Wrong Number – Chapter 1

⭐Natsu⭐

“Take this!” I yelled as I threw a hard punch at Gray. He winced in pain as I laughed at him. He shot me icy daggers as he got ready to punch me back, but he froze when his phone rang. After pulling it out from his pocket, he narrowed his eyes at the screen. He left me there, still anticipating his punch.

“Oi, where are you going!?” I think he didn’t hear me since he was already talking to someone on the phone. I huffed. What’s with these people? What’s with these phones? People look so hooked up to it. I don’t have anyone to fight anymore since they were all focused on their phones. I got an idea.

After grabbing a random job from the request board, I ran towards Lucy. “Yo, Lucyyyy!!” I halted when I saw her fumbling with her phone.

“Not now, Natsu. I’m busy.” She waved her hand dismissively, like hoping that I’d go away for awhile. I wanted to frown but I just nodded and pouted.

I sat on the counter and talked to Mirajane. “What’s with people today? They’re holding phones ever since last week.” She chuckled at my grumbling and shook her head.

“Well, it’s very useful, that’s why. Don’t you have a phone?”

“I don’t have one. I don’t know how to use it anyway.”

“There’s a manual!” She put down a clean plate. “You should buy one.”

“I don’t have money. I was planning on inviting Lucy to a mission, but it seems like she’s busy. I can’t find Happy, too. I don’t want to go on a job alone. I don’t want to join other teams.”

She sighed and flashed me pitying eyes. “Too bad. You’ll have to wait until our Christmas party comes.” I scowled. The Christmas party would be two weeks away! What would be the best thing to do while waiting for that Christmas party? I wouldn’t have the chance to fight with anyone around because, of course, they’re holding their pesky phones.

“I’d have to go out.” I mumbled to myself as I ran out the guild.

Two hours and twenty minutes later, I found myself in front of Sabertooth. I’d like to have a sparring match with Sting.

“We just fixed this a month ago!” I heard someone groan and I recognized the voice. Rufus.

“Let’s fight.” I smirked at the boy wearing a ridiculous hat as Sting laid down on the ground, wincing in pain. Heh. I never lose.

“Are you implying that I cannot lose to you, young man?” Rufus spoke with a little formality.

“Halt your blabbering ‘cause I’m gonna let what you said come true.”

“Memory magic!” He disappeared in front of me. I looked around and saw him standing in front of their smashed roof.

“I thought he didn’t like to join the fight?” Was the last thing I heard from Yukino before everything went black.

☎☎

I woke up feeling dizzy. This isn’t my room.

I recognized the bed I was in when I smelled the room. Lucy’s room. Why was I here?

“You’re awake.” On the window was Lucy, glaring at me. “Why did you have to go to Sabertooth and ruin their guild? Ugh, I felt so embarrassed when they came to me explaining what happened.”

I scratched the back of my head. “I was bored...” I burst out. I knew that she was going to give me a lecture that was going to last for an hour, which will bore me.

“Listen, that’s an invalid reason.” I stared at her face as it was illuminated by the sun setting. “You don’t have to go there because you were bored.” I’ve had enough of her lecturing me.

“I wanted to invite you to a mission but you were too busy with your phone. All of you were.” I stood up, though my legs felt painful. I collapsed and she came to my aid right away.

“Rest.” She ordered softly. I could see the concern in her eyes. Once I have laid down the bed, she continued, but not before sighing. “Sorry. Erza told me to enjoy life and use my cellphone. I made an account on Facebook and I texted Wendy.” She elaborated as her room got a little dark. She turned on the light.

I didn’t know what to say. What was I even supposed to say? She didn’t have to explain, yet she did. And I don’t know why I felt oversensitive just a moment ago. It wasn’t me speaking, probably. It was my conscience.

“Uh, would you like to stay here for the night?” She asked after a few quiet moments. Being the one that loves comfortable bed and food, I nodded at her, grinning. “All right. I guess I can’t do anything about it.” She turned to me again. “Dinner?”

“Sure.”

She gestured me to follow her to the dining table. I sat uncomfortably as she did. The eerie silence was deafening us.

Not until a certain cat entered the scene. “What are you two doing here? Having a date? Ohh, you liiiike each other!” He teased, chortling at Lucy’s flushed face. I furrowed my eyebrows at the blue cat.

“Where have you been?” I inquired.

“To Fairy Hills. I was helping Wendy with an emergency in her room.” I got curious, but then I didn’t want to talk about it much further so I nodded.

“I didn’t see you two—Natsu! What happened to you?” He flew towards me and his worried face was what I saw when he saw my legs covered up with bandages. “Have you fought with Gray again?” He crossed his arms as he landed on the floor, eyeing my swollen legs.

“I fought, but not with Gray. I fought with Sting and Rufus.”

“Lemme guess. You picked a fight?” I nodded, smiling sheepishly at him. “But why with Sting and Rufus?”

“Somebody here didn’t want to go on a mission with me because she was too busy with her phone.” Lucy had her guilty face on. “Besides, you disappeared just then. I had to fight with Gray because I was bored, but then he stopped fighting me because someone called him.”

“I bet Juvia was the one who called him.” Happy giggled as I burst into fits of laughter. If that was the case, then I won’t get mad at him for ditching me like that. At least he was annoyed. I’d have to thank Juvia for this later.

“By the way,” Happy continued as he pushed a chair and then sat on it. “since you two weren’t there at the guild earlier, I’ll announce it for you. We will have the exchange gift on our Christmas Party too, of course. Tomorrow, we’ll do something related to our Christmas party. Mira said that we should think of our codenames and put it in a piece of paper. We must also write there three things you want to have this Christmas. Of course, you should also put there if you are a male or a female. Fold it into two and drop it into the stockings tomorrow when you arrive at the guild. Thereafter, we’re going to have the activity!”

I actually didn’t get the last part—or the gist to tell you the truth—of what he was saying because I already started gobbling down the food. I was sure Happy knows it because I saw him rolling his eyes along with Lucy.

“Let’s just start eating.” Lucy told Happy and they also ate.

The next day, I saw two pieces of paper beside me. One was with a little note, and the one was a blank one. I read the paper with the note.

Natsu,

Happy and I will be on the guild! On the blank piece of paper, write your codename and the three things you want this Christmas. :)

~Lucy and Happy

I first raided Lucy’s fridge and looked for something edible. My eyes glimmered at the sight of the mountain of food in the fridge. Lucy must’ve bought food last week.

After eating, I wrote on the blank piece of paper.

I then went to the guild and saw Lucy chattering happily with Levy. I looked for the stocking and I put the paper there.

Finding Gray accidentally, I decided to punch him while he’s not looking.

“Not today, Natsu.” Happy held me back. I frowned at him and asked him why. “Remember your legs. They aren’t in good condition.”

“The activity will start in a few minutes! Please get ready.” A voice spoke, and it was Wendy’s voice.

I got hungry again so I asked Mira for a bunch of food. She gave it to me with a bright smile on her face. “Don’t you think our activity is exciting?” She grinned.

Even though I've got no clue on what she’s talking about, I nodded. “Yeah. Exciting. Really exciting." I said with my mouth full.

Just in time, I had finished eating. I patted my full stomach. Ah, I was already contented.

“Please gather up!” Wendy announced with her tiny voice. “Our activity for today is related to the upcoming Christmas party. You yourselves are going to pick the one you’re going to give the gift to... in this stocking. Line up! No pushing!” I hated lining up, but I followed anyway.

I watched as the people dispersed into little groups, getting excited about the ones they picked. I wasn’t that excited.

Then it was now my turn.

I carefully pulled out the piece of paper I got and read it aloud. “brownworm07, female. I’d like to have books, books, and many books. That is all.” Hmm. This could be Levy. I mean, she loves books. No doubt about it.

“How was it? Is it a girl?” Lucy came up to me excitedly. I nodded.

“How about you?”

“It’s a boy.” Her cheeks went pink as she muttered that with a smile. “I like his codename.” She added. All I could do was nod. Not to be rude but, I didn’t really care. “But I don’t wanna tell you his codename.” She grinned childishly and stuck her tongue out. I shook my head at what she did. She went away to talk to Levy, her best friend.