Lucy packed for her first day back to school. She didn't pack much, just a notebook, a binder full of folder paper, and fine-tipped pens; first days usually meant syllabus and rule talking. She also brought a book with her to read, hopefully inspiring her to write more into her story.

Mirajane comes into her room with a mini-packed lunch just for her. "I made you a sandwich just in case you decided not to get lunch at the cafeteria," she smiled. "You can get a drink from the vending machines."

"Thanks Mira," Lucy happily accepted the lunch. She didn't like associating herself with other students in school, especially the cafeteria.

"Natsu's outside waiting for you. I told him I was going to drop you off but he said that's too much of a drag so I couldn't deny the favor."

Pushing Lucy's thoughts about the letter she had for Natsu a week ago, Lucy said her goodbyes to the Strauss before walking out of the house. Natsu was inside of his car, drinking coffee on one hand and a donut on another. Lucy walked in, sat on the passenger seat, and greeted him good morning.

"Morning!" He handed her a box of donuts. He must have eaten three; the marks of the donuts were clearly there on the empty spaces. "I got us donuts and coffee."

"These aren't just donuts. How'd you know I love Boston Cream?" Lucy raised her brow.

"How do I not?" Natsu blinked, putting the coffee on the cupboard and turning the engine on. "You always ordered it whenever we went to the café with Lisanna."

"Oh... Yeah..."

"Sorry," He frowned, driving and looking straight ahead. "Didn't mean to bring her up. You must miss her a lot."

That's not it. And why are you sorry?

She nodded and hesitantly replied instead, "You have no idea."

There were too many people. Summer felt like years instead of months and Lucy had forgotten what it was like to be in school again. Groups and cliques, individuality, rumors... It's just something she didn't look forward to in high school. Good thing it was her senior year, after this she was going to be free from everyone. Free from familiar faces. Free to be herself. Maybe she can even go to Edolas and follow Lisanna. That seemed like a good idea. But she didn't make any big decisions yet; that has still yet to come.

"So, are you gonna be okay if I leave you?" Natsu placed a hand on her shoulder. "My friends are waiting for me in art class."

"I'll be fine. And thanks for the ride this morning," Lucy smiled, putting the combination on her locker.

"No prob. I'll drop you home afterschool too! Let's go get some yogurt first."

"But I want boba!"

"Fine, boba it is." The two of them turned at the crowd forming a little further down the hall, near to where the entrance was.

Gray was walking by himself with hands in his pockets. He was ignoring everyone, pretending not to hear any questions thrown at him and the girls murmuring compliments. One of the girls looked like she was about to faint just by him passing her. Lucy rolled her eyes.

Natsu watched in disbelief. "I can't believe you had a crush on him," he said with a disgusted face.

"I can't believe he was your best friend," Lucy retaliated with a slap on his chest.

"Don't give me sass, Luce." Natsu teased. "You were with us, remember? You, me, Gray, and Erza."

"Yeah but then Juvia came along, Erza became class president, and you had Lisanna."

"You make yourself sound like a loner..."

"Well I'm not. I like being on my own."

The bell rang.

Natsu sprang up to his feet. "Shit! I'm late. I'll see you later after school okay? I'll wait in my car!"

Lucy closes her locker with her first class textbooks on her hand. "Okay!"

Just as Lucy heads to her first period, Gray bumps unto her and she drops her textbooks. Lucy was about to cuss over how much of an asshole he was for not noticing her but he reaches down for her textbooks and returned it to her.

"Sorry, Luce." Gray smiles charmingly. "Didn't mean to hit you."

"It's fine," Lucy huffs. "And it's Lucy."

He looked up, contemplating. "No, no. I'm pretty sure I used to call you Luce."

"There's a hint to that, it's used to. Which implicates that you shouldn't call me by that nickname anymore."

Lucy bit her lip after she realized that Gray looked genuinely hurt.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asks softly. "Because the last time I remembered, you were the one who stopped talking to me."

Cana comes to save the morning by grabbing Lucy's bag and dragging her to class. "Were you just talking to Gray Fullbuster?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah? Is something wrong with that?"

"Not at all." Then Cana adds, "Did you know Juvia broke it off?"

"That's what I heard."

Cana cheekily lifts her chest. "But I'm shocked he talked to you. He doesn't usually talk to anybody unless it's his group... or hot girls or Juvia!"

"Geez, sorry I'm not hot enough for him," Lucy rolled her eyes and sarcastically continues, "and I'm sorry I'm not Juvia."

"But you're a natural beauty, Lucy." Cana nudges. "Your parents must've made you with so much love cause look, your boobs are real and you don't need makeup."

"Stop it, that's harassment! And Gray and I used to be in a group. We were kids back then though."

"Oh yeah. Was he a player before?"

"He wasn't a player back then and I don't think he's a player now."

"He's handsome and popular; you don't know what he can and cannot do." Cana warns. "He could be interested since you have the goods."

"If you're talking about my boobs again, I'm not helping you study Cana."

"I'm just saying be careful," Cana smiles with satisfaction before she finds her seat. "He could steal your heart."

Lucy scoffed. "As if... Juvia broke it off so he's probably still trying to get over her."

"Isn't that weird?" Cana jumps all of a sudden. "Juvia was the one that used to follow him around back in middle school and now she's the one who leaves. Who does that?"

The two of them received shushes from the rest of the students in the classroom. Lucy sweatdropped and put her bag on top of her table. "Stop talking. Class is about to start any second."

Cana opened her mouth but when the teacher entered the classroom, Lucy opened her book and it was a sign that their conversation was over and out.

Natsu was waiting inside his car like he said that morning. Lucy smiled and tapped on the window for him to unlock the door. Inside, they talked about their plans for the afternoon and shared some laughs before finalizing their boba place. When they walked inside the teahouse, they exchanged relieved expressions when they didn't recognize any faces from school and took the seat closest to the windows and the exit.

"What are you getting?" Natsu asked, looking at the menu with narrowed eyes.

Lucy hits his head, "why don't you get up and look at the menu? You're going to strain your eyes that way."

"Ow!" Natsu gets out of his chair. "Fine, I will mom! But what are you getting?"

"Do you see winter milk tea?"

The pink head nods. "Let me guess, winter milk tea with pudding and mixed boba?"

"How'd you know? And you can't say that's what I order all the time because I haven't gotten any boba with you or Lisanna!"

Natsu shrugged. "I just know you. Is that so bad?"

Lucy crossed her arms to show an attitude but deep inside she was touched to know that Natsu knew what she wanted. "Get me cheesecake too."

"You know that's why your chest is getting big."

"I'm leaving!"

"No!" Natsu was laughing towards the cashier. "I'm ordering, I'm ordering."

Natsu ordered the same thing. It was to Lucy's surprise when Natsu came back with two winter melon milk teas with pudding and mixed boba, and her favorite strawberry cheesecake.

"Do you forgive me for harassing your feminity?"

Lucy laughed and took a bite. "It's femininity. You need help with English."

An embarrassed blush formed on Natsu's face. "Shut up, I'm good at sports. Not writing."

"How are you going to get by on college? You need to keep up with your grades, you know."

"Don't worry, if I don't get good grades, I'll just have to continue on with basketball. You get scholarships for playing."

"Yeah but what if you stop playing?"

Natsu shook his head in disappointment. "Lucy, you're not supposed to think that way. You have to be optimistic!"

Lucy sighed and knocked on the woodened table. "My bad. Alright, then you better play hard Dragneel, because from this moment, it's going to get tougher."

"It'll be fine as long as you come and watch me at my games with the Strauss!"

"That, we definitely will do." Lucy assured, assuming that Lisanna will be back with him in no time.

"So how was your first day?" Natsu inquired with a sip of his drink.

"It was boring, but Gray bumped on to me on my way to class this morning."

"Did he say sorry?" He frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I dropped my books but he picked it up."

"I don't like how he is now," Natsu hissed. "He changed ever since his dad died.'

"Natsu, I could say the same to you. So stop." She takes another slice of the cheesecake.

"No, I'm different," he grabs her wrist to turn her spoonful into his mouth. "I have you."