{Natsu POV}
Lucy went up to her room to think. Eagle followed.
Her footsteps disappeared and a slam was heard.
Sting sighed and rested his elbows on his thighs, his hands over his face. "Poor Lucy...she loves school."
"Can't you...you know, convince your parents or something?"
Sting looked at me. "It might upset you to know that I agree with my parents, Natsu..."
I pursed my lips. "It's...Its okay, dude. I understand."
We sat in silence.
I really didn't want Lucy to stop going to school. I wanted to talk to her everyday. I wanted to see her smile and hear her laugh. I wanted to feel her warm hands on my face...
{Lucy POV}
I sat on my bed. I felt Eagle put his head on my lap. I pet him gingerly.
"Do you think it's better for me to just get homeschooled, Eagle?" I asked, falling backward onto the bed. Eagle climbed on next to me, licking my ear.
"I don't want to leave all of my friends..." I said. Their voices rang in my ears. "I miss them already..."
I covered my eyes with my arm. Tears wet my arm, as I cried. I clenched my fists.
"If only..if only I wasn't blind..." I said. "If only I hadn't lost my vision..."
I sniffed. "It's all my fault..."
Suddenly, my arm was pulled away from my face and I was pulled up.
I was pulled into a hug. Surprised, I felt around.
{Natsu POV}
Her hands gently felt around my waist, before climbing up to my shoulders.
"I-I can't feel your face..."
"You don't have to..." I said. "I won't hurt you..."
Her hands stopped. "N-Natsu?"
I hugged her tighter, sitting next to her.
"It's not your fault." I said. "I promise, it's not."
Lucy relaxed, leaning in. I closed my eyes, knowing that this might be my last time to hug her like this.
"You...Why are you saying that?"
"Because it's the truth, and I'm sure everyone else thinks so."
She took a deep breath. "Did the coach make you guys run today?"
Now that was a way to break the mood.
"Um...yeah?"
"You don't usually wear this much cologne." She said. "You sweat a lot, didn't you?"
My turned red. "Um...Yes."
I could tell she changed the topic on purpose, but I didn't want to pressure her about it. If she needed to talk, she would talk.
However, we never moved from our position. Lucy moved her face a bit to breathe, but that was it.
"Hey, you know that I'm always here for you when you need it, right?" I asked, after a few moments of silence. "I'm your friend, and I wanna help."
Lucy smiled. "I know. Thank you."
We stayed there for a few more minutes, before I felt her body relax even further.
"Uh...Lucy?"
She didn't reply. I gently moved to see her face. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing rhythmically.
I chuckled, and lifted her up, gently setting her down on the bed. She didn't stir.
"You must've been tired..." I said, putting the blanket over her. I stared at her for a few seconds, before quickly giving her a kiss in the forehead.
"Sleep well..."
I left her room, gently shutting the door behind me. I walked downstairs and sat next to Sting.
"How is she?"
"She fell asleep." I said, sighing. "But we didn't really talk much about it. She didn't sound like she wanted to talk about it."
Sting nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah...Thanks, dude."
"Sting?"
We turned around. Their parents, Mr. Dreyar, and Lucy's teacher walked down the stairs. They walked over and sat across us.
"I informed the principal about the acts that had occurred today. They will check CCTV cameras and identify every student that was involved."
Sting sighed with relief.
"You still sure about taking her out from school?" Mr. Dreyar asked. It was weird to see him here.
"Oh, right." Sting said, tapping me. "He's my older brother, Laxus."
I looked him, wide-eyed. "What?"
"Surprise." He said. I didn't question the different last names. "Anyways."
"Mom, Dad." Sting said. They looked at her. "Can't you reconsider the idea? You know how much she hates being homeschooled."
"What if the same thing happens again?" Laxus asked. "You told us you'd take responsibility, squirt."
Sting glared at him. "I don't have the power to watch over every single person all the time, jerk."
Lucy's teacher, Mira? frowned. "Yes, I do take responsibility in this. If only I was a bit more careful..."
"No, it's not your fault at all, Mira." Laxus said. "Squirt here doesn't know how to take responsibility for his sister."
"I can say the same for you, MR. DREYAR." Sting said. "You're a teacher."
The atmosphere was starting to get heavier and heavier the more they argued.
"Hey, I don't think arguing is going to take us anywhere." I said, nervously patting Sting. "Chill down a bit, yeah?"
Sting looked away, out the window. Lucy's mom gave me a thankful look.
"Anyways, I'm just saying you should reconsider the idea." Sting said, clearly still annoyed. "Lucy HATES being stuck in here."
"Maybe you're right, Sting. We'll reconsider it." Her dad said. "Thank you."
Soon, we were filled with awkward silence. Eventually, Laxus and Mira went upstairs to his room.
"How about you join us for dinner—Er, dear?"
"Oh, Ms. Heartfilia—"
"Call me Layla."
"Ah, well, Layla, it's okay." I said, waving my hands out in front of me. "Really, thank you."
"Yeah, Layla. Cmon, this is NATSU DRAGNEEL we're talking about." Her dad said. I flinched, hearing the playful edge in his voice. "He wouldn't want to eat OUR food, right?"
"W-Wait, that's not what I meant...?"
"Oh, so you DO want to eat our food?" He asked, giving me a wink. I nervously laughed.
"Ahaha, well, I guess dinner won't hurt...?"
"Perfect!" He stood up and clapped me on the back. "A fine young man, you are!"
"It will be a good way to thank you for everything you've done for Lucy as well." Layla said, smiling. She looked a lot like Lucy.
I smiled nervously. Sting invited me into his room. I sat on a nearby chair, as he sat in front of me, sighing.
"Hey, everything will be okay, alright?"
He nodded, rubbing the back of his head. "Right. Thanks."
He turned around and noticed something. He picked it up and looked at me.
"Wanna play?" He tossed me a controller. "Bet I can beat you in NiteFort."
I smirked. "You're on."
