
'Oh right! I almost forgot about that' "Are you done with your meal?" he asked. I nodded. "Ok, let's go before you're really late"
We exit the restaurant and got into his car.
"Wait, we forgot to pay." I finally realized.
Natsu grinned. "I own the restaurant remember"
My face turned red. "Oh right." I mumbled. 'How could I have forgot. I swear hanging out with him is turning me into a sterotypical dumb blonde'
While Natsu was driving me to Lucy's house/my own, for some reason I couldn't get his story out of my head. The whole time he was telling his story, I felt like I was having a flashback of my own. I remember meeting Natsu in the park when I was younger, however that memory was long forgotten till now. I guess it just wasn't very important to me. I never knew that I impacted him that much though. We were just kids and I just told him the first thing that popped into my head. And the only reason I knew his name then was because he had a backpack beside him with his name sewn on it.
We reach the Heartfillia manor and I get out of the car.
"Thanks for the today Natsu. I had a lot of fun" I smiled.
Natsu grinned. "Me too. We should hang out more often. Your actually a pretty fun person"
I blush. "Good night, Natsu. And drive safe. I'll give a few good words about you to Lucy as a thanks." I said.
Natsu smiles. "Thanks Kaori. Have fun at your sleepover. Good night."
I shut the car door and Natsu waves bye before driving off.
I went inside only to be confronted by an angry butler.
"Hey, Loke.."I said wary.
"Why were you out so late." Loke asked in a stern voice.
"I got caught up in sometime. Sorry. I won't do it again" I apologized.
Loke sigh. "Virgo and I were just worried about you. Just give us a call next time your staying out late."
"Will do."
Natsu's POV
After dropping Kaori off, I just couldn't help but think about how similar she is to Lucy. And now that I think about it, they are also very similar to the girl that I met in my childhood. Yes they do have the similar features, but also their attitude and personality also match up. I never thought I'll say this, but I think I may have a slight crush on the nerd. I needed to find a place to clear my thoughts. I drove around until I finally arrived at a beach. I closed my eyes and breathed in the dry, cold air. When I opened them, I was looking at the stars. This made me remember about my time with Lucy at the ball and when she told me about the constellations. I looked out of the corner of my eye and I can see two figures appoarching. At first it was too dark to tell who they were, but as I got closer I could tell that it was Levy and the new kid Gajeel. They were talking while strolling along the beach. 'Isn't Levy suppose to be at the sleepover with Kaori and Lucy? What is see doing on the beach with Gajeel?' I thought as I walked over to ask.
Levy POV
Gajeel and I were walking along the beach when I notice Natsu walking towards us. That's weird. What's he doing at the beach alone at night?
"Yo. What are you doing here?" he asked. His tone was warmer than normal.
"What do you mean?" I asked. I looked at Gajeel and he gave me a confused look back.
"Aren't you supposed to be at a sleepover with Lucy and Kaori?" he asked.
I gave him a puzzled expression. "I don't think so.." I said.
"Oh.." Natsu said a bit confused himself.
That's when it hit me. Maybe Lucy told him a little lie. I probably just blew her cover.
"Actually Natsu. You're right. I am suppose to be at a sleepover. I can't believe I forgot about it" I said, nudging Gajeel. "Come on, Gajeel. Let's go. We're probably really late now"
I grabbed Gajeels hand and led him away, leaving a confused Natsu.
Natsu's POV
That Levy girl has terrible acting skills. It was obvious that she knew nothing about the sleepover. I can't blame her for being a good friend and pretending though. But why would Kaori lie to me?
Dun Dun Dun! Lucy's identity is still a secret (that would've been a lame way to reveal yourself), we learned about Natsu's past, and Kaori lied to Natsu?! What will happen next? Tune in! As always, favorite/follow/review!
Also, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Late Christmas. I hope everyone was able to spend it with their family and friends. One more thing. In a couple days it will be January 1, which means that it will be New Years. I probably won't be updating before then so I just wanted to wish everyone a early Happy New Years! That day will also be the one year anniversary of this story! So to everyone who has stuck with me for a whole year (!) I just want to say a uber big thank you! It means so much to me. My new year's resolution this year will be to hopefully finish this story. So I need your help to keep me on track! Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you in 2014!