Hi guys! First of all, I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE.
I just finished my exam last week :D Don't be mad at me please :(
And another thing, the internet link of my country is in problem -_- I've been struggling for almost an hour just to get to my account, I can't even read your reviews now so I can't answer them properly :((( I'm so sorry.
But anyway, thank you for reading, following, making this your favorite story, and reviewing. I appreciate it a lot.
Enjoy!
The song I used in this chapter is Make you feel my love by Adele.
I think it's a perfect song to describe Rogue's feeling.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Pure
Chapter 19 - Forever best friends ?
"Hypocrite." - She gritted her teeth. Suddenly, the hanging woman used the scissors to stab Lucy's hand, making her cry out in pain. Her other hand tugged on Lucy's pony-tail, hard enough to drag the girl down with her. Both of them fell off the balcony. During the short flight, Suzuki continued to jab her shoulder and the girl almost blackened out, but before she lost her consciousness, she heard a blurred voice…
"LUCY!"
Sting? Rogue?
She felt something hard beneath her and everything went dark.
Lucy's eyes snapped open. She closed them again and tried to calm her breath. Her cheek was touching a wet material of a pillow; she blinked and another tear flew out of the corner of her eye. She turned around and exhaled heavily when she saw Rogue's face in front of her. His eyes were closed and his lips slightly parted. She cried silently when she saw him so close to her. Breath, breath, Lucy. This is reality. She snuggled closer to the boy, to his warmth and her heart slowly stopped racing.
[6 hours ago]
Lucy quickly went to her room. Grabbing her backpack, she put in some necessary things. After changing her clothes, she bid her mother goodbye and left. She didn't get a chance to see her father, not that she cared about seeing him anyway. He probably was still busy, which was the usual. She declined her mother's offer to take her to the train station by car and decided to walk instead. It was only 4PM, she still could make it before the sunset. She was going to see Rogue at his original hometown, where he used to live before he was adopted to Weisslogia's family, to visit his godfather's grave. That day was his death anniversary.
[Lunch time that day]
"Hey, Luce." – Sting pecked her cheek and they sat down on the rooftop together. Alone, with no sign of Rogue.
"Where's Rogue?" – She asked.
Sting shrugged. – "I don't know, he left home early, saying that he had some important stuff to do today. Did he tell you something about that?"
Lucy frowned in confusion, knitting her eyebrows to think.
After a while, she gave up, because she couldn't remember if there was something important about today that Rogue had told her.
"Nah, I can't remember." – She said. – "Are you sure he's okay?"
Lucy felt like today was truly important.
"Yeah, he's a big guy, don't worry." – He ruffed her hair.
Sting didn't know, either. So she couldn't understand why she kept feeling like that. Sting would tell her if she couldn't remember, right? The girl smiled at him, but in her mind she couldn't stop wondering if Rogue was really fine.
Great, now I'm paranoid. But… Just to be sure, maybe I should send him a message.
She pulled out her cellphone, being carefully watched by Sting. She didn't notice that his eyes were glued to her face, watching the way she frowned or bit her lips in anxiety.
'Hey, where are you? Something's wrong? You ditched school today.' – He rarely missed classes on purpose. Lucy pressed the send button. Rogue would answer her back soon, he always did.
Three hours later, there still was no answer from him and she began to worry. She called him several times, but it couldn't reach him. She asked Sting again, but every time she did, he would just shrug it off, saying that Rogue was fine and she should be worried about herself. Now that she thought about it again, there was no way Sting could forget it. She wondered what were his reasons.
Did they have a fight or something?
Lucy asked herself when she was sitting in the train. Sting and Rogue hardly ever had a fight, their friendship and bond were just always great. Well, whatever… I'll ask him later.
[Present]
I almost died back then.
She had thought she could never meet her friends and family again. It'd been the moment before she'd been dragged into the darkness that she'd felt truly scared. The very thought of being parted from important people in her life made her blood run cold. Lucy suddenly sat up, looking for her phone.
3AM.
She unlocked the screen and quickly typed a message, then chose several receivers and sent it to Natsu, Gray, Erza, Levy...
'Guys, thank you all for being my friends in this lifetime. Every memory we had and will have, I will never forget. I love you all… And don't worry, there's nothing wrong with me, I just feel like texting you guys.' – Said the message.
Lucy smiled. She typed another message and sent it to her parents. Well, maybe just to mom… Father won't be please if I wake him up in the middle of the night because of some stupid message.
'Mom, dad, thank you for bringing me to this life, for raising me up, for teaching me, and for loving me. I love you so much.' – She pressed the send button and looked at Rogue again.
Actually, the nightmare made her realize that every minute could be her last, because no one knew what would happen tomorrow. She didn't want to taste the feeling of regret of not letting her family or her friends know how much she loved them.
The girl smiled at the sleeping brunet's face, then walked out on the balcony, quietly closing the glass door behind her back. She opened the directory, looking for 'Stingy', and pressed the call button. The bell rung for a while before she heard a drawling voice.
"Hello?" – Lucy snickered.
"Hey, Stingy. It's me, Lucy." – She heard him grumble and smiled wider.
"What do you want, Blondie?"
"Good morning to you, too. " – She laughed softly.
"Is there something wrong? Why are you calling me at…3AM in the morning?" – Sting yawned through the phone. Lucy let out a long breath, then leaned against the rail and looked at the sky, sparkling with hundreds of stars. Just hearing his voice was enough to put her mind at ease.
"Nothing… I just missed you." – She said quietly.
There was a long pause before Lucy heard his voice again. She guessed he was taken off guard.
"I've missed you, too. Rogue's lucky that I let him have you all to himself for over a day." – Lucy giggled on his statement.
"I'm the one who wants to be here, remember?"
"I know… But, still…" – She smiled, knowing that he was doing the same .
None of them said anything for a while, like they were trying to feel the other's presence through the phone.
"I miss you…"
"I kno-"
"I miss you like crazy…" – He cut her off.
She smiled sheepishly even though he couldn't see that.
"Wow, you've turned soft." – She snickered.
A track of light whipped across the black sky. Lucy closed her eyes and made a wish.
"I want you to be here, right here, right now... With me."
Sting looked at the spot right next to him. He touched it gently, imagining that Lucy was lying on his bed, gazing at him with her big brown eyes.
"I want to see your smile, to hear your laugh… I want to run my finger down your arm, feeling your soft skin against mine… I want to…."
"…kiss you, then run my tongue along you bottom lips, feeling your sweetness." - Lucy opened her eyes and unconsciously bit her lip. Her sight was set on the stars, but her mind was somewhere else.
"You sound sappy, you know. And too bad, because I'm still here, huh?" – She whispered, smiling.
Sting chuckled on the other side of the call. It was okay if he turned soft or sappy, as long as it was for her.
"Sting?" – She called after a while.
"Hmm?" – Sting mumbled, still sleepy.
"I love you."
Her heartbeat slightly quickened when she realized what she'd just said. Lucy didn't regret it, though. She had a feeling that if she didn't say it right then, she would never get a chance to do it. She wanted him to know that. No, she had no intention of saying goodbye to this life, but never had a chance to tell him that she loved him. And it seemed like a perfect moment.
I love you.
Upon hearing that, warmth spread though his body and Sting smiled contentedly.
"I love you, too."
"I love you." – Rogue heard Lucy saying quietly.
He couldn't sleep and he didn't know, why. He saw Lucy crying and murmuring something in her sleep earlier. What are you dreaming of? He thought and touched a tear that fell from her closed eyes. Shutting his own the moment she stirred, he could feel her skin when she snuggled closer to him like she was seeking comfort.
Rogue was staring at the ceiling while she'd walked out to call somebody. He sighed when he realized it was Sting. Couldn't he have his friend for one day without her thinking about Sting all the time? Finally, his heart constricted at her saying those three words, that he wanted to hear so badly, to someone else. But what could he do? Break in? That "someone else" was his best friend, his brother, his family… He smiled sadly at his pitiful situation. He felt like he was a hypocrite. And he was one, lecturing Yukino about unselfishness and true love, but couldn't stop himself from wanting to have Lucy all for himself. She was right. Love made people selfish, no matter how noble they were.
Rogue looked at her through the glass door. She was still talking to Sting, but he couldn't hear the words anymore. His mind shut their conversation out the moment he heard those words. He extended his arm in her direction like he was trying to hold her… The blonde was right in front of his eyes, but he couldn't reach her. She was like sand, no matter how hard he tried to hold her, she would still slip out of his grip. He could see her, but she was so far, far away.
Don't be so engrossed in talking to him like that, I'm right here. He stared at her back.
Lucy laughed softly again and that was the moment when he burst. He sat up straight, then moved towards her quickly and yanked the phone out of her hand. Lucy seemed startled, but quickly regained her composure when she realized it was Rogue.
"Hey!"
"It's late." – He said coldly to Sting through the phone and hung up. Turning off the device, he grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.
"What are you doing, idiot? I'm talking to him." – Lucy frowned at him.
What was wrong with him? Why was he so angered? Did he possibly hear her conversation with Sting?
"It's late and you should sleep." – He commanded.
Lucy stood in front of him, folding her arms.
"I sleep when I want to… And give me back my phone." – She narrowed her eyes. The look he threw her sent shivers down her spine, but she refused to back down.
Stubborn girl. Not thinking much, he grabbed her arm again and pushed her down on bed, pinning her against it with his hands, tightly gripped on her shoulders.
"I said, sleep." – He gritted his teeth. He glared at her with his red eyes and for a moment, Lucy couldn't even recognize him.
Rogue released her, throwing her phone inside the drawer, then laid back down on his side, pulling the blanket over his body, turning around.
What the hell was that?
She glared at his back and stuck her tongue out at him.
What's wrong with him?
Well, maybe she was talking too loud and that woke him up. He'd always hated that. She sighed and closed her eyes… Either way, now she felt content.
Sting stared at the cell phone in his hand. Suddenly, he chuckled.
This is fun.
Sting tossed the phone aside, closing his eyes and trying to sleep again.
I love you.
[The next morning]
Rogue turned off the faucet, grabbing a wash-cloth to dry his face. He walked out of the bath room, approaching the bed where Lucy was still sleeping. He shook her gently.
"Lucy, Lucy, wake up… Time for breakfast, the kids might want to see you before they go to school."
"It's Saturday…" – She grumbled. – "Kids don't go to school on Saturday, idiot."
His brow twitched as his gaze shoot daggers at her. Her eyes were still closed and she snored quietly.
Why is it so hard to wake you and that idiot up in the morning?
Rogue glared at her face, but his eyes instantly softened. She looked so peaceful when she was sleeping.
He sighed. What am I gonna do with you? He bent down to caress her face, giving her a kiss on the cheek before walking out.
The moment Lucy heard the sound of the closed-door, she opened her eyes and looked fixedly at where Rogue'd stood just a while ago. Her cheek was still warm. She touched it and felt something stirred inside of her.
Something's wrong with me…
She felt… kinda strange and it was like never before. It happened a lot lately when she was near Rogue and she usually chose to ignore it, but…it just wouldn't stop. Lucy knew that she couldn't ignore it forever; however, she also didn't know what to do. It felt a disease to her, because it made her slightly…embarrassed.
Hopefully Rogue doesn't recognize and thinks that I'm a weirdo.
She thought and took a few deep breaths to calm down, then got up and walked in the bathroom.
[Meanwhile, at Fiore Academy]
Sting made another jump and threw a ball. It hit the hoop and rebounded. He really, really wanted to see Lucy, but he couldn't. So he decided to spend his energy on basketball to forget about her absence.
"Good morning, Sting." – Someone greeted him and Sting turned around.
"Hi." – He said nonchalantly.
Yukino had been standing there for a while, watching him play before deciding to greet him. They didn't talk ever since you-know-what. Sting didn't seem angry, but she could clearly see that he was trying to make some distance. She got the idea, but until she could talk to him decently, her insides wouldn't settle down. When he'd rejected her, she felt angry, upset, and frustrated. Yukino realized that her kiss was a big mistake, because not only did Sting ignore her after that, but he and Lucy also started dating. She was the catalyst that had pushed them together sooner than they were supposed to be. She knew that much, because she had watched them carefully after that.
"What are you doing here?"
"I want to talk to you." – She tried to stay calm.
"About what?" – He asked, this time a little coldly.
"Look…" – Yukino lifted her head to look straight at him. – "I know that you were angry at me because of that, but… I'm not sorry about what I did."
"You know that I like you, right?" – She asked when he just kept silent.
"You know my answer…" – He said quietly, leaning against the fence of the court. He couldn't bear looking into her eyes. He felt awkward, but also a bit guilty.
"I want to hear it properly from you… Don't you think I deserve that?" – Yukino tried keeping her emotion in check. She didn't want him to see her cry, she didn't want to appear as weak in front of him. She wanted to be tough, like Lucy.
"My heart already belongs to someone else, I'm sorry that it's not you." – Sting said coherently and definitively, looking straight at her.
Yukino looked into his eyes and she couldn't help but feel like drowning in them hopelessly. She could was aware of her heart being shattered into pieces when she heard his answer. It was inevitable; she knew it would come sooner or later, but deep down, she still tried to deny it.
"She's your best friend." – Yukino blurted out.
"So what?" – Sting frowned.
"It would be awkward… What if you two don't work out? You'll lost your friendship forever…."
"How do you know that? Love and friendship, they're totally different…" – He retorted back.
Sting knew where this was going… He hated to admit that Yukino was right, no matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew that once they lost their love, they would also lose their friendship.
Yukino folded her arms, her eyes were now as cold as his. As if she was trying to grasp water with her bare hand, an effort put in despair.
"If you're telling me that you two could be friends again after dating, then let me tell you something. It is said that if two lovers could be friends after breaking up, they're still in love or they had never been in love. That means you could only choose one: love or friendship… The only way that you could have both is dating another girl and still be friends with your "precious" Lucy."
Sting snorted. – "Dating another girl, you mean 'you'? Sorry, but dating you is out of the question. I'm with Lucy now and I will do anything to be with her." – He grabbed the ball, ready for another round.
Yukino frowned. – "Even pushing Rogue away?"
Sting stopped moving. – "What do you mean?"
"Don't pretend that you don't know about Rogue's feeling towards Lucy." – Whether Sting was willing to break his brother's heart to be with Lucy or not, she wanted to find out.
"So?" – Sting narrowed his eyes at her.
"Being with her is enough? No matter how Rogue would feel? You two have growned up together even before Lucy appeared, am I right?"
He sneered. – "You're an outsider… You don't know how our relationship works, so back off." – Sting then rose and threw the ball into the basket.
Well… Yukino was a stubborn girl, so she wouldn't let it go that easily.
She scowled. - "Let just say that you two could get what you want… But you know what they'll say once they find out about the three of you, right?"
Sting didn't answer, yet, this time he jumped more roughly and the ball went straight to the basket again.
"You and Rogue could be fine, but the one who'll receive most of the criticisms will be Lucy… Want to know what they're gonna call her?"
"Don't you dare to spill it out…" – Sting gritted his teeth.
Now that she talked about it, Sting started to realize something… Both he and Rogue were paying too much attention to what they wanted. As a result, they had completely forgot about the consequences, about how Lucy would feel.
"They'll call her a slut, a sly vixen, a-" – In a blink of an eye, Sting was right in front of her.
He gripped her face, using his palm to cover her mouth and squeezed hard. His voice lowed to a dangerous tone, which she heard for the first time. Yukino stood there frozen, waiting for what he would do to her.
"I told you not to spill it out! I don't care what people say about me, but I will not allow anyone to say that about Lucy, especially in front of me. Me and my brother will protect her, no matter what happens… You should mind your own business." – Sting said and let go of her face.
"This conversation is over and I don't have any desire to talk to you ever again." – He passed by her, walking out of the basketball court without sparing her a glance.
Yukino stood alone at the court. Finally, she sighed.
What am I doing?
"Rogue…."
….
"Rogue…."
…..
"Rogueeeeeee….!"
"What?" – Rogue grumbled. – "You're scaring the fish, Lucy." – He glared at her.
Lucy pouted. – "Can't help it, it's so boring…"
"You're the one who wanted to go fishing with me, remember?" – He raised a brow.
"I had no choice, the kids went to school and I didn't want to be alone with Porlyuska. She's scary." – Lucy grunted.
After what happened last night and this morning, Lucy tried to act normal when she was with the boy. She didn't have to (she assumed), but she thought she should try.
Why do I have to try? She asked herself.
She was the one who felt awkward, she was the one who had intricate thought and feeling, not him. He just acted like usual and she just over-reacted, then pushed herself in a mentally mess.
Well, whatever, I should enjoy his company and the atmosphere while I still can.
"Rogueeeeee…." – She pouted and he grunted.
"Could we do something else?"
He sighed heavily, then began questioning bringing her along. – "At least let me catch one fish."
15 minutes later.
"You suck, Rogue."
"Like you're any better. And this is your fault for scaring them." – He glared.
"Oh please, just admit it, you suck." – Lucy rolled her eyes.
The fishing line suddenly moved and Rogue smirked at her.
"Fishing takes time and patience, princess."
He pulled the line up and the fish slowly appeared. Lucy glared at his smug face. However, the moment she turned to look at the fish, she burst out laughing while Rogue was standing there, dumbfounded.
That was not a fish, it was an old leather shoe which got stuck on the hook. Lucy held her stomach and laughed like crazy.
"Hey, Rogue, maybe Porlyuska-san could make some delicious dish from that." – She teased and continued to howl. Rogue snapped out of his state and scowled hard.
"Shut up." – He abandoned his fishing rod and threw himself at her.
"This is all your fault." – Rogue pinched her cheeks and she squealed in pain.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Staap it, you idiet (Stop it, you idiot)!" – Lucy punched his chest repeatedly.
She kicked him and Rogue entangled his legs around hers. She struggled, but he still refused to let go and didn't realize that the boat was rocking. Lucy used all her strength to push him away; suddenly, Rogue lost balance and fell backwards… However, a loud splash that was supposed to be heard was drown out by an even louder feminine squeal.
"You two went fishing, right? Then, where are the fish?" – Porlyuska asked.
"Ehm… Well, the boat overthrew… And we fell out of it… Along with the fish." – Rogue scratched his head while Lucy laughed nervously. Both of them were standing at the doorway, shivering like crazy.
Polyuska narrowed her eyes at them, then sighed after a minute.
"Go change your clothes before you catch a cold, then just go to the market and buy me something for lunch, you troublesome brats." – She scolded them.
Lucy beamed and quickly dragged Rogue back into their room. The water'd been cold and she didn't think she could take being wet any longer.
[Meanwhile, at some… place who-know-where]
"I am so dead, I am so dead, I am so dead…"
"Loke, shut up!"
"I am so dead, I am so dead, I am so dead…" – Loke groaned and murmured again. I AM SO DEAD!
"If you don't want to do it, then just don't do it and let me handle it." – Totomaru said.
"I can't. She's my fiancée… Well, sort of… She hasn't agreed on that, but she will. The point is, we had a deal. If I don't do it, she's gonna tell her father that I go back on my words and I'll lose my one and only ally!" – He grunted again.
Loke and his manager were sitting on an airplane, ready to go back to Japan where his "lovely soon-to-be wife" was waiting for him to humiliate himself in front of thousands of people (maybe?).
A week before, having stood frozen for almost ten minutes after the friendly match, Loke'd looked to his right and realized that Lucy had gone off somewhere. He'd found her at the basketball court, talking to her friends about the game, completely forgetting that they still had had a deal.
It's not like I break my promises or something, I just… Put it off for a while, right?
He'd thought and quickly put on his cap, disappearing in the crowd to where his servant had been waiting. They had had no problem in escaping the crowd, which had appeared because of his presence, since lots of people'd already flooded out when the match was over.
His manager had been taken by surprise when the celebrity suddenly wanted to go to France early, but well… Who was he to complain about it anyway, even though he was kind of suspicious. Maybe something was wrong with his star? The fact that Loke had constantly been on the tenterhooks since he went to his old school to watch a basketball match had only confirmed his worries. Not until he asked Loke's servant, Kira, about it had he found out what happened. It went without saying that he'd almost lost it when he heard about the deal.
The girl was Lucy Heartfilia, a daughter of the most wealthy man in this country, so… What could he do about it? He couldn't threat that girl, – he would have to lose his mind if he ever tried to do so – but he couldn't let this deal destroy Loke's reputation either. As far as he knew, her father didn't want her identity to be well-known. What's more, the engagement between her and Loke was postponed because of her amnesia…
"But, Loke… Why do you want to marry her so badly? Don't tell me that it's because of her family's status?" – Totomaru asked.
"No, it's because she saved me once when we were young…" – Loke said.
"Be more specific."
"Well, seven years ago, her family went to Hokkaido to travel while I had an extracurricular trip with my classmates. I was swimming, but was suddenly taken down by a cramp. Nobody saw me because I was small and… Luckily, she saved me. I was twelve and she was ten back then." – Loke said, smiling.
His manager raised an eyebrow. – "That's it?"
Loke frowned. – "What do you mean 'That's it'?"
"Well, I was kinda expecting something like… Love chronicles between you two."
"She stole my first kiss." – Loke narrowed his eyes at Totomaru. – "She didn't even check out whether I blacked out or not and just went straight to give me a CPR while I was still conscious."
"Pffff… Really?" – He chuckled. – "And you are hypnotic only because of that, unbelievable. And, to your information, that didn't even count as a kiss."
"Well, what did you expect? I was just a kid, a popular kid with the ladies and the girls, but I was still one! Something like that is unforgettable to a child. She told me her name was Lucy Heartfilia, I didn't know who she was until a few years later. I'd wanted to see her for a long time before I got a chance. But Jude-san hid her identity so well that I couldn't find out where she was. Later on, I discovered that my father used to be his colleague before Jude-san decided to set up his own company. He owned my father a lot."
"And you took advantage of that, am I right?" – Totomaru shook his head. Loke smirked.
Marrying Lucy Heartfilia would definitely increase Loke's popularity. Besides, that girl was beautiful, they would make a perfect couple. Yet, the biggest problem right now was that deal… Totomaru was deep in thought before an idea came across his mind.
"All right, just go back to Japan and do what you promised her. Let me handle the rest."
Loke looked at his manager in surprise. He wondered what kind of plan prepared Totomaru.
He thought about the deal and Lucy's face popped in his head. Loke unconsciously shivered. Seemed like he had no choice but to trust his manager.
"Just pedal it, Lucy. I won't let you fall."
"I'm trying…" – Lucy frowned.
After changing their clothes, both of them went to the market to buy some food as they were told. What's more, they decided to go by bicycle which belonged to the one and only old woman named Porlyusica. They didn't let her know, because if later on there was something wrong with her bicycle, they would be dead.
Lucy gathered all her strength to pedal the bicycle, but it wouldn't move.
"What's wrong? Am I so heavy to you? I told you to let me ride it." – Rogue snickered.
Lucy pouted. She never rode a bicycle before and she wanted to try it, she would pedal and Rogue would keep the balance. But the reason why it couldn't move was because Rogue still didn't lift his legs up. He put his legs fixedly on the ground, watching Lucy struggle with the old vehicle.
"You… Can't… Be that… Heavy!" – Lucy whined, looking back at Rogue, who was laughing silently.
She looked down and glared at his feet. Understanding hit her. In anger, Lucy punched his arms and got off the bicycle.
"You bastard!"
Rogue quickly grabbed her waist, still laughing.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, sorry. C'mon, don't be mad, I'll let you ride." – He beamed.
Lucy got on the bicycle again, sulking.
This time, Rogue lifted his feet and it moved smoothly. He sat on the back saddle and put his hands on either side of the handlebars to keep them balanced and safe.
Lucy smiled, the feeling was really enjoyable. The wind blew against her skin gently and the sky was blue like sea without a cloud. Rogue sat behind Lucy, watching the sweet sun rays dancing on her hair and shoulders. The weather was nice, not too cold, but not too burning either.
To the girl's surprise, the market was not too crowded like she'd expected it to be. On the contrary to where Lucy'd grown up, every place there was full of people. It was nice to enjoy the atmosphere of the countryside once in a while. Rogue looked at the blonde he loved more than anything and smiled. He wondered how she could be so perfect like that; he just kept falling for her every single day and it was annoying. But, surely, he wouldn't complain, because if it were her, then he could endure every annoying sensation if he had to.
After going around the market in search for some fish and vegetables, they both started riding back, that time with Rogue carrying her.
"Hey, Rogue… Are you sure we're on the right way?" – Lucy asked when Rogue turned around the corner in the opposite direction to that back to the foster home.
"You don't remember? I'm taking you to Mairu park."
"Mairu park?"
Mairu park was a beautiful local park where they'd planted lots of fuji flowers. Fuji flowers only fully bloomed in spring. Although this time of the year you still couldsee some of them. Those which blossomed out early.
"Are you sure, because we still have to bring that foodstuff back to Porlyusica-san." – Lucy hesitated.
Rogue chuckled. – "Don't worry, she won't kill us even if we're late. It's still early, get some adventuresome spirit."
"Wow, you sure have a lot of energy today." – Lucy teased.
Well, I'm with you. It would be weird if I didn't. Rogue thought, smiling.
The boy rode the bicycle around the park so Lucy could contemplate the flowers in. Lavender, white apricot blossoms, snow flakes… It looked dreamlike. Lucy inhaled deeply and felt the fragrance of flowers faintly redolent in the wind. Oh god, she loved this country.
"Wow." – Lucy widened her eyes when they rode under the fuji flower trellis. There were branches of the oldest fuji flower tree in the park.
Rogue stopped next to a bench to satiate his sight with those beautiful flowers. Lucy couldn't imagine how it would look like when they were fully bloomed. They sat next to each other in silence. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, but Lucy didn't understand, why.
"Hey, how long have we been friends?" – Rogue suddenly asked.
"Eh… 10 years." – Lucy looked at him.
"No, we've known each other for 10 years."
"Then I guess we've been friends for about 4 or 5 years. It would have been longer if you hadn't been so mean to me back then." – Lucy stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh, trying to make me feel guilty, huh?" – Rogue rolled his eyes, then ruffed her hair. – "But I must admit that you're one hell of a stubborn girl."
Lucy smiled. – "Well… If I weren't, then we wouldn't be here. It's like I'm the only girl who can stand your attitude."
Rogue chuckled. Right, the only girl.
"But that's not true, right?" – Lucy glanced at him. Rogue turned to look at her.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you've finally found your own special girl… And she could tame your rude personality, couldn't she? I'm not the only one who could do that, not that I'm proud of it or anything… But, being friends with the cold and frosty Rogue is already a big achievement in my life." – Lucy laughed softly.
Rogue gazed at her. – "You remember that?"
"Yep." – Lucy forced a smile.
Of all the things she could remember… Rogue thought, closing his eyes and just enjoying her presence. He didn't want to talk about that girl with her. He had a feeling that it wouldn't turn out good if he did.
"Hey, Rogue…" – Lucy called quietly.
"Hm?"
"Tell me something about her…" – She pleaded.
Rogue opened his eyes to look at those flowers before his eyes.
"I told you once before. She's smart, kind, innocent, and beautiful, too."
"I remember that, idiot. Tell me something else." – Lucy insisted.
"I can't."
She frowned. – "Why not?" – Why is he so secret about her?
"Don't wanna." – Rogue said, closing his eyes again.
Lucy tugged on his shirt, forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"Tell me something else about her."
Rogue looked at her with his indifferent eyes, trying to read her emotions. He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned in closer, narrowing his eyes.
"Why do you want to know?"
In a flash, Rogue was able to detect something like realization hitting her eyes, but she hid it by looking up at the purple flowers shifting in the cold wind.
"You're my best friend, I have the right to know."
Rogue was still staring at her face. He suddenly felt annoyed. There was something in the way she answered that made his skin sting. He also experienced a rush of different emotions: a little bit of displease, a little bit of upset, and a little bit of hurt.
"That's my business." – He said coldly and once more pressed his eyelids together. Always using the 'best friend card'… Will I ever hear something else from her?
Lucy turned to look at him in surprise. He rarely used that tone with her… He used to, but not anymore. She gazed at him, trying to find out why he was angry and before she knew it, Lucy blurted out her question.
"If someday you had to choose between me and her, who would you choose?"
Rogue's eyes snapped open and he gazed straight into Lucy's serious expression. He was caught off guard and when he was trying to find back his voice, Lucy shook her head.
"Eh… I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked something like that." – She laughed nervously.
Stupid Lucy! Why did you ask him something like that… You should have never done that.
Although she was longing for his answer, she knew she couldn't make him choose. That was unfair.
"Just forget it…" – She smiled. – "I think we should go, sitting here is boring."
Lucy stood up, but Rogue grabbed her wrist before she took at least one step, making her sit down again.
"If someday you had to choose between me and Sting, who would you choose?"
Lucy's eyes widened. – "That's a different case."
"That's the exactly same case." – Rogue said swiftly.
"What?"
"I know that you and Sting are dating."
"What?"
"Sting told me."
"WHAT?" – Lucy yelled. That idiot told me to keep it secret.
Rogue chuckled at her outburst. Interesting reaction.
"Well, it's not like I didn't want to tell you, but Sting told me to keep quiet about it." – Lucy tried to explain.
When the rain is blowing in your face,
And the whole world is on your case,
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
"I was kinda mad at you two for not telling me that, you know? I've been feeling lonely." – He whispered and leaned on her shoulder.
Lucy slightly blushed. There was something in the way he said that sounded kind of cute to her.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
And there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.
"Answer my question, Lucy." – Rogue said quietly, his voice sounded like coming from somewhere which was far, far away. He held her hand in his own, in need of something to prove to him that she was being there as well.
"Well, I asked you first." – Lucy said. A lame attempt to gain time.
"And I asked you second." – Rogue smirked, still refusing to let go of her hand.
"Smart ass." - Lucy snickered.
Rogue smiled, then put on his serious face again.
"Do you want me to choose you?" – He asked.
I know you haven't made your mind up yet,
But I would never do you wrong.
I've known it from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.
Lucy tilted her head to look at him.
"That sounds tempting." – She smiled tenderly. Yes.
"If you choose me, I'll choose you." – Rogue said.
"Why?" – She looked at him in surprise.
"I've known you for ten years, you think I will choose another girl, whom I don't know how long I could love, over my best friend?" – He flicked her forehead.
I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue,
I'd go crawling down the avenue.
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.
Lucy touched her forehead and closed her eyes. Peace came back to find her, although she knew it was just momentary. And she was right. When she chose to take a glimpse of her surroundings again, there were only his orbs, gaping into hers and looking for an answer. At that moment, she felt scared.
"You've only known me for ten years. If that girl is the person that you're looking for, then she will be able to be there for you for the rest of your life." – Lucy shook her head, forcing herself not to avert her gaze. – "And I can't choose between you and Sting. Both of you are important to me."
"So… You don't want me to choose you?" – Rogue asked.
"Of course I want to, but-"
The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret.
Though winds of change are throwing wild and free,
You ain't seen nothing like me yet.
"Then just choose me. Between me and him, Sting was the one you first met, Sting was the one you first hugged, Sting was the one you first kissed, Sting was always the first one. Just… This time, let me taste that feeling…" – He took a flower petal that fell on her shirt and blew it away.
"What… Feeling?" – Lucy hesitated.
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true.
Nothing that I wouldn't do.
Go to the ends of the Earth for you,
To make you feel my love.
"The feeling that I'm more important to you than Sting. Choose me and I'll give up on that girl because of you, I won't care about her anymore… Choose me and I'll give you everything I have…" – Rogue caressed her cheek.
To make you feel my love.
He knew he was being ridiculous, but he had been dying inside since the moment he heard Lucy and Sting were dating. He knew very well that Lucy couldn't choose, but he couldn't bring himself not to ask her to.
Lucy constantly avoided answering. What could she say after the decision? Although she was happy… No, she was more than happy that her best friend was willing to choose her over his love, but it was a shame that she couldn't do the same. She was with Sting, she loved him and she didn't want to lose him. At the same time, she didn't want to let go of Rogue either. Therefore, she kept silent. So selfish… She thought about herself.
Rogue pulled back to look at her face, which was hidden under her bangs.
He sighed as he realized a ruthless truth. He could never replace Sting in her heart. He smiled a painful smile and released her from his grip.
"Let's go home." – Rogue said quietly.
Lucy looked up and all she could see was his broad back facing her. She extended her hand to grab his shirt, to say something, but stopped just in time. What could I say? He was standing in front of her, but she felt like he was miles and miles away. What'd just happened? One moment they were so happy, they were enjoying each other's company and a moment later, everything turned out like this. She felt something stirred inside her, thinking about the night she talked to Sting…
If only I hadn't made that wish.
That night, she'd wished that things would just stay like that. Well. The universe must have hated her, because every time she wished for something like that, things would change in a way that she could never imagine. For the first time in her life, she hated stars.
End of chapter 19
Done ^^~ So... what do you think? XD
I have a question: My beta wants StiLu, my best friend wants RoLu, I want both :))))
So you want:
StiLu? RoLu? Or both? What do you think about 3P? Should I make this a 3P story?
Just asking XD XD