The Muse•{Sting x Reader high school AU}

19

"I heard he's looking for some girl... a junior, I think."

"Pfft, and why should I care? Im leagues above her!"

"Does he even know your name?"

"Of course he does!"

"Uh huh... I've never seen the two of you talk, though." The girl crossed her arms. "Hell, you guys aren't even in the same classes!"

The two freshman girls gossip about a certain tall, blue-eyed blond that everyone seemed to have their eye on recently. And the specific topic this particular Monday morning was that he was trying to find someone. He could be seen scrambling through the halls, his friends Rogue and Yukino not too far behind him.

"Oh, there he is! Isn't he cute?" The girl gushed over Sting. He started to walk down the hallway in a fast pace, his friends trailing a distance behind him. Fortunately for this freshman girl, she was able to stop Sting in his tracks by grabbing onto his arm. "Sting! I heard you're looking for someone!"

"Uh.. yeah, I am..?" He raised an eyebrow to her, he had never seen her before in his life. "Have you seen her?"

"I'm right here." She smiled, thinking she was slick. Sting let out a laugh, one that probably came off the wrong way. She started to ramble on about things that Sting didn't hear because he was still looking for a certain someone. Luckily, he found someone that would lead him to that certain someone.

"Lisanna!" Sting called out, breaking free From the girl's grasp. Her friend laughed at her while she pouted in defeat.

"Oh, hey Sting! I heard you went to that Art show, I'll never hear the end of it from Y/n." Lisanna laughed. "But she said she was glad to have you guys there supporting her."

"Yeah, it was.. quite the experience." Sting laughed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck.

"And by 'quite the experience,' he means that he met his competitor." Rogue laughed, approaching Lisanna and Sting with Yukino right by his side. Sting shot him a dirty look before looking back at a confused Lisanna.

"Competitor? Are you talking about one of the other heirs or..?"

"He means Loke. I think that's his name?" Yukino tilted her head.

"Oh! Loke! Right." Lisanna laughed. "You're worried about Loke? He might as well be a brother to her."

"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about." Rogue placed a hand on Sting's shoulder.

"Anyways, Lisanna, have you seen Y/n today? I really want to speak with her." Sting asked her, his voice sounding more like he was pleading.

"On Monday's she usually comes in a bit later because Natsu can't get out of bed." She rolled her eyes, but Sting, Rogue and Yukino looked confused. "Natsu drives Lucy and Y/n every morning to school. And since Natsu usually has a bad sleep schedule, Monday's are particularly hard for him to get up. And then there's the off chance that Y/n stayed up all night painting, and Natsu and Lucy had to flip her bed over to get her out of bed."

"Does she stay up that often?" Sting raised an eyebrow.

"Only when she's super inspired, and that seems to be the trend lately."

"Do you know what's inspiring her?" There was a slight smirk on his face, as if he was looking for a specific answer. Lisanna knew the answer of course, but didn't know if Sting knew the answer.

"I.. do." She looked at him suspiciously. "Do you?"

"Perhaps."

"Do you know something I don't?"

"No, I think you know. The question is 'do I know?' Care to tell me?"

"Well, I can't tell you that because then you'll know."

"And what if I already know?"

"What is it that you know?" Lisanna crossed her arms.

"Li-san-na!" Almost on cue, you came up behind Lisanna and wrapped your arms around the upper half of her body. She laughed, and hugged the arms that were around her.

"Good morning, Y/n! You're in a good mood!"

"I finished a painting this weekend, and it looks great." You smiled, and then caught a glimpse of the man that happened to be the model. "Good morning, Sting."

"Good morning." He said with a bright smile. "So you're done with your painting? Can I see it?"

"Ahahah..." you laughed nervously, letting go of Lisanna. "I don't know.."

"Is it special to you?"

"You could say that." You rubbed the back of your neck nervously. Sting smiled, a softness hidden behind it. Lisanna, who had always been quite observant, placed a hand over to mouth to hide her shock. Yukino covered her mouth to keep herself from laughing at Lisanna's reaction. And Rogue wore a smug look.

Everyone knew.

"I'm surprised that you finished it so quickly. When I called you the other night, you were still working on it, no?"

"I—"

"Wait, he called you?!" Lisanna snapped her head towards you. You just wore a smile, glared at her, ignored her, and answered Sting's question.

"I tend to work fast when it's something I'm really passionate about."

"Oh yeah?" His smile seemed to widen.

"Yeah, haha..." you started to get a bit nervous. There was no way that he knew, right? But if he did... it wouldn't be the end of the world, right? Wrong, it would be. He would laugh at you for even thinking it!

"Y/n, I wanted to ask what you were doing for lunch today." 

"I'll be working on the mural today." You shrugged.

"You won't be skipping lunch entirely, right? Maybe I should join you to make sure you eat."

"I'll be there with her." Lisanna raised her hand slightly. "I'll make sure she eats."

"Or! You can come sit with us, Lisanna! I actually have to talk to you about something at lunch anyways... about the Astrology club." Yukino said through gritted teeth, almost as if sending a signal to her. Luckily, Lisanna caught on.

"Right, of course! I also have a surprise Animal Rights club meeting today so..." Lisanna trailed off, and then looked over to you. "I'm sorry Y/n, I won't be able to eat with you today, but it seems like Sting would love to!"

"That's okay, Lisanna." You smiled sadly, but you felt a bit excited. Alone, with Sting? Just the thought made you nervous. But if you could talk to him on the phone during the late hours of night and early hours of morning, hanging out with him at school should be a piece of cake, right?

"Looks like you're stuck with me today." Sting smiled. Oh, what a blessing. For him and for you. If only you could be bolder with him.

"I guess so." You laughed a bit awkwardly.

"You don't seem too excited." Sting teased.

"No, I am! I mean— not excited, but like— you know."

He laughed a bit, thinking of how adorable you were. "It's okay, you can be honest with me."

"I mean—"

"Sting, leave the poor girl alone." Rogue sighed, placing a hand in his shoulder. Right after that, the bell rang to start homeroom.

Literally saved by the bell.

"See you guys." You waved to them quickly, grabbing Lisanna, and scurrying away to your class. Lisanna would giggle a bit as your face would grow red.

As for Sting, he would linger a moment, watching you as you hurried away from him. It was so obvious to him now.

"Remember Sting, don't overwhelm her." Yukino warned him.

"I have a plan." He said proudly, leading his friends to their own class.

"It better be a good one." Rogue sighed.

"Have a little faith in me."