Lucy slumped lower in her seat, her eyes glazing over as Professor Bennett's monotonous voice droned on about molecular bonding. The stuffy classroom felt like a prison, the air thick with boredom and the faint scent of dry-erase markers. Her mind wandered anywhere but chemistry, drifting through a haze of last night's memories and this morning's hangover.
"And so, the covalent bond forms when atoms share electrons…" Bennett's chalk squeaked against the board, the sound grating on Lucy's frayed nerves.
"Ugh," she muttered under her breath, "if only my love life could bond as easily as these stupid molecules."
Stifling a yawn, Lucy covertly slipped her phone from her bag, angling it just right to check her reflection. She winced at the sight - smudged eyeliner, messy hair, and was that… yep, definitely a hickey peeking out from her hastily chosen top.
"Jesus," she whispered, fumbling for her makeup bag. "Talk about walk of shame chic."
With the stealth of a ninja (or so she liked to think), Lucy began touching up her appearance. She'd perfected the art of stealth primping during boring lectures, a skill she considered far more valuable than anything Professor Snoozefest was teaching.
As she carefully reapplied her eyeliner, Lucy's thoughts drifted to the previous night's escapades. A smirk played on her lips as she remembered Gavin's skilled hands and talented mouth. The guy might have been a himbo, but damn if he didn't know how to show a girl a good time.
Lucy's phone buzzed, and she nearly jabbed herself in the eye with surprise. A text from Alice lit up the screen: "How's the walk of shame going, babe? "
She bit back a laugh, her fingers hovering over the keys as she debated risking a reply. Professor Bennett's infamous death glare could strip paint, and she'd already pushed her luck with the makeup touch-up.
"Screw it," Lucy thought, quickly tapping out a response. "Surviving. Barely. Pretty sure my brain cells are dying faster than Titanic passengers. Save me! "
Just as she hit send, Bennett's voice cut through her distraction. "Ms. Heartfilia, perhaps you'd like to share with the class what's so fascinating on your phone?"
Lucy's head snapped up, a deer-in-headlights look flashing across her face before she recovered with a dazzling smile. "Oh, just taking notes, Professor. You know how passionate I am about… uh, electron sharing."
A few snickers rippled through the class as Bennett's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Lucy held her breath, praying her charm would save her once again from the dreaded Bennett Inquisition. Professor Bennett's skeptical gaze lingered on Lucy for a moment longer before he turned back to the board with a resigned sigh. "As I was saying, the sharing of electrons…"
Lucy exhaled softly, relief washing over her. Crisis averted. She shot a quick wink to the guy two rows ahead who'd been watching the exchange with amusement. He blushed and quickly faced forward, causing Lucy to stifle a giggle.
Her momentary victory was short-lived, however, as the room's stuffiness seemed to intensify. Lucy fanned herself with her notebook, wondering if the AC was broken or if her hangover was just making everything worse.
"God, it's like a sauna in here," she thought, tugging at her collar. "Maybe I should've worn that cute crop top instead. At least then I'd have an excuse to show some skin."
As if on cue, a bead of sweat trickled down her neck, disappearing into her cleavage. Lucy grimaced, reaching for her water bottle. She took a long swig, savoring the coolness sliding down her throat.
"Note to self," she mused, recapping the bottle, "next time Alice suggests Tequila Thursday, remember that Friday morning chem is a special kind of hell."
With a resigned sigh, Lucy picked up her pen, determined to at least pretend to pay attention for the rest of class. Just as Lucy resigned herself to another hour of mind-numbing boredom, the classroom doors swung open with a resounding bang.
Standing in the doorway, radiating an aura of rebellion and confidence, was quite possibly the most intriguing guy Lucy had ever laid eyes on. Wild, spiky hair the color of bubblegum stuck out in every direction, defying both gravity and conventional fashion sense. A flame-patterned scarf hung loosely around his neck, a stark contrast to his ripped jeans and fitted black tee that showed off impressively toned arms.
The newcomer sauntered into the room, his cocky grin never faltering as he took in the slack-jawed stares of his classmates. Lucy found herself straightening in her seat, suddenly very aware of her disheveled appearance.
Professor Bennett paused mid-sentence, peering over his glasses with a mix of irritation and curiosity. "Ah," he said, adjusting his spectacles. "You must be our new transfer student. Please, step forward and introduce yourself."
The pink-haired rebel strode to the front of the class, his presence somehow making the stuffy room feel electric. "Hey, everyone," he said, his voice carrying a hint of playful gravel. "I'm Natsu Dragneel, just transferred in from Magnolia University." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, "Excited to bring some heat to your lab sessions."
A ripple of laughter swept through the class, and Lucy found herself fighting back a smile despite her initial annoyance at the interruption. This Natsu guy was certainly… something.
Professor Bennett cleared his throat, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his usually stern mouth. "Well, Mr. Dragneel, we certainly hope you'll… ignite our passion for chemistry." He paused, allowing for the groans and chuckles his pun elicited. "Please, find an empty seat. We were just discussing covalent bonds."
As Natsu scanned the room for a place to sit, his gaze locked with Lucy's. She felt a jolt of… something… race down her spine. His grin widened, and Lucy suddenly realized with a mix of dread and excitement that the only empty seat was right next to her.
"Oh no," she thought, her heart racing. "Don't you dare, Pinky."
But of course, the universe had other plans. Natsu's eyes glinted with challenge as he made a beeline for Lucy's row, sliding into the seat next to her with casual grace.
"Hey, partner," he whispered, leaning close enough that Lucy could feel the heat radiating off his skin. "Hope you don't mind a little firepower in your chemistry."
Lucy arched an eyebrow, fighting to keep her expression neutral even as her pulse quickened. "Oh joy," she murmured back, "just what I always wanted – a pyromaniac for a lab buddy."
Natsu's laugh was low and rich, sending an unexpected shiver down Lucy's spine. As Professor Bennett resumed his lecture, she found her attention irrevocably split between covalent bonds and the enigmatic new guy beside her.
"Well," Lucy thought, sneaking another glance at Natsu's profile, "at least things just got a hell of a lot more interesting."
Up close, Natsu was even more intriguing. His pink hair, which should have looked ridiculous, somehow suited him perfectly. The scent of cinnamon and something vaguely smoky wafted from him.
"Pink hair? Seriously?" Lucy mused, her inner monologue running wild. "Is he trying to outdo the periodic table for most vibrant element?"
She noticed small details: a faint scorch mark on his backpack strap, the way his fingers drummed a restless beat on the desk, the slight upturn of his lips as if he was constantly on the verge of laughter. Everything about him radiated warmth and energy.
"Great," Lucy thought sarcastically. "As if chemistry wasn't hot enough already. Now I've got a human Bunsen burner sitting next to me."
Natsu shifted in his seat, his arm briefly brushing against hers. Lucy felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, and she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be deeply fascinated by Bennett's chalk scribbles.
"Focus, Heartfilia," she chided herself. "So what if he's got arms that could bench-press you into next week? He's probably just another cocky jock with more muscles than brain cells."
But even as she thought it, Lucy knew she was being unfair. There was an intelligence in Natsu's eyes that belied his rebellious appearance. He seemed to be actually paying attention to the lecture, his brow furrowing slightly in concentration.
Suddenly, Natsu leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Is it always this boring, or did I just pick the wrong day to show up?" he whispered, his voice laced with amusement.
Lucy bit back a smile, turning to face him with an arched eyebrow. "Oh no," she whispered back, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "it's a thrill ride every time. Just wait till Bennett starts talking about ionic bonds. Edge of your seat stuff."
Natsu's grin widened, a challenge sparking in his eyes. "Well then," he murmured, "I guess we'll just have to make our own excitement, won't we?"
Lucy felt a flush creeping up her neck, equal parts irritation and intrigue. Who did this guy think he was, waltzing in here and disrupting her carefully cultivated boredom?
But as she opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, Professor Bennett's voice cut through their whispered exchange.
"Mr. Dragneel, Ms. Heartfilia," he said, his tone sharp. "Perhaps you'd like to share your fascinating discussion with the rest of the class?"
Lucy froze, her mind racing for an excuse. But before she could speak, Natsu piped up, his voice filled with feigned innocence.
"Sorry, Prof," he said, flashing that disarming grin. "I was just asking Lucy here to explain covalent bonds to me. Seems like she's got a real… attraction to the subject."
A few snickers rippled through the class, and Lucy found herself torn between wanting to sink into her chair and wanting to high-five Natsu for his quick thinking.
As Bennett resumed the lecture with a huff, Lucy shot Natsu a look that was equal parts exasperation and admiration. "Smooth, Dragneel," she whispered. "But don't think this makes us friends."
Natsu's eyes flickered over Lucy, his gaze coolly appraising. The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smirk that was more condescending than friendly. "Don't worry, blondie," he murmured, his voice low and tinged with amusement. "I've got plenty of friends. Don't need to add some random bimbo to the list."
Lucy's jaw dropped, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. She opened her mouth to retort, but Natsu had already turned his attention back to the lecture, effectively dismissing her.
"Well, I never…" Lucy fumed silently, her earlier intrigue evaporating like mist in the sun. She glared daggers at Natsu's profile, noting how the arrogant set of his jaw only made him more infuriating.
"Fine," she thought, gripping her pen so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Two can play at that game, you pink-haired jerk."
For the remainder of the class, Lucy pointedly ignored Natsu, channeling her frustration into furious note-taking. But despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the sting of his casual dismissal.
As the lecture finally drew to a close, Lucy began gathering her things, determined to make a swift exit. But as she stood, Natsu's voice stopped her cold.
"Hey, Lucy," he said, his tone deceptively casual. "No hard feelings, right? It's just chemistry, after all."
Lucy turned, fixing him with her iciest glare. "Oh, don't worry about it, Dragneel," she replied, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "I don't waste my time on feelings - or friends - when it comes to cocky jerks like you."
With that, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and strode out of the classroom, leaving a slightly stunned Natsu in her wake. As she pushed through the doors into the hallway, Lucy couldn't help but feel a small thrill of satisfaction.
"Game on, Natsu Dragneel," she thought, a determined glint in her eye. "Let's see who comes out on top in this little chemistry experiment."
Lucy burst into the apartment, the door slamming behind her with enough force to rattle the pictures on the wall. "You will not believe the day I've had!" she announced, stomping into the kitchen.
Elara, stirring something that smelled divine on the stove, glanced over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Whoa there, tiger. What's got you all worked up?"
Lucy threw her bag onto the counter and slumped onto a barstool. "Two words: Pink. Hair."
"Ooh, sounds intriguing," Elara said, turning down the heat on the stove. "Spill!"
With an exaggerated groan, Lucy launched into her tale. "So there I am, suffering through Bennett's chem class, right? When this guy bursts in like he owns the place. All pink hair and cocky grin and muscles for days."
"Sounds hot," Elara interjected with a smirk, reaching for some spices.
Lucy shot her a glare. "Oh, he was. Until he opened his stupid mouth." She affected a mocking, deep voice. "'Hope you don't mind a little firepower in your chemistry.' Ugh!"
Elara snorted. "Okay, that's a pretty terrible line."
"It gets worse," Lucy continued, warming to her subject. "So he sits next to me, right? And at first, I thought maybe he was just nervous, trying too hard to be cool. But then!" She paused for dramatic effect. "Then he has the audacity to call me a 'random bimbo'!"
Elara gasped, nearly dropping her wooden spoon. "He didn't!"
"Oh, he did," Lucy confirmed, nodding vigorously. "Can you believe it? Me! A bimbo!"
"What a jerk!" Elara exclaimed, shaking her head.
"Oh, but wait, there's more!" Lucy said, her voice rising with indignation. "We had volleyball in P.E. after that, and guess who's on my team? Mr. Pink Hair himself! And did he pass to me even once? No! It was like I was invisible on the court!"
Elara winced sympathetically. "Ouch. Maybe he's just super competitive?"
Lucy snorted. "Please. He had no problem passing to everyone else. Even that uncoordinated guy who can barely hit the ball over the net!"
"Okay, that's definitely personal," Elara agreed, stirring the pot thoughtfully.
"And here's the kicker," Lucy continued, her eyes flashing. "We both have History after that. And you know what? This jerk is actually good at it! He's answering questions, engaging in discussions – he seems to love it as much as I do!"
Elara paused, looking confused. "Wait, isn't that a good thing? You're always complaining about how no one else takes History seriously."
Lucy threw her hands up in exasperation. "That's exactly the problem! He's supposed to be this dumb jock type, all brawn and no brains. But no! He's sitting there, debating the finer points of the French Revolution like he's some kind of… of…"
"History buff?" Elara supplied helpfully, trying to hide a smile.
"Exactly!" Lucy exclaimed. "It's infuriating! How am I supposed to hate him properly if he's actually intelligent?"
Elara turned off the stove and leaned against the counter, fixing Lucy with an amused look. "Sounds to me like someone's got a crush."
Lucy's jaw dropped. "I do not! He's an arrogant, dismissive jerk who happens to be good at History. That's all!"
Elara chuckled, reaching for plates. "Sure, honey. Whatever you say."
Lucy huffed, crossing her arms. "Mark my words, this Natsu Dragneel is going to regret the day he messed with Lucy Heartfilia. I don't care how good he is at History or how nice his arms look in a t-shirt. He's going down."
As Elara set a steaming plate of food in front of her, she raised an eyebrow. "To Lucy: may her revenge be swift, brutal, and incredibly entertaining for me to watch."
Lucy stabbed at her food with perhaps more force than necessary, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Watch out, Pinky," she thought. "You have no idea what you've just started."
Lucy sprawled on the couch, her feet propped up on Elara's lap as they mindlessly scrolled through Netflix options.
"God, why is there never anything good to watch when you actually have time?" Lucy groaned, tossing the remote aside in frustration.
Elara chuckled, absently massaging Lucy's feet. "First world problems, babe. We could always study instead?"
Lucy shot her a withering look. "Don't even joke about that. I've had enough academia for one day, thank you very much."
Just then, the apartment door swung open, and Alice breezed in, laden with shopping bags. "Ladies, your savior has arrived!" she announced dramatically.
"Oh thank god," Lucy said, sitting up. "Please tell me you brought alcohol."
Alice grinned, pulling a bottle of wine from one of her bags. "What kind of savior would I be if I didn't?"
As Alice poured generous glasses of wine, Elara eyed the other bags suspiciously. "Do I even want to know how much damage you did to your credit card today?"
"Probably not," Alice admitted cheerfully. "But look at this cute top I got! It'll be perfect for that party next week."
Lucy perked up. "Ooh, party? Do tell!"
As Alice launched into a detailed description of the upcoming social event, Lucy felt the stress of the day slowly melting away. This was what she needed – good friends, good wine, and absolutely no thoughts of pink-haired jerks.
"Oh!" Alice exclaimed suddenly. "I almost forgot. I picked up the new Monopoly set we've been eyeing. Who's up for a game?"
An hour later, the coffee table was a battlefield of colorful money, houses, and hotels. Lucy cackled gleefully as Elara landed on her Boardwalk property, complete with a hotel.
"Pay up, sucker!" she crowed, holding out her hand expectantly.
Elara groaned dramatically. "This is highway robbery. I'm pretty sure you're cheating somehow."
"Don't hate the player, hate the game," Lucy sang, counting her newly acquired cash.
Alice, already bankrupt and out of the game, lounged on the couch sipping her wine. "You know, Lu, for someone who claims to hate capitalism, you're surprisingly cutthroat at this game."
Lucy shrugged, unrepentant. "What can I say? I contain multitudes."
As the game wound down (with Lucy emerging victorious, much to Elara's chagrin), Lucy glanced at the clock and sighed. "I should probably do some actual studying before bed. That History essay isn't going to write itself."
Her friends made sympathetic noises as Lucy retrieved her laptop and textbooks, settling back onto the couch. She opened her notebook, frowning slightly as she recalled Natsu's unexpected enthusiasm in class earlier.
"Hey, El?" she said, not looking up from her notes. "You don't think that Natsu guy could actually be… you know, smart or whatever, right?"
Elara and Alice exchanged knowing looks. "I thought you were done thinking about him for the day," Elara teased gently.
Lucy felt her cheeks warm. "I am! I just… it's for purely academic reasons. Competitive edge and all that."
"Uh-huh," Alice said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, I say don't underestimate him. Smart or not, he's clearly gotten under your skin."
Lucy huffed, burying herself deeper in her textbook. "Whatever. I'll show him who the real history buff is."
As she dove into her essay, Lucy couldn't quite shake the image of Natsu's intense expression during their class discussion. It was almost… attractive, in a totally objective, academic sense of course.
"Focus, Heartfilia," she muttered to herself. "No more thoughts about pink-haired jerks. You've got a GPA to maintain."
But even as she typed furiously, a small part of her wondered what other surprises Natsu Dragneel might have in store.
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