thank you so much for being so patient with me ;-; i know I can be the worst when it comes to updating regularly

please enjoy!

"Lucy?" The blonde jumped slightly in her seat, quick to lift her head to meet the gaze of their literature teacher giving her an expectant look. "Top of page sixty-seven if you're still with us?"

"O-Of course!" The slight crack of her voice created a few low snickers amongst the other students, Lucy panicking as she flipped a couple pages to find where they had last left off.

Focusing in class would continue to prove to be impossible for Lucy, her thoughts entirely too eager to picture the entanglement she experienced with Natsu.

Just one look at the back of his head made her chew on her lip, losing herself in the memory of how that head was previously bent into the curve of her nape.

Natsu never failed to expose her to a new side of herself, bringing out wild words and wants with just one look.

A look that, in times of rationality, made her wonder if they were moving too fast.

"I mean, what's too fast?" Cana shrugged, taking a bite of her rice ball at lunch. They sat outside, fitting themselves into a quiet corner of the quad where they wouldn't be overheard. "Just because you want to kiss the guy? Calm down, Lulu, the world won't end if you do."

"I didn't think it would," Lucy stuck her tongue out before taking a bite from her meal. "I was just wondering, you know, if…what we do is considered moving too fast…"

Levy blanched, hacking an awkward cough as a sip of juice went down the wrong pipe. Cana laughed as a bright red blush consumed Lucy's appearance, quickly clarifying what she'd meant.

"I-I mean—"

"Oh, no, Lulu, don't think you're going to get out of that one, spill!" The brunette cackled, both Lucy and Levy shaking their heads wildly.

"Please, I don't wanna know!" Levy squealed, hiding herself behind a corner of her sandwich.

"That look on your face, I know it's about to be graphic," Cana grinned playfully as she stopped Lucy from escaping her seat on the grass. "Spill!"

The air between the three stilled, Levy peeking carefully over the crust of her sandwich while Cana held Lucy's flustered gaze.

She opened her mouth only for silence to meet her lips, Lucy nervously thinking about how to explain any of what went on between the two.

From almost having sex on the first night she crashed at his place to making out on several occasions…leading to a bit more between the lines that had Lucy blowing a fuse in the daylight.

Seeing the metaphorical steam coming out of her friend's ears, Cana twisted her lips and let out a sympathetic sigh.

"I don't want you to hurt yourself thinking about it," She huffed, letting go of her grip on Lucy's shoulders. "I'm just saying that you can trust us. If there's something you're worried about, then talk to us! Maybe keep it lowkey for the squirt, but if he's giving it to you good, then I go—"

"Cana!"

"Oh, come on! Nothing juicy happens around here! And now you're dating one of the hottest guys at school, someone we know is good at—"

"We just kiss, r-really!" Lucy slapped a hand over Cana's mouth before she could continue, the temperature around them rising, both the blonde and Levy fanning away their embarrassment. "S-Sometimes it can get a little…heated…but we don't go that far…"

Lucy cleared her throat, standing firmly on not wanting to be too descriptive, but Cana wasn't buying it. She raised a curious brow and crossed her arms, throwing a look towards the shorter girl.

"Cover your ears, Levy, I don't think you'll want to hear this." She waved as she narrowed her eyes onto Lucy. The blonde in question gulped as Levy complied, Cana nodding her head.

"Seriously, spill, Lucy. If he's making you do stuff you don't like, I wanna know. We're your best friends for a reason, you know? I want to protect you if I can."

"It's not anything like that," Lucy quickly shook her head, offering a sympathetic look to Cana's concerned one. "I like what we do together, and Natsu would never pressure me. I know that."

"It's…I…well, I think he's absolutely irresistible, Cana." Lucy covered her face with her hands as she spoke, grieved by the intense beating of her heart. "We should only just be getting to know each other, it feels like I'm doing everything out of order! I want to talk to him, and we do, but he gives me one look, and I, I melt…"

"We've gone…a little past kissing," She coughed, emphasizing the words as Lucy nervously met her eyes. "And nothing that I regret doing, if anything I think I enjoyed it a bit too much,"

'That's what's scaring me more than anything, that I like him too much. It's not normal, is it?"

Levy spoke up first, edging Lucy with her elbow and a soft smile.

"Lu-chan, I think you're just falling in love," She laughed, Cana jumping in with a dramatic exhale as she plopped against the ground.

"You sure are innocent, Lulu, not knowing you're just in love? I wish I had your youth."

"You don't think it's too soon? We're barely eighteen, I…I dunno," She shook her head with a sigh as her friends let out another laugh.

"Seriously, Lu, you read too many books! There's no right or wrong way to have feelings for someone, you're worrying too much. Enjoy yourself, hm? He likes you, you like him, just have fun. And let us know if he ever steps out of line." Cana smiled as she playfully slapped Lucy on the back.

~000~

"You look happy," Natsu hummed as he leaned against Lucy's shoe locker after school, hands stuffed in his pockets with a bright smile. "Thinking about me?"

"Maybe," Her lips twitched into a playful smile as she finished slipping on her shoes. "Is Gildarts here yet?"

"Nah, I asked him to come get us later, figured we could go on an early dinner date?" He asked, taking hold of her hand in his. "There's a ramen place I go to with the guys, you'll love it. Whaddaya think?"

"Sounds good," She nodded, smiling warmly at the hand that led her. "Think we can do our homework there too?"

Lucy laughed as he groaned, her steps beginning to match up with his. "I don't think we'd get much done if we wait until we're home,"

Her smile was shy as Natsu raised an impressed brow in her direction, his thumb rubbing against the center of her palm.

"Don't tease me like that, Luce," His groan made her smile, Lucy squeezing his hand back. "I might drag you back upstairs for that one."

"You can't kiss me in public?" Lucy asked, Natsu stopping to stand before her with a slight pout.

"With the face you make after I take your breath away? That's not the kind of thing I want other guys seeing. Hope you're not upset with havin' a possessive guy on your arm."

"Possessive?" Her heart skipped a beat as he let his tongue dart out for a quick second, wetting his bottom lip.

"Don't even get me started, Luce," The slight growl in his voice made her skin crawl with excitement, the little voice at the back of her head spouting insecurities gone silent. "You're playing with fire."

"I wouldn't mind hearing about it," She swayed in place, pulling him slightly back toward the emptying school. "We don't have a reservation or anything, it wouldn't hurt to be late."

was gonna write more but it worked better for the flow if i split up the chapter looool

hoping to post the next chapter before i gotta sleep! spent all week getting over covid and i did not have as much fun as i thought i might ;-;