--- Natsu's POV ---

I'm going to school today. I don't care how many times Gray, Erza, and MiraJane told me to stay home and rest. I just need to.

But it's impossible. My eye lids feel heavy and my eyes feel dry. My whole body feels as if it's shutting down.

And they say I need sleep, but I say I need my dad. He is going to come back. He's not dead, I know it.

But now I can't get up from my bed, my muscles are weak and slow. Even if I do stand up, I tend to sway and I can't even make out where the door was.

"This isn't like me." I mutter and shake my head as I rubbed my eyes. "I'm so tired but I can't even sleep."

I blink and look over at the clock, "12:38 pm," I sigh and look out the widow and towards the school which was only across the street from our dorms. "Lunch time? I skipped breakfast?"

Gray and I didn't make food, I had nothing except soda and chocolates. And I couldn't make it to the vending machine down the hall without face planting into a wall.

"Looks like I'm skipping my meals today..." I groan, "Until Gray comes for dinner at least."

--- Lucy's POV ---

"He must finally be sleeping." I overheard someone say behind me and Gray during class. "I couldn't stand those dark circles under his eyes. It draws attention from his hair."

I glance over at Gray who also figured out they were talking about Natsu. "He's probably not sleeping..." I muttered, "He probably can't even do that."

I frown and stare down at the worksheet Ms. Virgo had given us. Which didn't make sense since it was a theatre class.

"Do you think he can take care of himself?" I asked worriedly, Gray shook his head and filled in an answer on the sheet.

"He probably hasn't eaten yet..." He sighed, "I might carry him to the coffee shop after school for a meal..."

I smile at the boy's attitude. He hides it a lot but he cares a lot for his friends. "Juvia and I made plans to go there after school."

I saw Gray's grip on his pencil tighten, as well as the lightest blush spread on his cheeks. "yeah?"

I giggle and nod with a devilish grin, "yeah. I'll be expecting some interacting between you and Juvia alright?"

Gray snaps his pencil in half and looks at me with a red face. "Sh-shut up!"

"Gray Fullbuster!" Ms. Virgo scolded and glared at him, "Silence, please!"

Gray slouched in his seat and glared at me. I smirked at him and went back to my worksheet.

---

After school, I met up with Juvia and together we walked over to the Strauss's coffee shop. I told Juvia that her 'Gray-Sama' was going to be there and she sprouted hearts in her eyes... and it remained that way the whole walk there.

"Natsu slow down!" I heard Lisanna yell when we walked inside. Natsu was gobbling down foods in one bite, splattering everything onto Gray who sat across from him.

"No way! I haven't eaten since yesterday!" He yelled back.

"You ate way more than two meals!" She snapped back and looked at Elfman who sheepishly smiled, "Why'd you give him all this food?"

"Ah... Men eat a lot. They need food."

"Of course..." She grumbled and she just now noticed the two of us at the door and she smiled brightly. "Oh thank all the gods of humanity you two are here!"

Gray and Natsu looked over at us, and the pinkette even stopped eating.

"Gray-sama!" Juvia yipped and tackled Gray in his booth.

"J-J-Juvia!" He stuttered and fell onto the ground, with her on top of him.

I laugh and look over at Natsu who was looking back at me with wide eyes.

--- Natsu's POV ---

I swallowed the rest of the food that was in my mouth and lock gaze with Lucy. She never looks away... why doesn't she? Why am I the one who always looks away? Ugh! It hurts just thinking about our relationship.

"You feeling alright?" She asked me and I nodded timidly.

Mira comes out of the staff room with hearts in her eyes, and bounced over to me, scooting into the booth, next to me.

"Ask her on a date." She whispered mischievously.

"Do you really think I would do that if I had to be carried out here. I nearly threw up on Gray's stupid head." I spat.

"So you would ask her if you weren't feeling sick?"

"MIRA GO GET ME A COFFEE!!" I snap with a huge blush obvious on my cheeks.

Everyone, even Juvia (whom I thought would be busy ogling over Gray) looked at me and I apologized before solemnly eating a piece of cake.

Gray managed to get back onto his seat, though his crazy side kick clung onto him still.

"I think I'm gonna go home soon..." He said and tried to push Juvia off his arm. "I'm not really hungry and I need to get my work done since we have a test in math tomorrow."

I nod and finish all my desserts, thanking Mira as she gave me my coffee. "Yeah..."

"One of us will make sure he gets home okay." Lisanna bows, "except not me, I'll probably get unlucky and have him vomit all over my clothes."

"I heard that." I pouted.

"Yes I meant for it to be loud and clear." She smiled smugly. "Say Lucy? How about you keep him company, huh?""

I blushed and snapped my attention to her, "What?"

"O-oh um...." She stuttered and rubbed the back of her head. "What's Juvia going to do?"

"Juvia will accompany Gray-sama and help him with her work!" She said gleefully.

Lucy and I glare at our roommates for ditching us.

Before either one of us could argue, Juvia dragged Gray out of the coffee shop with a gleam in her eyes.

Lucy awkwardly sits across from me and orders an iced latte.

"Sorry that you have to look over my sick ass." I commented as Lisanna cleaned up all my plates.

"No it's fine, I had nothing going on anyway... finished all my homework in class." She waved her hand.

"Oh really?" I smirked and drank my water, "So you must be very smart to finish it all so quickly. I usually say I finished it so Erza would stop pestering me."

Lucy giggled and thanked Elfman as he brought her drink over.

"Sorry about yesterday. I'm known to be very stubborn." I apologized and ordered yet another meal, but it was intended for both of us to share.

"Don't be." she smiled and watched as Elfman came over again with a pre-made cake. "thank you..."

I hand her a fork from another table and she happily takes it in her grasp.

"You didn't have to get me this." She said as she immediately started eating, "I'm not hungry."

"Your actions are convincing me otherwise." I chuckle and raise an eyebrow at her, managing to take in one bite before she finished it off.

"Oops..." she muttered and delicately placed the fork on the plate. "I skipped lunch today..."

"That'll make two of us." I smile, "Except I didn't eat breakfast either."

"The most important meal of the day?!"

"Yes and I was dying."

We both laugh but stopped when we caught Mira staring at us from the kitchen window.

"Are you coming to school tomorrow?" She asked, wiping the condensation off her drink.

"Maybe... if I can actually get out of bed without Gray dragging me by my feet." I laughed half-heartedly.

She smiled sadly but her eyes showed complete happiness, and yes, it made me blush.

"Well I should be getting home now... want to come with?" I asked and put money on the table... it was a lot of my savings but I couldn't prevent my binge eating.

Lucy nodded and pulled me up from my seat, "you can stand?"

"Of course."

---

Together we walked to the entrance of the boys dorm and we parted ways with a smile and a wave.

Now that she was gone, I seemed to walk horrible again, I had no one to impress.

I stumbled to the elevator and pressed the button with a slap. Gray stood outside our dorm room, as if knowing I wouldn't be able to make it.

He sighed and pulled me out of the elevator. "You're getting weak Natsu, it's almost annoying. Get some sleep."

"I'm trying..." I groan and he flops me down on my bed.

"I'm going to get your toothbrush, ok? Just wait here." He grumbled and walked into the bathroom.

I stare out the window to see Lucy just entering the girl's dorm. The two dorm buildings were further away because they used to have boys jumping into the girl's roofs to sleep with them. I mean... I wouldn't do that but I wanted them to be closer because I want her getting there safely.

"You're going to go tomorrow aren't you?" Gray asked suddenly.

"Yes."

"Even if you're terribly sick?"

"Yes." I say and took the toothbrush from his hands.

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Authors Note:

So Natsu is sleep deprived, and he has it bad. do you think he'll be fine the next morning? //points at the reader dramatically

-Sophie