Cute As Fuck

Chapter 5

Lucy is almost finished with her book signing that has been going well so far. After she gets through this last bunch of people, she'll be done. She is somewhat eager for it to be over so she can drive over to the birthday party.

"Here you are." Yukino Agria, her close friend and assistant, hands her a chilled water bottle. With caring brown eyes, she has short styled, pale hair and bangs that frame her face. Her only form of accessory is a dark blue rose that adorns the left side of her head.

"Thank you so much!" Lucy twists off the cap and takes a swig, relieving her dry throat that has been overused from all of the talking she has done. "All right, next please!"

Two people who can't be more different step up to the table.

Holding a copy of Elvina, the young woman is petite and slender in size and has hazel eyes that seem to pop with her fair skin. She has shoulder-length, azure blue locks that fall in waves and her bangs are kept back by a yellow headband.

The guy accompanying her simply towers over her with his muscular frame and height. He has long, spiky black hair that is slicked back to reveal his forehead and piercing red eyes. His most noticeable feature is all of the silver studded piercings on his face.

"Hello!" Lucy greets warmly.

The woman beams. "Hi!" Then she holds out the novel. "Here you are."

Lucy takes the hardcover book and opens it up to sign.

"Gihi, Shrimp might be a little nervous since it's her first time meeting ya," the guy chuckles.

"Gajeel!" she hisses in embarrassment, elbowing him.

Lucy smiles and hands back the newly signed novel. "I'm always happy meeting fans."

Her hazel eyes light up. "Thank you so much, Ashley!"

"No problem!" Lucy waves goodbye as they walk away.

Two new faces approach the table.

The first one has sharp eyes that are dark blue and a similar hairstyle that reminds her of Natsu; however, his locks are blond. Above his right eye is a thin scar that runs diagonally while his left ear has a single piercing that is a metal pendant that resembles a crystal.

The other guy has black hair tied back into a short ponytail, leaving his long bangs down to cover the majority of his face. His left piercing red eye is exposed and a scar across the bridge of his nose is noticeable.

The light-haired guy eagerly thrusts out his copy of the novel. "Hey, Ashley!"

She takes the book from him. "Hello."

"Uh, can you make it out to Sting?" he asks bashfully. "Please?"

"I sure can." Her blue pen glides across the page as she writes before she autographs it. Then she hands it back before looking at the other guy. "Do you have a copy?"

He shakes his head. "Oh, I'm just here for moral support. I had to make sure he didn't faint or something."

"Rogue, why would you tell her that?" his friend demands, cheeks turning pink.

"Well, you did a good job not feinting," Lucy compliments.

The light-haired guy whips his head around to smile at her. "Thanks!"

"Come on, let's go," the one with dark hair says. "Levy and Gajeel are waiting on us."

As they step aside, Lucy asks, "All right, who is next?"

x-X-x

It is a little bit after three by the time Lucy finishes and the book signing is officially over. She didn't want to turn away the remaining people once three o'clock hit. After all, everyone patiently waited in line and caused no trouble.

"You had a great turnout," Yukino comments, packing leftover novels into a box.

"I'm happy things worked out the way did they," the blonde says, helping her. "Nothing bad happened at all."

"No crazy fans this time!" they say in unison with a laugh.

"Hey, don't you have somewhere to be?" Yukino inquires. "I thought you said something about having plans as soon as this ended."

"I can leave once things are all packed away."

She waves away the thought with a hand. "Go on. I'll take care of things here."

Lucy pauses. "Are you sure?"

She smiles. "I'm sure."

Walking around the table, Lucy moves in to hug her tightly. "Thank you!"

Yukino laughs. "You seemed happier than usual so I guessed it's because of the plans you mentioned earlier. I want you to have fun the rest of the day. After all, you had a really good turnout for the signing."

"This is why I love you!"

"I love you, too! Now get going!"

Lucy is quick to gather her personal belongings and make her way out to her car. Her denim blue Beetle with tan convertible top is easy to spot out in the sea of other vehicles. She gets inside and takes out her cell phone to call Natsu since she still needs the address to the house. While the phone rings, she glances over at the passenger seat. In spare pink wrapping paper she had at her apartment, the personalized signed copy for Wendy is all ready for the birthday girl.

"Hiya, Luce!" Natsu greets when he answers.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm finished my thing now."

"Woo, I'm all fired up!"

"So text me the address and I'll head right over."

"I'll do that when I hang up. Just text me when you get here, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan." Something pops up in her mind. "Wait, do I need to bring anything? Like desserts or drinks? I'm out and can easily stop by a store of someone needs something."

"Nope! Just bring yourself and the gift. Everything else is already taken care of."

"Oh, all right."

"See you soon, Luce!"

"Bye, Natsu!"

Lucy starts her car while she waits for the text. Once it comes through, she plugs in the address on her phone and starts the drive that is close to fifteen minutes long.

x-X-x

A/N: So now the birthday arc is starting up!

Edited as of 1/31/2017