{Lucy’s POV}

“S-Sure! I guess... we have nothing to do today anyway... no problemo, bye.” I hung up the phone, groaning. Natsu and I were invited to a theatrical play which was kind of a musical play as well.

“You heard it, Natsu.” I pointed to my phone.

He shrugged. “Yeah, fine whatever.”

I rolled my eyes at his behavior. “Do this properly. This theatrical performance of ours is for kids. Did I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Now dress up.” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Wha—? You mean now?”

“Yes, now.” Not waiting for a reply, I headed upstairs to where my room was. I lazily opened my closet, picked up a random shirt and threw it over my body. The next thing I knew was that I already wore a pair of skinny jeans and a shirt. “Natsu! You ready yet?” I shouted from downstairs, combing my hair with my hands. He didn’t bother answering me.

Juvia cocked an eyebrow. “To whom?” Huh? Before I could even ask, she walked away. I huffed. What’s with people today? What Juvia did is called Karma, if you didn’t know. My subconscious self told me.

I put my hair into a messy ponytail. Natsu came down after 10 more minutes.

“I thought you will never go down. Are you a girl? I finished dressing up before you did.”

“Eh, you’re a tomboy so—ouch.”

“Watch your words.” With a glare and my venomous voice, he did shut up much to my relief. “Yosh, let’s get going.”

The theater was just five blocks away which means it’s fine if we walked. No signs of humans were in the streets and I don’t even know why.

Natsu casually put his hands on the back of his head, face tinted pink. “Really?”

“Huh?”

He pointed to my pink shirt. Eh, I don’t even know what I’m wearing. I glanced down to my shirt that said “I love him” with an arrow that pointed to my left. I gazed back at Natsu, and that’s when it hit me. So that’s what Juvia meant to say.

“No. Dream on.” I mumbled.

“Lucy Heartfilia! Natsu Dragneel!” The director of the play exclaimed and squeezed Natsu and I tightly that it brought the oxygen out of our lungs. “All the appreciations are yours for coming. Sorry, if you, uh, wanted to relax for today. The main characters of the play got into an accident so we really needed a replacement and I saw Mavis, my long time best friend... you know what happened, I asked for the numbers of the Eight Members. The other six said they were busy with photoshoots. You two happened to be available so I had no choice but to—”

Natsu put a hand right in front of the woman’s face. That seemed rude—I had to scold him for that—but she was being too loquacious and I think she needed to calm down. I gave Natsu a small nod; he knew what he had to say. “It’s fine. This play is for the poor, isn’t it? We don’t mind.”

“You guys are such kind human beings!” Tears welled up in her eyes as we chuckled uncomfortably.

“What’s the play all about?”

She smiled at us happily. “The play’s genre is romance, I haven’t mentioned.” My lips parted. Romance? And she didn’t answer my question. “I’m sure you two would be able to pull on the couple act... well aren’t you two a couple already? You two suit each other a lot.” She giggled, her chestnut hair bouncing. The glimmer in her brown eyes wouldn’t seem to falter anytime soon. “You’re vocalists also. This’ll be perfect!”

I scratched the back of my head, looking around. “We, uh, aren’t a couple actually. People just thought of it that way since we’re both vocalists.”

I stiffened when Natsu slung an arm around me. “Yep. But we’d be able to put on the couple act. Right, Luce? We’re best friends.”

The cameras were on our direction. “We all know that, now get your hands off me. They’re capturing this moment.” I’m sure Facebook will be filled with pictures of Natsu and I.

He removed his arm and grinned. “So dressing room it is!”

*-*-*-*-

“I hate this cloth. Too tight,” I heard Natsu grumble from the other side as I struggled to put on the skirt.

“Hurry up, people! Scene one will start in five minutes!” The lights and sounds director said over the megaphone.

“Lucy, come here for your retouch.” The make up artist gestured for me to come and sit on a chair.

“Three more minutes!”

Natsu finally came out of the curtain, his hair matted to his face because of sweat. I believe he wore a fitted v-neck shirt underneath his hoodie. Swoon. No, Lucy!

“Oh my gosh, you need to tie your hair up.” The make up artist muttered frantically, scurrying over to the little girl who was an extra. “Lucy, you go wipe the sweat off of Natsu’s face so he’d have a natural look.” I quite hated the british accent this man had on, but whatever.

What, I’ll use my hankerchief?

Annoyed, I made my way to him and gently wiped off his sweat. He was so close. My heart pounded erratically in my chest as I did the action.

The moment was ruined as soon as the director shouted on the megaphone, “Three, two, one!” I jumped off of Natsu and proceeded to wander around the scenery on the stage as my script said. “Watch it!” Two people fought and that’s my cue to stop them from fighting.

“Don’t interfere!” The man growled as I pretended to be scared. No, I was scared, actually.

I closed my eyes as the man was about to land a fist on me with an angry look. Two seconds of counting and I opened my eyes only to see Natsu, his palm enough to stop the man’s fake force. “Try me.” He warned in a mysterious tone. I pretended that I was curious by peering at him intently. The bulky man backed away, running with his tail between his legs.

When I looked back I found no myste—since I know him let’s say Natsu—he was gone. “Thank you.” I whispered.

Scene 1 accomplished.

In case I forgot to mention, this was already the actual performance. I’m happy it went smoothly because a sea of people were on the theater, eager to watch when it was announced we’d be here. Not bragging here. The curtains closed as the props men ran around, removing and replacing some props.

Natsu removed the hood on his head, exhaling. “Fresh air.”

“Well you did a good job there.” I commented, smiling. “You eventually obliged to my command.”

He rolled his eyes but then smiled back at me. “As if you had to remind me. You did a great job too.” I rolled my eyes. He was being a hypocrite now, but whatever.

“Okay, scene two!”

*-*-*-*-

“The play is loved by people.” Miss Kagome, who was actually the director, gushed. “The play is not yet done, but the people adores it already!”

Kagome called it a break for people to go to the restrooms, buy something to eat while watching the show or to at least discuss the play with their seatmate. It’s only for awhile, but it’s enough.

“Overwhelming, I’d say.” I remarked. “The next scene is the last, am I right?” I tried to repeat my lines over my head. The play’s ending isn’t a tragic one but rather a happy one. And when I say happy I mean there’s a kissing scene. Kissing scene on the lips.

“Ten more minutes. I think you should get ready for the last scene.” Kagome mumbled, checking her watch. “People. Ten more minutes and the play will resume.” I heard murmurs outside the curtain and I suddenly got nervous. First timer when it comes to acting? That’s me. I don’t know about Natsu, but he looks so natural when it comes to acting.

Oh, right. He has to sing at the last part.

*-*-*-*-

“... dance with him.”

Natsu’s jacket was still in him, but the hood wasn’t in his head. He grabbed my hands and I felt his comforting heat.

Then he started singing. “♪I won’t talk
I won’t breathe
I won’t move ‘till you finally see
That you belong to me.♪”

His voice made me shiver. Gah, I sound like a fangirl, swooning over his really good voice! The intensity of the people’s stare was scary, as if they were hunting us with their eyes. Hey, who wouldn’t fall for that voice? It’s plainly amazing!

I was praising him, and if he hears this, his ears will clap a lot.

Gazing in his black orbs (script told me to do so), his eyes twinkled. Once he finished singing, I did what I was told. I kissed him... just on the side of his lips. He squinted his eyes at me, silently yelling: “You were supposed to kiss me on the lips!” Kagome and the audience didn’t notice that; what they saw was that I kissed Natsu on the lips. People started screaming like crazy. The theater looked like a jungle.

I stepped back after five seconds as the curtain closed once again.

“I love you guys!” Kagome screeched in my ear and crushed Natsu and I into a hug.

“O-Oxygen.” I requested as I struggled for air. She chortles and slowly lets go of us as Natsu and I panted heavily.

“Sorry,” She grinned sheepishly. “This... this theatrical performance is the most successful one. Thank you!”

“How many times are you going to say thank you?” Natsu asked playfully.

“As long as I please. But seriously, thank you.”

I was the one to answer. “You’re welcome. So... I’m going.”

“No! You must come with us to the celebratory party.”

I shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m busy. But you can take Natsu—”

“N-No! I’ve got a lot of things to do with you, remember?” Natsu glared at me. Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I nodded. “So yeah...”

“Too bad, but okay. Next time, maybe?” She had a hopeful look on her face, and nobody could just say no to that.

“Yeah.”

“Great! See you around!” She beamed.

I walked out of the theater, Natsu following suit. He fell in step with me a moment later. “Lucy.”

“Yeah?” I noticed that he stopped. “Why’d you stop?”

“Why did you kiss the side of my lips?” The way he asked made me blush furiously. “Not the lips?”

“It’d be my first kiss, in case you didn’t know. Oh wait, third kiss with you.” I mumbled, looking at the ground filled with fallen cherry blossom petals. I watched the birds skip then fly graciously into the sky.

Natsu took a cautious step towards me. “In case you didn’t notice, I like you. I’m not rehearsing a line. I’m stating the truth.” He raked his hair with his hand. “You know what, screw it.” And he did the most shocking thing in the world: He stole my first (third!) kiss on the lips.

Five seconds passed (weird, I’ve been counting) and he pulled away. Our eyes were both open the whole time, which kinda made it awkward. “Isn’t that your third kiss too?”

“Yep. But I don’t regret it, not one bit, because it’s you who stole it.”

“Excuse me? I stole your first kiss? You were the one who stole my third kiss.”

He rolled his eyes again. “Whatever, it’s both our third kiss anyway. Besides, you didn’t even stop me from doing so.”

He’s got a point... I felt my cheeks get warm. “You took me by surprise! I didn’t have the chance to prevent you from kissing me.” I reasoned. If proving was just easy...

The next statement made me blush redder. “Yeah, whatever. The whole point is that you’re my third kiss and vice-versa.” Before I could even protest, he held my hand. “Let’s go home.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Erza queried in a thundering voice, arms crossed. “You’ve got to explain this fiasco, Lucy. We were just gone for the photoshoot and coming back we see “this”?” She pertained to Natsu holding my hand.

I couldn’t find it in me to let go.

I opened my mouth to speak but Natsu spoke for me. “Erza, Juvia, Levy—ugh, you’re too many for me to mention. All of you who are in this house,” He stole a quick gander at me, smirked at my expression then put up our intertwined hands. “Meet Lucy Heartfilia, my girlfriend.”