The Runaway

Chapter 24: They don't exist

Lunch came by everyone was wondering why Natsu was so quiet. After the incident in art class. Lucy won't stop shooting worried glances at him and everyone seemed to notice. Lucy was not deaf not to hear Natsu mumbles Gray's name as he eyed his piece of work. Natsu blocked his thoughts and distracted himself with his revenge to Lucy. 

He ordered his tower of food and head to their usual table. Occasionally, he would pick a piece of chicken, and went back to his sketch pad. He snickered at the thought of Lucy's reaction, and of course he's also expecting the other victims downfall . He traced his pencil gracefully. Taking note of what he was doing. He traced the shape of the last eye. Satisfied, he closed the pad and hid it inside his back and continued eating.

"Do you really have a bottomless pit in you stomach?" he heard Loke chuckle. Natsu gave him an intense look but continued to eat.

"Was that suppose to be funny?" he huffed. 

Loke blinked then smiled again. Damn womanizer. "I wasn't trying to make a joke thought," he laughed. Natsu grunted and turned away.

"So, what did you do to Sting last time?" he asked, swallowing and turned back to him.

"We just had a talk," Loke said with a smile, Natsu was sure it was one of the darkest smile he ever saw.

"Right," he trailed off. "Gray was there when you were talking to Sting, wasn't he?" he deadpanned.

"Unfortunately, Yes." Loke sighed.

"Damn it," he both muttered. Loke looked up and met Natsu's surprise look, then they both grinned. His spirit was starting to get back up again. Gloomy doesn't fit him, that's Juvia's forte The bell rang and soon the lunch hall was flooded and became noisy. 

Their group finally came in, missing Gajeel and their council friends, also Juvia and Lyon. Well, Lyon is absent due to an emergency mission, in which he was excused for and Juvia was having detention for using her phone in class, again. Levy was busy with the new book she borrowed from Natsu, sometime taking a bite of her salad.

Sting and Rogue sat at Minerva's table, completely ignoring them the best they could. Minerva was not someone you should make an enemy for. And Gray was nowhere to be seen. Not that Natsu was looking for him or nothing. Yeah, it's nothing like that at all. Absolutely! Nothing like that. Okay, everything is all about that. Sue him! Before anything else, Natsu remembered his plan. 

"Lucy," Natsu called, tone casual and bored. Sting and Rogue caught the tone and slightly turned their heads. 'Payback time.' Natsu thought wickedly and his lips twitched to prevent the smirk.  

Lucy flinched at the tone. Some of them were paying attention to them. Natsu pulled out his sketch pad and began to flip the pages. He would looked up to meet Lucy's nervous, yet anticipating look. He chuckled so darkly. Once he found the page, he handed it to Lucy with a close-eyed smile. Lucy took it shakily.

"This is the portrait you asked me to draw," He said, Lucy rose a brow.

"But I didn't--"She checked the picture and cut herself off. Loke leaned to her, sipping on his boxed juice, but as soon as he caught glimpse of it, he clearly spat his drink on Natsu's face. It took a few moments for Natsu to recover but as soon as he did, he screamed.

"I know my face is disgusting but I'm not a goddamn sink!" Natsu growled.

"Sorry," Loke breath. Natsu smirked. It was a portrait of Loke, standing, holding his hand out as if he was reaching for someone. Encourage them to take his hand with a gently and loving smile, behind him was a beautiful scenery of a cherry blossom tree, dancing in the wind, adoring him him with petals all over.