GUYS I AM SO SORRY OMG. I totally forgot I had to update because I didn't edit other chapters so updating slipped my mind and I hadn't been on wattpad for weeks oh my gosh I am soooo sorry T.T KILL ME T.T I am sooo sorry :O

I think I will post another chapter in a few days instead of... idk but damn I do not know how to make it up to youuuuuu :(

Gomenasai :3

~Grace

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Chapter 10: It's a secret

LUCY'S POV

Feeling slightly uncomfortable by Natsu's stare, i shifted from one foot to the other. It took him a few seconds to notice me before reality snapped back to him.

"You...you wouldn't hate me if i love you too....will you?" he asked, looking at me with pleading eyes. Relief set me, maybe because he returned my feelings. I shook my head, and a smile spread across his face.

"So can i...kiss you?" he asked, caressing my cheek.

Now hold up. This is going to be my first kiss. It has to go well. I mean. Psh.

"We--"

He slammed his lips onto mine, taking me by surprise. He wasn't rough, but gentle and sweet. Is this what a kiss felt like? It was...it couldn't be explained. He pulled away.

"That was my first!" i exclaimed, heat rising to my face. He laughed.

"Ah, sorry about that Luce." he said. He grabbed my hand.

"Where are we going?"

"Back inside, of course. Unless you don't want to..." he explained, pointing to the guild. Oh, right. I forgot how we ended up outside. Actually, i forgot where i was. People make mistakes sometimes.

"Let's go." i said, as we entered the guild. No one turned to see who entered, they knew it was us. We went up to the rest of Team Natsu, seated at a table.

"You guys are back!" exclaimed Erza, flashing a smile.

"What did we miss?" i asked.

"Well besides Happy stalking Charle and Romeo who was trying but failed desperately to get Wendy, it's all good." explained Gray.

"Like i told you, i don't understand what you mean!" said the poor innocent girl. Everyone laughed, at Natsu and i sat down. I patted her shoulder, with my left hand. Natsu was holding my right.

"You'll understand later in life." i said.

"How about we do a job?" offered Natsu.

"This time, it's not any ordinary jobs...." said Gray, smirking.

"It's a deal for a Hot Springs! Guys, get packing. Everyone, we leave here in two hours. When we arrive to the Hot Springs closest to here, it would be six, okay?" said Erza excitedly.

Hot Springs?! What?! Everyone seemed to like the idea, and i had no reason to object. It could be fun....actually.

"Luce, half of my stuff are at your place so let's go pack." laughed Natsu, grabbing my hand and i pulled Happy with me as well...who was besides us and had to come.

^^

"Yosh! Let's go!" yelled Erza, like she was leading an entire army as the bullet train pulled up. We followed after her. Wendy had a chance to give Natsu a little help, and he was able to sleep soundly beside me.

"Damn, i thought he was going to puke on my shoes." said Gray, as he had his foot up.

"Are you doubting my skills?" wondered Wendy, sending him a glare that was supposed to be effective.

"Wendy, darling, you know i would never." said Gray quickly, noticing the stare he was getting from Erza. See, Erza always stood up for Wendy when in situations like this, so Gray was pretty scared.

"If you were any older, Wendy, i'd think he might have had a crush." laughed Happy, referring to when Gray called her 'darling'.

"Don't put Wendy in such a situations with a stripper!" scolded Charle, pulling Wendy closer.

"I'm not a stripper!! Neither am i a pedophile, Happy!"

"You sure act like one. You always forget the times when you strip in front of people...old...young...kids...maybe you have a fetish for married women, maybe?" asked Happy, trying to conceal his laughter.

"Wha---! You know i don't!"

Wow, Gray was in a tough situation. Erza seemed to find amusement in it and had not stopped their fights...not once. Natsu stirred beside me, and i looked at him.

I wonder when he fell in love with me? Maybe i should ask him, when he is awake.... i thought.

"We're here." announced Charle, as everyone had seemed too preoccupied to notice. Giving her a nod, Erza dragged her suitcase....her cart behind her. Wendy sat at the top of the cart, and Gray helped me with Natsu. Nice guy.

"Which way?" i asked, getting closer to Erza.

Natsu was finally able to stand again, and had already started squabbling with Gray. Typical. Erza pointed north, and we followed her since she had the map.

"Wooaaaahhhh this place is sleek!" exclaimed Gray. Everyone gave him 'that look'.

"The fuck is sleek?" mumbled Natsu, but i heard him. I couldn't help but laugh at his face, it turned sour the moment Gray said 'sleek'. Oh well.

Guess Gray can't be handsome, strong and have a wide knowledge of the dictionary at the same time....on the other hand, Natsu can't be handsome, strong and be smart. There's a difference.

"Lucy, will you please deal with the rooms? One for the girls, the other for the boys. I must attend to the luggage." asked Erza, as she eyed her bags.

"No problem." i said, walking up to the guy at the reception. Giving him a smile, i greeted him before  dealing with the rooms.

We talked a bit, small talk, while he dealt with a few papers. When he smiled up at me, i could literally feel a rise in temperature behind me. The guy handed me the keys, and i gave one to the boys.

"Your room is right besides ours." i pointed out, walking to 'room 6'.

"Room five..." read Gray, as he stopped at the right door.

"Congratulations. You know how to read." replied Natsu sarcastically.

"I worry about those two in the same room." said Wendy, and i laughed at her worried expression. We parted ways with the boys, and i marvelled at how freaking cold the room was. No, seriously. It was damn cold.

"Why is there even air conditioning?" mumbled Charle, "The snow outside is cold enough. I'm thankful that the resort has inside hotsprings as well."

"You'll be surprised. Let's go in now, okay?" said Erza, as i grabbed one of the robes, and changed. When the other two girls were done, we left our room with Charle and headed for the hot springs.

We placed extra clothes in the little laundry baskets for us. Luckily, the baths were seperated. Most hot springs hotels had them joined. This hotel had joined ones, but i didn't want to take a chance.

"You can practically hear them from here." laughed Erza, as we submerged into the one-quarter soapy water. There was quite a bit of yelling behind the bamboo wall that separated the baths.

"Will you guys relax?!" i yelled.

"Maybe we should all go into one bath. I mean, they could destroy the place." said Erza.

A bit hesitant, i had no choice but to agree. Wendy, strangely, didn't seemed to mind and neither did Charle. Was i the only cautious being?

Everyone got out, Erza having the nerve to go into the boys' bath and getting them out. The thought of her seeing Natsu naked had me a little over the edge....though.

Hmm. I'm not jealous.

"Lucy-san?" asked Wendy, who noticed me spacing out.

"Hmm?" I asked. She laughed at me. Charle too.

"You're not jealous, are you?" laughed Charle, and heat rose to my face like a frying pan heating up.

"W-What?! Don't be ridiculous." I said quickly. Wendy laughed harder and it was then, i noticed a presence behind me. Quickly turning around, Natsu was smirking at me.

"Relax Luce, i was in a towel." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Who said i was jealous?" I asked, trying to stay calm. He shook his head at my supposed 'ignorance' of his statement. Erza and Gray soon appeared, and we all went into the private, joint bath.

"Charle, do you want me to wash your back?" asked Wendy, as she got into the water behind our backs. She sank deep into it, so that no one saw her. I was quite accustomed to having being seen naked considering the fact that my clothes get ripped all the time.

Actually, that's one reason why i am always needing to get rewards at jobs. It's not for my rent all the time, but for new clothes replacing the torn ones.

"You know, both of you stopped fighting. Why?" asked Erza, facing the boys.

"Well you see...uh....we weren't fighting. We were acting." said Gray, a fake smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah yeah, and...umm....Lucy wrote the script for us." said Natsu. I glared at him for using my name. Erza raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

"Anyways, Lucy, how's the whole...'someone's after me', coming along?" asked Erza, changing the topic. Natsu had told them about my attacker, it was necessary. But he said he would deal with it. Nice guy.

"I've been protecting Luce all the time! Right Lucy?" asked Natsu, giving me his signature grin.

"Yeah, 'protecting'. Look what happened, you're both dating now." said Gray.

"Natsu's really determined, and i feel safe. We just...happened to go a different way." i said, in response to Gray's statement. He rolled his eyes and i secretly wished that they would fall out and pop. Ew.

 "He hasn't been troubling her lately. Ever since we saw Sting and Rogue the other day and we hadn't seen them since, she was safe." pointed out Natsu. Erza and Gray knitted their eyebrows together in confusion.

"Don't you think that's a little....maybe you're over-reacting, Natsu. I'm sure they aren't involved." said Gray.

"I don't want to believe it, but i have suspicions against them. I mean, isn't it weird? Everytime we see those two, or one of them, Lucy was attacked." explained Natsu.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence." said Wendy.

"You guys don't believe me?" pouted Natsu. I sighed and raised my feet up in the water.

"They're good people. Aren't they?" i asked.

"Good point, Lucy. Why would they want her hurt?" replied Charle.

"Or maybe...it's not both, but one of them!" exclaimed Natsu, standing up.

"EEK!!" exclaimed both Wendy and i, and we had to cover our faces. I glared at him and threw a towel in his direction.

"Don't stand!" i yelled.

"And you say i'm the pervert." remarked Gray, "But Flamebrain, you're over thinking the situation."

Natsu sighed and dropped back into the water. Poor Wendy had to have her face in the water the entire time, until she couldn't breathe and almost drowned. Charle gave her a scolding.

"Ne, Erza, you say this is a job. But no reward?" i asked. Erza laughed.

"Oh relax. It's a combined job. See, the client is supposed to meet us tonight at eight, right here in this hotel." she explained.

"And we were never told this?" asked Gray.

"I figured that it wasn't that important to you all. At least we have some action." she replied, standing up. All her glory lit up the room and i had the sudden urge to throw a towel at her.

TIME SKIP

Natsu and i were at the bar, together, waiting for the time to hit eight. He was getting restless, and i was too. I was eager to know what job it was about.

"Umm....this isn't the place to ask this, but when did you realise your feelings for me?" i asked softly. He turned to me and sighed in frustration against the loud music. He held my hand and led me somewhere quiet.

"That bar is not secretive." he laughed, "You really want an answer?"

"Well duh."

"You'd think i'm an idiot and foolish." he replied.

"I won't."

"Look, i always doubted my feelings for you. When Mira would tease me about it, i didn't believe her, i thought that i was supposed to feel this way because you were my best friend, now my girlfriend. I actually had to believe that i loved you when you were in trouble." he said, "I'm sorry."

I listened intently to his explanation. I wasn't mad. Someone else would be because it was a stupid way to figure out love, but i found it adorable.

"It's okay, Natsu." i said.

"Really?" asked Natsu, eyes opening wide, "Your turn!"

"Mira troubled me most of the time. I just knew that i had loved you. I was just afraid you would have said 'no'. " i explained. He began to laugh.

Once he started laughing, it was contagious, so i started laughing as well.

"Natsu! Lucy!" exclaimed Erza, coming behind us. Hmm, she found us! She deserves a trophy.

"What's up?" asked Natsu.

"Come on! It's eight!" she said excitedly.

I can't wait to see what this job is about. I wonder if i'm still in trouble, maybe?

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NEXT CHAPTER: The new rival

PREVIEW: Team Natsu is briefed on their job, and happen to bump into certain people when they were doing what the client requested. Natsu started to think about Lucy's attacker (s), and could only come to a conclusion that Rogue was a suspect. However, no one believes him. :(