Hating a star

Chapter 29: The Only Way

It was finally the weekend and I had work. I was happy to be busy, it would take my mind off everything. When I got there, Lainey and Mark were just setting up. "Lucy? You're here early?" Lainey questioned once I opened the door, after cleaning a table. "Um, I was wondering if I could have extra hours on Monday and the weekends." I looked down, embarrassed. "Layla really got fired, huh? I'm sorry Lucy, but you're mom's already asked if she can work during the week." Lainey told me. "Thank you so much Aunt Lainey." I bowed to her. "Yeah, yeah, just get to work. There's a winter festival happening today, so there'll be a lot of costumers." She threw me and apron as I ran to the back. 

In fact, it was very busy today and we couldn't keep up. There was only one till and people were getting frustrated with Mark for taking so long. Thinking I could calm them down a bit, I got up on stage. "Hi everyone. We're sorry for the delay with the cash register, but it's an old place, so please keep patient." I smiled at them all, speaking through the mic. No one was ordering, so I was free to do whatever. "In the mean time, I'd like to sing you all a song." Lev and Juvia stood behind me as Erza set up. "Three, two, one..."

The three of us finished back on stage, everyone clapping. "The wait won't be much longer." I wink and jumped down to get back to work.  "Waitress!" Someone called from a window table. I looked around, and the rest of the girls were busy, so I stepped up. "Hello sir, is there anything I can get for you today?" I smiled politely up from my note pad, it instantly flattening once I saw Zeref. "You're refusing to become famous for this place?" He chuckled, Lizanna on his arm like always. "What do you what?" I spat, gritting my teeth. "As you've taken too long to accept my offer. So I've decided to result to threatening." He smirked, his hand under the table. He quickly showed the lighter in his hand. "If you don't accept, I'll burn the place down." He stated as Lizanna giggled evilly. "You're insane." I gasped, my eyes widening. "It's called a hustle sweetheart, look it up." Lizanna smirked, looking crazier. I gulped. "What will you do to me?" I asked, clutching my tray to my chest. "I'll give you your mom her company. Then I'll send you to a good school and make you famous, all by yourself." He smirked, handing me his business card. "You have a day before I come back." His eyes flickered with insanity. 

I stared down at the intricate design, my family name on the front. "Lucy, is everything okay here?" Natsu walked up behind me, putting his hand on my back. I quickly hid the card in my bra in surprise. "Everything's fine, we were just ordering our lunch." Zeref shook Natsu's hand. "Is that so? I suggest the house sandwich, best thing I've ever tasted." Natsu faked a smile, trying to keep his temper in check. "We'll have that then, thanks!" Lizanna smiled and Natsu pulled on my hand as we walked away. 

I was still thinking about what he had said as I gave Lainey the paper with there order on it. "Lucy, I think we need to talk about what happened yesterday." Natsu peered into my eyes, his hands on my shoulders as I sat on a stool, still spaced out. "Right." I said, not listening. "I went to the lake and tried thinking about..." After that, I wasn't listening. Would Zeref really do that? Would he really burn down a building just to get more money? I can't talk to anyone about this.

After more thinking, I decided I would go. It was the only way I could save my family. The only way I can save mom. The only way I can keep the girls out of harm. Natsu will never remember me anyway. "I need to make a call." I cut Natsu mid sentence and went to call Zeref.

Natsu's PoV

I had gone to the lake where we used to skate as children. As I stood at the end of the fishing dock, the blood stain from her falling in was still there. It was small, but I remembered everything. The memories of our time together. The feelings. The friends. All of it. I felt so bad for forgetting, I went straight to the cafe to find her

"I'm sorry for forgetting you Luce. I don't know how I did, you were the love of my life. I felt so scared that I would lose you, I wanted to forget all the memories we made together. I'm so so-." As I was apologising for all the crap I've put her through, she went to go make a call. I had found her talking to her dad, looking freaked out. "Was she even listening?" I sighed, dropping my head in my arm that was on the counter. "That was sweet. Too bad she's got lots on her mind." Lainey jumped out of nowhere, cleaning a glass. I almost fell off the stool at her sudden appearance. "A lot on her mind?" I sighed, facing her to get whatever information she might have on my life long crush. "Well, her scumbag of a father is back. Her mom lost her job. Her boyfriend cheated on her and turned out to be gay. It's not bad, but Sting could've saved a lot of tears and just told her." Lainey sighed, putting a glass back under the counter. "Oh?" I was taken back at everything she's been through. "Just wait until everything's over. She'll explode with finding out her soulmate loves her back." She turned to the kitchen. "Soulmate?!" I screamed as she walked away, leaving me to hit my head continuously on the counter.