Let me escalate things at the speed of Natsu's food consumption:

1. Natsu has been sticking like a glue to me.

2. He rarely goes away.

3. Somehow, Gray and I have gotten closer too.

4. I feel like Natsu doesn't like me and Gray hanging around.

5. I'm probably hallucinating.

6. Yep. Definitely.

7. Erza and Jellal secretly meet each other every Saturday.

8. Levy's birthday is near and Gajeel hadn't found a gift for her yet.

9. Levy's birthday is to be celebrated at Strauss Cafe.

10. Gajeel would be giving his own surprise later.

And that's it for today. See you later on Magnolia News Network!

Right now, I'm sitting in Strauss Cafe with Erza, Mira, Gray, Natsu and Gajeel, planning Levy's surprise birthday bash. Mirajane Strauss is the lady who sits on the information desk of our school and is a little older than Erza. Fortunately, she runs this cafe too so she gladly allowed us to celebrate her birthday here.

She had a devilish smirk plastered on her face when she heard that Gajeel wanted to surprise her.

Totally creepy.

"Then it's settled. Mira will handle the food, Erza will be in charge of decoration and Gray and Natsu will help!" I exclaimed.

"That might be a bad idea Lucy, considering the fact that Natsu and Gray in the same room can cause a ruckus." Mira sweetly said.

"She-devil's right. Ice dick and Fire torch will ruin everything." Gajeel stated. At the same time Natsu and Gray yelled at Gajeel and started calling each other names. I face-palmed when Erza pulled their collars and bumped their heads.

"Okay then, Natsu can help Gajeel plan-

"Not happening." Natsu and Gajeel said in unison.

"I'll help ya Luce! I can kidnap Levy and bring her to the car, then you can calm her down and we'll bring her here." Natsu oh-so-stupidly blabbed.

"She'll freak out. We have to make it extra-special for her!" I stated.

Erza spoke this time, "Lucy, you'll call her and tell her to meet here at the cafe. You'll act like something went wrong and that you can't tell everything on the phone. She'll be worried but when she comes in, it'll be dark. Since she's scared of the dark, she'll call you, asking where you are. Your phone will be at the table near the window and when she picks your phone up, she'll see you background picture saying, "Turn around!" and when she does, the lights will turn on and we'll surprise her."

Silence. 

That's what happens when Erza says anything in a tone that says, "She's damn serious about it."

"I like Erza's idea." Mira said.

"Those in favor of Erza?" I announced and everyone's hand shot up.

"Alright, we'll go with Erza's plan."

After we finished eating, Natsu's phone rang and he excused himself.

"I have to go somewhere. I'll see you guys tomorrow." He turned to me and mouthed, "Be safe." I nodded my head and saluted him.

"Thanks for the delicious meal, Mira. We'll be taking our leave."

Everyone bid farewell to Mira and exited the cafe.

"Lucy, wait!"

I stopped and turned around to see Gray walking to me. 

"You don't have a ride, do you?"

"It's fine Gray. My house is a few blocks away. It's just ten minute walk from here." I smiled.

"How about we hangout today? I know you're done with the homework." Gray asked politely.

"Okay then, but you'd drop me back home before sunset, okay? I'd have to feed Plue too." I gave him a look saying, "You better obey or else..."

He gulped. "Okay."

We first went to the park and senselessly scared the shit out of those children that were merrily playing.

And the children were about to have a very creepy revenge, but we ran away before they could even make a move.

We even ate Popsicles on the way, to which I laughed my heart out after saying, "Popsicle eating Popsicle. What a sight!"

Let's just say that Gray chased after me in his boxers to which I screamed, "This pervert is not with me, I don't know him!" He was about to get beaten, but he succeeded in running away.

After that, we went to the mall and got kicked out because of Gray unknowingly stripping in public...

Again.

The girls and a few gays were drooling and some even fainted.

At the moment, we are sitting on a hill that has the perfect view of Magnolia. The sun was slowly setting and the sky looked beautiful.

It would be so romantic if Natsu was here.

Oh, fuck off you stupid mind!

I'm inside you.

Then shut up.

And you're talking to yourself, you know that right?

Great. Just great.

"Lucy?" I turned my head a little to the left, spotting a shirtless Gray who had a tinge of pink highlighting his cheeks.

Wait, why is he blushing?

"Hm?" I raised my brow.

"There's something I need to tell you. Something important." He sat straight.

"You broke the vase besides the fridge, didn't you?" He stopped drinking his soda and looked at me in confusion.

"What? What vase?" I put my soda down on the grass.

"The vase besides the fridge, the one that had- never mind, that can be Natsu."

"Natsu," He sighed.

"What about him?" I asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just ignore me." Gray sipped his soda.

"Okay. One thing that I learned from you guys is that when you guys talk like that, something definitely is wrong." I kept my concerned look and turned to him.

"I- I can't. I can't say that. He'll kill me. If he found out that I confessed my-

"Confessed your what? What are you talking about, Gray?" I searched for my phone in my bag, which apparently was hiding somewhere.

"I really like you Lucy. I really, really do like you."

"Yeah well, everyone likes their friend, what's-

Realization struck me like a truck.

"You mean- wait- no, but- what?"

"I knew it," Gray sighed, "You like him, don't you?"

"Who? What?"

"Natsu. You like Natsu. No- wait- you love him."

"Gray, you're getting the wrong idea. We're just- friends. Yeah, we're just really good friends. Natsu doesn't like me that way. He won't ever. What made you think I love him? I-

"Then you won't mind me kissing you?"

"G- what!? I won't let you kiss me! What the hell-

"Because you never had your first kiss before and you want Natsu to kiss you."

Why couldn't I reply to that? I don't know. How did I muster up courage to speak the next words? I don't know, but I did.

Somehow.

"Who said that?"

"I did."

"What made you say that?"

"You not replying to my question."

"Gray, I don't love him."

Liar.

"You don't want him to kiss you?"

"No."

Liar.

"You don't want him to notice you?"

"No."

Lies.

"You don't want to be his girlfriend?"

"No. Why would I?"

Stop lying.

"Then let me do this."

He slowly inched towards me. I kept moving backward. He took my face in his hands and brought his lips closer to mine. 

I can't do this.

You brought it on yourself. Suffer the consequences.

I shut my eyes tight, bracing for what was about to come. I could feel his breath on my cheeks, and his thumb slowly rubbing my lips. When I thought he was about to kiss me, he moved back, to which I mentally sighed in relief. Much to my dismay, he looked sad.

"See? That's what I meant."

"What?" My voice was hoarse. I desperately needed something cold.

"You flinched when I held your face. You were slightly trembling. You let out a sigh of relief when I moved away. That further proves my point." He stood up.

"Gray look, I don't like him. We're just friends. We're nothing more than that." I stood up too.

"Why? Lucy why him? What do you like about him? His looks? Money? Or the way he sticks to you like a leech? Don't I have the same looks and money? Don't I hang out with you?"

At this point, he ticked me off. He was so wrong.

"First of all, I won't ever judge him because of his looks or money. Heck, I won't even care if he was blind or if he lived in an alley. He is kind, soft, sweet and strong. His smile is contagious and sure he's overprotective and eats a lot and is dense sometimes but I love the way he is. He's perfect and you and I both know he doesn't have any romantic feelings towards me." I yelled at him. Throughout my rambling, he kept his back to me and hung his head low. All of a sudden, he started laughing like a maniac.

"It's like before. isn't it? You won't shut your damn mouth about him. All you do is talk about him and praise him for every little thing. Nothing's changed, Lucy.  Not even you. Nothing can ever change. Both of you love each other, so why don't you go ahead and live together? What am I even saying? He lives at your house. You guys live with each other!" He yelled.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I screamed.

"I'm in love with a girl who is in love with my best friend! That's what's wrong!" He yelled at my face.

He- loves me? 

That's wrong. That can't be happening. This is wrong.

"See? Silence. This is what I get. You love him after all, like you used to seven years ago."

"Seven years ago? What do you- Gray wait! Where are you going?!"

"Go back to your boyfriend! He would be waiting for your return!"

"Gray wait!" I ran after him but it was too late. He started his car and drove away, leaving me alone in the night.

"Fuck you Gray!" I screamed.

The sun had already set. Stars covered the night sky, shimmering and fluttering, reminding me of how alone I was. The night was chilly, and goosebumps were starting to cover my body. I started walking back to my house, thinking of what Gray meant.

 "It's like before. isn't it? You won't shut your damn mouth about him."

"All you do is talk about him and praise him for every little thing."

"Nothing's changed Lucy. Not even you. Nothing can ever change."

"You love him after all, like you used to seven years ago."

What did he mean by that? Seven years ago? Seven years ago, I was back at my house, when mom and my sister were alive, when everything was perfect.

When everything was just the way it should be.

I didn't even know these guys back then. All that I knew was we were living happily. Mom used to tell us bed time stories, that involved her childhood stories. We used to laugh our hearts out and then mom and dad used to kiss us goodnight and tuck us under our blankets.

I wish I could go back to those days.

Thinking about those good times, I unlocked my apartment and sighed after closing.

What I didn't know was a certain pink-headed male was waiting for me with his phone in his hand, looking like he could murder anyone who comes near me.