Natsu jolted awake to the sound of glass breaking in the other room. His father's angry voice permeated the walls of his house. He silently thanked that he wasn't hungover this morning, because the volume was at an all time high.

"Wake up you worthless piece of shit! I've left you alone but now we're getting home visits from your shitty behaviour?!" Matsuo roared, stumbling his words. A clear sign that he had been drinking.

Natsu clenched his fists, staring at the floor. He knew this was about Nina's visit yesterday. His mind raced, boiled over with frustration, Well, was bound to happen.

Mitsuo bust into his room. He walked over to the bed and grabbed Natsu by his shirt collar, pulling him closer, "I told you that if what you did made problems, I'd beat your ass!" A fist slammed against Natsu's mouth, weak to his usual damage, but it continued.

"I'm fucking going today to get them off your back, get off me!" Natsu replied after Matsuo had tired himself out. Though he had the strength to easily beat back his father, he had always felt a strong mental resistance to doing so. Natsu felt powerless with his father.

"Good. I don't need that shit here." Matsuo yelled back, physically tired. He walked back out of his room to grab another beer.

Natsu got up, mouth bleeding, and grabbed his bag and began to shoving everything he needed in there. He silently thanked himself for showering the night before, because all he wanted to do right now was leave as quickly as possible. Zipping his bag closed, he looked around his bedroom and saw nothing but a prison. It was completely bare, except for his essentials and furniture.

Natsu crept down the hall, pushing past his father's room, hearing him shuffling around in there. In almost no time, he heard his father snoring, passed out already, no doubt from all the alcohol he was consuming. Even still, Natsu did his utmost to avoid waking him up and getting a continuation from earlier. The second he was in in view of his front door, he felt a relief. Free again, he thought.

In his mind, the promise he made to Nina was worth the chaos it had brung. Natsu strode onto Hatsuka High, determined to see her expression as he fulfilled the promise that no one really expected him to keep. The second the sun's rays hit his face, he felt the hold that the darkness his home brought leave his body.

***

The school gates came into view as Natsu approached, his footsteps quickening down the empty sidewalk. He knew that he was way earlier than most, but he was determined to wait until he saw Nina show up. A nervous energy pulsed through him, filled with anticipation of her arrival. What's she going to say? I mean, I kept my promise.

Stood against the gate, he waited. It surprised Natsu how quick it was before he saw a singular silouhette approach the school, the long black hair coming into his view, swaying in the strong winds. He could see that she wore the usual blank expression that she carried, with the composure that a name like Ice Princess commanded. The second she noticed him, he saw a glint of surprise and curiosity stretch across her eyes.

"Made it on time," Natsu said, trying his best to keep an uninterested tone in his voice; failing slightly.

"You did!" Nina responded, with a bright smile that took Natsu aback. He was not expecting that expression from her, and it seemed to hit him directly. His heart skipped a beat as he analyzed her beauty for the first time. "Good morning Natsu."

They stood in silence for a moment, the quiet unspoken moment they shared the day before highlighting in their mind. Natsu searched for a proper response, but found none. Nina, noticing his silence, spoke first.

"Let's go into the class, we're early but we can still get ready for the day, right?"

Natsu nodded, falling into step beside her as they walked through the gates together. Whatever happened next, he would atleast see it through, with her, he thought. For now, That's more than I'm used to.

***

Nina cleared her throat delicately as they walked side by side into the classroom, "I wanted to inform you that I've decided that I'll be sitting next to you in class until you get into the habit of doing the work." She stated matter of factly.

Natsu stopped short, eyebrows raised in surprise. He couldn't help but find her, in this moment, incredibly cute. "Oh? And why's that?"

Nina met his gaze intensely, "I believe it is my responsibility as class president to provide guidance and support to students in my class who are struggling. You missing so many days indicates you need it."

Though her words were formal and direct, Natsu sensed a warmth to them. I guess we'll just be pretending last night didn't happen.

"I'm not struggling kiddo," He said jokingly, as he patted her head.

"Get your hands of-," Nina broke her visage for a second, swatting his hand away, but regained her composure and said, "Perhaps, but having someone help you catch up never hurts. Right?" Her face almost looked pleading, making it hard for Natsu to keep poking fun at her. Her sincerity was showing through her expression. As much as he hated admitting his fault, he thought that she was probably right. Having a class president on your side isn't such a bad thing.

"Yeah, you're right," he conceded. "But don't think you can tell me what to do whenever you feel like it!"

Nina's mouth curled slightly upwards before she said, "I'll tell you what I want to."

They continued into the class and into their seats. Natsu sat at his usual spot, the back corner next to the window, a position he was pretty sure he had pushed someone out of because he had never been officially given it. Nina sat in the seat to his right.

"Won't you get in trouble taking someone's seat?" Natsu wondered.

"I'm the class president," She said assuredly, without a follow up. She sat gracefully, arranging her books and utensils with quiet precision. It wasn't long before the chatter of studentds starting coming into view from the distance. The hum got closer as students began pouring into the classroom. Each person who walked in looked at Natsu with a surprised and almost disdainful stare, but no words were uttered, Out of fear, Natsu ascertained. At some point a kid had walked toward the seat that Nina was in, and she just silently pointed to the front of the class; causing him to bow and sit in her previous seat. Natsu couldn't tell if it was out of respect for her position, or thankfulness for not having to sit next to him.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

***

During the mid day break, Natsu leaned back in his chair, gazing out of the window. The other students were already milling about, discussing their lunch plans, and heading out of the room.

A timid voice spoke up beside him. "Umm, Natsu right?" the sweet voice said.

Natsu turned to see Sakura, the class treasurer, fiddling nervously with the arm hems of her sweater.

"I just wanted to say, I'm realy glad you started coming to school again," she said hesitantly, "I was really worried after that guy started punching you yesterday.."

"I won that fight you know?" Natsu replied, not sure how to reply.

"But you didn't start the fight! He was all like aggressive!" Sakura replied, more excited than before, "I know people think of you as scary and stuff, but It felt like you were just defending youself." A faint blush rose to her cheeks, that went unnoticed by Natsu. Nina, still in the seat next to him, turned to face them but didn't say a word.

"Yeah well, It's not like I chose the nickname Demon, people just feel that way."

Sakura's eyes widened. "They just have the wrong impression! You're not a monster! I've seen a lot of the fights you've been in and-" She got excitable for a second before catching herself and blushing harder.

Natsu frowned, surprised that this shy girl had seen through the veil that his reputation had created. "Maybe they're not wrong."

"They are!," she spoke up, "I'm the same way a little bit. They all think I'm like really shy and weird, but I just don't know what to say sometimes."

"I don't think that's the same thing."

"I just mean..," Sakura said, holding her hands together and looking at the ground, "Maybe we're both more than people think."

Natsu smiled and said, "Maybe you're right."

Sakura smiled back, her nerves gone, "Want to eat lunch with me?"

Natsu nodded but said, "Can't. I don't have any money for it right now."

Nina finally spoke up and said, "Quit whining, lunch is on me. I got some extra credits I can use on you"

***

The cafeteria was already jam packed with people. Sakura and Nina had left first, with Natsu staying back in the classroom, still mulling things over. As he walked in he eyed the bright pink and black hair combo waving him over in the corner. He walked over.

"I have your lunch already, don't go complaining." Nina said, pushing over a tray filled with a bowl of ramen and a soda. Natsu sat down and thanked her for the food; it looked more extravagent than he was expecting. He had just grabbed his utensils, when he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulders.

"Look who decided to become a model student!" A familiar sweet voice rang in Natsu's ears. He turned quickly to see Gale's spiky blonde hair.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I told you I started coming to school didn't I?" Gale responded, feigning sadness.

"Yeah, I guess. Yo, Sakura, ignore this idiot. He love's flirting with everyone," Natsu said jokingly.

Sakura stood up out of her chair, facing Gale, and said, "I'm sorry, I already have my eyes on someone." She bowed deeply, conveying a seriousness no one was expecting.

"Ah.. yeah, noted." Gale responded, confused.

The four of them sat down, an unlikely group that was quickly garnering a flurry of glances from the other students. Nina sat upright, with her perfectly balanced bento box in front of her, Sakura timidly nibbled on her onigiri, Natsu was chowing down his ramen quickly, and Gale seemed to only have dessert in front of him.

"So Nats," Gale said playfully, using his personal nickname for Natsu, "You starting to come to school again?"

"He will be." Nina replied before Natsu had a chance to answer.

"Oh? Full time then? That'll make the days more fun!" Gale jumped up, purposefully overexcited.

"Yeah for now." Natsu grunted back, used to his antics.

"Well, I for one look forward to you keeping your word." Nina said briskly. Her tone was formal but she looked to be avoiding his eyes.

"Yeah, me too!" Sakura piped up with an uncharacteristic boldness to her words. She quickly realized it and sat back down, blushing.

Natsu, for the first time in a while even considering the nights he spent with his crew at The Shack, felt an unfamiliar sense of comfort and belonging. Still, old habits died hard. "I said I'd try, not that I for sure would, just to be clear."

Gale let out a loud laugh that caused everyone to turn their heads quickly at the group, "This guy is shy, don't mind him!" He put an arm around Natsu's shoulders.

"Get your hands off me!" Natsu said, but showed a grin whilst he did. This took back both Nina and Sakura, who had never really seen him smile, making them both smile themselves. Everyone at the table was brought there by seemingly loose ties, all except Gale and Natsu nearly strangers, but it felt nice.

***

Their moment of peace was short-lived. The cafeteria was buzzed with energy as soon as a hulking figure stormed in- Ryo, known as "The Beast", one of the higher ranked delinquents from a neighboring class of Natsu's. His intense eyes zeroed in on Natsu immediately.

"Well, if it isn't the big man homself," Ryo sneered, stalking toward their table. The rest of the cafeteria got dead silent, watching the confrontation.

Natsu tensed, ready for the fight. "Got a problem, Ryo? I thought we agreed to leace each other alone."

"Wrong. I left you alone because you chose not to get invoved with the fight for power at Hatsuka. Then I start hearing you're coming to school all of a sudden, and still I decided to leave you alone. Not until you decide to beat up my comrade, do I decide to jump in." Ryo eyed him up and down, "I've been generous."

Behind Ryo was the boy Natsu had been in a fight with last time he had come to school, looking almost proud of himself. "You must think you're so much better than us now huh, getting these two bitches to back you up!" The boy yelled, pointing at Nina and Sakura. This comment caused both Natsu and Gale to stand up, with venom in their eyes.

"Say that shit again and I'll beat you worse than last time," Natsu's voice was steady, but the anger was shining through.

"I'm going to enjoy this. No one bad mouths a girl in front of me." Gale's demeanor change must have surprised all but Natsu, who already knew his serious side.

A punch sent the boy flying across the cafeteria floor, but it hadn't come from Natsu or Gale. Instead, hovering over him, was the imposing boy known as The Beast.

"Watch your mouth kid!" Ryo bellowed, "Don't involve people not in the fight. And to begin with, this was to be a one on one. Where is your honor!" He turned to face Natsu again, "I apologize on his behalf. Now, with that out of the way, raise your han-"

Before Ryo could finish his sentence, Nina had stood up between them. "That's enough," her voice was steady, ice in her words, "Take this elsewhere before I report the both of you." Her glare could cut diamonds.

Ryo scowled but backed off. "Tch. Maybe you HAVE gone soft Natsu, hiding behind someone else. Don't think this is over," Ryo turned to Nina and bowed slightly, "We'll be taking our leave ma'am."

With them gone, Sakura went over to Natsu and grabbed his shirt sleeve, "Thank you for jumping in when they bad mouthed us.." She said meekly. Nina stared at them blankly, a bit more intensely at Sakura than Natsu.

"Don't start fights at school." She said plainly.

"Huh?!" Natsu yelled in protest, "I didn't even start that!"

"Yeah, he was just eating with us class president.." Sakura, said.

"I feel sorry for you bud," Gale said laughing, patting Natsu on the back.

"Still.." Nina said quieter, "Thank you for defending us." Natsu looked at her in mild shock.

"Yeah.. no worries. Thank you for stepping in too." Natsu looked down and rubbed the back of his head. Natsu was grateful that Nina had intervened, even if he hated to admit it.

They all went back to eating, with less talking than before. Before long they were all heading back to their classrooms.

Maybe this whole school thing won't be too bad, Natsu thought to himself before sitting down at the seat at the back of the class.