Lucy P.O.V

I was walking down the hall when I saw Dragneel-Sensei. My face began to warm up and my heart wouldn't slow down its beats.

It's him...

I began to raise my hand to wave at him like we did every time we saw each other, but he didn't even stop to look at me. His eyes never even moved in my direction.

Is he ignoring me...?

My heart sank in my chest, and I could feel the pain from my love take over my emotions. I wanted to cry over a man that I already knew I had no chance with but continued to love unconditionally.

Did I do something wrong?

***

Erza P.O.V

As I watched the blonde girl's expression slowly turn into sorrow, I couldn't help but feel bad, yet confused with the situation she found herself in.

Watching her sad expression reminded me of the night I had seen her and Dragneel Sensei together.

I was walking home after spending the night with Jellal at the movies. We had gone to see the primer of the new rom-com movie Jellal couldn't wait to see, and we ended up taking the long way home that night so we could spend more time together.

"Look Erza, there's a taco truck across the street!"

I smiled at his childish attitude. "Don't tell me you want to keep eating?" I asked while thinking of all the snacks we had already eaten at the movie theater.

"Come on Erza-chan~, I'll be quick, and I'll even buy you one!"

I gave him a warm smile as I crossed my arms, unable to deny his request. "Fine, but be quick!"

He then ran across the street to fetch the tacos.

I waited by myself, standing next to a gorgeous apartment building as I saw a black Plymouth vehicle make it's way to the entrance.

'Wow, the people that live here must be rich...'

As I looked at the car, I began to make out the driver as I stared at the dark tinted windows.

'Is that...?! Dragneel-sensei?! No way!'

I then saw one door begin to open, and in that instant, I knew he had to have been dropping off his lover.

'I knew it! He's not single! Everyone's going to be so jealous when I tell them that I saw Dragneel-sensei's secret lover!'

I stared at the door, waiting for the person to come out, but to my surprise, the girl that walked out of his car was none other than the shy, blonde second year from school.

'What...? Why is she with him...?'

"Erza-chan~ I got the tacos!" I heard Jellal shout as he made his way towards me with the two tacos.

I quickly turned towards him, walking in his direction so he wouldn't come across the scene. "Jellal, how about we head back the other way?" I recommended, trying to stop him from seeing what I had just saw.

"You sure? We're halfway to your place."

"Yeah...think of it as spending more time together."

He smiled happily as he placed his forehead against mine. "Sure...as long as I'm with you, I don't mind where we go."

My heart trembled at his loving words.

'I love you Jellal...'

I sighed as I thought about my own complicated situation.

I don't know what's going on between those two...but I hope they know what they're doing...

"Erza-chan~"

I jumped at the sound of Jellal's voice. "Jellal?"

He ran up to me and took ahold of my hand. "Erza-chan, we're gonna be late if we don't leave now!"

We began to run towards our next class period as the bell rang.

My heart began to be in pain because I knew my own situation was just as painful as hers.

It's hard being in love with someone that will never love you back...

***

Lucy P.O.V

School was over for the day, and so decided to make a quick visit to an important person. I walked down the street to make my way to town square.

Walking through the crowded streets, I finally reached my destination: a small, red and white ice cream parlor, famous for its homemade ice cream. I smiled as I looked up at the bright sign that read, 'P & C's Ice cream.'

I haven't visited her in a while. She's gonna be glad to see me!

I opened the door to the parlor happily and walked in to see the last person I could call family.

"Welcome to P & C's! May I--Oh Lucy!"

I smiled happily to the older woman with long white hair. "Hi Carla!"

"The usual, right?" She asked as I made my way to the bar table.

I nodded happily as I sat on the stool.

"Coming right up."

As she prepared my ice cream, I decided to start up a conversation. "Isn't today P day?"

"No wonder you came today," She said with a laugh as she placed the bowl of Ice cream down and smiled. "Yep, it's P day. Every ice cream bowl is half-priced!"

I quickly took a spoon full of ice cream and placed it into my mouth. "Your ice cream is always the best, Carla!"

"What can I say? I'm the ice cream queen," she joked.

"Of course. So are you gonna visit him?" I asked while enjoying the ice cream.

"Yeah, I'm closing early today," She said as she wiped the table counter. "So, how have you been?"

"I've been good. You?"

"Tired. Busy. Lonely. Nothing but the usual,c she sighed as she crossed her arms. "Business has been booming lately, so paying the bills has been a breeze...thank you for believing in my business, Lucy..."

"Why're you thanking me?" I asked with a chuckle.

"I mean, it's because of you that I still have my shop. You decided not to take your dad's financial inheritance because of me...You must be working hard for your money..."

"Yup, it is a lot of work, and my boss sucks, but I don't really mind it."

"...You should have accepted the inheritance..."

"Nah, I rather work for my money than just have it given to me on a golden plate."

She sighed, giving me a pat on the head. "You're one special girl, Lucy."

Since the death of my mother, Carla was the one that was always there for me. She became my second mother, loving and caring for me the same way my own mother did.

Then when my father passed away, I gave her the inheritance money so she could keep the shop that she created with her husband.

"So, how are your nieces?" I asked.

"Oh, They're just great...Leaf and windy are great...they're just really annoying...Ugh, I fucking hate kids..."

I chuckled at her usual remark. Carla never had children with her late husband, and she liked it that way. 'Having children is a waste of time,' was what she always said.

"How's Wendy?"

"Wendy's good. She's just been really busy with the kids..."

"It's hard being a single mom, huh?"

"Yep..."

She signed heavily as she placed a clean bowl into the cabinet.

I finished my ice cream and passed the empty bowl back to her. "So...are you ever going to start going out with someone?"

She narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "You and Wendy have been bugging me about this for years."

"But you need a partner! I mean, you're gonna end up all old, saggy, and mean!"

"Thanks..." she replied sarcastically.

"Hey, it's true."

"Well Lucy, I'm not going out with anyone and I'm not planning to either."

"Why?"

"It's complicated."

"Hmph, you say that every time..."

I looked at the ice cream menu again as Carla left to attend another customer. "Hmm...I wanna try this flavor now."

"You want more?" She asked while walking back to me.

"Yep! Now chop chop and get this paying customer some more ice cream!" I commanded jokingly.

"Yeah yeah...hold your horses Cleopatra."

I giggled and began to look out the window. I sighed heavily, thinking about the pain in my heart that would go away.

Why did he not even look at me...?

"You look love struck."

I jumped at her sudden accusation. "What?! No--never, I--!"

"Don't even try to hide it. It's written all over your face," she said with a chuckle. "So~ who's the lucky guy?" She asked teasingly.

"Well...he's uh...smart, tall, handsome, mature, and he has this eye captivating pink hair. He also has this smile that lights up the room and puts your worries at ease...he's absolutely perfect..."

"Ooh, do tell me more~"

"Um well, even though I say he's perfect...there's one tiny problem..."

"Well, no body's perfect. What's the problem?"

"He's uh...fou...en years older..." I mumbled, almost impossible to understand.

"Huh?"

"Four...ye oler..."

"Lucy! Speak up!"

"He's fourteen years older than me!"

"WHAT?!"

The whole shop looked over at us, causing our faces to turn pink in embarrassment.

"Fourteen?! What the hell Lucy?!" Whispered Carla.

"Leave me alone! Wasn't your husband older than you by like seven years?"

"Yeah, but we were already old! You're 16! and he's like 50! That's pedophilia if you ask me!"

"He's thirty..."

"Ugh...Lucy! He's practically my age!"

I stayed silent as I continued to eat.

I know loving him is wrong...if I could stop, I would...but I can't because my heart only beats for him.

"But...I can't judge you..." I heard Carla whisper.

I looked up at her while eating the ice cream, shocked by her sudden comment.

"Love comes in all shapes and sizes...but it's still the same no matter what form it takes...I mean, my husband was a 30 year old black man, while I was a white 23 year old girl. We went through so many things to be together, and we were finally married for 15 amazing years..."

My heart sank at the thought of her dead husband. "You guys were truly in love..."

"Yeah...and that's why I can never be with anybody else because my heart still only beats for him."

I felt the pain in my chest intensify at the thought of being like her. Is that how I'm going to end up? Alone all because I couldn't stop loving a man that I could never have?

I watched her wipe her tears away, taking in a deep breath before passing me my receipt. "I should make you pay double for making me cry at work," she said jokingly.

I chuckled as I placed the money down on the table. "See you, Carla."

"Bye Lucy, stay safe."

"I will!"

Right when I was about to walk out the door, she called for me one last time. "Lucy...It's okay to follow your heart, but you need to know when it's time to stop. Make good choices, okay?"

Good choices? Why's everyone telling me that?

"I will, Carla. I promise!"

***

While walking home, I began to think about what everyone had been telling me.

Make good choices? I thought I was...

Suddenly, the image of Dragneel sensei crossed my mind. I felt my heart sink into my chest and my blood run cold.

Maybe...maybe I need to stop my childish crush on him...I don't even know him and he's so much older than I am. He's probably already married for all I know...

I stopped in front of my apartment building, gazing at the spot where he dropped me off that night of the party.

I'm pathetic...there's absolutely no room for me in his heart. I'm just a sixteen year old child trying to enter the adult's world. I'm not meant to be in his world, because the rules of my world won't allow it.

I sighed sadly as I entered my apartment complex.

I wish...I wish I could forget you.