Hurt so good •Nalu•

20

A few days after the funeral, I'm carrying out my new morning routine. Avoid Natsu, avoid the cafe, straight to work, and submerge myself in it.

~•~

It's late at night by the time I leave. As I walk through the lobby I pass by the cafe, a certain salmon haired guy sits on the sofa with his furry companion. Seeming to be waiting on something.

"Natsu! It's so good to see you again!"

A girl squeals, she bumps into me on her way down the stairs. "Oh! Pardon me!"

I turn my head, "Sorry, excuse-"

But as I apologize for myself, I see her leap into the now standing Natsu's arms. 'Wha- was that the problem? Was that what he was trying to tell me??' The scene that unfolds is friendly enough, but to me.. it's heart breaking.

I realize I'm staring when Natsu catches my eyes with his. 'Oops!' I quickly turn back around and run to my room. Leaving him calling my name in the distance.

I barely make it in the door before I hear Levy's ring tone blaring form my phone. "Hello?"

"Lu-Chan! Come hang out with me and the girls, enough is enough. I miss my best friend!" Levy pleads and after a bout 15 mins, I cave in.

"Ok, where? Who's there?" And with a sigh, I agree to meet up with Levy, Mira, Cana, Erza, and Juvia.

~•~

I walk into Gray's bar, quickly I'm greeted with a already drunk Cana, a over joyed Levy, and Mira waving me down.

"Evening Lucy, I didn't expect you to be joining that bunch tonight." Gray greets me while I order a drink.

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" I chuckle as he hands me the drink and I pay for it.

The girls greet me as Erza and Juvia return from the restroom. We sit around asking about everyone's day and they all ask about how I've been holding up with my father's passing. Eventually the subject of Natsu and I gets brought up..

"So how's the chemistry between the two of you going?" Mira asks, Levy then coos about us dancing at the party.

But due to some well needed drinks I start to open up.. "Yeah, don't expect us to be hanging out together for some time."

"What does that mean?" Erza asks, all eyes confused and on me.

"Natsu and I aren't like that, you know." I say fiddling with the napkin under my drink.

Mira picks up the harshness in my voice. "Your not like what? Your not fooling anyone missy."

"Agreed, Natsu has definitely fallen for you Lucy." Erza ands as the others nod in agreement.

"Yeah, I thought so too... but I was wrong."

"What'd that rowdy fire chaser say to you?" Cana slams her fist on the table.

"Watch it Cana!" Gray threatens.

"Well, you see.." And so, I tell the girls what happened the night of the party. "In the end, he said sorry. So there's really nothing I can do."

"Hmm, Juvia finds it hard to believe."

"Yeah, Lu-Chan. I think we all agree that he likes you a lot."

"More like crazy." Cana adds. 'Even if it's hard for the girls to believe, he said sorry. If that wasn't rejection, I don't know what else is.'

"Hm, there must be a reason for him saying that." Erza says with her eyes closed and a hand on her chin.

"Eh, well.. I think he might have a girlfriend."

All the girls yell "What!"

"Who?"

"Explain!"

I'm getting bombarded by questions left snd right. So many that it's hard to keep up. "Whoa, whoa! So tonight when I came home, I walked by him waiting for someone. As I walked up the steps, a beautiful girl bumped into me gushing over him."

The girls gasped, all but Levy and Mira who glanced at one another.

"Lu-Chan, What did this girl look like?"

I started to explain the girls looks as Gray brought us more drinks. "She was a younger petite girl with short, white hair and blue eyes."

"Hm, That sounds like your sister Lisanna, Mira." Gray states as he pours us all more water.

"I'm certain that's who it is. Because, Lisanna happens to be back in town before her and Bixlow leaves for their honeymoon." Mira then exclaims Gray's thoughts.

"Eh, Bixlow. Did she really marry that odd guy who collects those old haunted dolls?"

"Haha, Yes Cana, and he still calls them his babies."

"Eh, he gives Juvia shivers and not the good ones that Juvia's beloved Gray-Sama does."

We all giggle, then Erza adds, "Lucy, Lisanna and Natsu are childhood friends. Just like Gray and I. I'm sure that it's something else that's holding him back. There's no way it's because he doesn't like you."