Lucy

Practice that afternoon was beyond ruthless. Coach wanted to make sure we were in the best shape for Tuesday's game. Again, we scrimmage after an hour of drills and nonstop running. This time he mixed it up. I was teamed up with Natsu against Erza and Gray. We were just lucky we 2-2.

"Sorry I'm missed today, boss," someone said, coming up to the Coach when we were all taking a break on the grass.

"Loke!" Natsu, who was sitting beside me, was on his feet in seconds. "You still owe me a PK shoot out!"

I looked up at the Loke person who missed two practices in a row. He came by yesterday, I saw him watching me along with Makarov when we were playing behind those weird blue sunglasses. It's not that I hate him or mind him or anything... he just reminds me of someone who was dear to me back in my household beside my mother. And unlike my mother, he didn't die. He just disappeared after my mother died and never kept in contact.

Loke isn't him, though. So I don't know why I'm suddenly thinking about my older cousin at a time like this.

The center back walked up to Natsu but than stopped when his eyes landed on mines. He was, of course, wearing the sunglasses I saw him had on yesterday but the way his head is faced, yep he was definitely looking at me. Suddenly he threw his arms up and a leg up, "L-Lucy?! I didn't know you were here today?"

Question marks filled my entire brain at his sudden reaction. I'm not the only one confused with what's going on, right?

"What's gotten into you man?" Gray asked. "This is Lucy, not some other blonde you had a bad history with."

Loke waved it off, "Uh! I just remembered I had to do something for dinner tonight! I, uh, I gotta go!"

And off the orange-head went, running at full speed towards the tunnels leading out of the giant Fairy Tail home stadium without another word; only smoke covered his track.

The whole team watched speechless at Loke's sudden escape. What I did learn about the escaped convict was this, he never ran. Even though he's their star center back, Cana would run for the ball; he'd just be the last line of defense before Elfman.

Weird...

"That's the first time I've seen him sprint at full speed like that," Erza said, almost surprised with him.

Cana turned to Levy, "I never thought blonde girls scared him that much. He never ran from them like he just did from Lucy just now."

"That's because Lucy's face is scary than any other blonde's," Natsu laughed.

I hit him across the head, causing the poor boy to double over but hey, he deserved it. He's never been one to keep his opinions to himself.

"Anyway, children," Coach Makarov cleared his throat, "Go home and get a good rest. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water tomorrow as well. We have one more practice before taking on those runnerups in our stage match than we're into the round of 16 for the Fiore Golden Cup."

The Fiore Golden Cup is like the UEFA and all the other leagues that happen around the world. This is a soccer competition amongst the Fiorian FCs though. And guess what, Fairy Tail's taken them in the past two years since Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Levy have joined. This year, they have me alongside them.

"I'll see you kids Monday," Makarov raised a hand in the Fairy Tail sign. "Go home now."

"Yes sir," with that, the teammates mingled, leaving the Coach alone in the center.

Natsu was suddenly beside, "Let's get you home, Lucy."

"That's a fine idea," Erza appeared at my other side. "Let's all crash at Lucy's place tonight."

"Eh?!"

"That's not what Natsu was suggesting but," Gray held up a finger. "I agree. I heard you can cook a hell of a meal."

The pink headed winger threw a fist into the air, "Alright! Party at Lucy's tonight!"

I slapped a hand over his mouth, "I never agreed to this and don't give anybody any wrong ideas, dammit Natsu!"

"Party? Do you have any alcohol, Blondie?" Cana's hand wrapped around my shoulder.

"I'm underage!" I shouted.

"Awww," Cana released me. "Than that's no fun."

Pfft! Like hell I'd let her into my house where if I did hide alcohol.

I turned to three of my fellow classmates, each wearing the brightest smiles one can ever see. I felt a smile twitching at my own mouth.

"Fine," I sighed. "But dinner tonight is going to be ramen. I don't have enough money yet to be making deluxe meals for you guys."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"That will be $10.50, Ms. Lucy," the convenience store man, an older man, smiled at me.

I pulled out my wallet and put the bills down, "Thank you, kind sir."

"See you tomorrow, Lucy," he waved at me.

Natsu had tagged along with me to buy the things afraid I might get jumped a block away from my house. In truth, he doesn't know I have a black belt in Taekwondo so I don't blame him. He's just trying to protect me like the gentleman he is.

Ha! Yeah right.

I dragged him by the sleeve of his shirt out of the store. He was being a teenage boy at one of the Womens' Life Magazine, of course. The lady on the cover was wearing a very, very revealing bikini along with there being tips on how to have a good time in bed at night.

"Alright, alright I'm going," He complained just as I released him onto the lit streets of my neighborhood.

He fell into pace beside me and snatched the bag of ramen away from my hands.

"Beef and chicken," he smiled. "Alright! That's a feast!"

I made a grab for the bag but Salamander pulled it away, "I'll carry it, Luce. Don't worry."

"Thanks Natsu," I smiled at him and sarcastically said. "For the first time ever, you have finally learned how to become a gentleman."

He scowled, "I can be polite when I want to be."

"Aw," I continued. "I forgot being polite is too mainstream for the all great and power Natsu Salamander Dragneel."

His cute face finally broke into a smile, "Yeah, yeah tease me all you want."

Natsu... like a dragon made me feel, warm. Like a loyal dragon, he made me feel safe. I've never felt so happy being around someone like him before. I did meet crazy people like him, yes, I've also dated some caring guys that I completely lost feelings for a few months later. I wasn't a heart-breaker like most would put me out to be. Would you believe me when I say, Natsu made me feel different? When I was around other guys I did have crushes on, it felt almost childish blushing and shuttering whenever I talked to those guys.

But with Natsu, it felt different. I'm not saying I have a crush on him or anything so don't get me wrong. What I'm saying is our conversations flow so naturally it feels like I've known him for years instead of barely a month. I knew his likes and his hates (vegetables... he can be such a kid sometimes). Being Natsu's friend, was one of the best things that happened me in the past few years. Of course joining Fairy Tail FC was, too but if Natsu had plopped himself down yesterday, I wouldn't be happily walking home with him by my side.

"Hey Luce," I blinked, his smile filled my vision. "You ready? Let's go home."

Natsu's bigger hand intertwined with mines without him giving it any thought.

bump, bump...

Scratch the part of me not having a crush on Natsu... please