Starry Eyed | Nalu Short Story

three

L.H.

Lucy could only hope Natsu would like what she had planned. Her disheveled appearance reflected the hasty plans she came up with on the way to the diner. She quickly glanced up at him in worry, only to find him already looking at her. As he smiled at her, her worries melted away and she felt her heart take flight. At this point no one could tie her heartstrings down, and she willed herself to walk forward and let her heart be carried away with her.

There was a bright smile on her face as she took in his appearance. Spiky pink hair tied back with what looked to be a white bandana at first, but she quickly reassessed a scarf. His short sleeves were rolled up to the top of his shoulders, and she had to stop herself from staring at his arms. Especially when they flexed as he scooped up plates full of food to bring out to tables and seemingly glistened as he moved. Dear God she needed help. Or someone to slap her head on straight. Lucy sat at the counter on one of the stools, propping her elbows up on the counter-top and resting her chin between her palms.

Natsu circled back behind the counter and yelled something to the kitchen before moving right in front of her from the other side of the counter. He placed his arms out on either side of him with his palms leaning on the edge of the countertop. "Hey," He said as he rocked side to side, shifting the weight he put on either of his palms. Lucy couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to act subtle despite his eagerness.

"Hi," She said. A smile graced her lips, causing his onyx eyes to dart down to them. She could feel her cheeks flush. And he must've noticed, since he cleared his throat and averted his gaze, Lucy taking the opportunity to cast her eyes down at the countertop in embarrassment.

"Let me just finish up in the back and I'll meet you outside."

She lingered at the counter as she watched him head to the back. She wondered if he'd ever do more than just stare at her lips.

N.D.

"How long have you been working at your dad's diner?"

Natsu tapped a finger to his chin as he thought about the question the blonde beauty had asked him. She brought him to a quiet park where she set out a blanket on the grass for them to sit on and stargaze. She mentioned it being one of her favorite spots to go to at night. He wondered whether he'd ever get to see any other ones with her.

"Since I could walk, I guess," He finally answered. "My mom isn't really in the picture anymore so my dad always brought me to the diner to keep me occupied. At some point I just picked up on some stuff to help him out. It was hard on him, with just us two. But he tried his damn hardest."

Lucy nodded in response, taking out the desserts packed away in the basket she had brought along with the blanket. She handed a fork to Natsu before picking up her own and taking a few bites from the strawberry cheesecake slice he had remembered to save for her before they left the diner. "I get it. Seems to me you turned out pretty good."

Natsu feigned a hurt expression. "Only pretty good? I'd say pretty amazing, actually."

She let out an airy laugh, one that made his heart skip a beat. He probably would've done anything to get to hear her laugh like that again. The blonde beauty playfully pushed him backward and rolled her eyes. She watched with amused eyes as he rocked back forward in his spot. "You know what I mean."

Natsu leaned over to her to steal a bite of her cheesecake. "So when did you discover this spot?" He ran a hand through his hair and glanced up at the night sky. "It's nice."

"My mom used to bring me here before she died." She brushed over it rather quickly, but that didn't stop Natsu from casting her a sympathetic look as she continued. "I always snuck out when my dad was asleep to come back here to be alone. I guess when she died, he just changed. Threw himself into his work and business. It was just so suffocating, trying to live up to who he wanted me to be."

"That really sucks, I'm sorry." He clasped his hands together and fidgeted in his spot, discontent with himself for not being able to comfort her beyond that. "Your dad sounds like an asshole," He added, biting the inside of his cheek and hoping he hadn't offended her by saying that.

But she seemed unfazed and let out a dry scoff, like this was simply a way of life, her way of life that she was forced to grow up in and get used to. Even in her scoff there was an elegance to it that made Natsu watch her more intently as she spoke. "Oh absolutely. Honestly, most of my 'friends' at school just like the idea of status and keep trying to worm their way into meeting my dad for networking purposes. You're actually the first--the only person I've brought here since my mom died."

"Wow I'm honored. Any particular reason why?"

He asked the question more as a way to tease her, but there was sincerity in her voice when she answered. "Because I felt like I could trust you. Like if I were to tell you any incriminating secrets they'd stay buried with you. Even the first time I went to the diner and saw you I felt drawn to you. Sounds cheesy, I know."

He stared at her in awe as her eyes reflected the twinkle of the stars. It felt like he was witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, like a comet that only passed once every hundred years or a total solar eclipse. His heart was surely eclipsed enough.

"Can I kiss you?" The question left his mouth before he could even process it in his head. The boldness was unlike him. But he felt like he could do anything with her there. He would even slay a dragon if she asked him to. Her gaze quickly snapped back down to Natsu. Her eyes contained a whole universe waiting to be seen, and it took everything he had not to get lost in her universe the moment she looked at him. "Er--Sorry, I meant like would it be okay if--it's okay if you don't--"

"Yes." She leaned in before he could move first.

Her lips tasted sweet. He couldn't tell if it was from the cheesecake she had eaten before or if it was just natural. Either way, he couldn't get enough. And kissing her felt overwhelmingly right, like a sunbeam's first peek behind tired storm clouds.

She smelled faintly of roses and vanilla. He cursed inwardly, hoping he hadn't smelled of sweat or grease. But whether he did or not, she didn't seem to mind (thankfully).

He savored every bit of her lips in case he'd never get to kiss her again. He breathed her in, desperate to carve into his mind the way her hands clutched onto his scarf and the soft gasp she let out when his fingers pressed into her waist. It was like a breath of clarity, one that made him lose all train of thought to let him simply be there with her.

He wondered if it was fate or if he was receiving a blessing. He would pray to whatever gods he needed to if it meant getting to kiss her again.