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She held the magazine tight in her hands; clutching harder and harder as her frustration grew. The image on the front cover was of her in a somewhat revealing dress with taglines for various beauty and health articles contained within the issue. It was a good picture; in fact, she had been told several times in life that she was incapable of taking a bad picture. So, what was there to be upset about?
Modeling was a steady income for her, something she could always count on, but it wasn't her main passion. Lucy had always dreamed to be an actress, to see herself on the silver screen. She auditioned for several tv shows and had landed bit parts here and there. Her first big success was landing a 4-episode arch on a crime solving tv show.
From there, she was cast as the main character in a tv show that only ran for 1 season. The show itself wasn't a hit but she was able to get the attention of several people in the movie business. To her dismay, the attention was mostly set on how she looked rather than her actual talent.
Lucy would go on to play the ditsy blonde or the token hot girl in things. She had tried to audition for more serious roles, but she was turned down every time. She didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak, so she made sure to smile and say thank you. All the while, deep down, she wished for someone to give her a chance; to allow her to show what she could really do. Lucy was more than just a pretty face, but that's all she was wanted for.
"Lucy!" The blonde looked up from the magazine in her hands to look at the bouncing blunette coming towards her. Levy was her agent and her best friend; the two had met in a class in college and have been inseparable ever since. When Lucy's career started to take over, Levy was right there beside her for the journey.
"I have the newest casting calls for you," Levy chimed as she walked in the room, followed closely behind by Lucy's publicist, Juvia. Levy carried a stack of folders in her arms, all of which contained new ads or listings for various productions. Levy and Juvia sat beside one another on the couch while Lucy sat in the chair across from them.
Lucy gave a heavy sigh. "Please don't tell me its more stereotypical roles based on my looks." Juvia and Levy looked at one another before Levy sighed and threw half the stack over her shoulder. Lucy leaned her head back to rest on the chair. "How many of those are for modeling?" The blonde asked. Levy looked down once more before throwing even more of the stack away. "What's left?"
Levy picked the three remaining folders and read them off one by one. "Special guest on another crime drama as an FBI agent. Guest judge on a cooking show. Announcer of the Puppy Bowl."
"The best one out of those is the crime drama but it's still…" Lucy sighed once more.
Juvia and Levy looked at Lucy then at one another nervously questioning their last option. With a nod from Levy, Juvia spoke up, "Juvia, has a suggestion." The blonde turned her head towards her. "Well…" she began as she nervously wrung her hands in her lap, "Juvia has a friend who works for a sports team. They want to make a movie using their image and players for an underdog story."
"So, what's the part?" Lucy asked.
"First female MLB manager."
"That has some promise," Levy cheered. "A serious role plus you get to be around a bunch of hot guys in tight pants."
Lucy rolled her eyes at the blunette before considering the offer. "I do know some things about baseball." Her mind wandered back to the years of attending baseball games to cheer on her favorite player. Lucy shook her head to disrupt the depressing path those memories led down.
"Then it sounds like a deal! Juvia, will you get us a meeting with your friend?" Juvia nodded before turning to her phone to type out a message.
…
"Where are we meeting these people again?" Lucy asked as she glanced out the window. Levy, Juvia and Lucy, along with the other members of her team, Loke (her driver) and Yukino (her hair/makeup artist), had flown to Magnolia to meet with Juvia's friend about this film. After Juvia sent a text to Erza stating she had a client who was interested in the film, Erza agreed to set up an 'informal' audition for it. Lucy was left in the dark in regard to the specifics of the interview, but as a way to prepare, she watched several baseballs games in the preceding week.
"At their stadium." Levy answered as she tapped away on her phone. Loke nodded from his spot in the driver's seat. Juvia sat in the front seat beside Loke while the other 3 sat in the rear passenger area.
Lucy used her phone to search 'Magnolia baseball team.' The results showed her facts and information about the Magnolia Dragons. Apparently, they were really good based off their World Series win last year. Odd that the team hadn't popped up in any of the games she had watched recently.
Their logo was a dragon claw gripping onto a baseball with the team's name written in fiery text. Their mascot was a blue dragon named Happy. Lucy thought it was very cute. She continued scrolling until she reached a team roster, which was organized by number. The manager for the team, Laxus Dreyar, was listed as number 1. Following him were the coaches and catchers. The roster continued through the other numbers, which Lucy guessed were based on position.
Lucy got to the 30s and her heart stopped. Number 35… it can't be. She clicked on the small image of the player, taking her to his player profile. 'Natsu Dragneel #35.' It listed his regular and career season stats and charts for both batting and pitching, various awards he had won, league rankings and bio information. No matter how much she looked, it only confirmed her original instinct… the Natsu Dragneel that played for the Magnolia Dragons was the same Natsu Dragneel from her past, HER Natsu.
You knew it was him as soon as you saw his picture. How could you not? Who else have you met that has pink hair and plays baseball? She chastised herself before giving the excuse… I didn't want it to be him. Or did you?
Lucy dropped the phone, which landed on the floorboards with a thud. The sudden noise drew both Juvia's and Levy's attention. "Everything okay, Lucy?" Yukino asked.
"How could you not tell me?!" Lucy yelled at Levy.
Levy sighed, turned off her phone and turned to face her friend who sat in the back seat. "You found out?"
"How could I not? All you have to do is search the team and the roster pops up!" Lucy reached for her phone and shoved it in the blunette's face.
"Lucy…" she began but the blonde continued.
"How could you not tell me he was on this team?!"
"Who?" Juvia asked cautiously.
"Natsu Dragneel," Levy answered as she handed the phone to Juvia. Juvia took the phone and looked at the photo on the player profile screen. "He and Lucy have a past." Juvia furrowed her eyes and frowned at Levy's emphasis on past.
"Natsu and Lucy dated?" Juvia asked.
"He broke my heart," Lucy said hurtfully. Levy and Lucy both knew there was more to it than that, but neither said a word.
Her shoulders slumped as she met her friend's eyes again. "How could you not tell me?"
"If I told you, I was afraid you would say no." Coincidentally, the car came to a stop in front of the stadium.
Lucy turned to look out the window at the grand building before her. She may have been indifferent about it before but now, knowing what or who lays inside, it was daunting.
"Lucy." The blonde turned away from the window to look at Levy. "This is an amazing opportunity and I'd hate to see you pass this up because of him. Would you at least hear Erza out and see what this role will be?"
Lucy sighed and glanced out the window at the stadium once more. She was excited to hear about the role initially and prepping for the role only made that grow. What if you only see him in passing? Manageable. "Fine." Lucy muttered.
…
Levy, Juvia, Yukino and Lucy waited patiently in the lobby for Erza to arrive; Loke remained with the vehicle outside. A small display in the corner caught Lucy's eye and she went over to investigate it. A glass case lined the wall which housed memorabilia from the team. Every jersey ever used by the team lined the wall as well as information about when those jerseys were used and by whom they were worn.
Lucy glanced over each piece in the display until it came to a giant case containing a trophy which Lucy knew to be the Commissioner's Trophy. Behind it was a giant picture of the moment the Magnolia Dragons won the World Series last year. Her eyes found Natsu's bright head of hair; it helped that he was the one holding up the trophy.
He looks so happy. She knew it had always been his dream to play professional baseball. She followed his career for a little bit after college but stopped when it became too hard. The last she heard; he had been drafted to some minor league team in Minstrel.
Good for him. She blinked furiously when she found herself feeling happy for him. Was that normal?
Lucy didn't have much time to dwell on it before Erza announced herself.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Hello, my name is Erza Scarlet. I am the Head Agent for the Magnolia Dragons."
Lucy took the red-haired woman's hand. She was shocked that she had such a strong grip. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia." Lucy took back her hand and pointed it at each of her friends. "This is Levy McGarden, my manager, Yukino Agria, my stylist, and you know Juvia Lockster, my publicist."
Erza shook each of their hands, "Lovely to meet you all. I hope you are hungry; we have prepared a lunch at the owner's box for you." Levy raised her eyebrows at Lucy before the group followed Erza towards the private portion of the stadium.
"So, Erza, Juvia tells me you two are friends from college?" Levy asked as Erza held a keycard to a panel to access a door labeled 'Authorized Personnel Only.'
"Yes, I played softball in college and Juvia worked for our school newspaper. She interviewed me a few times and slowly we became friends."
"Lucy and I met in a similar way." Levy chimed in. "We took a class together in college." Erza stopped at an elevator door and pressed the button to signal it.
"And it was an elective of all things," Lucy chipped in.
"Really? What was it for?" Erza asked as the elevator doors opened.
"It was a Writer's Class for Beginners." Levy answered as they all walked inside the open metal doors.
"Oh, so you like to write?"
Lucy nodded her head, "I love acting, don't get me wrong, but the thought of writing something and seeing it come to life on stage or screen gives me such joy."
"That sounds like an excellent dream." Erza smiled.
A chimed dinged signaling their arrival at their destination. The doors opened into a hallway that looked similar to the one they had just left. Erza directed them down a hall before stopping at a door labeled 'Owner's Box.' She opened the door and waived them all in.
The room looked like a small suite with an attached patio area that overlooked the field. Inside, there was a small kitchenette, a lounge area with a sofa, and a table lined with prepped food trays.
Before Lucy could soak in anymore of the room, Erza gestured to a woman who walked towards them from the patio. "This is my colleague, Mira Strauss." The white-haired beauty walked over to Lucy.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I loved you as Laura Wingfield." Mira commented as she shook Lucy's hand.
"You've seen my production of Glass Menagerie?" Lucy asked stunned.
"Of course. As soon as Erza told me about you, I did my research. Your scene with Jim was absolutely beautiful; it brought tears to my eyes." Mira motioned for her to sit at the table with them. A waiter came by and took their drink orders before the conversation continued.
"Can you tell me more about the part?" Lucy asked.
"The movie revolves around Jackie Callahan. She is the daughter of a famous baseball manager who plays the sport herself. Her dream is to follow her father's footsteps to become the first female MLB manager.
The Malba City Slayers, an MLB team, is struggling and is told they either win the World Series or else the team will be moved to another city. The owner hires Jackie because they have nothing to lose. The players and the staff are initially opposed to her, but through hard work and perseverance, the whole team comes together to win."
"That sounds amazing." Lucy stated. "Having a female lead in a sports underdog story would be so inspiring."
"Hopefully, movies like these encourage women to take steps to break the glass ceiling in their own lives." Mira added.
The waiters brought a plate of food for each person. They continued to chat as they ate.
"So, Lucy, why did you want to be an actress?" Mira asked.
"We moved when I was really little, and my mom put me into the local theater program hoping it was a good way for me to meet people. I stayed because I loved that I could be anybody and do anything. I learned more about myself from playing other people than I did in the normal course of my life." Lucy answered.
"What's the biggest thing you have learned so far?" Erza asked.
After some thinking, Lucy answered, "The people around you influence you, whether good or bad, so be careful about who you let in."
"Very astute." Erza nodded in approval.
"I've had castmates who are amazing and make me want to improve my craft, but I've also worked with people that have drug the rest of the production down with them. I imagine it's the same with any sports team."
Erza nodded again, "It takes everyone to win, and we are only as strong as our weakest link."
"Did you play any sports, Lucy?" Mira asked.
Lucy's shoulders slumped a little. It seemed like hints of Natsu kept jumping out at her once she knew he was potentially involved in this. "I never played any sports myself, but I was involved in baseball for a good majority of my childhood."
"Involved how?" Mira inquired.
"One of my friends played from elementary up through college. I helped out the team at practices, games… pretty much whenever I could." Lucy missed the way Mira's eyes lit up.
"Must have been a really good friend for you to do all that for them." Mira smirked at her. Lucy couldn't help but slightly blush at the comment.
Erza leaned forward and laced her fingers together. "So, you have baseball knowledge?"
Lucy scratched the back of her head, "It's been a bit but I'm sure its engrained in my memory."
"Here is a question for you…" Erza began, making Lucy gulp in concern. "What are the only two defensive positions allowed to use a mitt?" Levy, Juvia and Mira turned to look at Lucy.
Ok, think Lucy, think. I remember there being gloves and mitts, but what was the difference? A catcher has a mitt, so what else? Lucy looked back at Erza. "Catcher and First Base." The heads turned back to Erza.
"Correct." The scarlet-haired woman smiled.
"Beautiful and smart." Levy quipped.
Mira and Erza looked at one another. Erza raised her eyebrow at Mira, who responded with a warm smile and a nod. "Lucy," Erza began as she turned her head to face the rest of the table. "We would love for you to be a part of this project."
Lucy couldn't help but smile. "However…" The smile dropped for a moment. "If you are truly interested, you would still have to formally audition for the movie executives." Erza informed her.
Mira reached out and placed her hand on Lucy's. "We hope that doesn't deter you from being a part of this. Honestly, we think you' d be a great addition to the cast."
The warm invitation made her smile and gave her a pleasant feeling. She had her reservations doing this, but those were starting to fade away in comparison to all the signs drawing her to it. Something about this place, these people… made her feel like home.
Levy turned to look at the blonde and could tell she was in deep thought. The blunette placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder reassuringly. This could be her 'big break;' something in her told her she needed to do it.
Lucy's took a deep breath in before letting it all out in a quick exhale. "When is the audition?"
She's going for it... but what will happen next?!
Stay tuned for chapter 3