Welcome back for my 27th chapter. Please R&R and I shall see you at the bottom of the page.

POV: Natsu, Lucy

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

"Alright ladies, let's run it again," a loud feminine voice booms across the field before blowing her whistle that hangs before her voluptuous chest, "Put more feeling into it," she yells, her fierce brown eyes glaring behind her oval wire-rimmed glasses under her pristine white cap

.

"Urgh, I can't believe Master hired her to be the cheerleading coach this year," Gray grumbles as he keeps pace next to me along with Elfman and Gajeel who are right behind us as we all run laps around the track field. We all give mumurs of agreement as we huff on down the red track field.

"Hey guys, she isn't that bad," I hear Elfman mutter sounding embarrassed and before Gray and I can turn to yell at him, clearly confused, we hear a cry and a heavy thud behind us. When we do turn we find Gajeel running on his own with a large heap on the ground a few meters away from us.

"Isn't she like twenty?" Gajeel asks as if Elman hadn't been here all along before he tripped him, "Does she even have a teaching degree?"

"Probably not," I answer continuing to run unwilling to break my pace in order to help a fallen friend who has clearly lost his mind, "Did you also hear that Bixlow is the new baseball coach too," I grunt trying to keep myself from screaming it out.

Gajeel groans, clearly irritated, seeming as he's also in the baseball team as well as the football team with Elfman. He curses a few profanities under his breath while Gray holds a smug smile before he asks, "How'd you take it when you found out?" Just as we all stop finishing our laps for the day.

Leaning over with my hands on my knees, I pant, "I tried dropping out of school that instant, but Gramps just wouldn't have it," I look over at a group of girls walking by instantly noticing Lucy, "He's playing a dangerous game," I growl while looking away just as a pair of curious chocolate brown eyes look on over our way. Makarov wants me to be away from her and yet he still has me within a distance that could get her curious mind going in dangerous directions. Worst case scenario is that she suddenly starts to get her memories back which will only lead to what had already happened, only I doubt that Freed would be the choice Makarov would choose next.

Gray waves over at the crowd of girls with his winning smile, "Juvia will definitely kill you if she ever catches you waving to

any girl," Gajeel comments and he shrugs, unaffected, while continuing to wave and smile before sitting down within our small lopsided circle just as Elfman catches up with us. He has a large forming bruise on his forehead from where he fell along with a few scratches on his arms and legs, but other than that he's fine."

"She's up at Blue Pegasus doing some business for Gramps with Master Bob. She won't be back for another week," Gray answers just as he begins to unconciously take off his shirt, "Besides, it's not like she's my girlfriend or anything,"

We all give each other a knowing look seeming as there has been something, no matter how remote it is, seems to be going on between the two. Although unlike Gajeel and Levy, Gray and Juvia have yet to advance to the next level and make their 'relationship' into and actual 'relationship. Now that I think about it, it wouldn't be too bad to have the two finally hook up after watching them for three years now give each other side glances when they think we're not watching. It's also a good thing that Juvia isn't a psycho stalker like most people make her up to be, although I heard from Gajeel that she did used to be a psycho stalker when she went out with some guy named Bora back when they lived at Phantom Lord. Luckily he confirms that Juvia has long outgrown her stalker phase, thankfully.

"Don't you think that being cruel to her will only make her want to get closer to you?" Elfman asks me noticing the group of girls slowly drifting away towards where the cheerleaders are now taking a break, "I mean, isn't that how you?" Elfman asks me noticing the group of girls slowly drift towards where the cheerleaders are now taking a break, "I mean, isn't that how you got into problems with her the first time?"

"Last time was different, I didn't keep my distance as ordered, but this time, however, I've been ordered to keep a close eye on her while continuing to stay away. Apparently Makarov thinks me capable of keeping Lucy safe by moving Lucy's care from the Tunder God Tribe over to me," I look over at Evergreen, member of the very group I'm talking about, and she catches my eye before looking the other way as if no contact had been made, "But I know very well that it's all just a giant load of crap and that every move I make is being watched twenty-four-seven," I sigh and lie down on the prickly grass while tucking my arms behind my head as I stare up at the vast blue sky.

"And you don't mind?"Gajeel asks, his piercing red eyes watching me intently.

I shake my head while keeping my attention on a drifting cloud, "No, I'm actually thankful for the surveillance. It's because of them that I haven't gone running to her side and just kidnapping her on the spot," They all chuckle, but it's not heartfelt, even when it's the truth.

What I wouldn't give to have her in my arms this very insant.

Natsu Dragneel, the name rolls around my mind with a familiar ring, but I just can't seem to place where I've heard it before. It's like finding an old childhood photograph that you don't seem to remember ever taking, but have an idea as to when and where it was taken. He's a familiarstranger who, to my utter confusion, seems to hate me even when we have never spoken once before.

My eyes drift to the pyramid of cheerleaders close by and I notice Lisanna at the very top of the group of girls, a bright smile on her face as she cheers out something that I can't really comprehend while pumping her hands in the air. Instead of Lisanna, I picture myself at the top of the pyramid, waving my own hands and cheering out incomprehensible things while trying to show my own school spirit.. Back in Crocus I had actually been a cheerleader at my old high school, but with the various injuries that I have it was impossible for me to go and try out this year. Instead I get to watch from the sidelines and hope that I get a chance my senior to try out, that is, if I don't leave back to Crocus by then.

Sighing, I continue to look about the field when I catch the eye of the Cheerleading coach. Her gaze lingers on me for a minute before she goes on blaring her whistle again demanding the girls to do one last run-through. In that short minute that our eyes met I can't help but feel a strange chill run up my spine as I look away back at the group of boys I had been looking at earlier.

When I notice everyone already heading in, I pack up my things and make my way down the bleachers while trying to balance all my things with my one good arm, which is of course my weakest arm. I descend the steps of the bleachers as carefully as I can when my foot hits something slippery on the second to last step sending me plummeting down. I cry out waiting for a hard impact, but when I feel arms wrap around me I open my eyes to find dark amber ones looking straight back at me with an intensity I've never really known, and even then I can't help but continue to stare captivated. Also, these eyes couldn't have looked more familiar.

I feel my face flush instantly with embarrassment when I notice that it's Natsu along with his friends right behind him. We stay staring at each other for what seems like hours as I open and close my mouth trying to find my voice as he continues to hold me tightly when he grumbles, "Watch where you're stepping next time," before helping me stand up straight and handing me my fallen books and then walks away without another word leaving me speechless and a bit hurt.

Before I can even yell out a simple thank you he's gone, disappearing into the school probably heading towards the locker room to change. I stand there, not knowing what to do, as I watch the rest of the boys walk on by me towards the school without so much as a side glance. It isn't until Lisanna places a tender hand on my shoulder that I snap back to reality feeling a bit uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"Ready to go," she asks and I nod as we both head on over to the building so that she can change back into her uniform, "Hey Lucy, is everything ok?" Lisanna asks looking over at me with a worried expression.

"Yeah, Why?" I ask and she shakes her head a bit before moving her gaze back before us.

"No reason, you just seemed a bit dazed," she answers and after that we're both quiet.

It isn't until we reach the school that I get a strange, somewhat familiar feeling that I'm being watched. I look back out behind me towards the track field but there's no one there other than coach Evergreen and she's busy talking to one of the girls on the cheerleading team. Still feeling a prickling feeling at the back of my neck I scan the field one last time before ducking into the school.

So my computer has a virus... so now I have to re-write my chapters onto my tablet which is a bit hard since it's a bit whack at well, as long as I can update on time I'm fine.

Sout Outs

Thanks to my Fantastic Favorites...

- FallingKeys

- miagirl3

To my Fabulous Followers...

- FallingKeys

- chic4nick

And to my Fantabulous Reviewers...

righgirl555cub - How can he lighten up after what he's going through, and yes he's trying to keep her away.

BeastlyTick59 - If that's a good thing then I shall proceed.

Owl's Song - technically the only person she's supposed to avoid is Natsu, but I appreciate your honesty. Things are twisted and if you read the next chapter your brain will probably go numb.

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 the story.

Until next time my lovelies.