Compliments

Chapter 16-Prodding Questions and a Demand For a Date

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and its characters belongs to Hiro Mashima

I opened the door, greeting my red-haired friend with a shaky smile. I swiped at a drop of nervous sweat.

“Come on in, what’s up?” I asked casually, allowing Erza to step inside. She wore an almost grim expression on her face, and took a seat on the couch Natsu and I were previously on.

“Lucy, I wanted to ask you if the rumor going around was true,” Erza said, her voice low. Her sharp violet eyes pierced through me with a look of sympathy that she knew I hated.

“There’s a rumor spreading about…me?”

“Yeah, I heard from someone that Lisanna…had…beat you up…” She trailed off, searching my eyes. But I didn’t let any expression through. Who had started that rumor? How had they found out about it? It couldn’t have been Natsu, right?

“Lisanna?” I asked. I decided I’d play dumb since I had only met her the other day. That should work, right?

“You know who she is, right? Nurse Strauss’s younger sister,” Erza added, but I kept my expression in a puzzled state. “Short white hair, light blue eyes,” She prodded, swiping her hands on either side of her neck, imitating the length of Lisanna’s hair. I shook my head.

“Oh good, the rumor must be fake then,” Erza sighed, and I had to hold in a breath of relief myself. I couldn’t let anyone know what had happened. Although I had muttered to Natsu about who gave me the beating.
“By the way,” Erza started, drawing my attention towards her rather than my thoughts. “Was someone in here before I got here?” My breath hitched in my throat at her question.

“No,” I replied quickly, and she threw me a look of suspicion.

“Are you su-“
“I think I would know if someone was in here or not, Erza, don’t you think?” I rushed out, cutting her off despite knowing she hated when she was interrupted.

“Lucy! I’ve told you countless times not to interrupt me, and don’t play dumb, I heard multiple crashes, thuds, and whispers!” I paled at her suddenly strict tone.

“W-Well, maybe Natsu was here before…” I murmured submissively.

“Natsu? Why was he here?”
“S-Stopped by…”
“Why are you stuttering?”
“I don’t know.”

“What were you two doing?”

“Eating.” It wasn’t a complete lie. We were eating before…

“That’s all?” She eyed me suspiciously again.

“Yes,” I answered almost proudly, not allowing the other half of our activities loose. Erza never lifted her skeptical eyes from me, and I was sure my face stayed a ghostly pale. Soon the redhead was rambling on about something, probably school, and that’s when I heard a small- yet unmistakably audible- thud from my bedroom.

Erza was an observant girl; I knew that by experience. (Never try to steal her food as a joke.) So when my eyes snapped towards my closed bedroom door, her eyes followed.

“Something wrong?” She inquired, and I quickly turned my attention back on her.

“No, nothing’s wrong, keep saying- whatever you were saying,” I retorted casually, and she sent me a glare.

“Well,” She began slowly. “I’ll be right back. I have to use the bathroom,” She claimed, and I nodded in response. Erza always took a long time in bathroom, this I also knew from a harsh experience, so I took the chance to talk to Natsu. I opened the door slowly, trying not to let the hinges creak. I would have to oil it sometime.

“Don’t make noise!” I whispered into my room, and Natsu appeared in the crack of the door an instant later.

“So what, I can’t breathe?”
“No!”

“Wha-“

“Look I don’t want her any more suspicious. She already knows you were here before.”
“You didn’t tell her about us…?”
“Do you think I have a death wish? No I didn’t tell her and I’d like to keep it that way,” I huffed, rolling my brown eyes at him. Soon- I’m not even sure how it happened- I was pulled into my room and being kissed against the wall. His hot mouth roamed over mine and I helplessly kissed him back. And in an instant Erza was in the doorway, her face redder than her vivid hair.

“E-Erza!” We gasped in unison, pulling away from each other, and I hit my head against the dark blue wall. My face was soon as red as hers, and Natsu scratched the back of his head, dark eyed lowered.

“I-I’ll be leaving n-now,” The redhead sputtered, and I grabbed her arm before she could bolt.

“Don’t tell anyone about this or I’ll tell Jellal you like him, eat your strawberry cake for a month, and call you by your full name every time I address you,” I threatened. “Got it?”
“Yes!” She squeaked, (a rare sound from Erza) and I soon heard the click of the front door.

“What was that for?” I scolded, and Natsu responded with a puzzled look. “Why’d you kiss me? Again?”

“I told you I’d make you fall in love with me!” He retorted broadly.

“You’re making me fall in love with you by saying you’re better than me at running, taking me to a party your friend was throwing that I didn’t even want to go to in the first place, throwing me in the pool and seeing my scars, kissing me, climbing through my window at nine in the morning and emptying my pantry of muffins, kissing me again, and then one more time?” I finished, breathless, and he nodded silently.

“The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach, not her lips!”

“Isn’t that with guys? Not girls?”

"The way to a Lucy’s heart is through her stomach, not her lips!”

“So you’re saying you wanna go on a date?” He smirked. A cocky, all-knowing smirk that sickened me with the incredible amount of attractiveness.

“M-Maybe!” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest and stomping out of the room.

“But you kissed me back, again!” I didn’t respond to his comment. Instead, I grabbed him by a spiky lock of hair and dragged him out of my apartment.

“Ow! Ow! Ow! Lucy stop that hurts!” He cried, dragging behind me.

“Good,” I responded coldly, and released his hair when we had finally gotten out of the building.

“Pick me up at seven.” Was all I said when I slammed the door on his still slightly pain-twisted face. And I marched back up the stairs, ignoring his shouts of happiness. I sighed to myself as I settled into the cozy sofa. I’ve been acting too differently lately.