Sorry for taking so long to update, but please R&R and I shall explain everything at the bottom of the page.
POV: Lucy, Lucy
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
I look across the room at the empty seat just a few rows down feeling my chest tighten in fear. I look down at my exam that sits in front of me but no matter how much I try I can't seem to concentrate and I keep on looking at Cana's empty seat wondering where she could be.
It isn't really that Cana hasn't shown up today that has me worried if not also that both Natsu and Gajeel haven't shown up to class. Also that Gray has had a look of pure irritation on his face all morning and once in a while glares at the empty seat behind me. Gildarts also hasn't been too happy and his usual cheerful self has been replaced with the same emotionless irritated expression as Gray and sits behind his desk staring us all down as we try to finish our exams.
"Alright, pencils down," Gildarts voice booms from across the room making me flinch as I put my pencil down while passing my paper to Levy who takes it and then passes it down to the person in front of her.
I sigh finally glad that this test was over with and that now all I had to think about was lunch and get my mind away from the missing people and the dark electric currents running through the air. I sling my bag onto my arm just as Levy asks, "Ready to go," and I nod following her out of the room toward our usual eating place which is empty other than Erza and Lisanna.
It seems that Juvia hasn't shown up either and Gray disappeared after the bell rang dismissing us for lunch along with Gildarts. I wonder what's going on?
Ignoring my inner battle, I look over at Lisanna who's telling a story on how the tennis team was so close to winning a championship this year. She goes on about how the other team had been cheating in the beginning and then started getting serious towards the end. They had been tied and needed one more shot to win but then she had lost her footing causing her to fall and lose her match.
"Hey Lucy, you should join the tennis or volleyball team next year," Lisanna says eagerly making me choke on my salad.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I mutter wiping my mouth with a napkin, "If you haven't noticed by the bruises covering my entire body, I'm not all that well coordinated to join sports," I say, "Besides, I doubt the doctor would be willing to sign my physical,"
All three girls nod and it ends at that as we all go on and finish our food in silence, well I eat in silence the rest of the girls continue to talk on about who knows what as I drown them out submerging myself into my endless thoughts. I really want to ask them about Cana and the missing boys but I remember the rules Natsu gave me and I can't help but feel a bit paranoid. Especially since I got hurt after breaking two of his precious rules and I really don't want to repeat what happened, even if it was just a coincidence.
"We should all go to the movies!" Levy announces out of the blue forcing me back from my sub-conscience, "We could do it to celebrate the ending of the final exams,"
"Yeah, that would be great," Lisanna smiles, her eyes glistening with joy and excitement.
"I'm in if you all are," Erza says smiling as well, "We can see that new action movie that just came out, unless you all want to watch another movie instead,"
"When should we go?"
"How about tomorrow after school, we can all go home together to get ready and then we can head on toward the theatre," I suggest feeling a bit excited myself. It's been more than half a month and the only places I've been to around town would be South Gate Park, Magnolia Hospital, Fairy Hills, and Fairy Tail Academy. A change of scenery sounds more than good to me.
They all agree as we pack up our things as we head back inside just as the bell rings to resume class.
The sun pours down from overhead but surprisingly today is a nice cool day. It's still warm out but the cool wind blowing around makes the day a beautiful one as I wait by the bus stop a block away from Magnolia's only movie theatre.
I look around at the people passing by wondering if I got here too early when I find Levy rushing toward me wearing a cute orange dress that ends just above her knees with red outlining, her hair tied up into a high ponytail with her bangs framing the side of her face.
"Did you wait long, Lu?" she asks panting a little as she stops next to me and I shake my head, "Erza and Lisanna say that they're already there, so should we get going?"
"Sure," I follow her toward the theatre dodging a few passerby's who are too busy looking at their phones to move out of the way properly.
We reach the theatre in a matter of agonizing minutes, agonizing because people kept on bumping into me making my injuries hurt, and we instantly find Erza and Lisanna waiting outside of the theatre holding up some tickets for us.
"Took you long enough," Lisanna says handing me a ticket which I take with a small thank you. I look at the ticket when I feel an unfamiliar hand on my shoulder.
I turn with a start to find Gray looking down at me with a smile, "Fancy seeing you here," he says then looking at all the girls beside me.
"Gray, are you here to see the action movie as well," Erza asks and he nods.
"Yeah, Juvia and the guys came with me," as if on cue, the rambunctious mysterious guys and girl I've come to recognize tread through the thick crowd of people toward us.
Juvia is the first to reach us and quickly notices Gray's hand resting on my shoulder and glares but says nothing as she stands beside him keeping her gaze fixed at my original group. The tall black haired pierced-from-head-to-toe teen is the next to show up, Gajeel I believe to be his name who stands awkwardly behind Juvia. I notice him look over the bluenette's head and watch as his face flushes a light pink before he darts his gaze toward the sky not really looking at anything. I turn to find Levy doing the same thing, only her gaze is directed in the other direction with her cheeks tinted a darker shade than Gajeel's. I make myself a mental note to interrogate her about it later.
Elfman joins in sticking close to his younger sister who talks animatedly as we converse with each other, well everyone else converses while I watch still trying to figure out what Gajeel's and Levy's awkward aura meant, if it meant anything at all, when Gray, who has already removed his hand from my shoulder, looks over his own shoulder into the sea of people, "Come on out man, they don't bite,"
I turn to look the way the group came from noticing nothing but strange faces and blurs of clothing of passerby's when I notice something pink emerge from the sea of strangers. Natsu, looking a bit annoyed, walks toward us keeping his hands stuffed deep within the pockets of his jeans while his trademark white scarf conceals the bottom half of his face. He looks tense and a bit nervous as he reaches us and I can't help but feel my heart squeeze. This happens just about every time I see him and I think it started right after his only late night visit to me when I was in the hospital.
"Natsu, it's good to see you came," Lisanna chimes and everyone nods enthusiastically, even though they look a bit tense as well.
Natsu mutters something but no one pays him much attention except, of course, me. I watch as he stands beside Gajeel keeping his gaze on the cemented sidewalk before looking up at me and then quickly looking away. The small pain in my chest tightens a bit more making me feel guilty, even though I didn't do anything wrong. I eventually move my own gaze around the group trying to catch up with whatever conversation everyone is talking about and before I know it someone is tugging at my arm.
Looking up I find Natsu tugging my arm, but his gaze looms over my head and I turn to notice everyone heading into the theatre already. A bit surprised that I had somehow dozed off while standing in the middle of a busy sidewalk. I begin to follow the crowd ahead of me with Natsu when a flash of brown catches my eye, almost calling to me, and I turn feeling everything around me suddenly slow down.
Through the crowd I notice Cana walk right by me so close that if I would have taken a step towards her she would have bumped shoulders with me. I'm about to do just that when a warm hand gently grabs my arm and I turn to find Natsu looking at me with concern, "Are you alright Lucy?" he asks keeping a soft hold onto me as if afraid I might faint or run, I'd probably do the first. Turning around to call out to Cana I find nothing but a now semi-empty sidewalk with no brunette anywhere to be found, "The movie is about to start, we should probably go inside," Natsu says while lightly tugging my arm.
Dazed, I nod and mutter, "Yeah," before allowing him to lead me into the theatre and as we reach the doors I take one last look behind me feeling that something just wasn't right. I look up at Natsu, who's holding the door open for me and looking out into the sea of people with a hard gaze before looking down at me with a cheery smile.
For once his bipolar mood change doesn't affect me in the slightest. Deep in my heart I only worry about Cana and even though it could have been a coincidence something about her seemed off. I keep on mulling what I witnessed as Natsu buys us both some soda and popcorn, against all my protests, and sits right next to me in the theatre. I pay little attention to the movie as I keep on thinking about Cana that before I know it the movie ends and we're all heading out in one large group.
Everyone decides to go out to eat and we head on over to South Gate Park straight at a Hot Dog cart. They all order two each hotdogs for themselves, well most of the girls do while the guys practically get all the food from the poor vendor who has probably never seen teenage boys eat so much, especially when they all end up having their own mini hot dog eating contest. Elfman won by the way.
I sit in a bench not too far away watching them interact feeling a bit depressed. I don't know why exactly, but I can't seem to keep an actual smile on my face for more than a minute at a time. It isn't until Natsu sits next to me lazily that I notice Gajeel and Levy are missing and it doesn't take me long to spot them sitting awkwardly under the tall oak tree that sits smack dab in the middle of the park.
Holding in a giggle I lean into Natsu and he jumps a bit as I whisper, "Do you have any idea what's up with those two?" and he follows my gaze spotting the two instantly.
His mouth puckers a bit as if he's trying to hide a smile and then leans back into the bench resting his hands behind his head as if it were of no importance, "What did I tell you about asking questions," he says dully and it takes all of my will power to keep me from smacking him upside the head. Instead I cross my arms across my chest a bit aggravated.
"Oh come on. This surely doesn't count as one of 'those' questions," I mutter feeling myself unconsciously pout, something I usually have a habit of doing.
"Then why don't you ask her directly?" he yawns snuggling deeper into his seat, "She is your best friend after all, isn't she?"
Grumbling under my breath I stare out at the talking pair wondering if I should keep pestering Natsu or if I should move onto the main source in one go. I keep on debating this as I stand following Natsu to the others who seem to be ready to leave. The sky has darkened a bit and streetlights have started to turn on all around when I notice Gajeel and Levy stand up from under the tall oak. No one is looking at them except for me, which I'm practically on my toes peeking over Natsu's shoulder, when I notice something that has me clutching onto Natsu's shoulder fiercely making him wince and complain.
He asks me what's wrong but I continue to stare at the pair as they reach us and even then I continue to spy at them from behind my new found victim. Everyone heads on toward the street breaking off into smaller groups to head home.
Lisanna leaves with both Gajeel and Elfman while Erza decides to tag along with Levy, Gray, and Juvia and that they'd all go home to Fairy Hills later leaving me dumbfounded with Natsu. It isn't until everyone is gone and Natsu looks down at me questioningly that I feel myself snap like a thousand rubber bands, "I think I might have a small clue as to what's going on between my best friends and your close friend," I sputter out sounding breathless as if I had run an entire marathon, which feels like it because I'm practically panting, my heart rate has increased dramatically, and I'm starting to sweat like crazy.
"Lucy, I think you're having a panic attack. You should sit down and slow your breathing," Natsu urgently says leading me toward a nearby bench but I fight him trying to find the words that won't come, "Lucy, seriously you need to calm….."
"LevyandGajeelkissedwhiletheythoughtnoonewaslookingandnowIthinkthey'regoingout," I say in a breathless rush cutting him off and he freezes staring at me with an unreadable blank expression.
"WHAT?!"
So this chapter is dedicated to Cassjl since she was the one who wanted a GaLe pairing in the story, even though this chapter was already written to have that special pairing. There will be more pairings further on, I'm just trying to figure out on whether I should bring them all in or if only a select few. Still debating and it would help if you all would help me out. Who else do you want me to pair up? Please leave a review for that or you can PM me.
Anywho, so as for my latest absence I must explain that I have not had a single chance to sit down and post up this chapter for you all. My summer has officially ended since August 4th, even though I don't go back to school until the 25, and it will be hard for me to update anything on time for a while. For those of you who don't know I am in band and at the moment I am going to camp from seven in the morning to nine at night with only a few hours of break in between so I am not in any reach of a computer to update until today. Depending on how hectic this week turns out I might update on time if not don't be expecting a chapter until next Friday or Saturday. I am sorry for this huge delay but I promise to update amazing chapters when I can and don't worry, this isn't permanent so by the end of the month I should be going back to my old schedule.
SHOUT OUTS
Thanks to all of my fantastic favorites...
- shadowX25
- FictionDragon
- Wyote
- Black Night Wolf
To my fabulous followers...
- SnowAngelSlayerTasha
- Black Night Wolf
And to my fantabulous reviewers...
- I'm glad you like it.
SnowAngelSlayerTasha - If your skin is crawling then that must mean I'm doing a good job and that you are enjoying my story. If yes then I'm glad.
CatsCraddle22 - Happy to hear you liked it and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
Owl's song - sorry that the beginning was a bit slow but hopefully it will be moving on faster here on out. There will be more Jerza later on in the story and I'm glad to have made your night.
Well that's all the shout outs for today.
If you are enjoying my story so far please follow, favorite, and review - remember, reviews are a writers candy - and if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to see put into this story you can also PM me and I'll gladly add it in.
Until next time my lovelies.