Cute As Fuck

Chapter 3

Natsu is currently on his knees, looking up at their scoreboard. He knew he never stood a chance from the start, but he didn't think he could lose by such a large margin.

"Better luck next time," Lucy giggles.

He looks back over his left shoulder. "Oh, no! Next time we're gonna be partners! As if I'll be against you in bowling ever again!"

She laughs. Although, she won't mind that. Lucy has had her share of first dates, some of which ended early for different reasons. But this is different. He is different. And she is hoping for a second date with him.

With a heavy sigh, Natsu rises to his feet. "Okay, I'm buying food since I lost." At least he can use his loss as a valid reason for paying. As if he is going to let her do it herself.

"I can chip in," she offers.

He shakes his head. "Nope. By default losers pay."

"Weren't you the one who thought you were going to win in the first place?" Lucy questions, hands on hips.

"Yeah, that was before your turn..." he grumbles, walking over to take a seat so he can remove the bowling shoes.

She already took the time to change back into her sandals while he had been occupied gawking at their final scores.

Standing up, Natsu fishes out his phone and takes a picture of their scores. When he sees her giving him an odd look, his only response is, "I'll need it as proof. Now let's go!"

The duo returns the bowling balls and shoes before waiting in line for food. When it is their turn, the worker recognizes them instantly. Max knows them individually as somewhat regulars who are typically here with their friends. "Do you two want your usuals?" he asks.

Natsu steals a glance at her. "Just how often are you here... ?"

"A lot," she answers. "Normally I'm here with friends though."

"Me, too!"

"Normally whenever a Saturday night works."

"Hey, same here! Well, not the same day. Friday nights normally."

She smiles. "Wow! That's so weird!"

"Maybe someday we'll hafta join forces!" Then he looks at Max, taking out his credit card. "Hey sorry about that. Usuals for the both of us please."

After the exchange, the two wait for their food. Before long, Lucy is comparing their orders while they claim a spot to sit down and eat. His burger has practically everything on it while hers is simple. He has plenty of ketchup for his fries while hers are kept plain. He even has a dark soda while hers is light.

"Wow, we're alike, but kinda different," Natsu comments, noticing their choices.

"I was thinking the same thing," she admits.

The duo takes a seat across from one another and enjoys more time together while they eat.

Suddenly, Natsu's phone vibrates from inside of his pocket and he checks the text. "Ugh, not Ice Princess again," he groans.

"Ice Princess?" she questions.

"My friend." He looks up from the screen. "He's just being a dumbass."

While sipping her soda through the straw, she can practically see the light bulb go off above his head.

"Can we take a picture together?" he asks eagerly. "Ice Princess doesn't, er, think you exist..."

That gets a laugh out of her. "If you wanted a picture together all you had to do was ask."

He perks up. "So you will?"

"As long as you send it to me as well."

"Done!" So Natsu stands up and moves around the square table to sit right next to her. He turns on the camera, holds his phone out, and they pop up on the screen.

"Cheese!" Lucy says.

He takes the picture, and they look it over together.

"Good?" he asks, wanting to make sure she is all right with it.

"Fine by me," she replies, nibbling on a fry.

After sending the image to her cell phone first, Natsu texts it to his friend. When the response comes through, he shows her.

Ice Princess: You totally asked that random girl to take a picture with you :P Nice try, Flame Brain!

"See?" Natsu exclaims. "He doesn't believe me!"

Lucy merely shrugs. "Oh, well. You know it's the truth."

He grins, setting his phone down on the table. "You're totally right." Being too lazy to stand up and move again, he pulls his tray towards him. Right before he can take a bite of his burger, his phone starts vibrating from an incoming call. "Oh, c'mon!" Natsu peers over to see who it is. "Dammit, I gotta take this. I'll be back." So he grabs his phone and strolls away so he isn't being obnoxious with the phone call.

Lucy takes the time to eat, hoping to catch up to what Natsu has already downed. He is easily a faster eater than her and she doesn't want him waiting on her to finish up.

"Yo, Pops!" Natsu pauses. "Yeah, I haven't forgotten. I'll get 'em after my date." Another pause. "Grr, why would I lie about something like that?! I'm hanging up!" He ends the call and shuffles over to the table. "Sorry about that."

"You're fine," she says after she swallows a bite.

He reclaims his spot next to her. "My dad was just making sure I don't forget the things for my sister's birthday party that's coming up this weekend." Then he starts grumbling. "And he didn't believe me either that you exist."

She giggles. "You certainly have a streak of not landing any dates."

Natsu scratches the back of his head. "This is kinda my first date..."

She is surprised. "I never would have guessed that." Then she softly smiles. "By the way, this is my favorite date so far."

He perks up. "Like ever?"

"Of all time," Lucy confirms.

With that, he lights up with a toothy smile from ear to ear. "Hey, would you wanna come over to the party on Saturday?" he asks. "Don't feel like you're obligated though. Just if you're free."

She is slightly surprised he asked her since they did not know the other existed until last night. However, she rolls with it. "What time?"

"Starts at three."

Lucy has a book signing noon to three that day which means she can swing by afterwards. "I have a thing that ends at that time so I can make it after I'm done."

"Woo, I'm all fired up now!"

x-X-x

A/N: Under normal circumstances, I'm sure a person wouldn't have asked their date to join them for a party that's days away. But Natsu is already trusting Lucy from the time they've spent together already. After all, Lucy is Lucy! And more time together is to come!!

Edited as of 1/1/2017