Accidental Love - Nalu

>> Chapter 4 - Accidental Love - Imagination <<

The next day...

Still exhausted from last night's events, Lucy gradually arose from her bed. Her thoughts remained tranquil and positive, until it hit her. Lucy worked herself into a panic, remembering that Natsu had 'confessed his affections' to her the night before. Was it just a dream? Only one way to find out. She dressed promptly into her salmon pink tank top and denim shorts, her bewildered mind flooded with hysteria.

"What am I supposed to say? Maybe I'm wrong. What if that was all a dream?" She debated with herself "no. That was real alright. Perhaps I should be happy about this, I mean...I do like him back." Lucy giggled, admiring herself in the bathroom mirror. Hastily tying a royal-blue ribbon in her fair hair, an incredibly delighted Lucy charged down the narrow staircase and burst out the door. Lucy blissfully skipped along the path while humming to herself. {{I bet he's waiting for me at the door! I can't wait!}}

Frantically, the celestial wizard approached the entrance to the guild. {{Here we go...}} She pushed the enormous doors and they flew open, light began showering into the guild hall in which everyone greeted Lucy with buoyant grins...all except one. Natsu.

{{Where is he? Is he even here yet?}} Lucy casually takes a seat at the guild's bar as her and Mira chirpily exchange cute smiles. Though she didn't get out as much as she used to (before Lisanna 'died'), Mira seemed to know everything about everyone and even has a never-ending list of people she shipped in the guild (Nalu written at the top). Concerned on his whereabouts, the blonde Heatfilia began whipping her head left and right, seeking out her dragon slayer companion. The wait grew tedious within minutes.

"Mira, where's Natsu?" Lucy questioned insistently, twizzling a golden strand of her hair. Mira eyed her, a slight look of concern painted on her porcelain visage. At that moment, it felt as if the entire guild had frozen in time. Everyone fell silent and stared in the direction of the doorway. Lucy spins around on the bar stool and peers over her shoulder, sweat trickling down her face. It was him. His stance and blank expression taunted Lucy's mind with paranoia and doubt.

Before Lucy had a chance to welcome him, Natsu had already dawdled outside into the courtyard where he proceeded to meditate - something Natsu always moaned about doing, believing it was a complete waste of time. {{Is he mad at me? Oh God...I hope he isn't}} A very puzzled Mira immediately percieved Lucy's nerves and tapped her arm lightly.

"Go and talk to him. He seems troubled and you're closest to him in the guild," Mira convinced "and may I add - where were you two last night? You weren't-" Lucy butted in instantly, a deep shade of red smeared on her cheeks.

"NO WAY! Mira, we were just out on a job and we got caught up with some bandits. No big deal." She blurted out, stuttering a little. The former she-devil Mira smirked at her blushing friend's grim face. Lucy simply glared, staring directly into Mira's soul. A nervous laugh spurted out of a now regretful Mirajane.

"Y-you know what? Forget I said that Lucy...heh...just go see Natsu, you need him more than he needs you." Mira stated rather sternly, taking a delicate sip from her pink glass. With a frown growing on her face, Lucy cautiously made her way across the guild hall, biting her nails in fear. {{Why am I so nervous? I've been Natsu's best friend for years. Surely he wouldn't be mad...}} Smiling softly to herself, Lucy felt reassured, but that smile abruptly vanished and an alarmed gasp escaped her lungs.

Natsu. Stood directly in her path just inches away from her. Brimming with fretfulness, Lucy hesitantly breaks the silence with Natsu gazing into her beige eyes, displaying no emotion.

"N-Natsu...can we talk?" She pleaded "About...last night. When you said-" The salamander lost eye contact with Lucy and the blonde mage's heart sank like a stone.

"I'm busy right now Lucy." Natsu stammered dismissively. Anguished, Lucy nodded slowly, shattered inside.

"O-okay...later maybe?" Lucy offered apprehensively, trying ever to hard to forebear tears. Natsu shrugged without a trace of and groaned "Yeah, whatever."

Dumfounded, Lucy could only watch in horror as Natsu heartlessly abandoned her in the middle of the guild hall floor - with Happy along side him of course. Falling to her knees with heartache, Mira sprinted over to the celestial wizard and embraced her - she could taste her devastation.

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Sorry this part is so sad XD I know Natsu isn't really like that and he would never even dream of hirting Lucy. He's just emotionally confused at this point and is therefore not acting himself.

It'll get better though ;)

~ XxAnimeFanFicsxX