Stellar Mistakes

Cold Comfort

Through the rest of that week, Lucy did not see Gray at work. He also did not text her, except when, after barely saying a word to her through Tuesday's team meeting, she texted him at work, figuring it was safe to say his presentation about the filming went well. He wrote back only "Thanks" and nothing else. She began to wonder if he was not as interested in her as he had seemed to be earlier, so she held back on texting anything more. Wednesday and Thursday passed with not a single word, and her worries grew. Then on Friday morning, he texted her to meet him for lunch.

When Cana, Levy, and Natsu all came to her desk around noon, Lucy felt her cheeks blush.

"Oh, I ... I'm eating lunch with someone."

"Who?" Levy asked in excitement.

Lucy began to stutter, but just then Gray stopped by her cubicle.

"Oh good, I didn't miss you," he said with a beaming smile. "I was thinking we could go to a bistro down the street."

Cana grabbed Lucy's arm and whispered, "Damn, girl, when you move on, you pick 'em hot."

Lucy frantically tried to hush her.

Meanwhile, Natsu stomped up right in front of Gray. "What's a cold bastard like you planning to do to her?"

Gray's eyes narrowed. "Do to her? We're going to eat lunch, you flame-headed idiot."

Natsu pointed his finger into Gray's chest. "If you break her heart as well—"

"Natsu!" Lucy cried out, worried he might let something slip about her and Loke. "Gray and I have been working closely on the commercial shoots, so obviously we need time to talk outside of our duties here at work."

Cana leaned in with excitement. "Are you two dating yet?"

Lucy gasped at her boldness.

"Well, that depends," Gray said, smiling at Lucy. "It sounds like I have to win my hockey game tomorrow if I want a date with her."

Natsu muttered under his breath, "Maybe I should set your hockey stick on fire."

Lucy smacked his arm to be quiet and walked away from the group with Gray.

Levy sighed, "She's finally happy again. That's good."

Natsu grumbled, "Another guy from work!"

Cana looked over at him. "Another? Then do you know about her and you-know-who?"

Natsu did not answer, but by his face, it was obvious he knew.

---

Outside, Lucy and Gray went to a small café just down the street. Lucy saw other people from work eating there and at the surrounding restaurants. After placing her order, she finally released the tension in her shoulders.

"I apologize for Natsu."

Gray merely shrugged. "I've worked with him before. We simply don't get along. Polar opposites, y'know." He glanced across the table at her. "You two were childhood friends, right?"

Lucy nodded. "Natsu's always been protective, but sometimes he overdoes things."

Just then, a waitress came up with their food. They both hungrily took bites of sandwiches, and Lucy was amazing to find that it tasted really good.

Gray went on. "Natsu said, if you break her heart as well. I'm assuming your little complicated issue is over, and it ended badly."

Lucy felt a stab to her heart. "Yeah, it's over," she whispered, feeling empty inside as she said it. "I wouldn't say it ended badly. It was my choice to end it—I'm simply not good at dealing with complicated—but it's still not easy. I'm still getting over things."