First things first, Natsu Dragneel hated this sort of event. He hated it because he had to wear a suit. He hated it because the food was perhaps luxurious and delicious but definitely no hotdog and right now, he wanted a hotdog. Oh, and he hated it because he had to be nice to everyone and could not pick a fight with Gray Fullbuster ---- where was the bastard, anyway?
Usually, at school, he got to fight with the black-haired boy but after making the mistake of picking a fight with him once and then learning why Gray’s foster mother was feared, he had learned that it was smarter to avoid any confrontation with the woman around.
Then, the entire atmosphere in the room was tense right now and the way some people – Juvia’s mom, Lucy’s mom – gravitated towards the entrance was weird. They all seemed to expect something, something that would perhaps spice up this boring party a little.
Finally, he saw Gray who was standing with Lyon Vastia – an annoying prick who was a bit too proud of his academic achievements – and Sherry Blendy – one of the bossiest girls in town and likely one of those who would go far. This constellation was weird because usually, Gray avoided his foster brother and the pink-haired one as good as he could.
“Weird,” he muttered before he turned to talk to Juvia Lockser – maybe she knew why Gray was willingly talking to the duo – and then, he froze up because different from what he had expected, Mirajane and Elfman Strauss had not arrived alone, no, they had brought their little sister. And technically, Lisanna had been supposed to be on her boarding school after she had left the town in quite a rush, not even saying goodbye to anyone.
But there was no doubt about it, Lisanna was back in town.
He got up, ignoring Levy’s surprised yelp as the support she had been relying on suddenly vanished and crossed the room quickly, wrapping his arms around her and twirling her around because she had been his childhood friend and he had missed her when she had been suddenly gone, especially since her siblings had not really talked about it.
“Lisanna!” he cheered, adding another spin to it, as he laughed because this was the best thing that had happened all summer and this was kind of sad because this was the last week of summer passing by. “So you’re really back?” he asked because sure, he had heard faint rumours ---- Sherry and Lyon had been whispering about something like that a few minutes before ---- but there was a different in hearing it and seeing that it was true. “This is amazing, look, you have to meet all the new people!”
Because since she had been gone, a lot had happened. For once, Lucy had finally managed to get Juvia to be their friend and talking of Lucy, she had hardly known Lisanna because of Lucy’s very strict father who had not allowed her to do much while his wife had been ill.
“Natsu, calm down,” Lisanna chuckled as she brushed back a strand of her white hair. “I will have time to get all of this done, you see? There is no need to rush everything.”
“Lis, over here!” Levy called from the couch, waving. “It’s so awesome to see you back!”
“Lisanna!” Juvia said, stopping in front of them before she reached out to hug the other girl. “You look fantastic ---- have you been to the sea lately, you are so tanned!”
Juvia was right, Lisanna looked very pretty. Her eyes seemed to be darker, less sky blue and more ocean blue – the colour of eyes that kept secrets. Different from most girls – her own sister included, the youngest Strauss wore no dress but a pretty top with complicated embroidery and shorts, well-suited for the weather. She looked slightly out of place but then, she had gained a certain out-of-this-world-ness in the two years she had been gone.
But this was not why Natsu did not want to let go of her, why he wanted to climb up the the roof and yell from the roof that Lisanna was back in town. She was his best friend, after all, and only his best friend.
Totally.
Just like Sherry and Lyon were also just best frien----, wait, that was a bad example because whenever they had to kiss during Spin The Bottle, it did not exactly look best-friendly and more like “I will eat your face” but then, once it was over, there was never a weird gaze, never an awkward chuckle and they went back to acting like there was nothing between them, back to being their normal weird selves.
Not that he wanted to eat Lisanna’s face. He was not Lyon who was such a loser that the only girl who liked him was his best friend. Which did not mean that he wanted to kiss other girls. Or Lisanna. Or anyone.
Talking of the devil. Sherry seemed to have enough of the way Gray and Lyon always behaved and had decided that it was time for them to sit down on a free couch (and since Lyon was so good at being subtle, he slung his arm around his best friend). The pink-haired girl shifted slightly, suiting her position to his so that they sat more comfortably.
It was weird to watch how they instantly gravitated towards one another, he mused as he dragged Lisanna along and spun her around so that she was tucked safely under his left arm. There had been a time when they had pulled pranks on Gray and so maybe, they wanted to catch up. It was, of course, against his own wishes to have Lisanna catch up with Gray first but he was not completely selfish.
Plus, she would stay. So there would be more than enough time for them to do the whole catching up thing.
“Lisanna.” Sherry smiled but the smile did not reach her eyes and Natsu knew that the pink-haired nuisance was keeping an eye on Gray who looked like he had not slept all night. “It’s amazing to see you back town. You will stay, I assume?”
“Yes,” Lisanna nodded as she reached for a drink, blue eyes shining, still wrapped into Natsu’s arm. “It’s wonderful to be back, I missed everyone so much. And I really look forward to go to school with everyone again. Well, more to the people and less to school.”
Sherry chuckled softly as she ran a hand through her hair. “Well, you have come back just in time for my final year and therefore, the last time I will star in a play at school,” she said amused as she averted her gaze from Gray to smirk at Lyon who had been rolling his eyes.
Lisanna clapped her hands as she laughed and her laugh still sounded just like it used to. “It’s so wonderful to see that you two are still dating,” she said as she leaned into Sherry’s space, patting the older girl’s wrist. “It shows that in the end, little chan—“
Lyon spat out his drink and coughed.
Sherry sighed and slapped his back to help him breathe easier again.
“We aren’t dating,” the older boy said as he wrapped both arms around his not-girlfriend.
“Oh,” Lisanna’s face fell. “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed…”
“Nah, we are used to it by now,” Sherry said with a shrug. “Now, Natsu, Lisanna … there is this little party Lyon and I host in two weeks … are you going to come? It will be great, Lisanna, everyone will be there.”
Natsu remembered hearing about the party but since he usually did not attend, he had not expected to get invite. It also did not seem to be a polite invitation from Sherry’s side, she had never been one to be nice if it was against what she wanted but something genuine.
“What are we celebrating?” Lisanna asked as she looked for her phone in her bag.
“A charity thing for the homeless,” Lyon shrugged. “I told Sherry that it might be a little heavy but, you know, there is love in helping others.”
Natsu could not help but laugh as Sherry turned and glared at the boy before she playfully punched him. “Sounds … nice,” he said to save Lyon from getting maimed by his not girlfriend. “You will go there with me, Lisanna?”
“Sure thing.”
Sherry’s face lit up as she leaned forward. “But you guys are dating, no?”
