I do not own FT.

Arts Topic: Nudity

Chapter I

Her name was Lucy Heartfilia. She was perceived as a rather quiet woman of 21. She was also known for wearing glasses and absolutely always dressing in loose clothes which probably were making her look as if she weighted ten kilograms more than in reality—it was no secret she did not care about her appearance too much. The people from the same year at university did not know her too well; she avoided making friends and never exchanged more than several words with others. However, they never appeared to really care, bothered with their own lives and colleagues.

In reality, it was not that Lucy was mean or wanted to remain lonely. She was amicable and kind, but only outsiders knew about it. Yet, she chose staying on the side. She already had friends outside of the faculty and, to her, they were enough. Moreover, the blonde was terrified of repeating the events from high school… Which made her the person she was now.

As to the university, she was attending drawing in the Department of Arts and Art History. She always enjoyed drawing and was quite skilled, but had never actually thought that she would end up studying the thing. To her greatest amazement, Lucy made it through the entrance exams with her folder. Thus, extremely content and excited, she entered the University.

Among the students, there was no one she had known before. Most of her friends had chosen Medicine or Physics, only her best friend, Levy McGarden, attended Journalism. Still, she did not mind. She chose the university in another town, far away from her old life and experiences. Naturally, her current colleagues were from rival high schools or other towns. It only added to her disinterest in getting to know them.

And so time passed by for Lucy, who was constantly alone and hiding away with her social nature. She dexterously ignored and omitted any chances she was given to integrate with the group and never appeared on any meetings. But no one seemed to care nor intend to catch her attention… Until one day.

The lecturer, Reedus, waited for silence to fall between the students. He was a patient teacher, he understood that young people mostly wanted to have fun. Consequently, he was respected and everyone liked his classes. Thus, as usual, after two more minutes, the students turned quiet and sat down in their assigned desks.

"Alright, people." Reedus exclaimed and smiled, rubbing his hands together. "We're about to start a very interesting project. Very interesting, indeed, and I think you'll simply love it."

He looked around the classroom with content; it was full of fascinated faces. He chuckled and clapped a few times. That was what he had expected of them.

"So! I'll pair you up and each pair will draw a chit with a topic of their work. I want two detailed and modulated pencil pieces, half of the natural size. The draw will take place at the end of the class, you'll come to my desk in pairs and take one card. Since I know that many things could happen, you'll have this semester to finish it. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Good. So, let's see…" The lecturer put his glasses on and started to read the names of the students. Lucy was sitting with her head turned to the windows, gazing out and barely listening to the Professor. She was wondering what was the purpose of the project—and why she could not do it alone, as always… "—and Lucy Heartfilia."

She budged and shifted her sight at the lecturer, having the decency to look ashamed of her previous lack of attention. "Sorry?"

"I said that you're paired up with Sting Eucliffe."

Lucy nodded and her eyes wandered to the man who was sitting across the room, currently looking at her. When their sights met, he smirked and winked at her. She raised a brow and bobbed her head at him, then quickly returned to gazing outside of the building, trying to ignore the jealous stares of other girls.

Sting Eucliffe… For all she knew, he was feisty, popular, funny, and attractive. Objectively, yeah. Undeniably. Yet, she had no idea who he was; about him as a person. How could she, after all? Lucy appeared to be an antisocial figure to others and she herself knew no one aside from rumors and gossips she had heard in the cantine.

Well, she was not antisocial. And she was about to be forced to prove it.

Lucy scowled. It was something which made her a little nauseous; nonetheless, she refused to let the fear reach her and make her unwell. No one was forcing her to become friends with her partner… It was supposed to be just a project. Nothing less, nothing more.

Consoled, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

She could do that.

Therefore, at the end of the lesson, when Reedus reminded them of the drawing, Lucy stood up and went to stand in the line; not even two seconds passed before Sting Eucliffe joined her with a cheeky smile on his face and his hands in the pockets.

"Hi, so we're put together, eh? I'm pretty sure we haven't met yet, have we?"

Lucy turned to the man, eyeing his friendly face. Act naturally, she thought.

"No, I don't think so." The blonde answered, half smiling. "I'm Lucy."

"Sting." He shook her hand and grinned wider. "I'm looking forward to our cooperation."

"Yeah, me too…"

"Say, how's it that you're always… Um, beside? I mean… Not that I stalk you, but I haven't really seen you with anyone, you know." Sting asked her bluntly, not able to hide interest.

Nosy.

"Well. I don't really want to get…" Lucy paused to pick the right word. "Involved."

She wanted to avert her sight, but knew it was important to maintain eye contact. Without a word, Sting scrutinized her and only then opened his mouth to comment on that, but was cut in short by the Professor who cleared his throat. Apparently, it was their turn to pick a chit. Having turned to the lecturer, Lucy noticed several cards laying in disorder on the desk. She glanced at her pair, who nodded and encouraged her to get one. So, she raised one paper with a trembling hand; yet, it was taken by the Professor even before any of the blondes could see it.

"Ah! What a pick. I must say you must be the best, I repeat, the very best to do this. I was hoping that you two would get it, though…" Reedus chuckled and dramatically turned the card with a bold, centered text to them. Both Lucy and Sting leaned ahead to read one word written on it: Nudity. "Congratulations. Good, very good that the two of my best students got this. I just know you won't fail me."

Reedus kept rambling, oblivious to the fact that Heartfilia was completely stunned; she did not move nor said anything. She just… Stood there, deaf to the words. Finally, Sting cleared his throat and caught her elbow, answering the Professor and leading her to the side.

"You okay?"

Hesitantly, Lucy nodded, coming out of the daze. "Yeah… Just, uh, I don't know, I didn't expect it."

"Neither did I." He laughed. "But, hey, we can do it."

She sent him a doubting look. He could, she was sure of that. He was not at all bothered to have drawn such a topic. But her…? Well, she guessed she just had to be extremely professional about it and that was it. Even though exposing herself totally to him was a difficult task. Difficult and mortifying. She should have never been submitted to that. She should have opposed to that right away…

But she was and did not.

"Of course we can." She replied dismissingly. "Okay, I need to go. So, er, see you, I guess?"

"Yeah, definitely." Sting winked. "We'll be in touch."

Lucy smiled half-heartedly for the last time and turned around, walking away. She went down to the cloakroom and grabbed her coat. Then, hiding her hair under a hat and entangling a scarf around her neck, along with half of her face, she sighed. She sure had something to think about…

The girl went out into the cold air of early winter. She hated the cold, but enjoyed wrapping herself in all those things. They were able to cover her features. She got used to being hidden. So how would she stand anyone seeing her completely naked—so vulnerable, so uncovered? Damn…

"Stay professional." She told herself from under the scarf. With that, she sat on the bench among people, waiting for a bus.

But it was not arriving. Lucy was always quick to get there so that she could avoid riding with people from her faculty; nevertheless, today it seemed that she would have to endure it. If they were to recognize the wool monster she had become, that was.

Soon enough, she found she was right. A group of people consisting of four giggling girls and three guys, Sting Eucliffe in that, stopped near her at the bus stop. Lucy quickly looked the other way, not in the mood to talk to them. She did not want to hear jibes from the women, nor was she willing to talk to her partner so soon. Still, the awareness of that they were there was too much and she ended up throwing systematical glances at the group. Moreover, she was well capable of hearing their conversation—not that they were speaking quietly.

"I mean, really, Carl is nice, but we've drawn a topic of Native Americans. I can't imagine him in those clothes, half naked…"

"Yeah, well, I'm working with Ryos." Another girl exclaimed and threw her hands around the arm of a guy standing next to her. "And we've got Burlesque."

"What are those topics?" The second man spat. "Me and Marion have… Um, I think it was something about Beach…"

They all laughed. Finally, a girl with white hair jabbed Sting with her finger and asked in a fake-nice voice. "Sting, you're so quiet… What are you thinking about?"

The man, who was deep in thought, budged and looked around his friends. He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Anyway, what is your topic?"

"You know, I think every girl's envious of that Lucy… She's got to work with you." The woman hanging on Ryos commented with a smirk.

"Um… We've got Nudity." He replied.

His friends goggled at him. "What?!"

"Reedus must have some kind of fetish… Maybe he's masturbating to his students' works?" Ryos questioned and they all laughed. Yet, the topic was not over. The same white-haired woman asked Sting:

"Nudity… but it's all about sexiness, right? And that girl… Why do you think she wears loose?"

"Maybe she's chubby." The other woman wandered.

"Exactly; you think she can do it? Besides, what's the point if…"

"Stop it." Eucliffe hissed, looking dispraising. "How can you say that about anyone? You don't even know her. And it's not about attraction, but professionalism."

"Ouch." She laughed. "Yeah, right. You'll see."

Lucy, who heard every word and was now shamelessly staring at them, averted her sight. She felt rather offended by the white-haired colleague's words. Sting was right, she had no idea about her. But, on the other hand, neither did he. Yet, he defended her… Suddenly, she started up upon seeing her bus. She wanted to escape. And that was what Lucy was about to do.

Thus, when the vehicle came, she jumped inside and sheltered herself in the farthest corner, not removing her hat nor the scarf. The blonde gazed around, trying to spot the group in the bus, but failed to do so. She glimpsed outside and saw them still standing there.

Nonetheless, the thing that caught her attention were Sting Eucliffe's bright blue eyes glued to her through the window, as if he knew it was her. And that she had heard them. Lucy blushed, but at the same moment the bus driver closed the door and took off, breaking the unexpected eye contact between Lucy and Sting.

Half an hour later, Heartfilia arrived home. She quickly took off her sweater and tossed it away, then shimmied out of her trousers, stretching. She hated those clothes. Truly, madly, deeply. But still chose to wear them in public. They were her shelter. Safety area. And she wanted it to stay that way… That way, she was not exposed to staring or even socializing with strangers.

Which did not change the fact that, after the university hours, Lucy was throwing them away and changing into what she had been wearing regularly until some time ago: tight jeans or shorts, clingy shirts and tops, miniskirts. That was what she loved and what expressed her. But she could not provoke the events that had taken place t the end of her high school…

She shook her head. She would not be thinking about it. She refused to.

Instead, Lucy grabbed her phone and wrote her best friend, Levy, with whom she made an appointment for the evening. Since the woman was in her former town, she asked her to get on Skype to make the talking easier. At seven, they were already connected.

"Lu, you're looking great, you sexy beast." Levy exclaimed with a grin.

"Yeah, for now. I've just taken off those pathetic baggy clothes." She sighed. "You know how I hate them."

"Then stop wearing them already. All the people, uh, involved are far away. Out. Finished. So why are you still…?"

"Ah, just a habit now." Lucy shook her head, hiding her uneasiness at the thought. "Anyway, tell me, how're you?"

They talked about some usual stuff, then the blonde told Levy about the project she had been assigned to—and who was to be her partner. Every little detail was absorbed by the bluenette, who seemed rather worried. Finally, she sighed.

"Lu… You know, the situation's not that easy. I wish you wanted to socialize with those people…"

"I'm gonna socialize with that guy. I have no other choice. I ain't gonna pretend that I'm someone else when I'm not."

"You'll be forced to spend much time together. He's gonna see right through you." Levy warned her. "Watch out. And, the most important thing. Try not to fall in love with the guy. I mean it. I know you all too well."

"But, Levy—"

"No. I don't want you hurt again. You'll either end up really happy or shattered. I don't want you taking that risk."

Lucy tapped a finger on her chin, then admitted quietly. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of everything. Him. Of the project. Of the nudity. Vulnerability."

"Lucy." Levy got closer to the screen and said clearly and loudly. "Just because you'll jump out of your clothes doesn't mean that you're inviting him. It's only a project. Furthermore, the nudity is the first step for you to get rid of the baggy clothes for good. And vulnerability? Who the hell expects you to share something with him?"

Lucy knew Levy was right, but refused to admit to it. Instead, she changed the topic.

"Definitely not the girl with white hair." The blonde laughed. "I think her name's Angel."

"It's just one letter differing from 'anger'." Murmured McGarden. "Anyway. When do you start?"

"Not sure yet. Soon. We've got the whole semester, but then it's not that long. He expects two fully detailed and half-real sized drawings, that's not easily made." Lucy mused. "I guess I must explain. If we were to meet every day, it'd still take at least a month for one project, I suppose. But we're not professionals and I think it's gonna double, if not triple in time since we wouldn't be able to pose more than half an hour per session. Maybe less, maybe more. Plus getting the pose, undressing and dressing back up, and probably some meetings discussing the drawings… Well, we're gonna spend much time together."

"Wow. Then I'm almost sure that you'll fall for him."

"Of course not!"

"Then maybe his bare ass will convince you?"

Lucy scowled. "Shut up."

"But you will show me the drawing, right?" The bluenette smirked coarsely.

Suddenly, her phone beeped. Lucy excused her friend and grabbed it. She read the notification and stared. Someone wrote to her on Facebook, and not just anyone. Much to Levy's amusement, she widened her eyes.

"What is it?" Levy asked with a grin. Her mirth only grew when her friend blanched and gulped.

"It's him… He's asking about a meeting to go into details and talk about the project." Heartfilia replied with a weak voice. "Wait, I'm getting on Facebook to answer. But stay with me, we'll be commenting that."

"Sure." She laughed.

Lucy quickly opened the browser and the page she was looking for. Next, she froze with her hands above the keyboard.

"What again?" Lave tried not to burst out laughing.

"Um… What do I write?"

"Just reply?"

"O-oh. Okay." Lucy sighed and did as told. "I said that sure, I think it's a good idea."

"Lu, you really must be between people more. You're starting to behave like a social cripple."

"I know. But I can't help it, I don't usually use the portal, and—" She moaned and then the chat went blue. "Oh, the answer. Um, let's see… He says he could meet me this Saturday in a café downtown."

"Go. And if you wear that hideous sweater laying behind you, I'll kill you." Levy smirked.

"Come on. It's just a casual meeting."

"For now. Besides, you're going to pose naked in front of him. The poor guy doesn't know what's coming, you'll give him a heart attack. With your rack… Prepare him somehow. And, hmm… You know, maybe I'll come there, too. I wanna check him out."

"NO!" Lucy yelled and jumped in place. "Don't do this to me!"

Levy laughed mercilessly.

"Fine. But no baggy sweaters."

Lucy nodded at last and wrote to Sting that she was in. She waited patiently for reply just to see that he asked for her number, pointing out that it was better to be in contact since something may happen. She smiled and typed her own number, agreeing with him.

"Got his number."

"You're moving quickly. What's next, his pants?" Levy grinned and Lucy was unhappy that she was on the other side of the computer; otherwise, she would have hit her.

"Okay, gotta go, you crude. And please, don't talk crap."

"Yeah. So, I'll hear from you this Saturday evening?"

"You wish." Lucy spat and turned off the conversation.

I corrected the first chapter. It was simply terrible.

Feedback's greatly appreciated :)