Ch. 47 - I chickened out

Lucy's POV

I leave you for a second and you flirt around with another guy?! Unbelievable of him. How could he say that? He knows I'm not a flirt. He knows I don't like hanging around with boys much either. But, it is also my fault. I still felt frustrated of not having my confession plan work. It's always disturbed and interrupted whenever it happens.

I looked down on my knees that I hugged close to my chest as I was still up even though it's past our curfew and Levy listening to my story. "Levy, I don't know what to do..."

She held my hand and looked sympathetically into my eyes. "Oh, Lucy. I... I'm such an unhelpful friend. I mean, I'm your bestest friend and yet, I don't know what to say to you."

I shook my head. "It's fine, Lev. Really. At least your tried to comfort me. Thanks for that. I really needed someone to talk about this.." I said as I leaned against her shoulder which she started caressing and patting gently.

"Do you want me to kick his where-it-hurts thing?" my eyes widened in terror when she even asked that, receiving a punch from my knuckles.

"Levy!" I pouted, making her laugh and pat my head.

She snapped her fingers, biting her lip. "That's the Lucy I know and love!" she pulls me into a quick hug before saying "Good night." turning the lamp off to drift ourselves to sleep.

But, how could I sleep when I've done that to Natsu? I'm such a fool. I blamed him for me being jealous and for him leaving me alone at the stupid bridge. Why did I have to bring my rage out on him? He must think I'm really an emotional girl full of--emotions.

Rising up from the futon, I quickly made my way to the door. I need to see him. I need to apologize to him. I want to make things right. Forget about my pride--I love Natsu more than that.

As my fingers twitched upon touching the handle, I had to cloee my eyes to make sure I wasn't going to hesitate and baxk away from breaking the curfew rule. My hands moved on their own and opened the knob. I made my way down the hallway to go to see Natsu.

Natsu's POV

"Oi, Gray! Did you use my toothbrush?!" I yelled, not caring whether I was making quite the racket around the room.

"Hah? I brought my own toothbrush, doofus." Just before I could answer back a great comeback I've always thought of saying, someone knocked at the door hysterically, sounding urgent. It made Gray and I look at the entrance.

"I'll get it." Gray volunteered, making his way towards the door. When he was opening the door, he started talking to the visitor as I went back to brushing my teeth.

"Damn, if I find out Gray used this, I will kill that son of a--"

"Natsu! Lucy's here!" I spat the water I was gurgling and made sure to run towards the door, pushing Gray, making him jump on the bed.

"Wha-What is it, Luce, what?" Lucy was staring at me with eyes widened fully, examining my body from head to toe since I wasn't wearing any shirt, after all.

She looks away, her face flushing of red. "C-Could you at least wear a shirt first before I say this...?"

I nodded, "Sure, wait a sec." but when I was about to go and get it, she pulls my scarf, making me realize the signal so I stayed standing in front of her. "What...?"

"We need to talk somewhere privately." she stated as she was still holding the tip of my scarf. I nodded and obeyed her like a dog, following her through the hallway and down the stairs to the restaurant of the hotel. We sat across each other while her hands stayed buried under the table.

"Listen, I-I want to apologize for the way I acted earlier. It was so uncalled for. I guess I was just so mad when..." she started fumbling around the table as her shoulders squirmed. "w-when... y-you left me alone... w-when I told you to..."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Hah? I... don't really get you." I started scratching the back of my head after she had her statement stated.

"Let me make it straight, you don't leave a girl when she tells you to. When she tells you to leave, she means stay together. Got it...?" she kept biting her lower lip after speaking, making my fists roll into balls and tightened the way I hold the hem of my pants.

"I... I get it..."

Lucy's POV

I said it.

I said it.

I fucking said it already!

If he still doesn't get the message, I guess I'll have to take the situation into my own hands. "Natsu, I-" I was cut off when Natsu suddenly moved seats and eventually sat beside me. His eyes never leaving my sight. It felt like we were having a staring contest here and none of us were moving an inch.

He cupped my chin, making me look more deeply into his eyes. "N... Natsu..."

He gulps, "W-Wait..." he lets go of my chin then, lifted his hand up to his forehead. "Sorry, I... really don't know what I'm doing here."

I looked down to my hands. "But, you... you do get my message, r-right?"

He looks at me. He smiled widely then pats me on the head. "Of course! What made you think I don't?"

I gulped, "S...So? What's your answer?"

I stared at him intensely as I waited for him to reply. He scratched a bit of his hair, humming a little tune before he actually started talking again. "Yeah. I like you, too, Luce. And not just as a friend. I like you for you."

He closed his eyes, curving his lips into a smirk as he leaned in, he was about to kiss me! What was I supposed to do? We both wanted this. But then again...

"Oh, yoo-hoo! Luce? You're spacing out on me." Just when Natsu waved a hand over my vision, I snapped from my dream and remembered that this was supposed to be the part where I confess. But, my energy was drained. It's already nighttime, past our bedtime. I don't think it was the right time.

"Natsu, as I was saying," I stammered. "I'm sorry for being such a drama queen again. I'm... I haven't overcome this habit..."

He nods, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closely. "Aww, that's what I like about you, Luce! You're so honest!" he chuckles to himself as he started rubbing his cheek against mine.

"Y-Yeah... I'm... so honest..." not.

the next day

My alarm clock went off sooner than I expected, causing all of us girls to wake up at the right time so, we could bathe early and manage to eat breakfast and do the activities for the day.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauties! Breakfast is served!" Ms. Mira came in, tapping each and every sleeping girls by the foot, managing to wake them up. She smiles at me, "Good morning." I greeted back as she walked out from the room.

Levy had her eyes rubbed intensely, walking half-sleeping to the bathroom, automatically brushing her teeth. I laughed at the scene but, it didn't last long when I remembered the scenario from last night.

"Lucy," I heard a familiar voice call. I looked to see Erza in her gym clothes. "You better get ready. Let's eat together with Levy and Gray with the others." she stated, making me nod my head.

"Oh, alright, Erza." nevermind what happened last night. What's important is now. I still have plently of time to confess since we are still married. I changed into my birthday suit, took a quick bath to rinse off then went downstairs where I saw Erza along with Gray and Natsu, who were already eating.

I gulped at the scene but decided to join them anyway. I was about to take a seat beside Gray but, Levy raced me to it, signalling me to go to Natsu. My fists rolled into twin balls as I sat beside the densed idiot who keeps playing with chopsticks stuck in his nose.

I simply sighed as I stared at the food on my plate. Salad with fried chicken. "...oh, Erza, what's the activity for today, by the way?"

She tapped her chin then looked up, thinking deeply. "Ah. We'll have swimming practice for today, you know, the chicken fight when girls are placed on the shoulder of their boy partners and fight with the enemy. The winner gets decided when the loser falls into the pool first."

"S-Sounds fun." Levy shuddered at the thought.

Gray pats her head for confidence calmly. "It's gonna be alright, Lev. You're light so, I won't have any hard time picking you up."

Erza smiled at the group as she ate. "Ahh, it's so refreshing for me to see a partnership get this close, right?"

Natsu made me feel startled when he suddenly grabbed my shoulder, hugging me closer to him with a huge grin on his face. "Nyahahahahahaha!! Nothing beats without having your partner here with you! Right, partner?"

I simply nodded as an honest answer before sulking into an oblivion. His head between my legs? It sounded wrong but, it's embarrassing having his warmth between my sensitive spot.