{NATSU'S POV}
Where is she? I'm seriously concerned right now.

Earlier, I left the principal's office to find Gajeel, Gray, Jellal, Erza, Juvia, and Levy all waiting outside. I gave my friends a brief rundown of the situation, and all six jaws hit the floor.

We've been looking for Lucy for the past half hour, but nobody's even seen her. My gut tells me that something is very, very wrong.

The seven of us meet in the cafeteria. "Anything?" I plead, but I fear I know the answer.

"She's not by the pool or gym. Juvia and I checked the science labs too." Gray reports.

"No sign of her in the classrooms?"

Everyone else shakes their head. I clench my fists. Where did ya go, Lucy?

"Did anyone check the locker rooms and bathrooms?" Jellal asks.

"Gray-sama and Juvia checked the locker rooms." Juvia says.

"Bathrooms..." I share a glance with Erza. It seems we've found our hiding spot. "Where are all the bathrooms in the school?"

"Hmm," Mira taps her chin. "There's the one by the cafeteria and the gym, and two in the halls between classrooms. I think that's it."

"You're wrong." Someone new speaks up. Mira spins around. Laxus is standing right behind her. "There's also one in the older part of the building, but hardly anyone ever uses it. I'm pretty sure that one's the closest to my gramps's office."

Mira can't find her words. She seems flustered, like a fish caught out of water by surprise. I never thought Mira could look like that.

"I'll go there." I say. I have a feeling about this. I feel like Lucy needs me, now more than ever.

I run through the hallways, heading for the older part of the building. I round the final corner and bump head first into Lisanna.

"What are you doing here?" I snap.

"Natsu!" She brightens when she sees me, and I note that she ignores my question. The two lackeys that are with her seem a little on edge. They nod awkwardly to me and run away.

Lisanna tries to link her arm in mine, but I jerk it away. The motion causes something to fall out of Lisanna's pocket. It clangs on the floor and Lisanna visibly blanches.

I reach down and pick it up. "A key?"

"Give me that!" Lisanna shouts, grabbing for the key, but I hold it out of her reach.

"Isn't that the master key? Why do you have it?" Laxus and Mira run up to us. He takes the key from me, and I concede it willingly.

"Nobody found her." Mira tells me.

We stare intently at Lisanna, waiting for an explanation. Her eyes dart nervously between us. "I-I-It was an accident."

Laxus grabs Lisanna by the arm, and leads the way to the bathroom. He tries the doorknob but it's locked. The bathrooms are never locked.

"Lucy?" I shout. Lisanna is flop sweating by this point. I take the key from Laxus and jam it into the lock. I fling the door open.

Lucy is sprawled on the ground, a halo of blood around her head. I turn on Lisanna, and have trouble holding myself back. "If it was an accident, then why was the door locked?"

"That's not important right now!" Mira rushes up to Lucy, although I see a flash of disappointment and regret on her face.

She's already on the phone with 911. I kneel on Lucy's other side. Her breathing is labored. I grab Lucy's hand. It's so soft and warm, so fragile.

"Come on Luce, stay with me. I just remembered you, how can I loose you again?" I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb. "Open your eyes."

As if by magic, Lucy answers my plea. She coughs and her eyes flutter open. "What took you so long?"

I grin. "Lucy!"

"You need to stay still." Mira reminds her when she tries to sit up.

Lucy rolls her eyes. "It's just a bump on the head. No big deal."

I lean down and whisper in her ear. "If you stay still, I'll tell ya something later."

She raises her eyebrows. "Oh? I guess I'll oblige."

An ambulance arrives and, to Lucy's horror, she's carried out on a stretcher, neck brace and all. A police car arrives too, and Lisanna is taken away.

I was going to ride in the back of the ambulance with Lucy, but her dad pulled up in a limo and started bawling. He got to go with her instead, so I hitched a ride with Laxus and Mira. Mira was oddly excited to climb into Laxus's Lexus.

The rest of the gang told us to wish Lucy well, but they had to get to class. In all the excitement, we kinda forgot about school, but Laxus promised that the school will be lenient due to circumstances.

We get to the hospital, and the nurse at the front desk tells us Lucy's room number. Mira enters, and I'm about to follow suit when Mr. Heartfilia grabs my arm and pulls me aside.

"Natsu." He clears is throat awkwardly.

"Mr. Heartfilia."

"So, do you remember?"

I nod.

He clears his throat again. "I hope you don't hold what happened against Lucy. I'm well aware that she was supposed to be the one in your position. I only moved to this town because I couldn't bare to see her sad anymore."

I laugh. "Oh, I hold something against Lucy, but it's not what you think. Lucy stole something of mine, and she'll pay me back."

Mr. Heartfilia's brow furrows. "Lucy's never stolen anything a day in her life."

"Oh, she stole it alright." I point at my chest. "Something very precious."

He's getting angry now. "You lie—"

"As repayment, I fully intend to steal Lucy away from you one day. Rest assured, it won't be for a while, but I will make your daughter pay every day of her life for stealing my heart." I grin.

Mr. Heartfilia's mouth drops open. An unexpected ear-piercing squeal makes me whirl. Mira is standing behind me, hearts in her eyes.

"Yassss! Now say that to Lucy!" She shoves me through the door, slamming it behind me.

Lucy sits up in the bed, a bandage wrapped around her head. My face feels hot.

"How's your head?" I shuffle my feet, looking anywhere except those big brown eyes.

"It's fine. They gave me pain meds and I don't even have a concussion. The doctor said I was lucky." Lucy touches the bandage lightly.

"That's great!" I grin.

She twiddles her thumbs. I clear my throat. Oh Mavis, were things this awkward before I knew I was in love with her?

"So—" We start at the same time, then quickly stop and look away from each other.

"You first."

"No, you." I insist.

"You said you had something to say." Lucy prompts. Oh great, here goes.

I take a deep breath. "When we met again in the cafeteria, I thought you were crazy."

"What?" She stares at me incredulously. "Do you seriously want an apology... wait you said again."

"I did."

Her eyes widen, and her voice waivers uncertainly. "Do you remember?"

I cross my fingers behind my back for extra luck. "Lucy, I know I broke a promise once before so this might not mean much, but I promise I'll definitely make it up to you, so will you go out with me?"
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Oh? I'm stopping here? But what will Lucy's answer be? Oh the frustration! 😝