prompt sixty two: boundaries

rate: T for Teens and Up

Sixty two out of one hundred.

"None of us really change over time; we only become more fully what we are." —Alice Rice, The Queen of the Damned

x

.

Here's the thing, Lucy knew she was better off without trying to convince her high school class that she was successful but would that make her feel any better? Probably not.

Taking the high road only made the other person bitter and while she had forgotten about the entire miserable four years of her high school career, that didn't mean she forgave them.

She remembered the many times she used to sit in the bathroom with her lunch and cry about how nobody liked her because she wasn't pretty enough or smart enough or even enough in general. The girls who bullied her relentlessly always knew how to jab her where it hurt and she was lucky she had Natsu around or else who knows what would have happened to her.

The many times her textbooks would go missing or when she would have her lockers stuffed with embarrassing things like condoms and pregnancy tests. How the girls would tug on her hair and smear gum or even throw buckets of water in her way to get a laugh. Or even try texting her from fake numbers to make it seem like it was some super cute guy to catfish her and expose her to her pathetic single self.

Sure she may have been an heiress at the time with a multi-million dollar company behind her but that didn't do anything to help her situation.

The all-girls private school was meant for girls like her which meant everyone else in school was also an heiress to some type of fortune.

The girls all thought a life of success meant marrying someone rich and handsome, popping out a couple of kids, and living the nice life in the suburbs as a stay at home wife.

Lucy definitely had different plans and goals in mind since she didn't want to just be arm candy to a man who didn't care about her. She also didn't want to marry someone just because of their worth nor did she want to be a stay-at-home. Lucy had passions and her dream was to become an author and while that dream was still on hold due to her current situation, it didn't mean she wasn't doing well for herself.

And goddamn Levy who loved to be a control freak and plan shit had to go and be a part of the planning committee who did fundraising and reunions. She coaxed her into it without her realizing the dangers of her job and now as Lucy was presented with the idea that she was to help host and plan this reunion and fundraiser that would be happening the day prior, she was shitting bricks.

No longer did she have braces that made her mouth look razor sharp and twice as big as it really is. Her hair wasn't dry and short, soft golden curls she's learned to take care of reaching her hips and flowing beautifully. Her skin complexion was no longer littered with large pimples and while she does still require reading glasses, she learned to deal with it with cute stylish lenses and or contact lenses.

Lucy was a fucking bombshell at age twenty seven and she didn't need to prove anything to anyone but she absolutely had to.

For her younger self and for her self-esteem.

And now with her stressor being Natsu who was the worst liar and actor in the world, Lucy had to improvise and help train him to be the best goddamn boyfriend anyone had ever seen in this fucking shit world.

Or else God please save her because it was either her or them that would be buried six feet under after next weekend.

"Lucy," Natsu deadpanned, giving her a flat look. "Why are we doing this?"

"This is to help you be a good loving boyfriend."

"I am a—" he tried to say but once Lucy tossed him a glare he clamped his mouth shut and rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine. Lay it on me." He sighed, leaning back against his chair as Lucy cleared her throat and scooted forward, placing her notebook on the table in front of them.

Tucked away in the corner of a coffeehouse, Lucy was determined to train Natsu in the best way possible prior to the reunion and fundraiser. Sure, dating a fireman wasn't the most ideal to these rich stuck up bitches but it was an honorable job and Natsu had a good face and physique so the girls would most definitely eat him up.

"We're just going to go through a list of things about me and—"

"But why?" He groaned out loud, throwing his head back. "I know everything about you. Hence, best friends?" He pointed at her before dragging his hand back to his chest. "Twelve years of friendship… remember?"

"You can't possibly know everything about me."

He quirked a brow at her, crossing his arms across his chest. "Oh, really?"

"Not in the way a boyfriend would! Do you know how I like my coffee? Or—or how I like my toast? My favorite dessert shop? Or—"

"Ice coffee, always iced. Never hot. Two creams and three sugars, you like your shit sweet. Caramel is your usual go-to flavoring but if not, hazelnut." He said, not even blinking an eye while he ratted off his knowledge of her. "You like your toast in between. Golden brown with crispy edges. You hate the crust so usually you eat around it. Butter and strawberry jam. Sometimes when you're feeling frisky, you dust some sugar on top. Usually on your period, really."

Lucy sat there gawking at her best friend, surprised he knew so much about her and in such detail. It made her feel warm and her cheeks flushed at his knowledge.

"Ever since Erza introduced you to that dessert shop that sells the three layer strawberry shortcake you've been hooked on it since. Others? Your favorite cookie is sugar because you're plain, you prefer blondies over brownies, and your favorite ice cream flavor is double chocolate chip."

Sputtering, Lucy tried to collect herself as Natsu proved her wrong. "Okay! So what if you know some of the things I like? What about other cute stuff like—"

"Like how you snore and talk in your sleep?" He cut her off, one hand curled under his chin as he hummed, squinting at the ceiling. "You sleepwalk sometimes. Or are you talking about that cute scrunch you do when you're thinking or how you stick your tongue out when you're concentrating? Or the fact that you can sleep with socks on because you're a psychopath—"

"Okay! Okay! I get it!" Lucy cried out, throwing her hands in the air. "Fine, I admit you know things about me."

"I know everything about you." He corrected, a triumphant smirk stretching across his face.

"Fine, then we don't need any coaching in that department." She waved her hands in the air, cheeks still pink from her state of mind. "But we need to act on it."

"Easy," he blew raspberries, leaning back against his seat to stretch. "Hold your hand, stick to your side, compliment you, blah blah blah," he waved his hands in the air. "Now, can we please get some food? I'm hungry."

Maybe Lucy did underestimate him because Natsu did know her down to the tee. He could easily fool anyone that they were dating because even back in the day everyone thought they were. With how close they were, there should be no doubt that anyone would think otherwise.

She just had to act upon it and actually say she was dating the said fireman. It shouldn't be too hard considering how close they were… they've cuddled and watched tv all the time. He feeds her and she feeds him. They even hold hands when out in public when there's a large crowd so they won't lose each other.

So, what could go wrong?

"Luce…" Natsu's voice bounced off the walls as she was frantically digging through her closet. "Lucy."

"What?" She hissed as she went through the many, many clothes she owned but yet to find something she desired.

"Do I really have to wear a suit?"

"Yes, Natsu, it's a fundraiser."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Lucy let out a frustrated groan as she was too busy and too frantic to be arguing with him about this. This event was tomorrow night and she had yet to find what she was going to wear. Everything she had seemed too… not good enough. She had to wear something that would make her stand out but not too much so the attention wasn't going to be on her. And she also had to try to find something that would suit the both of them so they actually did look like a couple.

But all Natsu owned was either red or black ties and while she had red and black dresses, none of them were the ones she truly wanted to wear.

She had too much on her plate at the moment and she was one second away from throwing Natsu out of her window. She was still stressed about how he was going to act tomorrow and it didn't help that she was having anxiety like a bitch.

What if they see right through her lie? What if they still try to humiliate her in front of everyone? What if—

"You need to relax, Luce," Natsu's voice brought her back and she turned to blink at him.

"What?"

"You're rambling and talking out loud without realizing," he placed his hands on her shoulder to ground her. "Relax. This is not going to be that bad."

"Natsu, you don't know that. You don't know them like—"

"Did you forget how I was the one there with you during all this? You're the one who said I can't do anything about any of it back in the day because they were a bunch of girls," he quirked a brow at her. "But none of that is going to matter because it's been ten long years and those girls probably forget about you."

Lucy didn't know if this was supposed to make her feel better or worse as she stood there staring at him and giving him a flat look.

"And we'll kill it out there tomorrow. You have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, besides you." She snorted, shaking her head back and forth. "I just hope we can sell it to them."

"You mean you hope you can sell it to them because I'm ready and an excellent loving boyfriend."

Lucy rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest and popped her hip out, giving her best friend a look. "Oh, really? Says the one who has girls running out of their apartment bawling their eyes out."

"Stop bringing that up, it's not my fault," he groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "But it's not like you're going to be getting a haircut anytime soon so I should be good," he paused to peek at her through the corner of his eyes. "..right?"

Lucy let out another sigh, turning back to her messy closet where she had yet to find a dress.

"Whatever Natsu, just remember your role and our story. We've been friends for over twelve years and just recently started dating about a year ago and—"

"Have some faith in me, will ya?"

"Well, how can I when it's you?!" Lucy finally snapped, throwing down one of the dresses she had in her hands before spinning around to face him again. "Natsu, you get all weird and nervous when you're caught in a lie! You're the worst liar ever!"

Natsu looked offended, one hand pressed against his chest. "You really think I can't pretend to be your boyfriend for one night?"

" Two nights." Lucy corrected him, growling at his stupidity. "Not one."

"One or two nights, whatever," he waved her off before leaning in. "But you really think I can't?"

"Natsu, you literally ramble which makes you look super guilty and you can't even look people in the eye when you do! You get all sweaty and awkward and it's so obvious that you—"

"Hey! Stop yelling at me! I said I'll do it!"

"It's not about you doing it or not, it's about you doing it well!" The two were now shouting at one another, leaning into their faces while bickering.

Lucy's arms were flying with her words while she yelled at him, jabbing her finger into his chest while Natsu scoffed and yelled right back, his own arms crossed over his chest.

It was stupid that they were even fighting about something as trivial as this but they always fought over the dumbest and smallest thing. Maybe it came from the fact that they've known each other for over a decade and they spent so much time together but it was easy to go back and forth once someone started it.

And Lucy was way too stressed and way too frustrated to sit here and listen to his man whine and complain while she had bigger fish to fry.

It also didn't help that Lucy felt that tomorrow would end in disaster all thanks to her best friend and those bitches that made her adolescence a living hell. She might as well give it up now and make herself the laughing stock of her high school class.

"You are so annoying! Maybe it would have been better if you could admit that you're a terrible liar instead of trying to fight me on it!"

"I told you I could do this! Why can't you believe me?!"

"HA!" Lucy laughed right in his face which she knew would just piss him off. And by the way his face darkened as soon as she showed her she was right. "I'll believe it when I see it! You might as well be called Pinocchio since you're such a bad liar and you—!" Her words were cut off when Natsu's arm shot out and wrapped around her wrist.

Her eyes widened and she didn't have time to process anything as he yanked her forward and held her by the head before smashing his lips on hers. She made a noise of surprise from the back of her throat when she felt his lips on hers and she was stuck in place with Natsu's hands holding her head in place.

His lips were surprisingly soft and warm against her own lips. Large hands that cradled her head felt as if they were burning her skin, forcing goose flesh to rise on her exposed skin.

Was.. Natsu kissing her right now?

Just as she was going to return the kiss, Natsu pulled back from her and she nearly stumbled to the floor.

She felt dizzy and lightheaded as she leaned against her open closet door, her entire face popping red while she looked at Natsu who also had a red face.

"You're being a terrible girlfriend right now and you suck!" He shouted, finger pointed right in her face as she blinked dumbly at him. His cheeks were rosy but his scowl was deep. "You better fix your fuckin' attitude by tomorrow and best believe I will be the best fucking boyfriend ever!" He stormed to her bedroom door, one hand gripping the doorknob where he turned back around one last time. "Bad girlfriend."

Lucy was baffled as she watched Natsu turn and storm out of her room after yelling at her and as she stood in her room, waiting for something, she heard her front door open before slamming shut.

What the hell was that about?

And did he just… call her a bad girlfriend?

…was she?

X

.

tbc