A/N: Hey everyone. Though I didn't get much reviews, I'm still very happy that this story is getting followers so I decided to continue it. So here's the next chapter folks. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Chapter 2

Lucy's POV

"Okay everyone! Let the grand magic begins!" One of the commentator announced through his microphone which gotten the crowd to cheer across the arena.

I was back to the spot that I stood with Jason earlier. I managed to grab two cups of coffee for the both of us on the way back. He thanked me when I handed him his share.

"So Lucy, you know what to do right?"

"Yeah…" I said before turning back to look at the battlefield. "Keep track of the whole game so that we can write it down on our Weekly Sorcerer magazine right?"

"That's right." I could hear Jason was happy that I knew what I was doing. "Oh, we also might need to interview or maybe just take picture of the guild one by one. I was thinking of starting with Sabertooth first after this round."

Oh, isn't that Sting's guild? I nodded back in respond before my eyes and mind focused back on the battlefield. The commentator was announcing that this round will be a preliminary round. The first eight guilds to make it to the designated spot will be through to the second round. I couldn't help but to smirk to myself. This sounded like what we did last year, the Sky Labyrinth. Thinking about it brings me chill.

"Okay everyone! You heard the rules, you will now be transported to different part of Crocus." And that surprised me. Immediately, everyone was gone and several lacrima vision were displayed for us to see them. This time, they didn't had to go through any Sky Labyrinth. They had to come back here.

The horn was sounded and everyone started to rush back. I was thrilled by the excitement. I took down important notes like which guild met at which point to take the other down so they could pass through. Of course, I focused on the main guilds and they didn't seem to have any difficulty. I scrunched my face as I quickly scribbled down all these points on my notebook. I felt someone's gaze on me so I turned to see where it was coming from.

It was Sting. He sat the opposite side of me as he rested his cheek against his palm. He looked at me with a smirk etched on his face. I couldn't help but to mouth him a what. He pointed to my face and then back to his face, mimicking a scrunched up face.

I couldn't help but to blush hard. Someone saw me with my weird facial expression. I knew how I looked like because my maids back home used to take picture of it and showed me. Not knowing how to respond back, I just looked away and pretend to focus back my task on hand. Even though my eyes were on the lacrima visions, my mind was not there.

The preliminary round came to an end and with no surprise, the main six guilds that I focused on, made it through the next round. Everyone cheered when they saw their favorite guild standing down at the battlefield, waving back at them. I wiped the sweat away from my forehead when I finally wrote my last note down. I managed to grab whatever main points I needed even though I got distracted a little earlier. I thought I could leave but Jason grabbed hold of me.

"Hey Lucy, now's our chance to get to Sabertooth. Look!" Jason was pointing to someone and it landed on the blond dragon slayer. "Their guild master is right opposite of us. Come on." I couldn't do anything about it so I obliged and followed him.

"Hey there!" Jason was the one to approach him first. "I think you know who I am. Well meet Lucy, I bet you know her too since she was from Fairy Tail. We were thinking if you have a few minutes to spare for some questions and photo taking." I saw Sting looked at him before looking past his shoulder at me.

"Sure, if only Lucy does it."

"Oh my, my, my! Of course! If that's the case, I will carry on and meet one of the guilds." Jason placed his hand on my shoulder before walking off. "See you tomorrow Lucy." I just nodded with a smile though I was mentally screaming no, don't leave me alone with him Jason! And then he's gone.

I didn't know how to start the conversation so I was playing with my fingers at my back as I looked down. I heard footsteps coming closer to me so. Based on the shadow that appeared on the ground from the palace's light source, I could tell Sting was approaching me.

"So…" He was the one who spiked the conversation up even though I should be the one. "Shall we start?" I decided to buck up my courage and looked up at him instead. He had such a warm smile on his face. It's hard to believe he was smirking at me earlier.

"Yeah, let's." I took a seat and Sting sat beside me. "So Sting, how do you think Sabertooth will fair this year?"

"I think we'll win this year since Fairy Tail is not around." I just giggled at his confidence.

"Fine but don't get too cocky yet." I said. "The other guilds has gotten stronger."

"Oh really? Well, at least I won't scrunched my face up in worry." And there he was mimicking me again. I slapped my notebook against his shoulder, earning a fake cry from him.

"Not funny." I pouted.

"But I found it cute." Sting said with a smile as he placed his elbow on this thigh and rested his cheek against his palm. I blinked at him in confusion as what he said didn't sink in so once it did, I felt blush creeping up my cheeks.

"Hey Sting!"

Thank you Lord for the diversion! Hopefully my blush is gone from my cheeks now. Everyone looked past his shoulder and was surprised upon seeing me.

"Lucy?"

"Yukino!" I stood up and she ran to me for a hug.

"How are you?" She wrapped her arms around my shoulders before pulling away from me, our hands still interlocked with each other. "We heard."

"Yeah but I'm fine. I was just talking to Sting here."

"Oh for what?"

"Well you guys just came at the right timing, I need to take a photo of you guys." I grabbed my camera out from my bag. "Come on, get closer." I said before backing up a distance at which the camera is able to take a shot of them.

Sting stood at the side with Lector sprawled on his head, while Rogue stood beside him with Frocsh in his arm, Rufus was doing his signature pose by tilting his hat, Orga raising his arms as if showing the crowd his muscles, Yukino was standing in front of them with a peace sign and lastly, Minerva stood beside her. She smiled at me although I could see there was a sense of guilt in her eyes.

"Okay, thanks guys! The picture looks great." I gave them a thumbs up with a wide grin spread across my face.

"Sorry Lucy, but what do you need the photo for?" Yukino asked.

"Well-"

"She's working with Weekly Sorcerer now." Sting cut to answer them for me instead.

"Oh so now the blondie is no longer a mage?" Orga was the one who asked the question now.

"Maybe." I winked at them before turning around. "I got to go now, see you guys tomorrow!" I shouted over my shoulder while raising my hand in the air like a wave.

"Hey Lucy!" I stopped and turned around when I heard that familiar voice shouted for my name again. "We're heading for dinner. Do you want to join us?"

"No, it's alright. You guys go ahead. I don't want to be a bother."

"No, we insist." Yukino said. "It's been a while. Don't you think?" I scanned through everyone's face and there wasn't any displease in sight, including Minerva so I decided to shrug it off and walk back to them.

Yukino squealed when I went over to them so she linked her arms with me and started talking as we walked to the restaurant that we're going to have dinner for the night. They ordered a lot of food. Seeing Orga's size, I knew he would be able to eat all of the food that were placed down on the table that we're currently sitting at by the waitress. What I didn't expect was that Sting was a big eater too.

I sat in between of Sting and Yukino while the rest filled the available seats. Frosch and Lector were sitting on the table as they chew on their food happily. Thoughts of Charle, Happy and even Pantherlily came to my mind. I shook away my thoughts about them and listen to the conversation that I was in with Yukino and Minerva.

Well before we got into the restaurant, Minerva stole me away for a moment as she apologized for what happened last year. She really has changed from back then so I told her that all's forgotten and we made up so that's why here I was, having a conversation with the ladies from Sabertooth.

"I'm starved." Sting announced loudly as he rubbed his stomach in circles. I couldn't help but to giggle. His action reminded me very much about Natsu.

"I never pegged you to be such a big eater."

"Well I am." He said before stretching his arms out.

Before we knew it, it was already late so we decided to leave the restaurant after we paid our meals. Well more accurately is they because the ladies insisted that I shouldn't pay anything.

"So we'll see you tomorrow Lucy?" Yukino asked before we parted ways.

"Yeah, good luck for your game tomorrow! I will be routing for you all." I was about to walk away when someone stood beside me.

"You guys head back to the hotel first. I'll walk her back. It's pretty late and I think it's not safe for a girl to be out late at night."

"You're right Sting. See you later! Bye Lucy!" Yukino waved at me, followed by Minera and the rest. We all turned around and went our ways.

"You know Sting, I'm actually alright. If there's anything dangerous, I can call my keys out." He just shrugged with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Well I can't help but be a gentleman when it comes to a girl." I decided to let him do what he wants as we quietly walked back to the direction of my apartment. It didn't take long before we reached our destination.

"So I will see you tomorrow?" Sting asked as I stood in front of him.

"Yeah, see you." I was about to head into my apartment but Sting grabbed my wrist. I swirled around and looked at him in the eye. I didn't know why but I felt electricity pulsed through my veins upon his touch.

"Do you want to I don't know, stay up and talk?" I chuckled to ease the weird sensation that I was feeling. He let go of my wrist and I brought them up to my hips.

"Don't you have the games tomorrow?"

"I'm the guild master, remember?" He raised one of his eyebrows at me with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Okay smarty pants, come on in then." I swing my door open wide enough for him to enter before shutting it close. Little did I know, I was actually going to enjoy my time with him.

A/N: And that's it for this chapter folks. How was it? Please help to leave a review before you go so I could see how my story is fairing. I know Stinglu doesn't have much fanbase unlike Nalu but honestly, I'm really into writing this story.