Lucy P.O.V

Beep...Beep...

The sound of my alarm clock went off, ringing through the apartment as I tried to sleep. I groaned and covered my head with my blanket.

I don't want to go to work...Just five more minutes...

I glanced at the time on my alarm clock, hoping that I could spend five more minutes in bed. My eyes began to close again but they quickly shot open when I saw a nine on my alarm. Nine?! Wait...maybe I'm dreaming...Ugh, I need my glasses.

I grabbed my glasses from my night stand and placed them on. I looked at the time again and it read 9:50 A.M.

Holy shit-!

"I'M LATE!"

I threw the blanket off and ran to get my clothes. I don't have time to shower! I need to get there now. If I don't...he's gonna have my head!

I slipped on the first thing I could find as clothes and grabbed my story board for the next chapter of my manga: 'I love you'.

How the heck did I sleep through 6 alarms?! I'm actually in human, ugh!

I ran out the door, turned around to lock the door with shaking hands, and then stormed off the porch of my home.

He's actually gonna kill me! I knew I shouldn't have stayed up late watching that stupid T.V drama!

While halfway down down my lawn, I bumped into someone. My glasses went flying and I couldn't see. I swear the universe hates me!

I ran my hands all over the floor, looking for my glasses in a panic. "I can't-"

"Looking for this?" I heard a voice ask.

I looked up and saw what seemed to be a mail man. My cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment and I quickly grabbed the shape that looked like my glasses. "Th-thank you."

As soon as I had them on, he held out his hand in front of me to help me off the ground. I took it and he lifted me up. "Th-thank you..."

I couldn't bare to look at the man that had helped me up. I was too embarrassed, and the sloppy clothes I had on wasn't helping. Ugh why'd I have to bump into a man while I looked like a bum...

"No problem. I'm Natsu, the new mail man. You?"

I picked up my story board from the floor in a haste and bowed. "I'm sorry, I have to go." I then ran off without another word, never taking a chance to look at the man that helped me.

I sat at the desk and faced a very angry man. My editor was angry with my usual lateness, but who could blame him when his boss was breathing down his neck.

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy...Late again!" He yelled while slamming his fist on the desk.

"Eeeek! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"

"Lucy! You know you're 25, not 15, right?"

I slowly nodded.

"Don't let this happen again," He warned while taking a sip of his coffee.

"Sorry...Jellal-san..."

He showed me his hand, gesturing for me to hand him something. "The story board," he commanded while placing his coffee down.

"Y-yes!" I shouted a little surprised. I passed him the stack of papers from inside my manila envelope.

He looked at it very carefully. He then placed it done and sighed. "The chapter is good as usual but you know more than half of your readers are girls, right?"

"Yes."

"You need some more male readers."

"I-I know...I just don't know how to get more male readers..."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's kind of obvious what you need," he said.

"It is...?"

He nodded his head. "You need..." he stood up and pointed a figure at a poster at the back. "A sex scene!" I looked at the poster and I felt my face turn completely red.

Why is that here?!

"NO! That's not the way to attract male readers!" And there's no way in hell I'm going to draw my characters having sex!

"Fine. Then add fan service."

"No!"

He sat down and sighed. "Look Lucy, the pure love in this story is good...for younger readers. But...you would get more reads with smut and fan service."

What?! No it won't.

"Jellal-san, I don't think that's right. It all depends on the plot and story telling...right?"

"I guess..."

I sighed in relief.

"Here," he said while passing me the story board. "It's good, now go finish drawing it."

"Y-yes!" I shouted while bowing.

I walked out his office with a heavy heart. Do I really need to add those perverted things to my story to make it good...? I thought plot and story telling was enough...

I was walking home when my phone started to ring. I took it out of my pocket and looked at it.

Levy...? I wonder what she wants.

"Hello?"

"Lu-chan! It's been a while. want to meet up at the café?"

"Sure but I can't right now. I need to go home and shower..."

"Shower? Wait, you were late again?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, what do you think about 1 o'clock?"

"Oh sure! I can do that."

"Great, see you later."

"See ya."

I then hung up and sighed. I need to get home quick...

At home

As I stood in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but notice how ugly I've become. What happened to me?

I let loose of my messy bun and saw my long blonde hair roll down. I then removed my glasses and smiled at myself. The longer I stared at my reflection, the worse I began to feel about myself. I felt my smile begin to drop and I let out a sigh of defeat.

"Why do I even try...?" I whispered to myself sadly. I ran my hands over my curvy body then grabbed the newly formed pudge on my belly with a sigh. I use to be so pretty...I really let myself go.

I sighed again as I thought about my college days. I then took off the rest of my clothes to take a shower.

I stood in front of the cafe, waiting for Levy. Levy...where are you? This is so embarrassing, people are looking at me!

It had been a while since I've been anywhere but my home and convenience stores. Being a Mangaka had taken over my life, and maybe it was the fact that my life was caught between both reality and fantasy, that my self-esteem issues from long ago began to arise again.

Drawing characters to fit the standards of perfection in society made me question my own beauty. And the feedback from writers controlled my every thought. Soon my self confidence became theirs to wield and no longer mine.

Ugh Levy, please hurry...

"Lu-chan!" I looked over to where the sound came from.

I smiled and waved happily in relief. "Levy!" Finally!

She ran up to me and took my hand. "Let's go."

We went up to the counter and ordered some coffee. Once it was ready, we sat down at the table by the window.

"So Lu-chan, how have you been?"

I looked up at her in surprise. "I'm good. Why?"

She placed her chin on her hand. "You seem so stressed out. Being a Mangaka and all."

"I'm not that stressed out..."

"Uh huh. Says the one with bags under her eyes."

I smiled weakly with an awkward laugh, "I like my job. It's fun but..."

"But?"

"Jellal-san wants me to add smut and fan service to my story..."

"Huh? Why? I like it without all that."

"I know but...he wants me to attract more male readers..."

"Is that so...Well if you're asking for my opinion, Not all guys are into that. They just need a plot they can hold into, ya know? Honestly speaking thought, most of them aren't into sissy stories...unless there's a hot chick on the cover, ya feel me?"

"Ugh...what even is considered hot now adays?" I asked with a sigh.

"Huh? You're kidding me right?"

I shook my head.

"Lucy, it's you! You're the hot lady that every man thirsts over!"

"Huh?! No--they like small skinny girls like you Levy!"

She slapped her face in frustration. "Lu-chan, we are not going back to our highschool days. What happened to you? You weren't like this a few years ago."

Levy was right. I hadn't been myself since I started writing 'I Love You.' The opinions of others mattered so much, and I couldn't draw my characters the way I wanted without the approval of Jellal-san or the other editors. Besides all that, my health had decreased drastically as I ate cheap fast food everyday. It was all I could afford.

"You're right...I think being a mangaka has really taken a toll on me..."

Natsu P.O.V

I was walking by town, looking for a place to have lunch. While looking for a place to eat, I saw the same girl from this morning in the coffee shop.

She looks so different from this morning. Her bun and sweats are gone. I almost didn't recognize her all dressed up like that. If I thought she was pretty before, she's even prettier all dressed up! I should go say hi!

I ran up to the window and shoved my face onto the glass. "Hi!" I mumbled on the glass.

I looked, waiting to see her reaction but nothing. I then started to bang on the window and mumble hi over and over again like a child.

Then, her friend noticed me.

Lucy P.O.V

"L-Lu-chan...I think someone's trying to get your attention." She said with wide eyes.

"Huh? No way... No guy would ever look at me..." I whispered while playing with my hair.

I had stopped caring about my appearance after college and no longer looked as beautiful as I once did. No guy dared to look in my direction anymore once I changed my style to sweats and baggy clothes. Not to mention the slight weight gain from eating nothing but convenience store food and ramen noodles for the past few years.

"Lucy...look!" She pointed towards the window. I turned around and saw a squished up face on the window.

"Aaaahhh! What is that?!" I shouted.

"I don't know but it looks gross!"

Levy and I stepped out the shop to see the person still stuck on the window.

I looked at Levy. "I'm not going," She immediately stated.

I looked at her with puppy eyes. "Sorry Lu-chan...not this time."

I sighed and walked over to the person. When I reached him, I tapped his shoulder. "Uh...umm...what're you doing?" I mumbled.

"I'm stewk"

"Excuse me?"

"Stewk! I'm stewk!"

"Do you mean stuck?" I asked confused.

He tried moving his head in a way that meant yes.

"O-Okay. I'll help you..." Yeah right! I don't know what to do!

I placed my arms around his waist and began to pull. I pulled as much as I could until we went flying. We both landed in the ground in pain.

"Ouch ouch..." I whispered to myself.

I then looked up to see a hand. "Need another hand?"

My face flushed pink as I recognized the person's voice. That's...that's my mail man!