Natsu

"To the left," Erza said. "Yeah, a little more Natsu. You're almost there."

Instead of a ladder, Jellal just let me use some of his bar high chair thingy so I wouldn't get sick. I'll admit it worked.

Erza, Gray, Juvia and I were on the gigantic patio. While the other two were putting up more party tables I was hanging up the wires were we could string some of the lanterns from tomorrow night right before the party started. The sun had already set (eight o'clock) but Jellal turned on the patio light for us to continue working. Lucy was inside with him making our dinner.

Lucy...

My ears started turning hot just at the mention of her name.

The moment we had on the coach, yeah, that kept replaying in my mind. I kept scolding myself for not joining our lips faster so we didn't get interrupted. It was Erza who was going to get something from the basement when she saw us. Lucy sprung up faster than a bunny escaping it's predator. I could see her whole face turn red as she backed away and exited the living room faster than Jet's crazy speed.

"Natsu!" the she-devil's voice woke me up from the daze. "Are you listening?"

"Aye ma'am," I replied, holding up the wire. "But can you please repeat what you were saying?"

"The nail is more to your left," she sighed. "To your left, Natsu. No, that's right!"

The wires were supposed to be hung from the roof of the house to the metal railing surrounding the patio. To my 5'7" height, with the chair I couldn't see the nail needed to hang the wire. Erza was standing on a dining chair pointing a flashlight towards it.

I hooked the wire (finally) and jumped off the chair. There was a giant window connecting the kitchen to the patio. There was Lucy, my best friend as well as the girl I almost kissed a few hours ago (four hours seventeen minutes and fifty-three, fifty-four seconds ago). She and Jellal were laughing, joking around while they were making the rice and curry. Jellal's a bro, there's no way he'll date Lucy, I know that for sure. He, for some odd reason, knows I'm confused about Lucy since God knows when. Like I said, he's a bro. He'll never take Lucy from me plus he's got Erza.

But the sight of Lucy laughing with another guy, no matter who it was, just bothers me to no end. Call me jealous but it's true. Like when she was talking to that Liam bastard earlier today alone. That was terrible...

I blinked twice to bring me back into reality. I might be confused about Lucy but it's almost obvious that she isn't confused about me that way I am about her. She's become so important to me that, that I don't know. It's just so difficult for me to explain.

"Hey Ashole," Gray's annoying voice nearly made me groan. "Dinner."

"Fine," Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I followed him inside to the kitchen where Juvia just finished grabbing the last plate of curry.

Juvia... she was the one responsible for Lucy's kidnapping not too long ago yet here she is, having the time of her life with us. I don't really know how I should feel about her. She did bring harm to my friend but she's been trying so hard to make up for it. Plus she's the stripper's new girlfriend...? I guess she's obsessed with him or something like that. Whatever it is, Lucy's cool with her so I'm just gonna play along.

In the dining room, Gray took a seat next to Erza, facing Juvia. There's only one seat left since everybody else already took theirs. So the seating chart goes on one side, Jellal --> Erza --> Gray. There was an empty seat facing Jellal and Lucy is already sitting in the one facing Erza.

Just as her brown eyes looked up and met mines, they darted away faster than the speed of light. Dammit, I messed up big time.

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

Lucy

Through dinner, I avoided having any conversation with Natsu despite the fact that he was sitting only a few inches away from me. I was just lucky Gray picked up something was wrong between us and started picking fights with Natsu to keep his mind occupied. Even Erza ate silently knowing better than to separate the fight.

I helped Jellal with the dishes after dinner. He didn't say anything as he was rinsing the plates but I know for sure he senses something is wrong. He is trying to become a detective for a living. But he's being a kind friend and kept his mouth shut through the whole thing.

After cleaning up, we continued setting things up inside since it was too dark to be doing anything outside. I started getting the food ready with Jellal and Juvia while Gray and Natsu ran around the house under Erza's command.

We didn't finish with everything until late. 2 in the morning is when I finally stripped down in the guestroom bathroom for a shower. Erza and Juvia were already in the room we were all sharing chatting away. While I shared the bed with Erza, Juvia gets a whole king sized air mattress to herself right at the foot of the bed.

I stepped into the shower, thankful for the cooling water beating down on my bare back. It was nice and it helped my muscle relax a bit. I didn't notice how tensed they were until earlier when Natsu first sat down next to me.

'I warned you, didn't I?'

My hand subconsciously shot up, covering my lips. I can't believe it... I almost kissed Natsu! The Natsu... my best friend, my guy friend who made my heart flutter whenever we were in the same proximity.

There's no point in denying it.

I'm in love with Natsu Dragneel and there's no way I can avoid it any longer.