Disclaimer: Fairy Tail does not and sadly will never belong to me but this plot does! I'll sue you if you attempt to steal it haha ^w^ *LOL*
(A/N: AND – D2L is back with yet another chapter! The flashback sequence is in about 14 snippets actually – enjoy! Remember the mission! #D2Lto150!)
Previously on D2L:
"Tell me Luce… It'll get the load off of you… Release it all tonight. You're entering a new age now. It's time to leave your past behind you. Tell me…what happened all those years ago. You have to share it with someone if you want to get over it." He encouraged her. She looked at him with grateful eyes. He really was the best thing that ever happened to her, she thought.
He was right of course and she knew it. Maybe tonight really was the night… the night to throw away the remnants of her past. The night she can FINALLY let it all go…and maybe, the night she gets a new beginning.
Continue:
xXx Scene 1 xXx
"Lucy, how're you doing in your new school?" Jude Heartfilia asked his daughter in an excessively formal tone. The teenager looked up at her dad who was facing his back at her, she rolled her eyes… It was always like this. He would always be like this.
"Just like the others" She replied, her gaze kept low. He turned to her with a reprimanding expression but for some reason, refrained from scolding her.
"Okay then. You may leave" He told her. She sighed exasperatedly once she got out of the suffocating atmosphere of the study. Her life has always been like this. Every now and then she'd have to change her school as per her father's convenience. This time she was going to a school called Sabertooth High School, known for being a very prestigious school – basically where all the spoilt brats go… she thought, remembering that she was 'supposed' to be one too.
xXx Scene 2 xXx
It had been two weeks since Lucy began studying at Sabertooth High and by now she was pretty much familiar with the school and the people… She had also managed to make a few friends but the closest one was a cute, bob-haired girl called Yukino.
"Lucy-san, Sting-kun seems interested in you..." Yukino said as they walked through the corridor. Lucy looked at her with a 'you-must-be-kidding' expression.
"I'm sure he isn't interested in me to that extent…I mean, there are so many other girls, much better than I here." Lucy explained, "Guy's like him are never serious"
"Lucy-san, you always think so little of yourself. You're a real babe! A lot of guys here are interested in you, isn't that proof enough?" Yukino urged.
"Yeah sure…" Lucy laughed sarcastically. 'That must be why the first person I confessed to, literally humiliated me and laughed at me in the face' she harrumphed at the thought. She was waiting for the real deal this time. She didn't want just any ordinary crush. She wanted the real deal nothing less.
xXx Scene 3 xXx
"Hey Heartfilia…" Sting greeted as he walked over to the blonde, who was arranging her locker.
"How may I help you, Mr. Eucliffe?" She asked in mocking formality. He grinned at her.
"Always the playful one"
"If you say so" she shrugged. Sting and Lucy had managed to become 'acquaintances' of sorts and possibly soon enough they could become friends too?
"So are you just gonna stand there or help me a bit?" She asked, raising a brow and he laughed a bit before carrying some of her heavy books.
XXx Scene 4 xXx
"Detention?" Sting asked with a raised eyebrow, smirking slightly as he watched the blonde who was cleaning the school's large pool.
"No sir, I just got employed here recently." She replied in clear sarcasm…
"Always the feisty one, Heartfilia" He laughed as he splashed some water onto her, making her scowl as she returned the favor. Soon the scowl turned into giggles and ultimately, care-free laughter.
xXx Scene 5 xXx
"Um, Sting, where are we?" Lucy asked the male blonde, looking around her with nervousness. Sting had forcefully brought her up there, BLINDFOLDED! And now that she had opened her eyes, she was in utter shock to find herself on a probably 15-storey building's terrace with seriously low railings. Falling off this building was so damn easy! What was he trying to do? Kill her?! Her thoughts began to go wild.
"Calm down Heartfilia" He laughed as he patted her back and she took a breath, trying to keep her cool.
"So what are we doing here?" She asked.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you something…but I didn't know how. I wanted to do it in a way you'd remember and hopefully in a way you won't be able to reject" He said with a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. Lucy felt as though her heart stopped for millisecond but it felt way longer than that surely.
They'd become really close friends over the past two months she had spent at Saber and he was a really nice guy. She knew that much… He was cute too. She knew what he was going to say for quite some time and she had been expecting it but so soon?! She was waiting for the real deal, that's why she never really reacted to his advances but would she get the real deal just like that without even trying?
"Um, I don't know how to do this… You're just so different from all the other girls before you…" He tried to explain himself and then he took breath, "What I'm saying, Lucy, is that – I really like you and I want you to be my girlfriend" And just as he finished saying that, fireworks sored into the sky in shape of a heart and Lucy felt her eyes go teary. Was this all for her?
"So…will you go out with me?" He asked expectantly and she giggled a bit.
"Should you even ask that after all this?" She smiled and hugged him. Maybe this was the first step she needed to take. Maybe she could find the real deal in Sting?
"I'll take that as a yes then" he said, hugging her back.
xXx Scene 6 xXx
"So…you're going to take me shopping?" Sting asked the blonde with a raised eyebrow and Lucy's lips quirked into a smile.
"Well, Mr. Eucliffe, you DID say you wanted me to be your girlfriend right?" She responded, mimicking his expression.
"Yes, that I said and that you are… so how's that relevant?"
"Well of course it's relevant! A boyfriend is only a good one if he can withstand going shopping with his girlfriend. Let's just say, today is your test" She winked at him playfully and he found himself laughing too.
"Alright Heartfilia, if that's the way you want it. It's just shopping anyway, how hard can it be?" He shrugged it off and Lucy smirked evilly at his response.
xXx Scene 7 xXx
"Can we…NEVER do that again?" Sting pleaded and Lucy looked at him with a scowl.
"So you're basically saying you failed" She harrumphed, crossing her arms.
"Aw, c'mon Lucy" He said trying to pacify her but she refused. He pulled her close to him using her elbow so that they were inches away. Lucy blushed a bit and then she smiled.
"Okay, okay. I can't judge you just through shopping can I?" She laughed, he joined in too.
"Damn right you can't." He grinned, "so what say we do something FUN"
"Like what?" she asked.
"Let's go to that gaming arcade. I'm feeling lucky…this time I swear I'll win it"
"You said that the last time too! But we didn't even win a toffee, let alone a plush!"
"Aw c'mon! This time I'm sure"
"Yeah…sure…" Lucy replied sarcastically.
"Are you rolling your eyes at me, Heartfilia?" Sting asked with a raised eyebrow, amusement filling his eyes.
"Damn right I am Mr. Eucliffe" Lucy smirked as she said.
xXx Scene 8 xXx
"Just a little more…just a little more…" Sting murmured desperately as he carefully moved the joy stick of the toy vending machine. Lucy looked at him smirking as the plush eventually fell and all they got was – NOTHING.
"Come on! You can get at least one for the girl you love right?" Lucy laughed as Sting did his best to try and pull out the white bunny plush that Lucy had wanted.
"Lucy this is really not working." Sting said to her.
"Giving up already?" Lucy smirked and he scowled.
"Must you ALWAYS push my pride?" He asked in a joking manner and Lucy laughed as she punched his shoulder playfully.
They spent the entire day doing just that but unfortunately, no luck.
"Ugh…we ended up getting nothing again…" Sting said sulking slightly as they walked out of the arcade. Lucy smiled at his comment.
"I told you so." She laughed and he scowled, "Oh come on… It's not getting the plush that matters. I'm just happy that you tried so hard!" She encouraged him and his scowl slowly turned into a smile and they both abruptly stopped. Lucy suddenly felt the heat surge up as Sting got closer and closer… Her heart began to thump and just as their lips were about to touch, Lucy quickly pulled her sling bag in between, preventing the kiss.
XXx Scene 9 xXx
"Wow…Sting, this is beautiful" Lucy said gasping as she took in the view of the scenery around her. It was like the perfect landscape!
"It's probably the only place so serene and beautiful in the entire of Fiore… Aren't we proud it's in our city of Hargeon" He laughed and she joined too…soon they were looking into each other's eyes and it all began again… closer and closer… but before anything could happen, Lucy quickly stood up.
"I-I'm not ready for this yet Sting…" She quickly said and he stood up too abruptly and turned his back at her, "I-I'll… see you later Lucy" he said and raising a hand in form of goodbye he walked away. Lucy watched his retreating figure… he was disappointed, she thought. She continued to watch him leave and contemplated stopping but refrained from doing so. She really wasn't ready, she thought. She wanted her first kiss to be special and at a time when she didn't have to ask herself whether she wanted it or not – It just come in a way she can't deny it. Until then, she'd just have to wait…
xXx Scene 10 xXx
"Lucy-san, do you want to go to that nearby café with the rest of us?" Yukino asked as they both took out their jackets from their lockers.
"Um…no, not today. I'll wait till Sting finishes football practice" Lucy replied, a bit lost. Sting hadn't really spoken much to her since that day. Any time she had suggested going somewhere, he had given some excuse. She was beginning to think she had really disappointed him. But the problem was, she had finally accepted that she really liked him and she wanted to be with him now.
"As you wish Lucy-san… but you know, I'm beginning to think Sting-kun is just playing you around…" Yukino said in a warning manner. 'Just playing?' Lucy thought. Was it possible? No… she thought. He was probably just mad about that time. She just had to talk to him and everything would be okay, right? Sting wasn't the type to play with feelings right?
"No Yukino. I trust him." She said.
"Lucy-san… I'm telling you. He's not the person you think he is. I didn't know him very well before but I've heard all the rumors… To him, you're just another conquest" Yukino urged, trying to convince Lucy.
"That's enough Yukino-chan. Just because your relationship with Rogue-san isn't working out doesn't mean you should try to get into my head and mess up mine." Lucy replied sternly. Yukino's eyes widened a bit.
"…if that's how you want it Lucy-san." Yukino said slowly as she slammed her locker shut and walked away. Lucy remembered, Yukino hadn't spoken to her for a long time since that day. Lucy felt a bit of regret but she didn't think to apologize.
'It was her fault' she thought, 'she shouldn't have said all that about Sting. There's no way he'd do that to me. He's stuck with me for months now. If I were just a conquest then wouldn't he have left me a long time ago? He's not that type of guy… I'll fix things with him soon. We've spent so many good times together!'
xXx Scene 11 xXx
"S-sting…what's going on?" Lucy asked, wide-eyed, taking a step backward, legs shaking. She felt her heart clench at the memory of what she had witnessed minutes ago. Sting was kissing another girl… an unknown brunette.
"What is it Heartfilia?" Sting asked with a raised eyebrow and a scowl, "Can't you see I'm a bit occupied here?"
"Occupied?! B-but w-we…" Lucy began.
"Sting-kun, who's this girl?" The brunette asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"Oh, don't mind her. She's just a lunatic. She's been after me for months now… she needs help" He simply replied.
His words echoed again and again in her head.
"Sweetheart, why don't you carry on… I'll just take care of this one and be back, I promise" He said, giving her a peck on the cheek. The brunette did as she was told and walked away.
"I-is this what you've…what you've been doing all these days?" Lucy asked, tears filling up her orbs, her voice cracking…
"Yes, Heartfilia. You didn't really think I was genuinely interested in you did you? I'm Sting – Sting Eucliffe. Every girl's out there to get me. You were just one more girl to conquer, thought unfortunately I couldn't conquer you. You wouldn't even let me kiss you." He said with an expression of indifference.
"Y-you…then…everything you ever said…was a lie?" She asked.
"Exactly. It was all a lie. So please, stop following me around now. I have no need for you." He simply said, walking away. She watched his retreating back…just like she did that night. But unlike last night, this time she called out.
"Wait! Sting! I-is this about that day?" She asked, tears flowing mercilessly.
"Look ok, I never liked you in the first place Lucy Heartfilia. You're nothing to me." He said in a tone that said, 'no-further-discussion'.
"I-I even fought with Yukino-chan for you… I-I always trusted you no matter what I got to hear from the others…I…I love you" She began to mumble as she fell to her knees, her hands on her head.
"That's exactly why you're so vulnerable. You're too naïve Heartfilia. All guys are the same, remember my words – they're all out there to get girls just like you, naïve and stupid. This is all a girl like you will ever get." He said finally and once and for all, he walked away from her, away from her life…
'All guys are the same' the words echoed in her head repeatedly.
'the same'
'the same'
'they're all out there to get girls just like you'
'just like you'
'just like you'
The words repeated again and again, fading away and returning again. Lucy covered her ears in frustration, crying a river of tears.
"No" She began to say, her eyes wide, "NO!"
'This is all a girl like you will ever get' the last thing she heard that night, before finally, right there, she felt herself lose consciousness.
XXx Scene 12 xXx
"Lucy-san! Lucy-san!" A voice sounded. It sounded so…far away. Lucy squinted her eyes slowly as she tried to flap them open and the image of her surroundings began coming into view…
"Lucy-san! You're awake!" A teary-eyed Yukino exclaimed as she hugged Lucy, "What happened?! I-I just found you collapsed like that! Do you know how worried I was?! I didn't know what to do! I didn't want to take you back home though because I knew your dad wouldn't care and would just give you a hard time…Are you okay now?" She began talking in full-speed. Lucy just remained silent, her eyes downward and filled with anguish.
"I-I'm sorry…Yukino-chan…You were right… I was wrong to think that any guy could actually care for me." Lucy said.
"Lucy-san…" Yukino said in a sad tone, "Sting-kun…he...?" She didn't complete the statement but of course it was understood. Lucy just nodded.
"He gave me what I deserved." Lucy simply said.
"N-no Lucy-san! You're such a great person… don't even think of it for a minute! Sting-kun was just the wrong person that's all! I'm sure you'll find someone soon! Please, don't think that way…" Yukino tried to convince her but it was too late… it was that day, that the feisty, fun, cheerful, talkative Lucy had been lost to nothing more than another painful heartbreak and this time, she thought, she would never be able to mend it because this time, she had truly thought she liked him and that he liked her back.
"It's fine Yukino. It just took me a while to realize it – this IS all girls like me or me to be more specific, are going to ever get." Yukino knew at that moment that the Lucy she loved so much was no longer there and it would take a lot to get her back…
xXx Scene 13 xXx
"You called for me father?" Lucy asked politely.
"Yes. I heard what happened between you and whoever that boy was" Jude said, "from that, I am sure you've learnt your lesson?"
"Yes father." She replied, emotionlessly.
"And you now have no arguments to put forward about shifting to Magnolia?" He asked.
"No, father." She replied. Her father had been telling her for a while that she would have to shift to another city but she had refused countless times because she didn't want to go anywhere where Sting wasn't… but now, she was ready to go anywhere as long as he wasn't there.
"Good then. You'll depart tomorrow, by train. The school is on a two-week holiday at the moment…you'll resume when that holiday is over." He explained, "Fairy High, I think it is called. Have your things packed and…don't be late for dinner" He said finally in a commanding manner.
"Yes father" she said again. That was all she ever got to say in front of him or rather needed to say. Another day…another shift…another school.
'Goodbye Hargeon…Goodbye Sabertooth…' she thought.
xXx Scene 14 xXx
"Lucy-san…I heard, you agreed for the move?" Yukino asked sadly as she sat on Lucy's grand overly large bed. Well, considering she IS the daughter of a filthy rich family…
"Yes Yukino-chan" Was all she said as she packed in lots of stuff into her suitcase.
"You won't be taking this?" Yukino asked staring at the long, red gown in the closet, "You had bought it specially for prom hadn't you…? You never know you might need it in your other school…" Yukino suggested and Lucy remained silent.
Prom…she was supposed to attend the prom with 'him' as she now referred to Sting… He had bought that dress with her…'his' favorite color. She wanted nothing to do with it… she wanted nothing to do with any guy… she wanted nothing to do with proms…just nothing…
"I'll…miss you, Lucy-san" Yukino said at last as she hugged Lucy tight, "I know it's hard but…I hope someday you'll forget all about this… because I know for sure, that he is there somewhere – Lucy-san's prince… And when you find him, you wouldn't have to cry every again."
(Back to present folks!)
Lucy's tears flowed endlessly as she finished telling him, Gray, the events of her past… Gray watched her with soft eyes. Was there anything he could say that would comfort her? A girl with a heart that had been so cruelly crushed…how could he blame her? Lucy felt Gray's hands on her shoulders from behind. He turned her so that she was facing him…and slowly wiped away her tears, his gaze never leaving hers.
'How could anyone avoid you if you keep doing things like this, Gray?' Lucy thought.
"It hurt…didn't it?" He asked in a soft tone and she nodded slowly, keep her gaze on the ground.
"He was wrong, by the way…" Gray said, his hands falling from her shoulders down to grip hers. Lucy's eyes shot up at the statement.
"You're not the type of girl a guy'd want to date…" Gray began and Lucy felt a pang of disappointment, till she heard what came next, "…and then just let go of. You're a keeper Luce. You're not meant for 'just dating', you're the kind of girl a guy'd want treasure for the rest of his life." He winked as he said this and Lucy didn't know about about fifty shades of grey but right then, she turned about a hundred shades of red!
"W-w-what?!" She exclaimed.
"So…you loved him?" Gray finally asked, setting a tense atmosphere. It was, after all, a question that bothered him a lot.
"I thought I did…" Until I met you, she completed in her mind.
"So…you're just not ready for commitments" Gray thought aloud.
"I…I don't know…I...Gray, I…" She began. Why wasn't it coming out! Why was she able to say it already! She had said countless times to herself, why couldn't she say it when it would matter most?!
"It's okay Luce…don't push yourself too hard." He said to her soothingly as he took off his jacket and put it over her shoulders, "Let's go inside, it's getting chilly"
"It's getting late…do you want me to drive you home or…you wanna stay?" He asked, looking at his watch. She looked at him, blushing a bit.
"I'll take that as a stay…" He chuckled, "You can change into any of Ultear's PJs… they're in her room, you know where. I'll just get changed too" He said.
(Special Addition )
Lucy brushed her hair using a brush she had found in Ultear's room. Though it was supposed to be more of a guest room, Ultear had really stocked up supplies here!
'She must be coming here often' Lucy thought. Ultear seemed to have a particular attachment to Gray, more than to Lyon. Lucy thought. But then again, wasn't Lyon always busy or something? Hmm…she better not get into solving the Fullbuster-Milkovich-Bastia family mysteries…
Lucy changed into one of Ultear's black PJs which were the first one's she had seen. They were decorated with patterns of a skull. Lucy walked out of the room to find that Gray had already changed into his a long time ago. In his hands was none other than the plush he had won her not too long ago.
"So…what you gonna name it?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he held it away from himself, undoubtedly finding it as strange as ever. Or was it that he hated the fact that he was ever compared to it?
"Plue" Lucy said, smiling.
"Weird creature weird name policy?" Gray smirked and Lucy threw one of the sofa cushions at him which he easily blocked, chuckling. She harrumphed and began stomping off when she felt herself get pulled back…She felt her back against Gray in an instant. She could feel the heat on her cheeks already… His hands were holding both her wrists, strongly but softly… She noticed, she was just about his shoulder's height. He was just the right height for her, she thought, her blush aggravating. But most of all, the most distracting thing was…his scent… the Gray feeling, he thought.
She felt a tickle in her ear, Gray was leaning in close to her and his deep voice sounded in her ears, soft and swift in a whisper, "You know…I like girls dressed in black" Lucy gasped softly…In just that moment, Lucy's heart was in her mouth! Her pulse rate unimaginable!
Gray slowly backed away, leaving the blonde in a bit of a shock.
"Seems like someone's having a Kodak moment" He teased, snapping Lucy back to Earth-land.
"So…what do you feel like doing?" He asked, lounging comfortably on his sofa, "It's just 10pm"
"You're not afraid of Erza I take it." Lucy laughed as she took a seat beside him and Gray didn't fail to notice how she closed in the distance between them in a moment.
"I wouldn't put it as 'afraid'. We've been together too long for me to be 'afraid' of her. But yeah, when she's mad, it's best to just play it her way." He said, in a laid back manner.
"You two are really close huh…?" Lucy said, casually, well at least she was trying to be casual about it.
"Yeah…we are. Not just the two of us –"
"You and Cana too; you and Mira too" Lucy complete for him. Gray at first was at a loss for words but settled in with a smirk.
"Not exactly what I wanted to say but…I guess even that works." He replied.
"How is it that you're close mainly to GIRLS?" Lucy asked, suddenly glaring at him.
'Sheesh…' he thought. Where had the laid back and supposedly casual atmosphere disappeared to?
"You're not…jealous are you?" He raised an eyebrow, smirking again. Lucy's face turned upside down and her rage was covered up with her enormous blush.
"N-no I'm NOT" She quickly denied.
"You know what they say about the quickest denials…" Gray teased and Lucy slammed a cushion on his head.
"Hey! That's my cushion!" Gray joked.
"And what of it?" Lucy challenged.
"You really don't wanna go there do you?" Gray raised an eyebrow.
"Being all dangerous are we?" Lucy raised an eyebrow back at him and the next thing they knew…they were already caught up in a pillow fight…
(A/N: CUT! Ok so chapter 18's gonna stop right there folks :D Now tell me…was it good enough? Because while writing it I realized I had actually never come up with a story for Sting and Lucy…silly me right? So I just wrote whatever came to my mind at that very moment. It could have been better…I know… but well, I guess this is how it was meant to turn out!
Ok, now I need to apologize… Gomen-nasai! Wendy's revelation has been postponed This is only so that I can fit it in a better place in the story… Hope you guys understand.
Thanks to all my readers who were enthusiastic about getting D2L to the 150 reviews mark ^.^! But we still have a long way to go… We're lagging behind at 80 reviews right now so let's get at least 20 reviews for this chapter? Ok that's too greedy I guess so let's just get as much as we can then! #D2Lto150!
DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A REVIEW ABOUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS CHAPTER! )
NEXT CHAPTER: Passed with flying colors! (Follow Lucy and Gray in yet another emotion-filled, heart-racing, romantic chapter of D2L and find out what happens next! Now that Gray is aware of Lucy's feelings and her past, and Lucy is aware that Gray feels the same, will they now become a couple? But with Lucy's uncertainty, will she finally be able to move on? Find out in the next chapter!)
UNTIL NEXT WEEK, (29th April to be more precise…)
JA'NE~!