Chapter 8 - recap

Look, I know about everything that happened between you and Natsu," she scowls.

"So you know about..." I prompt her to continue.

"You know, the things you guys do!" She folds her arms over her chest.

"Can I go now? I kinda have to catch a friend, I need to tell them something important," I turn and walk away without waiting for an answer.

I walk silently trying to contemplate what just happened. I shook my head as I got off school property and hummed my song on the way home. So Lisanna really did hide behind a facade. I couldn't decide if I should tell Natsu or not.

I got to the apartment and shrugged my bag off my shoulder. And collapsed on the couch from exhaustion.

• * •

Chapter 9 - His Lucky Jacket

I stirred to wake, finding myself curled up in Natsu's arms. He was carrying me to his room.

"Natsu.." I mumble tiredly.

"Sh, just go back to sleep okay?" He shifts me slightly. I realize he has only his shorts on again, but his body emanates heat so I curl up against him. He lays me down on the bed and pulls the covers over me. Then he gets in next to me as I fall back asleep.

The immersive sleep I had was one I had greatly missed. With my crazy roller coaster of emotions I had been on, sleep had been second only to pain and tears. Pain from the surgery and the now removed tumor, tears from knowing Natsu was caught up with Lisanna - which probably meant I'd become a cause of her jealousy and then she'd ask him to stop being around me.

I groaned when I had the thought as I lay in Natsu's bed. It was Friday, game day. I pulled the covers over my head and just stared at the darkness. Then I felt hands on my stomach and someone began tickling me. I lost control of myself and started laughing. I tried to roll away but now they where pinning me down. I threw the covers off my face and there was Natsu, his hair damp and a pair of jeans on. A grin covered his face and there was an evil glint in his eye.

"Natsu..." I sigh, "please get off of me?" I beg him after attempting to wriggle out from under him and obviously failing.

He folds his arms over his chest. He shakes his head, "Nah."

I roll my eyes and turn my head from him.

"Hey don't look away from me Lucy, I can't stand not to see your beautiful face," he smirked.

I blushed in spite of myself. I shake my head, "Liar, you have Lisanna to look at." Then he shakes his head. He gets off me and lets beside me while using one arm to keep me pinned down.

He whispers in my ear, "She isn't as beautiful as you are," and he gets up and starts to leave. My mind whirled, if she wasn't as beautiful as I was...why did he choose her? Did he do it just to see my reaction?

I blush even more but I finally stand up. I tie my hair up before whispering, "Natsu Dragneel why do you do this to me?"

Then I felt warm arms wrap around my waist and a warm body against my back. "Natsu what are you doing...?" I ask trying not to react.

"I just wanted to hug you Luce," he says from behind me before dropping his arms. I almost ask him to leave them there, but i kept the urge under control. He had Lisanna, even if she had kissed Sting.

Remembering that I blurted out, "Natsu do you know the new kid Sting?"

I turned to face him and I caught him giving me a strange look. "Yeah, he joined the team two weeks ago, why?"

I shrug, "I was just wondering..."

I turn away from him and then leave to get dressed for the day. I come back and Natsu and Wendy where as usual, arguing about what to have for breakfast.

"We always have what you want Natsu! So today I want to have eggs and toast!" Wendy cried.

"And I'm the one that has to wait all day after this for good food, and I want waffles!" Natsu fires back.

I sigh and roll my eyes.

"Pancakes and eggs," I say simply stepping into the kitchen and putting things together for breakfast. They both stop arguing and gape at me for a second. Wendy shrugs and runs off to finish getting ready, but Natsu stands up straighter. He slings a hoodie over his shoulder, and put his hand in his jeans pocket. His black shirt offsets his hair and makes his oynx eyes darker.

I glance over at him and catch him staring at me. I blush and quickly look away, and I hear him laugh softly to himself. "What's so funny?" I ask innocently.

"Oh like you don't know Luce," he smirks and comes up beside me.

"Maybe I don't know," I say defiantly.

"Does this ring a bell?" He wraps his arms around me again and leans against me, and gently blows on my ear. My face reddens but I shake my head.

"N-nope. Afraid it doesn't ring any bells for me!" I quickly stutter.

"I'm sure it doesn't," he laughs and releases me. I finish making breakfast and then after we all finish eating Natsu and I set out for school. The walk was quiet, but Natsu was smiling to himself the whole time. I wanted to ask him what he was grinning so madly about, but we reached school and he was whisked away by Lisanna and her entourage.

I rolled my eyes and went to find Levy. I spent the whole day being quiet, I didn't feel like speaking much. Natsu seemed to notice in FACS but before he could ask me anything at the end of class Lisanna came and dragged him away, seemingly to his annoyance.

I got through the day and in my last class everyone was chattering about going to watch the team play. The teacher finally dismissed us, and the day was over. I picked up my bag and left my last class. I wanted to go to the choir room and practice, but Natsu had championship games today. I made my way to the gym as it began filling up. I sat on the far opposite side of the cheer squad. I pulled out my notebook of lyrics and began writing down whatever came to my mind.

I glanced up as the team filed in and took up places on their part of the lower bleachers. I saw Natsu carrying his basketball jacket. I frowned, and tilted my head to the side. He never brought his jacket out, it always stayed on its special hook in his gym locker. I watched as Lisanna came over and she touched the jacket while smiling. Is he giving it to her?! My mind races and I get up and hurry into the hallway.

If he was giving it to her he must be super serious about them. I folded my arms around my stomach and walked in the quieter hallway. I heard footsteps behind me, most likely Levy.

"Go away Levy," I groan.

"It's not Levy, it's the Star Basketball Player," I hear Natsu's voice right behind me causing me to stiffen. I feel him place something on my shoulders.

As he is walking away he says, "You better keep that safe Mrs. Dragneel. I don't want to have to punish you."

My face burns red as I spin on my heel to face his back. "What's that supposed to mean?!" I ask clearly flustered.

He glanced over his shoulder at me, and when he caught sight of my face and how red it was he turned and came back. He stopped right in front of me and said, "The outcome of this game has a lot more riding on it than just the championship for me." Curiosity becomes evident in my looks as I stare at him.

"I have only ever given that to two people, and I love them both. They are Wendy and now you." he tells me.

I can't speak when we hear a buzzer. "I have to go," Natsu says giving me a kiss on the forehead. My memory from the hospital and what I had just felt were similar sensations. I freeze but Natsu runs back to the gym.

• * •

Chapter 10 - Caught! And Secrets Revealed!

"Are you okay Lucy? You look pale," Natsu looked me concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine... But we need to talk about something really important as soon as we get home okay?" I look him in the eye when I say the last part.

He nods, "Okay, just let me grab my stuff," he heads back to the gym.

"Don't get distracted!" I call out, knowing he would anyway.

"Then you can't be here," he turns and says to me. 

I stare at him confused. "What? Why?"

He grins, "Your beauty is very distracting from my task at hand."