High School Reunion

Chapter 5

The Reunion

Lucy stood outside the gates of her old high school. Her racing heart evidence to just how nervous she was. She didn't know how long she stood there for, just staring at the place that held many memories for her. Both the good and the bad. Images raced through her mind, replaying all the time she spent here. All the lunch breaks under the large sakura tree, the study sessions in the library with the girls, and even the proms.

She had missed her junior one, the painful memory of what happened was to fresh in her mind for her to have went but her senior one she went to for her friends. They had practically begged her to go and in the end, she just left early. People walked around the blond, who was just standing there in her own world. The cool night breeze caused goosebumps to form on her skin. Her long white silk dress did nothing to keep her warm. There was a gold sash tied around her waist and she wore matching gold stilettos. Her hair was pulled up into a gorgeous updo with her bangs hanging down, framing her face.

Lisanna had been named prom queen both times along with Natsu as the king. Lucy was always named the runner up. That was another thing she had lost to her, but that never bothered her. What happened in the past had cost her two great friendships and not only did she hate herself for what happened but she hates how she let it change her. The once cheery girl who could make find the best in people and always thought on the brighter side is now gone. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the person approaching, the steady clicks of her heels on the cement.

"Lucy?" It was a voice that she knew so well. One that she had wished to talk to for a long time. Turning around, she saw the long scarlet hair and deep brown eyes of her long lost friend. Adorned in a beautiful black dress, her hair was done in a similar fashion as Lucy's but with curls added into it. Her red heels added an extra three inches to her height. Standing next to her, arms laced was the same man that she had loved since high school.

His blue hair was still styled the same way as when he was younger and the red tattoo still as bright as it once was. He wore a black tux with a red tie and it was apparent that they were intending to match. Lucy didn't miss the matching rings each of the wore on the left hands. Lucy smiled at the couple in front of her, actually happy that she had come.

"Erza! Jellal!" Erza moved closer, wearing a smile identical to Lucy's and threw her arms around the blond. Lucy returned the hug and pulled Jellal in as well. The three stood there hugging as tears came to Lucy's eyes. Oh how she missed them, all of them. "I've missed you guys so much!"

"We missed you too Lucy. It's been too long. How are you?" Erza asked once they pulled away. Lucy shivered at the absence of the warmth they provided and it didn't go unnoticed by Erza. "Why don't we go inside where it's warm?"

Lucy looked towards the entrance, biting her lip. The nervousness returning to her once more as she thought over what might happen in there. A warm hand rested on her elbow as she turned to see Erza smiling gently at her. "It will be alright Lucy. We will be there for you."

With a deep breath, Lucy walked inside as the music could be heard from the entrance. People walked to and from, each talking with one another not paying attention to the people around them. She recognized some as mere acquaintances when she was younger but no one she would want to speak with. It felt strange walking these halls once more, just like she had so many years ago. Nothing much seemed to have changed just the normal signs of aging.

"So Lucy tell me about yourself." Erza said once they entered the gym. Banners hung from on top of the stage welcoming the graduating class back for the reunion. Balloons and decorations hung everywhere and along the far right wall sat the tables full of food and drinks.

"Well, I am still an author, I love to read and write. I live not far from here, in a house I bought around five years ago. There isn't much to tell to be honest. I don't have much of a life." Lucy realized just how boring her life could be at times. Especially when she was in between books.

"I hear from Levy that you have a man in your life now, may I ask about him?" Erza smiled at Lucy, happy that they were able to talk and catch up. She wanted the blond to attend her wedding but didn't have her address and at the time, Lucy didn't have a facebook. They had lost each others number years ago and she had no other way to contact her. It was sad to know that you couldn't get in contact with one of your best friends.

"Oh yes, I do. His name is Sting, he is a great guy...he really is." Lucy smiled warmly as she thought of him. She knew that she didn't deserve someone as good as him, he was just too good for her. Erza saw the smile on the blonds face and wondered how far into the relationship these two were.

"Ah yes, the famous Sting Eucliffe. Levy had informed me of that as well. How is your relationship with him?" Erza questioned the girl, wanting to know everything about her. There just wasn't enough time at the moment to find out everything that she wanted to know.

"It's good." Lucy didn't elaborate any further and Erza knew that it couldn't be that well if she didn't talk much about it. Knowing the blond, she was always one to keep her problems bottled up inside her and that is probably what she is doing now. She didn't want to pry, but she also wanted to make sure that she was okay.

"Are you in love with him?" Lucy's shoulders tensed for a moment. Jellal walked off saying that he would get them something to drink so that the girls can talk privately. He figured that Lucy would be more comfortable with that.

"I don't know." Once more it was a simple answer and Erza could see the pain in the girls eyes. It wasn't the sort that said that she was being mistreated, more like she wants to love him but can't. It's a hard thing to explain but Lucy was always an easy person to read even if she didn't realize it. "Enough about me, what about you? I see that lovely ring, when did you get married?"

"It was four years ago. I would have loved for you to come but I didn't have a way to contact you." Lucy knew this to be true. She had lost their numbers a long time ago and didn't start a facebook account until three years ago. After she met Sting.

"Congrats! I wish I could have come too, I bet it was beautiful." Erza nodded, glancing down at the ring that was given to her by the love of her life. She couldn't be happier with where her life took her and she wished the same for Lucy. "What else is new?"

Lucy and Erza spoke for some time. She found out that Erza and Jellal had one child together who was an adorable three year old girl named Koemi Fernandez. Erza was a stay at home mom while Jellal was a local detective for the police department. It was amazing seeing her again and hearing of everything that is going on with her life. Watching her eyes light up at the mention of her daughter was really something to Lucy. She loved that peaceful look on her friends face.

"Look who I found." Jellal's voice came from behind the two, a hint of laughter tracing it. Both girls turned as Lucy's eyes widened. The dark haired male grinned at the girls, his eyes as deep as they ever were. If possible it seemed that he had only grown better looking with age and Lucy could see several women sending glanced his way. But that was normal here, him and Natsu were the most popular boys in school back then.

"Gray!" Lucy exclaimed, her happiness grew as she looked at him. Finally she was reuniting with all her old friends, something that she has been wanting to do for awhile now.

"And Juvia!" A feminine voice broke out from behind the handsome man, revealing the blunette that was always obsessed with him. And it seems like she still is. He stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, with a deep blue tie that matched his gorgeous eyes. The scar over his brow was still visible after all the years. There were no rings on either of their fingers but Lucy wondered if they had ever actually gotten together.

"Lucy! Hey there, it's been forever!" Gray's face showed just how happy he was and she noticed that his eyes scanned over her figure, appreciating the woman in front of him. Her hour glass frame was only accentuated with the white silk that draped over her and seemed to just make her deep brown eyes pop. Hugging him, she could feel the muscles that lay under such a nice suit and realized that he was just as firm as he was in high school, if not more so.

As they talked she found out that Gray and Juvia had never dated and that she was still in love with him but was aware that he didn't return the feelings for her no matter how much she wished he would. Gray had invited Lucy down to his ski resort that he owned while Juvia wanted everyone to visit her beach side hotel. It seemed as if everyone was leading wonderful lives and they were all happy.

The gym started to fill more and more as time passed by. The group grew more as Levy and Gajeel made their way over then shortly after they were followed by Cana and Laxus.

"Cana, Laxus?!" Everyone was surprised to seem them there since they graduated the year before them but looking at the swaying brunette in front of them told everyone that she was here to crash the party. But no one really cared much, they were just happy to see them. After all these years you would have figured that Cana would have gotten tired of drinking, especially since she owns her own brewery but she is still the same drunk she always was and Laxus now owns the very same electric company that Lucy uses.

Laxus and Cana were not dating but really good drinking buddies. He is the only one that could really stand up to Cana in a drinking competition and since then they always go out to drink together. Mirajane came next with a small baby bump visible through the beautiful crimson dress she wore. Freed walked next to her, her hand clung tightly to his. Mirajane was an event planner that actually helped the school organize the reunion and Freed was a professor at the local college the taught a multitude of languages to students of all ages.

Seeing everyone slowly gathering made Lucy's heart swell with joy. There had been countless times that she actually thought that she would never see her friends again. Looking at the old photos in their year books and then looking at them now you could see that they were still the same people. No big changes other than the ones in life. Lucy was talking with Mirajane as she described the wedding to Lucy in detail before a large shadow cast over them.

"Getting married is manly!" Elfman and Evergreen joined the group but there was a difference in them. Elfman was now twice the size he used to be and even back then he was huge. He crushed Lucy in a hug once he saw that she came and Evergreen giggled and greeted Lucy warmly. Evergreens smile was genuine and filled with love. It was something Lucy had never seen on her during their school years. This is another set of people that decided to crash, knowing that they graduated the same year as Cana and Laxus. Elfman was talking to the men about his huge gym and fitness center while Evergreen spoke of her decor shop that mostly specialized in custom ordered statues.

No one spoke of him or the past, avoiding any subject that could possibly dampen the cheery mood everyone held. Laughs were heard all around before some started to drift off, either to dance or for drinks and food. Lucy stood there, speaking with Gray as everyone else had walked off with the promise to continue their conversation. Juvia had overcome her insane jealousy over the years and left as well so that they could talk in peace. They talked lightly and they decided to walk around their old school and spoke of fun memories that they shared. They stood by the large fountain at the front entrance and it seemed like the mood suddenly shifted.

"They aren't coming." Gray's sudden change in topic shocked her. She looked at him with wide eyes as he gazed down at her. They huh? So they are still together. She wondered if they had gotten married yet or if they even had kids. When Lucy didn't respond he took it as permission to continue.

"Lisanna's newest restaurant had a special event tonight and Natsu...well no one knows what's really going on with him anymore." Lucy's brow furrowed as she looked at the dark haired man. She couldn't understand what he meant by that. It wasn't normal for him and Gray not to talk, they were always like brothers. "He changed Luce, ever since we graduated he hasn't been the same."

Her chest tightened at the familiar nickname that was given to her by the very man they were discussing. It was because of him that she met all these wonderful people and she knew that she owed him for that. She had just transferred and he immediately formed a friendship with her and introduced her to all his friends. She still said nothing, only taking in the words of her old time friend.

"Lisanna and Natsu broke up a year after graduation. She said that he wasn't the same anymore, like his old self was gone. I confronted him after, I had to see for myself. He wouldn't talk to me, kept avoiding the subject. But I think that he never got over what happened between you two."

Gray watched Lucy, saw the pain that flashed across her face, the sorrow in her eyes. He hated doing this to her but he wanted her to know. He thought that she deserved to know that he felt just as bad as she did. He knew that there was no taking back what Natsu did but maybe if she knew that he was hurt over it as well then maybe that would help her. Lucy sat on the edge of the fountain, just thinking over the information she was just given.

Gray turned to the side when something familiar appeared in his peripheral. When he saw what it was, he stood up. Shooting a quick glance at Lucy he excused himself, promising to come back in a moment. Lucy sighed as she listened to the sound of the running water from the fountain. Her eyes were closed and she used this moment alone to really think deeply about what she was told. So he was hurting too, but that didn't mean anything. He could just feel guilty about what he did. But him and Lisanna are no longer together and she hopes that she isn't the one to blame for that. She had enough guilt to live with without adding that.

"Luce?" Lucy's eyes shot open and towards the sound of the smooth voice. Standing a mere three feet away was the man she was just thinking about. The very man that killed her on the inside.

"Natsu."

A/N: Sorry to those who read the chapter that I uploaded on accident! I really really am sorry about that but it's fixed now so hopefully I didn't cause too much trouble. Anyway please read and review, I would really appreciate it! Don't read further if you haven't read the newest chapter of the manga! Severe warning for it being a spoiler! Don't say I didn't warn you!

What did you all think? I LOVED the part where Laxus uses Natsu's catch phrase. "I'm all fired up!" That was just simply awesome! It goes to show that Natsu has an effect on just about everyone he comes across, he is such an amazing character! And Erza's new armor, Honestly that was so awesome! I love the new look! And then Gray and Juvia working together like that, oh damn I can't believe how this manga only gets better and better! 'Show no fear youths'! That Mavis is really something! Laxus defeated Jura! One of the ten wizards saints putting Fairy Tail in FIRST PLACE! Man I was ready to throw yet another laptop when the chapter ended. But sadly, we now have to wait yet another week to read the next one. :(