Okay, so, here's the new chapter!

I've been sick all week since Tuesday, so I'm glad I was able to make this on time.

My fav count has reached 6 by now and my follows 10 and I'm incredibly happy about that.

So, as always, enjoy!

Lucy flinched as a green shirt was flung at her.

She let out a low growl as it slid down her face. She could see Sting flinch as well, but for an entirely different reason than her.

He shivered as he turned his head to meet with the death glare her eyes were throwing at him.

"S-sis... I'm sorry?"

The blonde supposed she could give him credit for actually trying to apologize and not running for his life in an instant.

But she was stressed. And really not in a mood for forgiving and forgetting.

"Stiiiiing!" Her voice gradually morphed into a high pitched cry while running after the older blonde, who had come to the conclusion that his life was too precious to bet it on the small chance of his raging sister suddenly forgiving him.

He ran towards the entrance area, trying to take refuge in one of the cottages his school friends were living at, but collided with something – someone, as he realized two seconds later – before he could reach the temporary safety the front door would give him.

Towering above the fallen teenager on the run was Rogue, who was staring at something behind Sting, the small smile he had worn while entering faltering.

"Sting... what did you do?"

Rogue had to force himself to ask that question, clearly not wanting to get caught up in whatever was going on between the blond siblings.

Sting looked behind himself, fighting the impulse to bolt out the door without looking back – just in time to see the threatening glare vanish from his sister's face.

She blinked. "Hey, Rogue. Need anything?"

"Well", he started with his usual blank expression, "I actually came here to see if you needed any help. I finished a while ago, since you helped me box up everything yesterday."

Lucy smiled. "I see. Your help is much appreciated. But first –", her smile turned into a demonic one as Sting suddenly felt himself being pulled by his collar, "I have something I need to take care of."

Sting's cries for help were ignored as he was dragged back to the bedroom he and his sister shared.

After the death of her parents, Lucy had shown an immense fear of being left alone; it had become normal for the two to sleep in the same room.

Knowing all that wouldn't help Sting right now though, so he just gave in and let himself be dragged to his impending doom.

His sister threw him straight into the mess he had created while making an effort to fit his clothes into his suitcase without having to fold them.

"Pack. Now", she demanded with a terrifying glint in her eyes.

"Yes, ma'am."

Sting let his head hang low in a depressed demeanor as he attempted to lessen the chaos.

Lucy and her brothers were breaking a considerable sweat after they had finally finished boxing in everything personal there was to be found in the small cottage that Sting and Lucy had called their home for more than four years while visiting Cait Shelter High and the Crime Sorcière Middle School.

Crime Sorcière would stop accepting new students the following year and just like that, the students would eventually go on to high school until the lowest grade left.

At least they weren't closing down as abruptly as Cait Shelter.

The three teens let out a synchronous sigh, then sharing a small fit of laughter as their eyes met.

They were interrupted by the ringing of a phone.

Lucy pulled the smartphone that she treasured very much out of her back pocket; Rogue and Sting had saved up from their part-time jobs to give it to her as a birthday present last year.

Her seventeenth birthday was coming up in little more than a month; she was already looking forward to celebrating it with her little family and maybe some new friends.

She skimmed through the text message that Levy had sent her.

"Hey, guys", she then addressed the two boys who were recovering at the kitchen table. They turned their heads toward her, listening.

"Apparently Levy just finished packing up her books and is about to head over to Wendy's to see if she needs any help. She asks if we're gonna come too."

Sting jumped up from his slumped position and stretched.

"Well, let's get going then! C'mon Rogue", he said to his best friend, who was getting up in a much calmer and sophisticated fashion.

Lucy locked the door behind them as they strolled through the streets towards Wendy's cottage.

The door was unlocked. They stepped in they were met with the sight of a frozen to the spot Levy – and an incredible mess that they wouldn't have believed if it wasn't right in front of them now.

Wendy was a sweet, polite, and very neat and tidy girl; she was running her own little household at such a young age after all.

It was understandable the four teens were shell-shocked at the sight in front of them.

Wendy came skittering out of the bedroom with a pile of clothes in her arms, but stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed them.

She smiled sweetly.

"Hello, everybody! Is there anything I can help you with?"

Rogue looked like he was about to faint, Sting just remained frozen, uncomprehending. Charle was in the middle of the room, trying to pry one of Wendy's ribbons from her nose.

Levy seemed to finally find her voice. "U-um... I think you need help, actually."

Wendy looked around before giving her four friends a sheepish and slightly apologetic smile.

"Yeah... you might have a point."

Lucy took a few steps forward and picked up some clothes that were spread on the floor.

"Levy, Wendy, to the bedroom with me. Make sure to pick up all the clothing around here too. Rogue and Sting, please sort the other stuff according to size, we'll box everything in together later."

Lucy sighed as everyone went do fulfill their designated tasks. This was going to be a lot of work.

By the time they were finished, the sun had already set. Seeing as it was April, that meant it wasn't all that late, but late enough.

Lucy realized that apart from a good night's sleep and getting ready in the morning, they were all set for the train ride to Magnolia and their new school.

"Thank you again"

Lucy focused her attention on Wendy, who was now giving a small bow in thanks.

"I was really nervous because we're leaving tomorrow and before I knew it, it had become like that. I'm really grateful."

They all assured that it wasn't a problem, letting their gaze wander over what they had accomplished in the last hours. The boxes with the young bluenette's personal stuff were neatly stacked up by the entrance, ready to be picked up the next day. Her suitcase stood next to the coffee table, fully packed, while the rest of her clothes was in some of the boxes by the entrance.

She had been receiving second-hand clothing from the city, she wasn't old enough to get a job yet, after all.

All in all, what Lucy could describe the cottage that had once been Wendy's home as, was... well...

"It's empty", Wendy said, looking a little sad. "It's going to feel lonely here tonight."

"My place is like that too", Levy commented, the others nodding in agreement.

"Truthfully, I don't feel like sleeping all alone at my place tonight", Rogue added.

"Come over to our cottage then", Sting interjected, somewhat enthusiastic.

Levy clapped her hands together. "I have a better idea", she said, looking at them with that small grin of hers. "How about we get our stuff and just all sleep here together? It'll be less lonely that way."

As a matter of fact, that wasn't a bad idea. Everyone found themselves quickly agreeing as they headed to their respective (former) homes to gather their suitcases, backpacks and the toiletries they had left out for the next morning.

They also borrowed the pillows and blankets from the cottages, they were simply going to fold them and leave them at Wendy's place the next morning, whoever was responsible for the cottages afterwards was going to have to deal with it.

And so, back at Wendy's, they spread the blankets and pillows on the floor of the combined living room/kitchen area and chatted animatedly, at least until their eyelids grew heavy and they slowly drifted to sleep.

And so they slept towards the day that would take them to their new home, future friends and even love interests.

As a little info, so that none of you get confused, I'm going with three years of high school, which will be freshman, sophomore and senior year.

Well, how'd you like it? xD

Again, please review~ :D

magical fanfiction: Thank you very much! I'll do my best! xD

SunflowerChrysalis: Thanks again! And you may or may not be seeing some Lucy/Jellal brotp next chapter~ I can definitely see Jerza happening too, maybe not next chapter, but soon xD And I had a peek at your story, seems really interesting~ expect me to read it :D