The Muse•{Sting x Reader high school AU}

9

It was later in the evening, and practice for the team had just let out. Thankfully, the cheerleading team didn't have practice, so some of them were able to stay and help you with the banner in the art room. However, most of them left beforehand, right before finishing the banner. So it only left you, Lisanna, and Wendy. Juvia had left to watch the last bit of practice and said she would come back, but you told her not to worry. You knew that you, Lisanna and Wendy could do it yourselves.

"Hey guys, it's getting kind of dark out. I didn't realize how late it was, I need to get home and feed Carla."

"That's okay, Wendy! We can finish up here." Lisanna smiled. "But don't you think it would be best to wait until Natsu or someone git out of practice so they can walk you home? I don't think I could let you walk by yourself this late."

"Oh, uhm..."

"You can go with her, Lisanna. I don't mind." You smiled a bit. "We don't have much left anyway, I can finish the rest."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive!"

"Alright, come on, Wendy." Lisanna grabbed her back and slung it over her shoulder. Wendy grabbed her things, and they were out the door.

You sighed, and quickly finished what was left of the banner. It didn't take very long at all. At least, for you. You were more efficient by yourself, and you could have easily done it yourself in about an hour. But everyone likes to be apart of it, so you relinquish some of your 'power' so they all have something to do.

Just as you were about to finish up, quite literally seconds away, you heard knocking followed by a voice.

"Knock knock."

You turned your head, and saw a familiar blond with a smile plastered on his face.

"Sting? What are you doing here?" You asked, a smile of your own creeping to your lips.

"I wanted to stop by and see how you and everyone else was doing but... I see that everyone has gone home." Sting laughed a bit as he walked a few steps into the room. "They left you with all that work and mess?"

"Oh, uh... I guess, but I don't really mind it! Honest! I like having control over these kinds of projects, and as for organizing... well, I can be a bit of a control freak." You admitted, feeling a bead of sweat form on your forehead. "Oh, I guess I basically said that earlier, huh? J-Just ignore me."

He remained silent for a moment, just watching you as it looked like your mind was scrambling. He smiled awkwardly, and then looked down at his feet.

"Oh, I should have asked. Were you looking for someone in particular?" You asked sweetly. "Lisanna and Wendy just left, if you were looking for one of them. Juvia was here earlier, Cana... who else... oh, Erza had stopped by for a min—"

"I honestly came by to see you... uhm, you know, to see if you need help." Sting rubbed the back of his neck. "Or to see if you wanted the company."

"Oh, uhm... well, I'm almost done." You smiled weakly. "And then it's just cleaning up."

"I can help you start to clean up if you'd like."

"You don't have to do that. I know it's late and you probably want to head home."

"No, not really." Sting's smile got a bit brighter, as he took a few more steps into the room.

"Uhm... I-If you want to help I won't stop you."

He nodded, and set his bag down by the door. While you finished that last touches to the banner, Sting had started to put some things away. Even though he put things away where they weren't supposed to go, you ignored it. You told yourself you would fix it in the morning, you didn't want to nag him since he had offered to help (even if you had to eventually redo it).

"Alright... and now we dry." You let out a sigh of relief, and turned the banner so that it was laying across a few tables.

"Looks good!" Sting smiled, giving you a thumbs up from across the room. "You do that for every game?"

"Every home game, yes."

"You out so much effort into it, how do you feel when you see us run through it?"

"Uhm..."

"Hm?"

"I've uh... never been to a game."

"You what!? How could you not!?" Sting yelled, stopping everything he was doing.

"I don't know! I'm just... too busy." You shrugged.

"You can't be too busy to see at least one game!"

"I'm sorry." You frowned, sitting at one of the tables.

"Wha... What are you apologizing for?" Sting's voice seemed... less harsh than it was before. He walked over and stood in front of you, his eyes gazing down at you.

"I'm sorry I made you mad."

"Mad? I'm not mad." He chuckled a bit. "What makes you think I'm mad?"

"Because you were yelling..?"

"I'm not mad, I'm just shocked. I mean, you make all of the banners for us, and you've never seen them on the field?"

"I see pictures of them."

"But that's not the same."

"I'm sorry."

"There you go apologizing again. What are you sorry for?"

"I... don't know."

Sting smiled softly, and placed a hand on the top of your head. "If you don't know what you're sorry for, then don't apologize, 'kay? And you have nothing to be sorry about with me."

You opened your mouth to say something, but no words came out. Oh, how desperately you wanted to say something and not look like a complete and utter fool. "Alright, I'm sorry."

Sting just laughed, and extended a hand out for you to take. You took it as if it was nothing, and he helped you stand up from your seat. "Uhm... I appreciate you helping me, Sting."

"Yeah, no problem! I was talking with Natsu and Gray earlier, and Gray said that you usually get stuck with the messes, and I just wanted to make sure that it didn't happen this time."

"Well, I appreciate it." You smiled a bit. "Speaking of Natsu, do you know where he went after practice? Do you know if he's waiting for me?"

"No, he left right after practice with Gray... why?"

"That jerk! He was supposed to bring me home!"

"I can bring you home, no problem."

"N-No, I couldn't ask you to do that... you already went out of your way to help me and—"

"You're not asking me, I'm offering. I'd be happy to drive you home."

"You really don't mind?"

"Nope, not at all."