Going Crazy

Chapter 9

Natsu brought back his fist as he exploded in fire.

"No!" I stopped him before he could move any more.

"Don't forget this is my apartment!" I glared at both of them.

Natsu didn't look at me, but he did slowly move his arm down by his side.

"This the second time I've found you two together like this. What kind of a creep are you?" He thrusted himself in Sting's face.

Sting held his ground and flared back into Natsu's eyes. "What's your problem with following Lucy around? I'm starting to think you're a dirty perv who likes spying on her."

"Say that again, I dare you!" Natsu enriched in flames.

"Calm down!" I shouted at them.

"Leave us alone Natsu." Sting sneered.

That's when Natsu couldn't hold back anymore. He roared in rage and pummeled Sting to the ground. I gasped in horror. Then I remembered what Gray had said.

He was trying to warn me. I thought as I clutched my mouth with my hand. He knew Natsu would hurt him.

"Natsu!" I stood frozen in place for a few moments. Watching him throw a few punches towards Stng's face.

Sting reared up and managed to thrust Batsu off of him, the two were so busy with their frenzy of fighting they knocked over the couch and a chair.

This wasn't the regular fighting I saw in the guild everyday. This was real. An actual and vicious fight that was horrific to experience in person. It was a fistfight, without magic.

So maybe Natsu is trying not to destroy my place after all. Then I looked at all the furniture lying on the ground.

"Alright!" I yelled.

I bravely darted towards them a be with all my strength, grabbed Natsu's arm and he immediately went limp at my touch. I hauled him backwards towards me and separated the two.

They each were breathing heavily and snarling at each other like a couple of hostile wolves. No, hostile dragons. Actually, they were something even worse than that. A couple of hostile dragon slayers.

"Please stop fighting. It's scaring me!" I yelled at them. They never looked away from each other.

"Natsu." I turned towards him.

He slowly moved his head towards me and the expression on his face told me how surprised he was at me talking to him directly at the moment.

"I know you don't like this."

As I spoke his face melted into a hurt and broken expression. I hated this. I hated how my feelings were all mixed and tussling around inside of me right now.

"I'm sorry, but the reason why I'm going to this dance with Sting, is because I really need the money to pay for my rent. He needs it too. I was considering on going with you, but I knew if we went we would never win. I know that sounds selfish. I really....."

I stopped myself. I was about to say like you. I did really like him. As a friend. Only a friend..... Right? I wasn't sure anymore.

At that moment as I thought about what to say next, Natsu's gaze darkened.

"Why couldn't we go on a job together and earn the money? Why do you have to enter this stupid contest with this lying snake? I wouldn't mind if you went with any other guy in te guild, even Gray. But this guy? It makes me sick."

Natsu turned and walked out the door of my apartment. Then slammed it and causing the dishes in the cupboards to shake and rattle.

I turned towards Sting. Feeling horrible. I didn't mean to make Natsu feel so angry. He was so very different when he was angry. Not his usual self, always joking around and boasting how he could win any fight or he could take on any wizard.

Sting stepped slowly closer to me. His suit ruffled and bow tie out of place.

I stared at my shoes. The air was still and it was so quiet. I could only hear the soft, but loud ticking of the clock hanging on the wall. It seemed to be as loud as a drum now.

Sting lifted my face with his finger and thumb. I stared into his eyes. I felt so bad. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys seeing her friends fight over her.

"You're beautiful. So beautiful. Sometimes..." He trailed off.

I was shocked at his words. My lip quivered and my knees shook. I felt the tears coming. They were coming like ten-thousand waterfalls raging down a cliff-side.

"Sometimes you make me feel crazy." He finally finished."

The urge to cry vanished. And was replaced by a gasp when Sting leaned in to kiss me. I stepped back immediately and pushed him away.

"No." I shook my head and the tears were suddenly back.

This felt wrong. What was I doing? Going to some dance with a guy I had hardly met and didn't even know all that well? I was such a fool. I should have asked Natsu anyways. Who cares if we lost? Maybe we could have practiced it taken a few jobs.

Well, there was no changing the past. What was done was done and I was just gonna have to go through with this.

I felt Sting's warm hand on my shoulder. He spun me around, seeing the tears in my eyes, a few escaping and running down my heels. I bag an to sniffle.

He smiled warmly. That was the first time I had ever seen him actually smile. Not fake it or smirk.

Then, he did the most unexpected thing. His eyes filled with list and passion. He grabbed the back of my head with one hand, and with the other he grabbed my back. He pushed me against him and smashed his lips onto mine.