Author's Note 6.20.2014: HOLY CRAP. ITS CHAPTER TEN. I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE THIS. I MIGHT POST A LITTLE SIDE STORY LATER. However, I'll be doing lots of things this summer, so I may not be updating on my usual Fridays. Also I just recently finished this chapter, like, yesterday. So I hope you guys understand if I go on hiatus. Anyways, enjoy this really long chapter. I LOVE YOU GUYS LIKE x900000

Author's Note: I actually love Lisanna and I get really upset when she gets bashed on. So I like to portray her as she is: a childhood sweetheart. Friendly NaLi is a good version too. Also wowow Chapter Ten already! I can't believe I've got this far. I'd like to thank you guys for your support. Hopefully you guys enjoy this chapter and chapters to come!

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and all it's characters belong to Hiro Mashima.

Chapter Ten

There she was, in a strapless white dress that barely met her knees and her blonde hair swirled with the wind. She was walking along the break waves on the beach shore. On the other side he sat on the sand. He was watching her and admiring her beauty. Her grace.

There were things he wanted to know about her. He wish he could hear her voice, but that's very much impossible. He wanted to know if her hair smelt of strawberries or if she knew how to swim. These were just little facts he wished he knew. But why? It was because he wanted to be the one to know her the most.

Smiling, he got of his seat on the sand and walked over to the lovely gal. He heard her small squeak when he wrapped his muscular arms around her shoulders. Then she turned to face him. Her brown eyes were sparkling and she was grinning ear to ear. In that moment, they kissed.

Wendy bolted up from bed, when she heard a crash coming from down the hall. She ran to her brother's room and found him on a heap on the floor.

"Natsu! Are you ok? It's four in the morning! What are you doing?" She took a step towards him, when he waved his hand around.

"I'm fine, go back to sleep..." He mumbled in return as he picked him self off the floor and onto the bed. He tried to go back to sleep after Wendy went back to her room. However, he was haunted by a dream of the beach and Lucy. That's when he realized something.

DO I LIKE LUCY?

The next day, Natsu showed up with crutches. He had gotten a check up on the same day he had messed up his ankle. Turns out he had sprained his ankle badly and needed crutches. He had also been unable to sleep peacefully after that one dream. He swore he had dreamt at least three different dreams about Lucy.

"Natsu, those crutches aren't the only baggage you have, there's bags under your eyes." Erza had commented. He grunted in reply. The pinkette had been struggling to stay focused through his first five periods, but no avail. Memories of soft waves falling and her blonde hair flowing were imprinted into his mind.

"Dude, what's with your face?" Gray asked.

"What about my face, ice-for-brains?" Natsu retorted.

"Nothing, other than the fact you were just smiling for no damn reason."

"Shut up, you two. I'm pretty sure he's got something on his mind." Lisanna had intervened. "I'm also sure I've got the subject down."

The rest of the group had their ears perked up, ready for Lisanna to announce. However, Natsu was somewhat backed out of the group in a slight sulking manner.

"Pinky here, has a crush." She said in a hushed voice. The whole group burst into laughter. Gajeel and Gray were chuckling out loud, while Erza and Cana were giggling to themselves. It was quite shocking for them to process that Natsu had actually thought about someone in a romantic manner. Being a very happy-go-lucky guy, you couldn't really tell if he was just being friendly or was interested in that person.

"That's golden!" Gray teased.

"Betcha it's Bunny Girl." Gajeel said and the girls nodded in agreement.

"Erza! Not you too!" Natsu whined as his cheeks turned a slight pink tint. Lisanna walked over to him and gave his face a good pinching.

"Aw look him! He's blushing~" She cooed.

"Argh! DAMN YOU GUYS. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT. BEING ALL FUNNY ABOUT THIS. WE ALL KNOW THAT GAJEEL AND LEVY ARE PROBABLY DATING BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GOING ON STUDY DATES." Natsu was yelling and frantically pointing at Gajeel, who was trying to defend himself from the accusations.

"OI OI SHE'S MY TUTOR!"

"ALSO WE ALL GOT THE HINT THAT JUVIA LIKES YOU GRAY. EXCEPT YOU'RE TOO DAMN DENSE OR MAYBE YOU JUST DONT HAVE THE BALLS TO GIVE AN ANSWER."

"Fuck you, man." Gray weakly replied.

"AND ERZA, IS JELLAL YOUR BOYFRIEND OR WHAT? I MEAN YOU GUYS GO ON DATES AND DO THAT COUPLE STUFF. WHAT THE HELL GUYS."

Cue the awkward silence.

Somewhere on the otherside of campus, a group of three girls gathered behind the math building. They sat under a near by tree and talked about everything they possibly thought about.

"It feels like forever since we last hung out like this." Levy sighed.

We've been really busy this past month. Lucy typed. Levy certainly is busy.

"Don't you dare, Lu..."

"Well you have been hanging out with Gajeel lately~," Juvia inquired.

"First of all, they assigned me as his tutor. Second of all, he keeps bothering me during student council meetings-"

"He's in student council?"

"No! He bursts in and just sits there, but he does help out with errands Vice Prez. Jellal sends me on."

Lucy chuckled at her friends. It had indeed been quite awhile since the trio had hung out as a trio. All of them had been busy since February. Levy was piled up on student council stuff, as well as her childhood friends visiting so often. Juvia on the other hand, was trying to juggle her two jobs to support her and her sick mom. With those two busy all the time, Lucy was left to the company of Natsu. However, she didn't mind his company. She liked him around.

Speaking of Natsu, she hasn't gotten any updates from him nor did she run into him today. It's only been around a month and it almost feels like she formed a new best friend. The world is crazy like that. It throws you things in the most unpredictable ways and you end up hating for some sort of period of time. Then all of a sudden, it's one of the most important things to you.

Same goes for Levy and Juvia. Lucy holds a very dear place for them in her heart. Four years together was the best four years Lucy had lived. Looking back at all these memories, she began to tear up. It made her happy and sad as well.

"Lucy, are you ok?" Juvia asked. Juvia and Levy were looking at Lucy, worry etched on their features. In response, she wiped away the small tears that began to form.

I'm fine. I just was just thinking.

"About?"

How much I love you guys.

The two bluenettes looked at each other then simultaneously pounced on the Heartfilia.

"Aw, Lu!"

"We love you too!"

When Lucy went to watch Juvia's swimming competition after helping the committee, she saw a very unexpected sight. In his sprained ankle glory, stood Natsu Dragneel picking a fight with Sting Eucliffe. In the middle of it was Lisanna, who was awkwardly trying to get them to not cause a scene.

"For the love of everything good and holy, go away! Your tournament was over yesterday!" Natsu barked at Sting.

"Oi oi, I have friends! And I came to watch their event! But what about you, you can't even play! Why are you here?" An equally pissed Sting barked back.

"Guys..." Lisanna sighed. Feeling bad for Lisanna, Lucy jogged over to try and stop the two.

"Lucy!" Lisanna yelled over to Lucy. Both boys tried to regain their composure upon the call to Lucy. However, said blonde wasn't having any of it. She whipped out her phone and began typing.

"Hey, Lucy!"

"Sup, Luce."

Good God, you guys. What could you be possibly be arguing about! Natsu, I don't think picking a fight with someone is something smart to do. Considering they could use that to your disadvantage. As for you Eucliffe, why provoke the disabled? Also you guys are giving Lisanna grief.

After reading the message, Lisanna let out a sigh she had been holding back, while the two other guys shifted uncomfortably.

C'mon Lisanna. We should go cheer for Juvia.

Before Lucy could take Lisanna by the arm to head to the Aquatic Center, Lisanna interrupted.

"Actually Natsu and I were about to go, but Sting here wanted to ask you something."

Lucy looked at Natsu, who's eyes were glued to the floor, then to Sting.

"I just wanted to ask you if you would like to grab something to eat or go to the mall with me sometime." He asked sheepishly. Lucy gave him an astonished look and began to type.

Like a date? He nodded. Natsu and Lisanna only watched, both internally horrified. Lucy was a bit pink by now, but managed a reply.

Uh Sting. I don't know what to say. You just sorta met me and I don't quite feel a click.

The two watched as Lucy rocked on the balls of her feet, fumbling with her phone. However, Sting's face seemed to dim as he read the screen, but quickly perked up again.

"It's cool. Worth a shot asking, heh. Friends then?" He held out his hand. She smiled and shook his hand. As for Lisanna and Natsu, they let out a breath and silently bro-fisted. Suddenly, a decidedly feminine voice called out. More specifically to Eucliffe.

"Sting-sama, hurry! Rogue-sama is going to soon!" From around the corner, stood a girl with a white bob and honey colored eyes. She wore a blue jacket over her yellow swimsuit with the Sabertooth mark on it as well as a name, "Aguria". In turn, Sting scratched the back of his neck and called back out.

"Wait for me Yukino! I'll be there!" Lucy turned to him and motioned for him to catch up with his lady friend. He smiled and waved goodbye.

After that little run in, the two girls and the cripple headed to the bleacher area of the Aquatic Center. To their surprise, they spotted a familiar redhead beside a forever scowling Fullbuster. The trio shimmied through the people and plopped beside their two friends. While Lucy did nothing but wave at the two, Lisanna and Natsu gave each other questioning looks.

"Gray? What are you doing here?" Lisanna asked.

"Erza wanted to cheer Juvia on and made me go." Gray grunted. Erza suddenly thwacked the back of his head, but said nothing. "Ow!"

"Liar. You wanted to go see Juvia." Natsu commented. His scowl deepened, but the light tint of pink on his face gave it all away.

I'm assuming you're the guy Juvia likes. Lucy showed the screen.

"Ah-ha! I totally knew it!" Natsu bounced in his seat. Gray, on the other hand, pulled the most serious face he could muster as he tried to deny it.

"Well, just because Juvia likes me, doesn't mean I like her back."

Another of the gang appeared the moment Gray had announced his indirect rejection. Gajeel sat on the end of the bleachers with Levy, late from tutoring. Levy was giving looks at Lucy, telling her not to say a word. Lucy, in turn, just rolled her eyes playfully.

"By the looks of it, Boxers-no-Briefs, you red face just screams 'I'm in love with Juvia Lockser'." Gajeel stated, all matter-of-fact-ly, while Gray sulked.

"Why'd you come, Gajeel?" Erza asked politely.

"I am a honorary cousin to the Lockers. Sworn in since third grade." He said.

Oh so you're the honorary cousin she talks about.

As a new batch of swimmers (Juvia being one) were positioning at theit designated blocks, Levy began to speak.

"Guys, don't mean to be rude, but can we stop talking about Gray's not existent love life-"

"Hey!" Gray interjected.

"-But Juvia's on."

Everyone in the gang automatically shut up. All eyes in the area were on their favouring teams. Gray's eyes were dead set on Juvia's block. Block 11. The speaker spoke.

"Swimmers, on your mark."

The gang watched as each swimmer positioned themselves to dive.

"Go."

Each swimmer dived into the water, some more graceful than others. All were swimming in freestyle form across the 20 meter pool.

Rogue Cheeny of Sabertooth was in first and Juvia not so far behind. Chelia Blendy of Lamia Scale took third with Kagura Mikazuchi lining in for fourth. As they were finishing up the last lap, Juvia gradually sped up and passed Rogue.

"And once more, the winner goes to the Fairies!"

Juvia got out of the pool, bright smile across her face. It's her first time she won the last race. She would always be put in a middle race in her earlier years, but she finally made it. The entire group had approached her and gave her light pats on the back instead of a hug, so they wouldn't wet their selves. Lucy and Levy straight up ran and hugged the captain, who's smile radiated even more. However, the unexpected happened. It wasn't a bad sort of surprise, but a giddy kind.

The icy soul, Gray, pulled off his jacket and onto Juvia. After, he took her hand into his then told her.

"Congrats, you did well." The Fullbuster left his hand in the swim captain's.

While Lucy and Levy were internally chanting the mantra of hoping for Gray to just kiss their friend, Natsu was looking at Lucy. She was so pretty. Her smile made him so giddy inside. In his mind, he had come to a resolve.

I'm falling for her.

Friendship At Its Finest

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