JELLAL and I just sat quietly while watching Natsu talk to Zendaya. Natsu said that the girl was a transferee and asked her to accompany him until she got used to the university. I felt Jellal's looks at me so I turned to look at him. He leaned closer to me until his face was millimeters away from my ear. "Are you okay?" he asked me worriedly.

I smiled, honestly I'm not okay with our situation right now. But I can't do anything because I also understand Zendaya's situation. I did not speak and nodded in response to his question.

"If you want to leave just tell me okay?" he whispered again.

I shook my head "I have to finish my drawing," I said.

Jellal just stared at me as if he was reading my brain. I smiled at him and raised my hand to gently pat his head. He opened his mouth to speak but he also closed it - perhaps his words betray him. I chuckle which makes me sigh.

"Lucy!" I heard someone call to me from behind me - so I immediately turned around.

Gray's smiling face opened up to me as he ran towards us. "I heard something about you. The project you did yesterday was big time"

I laughed "That's what my manager told me. Actually, I have no idea about the book"

Honestly, I haven't told Natsu this news yet. Usually because he was the first to ask me about my projects but now... he didn't. Well, he did asked in Group Chat but he never ask me here.

"I will buy that book, Lucy, then I'll ask you to sign it" Gray said as his eyes shone with pure happiness. I wanted to ask him if he loves reading but I withdrew that question because I knew for a fact that Gray is just supporting me on my job.

I beam at him "Sure, Gray"

Gray smiled but that smile also disappeared immediately when he turned to look at Natsu and the woman with him. Gray sat down next to me and cleared his throat to get Natsu's attention. Natsu immediately looked at Gray and the woman with him.

Gray smiled sarcastically "I'm not aware that Loki has become a woman"

Natsu frowned "Her name is Zendaya Evans, Gray."

"Aah!" Gray made a sarcastic tone which made Natsu frowned but didn't say anything and just alternately looked at me and the others. I shrugged silently telling him that I don't know why Gray is acting like that.

The woman stood up and immediately shook hands with Gray "nice to meet you, Gray" she said happily.

Gray shook his head as if he didn't like what the girl said "You can call me Fullbuster, Miss Evans"

The woman blushed as if embarrassed by what Gray had said. She clenched her fist and then secretly looked at me. Why does it seem like my fault?

Loki's forehead furrowed the moment he arrived. He looked alternately at me and Natsu with a contemptuous tone "Am I left behind with the news, Natsu?"

Natsu opens his mouth to speak but I just grab Loki's hand. Both of them looked at me but I didn't bother looking at Natsu "Loki, I'm hungry. Would you mind if you treat me my lunch today?"

I was suddenly nervous about my situation because this is the first time seeing my friends acting like this to Natsu because of me or it was because of this girl named Zendaya Evans.

Loki immediately took my hand and he was smiling as he put away my belongings - he said that he would treat me because of my achievement - aside from that he said that he will tell me about the news that is now spreading all over campus about me.

Before we left, I looked at Natsu - his eyes were showing lots of emotions that it was hard for me to decipher, "Are you guys coming?" I ask.

I honestly don't want to be with Zendaya because I feel like she's like my step -sister who will take everything I have.

Natsu shook his head "No. I'm still going to take Zendaya Evans around school."

"Okay" I nodded in response "Call me if something happens okay" I smiled.

When Loki said that he will treat us I should have doubted. Because Loki doesn't know how to treat his friends unless we're his girls. Anyway, Loki took us to his house, because he said he was just going to cook us our lunch.

The three of us didn't have any complaints because Loki was a good cook - in fact, he taught me to cook before. As we waited for food I told them that what they had done to Zendaya was wrong. They explained to me why they did that and I understand them but it still... it was wrong.

"Aren't you angry? He brought someone we don't know and didn't even tell us ahead of time?" Loki asked me.

I took a deep breath, "I was mad but not because Natsu brought someone we didn't know and didn't tell us ahead of time," I stop for a moment because it feels like my choice of words are wrong, "I think what I said was wrong. I wasn't mad. What I really felt at that time was... I was scared"

"Scared? Because she's going to snatch Natsu from you" Gray asked teasingly.

I shook my head, "I'm afraid that she'll take you from me. I'm afraid of losing my friends, Gray. And when I say my friends it means all of you and not just Natsu"

They immediately cried in front of me so I was surprised by their reaction. I laughed but was immediately replaced by a groan because they hugged me at the same time.

"We won't replace you, Luuuucy!" - Jellal.

"Lucienne Heartfilia for life" - Gray and Loki

I laughed out loud and just let them hug me. After that, we ate our lunch and we even talked about our future plans. We stayed in Loki's house until 2:00 PM because we still have our afternoon class. They did walk me to my next class and even said that they will fetch me but I reject their offer because I have things to do for the upcoming foundation day.

I submitted my drawing about the wedding gown and thankfully, it was one of the gowns chosen for the wedding booth. The student council creates five groups to start each gown - we may run out of time when we slow down.

On the same day, the making of the base and pattern on each gown began. The other section has already started working on the concept for the horror booth and for the gallery.

It was 8:00 PM when we decided to stop what we were doing because the night patrol on campus was about to start.

"Good night, Lucy!" my companions said to me as we got out of the building.

"See you tomorrow guys!" I said and watched them disappear from my sight.

I immediately sighed and hugged my body - it was a bit cold tonight and I didn't bring a jacket either. A gasp escaped my lips when all of a sudden, someone put a coat on my back.

I looked at him over my shoulder and I felt that my heart went crazy when I realized the distance between our faces.

"Natsu!" I mumble under my breath.

My mouth opened as I felt him hug my waist as he pressed his face against my neck. I bit my lip and I feel like I forgot to breathe because of what he did. "D-Do you have a problem?"

He shook his head "I just want to hug you, Lucienne."

"Why?" I mumble.

"I talked with them and they told me that what I did is wrong," he said "I'm sorry if you felt like that, Lucienne"

For no apparent reason I suddenly felt better. Maybe the event earlier gave me stress and I just tried to ignore it. I sigh and raise my left hand so I can pat his head. "Did you get tired?" I whispered.

He nodded in response to me I smiled "Then, hug me tight, Natsu" he did I chuckle "I will be your human charger to refresh you"

"I l... you, Lucienne"

_______________________________ End of Chapter #10