Just High School Life

Prologue

– Inspired by Nina-D-lux's fanfic Disney High–

Natsu Dragneel strolled down the empty halls. The Mission Impossible theme was drumming against his skull.

Natsu would like to imagine the next hour of his life as some awesome ninja style movie – filled with lots of jumping and kunai throwing and epic smoke bomb effects. An upbeat soundtrack would be playing in the background as he triumphantly defeated his enemies without lifting a finger. And then he'll spew out a long inspirational speech about honour and friendship like it was his job.

But truth be told, the thing he was doing now was far fetch from honourable or involving the power of friendship. Right now, it was less of a ninja movie and more of a dick-move.

He was skipping one of his classes. Math, to be the exact.

It wasn't really his fault, or that's what Natsu would say in his defence if anyone ever caught him, which they hadn't yet. The key word being yet. Natsu knew he shouldn't continue this bad habit, however he hadn't been caught so his skipping class days were still going strong.

Natsu wasn't a bad kid, per se. He was nice. Well … okay, he sometimes let a few curse words out, and he did get dragged into more fights than he would like to admit, but it couldn't be helped! It was just fate that he had a short temper when someone bad-mouthed his friends and he let his fists gently persuade them to apologise. But he was forgiving. He easily forgave anyone who wanted a second chance. He could never hold a grudge too long and the next thing you'd know, Natsu would be cracking jokes with them like nothing ever happened.

The pink haired boy rounded a corner. The science lab that also served as Natsu's secret hideout was quite far away. Why did it have to be this way though? He knew he picked it because it was isolated but it wasn't like he ever did anything weird in that empty room anyways. He just liked having a private placement to talk to his best friend, Lisanna Strauss.

Lord, he hoped his half-sister, Wendy Marvell, wouldn't catch him skipping class. The last thing he wanted was his sweet sister to catch wind that her brother was being rebellious. Not only would she accidentally fib, but the Dragneel-Marvell household would give him an earful. He'd probably end up grounded for three months if they knew the reason he was failing Math was because he only went to one class before he decided to stop going entirely.

Natsu didn't have time to be grounded! He had a life! He didn't have time for his parents' naggings. He would rather shoot some hoops or coordinate steps for the Dance Club.

Natsu adjusted the straps to his white with black vertical-striped backpack. The lightweight feeling made Natsu give himself a mental note. A small reminder that popped in his head and told him he should probably stop by his locker to get his history notes. History was his last class anyway and it was more convenient that way, he wouldn't have to stop by later after lazing around in his hideout.

He turned left and walked a few more steps, soon he stood in front of his orange locker. He let his mind wander as he automatically turned the combination and grabbed his things.

Orange, the colour of his school; Fairy Tail Academy. The orange wasn't too bright that it blinded him nor was it close to a nice sunset theme, it was somewhere in the middle and for some reason reminded him the colour of juice and some boy's hair that he's seen around, who was it? Jet or something. Oh wait, Loke has the same coloured hair …

The sudden thought of Loke brings Gray into thought too due to their odd friendship.

Ha, that loser! Natsu thought to himself.

Here Natsu is, fucking free from the chains of equations while his arch nemesis is stuck in Math class. Man, it feels good to be rebellious.

Natsu was scrolling through his phone, enjoying his solitude and reading though the latest Naruto chapter when the door to his classroom hideout was violently slammed open.

His first instinct was to tell the intruder to go away because this was his place but Natsu felt his heart leap into his throat at the sight of his principal standing at the foot of the door.

"Gr – GRAMPS?!" Natsu exclaimed. Because reminding your principal he was an old, old man was appropriate.

"Natsu Dragneel, what in heaven's name are you doing in here? Don't you have class?" Principal Makarov Dreyar asked, his voice held a strict power behind it.

"Oh, I – You see, I just stopped by to get something! I was heading to the bathroom and I needed something in here," Natsu fibbed, lies pouring out of his mouth as he quickly hid his phone.

"Really now?"

"Ohyeahyeah," Natsu spoke as he pretended to pat his jeans. "I've got it right here. Yupyupyup. I'll be heading to the bathroom now,"

Natsu hoped off the desk he was sitting on and planned to escape the hell out of the awkward conversation he was having with his principal. He'd come back to his hideout later after making a dash to the bathroom.

But then Makarov spoke, "Can I see your hall pass?"

"Oh – Umm … Yeah … Sure." Natsu patted his jeans again then buried his hands into his pockets like he was digging for hidden treasure. All he felt was his set of keys, his car keys and his house keys, loose change and some lint. "It's in here … somewhere …"

Makarov smelled bullshit. His years of being a principal gave him enough experience to know a guilty student when he saw one. "You don't have it with you, do you, Natsu?"

"Wh – What? Of course, I do!" Natsu swallowed a lump in his throat. His adam's apple bobbed at the motion. It felt like he was swallowing bitter medicine. "Uh, I just remembered! I put it in myyyy … backpack,"

"And you have your backpack with you because? Do you need to bring your backpack to the bathroom?"

Oh crap! Natsu's brain went to full panic mode.

"I … have stuff I need." Natsu stalled. "I erm … I'm having my period. My period stuff is in my bag."

Out of all the lies Natsu could have thought of, that was the most ridiculous lie he could think of.

Principal Makarov sighed. "Natsu, why do you want to trouble yourself with all these problems? You've been skipping class, haven't you?"

When Natsu didn't voice out his answer, he knew he had dug his own grave. He couldn't weasel himself out of this one.

"Natsu, I'm sorry but this seems to be the last straw. You can't keep this behaviour up, I'll have to call your parents and inform them about your misfits. I don't think Fairy Tail Academy can tolerate anymore bad students."

Oh no, not his parents! They'd flip at him if they found out he'd been expelled. This could damage his family's reputation! What if no one wanted to adopt anymore animals because people got word that the owners of the animal shelter had a bad son?

What if people started picking on Wendy because he wasn't there to defend her? She's just started high school this year! She's only a freshman! She's basically at the bottom of the high school food-chain.

"Are you going to expel me?" Panic struck Natsu to the core. His sweet life had suddenly turned a 180. "You – You can't! Please, don't tell them! I'll be good!"

"I don't know if I can trust you, my boy. You've broken so many promises already. You've caused so many problems."

"Those were all accidents!" Natsu justified.

"That time you set Gray Fullbuster's shirt on fire?"

"He didn't need it anyways! He's always stripping his shirts off in front of girls to show off his so-call abs. They aren't even that impressive! I was doing him a big favour!"

"And that time you knocked down all the library shelves?"

"I wasn't looking where I was going! My shoelaces just undid themselves! No one said I couldn't run in libraries and no one got hurt! I bet nobody really reads anyways,"

"Do I even need to mention the time you 'borrowed' my car?"

"That – That wasn't my plan, in my defence …"

This was bad. Natsu was now very, very worried. Looking back at all his childish pranks now seemed like he had done something he shouldn't have. And the things that the principal stated were just the tip of the iceberg.

He clamped his hands together and got on his knees. "Please don't expel me!"

Principal Makarov gave one look at Natsu. He sighed, now more tired than he's ever been. "Natsu –"

"Please! Pleasepleaseplease!"

"Natsu –"

"I'll try harder! I'll – I'll stop skipping classes! I'll ask Laki to tutor me – Heck, I'll pay her to tutor me!"

"Natsu –"

"Gramps –"

"NATSU!" The principal broke the pink hair boy's pleads. "I'm asking a favour. Listen to this old man, will you? You have to prove yourself for real this time. I'm giving you one last chance to redeem yourself."

A smile creeped back on Natsu's face. "Really? How?"

"Well, first thing's first, Natsu, you'll have to stop skipping class and actually pass them."

"I .. can try," Natsu hesitated to answer. "What else?"

"You should also stop picking fights every time that temper of yours gets out of hand –"

A loud ringtone shattered their private bubble and Principal Makarov held up a hand to silence his student as he answered the call. The pinkette listened to his principal have a low toned conversation with whoever he was talking to. Whatever it was about, it sounded serious.

"I have to go. There are some things I have to sort out at the office," Makarov said and pocketed his cell phone.

"But – But, we're not done yet!"

"I'm sorry, my boy, something came up. It's a bigger matter than I thought,"

Nonono! How was he going to be a good noodle now? He needed Principal Makarov to answer his question! The school day was almost over! He'd never get a chance to talk to the principal tomorrow, there wasn't any free time in his schedule!

Plus, Natsu can't just go do good deeds by himself. He wouldn't know where to start. He'd probably end up unearthing a tree or bulldozing the football field or something.

"Wait, Gramps! I'll help you!" The words flew out of Natsu's mouth before he could even think of the consequences. "I'm one year away from being a senior! I can't just leave! I'll help you with your office stuff! I'll organize your files and photocopy your documents! I'll sent e-mails to the staff about meetings!"

"Natsu, I appreciate your offer but that isn't what I had in mi –"

"I'll do anything!"

Something shined in the old man's eyes and an idea popped in his head. "Anything?"

Okay, maybe not anything but Natsu clearly didn't say that so he nodded his head and repeated. "Anything!"

"Weeeell …" The old principal said, rolling his tongue on the Es.

"Gramps!" Natsu pleaded. "Spare me a few minutes! Just tell me!"

"There is one thing that could help improve your situation. There's a new student coming to Fairy Tail Academy and I need someone to show the Fairy Tail Academy ropes. Be a mentor,"

"Mentor? What? Why?" Natsu raised a pink brow. "Is he some freshman baby? Super genius prodigy?"

"No, Natsu. She is fairly normal and she's not a freshman. She's a sophomore,"

"Okaaayyy then ..." Natsu still felt something was off though. Call it sixth sense or instinct but the pink haired boy knew something was up. You don't just assign anybody a mentor. Especially if it was a personal favour coming from the principal. "Is she sick or something? Homeschooled?"

"Oh, no, no," Principal Makarov said. "I mean, yes,"

"Yes, she's diseased?" Natsu asked alarmed. He was not going to stick to some sickly child!

"Yes, she is homeschooled."

Ugh, but home schooled kids are SO boring! They have nothing to do but surf the web all day! Natsu thought to himself. Great! She probably went to the dark side of the internet already. Probably seen weird shit like that weird anime I've heard about … Poku No Biku or something.

Natsu didn't like where this was going. He already had a lot on his plate. Was his principal really expecting him to deal with all these chores? He has to juggle that and the fact that he's failing some classes, has a part-time job at his parents' animal shelter, homework and assignments to do, a sister to take care off AND some dorky, weird home-schooled kid. How did his principal expect him to handle all of that? Not to mention his contribution to basketball and Dance Club.

"Or at least she was,"

Natsu gave his principal a look that told him Please get straight to the point. "Gramps,"

"She was home schooled until she was ten years old then she transferred to a school that has a … well different environment from … public schools,"

"So she's a rich wannabe that went to private schools?" Natsu offered to say it as painfully to the truth as possible. Principal Makarov's offer was getting less and less tempting.

"Something like that … more or less,"

"Why did she move? Did she get expelled?" Natsu asked, feeling like he was uncovering this weird offer.

"That's classified information, Natsu,"

"So she did get expelled."

"Please don't assume Fairy Tail Academy takes ruffians, Natsu."

"Right, right," The pinkette nodded his head. "If she really was trouble, she'd be sent to Saint Crime S."

Saint Crime S. School For The Troubled, a school for bad kids to redeem themselves and turn good. Not that it's been done much but he knew some people there. A few of his friends had siblings and acquaintances there. It was not a fun school. It was a last resort to send kids who committed crimes like stealing, breaking and entering, assault and even murder. Natsu didn't want to get expelled and cast away into that hell hole. Having a record of bad grades and getting into fights was something that other schools might not like about Natsu, if he ever got expelled. Natsu knew if he took a step out of line, he'd have nowhere else to turn and end up at Saint Crime S. That place sends shivers down Natsu's back.

"Exactly," Makarov answered, giving a small nod. "So she can't be all that bad. Will you help her? Help me? You'll mentor her? Won't you, my dear boy?"

"Umm," Natsu shrugged and thought a little. "Can I just ask a few more questions?"

"My, aren't you curious today?" Makarov laughed. He knew Natsu had a curious streak but this was unusually nosy. "Are you this active in class?"

You wish! Natsu snorted in his head and ignored the question. "Which school did she go to before transferring to Fairy Tail?"

There was a slight hesitant in the principal's words. "The Celestial Private Institution,"

Natsu's jaw dropped.

The Celestial Private Institution was home to kids who were the richest of the rich and the snobbiest of the snobs. The pinkette had heard rumours of their toilets being made out of solid gold so that their money-born asses wouldn't have to touch such filth like normal porcelain toilets. The Celestials had pretentious food served to them on a silver platter like caviar and escargot and bread infused with champagne. They used silk napkins and had custom made mahogany desks and elevators on each wing of the school. It was utterly insane how they throw their money around!

"No, Gramps, no!" Natsu began groaning.

This was punishment for all the times he kept on skipping on Math! This was punishment for not participating in all those group projects! This was punishment for not feeding his goldfish when he was five years old and having to flush Goldy down his toilet!

"More or less?" he echoed his principal's words. "Gramps, the Celestials don't belong with us! Have you seen the potato salad served at our cafeteria?"

"Natsu," Principal Makarov said carefully, a tone of warning.

"S – Sorry, I mean they're okay but still, it's a little slimy and – Gramps, can't I mentor some other new kid? There are tons of freshmen this year! My sister's one of them! Can't I mentor her? No? What about Romeo Conbolt instead, yeah?"

"My boy, your sister will do fine this year and Romeo's father is vice-principal. I'm sure he'll do very well."

"Gramps, do I have to?"

"All you have to do is show her around until the day is over. If you do, I'll consider asking the teachers of the classes that you're failing to give you extra credit,"

Natsu eyed his principal wearily.

"And, I'll forget you've been sneaking around since the start of the school year to go to your hideout which, may I mention, Natsu, could be turned into a clubroom any time being,"

Oh shit, he got me there! How long has he known?

Natsu sighed in defeat and extended his hand. "Okay, fine. I accept your offer."

The principal smiled and sealed the deal with a firm handshake. "Thank you, my boy."

"Likewise, Gramps."

Natsu was led to Principal Makarov's office once they finished shaking hands. The dread pooling in Natsu's stomach suddenly seem fatal. If only he could skip out on the principal and lie down in the infirmary, he'd probably take the most refreshing, life-changing nap he'd ever faced.

The pink haired boy slumped his shoulders and looked at his feet the whole time he was walking to the principal's office.

Oh god, this girl was probably some long-lost Kardashian sister or Lindsay Lohan clone. Natsu thought negatively. She probably was plastic AF and had a high pitch Harley Quinn accent. Possibly dressed in a mini skirt and thin high-heels. Maybe even brought her pet Chihuahua too! Those mini monsters! Ugh!

"Natsu, meet Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy, this is Natsu Dragneel, your mentor for the year." Principal Makarov said as welcoming as possible.

"Hi, I'm Lucy," A voice greeted.

Natsu looked up and froze the moment he laid eyes on her. Her words echoed in his head like a song stuck on repeat.

She was blonde.

"Hi, I'm Lucy,"

She was hot.

"Hi, I'm Lu –"

She was perfect.

"Hi –"

"Ahem, Natsu," Principal Makarov cleared his throat.

Oh right! Right …

"Nice to meet you." Natsu finally said, trying to flash a big smile. "I'll be the best mentor you'll ever have."

"Thank you –" Lucy's words were cut off when a small white Chihuahua jumped out of her oversized branded bag. "Oh, Plue! There you are! I thought I left you in the limo when the chauffeur dropped me off!"

Everyone stared as she scooped up her tiny dog and hugged him tightly.

"This is Plue Heartfilia. He's a mix breed Chihuahua-Pomeranian. I bring him with me everywhere!" The blonde told Natsu and Principal Makarov.

Good lord, she calls her dog by its full name? Natsu couldn't help but think in horror.

Lucy continued, "I hope you don't mind! Oh, and do you have any fresh bottled spring water I could quench his thirst with? Plue has a sensitive stomach,"

Something flipped a switch inside of Natsu and he shared a brief eye glance with his principal. The magic moment was gone and replaced with cruel reality.

Rich people …

As soon as Principal Makarov shooed the two students out, Natsu decided he regretted skipping Math and would rather have suffered an hour of dumb equations than talk to a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

But, a deal was a deal. He was grateful his principal was letting him slide. He was also glad that Principal Makarov cleared up some things with Lucy that dogs weren't allowed and they didn't have bottled spring water here at Fairy Tail Academy.

The pinkette's brain started mapping out the places they should head like the cafeteria and the library and the art rooms and the science labs and the infirmary.

"What would you like to see first?" He asked, not caring but wanting a place to start.

The blonde placed a manicure finger on her chin and tapped on it in thought. "The library," She answered after three seconds.

Natsu's brain which had stereotyped the new girl as a dumb, rich blonde suddenly flipped. "You want to go to a place with books in it?"

"Yeah, I love reading." She told him and cocked her hip to the side as a hand laid on it. Natsu sense she was doing that pose so she could get away with sounding more offended by his stereotype question. "Why? Expect me to be a dumb blonde or something?"

Yeah … "… No," Natsu lied instead.

"I was a straight-A student at Celestial."

"Look, that's not it, okay? It's just uh – most people would want to see the cafeteria or the pool or the football field. Cause, you know, they're … places to hang. That's all."

Nice save! Natsu mentally patted himself on the back.

"Oh,"

Did she honestly buy that? She's so easy to be lied to. Natsu thought.

"So yeah, the library ... it's this way." Natsu pointed to some stairs leading up. A few signs were stuck to the wall that lead students to their destinations. This floor had the staff room and computer room.

After showing her around the school like it was his job – which it technically was now – Natsu figured he'd contribute to sprouting some words of wisdom before the final bell rang and signalled the day was over.

"I need to tell you something," Natsu's words caught his sophomore's attention. "Look, Luigi –"

"It's Lucy," Lucy frowned and corrected her mentor.

"Right, whatever, Lucy, I don't wanna sound like know-it-all-dick or anything but I suggest you lay low and don't tell anyone you were a former Celestial." Natsu said, not sparing a look at the blonde like he was trying to set up an invisible barrier between them.

"What?" Her brown eyes gave him a look. "Why?"

Natsu sighed. If anyone asked, he didn't know her. "You went to a school that served caviar and wine. Your toilets are not normal! It's not actually a thing here, you'd stick out like a sore thumb."

"You know, not all the rumours you hear about us are true! Just because I went to a rich school doesn't mean I'm snobby. And our toilets are just as normal as any other toilet," Lucy snapped.

"Define normal." Natsu quipped, still not looking at her.

His mind was screaming advice to him. Natsu wanted to bolt but couldn't. You just have to show her the ropes, Natsu, don't get friendly. If she ever had so much of a glance at your wardrobe, it'd probably send her running for the hills. She's a sophomore, she'd find friends her age. She'd leave you alone sooner or later.

"Ugh!" Lucy huffed in annoyance, which wasn't an answer to Natsu's question.

"Just lie and say you went to The Mermaid Heels Boarding School For Girls."

"I can't do that! I don't even know what it's like there!"

"Google it," Natsu spoke and felt the urge to roll his eyes. "Did you not catch the part where I said lie?"

She glared at him. "You're being a horrible mentor,"

"I gave you advice," Natsu pointed out like it was a rare and holy sight. "You should feel honoured."

"Yes, I feel so blessed right now." Lucy said sarcastically, placing her hands on her chest like he just touched her heart with a moving speech.

"Whatever," Like, he cared.

"I'll tell the principal you suck,"

Natsu whipped his head to his right so he could stare her down. "Haven't you heard of snitches get stitches?" Okay, now he cared. "You wouldn't dare,"

She smiled and said confidently. "I would,"

Okay, okay. Do. Not. Panic! Natsu laughed and tried to play the situation as cool as possible. "Pffft, you know, I don't even need to be your mentor. You need me."

Lucy raised a brow. "I can tell you're lying. You're hiding something and right now, I think you're the one that needs me."

"No, I don't! I'm helping Gramps for extra credit work. Duh!"

"Uh-huh, suuuure."

"Totally!" Natsu gushed, sounding as convincing as a middle-aged man trying to sound like a three year old girl.

"If that's the case then I guess I can just find myself another mentor. I mean, you can always get extra credit another way," Lucy chimed and began turning the other way. "I'll go talk to Principal Makarov now,"

"Wait – NO! Don't do that!" Natsu quickly grabbed her upper arm to stop her. Shit! Shitshitshit! Ooooh, she had him exactly where she wanted him. "What exactly do you have in mind?" he asked, saying each word as carefully as possible.

Lucy smiled, a string of pearly whites flashed at him. His dad should have warned him the devil had a pretty face.

Fuck. my. life. She's a smart one. Natsu thought as he braced himself for Lucy's proposition.

Notes

This is a slow burn so don't expect ships to be handed out so easily. Planned since December 2015.

– 20 January 2016

RE-EDIT on 17 July 2017

Schools in Magnolia

(from best to least good reputation)

The Celestial Private Institution

The Sabertooth School of the Prestige

The Mermaid Heels Boarding Schools for Girls

The Blue Pegasus All Boys Academy

Fairy Tail Academy

Lamia Scale Academy

Phantom Lord High

Saint Crime S. School for The Troubled

...

Quatro Cerberus College

Freshmen

Romeo Conbolt and Wendy Marvell

Sophomores

Lucy Heartfilia, Levy McGarden , Lisanna Strauss, Jet, Droy and Kinana.

Juniors

Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Cana Alberona, Elfman Strauss, Loke, Max Alors, Warren Rocko and Laki Olietta.

Seniors

Erza Scarlet, Mirajane Strauss, Laxus Dreyar, Evergreen, Freed Justine, Bickslow and Mest Gryder.

Teachers

Principal: Makarov Dreyar

Vice-principal: Macao Conbolt

History: Gildarts Clive

English: Wakaba Mine

Science: Alzack Connell

Home Ec: Bisca Connell

Math: Nab Lasaro

Art: Reedus Jonah

Music: Vijeeter Ecor

Sick bay: Porlyusica

Theater: Wan Chanzi

Gym: Joey Fullborn

Owner of FAIRY TAIL HILLS: Chico C. Hammitt

Ships

(from most mentioned to least mentioned)

Nalu

Gruvia

Bixanna

ElfGreen

Miraxus/MiraFreed

Bacanna

Jerza

Rowen

Gale