Chapter 7 - recap

I was wheeled out of the room and back to my own where Natsu was the only one waiting. The nurses sat me on the bed and told me I could leave within twenty four hours. After they left Natsu got on the bed with me. He stared at me. He reached his hand up to my cheek and I winced as I felt a little pain as he ran his hand over it.

"I guess they had to cut pretty far down," he says kinda spacey.

"Natsu, it's fine," I tell him.

"You sure Luce?" He looks me dead in the eye.

I nod my head but as I do he pulls me towards him and into his chest. My head rests against his shoulder and I was curled up in his lap. At that moment I didn't care about him and Lisanna. Right now, it was about me and him. And that's all I really wanted.

• * •

Chapter 8 - Returned, and Ready for Battle!

Two days after my surgery I was able to return to school, with a little aid. As long as at least one friend was in each of my classes I could safely return to school, which I was all for. Who ever would want to be stuck in an apartment Natsu lived in, all day? I shuddered at the thought as I walked with Natsu.

"You okay?" He gave me a questioning glance.

"Yup! Just peachy!" I grin at him.

"Good, I can't have my Luce getting herself hurt again," he teases me.

"I can take care of myself..." I pout in response to hide the fact that my heart fluttered. Suddenly Natsu whirls around and grabs my arm. I let out a shriek of alarm and surprise as he pulls me towards him. I catch myself on his chest as he releases my arms, but the second I do he grabs my hands and holds them behind my back. My face was so close to him that I only had to shift my head and our lips would connect. I stared at his oynx eyes, my own brown ones wide in shock.

"N-Natsu..." I breathe.

"...So what where you saying about being able to take care of yourself?" He smirks after a long pause.

"I..-" I try to fumble for an answer, but when I can't find one I close my eyes and huff. That's when pain washed over my from my head and my breath caught. I gripped onto Natsu and held back tears.

"My medicine... please..." I begged him.

He wasted no time popping the painkillers into my mouth so I could swallow them. I stayed there, holding handfuls of his 'Tower of Heaven' movie t-shirt. When the pain subsided released his shirt and stepped away from him.

"You will speak of this to no one!" I glare at him.

He smirks, "Sure thing, Luce." and turns, hands in his pockets on the path to school.

• * •

We arrive and a few of my friends greet me and wish that I receive better health. Then I heard a familiar cry and someone shouting, "Lucy-!" And I turn and see none other than, Levy McGarden. Levy gave me a flying tackle hug. She had small tears running down her cheeks as she embraced me tightly, as if too keep me from ever leaving her--or escaping death via Levy Hug.

"Levy, Levy it's okay now," I reassure her.

"Well Lu, you won't believe what happened while you and Natsu where gone!" She exclaimed.

"What, what happened?" I wonder.

Levy looks around before leaning close to my ear, "Lisanna kis-" she was cut off by Natsu who had Lisanna clinging to him.

"Hi Natsu," I smile at him.

"Hey Luce," he give me a quick hug after shrugging Lisanna off.

"Hi Lis-," I begin to greet her but she glares at me and I freeze.

"Yo Lucy, I have to go to class. Hey don't forget to take your pain killers okay? I don't want another 'incident'." he grins at me as my face grows red.

As he hurries away I yell, "IDIOT! You promised not to bring that up!"

He looks back at me grinning and I scowl at the ground, my face still bright red. Levy raises an eyebrow.

"Something happened between you two..." She notes suspiciously.

"No! Nothing happened," I grumble folding my arms over my chest.

"Well anyway like I was saying, Lisanna kissed Sting; you know that new kid?" Levy informs me.

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. "No way!" I nearly drop my bag, "I never would have guessed she was capable..." I shake my head.

"Well, I was the only one to witness it besides them. So it's not like anyone would believe me if I told them," she shrugs.

"I wonder what she is up to.." I fall silent.

"I'm not sure quite honestly, I mean it is Lisanna," Levy starts walking to class and I follow in suit.

"Maybe I'll talk to Natsu about it," I suggest.

"No, maybe it was something else," Levy shrugs as we reach the room.

"What else requires lip to lip action?" I ask her.

She stops for a minute, and sighs, "It's only kissing..." before sitting down.

• * •

In FACS we are given the day to continue work on our partner projects. Natsu and I settled on a buisness and I began designing flyers. He started coming up with things to sell. The hour went along smoothly, since he was actually focused on working.

At the end of class we got up and headed out. I made my way slowly through each class, taking notes and begging for the day to be over so I could get outside. When the final bell rung I hurried out with everyone else. As I was making my way off campus someone grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the crowd. I looked to see Lisanna.

"Oh hey Lisanna, what's up?" I ask casually.

"Don't "what's up" me, Lucy Heartfilia don't think I don't know what you are up to," she glared at me.

"What." I say blankly.

"Playing stupid? 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 - preview

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.