Chapter 1:

31 Days

The streets of Magnolia were usually busy on Saturdays around this time of day. It was a weird phenomenon that some people often questioned but forgot about just as quickly. But it was also a fact that one particular girl liked to use to her advantage…

If any of the parents, teens, or children had bothered to glance up at the gigantic mansion sitting smack dab in the middle of town, they would see the figure of a girl. A girl dressed in bright colors, sliding down a rope leading out of one of the mansion's windows. A blond girl, named Lucy Heartfilia, who was currently escaping her empty home to go out and explore.

Lucy landed in the grass, wiping her hands off on her dress and tugging on the rope, looking up in a silent question. An old woman peeked her head out of the window, grinning from ear to ear, waving down at her mistress before slowly bringing the rope back up to the room. Lucy smiled back, picking up a purse from inside of a bush and running through a dented hole in the gate.

If you couldn't tell before, this was a normal occurrence.

As Lucy stepped into the busy streets, she breathed in the fresh smell of Pastries and shoe shine. This was her favorite day of the week. Saturdays were always when her maid, Ms. Spetto would sneak her out of the house. If you could even call the enormous 3 story building a house...

When she was younger, the tiny brunette woman often found Lucy staring out of the window longingly, sighing every now and then when she saw something she really liked. So, as a way to cheer her up, the woman began helping her sneak out. Only on a certain day of the week though, because that's when her father would schedule his weekly meetings.

This is why Lucy Hearfilia, daughter of the famous Jude Heartfilia, found herself aimlessly wandering around magnolia. She wore sunglasses to disguise her identity, keeping her short blond hair under a casual hat. Her loose dress fluttered slightly with the wind as she spun around in the local park.

Lucy really loved Saturdays.

That was until some jerk ran into her and knocked her to the ground.

She could've sworn she saw her life flash before her eyes as she flew back and onto the hard concrete. Whether it be because of the fall or because she might be arrested (and possibly killed for murdering rude jerks that don't know how to watch where they're going-!) remains unclear.

"What the heck!?" Lucy growled, pushing off whoever was currently on top of her and scooting as far away as possible. Which obviously wasn't very far, because when he spoke his voice was loud enough to give her a headache. Or maybe she was far enough and he just had a big mouth.

"Ah, My bad. I got distracted by some weirdo blond, spinning around the park-like she was a Disney princess." Lucy almost felt a vein pop. Oh, he definitely had a big mouth! The nerve of this guy-

"Who even are you-!" She started, pausing as she finally looked up and got a better look at his… pink… hair.

"Natsu Dragneel!" He grinned, holding out his hand for her to shake. Lucy blinked, staring as he wiggled his fingers expectantly. She hesitantly reached for his hand, grabbing onto one of his fingers before quickly pulling her hand away.

"Okay…" The boy sent her a weird look and pulled his own hand back, grabbing hold of his skateboard and standing up. "Well… it was nice meeting you, weird lady." He glanced at her face, ignoring the almost feral growl that came out of her mouth.

"Oh," he pointed. "And you dropped your sunglasses."

"Don't try to change the subject, pinky pie ! My sunglasses are just fine-" The girl froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Oh…

Oh no!

Lucy felt her face, foolishly hoping that this Natsu kid was just some prankster or something. But no… oh Mavis, Lucy had actually dropped her sunglasses! Which meant he knew who she was...and that he'd ask for a picture, or an autograph! And that would gain everyone's attention and then her father would find out that she snuck out while he was working and she'll be grounded and- Wait!

He's been talking to her like a stranger this entire time… Lucy's sunglasses have been off of her face this entire time… This pink-haired boy hadn't done anything that Lucy's wild imagination just cooked up. Which meant...

"You don't know who I am." The blond stated, blinking up at his face for any sign of recognition.

"Um no..." The boy looked around the park. "Should I?"

Now don't ask her why that struck a nerve. Some part of her felt relieved. Like, thank god some idiot doesn't know who she is. Her cover hasn't been blown and her father will never find out about this whole ordeal, thank god !

Then there was another part of Lucy who was so used to the attention that the obvious lack of it had her narrow her eyes in agitation. Not even Lucy knew why that struck a nerve. Not a single clue...

But it did.

"What do you mean 'should I'!?" The girl pointed a finger at him accusingly. "Of course you should!"

He only tilted his head in confusion, slowly backing up as the girl in front of him began to rise to her feet, raising her voice as she rambled on. "How do you not know who I am!? The blond hair, the brown eyes, the perfect figure , I'm literally-"

"OH MY GOD, IT'S LUCY HEARTFILIA!"

In deep shit…

"Oh shoot!" Without much thought, the girl snatched up Natsu's hand, tugging him along as she began to run. "We gotta go!"

"Wha- how is any of this my problem!" The boy whined but continued to run along with her anyway. Not that he'd ever dare to admit it, but this girl had a really strong grip. He probably wouldn't be able to pull his hand away if he tried.

They continued down the street, dodging trash cans, stray dogs, mailboxes- and of course, a raging paparazzi . That is until Natsu realized that running was getting them nowhere and was in fact: pointless . So he took the messy situation into his own hands.

"Yo, Blondie…" He spoke, hoping to gain her attention. He did of course have to suffer one of her terrifying glares in doing so. "I've got an idea so bear with me, kay?"

She made a face. "What are you-"

Natsu pulled them to a halt, ignoring her startled squawking, and heaving her onto his back. The blond blushed profusely, hanging onto his neck as he balanced himself on his skateboard.

"Hang on tight!" He called out, taking one more glance at the growing crowd behind them and pushing off the ground with a converse-covered foot. They both wobbled a bit at first, Lucy clutching to his neck for dear life and Natsu struggling to (breath!) find his balance. Eventually, he got the hang of it and was able to turn corners with ease. Almost as if there wasn't a whole person on his back. Lucy made that easy to remember however with her unholy screeching.

"Hey," Natsu choked as the blond once again tightened the grip around his neck. "Maybe we'd be able to lose them faster if you'd- erk stop screeching!"

"S-sorry…" Lucy released her hell-like grip, tucking her face into the boy's neck and squeezing her eyes shut. She felt Natsu stiffen for a second, the action barely noticeable to her even as she tried her best to ignore her surroundings.

Eventually, as Lucy's thoughts began to wander, she felt them pull to a stop. With the wind successfully out of her ears, she was able to hear the familiar harmonious chirping of birds. She opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings…

"Oh." Lucy blinked in confusion. "I'm… home."

"Yeah…" The Natsu boy put her on the ground with a huff, waiting for her to gain proper footing before obnoxiously stretching.

"The crazy people with the cameras kept repeating the name Heartfilia …" he yawned. "I figured that had something to do with you and took us to the back entrance of the Heartfilia mansion."

The blond made a face. "How did you know where the back entrance was?"

"Man, you ask a lot of questions."

Lucy growled, waiting for the boy to erase the bored look off of his face and explain.

"I skate here often with my friends." he finally said with an annoyed sigh. "The concrete is smoother here than anywhere else in town. Trust me, I've checked."

"So… you're just back here all day , riding on skateboards until you get… what- bored?" Lucy scratches her chin in thought.

"Yeah, but now I'm leaving." Natsu stomped on his board, watching as it flew a short distance off of the ground and catching it in his hand with ease. "See ya later, weirdo"

"W-wait!"

He groans . "What now!?"

"I…" she paused.

What now? Why did she just stop him- she didn't really know… There was this weird feeling worming around in her gut. Like, she didn't want him to leave. And evidently, it wasn't because she enjoyed his company.

So it must be…

"You really don't know who I am?" Lucy clenched her dress, chewing on her lip anxiously. Natsu took a moment to respond, his expression unwavering.

"No." He answered.

Then… "T-then-!" Her face was heating up but she didn't know why. How strange…

"Then I'm going to make sure you do!" She declared, pointing a shaky finger at the confused stranger before her.

"By the end of this month!" Yes, it's always good to set a deadline.

"You'll know me like the back of your own hand!" Perfect. Always set a clear goal.

She did not, however, get the response that she had wanted. In fact, she didn't get a response at all. The boy just stood there, staring at her as if she's just grown a second head.

"You'll know me- uh…" Lucy paused. "You'll know me as well as you know the streets of magnolia!"

The two said nothing, the only sound registering in the girl's ears being the awkward shuffling of her own feet…

It's been silent for too long...

"L-like-"

"Ugh, I get it!" Natsu whined, giving her a weird look. Although, a wide smile now adorned his once blank face.

"Good luck with that," He chuckled, a soft and bubbly laugh that made Lucy's chest feel lighter. "Weirdo."

And with a subtle wave of his hand, the boy was gone, only the image of his flowing pink hair on display as he rode further and further away…

Lucy sighed and began routinely crawling her way through a bent pole in the fence, muttering to herself as she did.

Well, at least now she had something to do in her free time. Operation 'make this rude (but surprisingly attractive) stranger know me as well as I know myself' wasn't going to plan itself…

"Yeah, that name needs some work…"