Good Meets Bad

Chapter Eleven:Distance

Lucy stuffed her hand in the pocket of her skirt and stared up at the group of boys. "What?" she mumbled, shifting her weight on one leg, "I don't have all day."

The man snarled, "Just because you're woman doesn't mean we'll go easy on you, bitch."

He walked towards her and leaned forward, glaring into Lucy's eyes as he pressed his forehead against hers, "But I am feeling a little nice today. If you kneel and beg for our forgiveness, we'll let this pass," he offered with a sly smile.

The blonde raised a brow, "Ah, I see." She tilted her head backwards and stared down at them, "You're basically saying that you want to seem superior, right? I can't tell because I'm having a hard time seeing it."

The boy snarled, "Why you... GRAB HER!"

His friends ran towards her and Lucy stood still. She closed her eyes and moved her head to the side as the brunette, one of the boys, threw a punch. She swung her head the other way as someone threw another punch. She ducked down when the boy from earlier swung his leg high up in the air, aiming for her temples.

Lucy straightened her back and gripped the teen's ankle, staring at him impassively.

"I must admit, you got some skills," she said and stared at them with half-lidded eyes.

She ducked under his leg and spun around, kicking him on the abdomen,

"But you should know by now that you are too slow."

The boy hissed and Lucy strangled his neck with her right hand, the other still stuffed in the pocket of her skirt.

"Leave," she demanded and snarled, "If you want to continue living, leave."

"Tch, as if we'll-"Lucy threw the teen to the ground and stepped on his chest.

She leaned down and held the boy's collar, "As if you'll what?" she asked, a murderous look in her eyes, "You'll what, bastard? TALK!"Lucy's ears perked as she heard her name being called.

She stepped off of the boy and tsked, tucking her hands in the pocket of her skirt again, "You're lucky."

The teen quivered as Lucy walked away, her cardigan flapping in the wind. She stopped halfway to the school's entrance and looked over her shoulder, staring at the group of seniors one more time before making her way inside the school building.

Lucy sighed and ran a hand through her messy hair, staring at the bluenette in front of her. "Damn you... always interfering in my fights," she hissed and glared at him, "What the hell's your problem?"

Jellal creased his eyebrows, "What do you mean? You're still injured from your falls!" He hissed and stared at the bandages around Lucy's arms and knees, "Yet, here you are, fighting against a group of seniors! You're absurd!"

Lucy walked past him and rolled her eyes. "As if I care about these bruises. Sure, it's the first time in a few years that I've had them but I'm used to the pain," she said and sighed. She stared at Jellal from the corner of her eye, "You wouldn't understand even if I explained, I'm just really out of your league."

Jellal frowned and stared at Lucy's retreating back worriedly. Ever since her victory - and at the same time, humility - in the race, she had been cold, distant, cool and detached. He had to admit that he missed the old Lucy, it was still the same impassive Lucy but the Lucy he was seeing right now was different.She was just too cold to be the older Lucy.

Erza walked up to Jellal, "Is something wrong with Heartfilia? She's acting weird. Fights are occurring everywhere in the school grounds, students are frightened of her - but at the same time, they look up to her." She heaved a sigh, "I don't get it."