High School Reunion

Chapter 2

An Old Friend

Lucy stood there waiting for the signal. Her make-up and hair had been completed but her mind wouldn't stay on track. She kind of wished that the invitation had come later on. Closer to the time of the reunion. That way she wouldn't have had so much time to think about it. No matter what she decides, she wont be able to get it off her mind. She was distracted and confused. Unsure of what she was going to do. She didn't want to hurt again and if she went, there was a high possibility of that.

But she also doesn't want to regret not going later on. If this results in her reconnecting with her friends then it would be worth it. She couldn't count the number of times she thought of her friends over the years. Wishing she could still talk to them like she used to. They were always there for her in the past, now things were different. The only person she could really rely on for that now was Sting. But this was a decision she was going to have to make on her own.

"Lucy, we're ready." Nodding, Lucy walked forward. Entering the front of the bookstore, she could see the line that formed out the door and around the side. In high school, she never imagined that her books would be this popular. Her first novel sent her straight to the top, giving her the number one spot on the best selling authors list. Several more books have been published and the reviews have only gotten better. Fans of all ages stared at her in awe, watching every move she made.

Most wished they could be her, others just wanted to know her. She was uncomfortable under their gaze as they waited for her to sit. Both men and women enjoyed her stories. Most in line already had a book in their arms, waiting for it to be signed while others were going to buy her newest one being released today and have that autographed. Lucy tended to forget just how popular she was until she came to something like this.

Taking a seat, Lucy was handed a pink sharpie to start the signing. She stared at the marker as it reminded her of that one person who she wished would leave her mind. It used to be Lucy's favorite color, until she reached her junior year in high school. The line straightened as she started to sign books. Each personalized with whatever message they requested. Lucy plastered the best fake smile she could manage when all she really wanted was to be home.

Hours ticked by as her hand became sore. Her mind was far from this place, barely realizing what was going on around her. She had to have signed several hundred books yet there seemed to be no end to the line. Book after book, smile after smile, thanks after thanks, and praise after praise. It was all the same. Never changing. Everyone said pretty much the same things, Lucy always gave the same replies. She tried her best, smiled as much as she could, laughed as hard as she can at the jokes that made no sense. It had gotten to the point where she would rarely look up from the book to make eye contact with the fan.

She knew that they deserved better. Without them, she would be nothing. But too much is going on in her head to care right now. The line finally started to thin out, fans left with large grins plastered on the faces as Lucy sighed when she was finally able to spot the end of the line. It had been almost eight hours. Eight long, excruciating hours that consisted of nothing interesting.

Suddenly a large stack of papers that were held together by string landed in front of the blond. With wide eyes she read the front. How? This was the first book Lucy had ever wrote, and it still wasn't published. Only one other person had this other than her. Her head shot up to meet two worried brown eyes staring down at her. Lucy was shocked. She never imagined running into her, here of all places.

"Levy." It came out as a whisper, nothing more, but the blunette heard. She looked exactly the same as Lucy remembered, just with the look of aging. She didn't look old though, not in the least. She barely looked twenty-five let alone twenty-eight. Her eyes held wisdom and a warmth that just seemed to grow with age. What shocked Lucy the most was the rather large stomach that was ready to burst out of her shirt.

"How have you been Lucy?" She asked gently, as if she was afraid of startling the girl. That voice brought back memories, it hadn't changed a bit. Lucy stood with such force that it knocked back the chair that she was sitting in. The chair landed with a loud clang but Lucy didn't care. She couldn't take her eyes off her old friend standing in front of her.

"L-Levy, what are you doing here?" Lucy stuttered, her mouth barely able to form the words her mind was trying to say. So much needed to be said, but nothing was coming out. The blue haired girl smiled up at her friend. She was still a good five inches smaller than Lucy but clearly further ahead in the game of life than she was. Lucy actually felt a pang of jealousy run through her before she quickly brushed it to the side. Having a family was what Lucy had always dreamed of, and in those dreams he was always there.

She knows now that there is no way they could come true. Lucy started to think that maybe she could just adjust the dream. Take him out and replace him with Sting but every time she thought like that, it felt wrong. So eventually she found herself forgetting the dream. Ridding herself of the ridiculous idea that she once had for a future.

"Is that how you greet your old friend?" Levy asked with a giggle. If you cover the bulging belly, not much had changed. Is this what they all were like? Was her fears all for nothing? Even her laugh seemed the same, and she looked at Lucy as if they haven't been distanced all these years. She couldn't believe how good it felt to see this bookworm. Her hair now reached to the middle of her back and was still held back by an orange head band. So much was the same yet there were slight differences.

"Levy." Once more Lucy couldn't form the words that she wanted to say. Her mouth hung open slightly, wishing she could move, say or do something. Her body wasn't listening to her. The shock of simply seeing her friend here was enough to make her immobile. Lucy then started to wonder if she was dreaming. Was she? It's possible, but why would Lucy imagine her pregnant? But then again, why would Levy come here? Would Levy even still have Lucy's book?

"Lucy, no your not dreaming and staring with your mouth hanging open like that isn't very lady like." If possible, Lucy's eyes widened further. It really was her. There was no denying that, only Levy would say something like that, know her so well to know what she was thinking. Finally Lucy was able to gain control of her body. Sprinting, she ran around the table with her heels clicking with each quick step. Rounding the corner she threw her arms around her old friend. Happiness flooded her, filling her with a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Levy! I can't believe it's you! I missed you so much!" Lucy stated. Pulling away from the blunette, she remembered about the belly she carried the size of two basketballs. Lucy instinctively reached out laying a hand on the warm stomach. The movement under her hand startled her, making Lucy pull her hand away.

"I missed you too Lucy. Watch out, they are very active." She said signaling to her belly. She appeared to be ready to pop at any moment, as Lucy wondered how she managed to walk with it there. Finally what Levy said caught up to Lucy. They? Did she actually say they? Lucy's eyes shifted to her stomach once more realizing that the stomach did look rather large for it to be just one baby. So then how many was she having? Two, three, maybe more?

"T-they?" Levy giggled once more as her hand raised to stroke the roundness of her abdomen. Levy found it hilarious to watch Lucy. Her stuttering and shocked expression wasn't something that she saw much of when they were younger. She kind of liked seeing her like this. Made her feel like they were still close. Lucy's looks also hadn't changed much, but if anything she became more appealing. Her blond hair flowed straight down, stopping just before it reached the end of her back. Her big brown doe eyes were still the same, full of emotions. Showing everything that she was feeling. She was always easy to read, like an open book.

"Yup, they. I'm having triplets." Lucy couldn't believe her ears. Triplets! Three babies! It's amazing to think that this tiny girls stomach could even stretch that far. To imagine the back pain that has to come from carrying such a load.

"Well then, congrats Levy. I am very happy for you." Lucy wasn't lying. She was shocked yes but happy to see the girl and could tell that she was happy. She felt better knowing that at least one of her friends was doing well, and there didn't seem to be anything awkward between them. It seemed more like there was never a rift between them, like nothing ever happened.

"Are you free? I would love for us to talk some more, if that's okay with you." Levy stated. Lucy was ecstatic. She readily agreed, excited to spend some time with her. She knew that things wouldn't go back to the way they used to be, but maybe they could still be close. Levy and Lucy used to be the best of friends. They always had so much in common that they got along amazingly well. The moment Lucy met the girl she knew that they would be great friends.

"Oh wait one second Levy. I have to make a quick phone call." Levy nodded as Lucy walked a few feet away. Dialing Sting, she hoped that he would understand and not worry too much. It was only Levy, not much could happen with her.

"Hello?"

"Sting, it's me. Look I ran into an old friend who wants to go out and catch up, do you mind if I go?" Lucy knew that no matter what she said, Sting would always worry about her. There was nothing she could say to prevent that but maybe if she sounded happy enough he wouldn't worry as much.

"Who?" He asked. She could already hear the concern in his voice. Sting on the other hand was panicking internally. Was it him? Could she have possibly ran into him of all people?

"Levy." She heard the sigh that Sting gave out. Thankfully it sounded more like relief than concern. He agreed to her going, which surprised Lucy but she was happy. She would finally be able to talk with one of her friends again. It may not be all of them but one is enough. She couldn't possibly wish for more than that.

Lucy and Levy found a small cafe not far from the bookstore. She watched as the blunette wobbled her way towards the table they were given. A small smile placed on Lucy's lips, she hadn't felt this happy in a long time. Even the feeling she got from her books selling so well didn't make her feel like this.

"So Lucy, what's going on in your life other than your great success in writing?" Levy asked. Lucy was still amazed how much she was like her younger self, bringing old memories to the surface. She didn't allow those memories to show. She didn't want them to bring down her mood.

"Nothing much." Lucy thought about what to tell her because in truth there wasn't much. "All I do now is write and spend time with Sting." Lucy watched as Levy's eyes widened. Surprised at something that Lucy said but she couldn't think of what would cause such a reaction.

"Sting? Do you mean Sting Eucliffe?" Lucy nodded at the girl as Levy's smile widened. "That doesn't sound like nothing much to me. Sting is famous! He is the owner of Dragon records! He was listed as one of the most eligible bachelors in the states! Wow, who knew you managed to snag yourself a man like that."

Levy's giggling caused Lucy to laugh in return. She couldn't believe how good this felt. To have a friend that she could freely talk to once more. Laugh with and just have moments like this. It felt like a void inside her was slowly being filled.

"Yeah that's him." Lucy stated. The girls expression made Lucy's smile widen, she missed this girl so much. "So Levy, what about you? What is going on in your life?"

"Well, Gajeel and I are married now. And as you see I am expecting, these will be our first children. I am the proud owner of Mcgarden books which isn't that far from the school. Gajeel owns a metal works factory, anything made of metal, he can make it."

Gajeel, that man surprised everyone when he first transferred to their school. He seemed so scary and everyone thought he was nothing but a delinquent. The piercings that covered his face only added to the image that spread through out the school. But all that changed once he met Levy. Quickly a weird sort of friendship formed, and then right before graduation they had gotten together. At that point it wasn't a surprise. His bad boy image was slowly changing the more time he spent with the tiny bookworm.

"Damn Levy, you and Gajeel really made it. You've done it. Congrats on everything, I wish I could have come to the wedding." Unfortunately, Lucy was out of the country during the wedding and she was bound by a contract so she couldn't cancel her plans. Even if she would have had to face him early in the years, she would have done it for Levy.

"So are you going?" The question caught Lucy off guard. She knew what she was talking about but didn't want to think about it. Lucy looked at her, trying her best to fake a look of confusion. Levy sighed, knowing what Lucy was doing, but she needed to know. "Are you going to the reunion?"

Lucy thought deeply, no longer looking into the deep brown eyes of her long time friend. She still wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Either way could end badly for her. Going and running into them, resurfacing the old feelings she had or regretting never going and in the end losing any chance she had of seeing her friends again.

"We all miss you Lucy, and everyone would love to see you." This must be why she came, to convince Lucy to go. Levy knew that it was a hard decision to make. She knew of what happened and she never understood what came over that man. Why he did that to Lucy, it was wrong and she was hurt beyond repair. You can still see the scars left over from it in her big chocolate eyes. "Everyone."

"I miss you guys too, I really do." Lucy whispered knowing that her friend would hear her. She didn't miss the emphasis on that word. Was she trying to say that even he would want to see her? But why? She probably just means all of her old friends. And even if he did want to see her, did she want to see him? She didn't think she could handle it, especially if they are still together.

"Then come, please Lucy. Everyone misses you, we talk about you all the time. Reminiscing about the good times, how much fun we had together. Everyone is still together, we all still talk and hang out but it's not the same without you there with us."

Her words hit home. Lucy felt awful, but what was she to do? Everything that happened wasn't just his fault though. She was to blame as well. She knew better, yet she still didn't stop it. She knew what would happen, how much pain it would cause but she couldn't help herself. And she knew that he didn't care for her. So why did she do what she did? Because she was a love-struck teenager just wanting to feel loved herself. Even if she knew it was only momentarily, only for one night.

"At least give it some thought. Please, I would really appreciate it." Lucy nodded, knowing that it was the best she could do. Even if Levy didn't ask, Lucy had a lot of thinking to do before making her decision. Either way would come at a cost for her, but which was worse? That something she was just going to have to figure out.