It has been too long my lovelies. I just checked the followers, and I just wanted to thank you guys for almost SEVENTY followers. It's really just astonishing for me. Let's see if we can make that number sky rocket! Anyways, enough of my babble. I know you're all dying for this chapter, so here it is.

Chapter 5

The girl next door

It was technically morning when I finally got to bed. Once again, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned, but to no prevail. Everything in the house was quiet. So quiet, that I could here ringing in my ears. My eyes lit up when I heard my phone vibrate. I got out of bed, and went to my dresser where my phone was. The screen lit up again.

I Message

"I did it! I beat the phantom lord boss!"

"Ash-dick?"

"Wake da fauq up!"

"Oh, I'm fine dickbuster"

"It's so nice to have to be awake at 1 IN DA MORNING!"

"Whatever ash-for-nuts"

"Wait it took u an entire day to beat dat boss?"

"Shut up!"

"I could've beaten that guy in an hour tops!"

"The xbox and pc versions aren't the same!"

"I still beat him faster than u did!"

"I hate ur logic..."

"Yeah, well I hate you."

"Same"

"Guess what"

"Chicken butt"

"NO!"

"I met that hot girl I was talking about."

"... I hate u"

"Didn't we go over this already?"

"I hope u die in your sleep"

"No u don't"

"?"

"I'll be able to haunt u until you become a ghost too and then we're both stuck with each other."

"I'm leaving"

And that was that. I dragged my feet on the floor as I sluggishly walked back to bed. Gray may be a prick, but the conversations we have are sort of comforting. I guess I'm just a bit homesick.

When I laid down, sleep was my body's demand. My eyelids slid down slowly, my consciousness instantly vanishing.

I was back in the forest. The light streamed through the canopy as Lucy giggled, pulling my hand-ushering me to follow her. My steps were unsure- I stumbled a few times. Lucy no longer had green eyes, but chocolaty brown ones. I followed her through the forest on the greenway, dead leaves covering the ground. We made it to a crystal blue lake. It glimmered in the rays of the sun. I shielded my eyes as I followed Lucy into the water. She splashed me with water and I splashed back. We both laughed. But suddenly out of nowhere, the scene changed. We were no longer knee-deep in water, but rather completely submerged. Bubbles escaped our mouths as we screamed. The current swirled, and the water became a murky green and brown. I tried to reach for her hand, but the current swept her away. It held her back. She tried to reach for me-I tried to reach for her but it was as if an invisible force held us back. I felt the need to breathe. My lungs felt empty, but heavy at the same time. I tried to reach for Lucy again. But when I saw her face, her skin was covered in bruises, her face scratched up, and her body limp. Her eyes were half open, she smiled and mouthed words I couldn't understand. Other than that she looked lifeless. It looked as if trying to reach me had killed her. Suddenly I was grabbed by the foot, and dragged down towards the bottom. I watched as her body faded into the last light reaching upon the surface. While I sank towards the bottom of the cold, dank lake.

And then I woke up.

I awoke, my skin covered in a cold sweat. I was shaking, grasping the sheets. Apparently in my sleep I had rolled onto my front-my face buried in my pillow. That explains the lake...

I sat up, taking in deep breaths, calming myself. I went over to my phone to check the time.

'4:57'

That dream only lasted nearly four hours? It felt like longer. I tried to go back over the dream, but it started to fade from memory. I cursed silently to myself.

This time I definitely wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep. Great. Just great. I glanced at my window. The moon was still high in the sky. Its full moon light casted upon me. It was calming. I wiped the sweat off my face, rubbing my temples.

What was that dream!?

Unable to shake the feeling of anxiety off of me, I climbed back into bed with my phone. Temple run it is...

I was stuck in a complete trance. I must have been on my phone for a few hours because when I started to care what time it was, that annoying sphere in the sky just had to shine right in my eyes.

"Gah!" I voiced my frustration, no longer wanting to stay still. I looked down at my phone screen.

My poor, poor battery.

Screw hating Mondays. Now I hate Tuesdays...

My door suddenly opened, and in came Igneel. "Good, you're awake." He said, grinning as he shut the door. "I let you sleep an hour extra. I thought you'd need it." He shuffled in his jean pockets before he found what he was looking for. He smiled. "I even got you this." He placed the light metal in my hand. It was a name tag. To be precise, it was my name tag. "Now get ready. I'll wait downstairs."

I lifted the covers as soon as he left. Day two of hell's kitchen.

Igneel and I were the last ones to get to the restaurant. I saw a man sweeping the floor. I hadn't seen him before. He must be Max. A woman with purple hair was over by the register. She looked up at us as the door closed.

"Igneel! I was wondering when you'd show up. Who's the new guy?" She asked, taking a break from whatever she was doing to the register.

"This is Natsu. He's working here now, so please, I don't want to find him in one of your... contraptions."

"No promises!" She exclaimed, giggling afterwards. "I have yet to see the day that somebody falls into one of my booby-traps. I'm not about to stop my first potential victim." She winked at me. I shivered unpleasantly.

"Laki, stop it. You're scaring the boy." Igneel chuckled despite his chastise. "But I'm serious. He's living under my roof, and I really wouldn't want for him to come home with a wooden stake in his chest."

Laki's eyes widened. "I didn't know you had a son."

"I adopted my brother's son. Now, I'm sure he would want him to not die. Not, ok?" Laki nodded. "Oh, but come check this out!" Laki quickly changed the subject, and motioned for us to come to the register. My face paled at what I saw.

Wooden spikes covered the inside of the drawer, where the money is supposed to be kept. "Now, I know what you're thinking. Why would I do this? Well, if we were to ever be robbed, the burglar would want to steal the money as fast as he can. Except if that happens, he may lose a finger. I hope." She mumbled the last part under her breath.

I heard Igneel gulp beside me. "It's um... very thoughtful and creative of you, Laki. Natsu, you go on and get ready. The restaurant opens in thirty minutes."

I didn't bother to look behind me as I scuttled towards the break room.

It well past noon when I finally took a little break in the kitchen. I leaned against one of the metal counters, rubbing the bags under my eyes. However, I wasn't the only one tired. I saw Erza yawn as she brought out another pan.

"You tired too?" I asked. She looked at me and nodded, blinking her eyes rapidly. At least I understand her pain.

I walked into the break-room, ready to make coffee. I looked at the clock. '6:03'; perfect. People will be rushing in here and I won't have the energy to keep up.

Coffee. I just need coffee.

It was dark and bitter, but I could feel the caffeine working into my system already. Time to get back to work.

I had gotten used to the waiter thing. By the time I was at my third table, people had to start waiting in line. Great for business, bad for me. Believe it or not, caffeine doesn't solve all the world's problems.

If I had the energy to jump for joy, I would. It was finally closing time! I watched as they all got to cleaning. It went by a lot faster since it wasn't just one person doing it. When I reached for the broom to sweep, I saw Laki shake her head at me. Like she was mentally telling me not to touch it. Suddenly, Max came and took the broom, glaring at me. I shuddered uncomfortably and turned away, deciding to wipe down the tables instead. Not to self: Don't try sweeping.

Yep, thanks brain. What would I do without you?

"Oi, Natsu, trash needs to be taken out." Gajeel yelled from across the room. I groaned, but complied. Back into the dark it is!

I hoisted the trash bags on my back, as I opened the door. The warm, moist air met my skin as I stepped onto the concrete.

One step at a time Natsu! Be a ninja! Be a ninja! There won't be a rapist out here this time...

Hopefully.

That's right... It was only yesterday I found Lucy, that golden-haired goddess, being abused by that creep. Why hadn't I told anyone? Because she told not to? I guess so.

The bags fell in the dumpster.

"Do you have trash duty this week or something?" A voice said. I turned around and saw a figure in the shadows. The wind blew, and it shut the back door closed, leaving no light.

Wait, is this person... Lucy?

"Lucy?" The figure advanced towards me. It was her. She seemed more confident then she was yesterday. But I understand that. After all, she was beaten up and vulnerable. Now she looks slightly recovered. I could still see a bandage on her cheek.

We stood a foot away from each other, her brown eyes gazing into my darker ones. She smiled. "I wanted to thank you for what you did yesterday. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there." Her eyes turned glassy as tears welled up in them. "I also want to apologize for my behavior. I was being so rude and-"

"Rude?" Her eyes widened and her lips froze. "It looked like that guy was going to rape you before I saved you. You think you should be apologizing when you were in a vulnerable situation?" Her eyes drifted away from mine in contemplation. "I understand if you want to apologize for actions you put very little thought into. But really, I've met people who you could never rival in rudeness." Lucy blushed in embarrassment.

Why does she have to look so cute and hot at the same time?

"W-Well, I feel like I need to repay you in some way." She admitted. "So, Um, I know it's kind of late but... Do you wanna go get something to eat? It'll be my treat."

Hell yes!

I was originally planning on this chapter being a filler... Well most of it is. That's why it's so short... The only real development is at the end. Next chapter will be date#1!

It is imperative that you read these next few lines.

* Vote on my poll. I really need help!

*I did very little editing on this because I was lazy, tired, and wanted to get it over with. Sorry...

*Review, favorite, follow. (Love me, feed me, never leave me )

*I am sorry... Very sorry my stories aren't updating very often. I have a lot on my plate that isn't anime. I know, shocking right?

*I love you all and thank you for reading. I hope and pray that I made you laugh.

Bizzles! :*

XOXO

~locoanime