Ch. 41 - The rude blondie

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“Now, everyone! Your advisers shall give you your bus numbers along with your partners. Go and find your seats in order.” Erza let her hair flow through the wind after announcing details.

I yawned, feeling a tear about to fall from my eye, I wiped it off. “Lu...cy!!” hearing Levy call me this early wasn't bad but, I just wasn't in the mood.

“Levy-chan, what is it?” I asked, smacking my lips, then rubbed my eyes before I could fall asleep.

It looked like she was about to say something but she cut herself off, frowning. “Wait a minute,” she tapped her chin, leaning herself over to my face. She suddenly squeezed both my cheeks then nodded. “Lucy, what kept you up last night?”

“H-How'd you know...?” I yawned another time and felt like this was gonna go on the whole day.

“Bestfriends have connections, see. As if they can sense each other.” she opened her eyes widely. “So, what happened?”

My eyes averted from her gaze as I tried to recall what happened last night. It wasn't that memorable, but, I guess you can tell what happened. So, here goes;

Right after that scene, Natsu didn't say anything. He was just sitting on the couch, with him leaning forward with his arms as support by placing it on top of his legs. Meanwhile, I was done cleaning myself up and, wore my usual pajamas. As I was drying my hair, I couldn't help but stare at Natsu's back. It was huge and wide and... manly enough to make me imagine it being bared in front of me. Of course, I had those thoughts shook away before things would make me feel more awkward than it already is. I lied myself on bed, ignoring him completely. Later on, I felt his bed side flatten, making my back stick to his. It made my heart beat faster than it did earlier when the kiss happened. I wanted to see him--I wanted to see his face and look at his reaction when he kissed me. Does it mean anything at all to him? I couldn't figure him out. But, with a sigh, decided to give up and tucked myself into bed.

“Lucy?” his sudden call for me made me sat up.

“H-Hai!” I had my eyes wide opened to stay alert, with my hands gripping tightly to the sheet in front of me.

“Eh? Aren't you tired?” he asked as I heard him pat my side of the bed. I gulped. It felt more awkward than the first night together.

“I-I was thinking! M-Ma-Maybe I can sleep on the couch for a change, yeah?” I laughed nervously, hoping for him to fall for the trick. “I've been so unfair to you for always making you sleep there. I can sleep on the couch so we could be even--”

“The kiss... made you uncomfortable.”

My eyes widened in shock at his response. “N-No--”

“Don't try to deny it.” he sighs. “It's obvious. You're acting weird again.” instead of shouting, like I expect him to, he chuckles. “But then again, the weird Lucy is the Lucy I know so.”

“Oy, want me to make your lips swell?” I cracked my knuckles as a sign for warning.

“Sorry. Sorry for not realizing my theft--for stealing your first kiss.” he spoke. And it made me flutter up inside my stomach.

I felt guilty after his confession. I gripped tightly to my arm and mustered up the courage to say, “I-Its fine... N-Natsu...”

I heard him gasp. “Eh?”

“I-If it's you... i-it-it's fine... by me...”  I manage to blurt out. “After all... we're married so, it shouldn't be like this. I'm the one at fault. Even though we have no feelings for each other, it's not some kind of violation you have to apologize for.” I shut my eyes closed tightly then plopped myself on my side of the bed, not making a single glance over to his side.

“Sheesh. Don't let my coolness drift away and make it look as your scene.”

I blushed, “Y-You're lame, so it's fine...”

“Oy, just sleep already, you're making me feel awake as it is.”

I smiled at Levy as if nothing had happened then grabbed her by her arm. “Nevermind that, Lev. I'll tell it to you someday. For now, we need to get our bus number.”

That's right. This is right. I shouldn't keep close to Natsu for a while. Maybe, I should keep my distance. I know he's densed and all but, I know he knows somewhere inside of him that he's feeling uncomfortable, too, because of the kiss.

“Bus number 4!” Levy announced with a giggle at the end. “What bus are you in, Lulu?”

The adviser gave me a folded sheet and when I opened it, I saw Bus number 2. I sighed in disappointment. “Bus number 2...”

Levy pouted, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Aww, I was so looking forward to at least chat with you in the bus! Kuh! I hate this stupid arrangement!”

“Tell me about it.”

Levy and I looked up and found Gray scrathing the back of his neck. “Gray!” Levy and I called in unison.

“S-Sorry, I wasn't trying to offend you or anything...” levy slowly backed away wih her head bowing low.

“Nah, it's fine. I was actually expecting something more extraordinary than this.” he shrugs. “Meh. Anyway, let's go. The buses are leaving. Oh,” he looked in my way. “Later, Luce.”

I nodded with a small wave of goodbye. “Oh. See you guys later.” Levy waved an arm as she entered their bus.

I sighed towards myself. Who was my partner again? Sting Eucliffe. I could still remember that day when he rudely barged in our classroom, making the teacher cower in fear. Is he some kind of a delinquent everyone's afraid of?

    “Man, of all the people I could think off...” I gasped when I heard that familiar hoarse voice. Slowly turning around, I saw Sting with his long silver diamond earring hanging by his right ear and his hands tucked inside his pockets. “It had to be you, blondie.”

I backed away from him. “Y-You're blonde, too, you know...” I stated sarcastically with my guard on. “in case you didn't notice.”

He scoffed with his chin hanging up high. “Whatever. This sucks.” he scratched his back and yawned as he lazily shuffled his shoes against the floor while climbing up bus number 2.

I'm not too glad to be partnered up with you, too, you know. Is what I wanted to say but, we were both out of the mood so, I just hope we don't fight in the bus ride.

“Luce!” I flinched when I heard Natsu call me. I didn't want to face him. I didn't want to face him! I really didn't want to face him! “what bus are you in? I'm in bus 4.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder, shocking me. I turned regrettably and saw his face. I looked away from his gaze. “W-Who are you... partnered up with...?” I asked hesitatingly.

He sighs in frustration. “I'm with Lisanna on this one. Though, I don't think of that as a threat since we aren't interested in each other.”

My heart sank. My heart sank to the bottomless pit of doom. Why did he have to be partnered up with the girl who used to like him? Now, this really sucked.

“By the way, what bus are you in?” I looked up to him and stated, “Bus 2.”

He gaped, he gulped, he screamed. “WHAT?! B-BU-BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!” he sulked even more towards the ground with him ending up laying his forehead on the grass.

“Why? What bus are you in?”

“Bus--Bus 4...”

“At least you're with Levy and Gray.”

I sighed disappointedly. No way. How can this happen? I wanted at least to be in the same bus with him--so, I could watch Lisanna. So I could at least talk to him...

“Oy, blondie! Everyone's waiting to go. Geez, you're too slow.” Sting grabbed me by the wrist rudely and pulled me out of the scene.

“W-Wait! I-I'm talking to--” Sting let go of my wrist when I felt Natsu pull me into his arms.

“Don't you dare lay a hand on Luce. Got it?” he demanded in a hoarse voice, sounding like he would kill him even if he was an inch close to me.

Sting lifted a brow. “Ha? Who are you supposed to be, her knight in plastic armor?”

Nastu grunted. “Shut the fuck up.”

The hairs on my back suddenly stood up, sending me chills to my spine when I heard Natsu curse. Whenever he curses, he means it--he's angry. But, what is he even angry about?

“Whatever, man. I just wanma get going. Blondie,” he turned his gaze to me. “Hurry up.”

I nodded, letting myself go from Natsu's arms. “Natsu, I'll go. I'll see you later...”

There, I followed Sting up to the bus, making me search everywhere to see if I could find anyone I could talk to. Luckily, I found Erza with her partner, Mira-san and Juvia with Gajeel sitting beside my seat with Sting.

I'm glad I at least know someone in here.

***

So sorry for updating short chappies >_< will make it longer the next update about fieldtrip. Anyway thanks for reading! :D

Xoxo,
Clare-chan:)