key:

natsu
gray

[ 22:12 ]: Where are you?

[ 22:15 ]: Over the rainbow

[ 22:15 ]: Where do you think I am

[ 22:16 ]: Okay dick, if I knew that I wouldn't be asking.

[ 22:18 ]: I was sleeping

[ 22:18 ]: Cool. Erza's on her way to your dorm.

[ 22:19 ]: WHAT

. . .

Natsu snarled at the smirk Gray was giving him as he was dragged in by the collar of his shirt, arms crossed tightly over his chest. The woman pulling him effortlessly tossed him into a seat before plopping herself into the one next to him, and draped an arm over his shoulder. Gray's smirk turned into a snort.

"You coulda warned me, bastard. I could've been half way across town before she kicked my door in," Natsu wiggled both his shoulders until Erza loosened her grip, but her arm never fell. He sighed and looked to the ceiling, to curse God himself. "I swear I saw death the moment my door hit the floor. There is a hole the exact shape of her foot. A hole!"

"Like I didn't call you twelve times," Gray rolled his eyes. "Can't say I didn't try when you just wanted to ignore me."

"I wanted to sleep."

"Which is very unusual itself. I would have thought you would of been the first one here." Natsu sighed and reached for his own drink, quickly snapping the lid off and gulping it half empty. He looked around the room for food. "Erza really wanted you here to welcome her new friend. Apparently she met a girl who moved here from the city and doesn't know anyone. Erza took her under her motherly wing"

Natsu raised a brow and looked between Gray and the fiery-haired woman who was distracted by single handley wrestling Cana for the bottle of alcohol, and the alcoholic was putting up a great fight. It didn't take long before Erza took one last yank and he along with the brunette were being flung into the table. He growled and moved to shove the woman aside, not thinking of the consequences, but instead ended up thrusting a wobbling Cana into a neighboring wall.

"New friend? To Erza, even the trees are friends."

"Might I remind you of last months pre-graduation party? A few rounds in and you were huggin' those trees. Tree hugger."

"And she threw a party just for this one friend?" Natsu asked, ignoring Gray's comment and taking a swig of his drink. The tiredness he was feeling was melting away and being replaced with a warm feeling the alcohol was providing from his core. His stomach grumbled under the noise of the room. He saw no food.

He watched Erza sternly give out orders with a point of her finger, and Gajeel grumped around while doing as she told. Levy quietly stalked behind him with a comforting hand on his back.

"Where are they anyway?" He noticed that no one in the room stood out to him, or at least anyone that he hadn't met before.

And then he saw her.

The door opened and in stepped a curious looking girl with fair hair that laid delicately over her shoulders. A dark skirt and sweater, and stockings that went barely up the knee. A look of pure surprise lightened up her features paired with one of the biggest smiles he'd ever seen. Erza was first to greet her and lift her in one of her famous bone-crushing hugs that made everyone in the room cringe.

"She looks nice," Gray commented, leaning back in a relaxed position in his chair with the rim of his bottle to his lips. His attention was promptly diverted to a familiar aqua-haired woman who wrapped herself around his bicep and purred loving words into his ear.

Natsu said nothing and shrugged.

. . .

"HEY!" Erza shouted. The woman stood from her seated place on the ground, wobbled, and pointed her half empty glass towards the center of the room. Some, if not most, spilled at her feet. "I want to congratulate everyone on graduating and successfully moving in. And I thank everyone for welcoming Lucy into the family."

Said girl flushed and yanked at Erza's skirt. "Thank you, Erza. Please sit down, you've drank more than anyone—"

"I suggest a game!" The woman declared, cutting the blonde off. The room erupted in cheers and yells of agreement. A select few groaned and moved to the back of the room and claimed a comfortable place on the carpet to pass out. A group of eager achievers practically leaped across the room and surrounded themselves around the woman with rising determination, sparked pupils. Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel were among them, seeming the most intent.

"Bring it ON!" Natsu roared, punching the air in excitement. Erza shot a dark look in his direction and immediately made him shrink into himself.

"Erza, is this necessary? It's getting late—" Lucy tried once again to get Erza to settle down, lightly tugging at Erza's skirt. The fiery woman wasn't having it. Her drink hit the ceiling, showering the two of them in booze, and then there was a finger in Lucy's face.

"Lucy, you pick the game," Erza practically ordered. "Do not be afraid."

"Thank all Gods Erza isn't picking," Gray whispered. Both Gajeel and Natsu agreed, their bodies prickling at the thought of what could've been their fate.

"Um," Lucy blinked, scanning her eyes over the few eager faces that watched her expectedly. Her mind worked quickly. "Hide and seek?"

. . .

[ 02:14 ]: Where are you going? I saw you running across the street.

[ 02:14 ]: Are you leaving? You're breaking the bro code.

[ 02:15 ]: Stop texting me you'll blow my cover

[ 02:15 ]: Just tell me where you went, I won't tell.

[ 02:16 ]: This broom closet smells like a dead body.

[ 02:17 ]: Should I report this? Or will that put me on the hit list?

[ 02:17A ]: I knew something was off about that janitor.

[ 02:18 ]: Gray

[ 02:18 ]: Yeah?

[ 02:19 ]: Shut up

. . .

[ 02:30 ]: Dude a frog jumped on my face. Will I get warts?

[ 02:32 ]: Natsu seriously where did you go? Gajeel keeps shouting that he's going to find you before Erza.

[ 02:32 ]: You know that Lucy girl was the first to be found? She hid behind a door.

[ 02:34 ]: Really? A door?

[ 02:35 ]: Juvia has been behind the curtains for almost 20 minutes. No one has noticed.

[ 02:35 ]: Is this pride I feel? That's my girlfriend right there.

[ 02:36 ]: Has anyone ever told you that you are more talkative when you drink?

[ 02:37 ]: Yeah, why?

. . .

[ 02:50 ]: Gray whatever happens, I want you to have my playstation

[ 02:52 ]: Okay cool

[ 02:57 ]: Natsu?

[ 02:57 ]: Natsu, where are you?

[ 02:59 ]: There are police outside, the game is over.

[ 03:03 ]: Holy shit

[ 08:43 ]: I can see you walking to the pool building from here

[ 08:44 ]: Put your clothes back on, you pervert

[ 08:48 ]: Never mind, they kicked you out

. . .

[ 16:19 ]: Why aren't you in your dorm?

[ 16:20 ]: Did you have class this afternoon?

[ 16:21 ]: I'm getting nachos

[ 16:21 ]: Seriously? Laxus has been down my back asking for you for over an hour.

[ 16:22 ]: Want some?

[ 16:23 ]: I'll meet you in 5.

. . .

"Stop, I said no jalapeño's!"

"Just pick them off, you old lady! They're not even spicy!"

"Not even spic— are you kidding? My mouth is on fire!"

"Consider it an improvement."

Gray threw a soiled napkin at the male opposite of the booth to him while taking a desperate gulp of his drink, cooling his burning tongue. "Ugh," He grunted, picking the peppers out of his basket and tossing them into Natsu's. "How do you eat these with no problem? What is wrong with you?"

"They're flavor," Natsu said with a mouth full of food, pointing an accusing finger at the other males basket of chips. "And why did you get the cheese on the side? It ruins the point! Now it's just chips and dip!"

"My chips always get soggy!" Gray argued, promptly dipping a few chips in his bowl of cheese and shoving them in his mouth. Natsu glared judgmentally.

"You're a disgrace to nachos."

Gray pinched in his face in mockery and flicked a crumb in Natsu's direction. The both of them fell into a tight silence filled with them chewing and a matching glare on each their faces. They remained that way until Natsu finished his food and got up to order another basket. While he waited, he thumped through the unread spam he received in the time he skipped class, looking sourly upon the messages and missed calls from both Laxus and Erza. He even received one from Mirajane.

Gildarts had even contacted him, but half heartedly. A simple text that read 'you brat.' Natsu grinned in amusement.

He settled on sending them all a thumbs up emoji.

"Oh Lucy, over here!" Gray standing from the booth caught Natsu's attention. A blonde practically skipped through the restaurant entrance and immediately enveloped the other in a quick embrace, and Natsu swore he felt the dams of Juvia's temper crack in the chill of the air. He raised a brow at the scene but didn't put a strain on it as his fresh order of food was slid in front of him, making his mouth water. He walked passed the two with a mouth full, giving the girl a nod of acknowledgment as she smiled his way with a wave.

"Thank you for inviting me!" Lucy chirped, sliding into the booth after Gray. "I'm Lucy. I saw you at the party the other night, right?" She inquired, holding a hand across the table to him. Natsu gripped it without a moment of hesitation, his cheeks still stuffed with food.

"The chipmunk here is Natsu, he was the one that summoned the whole police force at the party by scaring a religious man," Gray butted in. "He comes here every Wednesday for nachos. I sometimes join him when he's not being a total ass."

Natsu gestured accusingly, once again, at Gray's basket of plain chips and side of cheese. "You're a dipper! Who dips nachos?" The blonde startled at the outburst and leaned a bit out of the booth, looking wide-eyed between the two of them.

Gray slammed his palm against the table. "I don't like soggy chips!"

"Then eat faster!"

Their exchange continued, both taking jabs at each others food and neither of them noticing Lucy standing and walking to the cashier. They did, however, notice when she sat back down, timidly. The boys eyed her food with interest as she started eating, and she flushed under the attention but chose to ignore them. Gray gaped at the mount of peppers, bacon, and cheese that dowsed her basket of chips. Natsu grinned.

"Hey! I like your tastes," he scooched over in his seat to where he was directly in front of her, giving Gray a side glance. "Luigi, was it?"

Lucy nearly choked. "It's Lucy!"

"May the Gods bless your soul."

"What?" Natsu, with a pinky twisting up one side of this nose, looked up at Gray as he took the seat next to him. Not even a moment later was he running, stumbling over tables and chairs and scrambling to the floor in a mess of limbs. Laxus slowly stalked into the classroom, arms crossed, eyes narrowed darkly. Natsu gulped as he became braced against the front of the room, back pressed into the chalkboard. The class watched silently.

"Natsu," Natsu took a deep breath as the man got down to eye level. "My classroom. Now."

Laxus turned and left, taking the thick atmosphere he brought in with him. Natsu blinked at his retreating back to process the past few seconds he'd just experienced. He stood and followed far, far behind the tall man. His instincts were screaming at him to turn and run the other way.

The moment after Natsu left the room, everyone turned to Gray who was laid back in his seat with his hands pressed in a prayer. His expression was flat and almost uncaring.

"Bless his soul."

. . .

[ 13:47 ]: Dude, you dead?

[ 14:10 ]: Rest in peace.

. . .

Natsu kicked the door to the outside courtyard open, not paying any mind or care when both doors crashed into the brick, and even ignored the telltale sound of glass cracking against the brick. His ass would pay for it later, he thought, his anger blindly marching him in the direction of the dorms. Rain lightly pattered at his feet and thunder rumbled in the near distance. Or was that his stomach?

He paused and stared at his torso. His stomach groaned.

Natsu, forgetting his anger, swiftly changed directions for the school entrance.

"Nachos!"

. . .

Drenched from the sudden downpour, Natsu slipped into the restaurant and was caught the arms of Lucy, who was approaching the cashier counter ahead of him. They both stumbled from the weight and shock, sliding back and forth until they had their footing. Natsu was quick to recover and shake some of the dripping water from his clothing and hair.

"Hey! You're here, too!"

Lucy sheepishly smiled. "The food was really good."

"It's the best!"

"And it's cheap!" Lucy countered, astonishment lighting her features. "It's not healthy but it's not unhealthy, but I think having it constantly will make me bloat," she continued to mumble to herself and Natsu almost couldn't believe how comfortable she looked saying that to him.

What exactly had she meant by bloat? He didn't know, and he didn't know if he wanted to know. The mental image was almost alarming.

Natsu stepped around her and quickly ordered his usual, leaning his weight against the counter. He used a few napkins to dab his face dry as he watched the blonde become absorbed and concentrated in her own thoughts of bloating. Lucy didn't take long to snap herself out of her mental rail and avert her gaze when she realized he was staring at her.

When they both acquired their baskets of food, Natsu was a bit surprised when Lucy joined him in the same booth. But he welcomed the company, the more the merrier as the great Ezra preached (curse her soul.) And the girl had good tastes, and wasn't a dipper like some people were.

"So," Lucy started, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin. "Wednesday's are nacho day?" Natsu nodded, chewing. "But it's Friday."

He swallowed. "Special occasion."

"Oh?" Lucy leaned forward with interest. "What's the occasion? If you don't mind me asking."

"I got my ass handed to me by Laxus and Mirajane," Natsu stated simply, but Lucy was nearly choking on her food in front of him once again. He pushed the napkin holder in her direction along with his glass of water. The blonde accepted them and nodded her thanks.

"Mirajane? No way, she's too sweet," Lucy waved off the possibility and Natsu narrowed his eyes across the table. "Laxus I'll believe. He gives me goosebumps."

"I'm tellin' ya! Mirajane is the damn devil incarnate! Laxus is a godsend in comparison."

"Now you're just talking out of your rear," Lucy added more quietly, under her breath. "Gray was right."

But Natsu heard it.

"The hell you say?!"

Natsu absently flicked his pencil up and down the table, royally annoying Gray into taking the utensil and breaking it in his fist. Natsu gawked as the pieces were dropped into his lap.

"I am trying to focus and you are being a thorn in the ass," the male hissed, turning back to his notes. "If you have time to sit there and jack off, why don't you help me? So we can leave sooner."

"15 is wrong," Natsu sighed, pointing to Gray's answer sheet. Gray's brows shot up with disbelief.

"How? I looked over that question for seven minutes."

Natsu shrugged, leaning over and pointing to explain. "There's an extra molecule in the chemical structure. I mean, it makes no difference if it's there or not, but it's chemically wrong. And a bother."

Now Gray was more annoyed, but he corrected his answer nonetheless with some mild comments. Natsu corrected a few more of his answers, and the dark-haired male ended up snatching his answer sheet to copy. A silence fell between them with Gray occasionally mumbling angrily about answers.

Believed it or not, Natsu was the one excelled in the science department of their group of friends. The subject came easy to him and it was most likely the only subject he was interested in learning. He was not 'top of the class' per se, but his friends relied on his knowledge when needed.

He glanced at the clock, starting to feel impatient about how slow it seemed to pass. Some students where standing from their seats to turn in their finished assignments before leaving, and he felt envious. Their weekend homework was written on the board in bold writing and he chose to ignore it was there. Gray scribbled away at his work, and Natsu cursed his leisureliness.

It was then something collided into his nose and he blinked as a paper ball landed in front of him. Natsu looked around the room, shrugged, and tossed the ball behind him. Minutes passed before another one hit him and his quick temper flared, and he shot quick glances around the room. No one was looking at him.

His emotions simmered down and he tossed the second ball behind him. He crossed his arms and tapped his pointer finger. Natsu actively kept his eyes on all the present beings in the room, determined to catch the culprit if they dared.

Who was it? Who was it? Who was it?

One of the paper's Gray was using slipped from the table, and Natsu leaned down to grab it. When he was situated back in his seat, a third ball connected to his face. Steam shot out of his nostrils and he tightened his jaw, grabbing the paper and chucking it to the ground. Both his feet slammed on the tabletop as he jumped up, both hands balled in tight fists, and his voice rising.

"Who the fuck—"

"Natsu, language!" The professor scolded, slamming a hard fist against their hardwood desk. Natsu paused for a moment to quickly think.

"Whom the fuck—"

"Just get out of my class."

The male groaned but obeyed, snatching his broken pencil from his seat and standing, sending threatening glances towards every aisle of seats he passed.

A certain blonde could've been caught giggling from the front of the class.

"Crap, we gotta run."

"Why?" Lucy hastily put down her bottle of tea as Natsu jumped off the bench and quickly moved around it. He then proceeded to grab her under the arms and pull her over the back. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"Gray is running!"

A look of confusion fell flat on the blonde's features as she followed where Natsu gesturing, indeed finding the dark-haired male running across the court yard. She raised her shoulders and shook her head, looking back to Natsu as he grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her.

"So?"

Natsu sighed loudly and impatient. "Gray never runs!" A blonde, perfectly plucked, brow was raised, still not catching what he meant. Why they had to run, too. The salmon-haired man was now groaning. "He never runs!" He grabbed her hand one final time, her bag, and drink, and starting running in the other direction.

"If you ever see Gray running, you better run too!"

. . .

[ 20:45 ]: Dude what were you running from earlier?

[ 20:47 ]: I forgot my swim trunks.

[ 20:48 ]: That was it?! Are you serious

[ 20:50 ]: Juvia wanted to go swimming, I forgot them, but then she said we could swim without swimsuits.

[ 20:51 ]: ...

[ 20:51 ]: And the problem was?

[ 20:52 ]: Did the fact that that is a PUBLIC POOL escape you?

[ 20:52 ]: There is a camera in every other corner of that space.

[ 20:53 ]: We would've been internet stars by next week.

[ 20:53 ]: My ass would've been the full moon of Australia by the weekend.

[ 20:54 ]: Whatever but next time you start running for your life, I will throw something at you

[ 20:56 ]: Why were you and Lucy running by the way? Don't think I missed you dragging her over a bench and running for the hills.

[ 20:58 ]: Parkour

[ 13:12 ]: This is Juvia. Please tell Gray his phone is here.

[ 13:13 ]: Juvia has practice.

[ 13:15 ]: So do I, so loverboy will have to wait

. . .

"Today, we run like MEN!"

Natsu leaned towards his knees to catch his breath, using the collar of his shirt to dry the sweat from his brow. It took him a moment or more to start running again, pumping his legs has hard as he could. He passed everyone on the track and listened to Elfman shout out manly chants and absurd bursts of encouragement. The large man worked with a slow jog beside a few lagging track mates, blowing his whistle and high fiving Natsu as he whipped passed them.

He loved the burning sensation working its way into his lungs. He loved the pulsing of his heart against his throat, and the feeling of his muscles flexing with every kick he took, and the sound of the wind rushing passed his ears as he moved against it. Watching the setting blur in the corner of his vision brought him satisfaction as he rounded a corner, leaping over a hurdle with ease and jumping back into line.

"Natsu!" He turned towards the familiar voice, finding Lucy at the start line with her arms waving in the air. A wide and toothy smile spread across his lips at the sight of her. Natsu picked up his pace and met her at the line, once again leaning forward to dry his sweat and catch his breath.

"What's up?" He asked in a shot of breath. Lucy, whose eyes were glued to the patch of skin that was showing between his shirt and waistband, snapped her attention to a small plastic bag she had around her wrist.

"I got something for you! I thought of you when I saw it. It's nothing special, but it's all I could manage right now," Natsu accepted the bag and reached inside it, smiling at the cold beverages and was surprised to pull out a ring. The thick band turned orange in his palm. "It's a good luck charm for your upcoming meet." Lucy mumbled, almost shy.

Natsu watched the way the sun reflected against her blonde locks as the breeze blew them out of her face, and how her eyes were shimmering big and brown. His heart was still pounding against his throat, but he didn't think it was from the running.

The ring fit perfectly.

. . .

[ 17:30 ]: Gray

[ 17:31 ]: You done with practice?

[ 17:34 ]: I feel

[ 17:34 ]: fuzzy

[ 17:35 ]: What?

[ 17:35 ]: I think I like her

[ 17:36 ]: Who?

[ 17:37 ]: Yeah, I definitely like her