Academy of the Arts

Fairy Tail

The bell rang symbolising the start of break. Lucy packed away all of her books and stretched her arms, hearing several cracks, making her satisfied.

"Lu-Chan!" Levy called to her from the door whilst waving her arms, bouncing with energy.

Lucy ran down to her so that they could eat together. Their little group consisted of Erza, Wendy, Levy and Lucy.

'I feel a bit special in some ways because I'm sure they had plenty of friends before they started hanging with me, it sort of makes me feel bad though, like I've taken them against their will…' Lucy thought to herself.

"Levy-Chan, you know you don't have to sit with me" Lucy smiled warmly, her gaze aimed towards the perfectly polished floor.

"What are you saying Lu-Chan!? I sit with you because we're best friends!"

'Best friends?' Lucy smiled at the thought; she'd never really had friends before, let alone a best friend.

"But you must have sat with someone before I came, I feel bad for taking you away from them…" Lucy commented.

"I have a lot of amazing friends, yes, but I never really sat with anyone during breaks." Levy said whilst looking at the ceiling.

Lucy raised an eyebrow confused as to why this adorable girl would sit alone if she had so many friends.

"I either read books on the roof or continue my paintings in the art room. I guess I never really worried about sitting in groups…" Lucy wasn't sure whether to admire the girl, or to pity her.

"But then I met you!" Levy turned to the blonde with a great big smile plastered on her face. Lucy giggled at the site of her friend, she really was adorable.

"LUCY! LEVY!" The two girls turned to the sound of their names to see their scarlet haired council president speed-walking towards them.

They stopped and waited for her to catch up.

"What's up Erza?" Levy said casually.

"I'm sorry but I can't sit with you today, there have been some accounting problems, so I need to help out with the Student Council during my breaks. I'm sorry for being so careless with the accounts, please hit me!" Erza suddenly bursted out.

"It's okay Erza, we understand and I'm not going… to hit you" Lucy let out a nervous laugh.

"Thank you for understanding!" Erza bowed her head before turning on her heels, her beautiful scarlet hair gracefully swaying behind her.

Lucy admired her beauty, but her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone running past.

"NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS!" Erza shouted

"A-Aye!" The person apologised and speedily walked off.

The two girls giggled.

'Poor kid…' They both thought.

"Levy-San, Lucy-San!" They heard a small voice call out.

They turned this time to see their blue haired friend Wendy. She bowed down low and tears were apparent in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry! I can't sit with you today! A dancer who was performing in the upcoming assembly was in an accident so I have to take her place and learn the choreography by Monday! I'm so sorry!" She chirped.

"Wendy it's okay, but will you be alright? I heard that dance was complex and that the dancer injured herself practicing it!" Levy replied.

"Thank you for worrying but I'll be fine, I have to strive for my best!" Wendy said full of enthusiasm.

Wendy waved good bye to her friends as she rushed off in the other direction apologising once more before disappearing around the corner.

Lucy and Levy made their way up to the roof, deciding it would be nice to sit there on a beautiful day like this. When they opened the door they were hit by a soothing breeze and then realised that they weren't exactly alone.

There sat Natsu Dragneel, facing in the opposite direction, but turned to them at the sound of the click.

"Hey Levy!" He called out to the bluenette.

"Hey Natsu! What're you doing up here?" She asked calmly.

'So they know each other?' Lucy thought to herself.

The pair began a conversation until Natsu's eyes drifted toward the blonde he had seen through the courtyard window.

"Oh that's right! Natsu this is Lucy Heartfilia, Lucy this is Natsu Dragneel!" She gestured to the pair when she mentioned their name.

Lucy couldn't help but wonder as to why she emphasised the 'this' before his name.

"Nice to meet you!" Natsu said with a big goofy grin crossing his rugged features.

"Like wise…" Lucy replied with an absent mind.

A few moments passed in complete silence until a voice blared from the speakers.

"Levy McGarden, could you please report to the administration office. Levy McGarden, could you please report to the administration office, Thank you."

Lucy turned to Levy and gave her a quick look which said 'Please don't leave me!'

The aforementioned bluenette gave her an apologising look before rushing down the stairs.

Lucy stared at her hands, avoiding eye contact with the pink-haired boy.

"So… Lucy…" Lucy shot her head up at the sound of her name.

"What do you study here?" He asked her with another goofy grin.

"Uhh… Well… I mainly study Literature and Music…" She said bashfully.

"Really!? Wow! I'd love to hear you sing sometime!" He bursted out.

Her cheeks had an apparent blush on them.

"R-Really? I'm not actually that good though…"

"No way! I'm sure you have the most beautiful voice, you just have to find a reason to sing." He said this so calmly. Lucy stared at him with admiration.

"What do you study Natsu!?" She asked, surprised at how loud she was.

"Mainly different fighting styles… and a bit of fire dancing…" He said the last bit quieter but it didn't go unnoticed by the blonde.

"You do fire dancing! That's amazing! I'd love to see you perform! But… why don't you have any burns?"

"Ha… Ha… Fire has just never really hurt me, it sort of feels like it's a part of me, do you know what I mean?"

"Uhh not really… sorry?" He entered some sort of trance for a moment, thinking of another way to explain it.

"Is there anything you love, that it almost feels like you'd die if it didn't exist? Like an extension of you, your personality?"

"Stars… I don't think I'd be able to live without the stars…" She began to understand. Lucy grew up learning about stars, going out every night to study the constellations. Every night she would watch them sparkle, she still does. If the stars suddenly snuffed out, if she looked up one night to find them not there, it'd be like losing a vital piece of her identity.

Stars were one with Lucy like Fire was with Natsu.

"Yeah, I think I understand what you mean now…" Lucy trailed off, still imagining the emptiness.

"Oi Luce, don't look so depressed!"

"Wha-Luce? Huh?"

"Yeah, Luce. No one's called ya that before?"

"Uhhhmmm no, not that I recall…"

"Cool! So it's like a special pet name that only I can call you!"

"Pet name?! I am not someone's pet! I am a human being, not a dog!" Lucy snapped abruptly. The blonde was shocked by her own actions/tone. She'd never spoken to anyone like that, but this boy… there was something about him…

"You're right…" She smirked. The girl felt bad for biting but at least he got the point.

"You're nowhere near as fun as a dog, although you do kinda smell like one…"

"WHAT?!" How dare he?! What was with this guy! He went from this deep, sincere boy whom she could reveal her secrets, to this… ass-faced-jerk who insulted her fragrance! Was he bipolar? Next minute he'd probably be dancing around in Fairy Dresses singing about La-La land!

"Just kidding! HA! You should see your face! I'm hungry, let's go eat." He jumped of ledge and started towards the door but then-

"LUCY KICK!" Her foot slammed right into his jaw; that would surely bruise later.

"Wahhh? DA HELL LUCE?! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

"APOLOGISE NOW MUGGLE! APOLOGISE!"

"Wha-Muggle?"

"I said-" The Blonde picked up a stray piece of wire that lay nearby.

"APOLOGISE!" She cracked the string of wire like a whip.

"A-AYE! I'M TRULY SORRY FOR THE THINGS I SAID! PLEASE FORGIVE ME, OH BEAUTIFUL ONE!" The rooftop became eerily silent. Natsu looked up, his hands shielding his face, prepared for any 'punishment' that she may give.

When he looked up at the busty blonde, she had coiled the wire into a small circle and slipped it into her blazer pocket. She smiled warmly at him, a twinkle evident in her sweet chocolate brown eyes.

"You are forgiven! But next time-" She pet his pink locks with a half sadistic smile on her face.

"Remember who the dog is in this relationship."

"Woof…" Came Natsu's reply

oOoOoOo

After the pair had finished their Lunch, Natsu offered to walk her back to class.

"Damn Luce, you're almost as scary as Erza…" She stared at him confusedly.

"You'd make a great Dominatrix…" The said blonde blushed and shyly played with her hands.

'Is she bipolar?' Natsu thought to himself.

"You think so?" Did she even know what a Dominatrix was?

Of course Lucy knew what a Dominatrix was, she wasn't dense! Actually, she was surprised Natsu knew what they were.

At the moment, Natsu's facial expressions were priceless and Lucy really couldn't hold it in. Laughter bubbled out of her; she attempted to muffle it, but failed awkwardly and ended up snorting.

Through Natsu's eyes she was crazy, just plain crazy. And he knew the perfect place to take crazy, socially-impaired, wannabe Dominatrix's.

"Hey, Luce, meet me after school by the founder's statue. There's something I need to show you." Natsu smiled his blue ribbon, goofy, contagious smile before running down the hallway, disappearing into the sea of students that were invading the hall.

The last thought in Lucy's mind before the warning bell plagued her entire cerebral system was:

'What exactly do you need to show me, Salamander.'