•••

"And... done!"

Lucy put the flower clip on, delicately, making sure that it stayed put.

"Is it set?" she asked, withdrawing her hands carefully, however they still hovered near the hair as if to save the hair-do if it falls apart.

"It's perfect!" Vera exclaimed, twirling around in happiness. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Lucy watched her excitedly walk around, a sigh escaping her.

'Cancer would've done a better job though.' she thought. 'I wish he wouldn't have had to miss out on such an opportunity. He would've loved to do Vera's hair.'

"Alright!" Lucy hollered. "Stop and sit down now. You're going to ruin all of my hard work."

"I'm just so excited. It's the first time you'll be celebrating it with us!"

Lucy crossed her arms, looking out the window.

"Ah." she began. "About that-"

"Vera! They're here!"

Mari's voice echoed from below, efficiently cutting Lucy off.

"Coming Ma!" Vera shouted back, getting up and collecting her things. "What were you saying Lucy?"

"Nothing..I-" she sighed, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Have a great time okay?"

"Yes ma'am!" Vera replied cheerfully, doing a two finger salute. "We'll see each other during the fireworks!"

A chuckle escaped Lucy when she saw Vera run out, or try to run out, for the yukata restricted her movements and she was reduced to walking awkwardly like a penguin.

"Don't laugh!" she whined, holding onto the stair railing for dear life. When Lucy didn't stop, she turned around, pouting. "Just you wait." she said. "I'd like to see you wear one and run."

The smile instantly disappeared from her face, however, Vera already had her back facing her so she didn't notice. Lucy leaned against the window, looking out at the darkening sky.

She felt sad, and guilty, for she was about to ruin everything on this perfect day.

She wasn't going to be there.

She was going to escape.

•••

"Thank you so much for staying and helping me out."

"It's no biggie." Lucy smiled and resumed mopping the floor clean.

"There were just so many customers today. I feel bad for keeping you."

"It's no problem Mari." Lucy said nonchalantly, continuing on with her work.

"Well, I'm done here!" Mari exclaimed. "How long will it take for you?"

"I'll be done with it soon enough. You go on ahead. I'll lock up the café and everything and leave the keys in their usual place."

"Thank you so much Lucy. I'm going upstairs now. You get ready once you're done too. Wouldn't want to keep them all waiting." she said, chuckling.

She watched her go upstairs, before taking in a deep breath and finishing off with her work. The chatter outside increased, almost everyone was out on the streets now. And somewhere amongst that crowd, were her former guild mates.

The streets were all lit up, twinkling stars decorating the night sky. Lucy watched from the window, her heart clutching painfully at such a wondrous sight. It reminded her so much, so very much of Fantasia, the town of Magnolia and her home. Her guild.

Of course, they were all just memories now. Memories that only existed for her.

"Lucy?"

Startled, the said woman turned around, coming face to face with Mari.

"Mari." Lucy breathed in relief, shaking her head slightly. "It's just you."

"You aren't done?"

She looked around, and gave an apologetic smile. "Eh..looks like I got lost in my own thoughts. Sorry about that!"

"Here, let me help you with th-"

"No no! You'll get your outfit all dirty. I'll do it."

"But-"

"It's fine! You go on ahead."

She was still hesitant, but she knew that she couldn't win against her. So she reluctantly nodded her head and waved her a goodbye.

Lucy rubbed the back of her neck, frowning a bit. Then grabbing the mop tightly, she began cleaning at last.

The sound of fireworks distracted her and she could see the shimmering lights high up in the sky, mesmerised. Lucy hid the keys under the flowerpot , her eyes returning back to the night sky once it was done. The fireworks reflected in her twinkling eyes, and she just stood there in the darkness, watching the ethereal sight.

She wanted to be outside, to be closer. As absurd as it sounded, the thought of being outside and looking at them filled her with a feeling of satisfaction and contentment, like she'll be closer to home. Closer to everyone.

And so, in one swift motion, she was out the back door and into the streets of Roosevelt, taking long and quick strides towards her special place.

The crowd slowed her down, but was also a good cover to go on unnoticed. About twenty minutes later, she finally got through and now had an empty path ahead. After all, it was in the completely opposite direction of the town's heart.

Without wasting another moment, Lucy sprinted forward, running without stopping. She passed through the bridge and the stone paths, until she finally reached her destination. It was as peaceful and beautiful as ever, bringing a smile up on her face.

She trudged down the slanting ground, and once she reached a good spot, lay down. The cool grass underneath was refreshing and the sight of a Firefly or two added to the scenery. The big, bright moon reflected on the river, the whole atmosphere calming and serene. In a distance, she could still see the lights from the festival, and she closed her eyes, taking in the surroundings.

"You really do like watching the stars don't you?"

Lucy got up with a start, finding Natsu starting to sit beside her.

"Natsu!" she exclaimed. "What're you doing here?"

"Mari said that you were still in the café. So I went back but saw you going away in the opposite direction. So I followed you here."

Lucy lay back down, Natsu following soon after.

"You're such an idiot." Lucy commented, smiling.

"Hey! That's mean!"

"And following a lady is wrong." Lucy laughed. "So we're even."

"A lady maybe. But you're my friend."

She didn't let it show, but what he said touched her, making her feel warm and happy inside.

"So why weren't you at the festival?"

"I didn't feel like it."

"I find that hard to believe. Especially after how excited you were."

Lucy didn't reply, instead, she continued staring up at the sky, watching the stars.

She couldn't tell him how painful it was, to be with the people but still not be there.

To just be a shadow in the background.

"Why out here?"

"It's my special place. The scenery, the atmosphere, it all reminds me of home. So I come here whenever I miss it."

"So why not go back?"

"Because I can't." Lucy gave a humourless laugh. "I can never."

They were silent again, lying next to each other on the cool grass on a summer night. Lucy closed her eyes once more, taking in a deep breath.

"I feel like running away sometimes."

She didn't know what came over her, and why she was talking about this all of a sudden, but she was. She had locked these feelings away a long time ago, denying that she felt something like this. But now, she didn't know why she was letting them out, and that too now of all times.

"I've been thinking about leaving from time to time." she sighed. "But I just ignore them as soon as they surface. Denying them."

"Luce.."

"I tried to leave once. A few months before you guys came along."

Talking about it, she could vividly remember that day. That night when she tried to leave.

"But I couldn't. Mari found me and stopped me. I couldn't leave for her sake. That's what is keeping me here. Not me. Not this town. But her."

"Why do you want to leave?"

"I don't know. I guess it's a bad habit. I've done it once anyway. But the sad thing is, they'll remember me if I leave."

"I guess a simple explanation would be that I'm scared of finding a home again. Of getting attached again. So I never really accepted this place as my home. And now that I think I'm starting to, it's scaring me."

He didn't interrupt her, letting her pour her heart out. Something she was thankful for.

No questions.

No explanations.

Just her feelings.

How long had it been since something like that happened?

"But even though it all scares me, I'm always yearning for that home. I always want that home. I try to find that feeling anywhere, and in anything I can."

It was enough now, she couldn't hold them in any longer. She didn't sob, she didn't cry, she just let the silent tears out. She just let her feelings out.

"And so I found this place. A place that could give me the feeling of a home. I came out here today because I wanted to be closer to it."

"Were you?" Natsu finally asked, looking at her. He gingerly wiped away her tears, and Lucy gave a slight, teary smile. "Were you able to find that home today?"

The blonde sniffed, her smile growing wider. "If I wasn't before." she began, looking at him, no more teary eyed.

"I am able to now."

•••

Oof oof oof
Call it cliche, call it romantic, this is by far one of my most favorite chapters. Seriously, I've been waiting to write it for sooooooooo long!

And don't worry my lovelies, the mystery of Lucy's past is gonna come out soon enough!

Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter!
Listen to the song too. Adds to the effects♥

Please vote, comment and share if ya liked it. I love me some loud readers😂♥

Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥♥🔑