I couldn't help but toss and turn in this sad piece of crap they call a bed. Frustrated, I slowly opened my eyes, only to be blinded by the sun.

It's already not my day.

The sound of a steady beeping caught my attention. I looked to the side of me to see I was hooked up to a machine. I followed the wires back to my arm and saw my swollen hand patched up. I tried sitting up, but it only resulted in a sharp pain invading my chest. I felt my chest to see it wrapped in bandages. I slammed my head back down on the pillow, frustrated. I closed my eyes, trying to at least get a relaxing minute of sleep.

Well, that is until I heard small snores on the other side of me.

Alarmed, I glanced over to see a pile of red hair laid out all over my bed.

I groaned, covering my eyes, knowing exactly who it was.

"Erza," I whispered, nudging my foot on her shoulder. She groaned, Turing her head to the other side. I sighed, repeating the same thing over and over until I got annoyed, "Dammit Erza! Wake up!"

She fell off the bed, absolutely frightened at my sudden outburst. She stood up, straightening her glasses back in place, "don't yell like that when I'm sleeping!" She stomped.

I laughed, "but it's so fun."

"Whatever. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, but how did you know I was here? Why did you leave school?"

"Because the hospital called," She crossed her arms, "you're lucky I'm the one who picked up the phone instead of your mom."

"Wait you were already in town? Why didn't you tell me?"

"That's not the point Natsu!" She slammed her hand on the table next to her, "you and this fighting stuff is going to get you killed."

"How did you-" She tossed my entrance card for the club on my lap.

She scoffed, "why are you so reckless?"

I chuckled, "I'm sure you didn't come five hours just to come down and lecture me. Why are you here?"

She sighed, "I came down because dad is getting worse." She sat back down on the chair, rubbing her eyes, "the cancer..." she took a moment to breathe, "it spread to all over his body."

I sighed, "How much time did they say?"

"About another week. Maybe two, but the chances of that are slim."

"I'm sorry Erza."

"There's no need to be sorry," She said stretching her arms, "all I can do now for him is be by his side."

"And me too," I said, "he was like a father to me. He taught me most of the things my dad could never teach me. If this is the one thing I can do to repay him back, then I won't lose that chance."

"Heal up first before you start making promises," She glanced at her watch, "you hungry?"

Erza helped me get in the wheelchair, "Sheesh!" She said, wiping the sweat from her forehead, "why are you so heavy?"

"A few years ago you were able to throw me to the other side of the room with just your finger," I laughed.

"I guess it's because I haven't been working out."

I gasped, "you haven't been practicing?!"

"I have school and a job. I don't have time to work out or practice boxing anymore."

"A real boxer would make time," I pouted.

"Well I'm not like you Natsu. You're definitely more dedicated than I am."

We reached the cafeteria and got in line behind all the other patients, nurses and doctors.

After we got our food we finally arrived at the cashier, "That will be twenty five ninety-nine mam."

Erza spit out her cranberry juice on the cashier, drenching her in juice, "I'm sorry, but what!? All we have is grits and juice."

The cashier wiped the juice off her eyes, still keeping a smile on her face, "im sorry, but I don't make up the prices. So you're going to have to pay or I'm going to have to take the food away."

Erza dug into her pockets, grabbing all the cash she had in her wallet and pockets, "can you make it work with fifteen?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." The cashier started pulling the trays from us, "I'm going to have to take these-"

"I'll pay for them." We turned to the unknown voice behind us. He was tall and had an unusual shade of blue hair and to top it all of he had a red tattoo surrounding his eye.

"Thanks for the offer but, I can't let you do that," Erza said.

"Don't worry it's on me." He handed the cashier two twenties, paying for the both of our meals.

We all walked to the section of the cafeteria with all the tables, "thanks for paying for us back there," I said.

"No problem," he said, smiling, "mind if I sit with you guys?"

"Yes." Erza said.

"No." I said.

We both looked at each other. I glared at her for being rude, "excuse us for one second." I turned my wheelchair around facing her, "What the hell Erza? This guy just paid for our meal, the least we can do is let him sit with us."

"No way! He embarrassed us in front of the other people. It's already bad enough not having enough money to pay for your food, but it's worse when a complete stranger has to help you out."

"I don't care about your pride right now Erza. You will let him sit at this table with us and you're going to like it!"

She sucked her teeth, "fine."

I turned my wheelchair back around facing the confused blue headed man, "we're totally cool with it." I smiled.

"It's fine if you don't want me to-"

"Nonsense!" I said, patting his back, "It's the least we can do for helping us out earlier."

We all sat at one of the tables with a good view at the tv.

We all dug into our food, before speaking, "and by the way the names Jellal." He smiled.

"I don't care." I heard Erza whisper, making me stomp on her foot, while she did the same.

I stepped on her foot last and faced Jellal again, "my names Natsu and this creature beside me is named Erza."

"Creature?!" She yelled.

"Look I'm sorry if I offended you back there, I was only trying to help out." He said.

"And thanks for that. I don't think I could have eaten what the hospital had set for me in that tray." I shivered at the thought of eating that rubbish.

"Yeah, the cinnamon oatmeal here are the best though." He said.

"Man! I really wanted some oatmeal, but there was no more."

"Yeah I kinda got the last of them, luckily."

"So you were the one who ate all the oatmeal?" Erza growled, putting a spoonful of grits in her mouth.

Jellal stared at her, suprised, not knowing what to say, "just dont say anything else." I whispered to him.

He nodded in agreement.

"We better hurry up Natsu. You're mom is coming down here in about five minutes." She said, looking at her phone.

"You told her?!" I yelled, "why would you do that? You know how high her blood pressure is! If she sees me like this she'll have a heart attack."

"I hope you don't think you could've hidden all those bruises and scars from her forever and besides, who do you think has to pay the bill?"

"I would have found a way."

"Oh yeah? With what job?"

"I'll get one!"

"Natsu, no one's going to accept a high school dropout these days. The minimum now is a high school diploma."

"You don't think I know that?" I said, "for once can you not remind me how I'm so imperfect and not like you."

"Natsu you know I didn't mean it like that-"

"Who cares. I'll be in the room." I turned my wheelchair around heading for the door.

Erza grabbed her stuff chasing after me, "Wait Natsu, that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean then Erza?" I whispered.

"I-I..."

"That's what I thought." I headed into the elevator, watching as the doors closed, leaving Erza standing there alone.