• (Lucy's POV) •

It was break time, so I went outside for some fresh air.
"Hey, Lu-chan!" Levy yelled, waving for me to come over.
"Hi Levy, I haven't seen you in ages." I smiled.
"Yeah, it's been a while." She sighed.

"So, has Gajeel asked you to the ball yet?" I teased, earnings a small smile in reply.
"Actually, he asked me yesterday." She wore a huge grin on her face. "What about you and Sting?"
"Oh, umm.." I stuttered. "Well, no. I don't think he's in the best of moods with me at the moment..."

"Why is tha-" she stopped herself and looked up at Natsu, who had an angry face, then back at me.
"Don't tell me," she gasped.
"What?" I asked. She leant next to my ear.
"Are you in a love triangle between your Dragon and Sting?" She whispered. At her remark, my eyes widened and my cheeks began to blush a deep shade of red.

"I knew it!" She yelled. "Lucy, you can't let anyone find out, this is scandalous."
"Tell me something I don't know." I huffed.
"Well, I don't think you know who's walking up behind you right now." She pointed behind me, so I swiftly turned around to see Sting.

"Lucy, a word please?" He asked, clearly not in a good mood. I looked at Levy, who only shrugged, and walked off with Sting; Natsu following a few steps behind.

He grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me past the crowd of people. I looked back for Natsu but I saw him stopped by Gray and Gajeel.
"Where do you think you're going flame brain?" Gray asked.
"Please move, I need to get to Lu-"
"Pesky dragon," muttered Gajeel. "You're not going anywhere."

Everything else said between them was inaudible as I'd been dragged too far away. Sting had pulled me into a dark alleyway near the back of the school, pinning me against the cold wall.
"S-Sting!" I gasped. "What are you doing?"
"You pissed me off this morning; ripping up my note to you." He growled, staring at me intently. I looked away from him, unable to meet his piercing gaze.

"Y-you're hurting my wrists." I winced.
"I don't care." He retorted. "Disobedient, cheating girls like you need to be taught a lesson."
"What do you want?" I asked, harsher this time, finally plucking up the courage to look at him.
"You," He started, "Are going to the ball with me. I don't care what you want, we are going together."

"And what if I refuse?" I asked rudely.
"Then I tell your mother about the little 'incident' with your Dragon, and how you actually got that mark on your neck."

"LUCE!" Natsu yelled, running over, causing Sting to immediately let go of me and back away.
"You're stronger than you look, Dragon." Sting smirked.

"Luce are you alright?" He asked.
"I-I'm fine." I stuttered, not feeling the single tear rolling down my cheek from shock. I noticed that Natsu had cuts on his arms and on his cheek.
"You bastard!" Natsu yelled, turning to face Sting. "You made her cry! What kind of gentleman makes their lady cry!?"

"Women need to know when they're in the wrong." Sting said. "When they're good, they're praised. When they're bad, they're punished."
"You son of a bitch. Women aren't pets!" Natsu yelled. "C'mon Luce, I think you're done with school for the day."

He gave me a piggyback ride all the way home.
"Thank you Natsu." I smiled. "I really do love you."
"And I really love you too, Luce." He replied.

To me, thats a true gentleman.

Word Count- 613