Chapter 1

It wasn't like I hated him. It was more like... I didn't.. really like him-... that much. He was popular. He was always surrounded by people. He was athletic, not very smart but no gave a crap. He was charismatic; he got along with everyone. And when he does something that a normal person wouldn't normally like, the surrounding people justifies his non-existent reason for doing it. So in his case, there is no such thing as 'wrong'. Unless somebody else does it to him. But out of all the flaws I find in that little face of a goddamn hypocrite, the thing that I don't like most... was his smile. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it. At least, I don't think so. But that general idea of Natsu Dragneel's smile.

He was always smiling.

Like nothing is ever wrong in the world. I'll admit it... I'm jealous. Not because he's popular.. but because he can always keep that face up. That face of a person that knows the secret to achieving happiness for all eternity. He knows something I don't. He's doing something I'm not. And if I could only find just one- even just one little hint of how to get where he is, I'd die happy. Because thats what I always wanted... to be happy.

My name's Lucy Heartfilia. I come from a filthy rich family, but my dad kicked me out a few months ago. Because of... reasons. I'm 16, in Junior High. I have blonde (everyone says golden) hair up to my chest area. One of my apartment neighbors, Mirajane Strauss says I have chocolate brown eyes. I'm living in this apartment complex with a bunch of other females. In my opinion, they're all very, very pretty. They say I am too, but I can't really trust anyone up to this point. Society's definition of beauty have distorted the real meaning the word is even implying.

My apartment number is 6 and my whole room is completely washed up in a rainbow of pastel colors. I've been raised like a princess and I'm still living like one.

I'll be attending Fiore High School this fall. Its going to be my first time going to a public school. To tell you the truth... I've never actually met Natsu Dragneel. I've heard the girls from the town talking about him and some other famous High School peeps. I went up to one of them and asked about the guy when they said that they liked his smile, they told me a few things before running away when I pressured them into telling me more.

So I don't know what he looks like. They say that he has a toothy smile, a sloppy grin, too big for his face. So I told them that it should be on his forehead. Then they got pissed at me. I wanted to ask the girls from the apartments but I don't know wether they'll act protective and kick me out 'cos they want him for them alone.

I walk alongside the river bed that ran through the town. "Ha~!", I sighed. "Outsiders sure are complicated and confusing! Isn't that right, Plue?" I look down at my little white dog walking beside me.

"Pupupu!", he nodded.

"Ne, Plue... school starts tomorrow... do you think we'll do okay?", I stared up at the night sky hovering above us. I heard a little 'pupu!'. I smiled to myself."I wonder... if I'll find Natsu Dragneel..."

"Pu?"

I crouched down and petted him. "Oh, its nothing. Don't worry about it! He... he just seems really interesting.."

Plue looked back up at me. "Pupu...", he put a paw on my cheek.

"Haha! You sure are a strange creature..." I picked him up and kissed his head. "Please... never leave me, Plue."

"Lucyyyyy-channn!"

I look down at the dog in my arms. "Ha? Did you say something, Plue?"

"Pupu?"

"Luuucyyyy-channn!"

I stood up and looked behind me. Levy McGarden, was running towards me from down the street. She's a tiny girl, with blue, short hair and big, olive-colored eyes.

"Oh, Levy. Hi.", I greeted as she crouched in front of me and put a hand on her hip.

"I-... I... I finally!.. caught up with you!", she panted, fanning herself with her hand.

"Yes you did.", I commented, petting Plue's head.

"T-the land.. woo!", she wiped her forehead. "The landlord wants us all to meet on the first floor."

"Hmm? Why?"

"She wants us all to try our new uniforms for tomorrow. Come on!", Levy grabbed my hand and started leading me back to the main road.

"Oh, I guess I forgot. But I don't have a uniform."

"Ah! That's where you're wrong!", she looked back and smirked. "The uniforms are distributed out to the attending student's homes by the school. So of course, you have one."

"Oh. Well what if it doesn't fit?"

"Then you can go to school tomorrow and tell them that it doesn't fit, so they'll give you a new one. And she's got our schedules too!"

"Schedules?"

"U-hum! Don't you have different classes where you attended before?"

"No.. I had a tutor.", I looked down, remembering my life on the manor grounds. It was pretty lonely. All I had was my own branch of the manor to rule over, my own set of servants, my own garden, a tutor, a biological father, and Plue. Other than that, I was all alone. So he should've understood... when the family doctor diagnosed me with major depression.

"Oh... well its different now!", Levy snickered. "So quit looking so down! Now, you've got more than one teacher so you won't get bored! That much..."

Ah. Right. I never told Levy. Or anybody... about my previous life. Only Plue knows. Weird... although I'm surrounded by very nice people... I feel even more alone.

"There! I see the apartments, Lucy-chan!"

I look up and saw the fairly tall apartment building towering over us. Levy dragged me through the entrance and pushed me down on one of the loveseat before sitting beside me. I sighed and started petting Plue.

"Oba-san! Lucy's here!", Mira, who's sitting on a stool by the bar, bellowed towards the stairs.

An old woman with a golden cane stumbled down the stairs. She fell on her face at the last step and quickly stood up, dusting herself off. "Oh, Goldilocks. Better late than never."

"Tch.", I spitted, turning away from the blinding sight of a sad, dying, old hag.

"You better not be thinking crap about me, you little-"

"Oba-san!", Mira interrupted her.

"Ah..! Okay, then. I've got all your sexy, little uniforms and your schedules.", she pointed over to a big, blue tub on the coffee table. "They have your names on the tag, so patience, patience, ladies. I'll call you one by one. First, Wendy-chan. Ah! You're starting as a freshman, aren't you?"

"Hai!", Wendy smiled and ran up to the old woman.

"Okay here are your things.", the landlord handed Wendy her uniform and schedule. "Now go try it on and come back down-"

"Gahh! This is gonna' take forever!", I grunted. Lisanna laughed hesitately while walking up to the landlord, taking her things.

"Oi, Lucy.", Erza poked my shoulder. I turned my head towards her and came face-to-face with the so called student council president.

"Oh, hey prez.", I blinked.

"D-do... do you think... I should really wear s-s-s! SHORT SKIRTS to school?!", Erza's face started steaming in a tomato color.

"Why? Is there a guy you like?"

"N-no! I-It's just that..."

"Well, its not like the school is conservative, right?"

"W-well..."

"Just wear it, then you'll forget its even on.", I turned back to the old lady giving Yukino her things.

"O-okay...", Erza stuttered. I could hear her cropping out.

I sighed. "Don't worry, prez. Anything would look good on you.", I slightly smiled without looking at her.

"H-Hai!"

"Goldilocks.", the old lady called my name. I set Plue down in my place on the couch and went up to the landlord. "Don't even bother trying it on. Put something on or beside you, it automatically looks bad." She pushed my uniform and schedule into my chest and looked away in disgust.

"And I'm taking this from a dick repelant?", I sighed, making my way to my apartment while Plue followed behind my tracks.

"What did you just say you little-?!"

"Thanks, oba-chan.", I smiled warmly down at the lady in shock. I could feel the other girls' stares drilling holes in my back.

This is one downside of depression. What am I talking about? Everything is a downside in depression! Except maybe a few exceptions... but as I say, one downside is being nice. Since you're all depressed all the time, and you don't make too much social connection. When you try to be nice when you're normally not, it causes a big stir and attracts too much attention. Especially when that certain person is somebody you cuss at, or throw out the window, or spit at in their sleep.

"Pupu!"

"You're right, Plue. I should've never done that. Now I'm gonna' have to really take the heat tomorrow...", I scratched my head. I went to my apartment, shut the door and locked it, so that no creepy old woman would creep into my bedroom at night and pay me back for spitting in her mouth the night before. Oh... she's the landlord. So... she'll have the key... "Plue if the old woman comes in here tonight, do not hesitate and attack!", I crouched down and instructed the little doggy.

"Pupupu!", he nodded. I stood back up and hung the neatly ironed uniform in my closet bulging with kawaii, pastel clothes.

"Plue, do you think I'm too... princess-y?"

"Pupu!", he nodded. I grunted and fell in my bed, clutching my schedule in one hand.

I covered my eyes with one arm and sighed. "There's nothing wrong with being too princess-y, right? At least I'm trying... to go back to the old Lucy. Right, Plue?"

"Pupu.", Plue jumped on the bed and curled up next to my head.

"Okay then, Plue! Lets check our schedule!", I wiped an emerging tear and held the schedule above us.

Homeroom 8:30-8:40 - Happy, Room 201

Math 8:45-9:35 - Bob, Room 209

History 9:40-10:30 - Gildarts Clive, Room 149

Physical Education 10:35-11:25 - Aquarius, Gym

Science 11:30-12:20 - Macao Conbolt, Room 155

Lunch 12:20-1:10

Home Economics 1:10-2:00 - Porlyusica, Room 212

Art 2:00-2:50 - Jura Neekis, Room 169

School Clean Up 2:55-3:25 - Homeroom

Homeroom 3:25-3:30

I stared at the hovering piece of paper above me. "Oh no... how am I going to find these rooms in a 5 minute passing time?", I sighed.

Then I heard a knock on my door. "Lucy-chan?"

"Levy?", I sat up.

"Yep! Can I come in?"

I dragged my feet to the door and unlocked it. Levy barged into the room and collapsed on the bed. "Ahh! I'm beat!"

"Okay, why don't you go to your own room, then?", I sat on one of the chairs that occupied the bedroom.

"I wanna' see what you have for your classes!", she sat up and showed me her schedule. I stared at it and looked back at my own piece of paper, still in my hand.

"We have the same homeroom, same history class, same PE class, and umm... the same art."

"Wahh? We only have 3 classes together?!"

"Well, we have homeroom-"

"We barely do anything in homeroom!", she got up and stretched. "Well, at least we get to spend the morning together, yea?"

"I guess.."

"Okay, then.", Levy patted my back and opened the door. "Get rest, its a looong day tomorrow!"

"Okay, you too, Levy.", I waved to her. She chuckled before closing the door. Then I got the bath ready and started picking out my pajamas.

"OH! I FORGOT!", Levy ran into the room, making me jump. "We won't be able to attend homeroom, and the first 2 classes tomorrow 'cos of the opening ceremony!"

"Opening ceremony?", I layed my pajamas out on the bed.

"Yep! Don't worry though. All we have to do is stand there for about a couple of hours listening to the teachers and stuff. Okay then, Lucy-chan. Get some rest! Good night!", she closed the door.

"Sleep tight.", I whispered after she left. I closed my eyes and remembered. Thats what me and my mother used to say to each other... every night after she tucked me in.

"Momma, good night.", I called out to her before she left the bedroom.

"Sleep tight.", she sang back.

"And hope they won't come tonight.", we sang together.

But ironically, they did come that night. That was the last time I heard her voice.

I felt silent tears roll down my cheeks. "Ah...!", I wiped the tears away. I look down at the layed out pajamas, next to a Plue looking sadly up at me.

"Pupu..?", he moaned.

"Ah! I'm tired. Aren't you, Plue?", I faced away and started heading towards the bathroom. "I'll take a bath before I go to bed so stay put, okay?"

I could still feel Plue's stare on me. He was worried.

I was scared. When I got into the bathroom, I slid down the wall dramatically. I sighed, letting the tears fall out. I curled up in a ball on the ground, clutching my legs.

"G-good night... sleep tight..", I sang in hiccups.

"And hope they won't come tonight."