Scraps of Paper

Clarity

The room was tense as all the students stared down at Mr. Gildarts. Currently the teacher was rummaging his hand through an old fashioned top-hat. The hat was filled with tiny paper slips, and each inscribed a name. One by one the teacher was pulling out these names and pairing students up. Muttered groans and exclamations of both protest and excitement filled the room after each pair was set up. Natsu was sitting on the edge of his seat, his eyes flickering eagerly between the hat and a white-haired girl in the front row. He had been trying to get a moment alone with Lisanna for weeks, and this was his chance. He prayed to whatever god was out there to grant him this simple request.

"Fullbuster and Lockser," Gildarts called out, using last names for his more familiar students. Beside Natsu, a black haired boy groaned while a few rows down, a blue-haired girl squealed excitedly, hearts popping out of her eyes. Natsu gave his friend a sympathetic look, but he wasn't able to say encouraging words as Gildarts called, "Dragneel and..." 

Please, please, please let it be Liz. If I've ever done anything right, please let him say Lisanna!

Gildarts paused, a moment of surprise flashing over his face. Natsu looked at him hopefully. "Well, well," the old teacher chuckled, making Natsu's stomach soar. Gray sighed as Natsu smiled. "Dragneel and Heartfilia."

"Huh?" Natsu froze. Were his ears deceiving him? Gildarts couldn't have possibly—

"Hahaha!" Gray laughed aloud while a mix of murmurs went through the room. Some of the boys muttered jealously while the girls giggled, but Natsu could barely breathe. 

"Heartfilia?" He asked, louder than he'd meant. Some of the girls burst out laughing, and he found himself involuntarily looking at the blonde girl. He wished he hadn't; she was glaring at him for his outburst. 

Heartfilia, Lucy Heartfilia. She was the top popular girl at school, known throughout all grades for her incomparable beauty. Pretty as she might be however, Natsu hated her. She was snobby and mean and always glaring. Her friends were mean too; the cheerleaders. Natsu was especially afraid of that red-head girl. 

As if the gods were really mocking him, Gildarts decided to break the atmosphere by pulling the next two names out of his hat. "Little Strauss and Bickslow." 

Natsu's heart, which had previously been in his stomach, sunk all the way to his feet. He watched with heartbreak as the weird boy walked over to Lisanna, smiling. He sunk into his seat, not paying attention as Gildarts listed off the remaining partners. It didn't matter anymore. The gods were against him forever. 

...

The bell rang and Natsu was loading his supplies into his backpack sullenly when she came over. He knew it was her from her overpowering perfume. He cringed, seeing her boots stop beside him. 

"So where are we going to work on this?" She asked, her tone sharp. He could tell she was still upset over his reaction earlier, but that was fine by him. He was still upset, too. 

"The library?" Natsu responded in an obvious tone. He could sense her flinch. 

"When?" She questioned. 

"Tomorrow," he said quickly, zipping up his backpack and darting around her. He spotted Lisanna walking away and wanted to catch up with her so they could walk home together. Lisanna lived the opposite way of Natsu, but she didn't need to know that. 

"Hang on!" Lucy squeaked, and suddenly she had a hold on Natsu's jacket. He stopped just short of tripping, nearly tugging her along with him. As it was, she skidded down a step and had to grab a desk to keep her balance. Maybe you shouldn't wear six inch death traps, then, Natsu thought, but he tried to keep his face relaxed as he turned to her.