I look up with two wide eyes at the boy asking me to dance as if he were ordering a soda. My hand is still in his, but I self consciously pull it away.

"Oh, go on Lu-chan." Levy nudges me towards Natsu.

"What happened to your indifference?!" I exclaim.

She shrugs, "Mira talked me out of it. You know, apparently Natsu's a really good guy if you get to know him." Natsu smirks as if he heard her, but Levy just smiles.

"Yeah but I- hey!" Natsu grabs my hands again and pulls me out of my chair. I look back at Levy, and she throws me my purse before waving a gentle goodbye, almost looking sorry for me.

"Oh, she'll be fine. I heard Gajeel talking earlier about how he plans to whisk her away later tonight." Natsu grins, and I can't help but wonder if this is what the devil looks like. Holding one of my hands, he drags me past the dance floor and out of the gym.

"Hey, where are you taking me? I thought we were dancing."

"Oh, so now you want to dance?" He smirks.

"Just... Tell me where we're going." He keeps his mouth shut.

"You know, technically we're not supposed to leave the gym without permission."

Still nothing.

"Natsu, I really, really have to pee."

Why won't he say something? Even if I wasn't lying, surely he'd have to let me go at that. Sighing dramatically, I tap his shoulder and bring out the puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, Luce, we're h-"

"What is it?" I look up at him again, staring into his dark eyes, and ever widening mine.

"We're here." Natsu coughs, and I see that we're on the roof of the Athletics center. How did I not notice that?

"Wow. I didn't know you could even come up here." I take a deep breath and look around me. The music is pounding below us, but my ears still feel numb from the sudden change. Maybe that's why I don't hear Natsu when he says something to me.

"What was that?" I tear my eyes away from the campus to look at Natsu. He's blushing...

"N-nothing."

"You said something."

"I said... If you like that view so much, you should look up." He walks over to stand in front of me, and gently tilts my head back.

"Woah." I breathe slowly, afraid one single mistake would ruin the perfect construct of constellations above us.

"I thought you'd like it," Natsu whispers. Excited, I begin to point at different constellations above us.

"There's the North Star! And Aquarius, right next to Pisces! And ..." When I look back at Natsu, he's staring at me. Smiling.

"Why'd you bring me up here anyways?" I ask.

"Are you regretting it?"

"Never. Just, why? Why are you doing this for me?"

"Maybe I'm doing it for myself just as much as I may be doing it for you," Natsu's voice gets lower and lower, so I have to lean in to hear him. He takes my hands again, and places them against his heart.

"Hey, do you hear that?" I try to change the subject, and mentally yell at my heart to calm down.

"What, the music?"

"Sure," I break eye contact.

"They're playing slow songs. Luce, you wanna dance?"

My words come out in a mumble, "you already asked me that."

"So the answer's yes?" I don't say anything, and Natsu stands straighter. He holds out one hand and I take it.

"I'm not a very good dancer..." I look down at my feet, knowing very well that I was forced into all kinds of dance classes from a young age, and excelled in all of them.

"I'm sure you can't be worse than me. Come on." I listen to the new slow song playing below us. Iris, I think, the Sleeping With Sirens cover. Natsu lifts me up and straightens my back. We walk towards the center of the roof. I drop my purse somewhere along the way, forgotten in the shock of everything else. 

And I'd give up forever to touch you

Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now...

I smile bravely at him, and place my other hand on his shoulder.

"What are we, ball dancing?" He laughs at me.

All I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

Sooner or later it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight

"I don't know! Ok." I take both my hands and wrap them around his neck. He places his hands on my waist and begins to sway. Oddly enough, it just feels like a relaxing hug, but maybe that's the real reason people like this kind of stuff. I rest my forehead on Natsu's shoulder and sigh.

And I don't want the world to see me

Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's meant to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

"Thanks for coming with me."

"Huh? There are a million girls who wanted to go with you," I breathe into Natsu's shoulder, my mind hazy from how relaxing all this is.

"Yeah, but I was kind of expecting you to put up more of a fight," this time, Natsu's laugh is more amused than anything.

"What does that mean?" I lift my head.

"Nothing. I don't mean anything by it."

"Of course you did." My voice hardens.

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

All the moment, the truth in your lies

'Put up a fight'? What was Natsu expecting? Wait, does that mean he thinks I'm easy?

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

I step away and out of Natsu's arms.

And I don't want the world to see me

"Natsu, why did you bring me up here?"

Cause I don't think that they'd understand

"Because I thought you would like it. You do like it, right?"

When everything's meant to be broken

"I don't care about that right now, Natsu. Why are you so hard to read?"

I just want you to know who I am

"Luce..." Natsu reaches out and touches my face. I look away. "Lucy, I did this for you. Is that really so hard to believe?"

"Yes!" I say, exasperated. I turn away from Natsu and walk near the edge of the roof, replaying everything that just happened.

"Luce?"

"What, Natsu?! Is this just a game to you? Never mind, don't answer that." He freezes with his mouth open.

"Luce, this isn't just a game." He slides his arm around my waist and turns me to face him. Natsu pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. Despite my better judgement, I feel my chin, neck, and head all tilt up.

"Then prove it. If you even like me in any way, prove it."

He catches my face in one hand and places a badly aimed but purposeful kiss on the corner of my mouth. His lips are really soft... But I can't help but remember that he did this the first time we met. The first time we met. But Natsu holds me close.

And I don't want the world to see me

Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's meant to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

I lean into his strong shoulder. Maybe I'll understand this boy one day. One day...

And I don't want the world to see me

Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's meant to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

Pulling away and collecting my thoughts, I run back down to the dance, grabbing my purse at the last moment.

I don't look behind me. I don't hear him following.

I just want you to know who I am...

*

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So ik the photo doesn't match... And sorry if the song won't play 😅

Disclaimer for the photo and song- I found the picture on Google, and I don't own the rights to the song.

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and I really liked integrating a song!!!!

If you're enjoying this story, please share it with your friends and give me feedback in the comments- I love reading them!

*this was edited & changed to match the song more

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