I hadn't heard from Natsu or his gang in several days. Apparently Natsu had broken his nose during the fight and he and his pals had backed off for the time being. I had made up a resume over the last week using some strange device called a computer. It was like Hibiki's archive magic, but anyone could use it. It was actually really really cool! Once I had it typed out I used something called a printer to make a few copies. Sure enough within a few days I was employed.

I walked in for my first day, wearing my uniform (an orange dress that was way too short if you asked my opinion, stockings, and high heeled shoes), and walked to the back of the small café. My boss Mr. Yajima (who was just as kind as the one in Magnolia, and a friend of headmaster Makarov. My grandpa) was at a meeting today, so my manager would be showing me the ropes. Lauren caught my attention as she took orders in the same outfit that I did, getting some vulgar comments thrown her way due to the.. er... revealing. nature of the outfit. It was odd, she seemed more quiet than usual, her smile forced. I was still in wonder at how much she looked like my hallucination... but I dismissed the thought as she walked over to me, not making eye contact as her long pigtails bounced down to her waist.

"The manager's in the back." She said quietly, pointing to a swinging door that led to the kitchen. I frowned at her expression, but discovered the cause soon enough. When I walked through the door, a familiar redhead was making up the strawberry cakes for the shop. I froze.

"Erza..." I whispered. Never in my life did I ever imagine that I would be afraid of the knight. I mean, Everyone was afraid of Erza but... not like this. She turned and glared at me.

"Lucy. So you're the one that Yajima-san hired." She said cooly. I noticed a faint bruise on her jaw where I had punched her.

"Y-Y-Yes ma'am..." I said quietly, looking down as she straightened up and dried off her hands. She walked over to me and I shrunk away slightly. She crossed her arms in front of me, somehow making our ridiculous uniform look intimidating.

"Was your little friend alright? Did he escape unscathed?" She asked, concern evident in her voice. I nodded slowly.

"Frosche is fine. He was scared out of his wits, but he's okay." I said quietly. Erza seemed to relax.

"Good." She turned away from me and returned to placig the strawberries.

"You'll be helping make the coffee and sweets back here with me for today. Then Yajima-san can give you a more specific job when he returns." She said, the gentleness in her voice hardening again. I nodded, checking a cookbook for instructions as I began putting together a recipe for cinnamon buns. 7

Erza and I worked in an awkward silence until eventually a couple of hours later I couldn't take it anymore.

"Erza why do you hate me?" I asked quietly, not looking up as I kneaded dough. "What did I do to you?" I didn't get an immediate response and looked over to her. Her hands clenched the edge of the table.

"It's not what you did to me. It's what you did to Natsu." She said angrily, glaring at the hardwood. I blinked in shock.

"Natsu? What did I do to Natsu?" I asked, genuinely confused. "I thought he was the one that had done horrible things to me..."

"You were asking for it you blonde bitch." She snapped, turning a gaze on me that sent a tingle down my spine. "You know you spread that rumor!"

"Rumor? What rumor?!" I asked nervously. Erza snorted.

"I can't believe that you're pretending not to remember. Did you hear? Natsu Dragneel tried to molest Lucy Heartfilia! It's probably because his dad touched him. I bet that's why his dad doesn't live with him. I bet social services took him away!" Erza glared at me. "That rumor destroyed his life. And we all know who started it."

"But I didn't-"

"Who else could it have been? Whoever it was let out a lot of really private information about him! Information that only one person knew. You. After all of that, you didn't even have the nerve to look him in the eye. You cut him off. Went from a nerd to miss popular. I liked you. Everyone did. But after I saw what you did to Natsu who's like a little brother to me, I couldn't bear to be in the same room as a twisted human being like you. He was so upset that he became violent towards you. He began lashing out. He got a lot stronger. And believe me when I say that you deserve everything that he has planned for you. Every. Last. Thing. Because Natsu the Dragon Dragneel is what you made him. He's a kinds and caring person. You just pushed him too far."

"But he isn't." I said quietly.

"What?! How dare-"

"Natsu would have hurt Frosche without hesitation."

"No he wouldn't have! Natsu would never harm an innocent child!" She defended, clearly getting angry at my accusation.

"Really? Then how many kids have you actually seen him hurt?" I asked.

"You and you alone." She said angrily. I began to think to myself. So... He didn't trust Erza to remain loyal if she knew that he hurt people who did nothing wrong...

"What about Lauren?"

"The shy waitress?" She asked, seeming to be taken by surprise. "What about her?"

"Natsu branded me." The small girl said quietly, entering the room with a tray of dishes.

"Wh-what?!" The redhead gasped as Lauren pulled up her skirt, revealing the blackened skin of her brand, tears springing to her eyes.

"He... He pinned me to the floor. I was screaming. crying... begging...But he didn't listen to me..." Her voice was hardly above a whisper. "They held Lucy back so that she would watch as I suffered... Gajeel handed him that burning pole and I knew what was coming. He said that it was meant for Lucy but Id be taking her punishment instead if I was so tough..." The tears flower freely down her face. "He held it there for a minute. An entire. Minute..." She broke down after that, unable to continue. I ran over and held her up, staring at Erza sadly.

"Is this really why you fight for Natsu?" I asked quietly. Her eyes widened and she shook her head.

"I-I didn't know!"She tugged at her hair, seeming extremely conflicted. Then her expression darkened. "Natsu has some explaining to do. Now the both of you get back to work!"

"Yes ma'am!" We squeaked nervously, rushing out of the room and leaving Erza pacing alone in the back room.

Okay so short chapter because I was bored. Special shout out to all you guys who I keep getting recurring comments from, I really appreciate it! Diamonszzz123 I thank you for your kind words, but yu flatter me. I'm not that great. and also thanks P3pp3rmintt for the inspiration for this chapter. I encourage you guys to keep leaving reviews and I love you all!

"You getting all sentimental on me? I may cry."

Shut up Gray -.-