Ch. 17 - The Date!

As early as the sun rose up, everyone had already climbed on the bus with their things and went to their own homes. Meanwhile, Natsu and I just stopped near the school and walked home ourselves.

"Hah..." I took a deep breath when I finally changed into my pajamas then plopped myself on the sofa inside the bedroom. "Finally."

I turned the tv on by pressing the remote then decided to watch a Comedy movie. 'Ace Ventura: Pet detective' was on so I decided to watch that.

"Ace, I said get out of the tank now."

"For God's sakes, Jim, you're a doctor--not a pool man!"

"Hey," I felt the sofa on the other side flatten when Natsu sat on it, making me sit up. "What'cha watchin'?"

"Ace Ventura. Haven't you watched it before?" I asked as I continued to laugh at Jim Carrey's moves.

"I have but I never finished it." He pointed out. "Mind if I watch?"

I lifted my eyebrow at him, "Of course. This is our house, after all. We can do whatever we want."

Just when the sorrounding starts to get quiet as I expected, I heard Natsu clear his throat, seeing him pull his collar. "You do know what day it is today, don'cha?"

"Uh, it's Saturday. And...?"

Natsu made a face. He went towards me and squeezed my cheeks, making them swell up. "Itai! That HURT!" I remarked.

"You forgot. We have a date today."

Right at the moment he stated that, I didn't actually care...at all. "So...?"

"Oh, come on. You promised!"

"That was just a trick to get you to do what I want." I shrugged.

"Fine." He slammed the bedroom door closed as I heard him stomp his way down the stairs.

"...w-what's his problem?"

*Bring* *Bring*

I had answered my phone and realized it was my parents, calling. "Hello, mom and dad."

"Baby, how have you two lovebirds been, hm?" I heard Mom giggle over the phone. "Have you two been messing around?"

I rolled my eyes at their statement. "MOM." I grunted at her, "STOP overthinking things. I already told you--we aren't going to do that." I took a deep breath then tried calming down. "Why did you call?"

"Just wanted to inform you that today's your SaturDate with Natsu, remember?"

My eyes widened, "H-How did you know that...?" I blushed at the thought.

"Well, Natsu told us his plan the day before the whole beach party and his parents. He was talking about such wonderful things he's got planned for your date." Mom sighed affectionately. "Lucy, you better dress professionally. Make it sexy."

I look out the bedroom and saw Natsu on his stomach, watching TV by the living room. "S-Sure, yeah, Mom. Bye." I hang up on Mom and smiled sincerely at Natsu.

●♡●

Stomping on the floor with the last step, I made Natsu look up to me. He saw me in my dress and he just gruffed at the view. He went back to lying on his stomach, "Where are you headed?"

"Oh, stop moping now, Natsu and go upstairs, dress up like the perfect man to date." I giggled at the latter word then waited for him to gasp.

"...what? I don't get you." He stated lazily blandly.

I softly ran my hand through my hair and crouched down to whisper, "I want to go on a date with you."

His eyes widened, he sat up on the couch and stared at me for a while. "You do?"

I nodded and smiled, "Now go get your butt upstairs and dress up nicely."

"Will do, ma'am!" Natsu raised his voice high and kept screaming when he went upstairs.

One date with my husband wouldn't be bad. After all, this is just a friendly date, I suppose.

●♡●

Natsu used the car our parents bought for us and Natsu kept nagging me to close my eyes.

"What's the big deal if I don't?" I asked in defeat.

"Please. Just...close your eyes. I want this to be a surprise. Go plug your earphones in and close those eyes." Natsu pleaded, making me sigh in defeat.

"Okay, fine. There better not be stairs there."

I had closed my eyes and plugged in my earphones, starting to hum along with the tune.

Sooner than I had expected, I felt the car stop. Natsu removed from the buckle of his seat and removed mine. "We're here, baby."

"Don't call me that."

I got off the car and was about to walk when I was interrupted by Natsu. "Wait. Close those eyes, missy."

"I don't know why you have to act this way." I exhaled in an irritated tone but closed my eyes. "This better be worth it."

For now, I can't see anything. I could only feel Natsu guiding me the way with his hand on my shoulder and the other holding my hand. "Right...here. Okay, open 'em."

Once I had opened my eyes, I saw a pink sakura tree. Under the tree was a picnic blanket with a prepared meal with candles and roses and other romantic stuff.

"Natsu," I paused. "Were you the one who prepared this?"

When he nodded, I lifted an eyebrow ay him. "But I thought you don't know how to cook?"

He shrugged, winking at me with his signature smile. "Who knows? I'm full of surprises, missus."

I simply couldn't help but giggle at his statement. I sat on the floor, across Natsu. Natsu started preparing our food with wine as our beverage.

"Uh, Natsu, you do know wine is still prohibited."

"It's grape royal. I just put it in the wine bottle to make it look elegant." He chuckled, pouring me a drink.

"So," he asked as we started eating. "Is this...somewhat your dream date-ish? Come on. Tell me."

I lifted an eyebrow at him. "Honestly, it wasn't." He sulked when I stated that. "But...this is surely a romantic date any girl could ask for."

"Wait-you've dated before?"

I shook my head, "Never. I never thought of that. Not once. Well, I did. But, I didn't expect it to be like this. Marrying a stranger just because our parents want us to."

He nodded as a sign of understanding.

"What about you? Haven't you dated before?"

He shook his head, making my eyes widen. "Are you serious? But...I thought you're popular enough to date?"

He shrugs, "Nobody's been interested in me. Saying...I'm childish. It's not that hurtful but, I didn't want to date either."

I looked melancholic at him as we ate. I called him childish before. Oh, the guilt feeling is getting to me. "Natsu, I..."

He looked up, "What is it, Luce?"

I shook my head and smiled softly. "Nothing. Just...thank you for this."

He smiles, "It's the least I can do. I know you're still all bummed out to marry someone like me."

My eyes widened. "No, no, no. You don't understand. I-I wasn't bummed out. I was just...shocked to get married this early, you know?"

He nods, "Yeah. I'm shocked, too."

"But, I'm actually glad it's you." I smiled, blushing to myself. Trying to control my heating cheeks.

I swear, I could feel him blush, too. "I'm glad, too.."

I looked up, blushing when I looked at him. "What did you say?"

"N-Nothing. Just go gobble the whole chicken up."

"Im already full, thank you!"