"Have they gotten back to you?" Levy asked.
It's been a month since Lucy filed a police report against Bora and she still hadn't heard back from the police or prosecutors, she assumed that the case wasn't going to go anywhere.
What a shocker, not.
Lucy shook her head, "No, honestly I don't think anything is going to happen."
This earned her a frown from Levy, "Don't say that! Justice will be served."
Lucy offered a weak smile at Levy. Although she wished that would be true she knew too well how the justice system handled cases like hers. "I hope you're right."
"I should start getting ready for class," Lucy stood up from the kitchen table and walked towards her room.
Lucy lied, she didn't need to get ready for class, yet. She just didn't want to talk about the Bora incident, or anything related to it. Lucy crawled back into her bed and laid there. It's been a thing for a while, just lying in bed and not doing anything.
She figured it was her way of dealing with what happened. Since it wasn't destructive Lucy didn't feel like stopping.
Lucy laid in bed looking at her ceiling for an hour.
Class had been a blur, just like the rest of them. It's not like she didn't want to be there, she just zoned out and had difficulties focusing again. Especially because it was hard to catch up on class when she was already behind.
The only thing keeping her afloat was the fact that her professors posted their slides online, so she took notes outside of class and she kept up with homework assignments.
Cana had texted her, 'Meet me at the cake shop after your class'
'On my way there now' Lucy responded.
She arrived there sooner than she expected, she got off the bus and crossed the street making her way to the cake shop. She sent Cana a text, 'Here'
Lucy walked into the shop looking around for Cana only for her phone to ding, 'I'll be there in 10 mins!'
She found a booth to sit in and wait for Cana. Although Lucy did like sweets, she wasn't craving any as of now. She mindlessly scrolled down her timeline.
"Lucy?" A familiar voice snapped her out of her dazed induced scrolling. She looked up to find Natsu looking down at her.
"Natsu!" Lucy stood up and pulled him into a hug. Lucy pointed at the seat across from her, "Sit."
Natsu obliged, "How have you been?"
"Terrible," She admitted.
Natsu pursed his lips and reached out, Lucy let him take her hands, "I'm sorry."
Oh no, here comes the pity. That's what Lucy hated the most. Yukino, Cana, and Levy had been guilty of it and now Natsu is doing it too.
"It isn't your fault. Besides I'm working on it," that was a lie.
Lucy found herself lying a lot lately.
"Oh! That's good to hear!" Before Natsu could continue his name was called. He quickly stood up, collected his cake and walked back to Lucy. "I better get going. If I don't get this cake to Erza soon, she might kill me. See you around Luce."
Everything had happened so fast that Lucy barely had time to process what had just happened. Who was Erza? Did he just nickname her right then and there?
Shortly after Cana walked into the shop, "Guess who I just saw!"
Lucy looked up to find Cana smirking, "Natsu?"
"How'd you know?"
"Intuition," Another lie. Lucy wasn't sure if she wanted to be honest with Cana or anyone for that matter.
Cana stared at her for a while, Lucy assumed she bought the lie because Cana changed the subject, "You want a slice? It's on me."
"I'm not hungry," Lucy admitted.
"Oh c'mon! Just a slice. I'll feel fat being the only one eating."
Lucy caved, "Ok, fine. Get me a key lime slice." Cana made a face of disgust before going up to the register to order.
"I've been wanting to talk to you for a while now," Cana confessed as she sat down. "I know that what happened with Bora could've been worse, but Lucy we've noticed your change in behavior."
A worker brought them their slices. Cana waited for him to go away before continuing.
"Levy and I think that you should look into therapy, maybe it'll help."
Lucy was about to protest when Cana lifted her hand, "Stop right there. The school offers free therapy. You can't use being broke as an excuse. Besides even if you didn't want to use the school's services you know your dad would be ok paying for it."
Lucy slumped back into her seat, she felt like she was set up. Did Cana want to hang out or was this invite just for an intervention? She felt like a fool. Her friends had promised that they weren't pitiful and yet here they were. Or at least one of them.
Lucy stood up from her seat, "I don't need you guys looking out for me or your pity." She struggled to keep her voice low and not choke up.
"Lucy we're-"
This time it was her turn to interrupt, "Save it, Cana." Lucy picked up her bag before storming out the cake shop.
Lucy ran through Magnolia until it felt like her lungs were going to burst.
How could her friends do this to her? Sure, she had been a little different, but so what? It was normal, she was coping. It's not like she was drinking every day. In fact, since the whole Bora situation, she hadn't gone out to party. That sounded like an improvement to Lucy.
She wasn't sure if she could even live with Cana and Levy after the stunt they pulled. Lucy picked up her phone and called her dad.
He picked up by the third ring, "Hello?"
"Dad," Lucy had to keep her tone relaxed. She couldn't have her dad knowing anything had gone wrong. "I want my own place. I don't think I can live with my roommates anymore."
"When do you want to move out?"
"Today?" Lucy knew she was asking for the impossible, but her dad had influence and if anyone could pull it off, it was him.
"Lucy, you know that's impossible. It'll take at least a month."
Why was everyone turning on her? First her friends and now her dad, "Never mind then."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'll figure it out."
"Alright, let me know if you need help with anything."
I did and you couldn't help me, Lucy spitefully thought, "I will. Bye, dad."
Lucy hadn't noticed where she ended up until she took in her surroundings. She realized that she was right in front of Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail was an interesting place, it was a bar, but it was warm and welcoming. It was one of the few bars that were open during the day. Lucy invited herself in.
She was greeted by the bartender, Mirajane. Lucy thought she was wasting her time being here if Mirajane wanted to, she could be a full-time model, but instead, she was a bartender, which wasn't bad. It just felt like a waste of beauty. Besides Lucy was sure models made more money than bartenders.
"Can I get a Moscato."
"Sure thing, Lucy," Mirajane pulled out a glass of wine and filled it up in front of Lucy.
Lucy found herself venting to Mirajane by the time she was done with her glass. Luckily the bar was dead so Mirajane gave Lucy all her attention.
"Can I be honest with you?" Mirajane asked her.
"Please! It feels as if no one has been honest with me."
"You're being a bitch," Mirajane stated matter-of-factly.
This caught Lucy off-guard. She just sat there, mouth agape.
Mirajane continued, "Your friends care about you. Let them care about you and listen to them. They have your best interests in mind. The fact that they were able to catch a change in you says a lot. Swallow your pride and take their advice. Also, I'm cutting you off, you shouldn't be drinking until you figure it out."
Ok, so Mirajane had been a little bit right about, well, everything. "You're right Mirajane. I should go back and apologize."
Mirajane looked pleased with herself, "Good. Now call your uber and get the hell outta my bar. Next time you stop by, I don't want to hear you moping, I want to hear you brag about how well you're doing in therapy or some shit."
Lucy was signing her tab when a redhead walked up to the bar, "Hi Erza," Mirajane greeted.
"Hey Mira," the redhead, Erza responded.
Lucy wondered if this Erza was the same Erza Natsu mentioned. She wanted to stay and find out, but she had more important matters to tend to.
Her friends.
Lucy got home to find Cana and Levy on the couch watching some reality tv show. Cana seemed to be the only one paying attention because Levy was nose deep in a book.
"Guys," Lucy started as she walked towards them, "I'm sorry I was being a bitch. I'll look into therapy."
Cana and Levy moved and made space on the sofa between them, "Apology accepted," Levy said, "Now sit."
Lucy smiled and jumped into her seat between her friends, "Thanks."
Cana rolled her eyes, "We're glad to have you back."
Lucy stayed true to her word and set up an appointment with a therapist. Cana was right, her dad didn't mind paying for her therapy sessions.
Although she'd only been to three sessions, they were making small improvements. Letting her friends worry was one of them.
"How's school going?" Her therapist, Warrod asked.
Lucy twiddled her thumbs, "Honestly, I'm barely getting by."
Warrod leaned back in his seat and crossed one leg over the other, "How so?"
"I've been accidentally zoning out a lot so physically I'm there, but mentally I'm not."
"How are your grades looking?"
Lucy told him how she was able to keep herself from a failing grade.
"Lucy, this week I want you to reach out to your teachers and let them know what's going on. Now before you say no, I'm not asking you to go into detail. Just reach out so they know you care."
It was hitting the hour. Her session was almost over, "Yes I will. I should get going."
The next class session she had attempted to focus and well she wasn't that successful. She did take a page worth of notes, so that was something.
She walked up to the professor's office, she couldn't have her professor thinking she was slacking on purpose. She planned to email all her professors and email them.
"Ultear, can we talk?"
Her professor quickly turned around, "Lucy! Yes, please come in."
Lucy made her way to a chair and sat down, "I know I haven't been all there during class. It's not on purpose and I do still love the class. I'm going through some personal stuff."
Ultear nodded, "I see. Well, just keep up with your homework and I'll think of a way you can make up your participation points. Maybe we can work on some extra credit!"
"Thank you so much!" Lucy stood up and started making her way towards the door.
"One more thing Lucy," Lucy turned around to face Ultear, "I hope you get through whatever you're going through."
"Me too."
In the lobby of the building, she bumped into Natsu, "Natsu?"
Natsu looked up from his phone and walked towards her, "Oh hey Lucy." He said it so causal as if he expected to see her. Did he somehow track her down?
Lucy was determined to get to the bottom of it, "I didn't know you came here."
"I don't," Natsu looked back down at his phone, "I'm waiting for my friend, he takes a class here."
Lucy let out a sigh in relief, "That's cool. I should get going."
She started to walk towards the door when she felt Natsu's hand reach out and take her wrist, "Wait, at least let me get your number."
She smiled at him, "Only if I can get yours too."
A/N: I felt like getting this chapter done took forever. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these times.