Camp Fairy: Beginnings

Kitchen Girl

This book is set in the summer sixteen years prior to the sequel (the twins were fifteen). Lucy is seventeen and Natsu is eighteen.

Obvious disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
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{LUCY'S POV}
"See you at family night, Dad." I lean in the broken window and kiss his cheek, then my dad drives away in the rust colored pickup truck we affectionately call Spare Parts.

I look up at the dining hall, which is apparently where I get checked in and assigned my cabin. I wonder who my roommates'll be.

"Right. I've always wanted to come to Camp Fairy. This is the start of the awesome summer that I've worked so hard for!" I raise a fist in the air. I grab my luggage, a single overstuffed suitcase, and head towards the dining hall.

After I've checked in, the counselors direct me towards my new home for the next few weeks. Cabin Dragon. I open the door tentatively.

Three of the four beds in the cabin are taken up by girls who laugh and chat, sharing stories as they unpack their stuff.

Two of them have blue hair. The one with short hair light blue is unpacking books by the ton. I want to be an author, so I have a feeling we'll get along well.

The other bluenette has longer, darker hair and refers to herself in the third person as she talks the last girl, whose bright red hair is tied back in ponytail. This girl notices me first.

"Hey, here she is, the new girl!" The redhead steps forward, offering a handshake and warm smile. "I'm Erza Scarlet. I've been coming here for years, so if you need anything, just ask."

"Juvia welcomes you to Cabin Dragon." The darker haired girl beams and waves.

"And I'm Levy McGarden." Levy grins and drags me the rest of the way in.

"Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia." I introduce myself, rolling my suitcase next the only available bed.

"Is this your first year here? We're gonna have so much fun! Can I call you Lu-chan?"

"Sure... Levy-chan." I smile at the bubbly girl. Yeah, we'll definitely get along.

"Let us show you around." Levy-chan squeals, links arms with me, but she's interrupted by an alarm ringing on my phone. I check it then bite my lip.

"Later, okay?" I pull my arm away. "I have something to do right now."

"Aww." Levy-chan pouts. I wave as I leave the cabin and head back to the dining hall. This time though, I don't enter through the front, but through the staff entrance in the back.

It's not a secret that the only reason I'm able to be here is because some of my camp fees are being waived in exchange for working part-time in the kitchen. But I don't want people to know if they don't have to. My goal is to have a fun summer vacation, not to be pitied because my family's poor.

I'm greeted by a stunningly beautiful girl with long white hair and bangs pulled up in a short ponytail. She greets me with a warm smile. "You must be the new part-timer, Lucy."

"Hi?" I wonder who this model is and why she's wearing an apron, until she introduces herself.

"I'm Mirajane Strauss, former camper and recently hired head chef. Just call me Mira. I look forward to working with you." She shakes my hand.

Her smile is contagious. I grin. "Likewise."

Mira gives me a quick tour of where I'll be working. "Just come an hour before every meal to help prepare. Tonight is spaghetti."

"Awesome!" That's only three hours a day, which means I'll still have plenty of time to let loose and have fun this summer.

I don an apron, and Mira sends me to get some tomato sauce from the storage room. It would be easier to carry a few jars at a time, but I grab the whole box to save time. It's heavy, but one of my part-time jobs working as a farm hand really helped build up my muscles.

I lug my load down the hallway, when I hear a male voice. He sounds angry.

A boy around my age with pink hair walks into view from another hallway. He's arguing with someone on the phone, so he doesn't notice me.

I realize a tad bit too late what's going to happen and try to stop abruptly, but I trip. Desperately, I shout, "Look out!"

{NATSU'S POV}
"Okay Dad. I'm at camp. I even got out of the car. I'm begging here. Please, if you ever loved me, please come pick me up!" I plead.

Dad sighs. "I do love you, son. But you haven't even given Camp Fairy a chance yet. Remember our deal. Prove to me that you're having fun. If you can do that and still want to come home, then I'll come get you."

"I am having fun. Check-in was loads of fun!"

He chuckles. "Very funny, Natsu."

I'm about to respond, when an alarmed voice yells, "Look out!"

I turn in time to see a blonde girl stumbling towards me like a runaway freight train, carrying a box loaded with jars of tomato sauce. There's no time to dodge.

Terrific.

We collide, and the box goes down on my foot. I yelp and curse in pain.

"Natsu?" Dad asks, voice laced with concern.

"Talk later." I manage, hanging up while bouncing on my uninjured foot and cradling the other.

"I'm so sorry!" The blonde girl apologizes.

Surprising, only one of the jars fell out and broke when she dropped her load. In what I assume is an embarrassed attempt to hide her identity, she scoops a handful of the red sauce from the floor and rubs it on her face before looking up at me.

I snicker. "I've seen your face, Kitchen Girl."

"Don't call me that." Kitchen Girl snaps.

"Don't worry. I don't plan on being here too long."

"Why?" She asks incredulously. "Camp Fairy is amazing! I've wanted to come here so bad so I can have the best summer ever!"

"What's so great about waking up early and getting eaten by mosquitos and muggy weather and no air conditioning? I'd rather go back home."

"I worked so hard to come here and you're standing there just throwing it all away? I don't like you." She says coldly, quickly standing and picking up her box and the broken shards of glass. Kitchen Girl stomps off in a huff.

I walk in the opposite direction, remembering belatedly that there's tomato sauce still on the ground as I slip and face plant, getting a big red stain on my brand new shirt.

There's no way I'm going to have fun.