Sweetheart

7

"What are you and Elfman doing for your project?"

"We decided to do The Great Gatsby and--"

Levy and Aina snickered.

"You know, The Great Gatsby is just as good a novel as Pride and Prejudice!"

Aina giggled and apologized before asking her to continue.

"We're creating a party itinerary."

"That's super interesting," Aina praised. "I would have never thought to do that."

"Elfman actually came up with it. I was surprised. So what about you? How's your diarrhea going?"

Aina rolled her eyes and laid her head on the desk.

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"Pst. Aina, what's your opinion on the Tea Party?" Sting playfully questioned from his seat behind Aina. "I think all tea parties should be like that."

Aina giggled and twisted around and joked back, "All tea parties can be like that if you're not a coward."

Sting grinned wide and went to say something when Levy came in.

"Hey A, ready for the quiz?"

"Of course my dear valedictorian," she joked, "and I suppose you're shaking in your boots?"

"Aw shit," Sting cursed. "I knew I forgot something."

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"You're out of pickles again."

"That's because I haven't bought any since last time. Now will you please just get upstairs and--"

She cut herself off and glared at the now smirking boy.

"Can we please just finish this stupid project so we never have to talk again?"

"Wow sweetheart, I'm hurt. And here I thought we were gonna fall in love and get married."

Aina ignored his taunts and asked him if he had read the book yet. She received a laugh in response.

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"Honey, are you home?"

Aina ran down the stairs at her mother's calls and smiled, welcoming her home.

"Have you been stressed lately?"

"Oh my god you have no clue," Aina breathed.

"That would explain the missing food then," she joked.

"Wha--no! That's not--"

"Honey, I know that junior year is the most stressful year, but I can't keep up with all the groceries."

Aina looked down and apologized, saying that she would pay her back for the food.

"Oh don't talk like that, sweetheart. You know you don't have to do that. Just try to make the food last longer, okay?"

"Yes mom."

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"She thinks I'm eating all the food!"

Lucy sighed and suggested that she tell her mom that Natsu was stealing it all.

"Are you nuts? Luce, my mom's been 'super helicopter mom' since dad died and the incident and you want me to admit that I've been having the biggest and most irresponsible asshole over every week? She'd kill me!"