Trust

Chapter One: It Started With Her

She's always had trust issues. It's been an instinct embedded in her head since that fateful day when all of her teammates died. Lucy has always blamed herself for it--why hadn't she been there?

From that day on, she decided she'd never get close to anyone. If she got close, they got hurt. If they got hurt, she got hurt. Being hurt was a sign of weakness. She was strong. She would stay strong...

And then he came along. It was supposed to be a normal interview... there weren't supposed to be butterflies in her stomach when she looked him in the eye. Or color on her cheeks. She wasn't supposed to smile when he did, just because he was so damn gorgeous. Lucy mentally scolded herself for thinking of him like that, but the truth was, she couldn't help it. From the moment she walked into that door, smiling giddily at the thought of a new start, to now, staring at him from across the study table in the library. It hit her like a brick wall when she finally realized that maybe, just maybe, she had fallen in lo-

"Luce?"

Lucy's head snapped upward, looking into her partner's deep green eyes.

"Are you alright? You spaced out there for a bit," Lockwood grinned across the table at his best friend and partner. That's all they were, right?
Lucy internally kicked herself for being caught staring. "Yeah, I'm perfect. Just thinking."

"About?" Lockwood leaned his elbows onto the study table, propping his pretty little head up with his hands.
The young girl felt her face heat up.

"About our... n-next request!" Cursing her stutter, she willed herself to smile. Shakily.

"Oh, that? Yes! Hasn't George told you?"

"Told her what?" George came stomping into the room with a tray of tea and donuts.

"I'll take that as a no then. We're not going on the request." Lucy looked across the table and shot George a quizzical look.

"Why's that? We need the money, don't we?" Lockwood flashed her his famous gigawatt smile, meaning he had an idea and was quite excited about it. Oh, this oughta be good.

"We're taking a break!" He laughed, "...and by taking a break, I mean going to an autograph signing."

"What?!" George and Lucy screamed in unison, staring at their boss like he was a madman.

"I don't see anything wrong with it. We've grown quite popular with the public."

"Especially Lockwood. With the girls..." George glanced at Lucy, smirking as her face twisted in silent fury (that Lockwood was oblivious to.)

How did George know, you might ask?
He walked into one of her rampages.

~Flashback Time-Eight Weeks Back~

"How the hell am I going to do this?!"

George was almost knocked back by the force of the screams coming from Lucy's door.

And he did what any sane person would do after experiencing it--He listened in.

"There's no way... he'll think I mean as friends..."

Aaaand our lovely, privacy-respecting friend George opened the door.

"YOU LIKE LOCKWOOD?"

"I--A..A...--No!" The brunette managed to spit out, shocked and embarrassed.

"You do! I knew it!" George spat, jumping up and down like an anime fangirl.

"Keep it down!" Lucy hissed, swatting him about the head with an old pair of stockings.

"When are ya gonna tell him?" His piggy-eyes narrowed down as he smirked, "Or should I just tell him now?"

"Nononono, that will NOT be necessary. I was planning on telling him... erm... Valentine's day...?"

"I'll mark my calendar~" the fat man sang, skipping out of her room.

~Flashback End~

"When is it?" Lucy sighed, earning an 'Aha!' from Lockwood.

"In about thirty minutes."

The next twenty-five minutes were spent thwacking Lockwood over the head, changing out of pajamas, and primping.

"Everyone ready to go?"

"Yeah," George yelled down the stairs.

"Coming~" Lucy sang, running down the stairs.

She looked stunning. Her hair was parted to the side, perfectly framing her delicate face. She had a light dusting of makeup on, enhancing her eyes and full lips. Her blush was brightened by the natural color of her cheeks once she noticed that they were staring.

"Um... shouldn't we be going?" Lucy prodded, hoping to draw the attention anywhere other than herself.

"Ah... yes." George whirled around and opened the door. "LOCKWOOD!"

"Wha-?" His intense stare snapped to the door. "Yes, off we go!"

-=+=-