Lucy's POV

I walked. Or it was more accurately described as limping. I had to get away. I had to go see Levy-chan.

I had to get away from him. I just couldn't turn my back. Thinking about what had just happened, what I had said, what I had shown him, my forced limp slowly turned into a jog, and my jog turned into a sprint. And like that, I was running away again. Running away like the weak coward I was.

He saw me.

He SAW me.

The true me.

He's found me out.

I showed it to him.

Why...? Why did this have to happen? After all those times... why now...?

My sprint slowed down to a stop. I wanted to cry, but then I couldn't. I wanted to scream, but then... I couldn't. I just stood in the middle of the road with my head hung as the cheers and laughter grew louder. I was probably out of Natsu's sight after the pace that I was going.

I thought my mask was perfect...

I thought it was inpenetrable...

I thought I could take it off at this moment...

...

...to reveal...

...my renewed self.

"What... WHAT THE HELL!" I looked up into the sky. It was dark. But it was going to get lighter soon. Light enough to be called 'day'.

"No... no...! NO! I-!" I stopped for a moment. It seemed my voice still acted like it always did when I was crying. Quivering. Shaking. Weak. Hurt. "I'm not ready yet...I'm not ready... to show myself yet...why...? I took off my mask... but this wasn't...this wasn't what I wanted to show...!"

I didn't want this midnight sky to turn into day. I wasn't ready for 'day' yet. Because 'day' was when I was supposed refresh myself and be natural. 'Day' was when I was supposed to finally have color in my life. But why is it... why is this feeling... still the same...?

I slumped to the ground.

No... NO...! This can't be it, right? I couldn't have missed my chance to change, right?!

I wanted to become strong... I wanted to move on... I wanted to be happy... This isn't fair. I took off my mask to show that I changed. That I've moved on. But...

BUT THIS ISN'T MOVING ON!

I'm still me. I'm still that weak person that envied her best friend. Except now, I don't even have a facade to hide behind. My emotions. They've remerged. And now I... I can't stop them. I can't even cry.

But I...

In the distance, I heard a voice that brought instant dread to my ears.

"Luuu-chaaaaaan!"

Lisanna.

"LUUU-CHAAAAAAN!"

Like hell I was going to let her see me like this. But then how could I mask it? Why Lisanna now? Of all times?! I stood up and dusted myself off, pondering of a way to get around Lisanna.

"Lu-chan! There you are! Levy-chan was looking aaaaaall over for you." Lisanna said and tilted her head as she looked at the sky. "She was reeeaaally worried, you know. And she wouldn't calm down, so I went to come check on you."

Lisanna brought her head down to look at me and pulled a usual smile. "But knowing you, I'm sure you were fine and-"

I was confused to why she had stopped talking, but soon I realized my face didn't exactly spell 'happy'.

"Lu-chan?" Lisanna looked at me confused.

"H-Huh?" I patted my face.

"You look really pale... are you okay?" I flinched at her question.

"Y-Yeah... I just... umm... I just... hit my head... on the way back to the clocktower..."

"Woah?! You hit your head?! Th-That badly?! Here let me take a look-" Her hand reached for me. Instinctively, I swatted away her hand. I regretted it immediately.

"L-Lu-chan?" Lisanna backed away a step with a shocked look.

"Eh-? I-I'm so sorry I just... I... my head just hurts and...!"

I took a step towards her holding out my palms. "I-!"

"It's fine."

"Huh?" I was confused. The look on her face... it became... if not only a little bit... colder.

Her glowing white hair covered her eyes for a moment, and then soon, she brought her face up with that usual, warm smile of hers. It was like the color of her eyes had changed for a second.

"Hm?" she tilted her head playfully. "Well, I'm gonna go on ahead. I have to look for Natsu anyways. Um, have you seen him?"

That name. It sent made my heart wheeze again. It took me a little longer to respond, but I replied.

"N-No I haven't..." I managed to force a lie through my lips.

"Oh... well alright then, you better go on back to Levy-chan before she murders you!"

"O-On it..."

Third Person POV

Lucy reached the center of town, dragging her feet. Looking up, she saw a frantic Levy running towards her.

"Lu-chan!" Levy yelled and lunged at her with concern all over her face.

"Hey! Where were you!? You missed the clocktower strike midnight!" she pouted at Lucy for what felt like forever. "Hmph. Even after I told you to come back before it-"

Levy stopped and looked at Lucy's expression.

"Lu...chan?"

Lucy took notice of Levy's concern, and quickly replied. "H-Huh? Oh... I'm really sorry I didn't get to see it with you. I-I promise I will next year, and I...!"

It wasn't long before Lucy had noticed she'd attracted the others' attention.

"Huh? Lucy?" Gray looked at my face and could see it wasn't very bright. "You alr-"

"Never mind that Gray. Lucy, we were looking all over for you. Where were you?" Erza cut off Gray as she took a step forward to face Lucy.

"I... I was just... ch-checking my door..." Lucy mustered all the strength she could to sound normal. But it obviously wasn't enough when Juvia, Gajeel, Wendy, Happy, and everyone else started to look at her uneasily.

Wendy spoke first. "Lucy-san... did something happen?"

"Huh? N-No I-" Lucy tried to explain herself before she was interrupted by someone else's voice.

"Everyone!" Lisanna waved at the group... and at Lucy. Lisanna had someone next to her, Natsu. She was holding his arm as she pulled him towards the group. Natsu didn't exactly look sunny, when he noticed Lucy. They made eye contact.

"Luc-" Natsu attempted to call out to her, but Lucy cut him off.

"Ehhh I'm hungry... I'm gonna go buy a taiyaki okay? Don't worry... I'll get you and Lisanna some too, Levy-chan."

"Huh? Bu-" Levy tried to talk before Lisanna joined in.

"Really?! Ahhh thank you Lu-chan~~ I just noticed I really could use a soft, warm taiyaki right now." Lisanna laughed as she scratched her head innocently.

"O-Okay... I-I'll go get the taiyaki." Lucy walked off and made a hurt face when she turned around.

Natsu watched her go off with the look of guilt on his face. The fact that only he knew what Lucy was feeling right now. The fact that he didn't do anything to help it, knowing that he was the only one who could. It disgusted him.

But he really couldn't do anything. He could only watch her fragile shape walk off by herself, alone. Away from the warmth, because the warmth was starting to burn her, she walked away into the cold. Crying inside. Crying because of him.

Authors Extras

Yayyy I finally updated after... 3 months... I am SO, SO, SO, SO, SO SORRY I TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATE. You see, I had writer's block for awhile and, we all know that's fun (I hate life), but I finally updated! I also had a lot of things come up. Like school, and traveling, and birthday stuff. I am also SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SORRY THAT THIS CHAPTER IS SHORTER THAN USUAL EVEN THOUGH I MADE YOU GUYS WAIT SO LONG. Writer's block sucks sometimes. But aaanyway. Thank you for them reviews. They really do make my day. Also good news, in this chapter... THE DOOR DOESN'T GET ABUSED. HAHA ISN'T THAT GREAT.

Lucy: You suck.

Author: What.

Lucy: YOU suck.

Author: Wai.

Lucy: oh idk mAYBE BECAUSE YOU MADE EVERYONE WAIT 3 MONTHS. WTF. WHY. YOU KNOW THEY ACTUALLY TAKE TIME TO READ THESE SHITTY CHAPTERS YOU CALL A STORY RIGHT?!

Author: YO HEY. I WAS-

Lucy: I DON'T CAAREEE IF YOU PICKED UP TEN ONGOING ANIMES. NO EXCUSES. I'M UNFOLLOWING YOU.

Author: Wait... you were following me in the first place?

Lucy: For a little bit until I noticed the story sucked.

Author: Oh. Thanks.

Lucy: Obligatory follow, favorite, and review if you want to. I wouldn't. But y'know. I won't stop you guys from doing it. Because unlike Author you guys don't suck! (^_^) /)

Author: I hate you.