"Fuck it all! Fuck it all! The grades never bothered me anyway!" Natsu hollered all the way down the corridor. We decided that we'd tutor each other in the subjects we were behind.

If I'm being honest, he's tutoring me in one while I'm tutoring him in five.

That's Natsu for ya.

"Lucy? May I ask you something?" Levy quietly asked me.

Trap.

You know what that is?

School.

"Shoot." I said.

"Um...I was reading a romance novel but Gajeel snatched it from me and never gave it back. At that moment, I was reading about the time when you realize that you've been in love for a long time. What do you think about it? When do you realize you're in love? How does it feel like to be in love? What do you feel towards the person who you love? What if-

"Calm down Levy! Take a deep breath!" She let out a deep breath. Apparently Lev here has a habit to say everything without breathing when it's her favorite topic.

"Why did you ask these questions all of a sudden?" I asked her, practically slamming my books on Levy's table.

For your information: we were at Levy's place. Levy, Natsu and I.

You ask why Natsu was here?

He was being a pain in the ass. Simple.

We tried to bribe him. We tried to prank him. We tried to hide from him. We tried to sneak away.

I promise you, nothing works on this fiery demon.

So, we gave up. We had to let him come here.

But waaaaaaaaait. We still have a little hope because we have a little plan.

We decided to call Gajeel and drag him away so we can have a little girl time. Besides, I want Natsu to help Gajeel to prepare a few things for Levy's birthday that is tomorrow. When it comes to things like these, I have to admit, Natsu is a big help. Sure he messes up a lot but I love his choices. He's a fashion expert. Ask me how I know. Let me tell you, I had to go to the mall to buy new snickers, and my, was he a great help!

Back to the topic!

"Well, I feel like Erza and Jellal madly love each other just by the looks they give each other. The vibe of coming from them is strong. Same with Elfman and Ms. Evergreen. Then, there are you two."

"Who two? Don't tell me that you mean Natsu and I." I deadpanned.

She grinned, like a full Cheshire cat grin. I face palmed and sighed.

"You guys are hopeless. How many times do I have to tell you that there's nothing going on between us. Even if there was, you'd be the first girl to know." I breathed out.

She raised her brow and started to mock me, "You guys are hopeless." She face palmed and huffed. I laughed.

"That's so not me." I said.

"That's so too you." She tried to copy me but failed. We laughed again.

"Luce?" Natsu popped his head inside the room.

"Yeah?" I asked him with annoyance.

"Why are you annoyed? Wait, don't answer. I know the damn answer. I came to tell you that me and metal freak are going out for a while. Don't do any- why are you freakishly smiling like that?" He looked at me worriedly.

"Nah nah, I'm fine. Pssht. Go go go! Take your precious time out! Take as long as you want to! Eat as much as you want to! I'll be fine! Don't worry!" I nervously laughed and motioned my hand the way that already expressed to shoo.

"Okay. See you guys later." He weirdly looked at me and closed the door. When I heard the front door closing, Levy and I hollered 'woohoo' and it echoed across the house.

"Text Gajeel and thank him!" I screeched.

"Already done!" Levy screeched too.

"Finally! I'm at peace." I sighed.

"So Lu? What do you think about 'falling in love'?" Lev asked.

"Honestly, what I've learned from all those love stories is something that I can't describe in words but love...it always touches the core of your heart, even if it's pitch black down there. It affects it. Being in love has no evidence. You can't prove your feelings. It's another thing that a person asks you to do something for him/her and you do it because you want to desperately prove them that it's true. Love...is to see a person and feel like your world is nowhere but there...inside the person's arms and heart. It's about genuinely caring for someone and get that happy feeling of butterflies in your stomach. They frustrate you to the point when you want to bang your head against the wall but you want to help them and be there for them to make them happy. You sacrifice a lot of things for them. They're your number one and when something happens to you, you turn to them. You can't live without them, emotionally or physically. You smile just thinking about them and they light up your world. You have this...strange yet cool connection with them. You know what they're thinking and feeling, and you want to provide the best comfort you can. You want them to break all of your walls and embrace your heart like a parent embracing their first new born baby. Love...love is an accident, a good accident where the dying soul either gets a happy ending or a sad one...depending upon the person they love."

Speechless.

Jaw-dropped.

That's our very own Levy right now.

Levy sighed and said, "I- I don't have an answer to this Lucy. This is amazing. You can be one of the best authors out there if you write a book and mention whatever you said right now there." 

You know what's amazing?

The whole time that I said all of this, I was thinking about him.

Him. His existence in my life. His role in waking me up.

Him.

None other than the Natsu I know.

Natsu.

This whole time I pictured him with me...laughing, smiling, getting overprotective, furious...him with his signature toothy grin...him annoying me with his stupid but funny acts...him chowing down all the food like he hasn't eaten anything for days...him bringing me groceries because I was too tired to move...him carrying me in his arms...him hugging me like I'm the most precious person to him in the world...him using sarcastic remarks just because he was jealous...him protecting me from different people...him calling me 'Luce' like he always does...

"Help! Someone he-
"Keep your annoying mouth shut or suffer the consequences, you little piece of shit!" My kidnapper, who had his face covered with a mask, harshly ordered me while keeping my mouth closed with his hand. I could feel the other person rummaging through his bag for something. I tried to wriggle out of his grip, only to feel his hands tighten around my hands and mouth. I couldn't even think of licking his hand because it was low-key gross.

So I did what I had to, and that was biting his hand as hard as I can.

"What the fuck?! Come here you bitch! Get her!" He yelled at the bag-rummaging man who now had a cloth on his hand and was running after me.

"Someone help me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs...as loud as I could. I kept running, fell down, got back up and ran again but was caught by the cloth carrying man who put it on my mouth. I could feel my consciousness fading. The last thing I remembered was his grip loosing and my head falling on someone's lap...someone's warm lap and arms...saying, "I'll always protect you Luce, even if it means dying. I just will."

"Lucy! Lucy are you okay?! Can you hear me? Oh my God, I'm going to call Natsu okay?" Levy panicked.

"No don't. Don't. I'm fine. It's just a little headache." I assured her.

"Are you sure? You're clutching you head too tightly and I think it's something else. We need to take you to the doctor." Levy said.

"Don't worry your pretty little head Levy. The last thing I want to do is to visit a doctor at the moment." I smiled and pat her head. She looked too cute when she worried.

But why is this happening to me? 

What are these things? Flashbacks? Premonitions?

Memories?

"I'm calling Natsu. I think you're stressing a lot and you need to rest." Levy called Natsu and went into another room. I clutched my head tightly.

Why does it hurt?

What is happening to me?

"He said that he'll be here in a few minutes. He was nearby and sensed something wrong. I'll bring you something to eat. Lay down on the bed for the meantime." She popped her head through the door and closed it again after informing me- hold on....

Did she just said that he sensed something wrong?

Did he felt something was wrong with me?

Ugh, it's hurting my head. I should lay down.

After a few minutes, I heard a door banged open and immediately winced on the sound and impact. I heard a pair of steps running to the room I was in and saw a panting and a sweating Natsu. When he saw me, his wide eyes relaxed and he fell down, panting.

"Are you okay?" We asked at the same time. I stood up and knelt down in front of him. 

"Did you run here all the way from the mall?" I asked him, moving his pin-salmon bangs from his face.  

"Metal freak's...car...broke down." He said that and laid flat on the floor.

"Natsu that's the dumbest thing you've ever done! It's a 30 min run from there! Were you out of your mind?!" I shrieked.

After gaining a little breath he said,"His car broke halfway and that's exactly when Levy called me and I ran here. Are you okay? Did you faint? Did you hit your head anywhere?" He held my head and checked it from all sides.

"I'm okay. I just felt a little dizzy and my head hurts." I said to him while rubbing my head lightly.

"We should take you to a doctor Luce. It can be anything." He said and held his hand out for me to hold.

"Just this once, okay?" I said to him firmly.

"Okay." He smiled sadly and grabbed me by my shoulders and dragged me outside.

I'm really thankful that my phone was already in my pocket because he didn't even let me say goodbye to Levy. We were driving to Magnolia Hospital. The air I was breathing relaxed my heavy head a little. I tilted my head to right, stealing glances at the caring guy besides me. My mind wandered to the little glimpses I kept having. The voice was oddly familiar and comforting. Sometimes I think it was Natsu, but I know it can't be him. We met at the school only. I think my mind is making up stupid things because of the stress probably.

"Mind sharing your thoughts with this hottie?" Natsu smiled smugly, glancing at me from time to time.

"Just thinking about a few stupid things." I shrugged.

"You mean you were thinking about me, and don't even deny it. It's all over your face." I involuntarily covered my face and rubbed it.

That sneaky bastard. 

"Did you know that you just called yourself stupid?" I laughed.

"You call me stupid every single time, and I know I'm stupid but not that much to not know when you're in trouble or thinking about me." He turned to look at me and grinned widely at my flustered reaction.

"Focus on the road, you narcissist." I giggled and lightly turned his head back to the road. He turned around to look at me again, keeping the goofy grin plastered on his soft lips.

"Natsu?" I asked him.

"Hm?" He asked me. This time, his smile and posture was carefree.

"Have we ever met before? Like, before our first meeting at school...have we ever met before that?"