The Princess of Fairy Tail High

I have girl problems- right off the bat

After settling things down in our respective dorm rooms, Luce and I decide to catch up in Love and Lucky. I wrap my lucky scarf around my neck and hold the door for her like a gentleman. We take a seat at the usual booth, and she orders a hot chocolate. I find myself aware of her every movement.

"So how were your holidays?" She asks energetically. After it fell out in the snow, she hadn't put her hair back up, and it frames her face nicely, which is weird to me. I've never noticed things like this before...

"Great, I spent a lot of time with Wendy and Aunt Porlyusica. Wendy and I went to see the fireworks on New Years in Magnolia's biggest park. It was really exciting for her."

"For you too, I assume," Lucy wraps her hands around the warm mug of hot chocolate when it arrives, served by a smiling Aries. "How was it?" It's just like Lucy to know exactly what's I'm actually thinking.

I laugh at myself a little before answering, "I kinda cringed at the first explosion..." I watch Lucy's face change as my news clearly entertains her. Her face gets red from holding in laughter. "Don't laugh at me!" I insist. "It's gotten better though. Wendy caught me staring into candles a couple of times..."

"And how was that?" She quiets down from laughing and gives me a serious look that makes me squirm in my seat. A blush creeps up my face, but there's no way I can tell her the truth- not yet. No way.

"It's a slow process, but I can't hide from it forever. Fire is destructive, I already knew that."

Lucy whistles, "wow Natsu, you're being surprisingly mature about this."

I actually laugh out loud at that. "What can I say, Luce? You've changed me." Her face gets bright at this, and I wonder why. I look over my shoulder and out at the winter wonderland Magnolia became in the short while I was away. Trying to clear my thoughts, I look back at Lucy, "you haven't told me about your holidays. What did your father say?" I ask this very slowly.

She sighs. "He wasn't happy for sure. The least he could have done was acted like he was glad I made it out of the fire, but he did pardon the marriage, which I'll consider a win." She smiles at her hands when she says this, and I feel something in my chest jump at her words.

"He- he did?" I ask, sounding more surprised than intended.

"Yeah." Is Lucy blushing??? "I spent the majority of my holiday under my father's watchful eye in one of his houses where the weather was warm. It was all I could do to make him let me return to school."

"I'm glad," I whisper under my breath. I'm not sure Lucy caught that, but she smiles anyways. Taking a small sip of her drink, she closes her eyes, content. Our moment of silence is interrupted by the explosion of friends.

"YO, EVERYBODY! GUESS WHO'S BACK?" I practically hear cheering from behind the bar as Cana, who's definitely underage, storms into the restaurant with Mira, Levy, and Gray on her tail.

"Mira! Levy! It's so great to see you! And Cana," Lucy exclaims, happy to see her friends. "You weren't in the dorm when I got there." Lucy moves over to make room for the rowdy girl, and I do the same for our other friends. Cana and Levy sit next to Lucy, while Gray and Mira sit on my side.

"I moved back in yesterday, but stayed another night at home. How are you guys?" Cana looks over at me and smiles slyly. She gives me a look that makes me feel like there's something on my face. In my confusion, I look down at my nose and twitch it.

"Good, we were just talking about our Winter Breaks," Lucy responds for the both of us, thankfully. While the girls share thrilling vacation stories, I nudge Gray.

"Hey snow queen, what's up?"

"Same as always, hot head. Hey, when you get back to the room, would you mind picking up all your underwear and clothes? I'd rather not accidentally step on your boxers when I get out of bed." Gray rolls his eyes. I'm no expert, but something seems to be bothering him.

"Is everything good?" I ask, trying to look him in the eye. Gray Fullbuster has been my best friend since childhood, and although we have our fights, we always have each other's back. So if something's bothering him, I'd like to know.

"You wouldn't understand, man. It's... girl problems." Gray practically whispers, and I fight the massive urge to laugh out loud.

Breathing hard from my efforts I reply, "dude, you can come to me for anything. And I might understand more than you know..." I add quietly. Gray looks at me in shock, and then looks immediately at Lucy, who happened to look right at us at that moment. I try not to stare, hoping she doesn't think we were talking about her.

"Gomenesai, but is anyone else going to order anything here?" Aries walks over to us with a note pad. I don't know exactly why, but she seems different somehow. Lighter, I don't know.

"How have things been going with Loke?" Lucy cuts to the chase. That's right, Aries and Loke started a thing at the Halloween Dance. I feel a twinge in my stomach, but fight it down. Jealousy?

"Oh, it's been great Lucy-san! Absolutely amazing!" Aries gushes. The girls squeal, and invite her to sit.

"Well," I stretch. "I think that's our cue to leave. You girls have a nice chat," I usher Gray and Mira to stand so Gray and I can leave. I give Lucy a lingering glance as we start to leave, "see you guys later. Bye Luce."

"Bye," her response is soft, almost as if it was never really spoken, but I smile anyways.

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Once we're out of Love and Lucky, and out of their sights, Gray nudges me. "You? Girl problems? Yeah right."

"Oh come on, Gray. Luce and I aren't even dating..." I say with reluctance. I'm a little surprised to admit there was a little whine in my voice.

Trying to collect myself in the aloof attitude I'm known for, I focus on the snow that falls lightly from above, keeping everything covered with a soft white powder. I blow puffs of breath and watch it cloud up in front of my face. Finding it very amusing, I laugh to myself.

"Really?" Gray stops walking in shock.

"Yeah. Is that hard to believe?" I stop walking to stand next to him.

"Kinda. I guess everyone assumed you'd instantly become a couple after, y'know." Gray starts to mumble.

"After what?" I ask, thoroughly confused. "And who's 'everyone'?"

"Everyone. And after the fire, baka. I guess it was assumed that you guys would just, melt into each other's arms." Gray crosses his arms over his chest, and we continue walking to our dorm.

"Well, that didn't happen," I don't even try to mask the disappointment in my voice. This is Gray I'm talking to. "She had to go home for Winter break. We didn't even get to talk on New Years."

"Whose fault is that now?" Gray looks at me pointedly, but I refuse to admit he has a point. Should I have done something?

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