Chapter 3

The next morning, I woke up and realized I didn't get to change. My bed was a mess and my left foot was already on the floor, followed by my body clinging to my bed. I was wearing my jeans and hoodie. I forgot to change! I jolted up from my sleepy mind set, on not getting up once I woke up, and quickly ran to the bathroom, changing into something else. The smell of grass still lingered on my shirt. So I removed it and took a bath, wore my light blue shirt and roll-up shorts. I summoned Virgo out to help me fix the other scent of the grass and warm night smell out of me. Amazingly, she did it in a flash and, yet again, asked me what her punishment was.

"No punishment Virgo. I'll call you when I need you, okay?" She bowed a little and disappeared. I pinned up my hair into a pony tail that, pretty much suited the whole outfit really well. I wasn't going to summon Cancer just to fix my hair. I could do it myself, obviously. As I was ready to go down stairs, someone knocked on the door. I opened it and it was Michelle, unsettled with just standing in one place and a nervous smile on her face.

Something tells me that...something definitely happened.

"What is it, Michelle?" I asked her, trying not to sound as curious as I am right now.

"Mother's calling you sister..." She said, fidgeting her fingers, rubbing her skirt and was staring down on the floor boards. I didn't want to push her more and tell her why she's so nervous. So I followed what she said and walked down stairs..

There, I saw...My father...?? I walked slowly down, trying to think of reasons why he's here. I walked towards them and as soon as I stepped down from the stairs he suddenly turned around and had a, obvious, forced smile on his face.

"Why are you here?" I asked, then suddenly realized how rude my question was. "I-I mean! It's not that I don't want you here. I want you to stay here! It's just that......were you fired?"

He nodded. "Sadly, yes."

"Why?" I asked, worried. If my father's not working, it'll be tougher than it is now in life. We hardly get enough money from what Mother earns, she earns lesser than Father and Father already has a low pay. E's only entertain people with themselves or using their magic.

"The...Theater got shut down...so....They fired all of us...."

"All of you??" I was surprised. Why fire E's?? I mean, people that are categorized in that magic level either have really low and weak magic or they just inherited that position. He nodded again. We all thought of the same thing....that this is going to be really hard now..

"Why don't we join a wizard gui--"

"Lucy!" My mother hushed me. I took a step back, stunned for raising her voice. "We are not joining a wizard's guild. You know that the King made them-"

"Yeah, I know. They're illegal now, but--!"

"We will not join guilds Lucy." My dad said calmly. "It's how it is now. We can't do anything about that." I stayed silent. He was right...We couldn't do anything about it. The king made that rule and all of us should follow.

I clenched my fist. "Dad." I called him. He looked my way. "About the Dragon's choosing..."

His eyes widened in hope. I felt kind of guilty to say I didn't want to join in it, but..I couldn't stand to see Mom and Dad freezing or Michelle starving. I just didn't want that to happened. Those kinds of things sometimes happen before, but now that Dad's not earning money for us....it might be a frequent circumstance from now on. Still, I have a fifty percent mind set on joining and not joining. "I'm sure you're going to be a wonderful princess, Lucy."

"I'm not signing up..." His expression was still the same, but I knew he was disappointed, but mom was a different story. She smiled at me as if she was proud at my decision even if she didn't like it.

"You're not?" He asked.

"You're not??" Michelle whined.

"Well, not yet." I corrected, regretting to even say that. Sure, making Mom and Dad proud was one thing, and also helping Gray's family and mine as well was another, but competing with other girls for a guy who I never knew? That's a different story.

"So you are?" He asked again.

"Oh! Are you Sister Lucy?? Ah! You're going to be the most beautiful princess in the whole world! I just know it!" Michelle started to blab about everything she'd dreamed of being, which was the opposite of what I really wanted.

"I don't know yet. Maybe. Maybe not. Can't decide for it yet."

"That's fine. You still have a few weeks to decide. Take your time. It's your decision after all." He slumped down the couch, eyes closed, obviously smiling at the idea that I could help them, help my family and make them proud.

"Had a rough travel?" I asked, smiling as I changed the subject.

"Over night!" He exclaimed.

"Ooh!" I teased. "Well, better get some rest. You'll be surprise at what me and Michelle have been wanting you to see."

He raised an eyebrow, turned to mom and back to both me and Michelle who was giggling softly. He smiled and rested his head on a pillow. "Well, I can't wait then."

"You girls, better head upstairs. Your father needs some rest." We nodded happily and ran upstairs. Michelle rushed up to my room and grabbed the form from my desk that was on my beside table.

"Hurry up Luce!" She shoved the form in my face as I settled down my bed. I giggled. If this'll make Mom and Dad proud, Michelle as happy as this and help Gray, then why not? I took the paper from her hand.

I hesitated to write on it, but seeing my sister this happy and my parents this proud even though I haven't entered yet made me really relieved that I have this kind of family.

I sighed, having no choice but to fill it out. Hardship'll pass through us and probably stay here in our house if I don't do anything to help them. I hesitated, but the thought popped up in my head again, how the struggles will affect Michelle.....

"F-Fine...." I looked, down, trying to force a smile in front of Michelle. "I'll fill it out..." She gasped with a happy grin then started to jump up and down. "But!" I exclaimed, making my emotions lighter than what I really feel. She stopped and paused to look at me. "Let me see the magic you've been practicing to show Dad."

She chuckled. "Is that all?" She seemed confident than usual, whenever I asked her to show me what she does. "I've been saving this spell for when you agree to sign up, but here I go." She raised her hand in the air and a magic circle shone from her feet. Her whole body started to glow. It took a few seconds after she started to chant words, ancient magic words that I never knew about, rose petals, that was carried by the wind, flew through my whole room, making the papers on my desk, the sticky notes I stuck on the wall and some of my stories written in paper on my bed to fly everywhere! The wind was strong. Extremely strong. After a while, The wind stopped and Michelle stopped glowing, revealing Michelle wearing a rose eyepatch and an outfit that was similar to a plant, dark green and very revealing.

She also had a large rose on her hand, like a small shield.

"Wow." Was the only word I could say as I stared at my younger sister's amazing magic power!

"That's not all, Lucy." She smiled and reached her hand forwards, showing me the rose that was bigger than her hand. Then suddenly it twisted and it became a sword! Then she wielded the sword like it was as light as a rolled newspaper, swinging it left to right with ease. It was beautiful, the sword had thorns at the side, reminding me, of course, of a rose. Still, Michelle was beautiful!

"I guess your better than me at this, Huh Michelle?" I laughed. She came back to her normal appearance and said.

"What?? No!" She waved her hand in front of her. "That's not true!"

"What do you mean it's not? You're magic is amazing!" I complemented her.

"But your's is spectacular! I mean, you have ten magical beings to summon at your own will--"

"Mutual connection Michelle~" I sang as I corrected her.

"Fine. Anyway, you have ten awesome beings that trust you very much!! And I couldn't stand a chance against Aquarius or Leo-niichan." She smiled. I paused and stared at her with a questioning look. There was silence...then I asked her.

"When....did you start calling Leo....Nii-chan??" I asked, a bit surprised.

"When you last summoned Virgo, she called him that and ever since I started to call him that too."

I rolled my eyes, realizing why Loke was blushing before I closed his gate the last time I summoned him while Michelle was there. "Well, that's your choice if you want to call him that Michelle.." I smiled lazily and was laughing hysterically at the idea.

"Lucy! What are you waiting for! Come on! Write everything you need to write!! Fill it out!" She exclaimed loudly and snatched the pen from one of the drawers and handed it to me, pushing me to a chair and made me sit there and fill everything out.

The form was long but easy to answer. Questions like what's you hobby was there and I wrote writing. There was also a question saying, 'what skill do you attain?'

Luckily, I could fill it out easily. When I was a C, my parents made me learn how to draw, paint, everything related to art! They also made me learn how to play the piano, violin and guitar. I also wrote there that I could sing, but I didn't let anyone hear my voice even Michelle and my parents, even Gray. Like I said, I'm not interested in music or singing, but it entertains me when I'm bored actually. And this one question that asked what language I could speak other than English. And, of course, as a former C, I had to learn some of the other languages so I could communicate properly to the other business men my father used to introduce me to. And I wrote in bullet form.

-Japanese
-Spanish
-Russian
-Italian
-Filipino
-Chinese

And everything else were things that described me, my family and everything else. I filled it out and went down stairs, where my mom was cooking, dad was sleeping and Michelle was in the backyard, taking care of her roses.

"Mom." I said, smiling.

"What is it, Honey?" She asked sweetly. I approached her and showed her a slight glimpse of the papers I filled out. Her eyes widened in surprised and gave me a gentle smile. "So, that's your decision?" Her smile made me think it's worth it, but still not convinced enough.

I nodded happily. "Well then." She wiped her hands on a clean towel and pulled her sleeves down. "Let's keep in somewhere safe, alright? Mind if I put this in my secret place?" She smiled and winked at me.

"Go ahead. That's where I was going to suggest anyway." I smiled. The secret place my mother was talking about. The only place full of everything only she and I know about. She went upstairs and went straight to her room while I suddenly realized that I had to think of a way to say this to Gray. Well, I smiled, He did say I would be an awesome princess. I giggled at the thought of it. I knew me and Gray would rarely meet, but I had to tell him this to him.

"Mom," I called. "I'm just going to buy some more....." I turned my eyes to the table that had an empty milk carton. "Milk?"

"Oh yes! I completely forgot. Please do so. The money is on top of the table. Be careful, okay?" She said as she looked at me from the stairs. I nodded and did what she told me to, but before I could leave, I took a little piece of paper from the table and wrote something and took it with me.

I ran down the street, seeing Gray's house. I stopped in front of it and crumpled the little piece of paper where I wrote the words 'Let's talk' and left it under Gray's clothes...which he probably stripped. And I ran to the groceries to buy the milk my mother asked for.

Later that day, night fell and I checked all the rooms to see if they're all asleep. Hopefully, they were. I tsat on the edge of my bed, unsettled if I get to see Gray or not. Then suddenly icy frost covered my window. I ran to look if it was Gray and it was him. I smiled and opened the window. He opened his arms to catch me and I jumped. We ran back to the river where we stayed, since it's the only place where people would rarely be in. Gray was the one who said we could be together safely here, to be honest. We sat there beside the river, holding each other tightly as if there were no tomorrow. I sat between his feet and he was right behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

"I saw the note," he said. "Why did you want to meet up?"

I was silent for a moment. "I....have something to tell you...." I said, fiddling with my fingers out of nervousness.

"What is it?" He tilted his head a bit to see a bit of my expression.

"It's about the Dragon's...Choosing--"

"About that." He interrupted me. I was surprised and listened to him. "I know you want to enter it but-"

"No I don't." I said. "Who gave you that idea?"

"When we were kids, whenever I pass your house, I always see you wearing some fancy dresses, shoes, a tiara and telling aunt Layla that you want to join it someday. Hoping to meet and marry a prince and everything like that." He chuckled.

"Hey!" I blushed, embarrassed. "I WAS a kid." I smiled a bit, forgetting at the problem I had to tell him. "I don't need dresses, shoes or tiaras now. I have hoddies, converse, and a pony tail. Plus, I don't really need a prince...I have you, don't I?" I leaned on his chest and he leaned his head on mine. He sighed, in relief maybe? thinking I'm not joining it. It made me more scared and frustrated to tell him. So..he doesn't want me to join?

"Lucy," his voice went from light to serious. "I..don't want you to join the D.C...." I gulped. I couldn't tell him now! This is a bad time...I just can't....some day...maybe next week? The registration of the contestants is a month from now...so, I have to tell him before he's the one who'll find out and will make it more complicated.

I squeezed his strong lean arms and he held me tighter than he did. Both of us went silent, time felt frozen, and not in a good way. It was as if I need to say something to reassure him that I wouldn't join, but...Ah, I just had no choice.

"Gray," I said gently. "Don't worry." I reassured him, hoping he wouldn't bombard me with questions or ask me straight if I did sign up. "You're the only one for me. I love you and nothing's going to change that even if I have to face the kingdom or whatever.." He chuckled and I giggled.

"That's why I love you." He kissed my cheek and I kissed him back. He turned me to face him and he pulled my face to him, pressing his lips on mine. His hand was behind my head, pulling me closer to him. It felt warm...I loved it...I pushed away to breathe, but he pulled me back and this time he was more aggressive. We stayed like that for a while and soon after he put some space between us. I stared at his dark blues and mesmerized him for a while. This was the man I was going to be with in the future and nothing will change that, I might even get eliminated on the first day for all I care! I think that Natsu Dragneel's gonna be a polite and understanding prince like he is in the news. I think he'll understand if I tell him I wanted to go back home.

I went home with Gray with me, of course, he gave me a hand up to climb the window and I waved him goodbye and he did the same. He ran back to his house, quietly, and I closed the window. For some reason, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I jumped on my bed and fell asleep. Then I opened my eyes again, forgetting to tell Gray that I signed up!! Ahh! I pressed the pillow in my face, thinking how stupid I am to not tell him today!!

Next week....Surely...Next week. I'm going to tell him!

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What do you think about it? I hope you liked it, but the next chapter will have to wait since I'm going kn a retreat! I can't wait!! Well, have a nice vacation everyone! :))

💟🔑H.I.T.K💟🔑