ch. 43 -piggyback race

____________________________________________________________________________

In one swift movement, I backed away a lot from Natsu, casting a huge distance with my hands raised to my chest level, waving them sideways as a signal for Sting to know it was a 'no'.

Sting lifted a brow. "The hell are you doing?" he folded his arms up in the air to let his head rest in between them.

"I--I, uhh..." I suddenly gulped automatically, uncertain what to do in this scene. What am I gonna do? A lot of people have already found us out. Just when I was about to speak, someone spoke in a nonchalant way.

"Luce and I aren't really together. We just used wifey and hubby as endearments." Natsu shrugged, stretching his arms out, making me look in his direction. I quickly looked toward Sting to check his reaction.

He sighs, shaking his head. "Well, whatever. Not like I was that curious." he squinted his eyes at Natsu, who seemed unaware of the situation when he was simply picking his nose with the use of his pinky. I frowned at his action. "Natsu..." I slapped my own face as a sign that I felt embarrassed for him. How can he pick his nose at a time like this?

"Attention, everyone!" a voice with the use of the mic was heard. Everybody looked at the person on stage, revealing Erza, Principal Mavis and the other teachers seated beside them paying attention. "As you may have noticed, Mira-san changed the partnerings to her liking and to my votes, also." Principal Mavis giggles slightly, then cleared her throat to speak again. "Well then, we've arrived here--the first destination of our trip, Fiore's one and only HS gym! Go and reach out to your partners as I explain the rules."

I look to my right and saw Natsu's arms hanging by his waist. His arms seemed free. There was this urge for me to reach and pull him by the arm while the other half wants me to control myself and let him do the first move.

"...lucy," I gasped when someone all of a sudden tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, I saw Lisanna. "Principal Mavis said to grab hold of our partners." she was looking away when I noticed Sting kept staring at her. Her arm was hanging on his. But, I wanted to make sure she was correct, sure enough, she was.

As if instinctively, my arm placed itself in Natsu's open arm. He looks to his side with a surprised look on his face. He suddenly grins and that's what made me feel like an idiot, having a puzzled look on my face. "W-What now...?"

"Nothing. This is the first time you weren't angry with me."

My heart kept raising itself after he stopped talking. I wanted him to say more stuff about that. But, I held on to the place where my heart lies, telling it to stop. Deciding to stop distracting myself, I listened carefully to the principal's instructions.

“First things first, group yourselves according to the number behind the paper given to you. We must group you in order for everyone to take turns because you are too many to be just doing one activity. This way, you guys will be able to accomplish all activities in time then take your lunch.” Principal Mavis suddenly drooled at the thought.

Natsu and I pulled out our crumpled papers and saw our group ; group 1. We nodded at each other then walked towards the sign where Gray was holding it up.

“Gray! You're in the same group with us?” I asked, pointing at the big sign he was holding.

“What do you think?” he smirked with a wink performed after the previous action. Natsu scoffed, “Underpants man had to be grouped with us.” he complained, making Gray bicker with him again.

“Lucy...” Levy's shoulders kept shaking as she slowly walked up to me. Her finger automatically pointing in Gajeel's direction who was drinking a glass of gatorade. It made me giggle, making me pat her head and whisper, “Well, he's your partner, isn't he? Go and talk to him.” with a little nudge in the elbow and accidentally pushing her over, she was back on her feet and went towards Gajeel. It made me feel good inside when I saw them talking together. Yeah, that's the way to do it, my bestfriend.

“Alright,” The Principal once again spoke, eyeing everyone in her surroundings. “Seems pretty clear that everyone's in their groups. Right. I'm going to count 1 to 3 as a starting mark for each of the groups to begin their quest. Your activities are stated in your leaders' hands. Good luck! One... Two--”

My eyes widened, making me wave my hands around. “W--Wait! I-I'm not mentally prepared--” it was too late when the principal had announced, “GO!” 

Everyone had gone inside with thwir groups. Apparently, our group leader is Gray. Once we've gone inside, Gray announced, “Follow me, guys. This is the first activity ; piggy-me-back race.”

He explained that we all had to get our partners, be piggy-backed and race through the hallways while avoising each obstacles. Of course, everyone was in a hurry since there is a special prize for the winner. Nobody knew what it is since nobody was telling. Might as well give it a shot to winning.

Someone grabbed me by the arm, dragging me beside them. My eyes widened when I realized it was Natsu. He patted both sides of his shoulder. “Luce, put your hands on my shoulders then wrap your legs around me. Hurry! We're up next along with Gray.” with a quick movement, I was able to obey him and did it. He wrapped his arms around my legs. I could feel his warmth through them.

“One, two, three, go!” one of the instructors blew their whistle, fired the unloaded gun, signalling Natsu and Gray to race together.

Gray smirked in our direction. “Remember the rules, do not let your luggage fall throughout the game or we lose points and lose the chance of getting the best rooms for the whole trip.”

It was Natsu's time to smirk. “Don't kid around. Lucy ain't falling for anything or anyone but me.” he lifted his eyes up to wink in my direction, making me lose focus and look away.

“Stupid.” looking back in front, I almost shrieked when I realized it was a small bench where he'd have to walk over. As he was walking straight, someone suddenly splashed us by our behind. He turned and saw a couple of personnels by the side, throwing water balloons at us.

“Natsu, hurry! We need to go to the finish line before we fall off this bench.” he nodded then started running towards the end of the bench. Right when we were expecting the finish line in the end, we just got fooled and told that this game had three stages. We finished stage one : water balloons as obstacles. The next one was where Natsu has to cross the whole bridge which was only as thick as a pole. I gulped at the sight.

“Natsu! W-We need to skip this one!”

He suddenly lifted a brow. “Hah? No way. Giving up ain't in my vocabulary.” he gripped on tightly to both of my legs, making me yelp inside when I began to feel the heat hotter than before.

“B-But, I can't let you do this! You'll only get hurt! Besides, I'm a burden because I'm heavy, right?” no matter how painful it was to admit that I was a heavy person, I wanted Natsu to be safe from any injury.

“Lucy! There's something I have to tell you that I should've told you a long time ago!” he screamed as he was speeding towards the pole bridge.

“Is this really the time for that?! What is it, then?!”

Hearing his teeth grit, he announced. “You were never really heavy! I just always tease you that even though it isn't true!”

My eyes widened at his statement, instinctively making me punch his head. “You stupid idiot! Was that even a part of the game?!”

“I'm encouraging you to have faith in me, sheez!” he jumped right off the bat, walking sideways as he crossed the pole with me still being carried on his back. I blushed when I saw the floor. It had a floormat but, I knew it was gonna be painful when we fall of. It's either I fall first then he falls on top of me or the opposite. Whichever of the choice is made, we'll both still feel pain.

“Just close your eyes. We'll make it. Have faith in me.”

I was so sure Natsu sounded just like Dad when I was a kid about trusting him about his job. Obediently, I shut my eyes tightly closed and felt Natsu sway side-to-side as he crossed over.

“Congratulations for making it this far! Next up, the last stage of the foot race ; carry your luggage in bridal style as you two cross the floor!”

“That's it? Easy peasy!” Natsu grabbed me by the arm, with me landing in his arms. Eventually realizing I was being carried in his arms. While he was crossing, I figured, there's always a twist when it comes to the last part of this kind of games. I gasped when I felt my back fall on the floor.

“Easy, huh?” the instructor chuckles. “I'm sorry to tell you this but those aren't ordinary floorboards--they have weak positions which would make your foot fall in some of them. Nobody will get any splinters because these aren't real woods.”

Natsu sighed, blowing his bangs out of the way, he looked into my eyes. “This trip is full of nutjobs.” he gasped as he carried me in a higher position then started walking carefully through the floor to find out which parts were broken. So far, we're making it halfway through compared to the others.

“Natsu... you--you're sure you can handle me?”

“Luce, now is not the time to back out. We're almost there.” he panted and he panted as we were a few feet before the finish line. Others were watching while the others cheered as Natsu crossed the tagged line. He gently puts me down then hugs me.

“We did it, Luce! We did it!”

“It was all because of you, Natsu!”

He smiles wider. “Thanks for believin' in me.”

I smiled back, “Thanks for telling me that I'm not heavy.”

He gulped. “N-No problem..”

“Those of you in each group who have finished their first activities, please proceed to the next activity as your leader has shown to you!”

Natsu snatched the paper Gray was holding. “Hey! I was readin' that!” Gray reacted.

“Let's Just Dance competition?” My eyes widened when Natsu just read that aloud.