9: Natsu

"So met anyone special yet?" My brother asked as he entered the dining room. I was slumped over a counter with a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice. "Yeah, kinda- there's this girl that I'm feeling attractive to, but it's only one-sided," I assured him. "Sounds like you might be giving up." I looked up at him, unfazed by his remark and answered bluntly: "So what's it to you. Perhaps that's exactly what I should do." His eyes bore through my soul like two coals of lava. He informed me that those words shouldn't even exist in my vocabulary. I looked down at my hands. He gave a heavy sigh. "It had been years, Natsu. Surely its about time to put the past behind you?" I shook my head. How can he even suggest that? There's not even a remote possibility. It pains me to think that the promise we've made ages ago have been long forgotten. Maybe Lucy is the cure that I've been waiting for. What if I'm mistaken? She just got out of a six year long relationship, and seeing how her ex had already moved on, must be extremely hard on her. Zeref doesn't seem to understand what I'm going through. Yeah, we had been merely children when we made the promise, but it's a promise nonetheless. Promises are meant to be kept, no matter how unseemingly it may be at the time. I will always hold on to the memory that we're destined to become lovers. I've made a vow, a childish little pinky swear. But in my eyes it's just as good as a written statement.

Monday morning at school, Mr. Laxus paired us up into groups of four, for PT hour. The personal training category for the day is martial arts. Erza, Jellal, Lucy and I, ended up being in the same team. Lucy being my partner, in one-on-one combat, didn't seem all that bad to me. She's got a firm structure and good form. I did a neat little move. Using my left leg I kicked her feet out from under her. She lost her balance. I caught her around the waist, before she could fall and cause herself any serious damage. She didn't seem to see it that way though. What followed isn't all that clear to me. She took her stand, stepped closer and laid her handprint upon my face. Have I offended her in any way? I have no idea if I'm coming or going with that girl. She's a mystery novel yet to be written. I'm standing here speechless, with a throbbing ache against my cheek. She ran away crying. "Bravo! What a way to go?" Gray said laughingly. I didn't give him much thought. What did I do? I questioned myself mentally. Gajeel made it clear that he to was at a loss for words. Thoughts bubbled through my mind space. Have I been a jerk to her? Is it suddenly second nature to me? Shouldn't I have caught her.... helped her? Should I have let her fall? She was crying. Come to think of it, that tear streaked face, seems somewhat familiar to me. How can it, we've never met? Lucy can't possibly be the girl I've vowed such things to ages ago. Can she?