"And the winner of the Miss Intramurals is…"

The sound of my heartbeat overpowers all the cheering and music of the event. My lips were stretched wide while I rest my eyes in the large crowd in front.

I cannot deny that almost all of the people here are shouting my name. I even got the biggest banner here. I laughed.

The other candidate beside me looks so constipated while I stood there with my head high. Whatever's the decision, I will humbly accept it. It's a good fight. I did well and they did, too. It's a great experience.

This is not the first time that I joined pageants. Even before this, I won the Miss Intramurals title of Magnolia Primary School and many titles from the pageants in our City.

I was young when Mum decided to expose me early by involving me in beauty pageants. I grew up with it and learned to love it.

With my tall and curvaceous figure, it became easy to blend in with the world of contests. I'm fair, almost as white as paper, so sun bathing became my hobby just to perfectly bronze my skin because my Mum said that the judges prefer tanned candidates.

"Who's your bet, folks?" asked the Master of Ceremonies to the crowd.

I laughed.

"The winner of Miss Intramurals is Miss Lucy Heartfilia!"

I turned to the candidate beside me and gave her the formalities. She was given a sash and a bouquet of roses just like me.

The scenes were so fast, everything was a blur. It's all glamorous, I was almost spoiled.

"I told you you'd win! Pass your crown to me next year, ayt?" my friend, Lisanna laughed.

We stayed on the stage for pictorials. The principal and some judges even talked to me, "You deserve your win, Lucy." And I gave my thank you's.

Mum and Dad started to walk in our direction to fetch me for Mum's formal meeting later, "I'm so proud of you, my Dear. You were so good especially to the question and answer portion! You amazed the judges. You really won the title."

I chuckled, "It was a good thing I joined, you were so hesitant when I told you."

"Oh, Darling. You know I'll be very busy this year. I was not able to give you my full attention, but you did it, anyway. I'm so proud of you!"

Another round of pictorials with my family and friends were done before we decided to leave. My younger brother was carrying my things as we walk away from the auditorium.

"See you later, Lucy" I grimaced at Lisanna so she continued, "Oh, you! Don't get tired on me now. I know you'll come, anyway."

I nodded and gave them a wave. I opened the door of our car while my brother started to place my things on the compartment. Ugh.

"Sting! Not there! Place my things inside!" I ordered while pointing the back seat of our car.

Sting just scratched his head and lazily obliged. I yawned, the pageant was very tiresome. It drained all my energy. I actually don't want to come to their meeting at the Fairy Tail estate but I know how important it is for Mum. She plans to run for the position of Mayor in the coming election and getting the support of the other candidates for higher positions like Makarov Dreyar, the one running for Governor, and Igneel Dragneel, candidate for Congressman, is very crucial in her win.

"Are Igneel's children knowledgeable of this whole province? I think not. That's the downside of being raised in Crocus." Dad said as their conversation went political.

"Igneel can do it. He is a great leader. It's in their genes. His siblings are known great leader of this place, too. Leadership runs in the veins of Fairy Tail members so Igneel's children are probably just as great."

I just yawned, again, and minded my own business. It became busy when we got home. Even the maids are panicking because of the mountains of orders from my Mum. I took a bath and dressed myself well for tonight's event.

Sting, my younger brother, lazily came out of his room and went to the computer and played a game.

I looked at my Mum and Dad who are currently preparing themselves. My Mum called me when she saw me and made me sit in front of our huge boudoir where she started to comb my hair. She blow-ed dry and straighten my blond hair. I can clearly see me reflection in front of me while Mum is slowly combing my hair. She smiled at me.

"Makarov Dreyar's whole family is here tonight."

"Really?" My forehead crumpled.

"Yes. Makarov's cousins, Igneel and Grandine are both running this time. This is their first time so the whole clan wanted to show their support." She paused her hands and looked at my reflection, "Levy has cousins your age, Lucy."

My eyes widened. "Really? Why didn't she tell me? We can be friends! Are they going to study in Magnolia, Mum?" I excitedly said.

Mum nodded and chuckled, "Maybe Levy didn't tell you because her cousins your age are all boys."

My excitement died. I'm not really close with boys. Sting is the only guy I'm close with. I really dislike the way they treat girls. I'm not generalizing, though. I just hate it when they play around. Playing around thinking we girls could like them when the truth is, it's disgusting.

Or is it just me?

Because some boys at my school become arrogant in just one talk with me so what I always do is avoidance. It's probably true; men are from Mars and women are from Venus.

"Oh, you should be telling Sting, then?"

"I told him, too. I'm just telling you this because you might be closer because of your age." I grimaced. I guess I have no choice, then?

We went to the clan's estate with my whole family. Like all the other mansions here in Magnolia, their mansion is ancient. Concrete but the sculpture of men and women as the mansion's foundation made it look medieval.

I've been here many times but seeing it always amazes me.

Sting immediately left my side the moment we came in. He went to Rogue, Metallicana's youngest child, and just gave me a glance. Rogue, however, gave me a small smile. I saw Lisanna with her parents and her siblings. Elfman Strauss was busy ruffling his youngest sister's hair while Lisanna is swatting his hand away. The blinding smile of Mirajane is as glamorous as her dress tonight. Mira gave me a wave and mouthed her congratulations while I gave my thanks. Levy was here, too. I just smiled at her, I can't be with them just yet. Not while I wasn't told to roam around.

The large table contains all the biggest person in Magnolia. I can even hear their words of encouragement for Dad to run for a position higher than Mum but he would always decline.

"Jude, it's such a shame. You're one of the excellent public servants here. I like what you did for the typhoon months ago… It was so helpful."

"I did that for my wife, to make her work easier and of course, I want to help, too. But my passion lies in business. I can help Magnolia through Layla." Dad said.

When the congressman candidate came along with his children, I just froze in my seat.

"Ladies and gents, finally… Here are my runaway grandchildren…" Makarov Dreyar laughed.

There stood Igneel, Silver, and Grandine, with their children. Two boys around my age, both glaring at each other while a little blue-haired girl, maybe three years younger than me, looks so uncomfortable while playing with the hem of her dress.

Fairy Tail Clan members are all close to me, those who live here, of course. My best friend, Levy, is one. Erza Scarlet, the previous Student Council President of Magnolia University, and Laxus Dreyar, the pervious soccer captain of my school are all core members. They all share a common characteristic – they are all bright and are good at leading people.

But it seems that it is not the case with the two boys in front of me.

I wandered my eyes on the foreign people in front. Both of them stopped glaring at each other after seeing Erza. The raven-haired guy seems so formal. His face is void of emotion as he looked around. His hands went to the first button of his suit and began to untangle it unconsciously but stopped when Silver Fullbuster smacked him in the head.

My eyes rested on the last guy. He looked morbid; always serious and looks trouble. His eyes have the sarcastic smile as he looked at other people. He has pink hair and has eyes sharper than anyone I've met. I can't decide if he's mean or just like that.

"These are my grandchildren who grew up in Crocus. Silver's only son, Gray…" The raven-haired guy only nodded.

"Grandine's gem, Wendy Marvell," he pointed at the young girl hiding behind her mother. Grandine just gave a chuckle at her daughter's shyness.

"And… Natsu, Igneel's headache." He said to the last guy.

Mum pushed my gently but I almost tripped because of shock. I looked at Mum and saw her smiling at Makarov. "Aren't my Lucy and Natsu the same age?"

I immediately looked at the pink-haired guy. His onyx eyes are now directed at me. My throat dried.

The way he gazed made me tremble. I don't know why. His lashes are long which emphasize his eyes. His long unruly hair made him look more badass.

"Yes, Natsu, meet Lucy Heartfilia. She's a Grade Seven student at Magnolia High. You two might be classmates."

I regained my composure. I straighten my back and stood up straight. I presented my hand to Igneel's son.

"Lucy Heartfilia… You are… Natsu?" my eyebrow rose.

His lazy eyes looked at me from head to foot. I closed my mouth. This is why I hate boys. How can I even be friends with this one?

"So this is what country girls look like. I thought it's just a stereotype," was the first thing he said.

My eyes widened. Makarov just chuckled and directed his attention to the new guest. Even Mum ignored Natsu's remark. My hand remained stretched in front of me.

What? What did he just say?

I'm wearing a floral dress. It's hugging my body just fine. I don't know what he's talking about and why he said that!

"Natsu!" Erza coldly said to his cousin.

He was about to lazily accept my hand when I retracted it immediately. I took a deep breath and raised my eyebrow at him.

"The stereotype I have for city boys isn't like this..." I looked at him from head to toe, "They were better on TV."

I smirked and turned my attention to Gray. You wish, Dragneel.