It felt like forever for Lucy's heart to slow down. It wasn't easy to forget that she boldly kissed Gray.
She didn't think this through. It was one of the reasons why she never trusted herself when it came to quick decisions. If Lucy did think it through, she would have made up a boyfriend, not an actual person. To be more specific, she wouldn't have picked Gray. Everybody knew Gray. They also knew him as Juvia's Gray. It didn't matter if they broke up or not. They were a big thing in school and for Lucy to jump onboard when she wasn't supposed to be was like asking for an early deathbed.
Lucy spent the rest of her week hiding from anybody who would potentially ask her about Gray. She even read her book in the janitor's room.
She had Gray during last period. She was aware that she had him through all of her class periods and it wasn't much of a problem until now. When she looked, Gray and his friends were already finished with their group work so they talked stories away from everyone else. At one point, Gray turned and caught her looking at him; he winked, and Lucy shivered in disgust.
When class was over, Lucy sighed that she missed the chance to talk to him. Well, she thought she did. Gray and his friends were the ones that walked out first and since she didn't want to be noticed by the crowd, she walked out last. But when Lucy got out of the classroom, she was surprised to see Gray with his arms crossed, leaning against the lockers waiting for her.
"Hey," he waved.
"Hi," then she quickly said, "so about that morning..." with a gulp.
Gray just looked at her, "Uhuh. What was that all about?"
"It was a dumb joke," she mumbled nervously.
"Did it have anything to do with the letter you were panicking about?"
Lucy gave a light nod.
"Look, I'm gonna save you the panic." Gray breathed and started kindly. "I think you're cute, like really cute, but I told you, Juvia and I just broke up so I'm not ready for another relationship."
Lucy's mouth dropped. Was Gray trying to reject her? She had no feelings for him and there he was, trying to brush her off.
He continued, "—But I'm really flattered that you liked me this whole time."
"Wait, hold up." Lucy lifted a hand to stop him. "I didn't say I like you. Don't feel flattered."
Gray was taken aback then leaned forward with surprise and amusement. "Then why did you kiss me?"
"That's exactly the reason why. I kissed you because I don't like you." That was as rational as she could get. "The guy I do like got a letter too so I—"
"Who?" Gray frowned; he didn't like the sound of that.
"That's none of your business," Lucy glared.
"Hey, I think I have the right to know since you pulled that little stunt. Now I'm involved in your mess," Gray said with a pointed look. "Well.. if there even really is a guy."
"There is!" she pushed with a raised voice. "It's.. Natsu."
"What?" Gray raised a brow. "Isn't he dating Lisanna? That's low."
Lucy was surprised that he knew that. When he started dating Juvia, he stopped hanging out with the group. She didn't think that Natsu and Lisanna would be in his field of conversation.
"They broke up," she explained. "And I'm not trying to get with him. I don't even want him to know I have feelings, that's why I told him... you were my boyfriend."
"Oh, okay, so you used me to get away with it?"
"Basically... yeah..." Lucy gave him a pained look, "...I'm sorry?"
He scoffed. "You're cute and funny," he sarcastically rolled his eyes.
First he called her cute and now she's funny? Obviously he wanted the conversation to end.
"Anyways I just wanted thank you again for going along with it." She gave him a pat and a winning fake smile before she turned her heel to leave. "Bye!"
"Wait—" Gray reached out and grabbed her by her backpack. "If Natsu thinks I'm your boyfriend now, what are you going to tell him later?"
"I haven't figured that part out yet, but I will." She shrugged him lose and he let go. "Eventually."
Gray let out a laugh. "You're really cute," he said with a smirk and walked away.
"I'm not cute!"
"Yeah, yeah." He waved. "See you around, Luce."
"It's Lucy!"
At home Lucy's phone vibrated next to her. It was Cana.
"Is it true?" Then Lucy heard another voice on the line. "Levy, speak."
"Lucy!" Levy and Cana were on a three-way call with her. "I heard a lot of things in school today. Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
Cana asked, "Don't play dumb! Is it true that you pounced Gray and kissed him desperately?"
Lucy closed her eyes and let out a small, frustrated cry. She laid on her bed, on her stomach since her stomach was in knots and churned. She wished she could say no, because she was not the kind of person to actually do such a thing, but she did and the whole thing was just embarrassing to admit.
She tried to keep it less detailed as possible. "Yes, I kissed him, but I didn't pounce... I jumped and I wasn't desperate."
"Damn!" Cana exhaled. "But you kissed him! Savage!"
"Cana!" Levy barked.
"Oops, sorry. I'm just impressed, Lucy."
"What were you thinking, Lucy?" Levy said in a worried tone.
"Honestly, Levy-chan... I don't even know... I panicked and I just did it." Lucy replied.
"You know Juvia's gonna come after you right?" Cana exclaimed. "Sure they broke up but she probably thinks Gray is still hers."
Lucy sat up, alarmed. "I know. I'm scared."
"Pound the alarm!" Cana screeched.
"Cana!" Levy hissed. "It's okay. We'll do our best to protect you from her, you hear? But you know how she is. You better watch your back."
Lucy felt worse than before. Cana and Levy were definitely trying to rub it off that she made the biggest mistake of her life and the last thing she wanted during her senior year was to be humiliated and destroyed by Juvia. There was a desperate wave of feeling and urge to her to call Lisanna and tell her about it, but she's the first person she couldn't talk to. She can't know about how she felt towards Natsu.
"Lucy?" Levy's voice sprung back. "Do you want me to come over and watch a movie?"
She could use a cheer-up tonight. "With ice-cream?"
"Yeah, cheese-corn from Mag?"
"Yuck!" Cana cringed. "I'm coming too but don't count on me eating mais queso."
"Okay fine with me, let's meet up at Lucy's in 10. I have to buy it first." Levy hung up.
"Rajah. Luce?" Cana tapped her end of the line. "Don't cry kay? We're coming."
At times like these, Lucy was glad that she had friends. However, Natsu would usually be the one to say something like that.
Cana and Levy were sound asleep on the ground, they held each other and slept without any noises. Cana had her legs spread open while Levy held unto her with their English textbook in another hand. They both fell asleep after quizzing each other for their test tomorrow and an empty box of ice-cream was on Lucy's writing desk. Lucy smiled at them appreciatively.
Lucy's phone buzzed beside her lamp. It's a text from Natsu.
Outside with coffee and Boston Cream, come down?
It was a totally normal text. Lucy replied then put a cardigan on before going down and out to the porch.
Natsu sat on their home-built swing. "Hey Luce."
"Hi," Lucy sat down next to him. "Why are you still up with coffee and donuts?"
"I was at the café doing homework and I thought of you." Natsu smiled slightly and swung. "Sorry I couldn't come to dinner tonight."
"It's okay," she played with her coffee. "Mira-nee and Elfman were really disappointed, but they said you can make it up tomorrow. Cana and Levy are sleeping over."
"That's nice," Natsu breathed in the scent of wet grass. "So... How are you?"
"I'm okay... How are you holding up?"
"Good," Natsu answered in surprise. "She... We've been talking everyday."
"Oh..." Lucy started to get fidgety. "Are you guys... you know..."
"Back together?" He laughed and pushed her leg away playfully. "Heavens, no. She's the one who broke it off, Luce."
"Do you want to get back with her?" she asked softly.
"Maybe," he brushed Lucy's hair with his fingers. "I have other things in mind. Anyway, I'm gonna go, I'll see you tomorrow? Do you want me to pick you up?"
Still feeling the need to keep her distance, Lucy shook her head with an apologetic look. "It's okay. I'm driving tomorrow; need all the experience I could get."
Natsu looked disappointed but he dismissed himself and stepped out of the porch. "Good idea. You keep it up and tell Gray I said hi."
Lucy wanted to hit herself so hard for what she did.
"Wait! Natsu we're actually not—" But he was gone. "We're not... actually together." She said emptily.