All it took was a slight waver in her voice, a nuanced this-is-me amidst the what-do-you-see, and Levy knew she'd lost herself to him, perhaps forever.

Gajeel continued singing upstage with his eyes closed, completely oblivious to the stupid smile plastered across Levy's face, as she listened to him sing for the umpteenth time that Friday evening. She'd made it a point since the first time she'd heard him to attend his performances every single week, and yet somehow, each time he sang, it felt like she was hearing him for the very first time. Each song felt like a confession to which each word felt like a clue, and the more Levy tried to put the pieces together, the bigger she realized the puzzle really was. And even though she couldn't really see the entire picture, in the end it didn't really matter, for it was in the silver linings and dark corners she found parts of herself scattered too.

A tiny blush spread through her cheeks as she realized Lucy was smirking at her from the next table. Usually she'd brush it off and act nonchalant as her friend insisted she was crushing over the guy, but as it dawned on her that she'd been searching for him recklessly between the lines, her heart did a little somersault and pushed her to admit it was true.

Here she was, Levy McGarden, proud reject-ee of many a smitten college boy, falling head-over-heels for a guy she'd never really talked to, yet knew like she did her favorite book.

Her heart felt like it was leaping out of her chest, as if she was at the top of a really high rollercoaster gathering its speed as it began to drop. She felt like she was going to explode, out of panic and out of joy. Had she just claimed to know this boy? Never in a million years did she plan on saying it out loud, but to even allow such a thought to cross her mind…who did she think she was? And yet, at the same time, why hadn't she allowed it before?

The deafening clapping of the audience around her dragged her out of her thoughts almost immediately. The song was over, and the host climbed up the stage to commend Gajeel on his performance, the last for the night. He opened his eyes, and found himself staring right at her, before smiling timidly and looking away. Levy's stomach fluttered as she smiled back and looked away. This could be the start of something new. She knew it.

That is, if she could muster the courage to talk to him.

"Hey Lev," Lucy snickered as she slid into the chair beside Levy's. The blunette, who'd been sitting on a barstool near Lucy's table as the latter was on a date, groaned as she realized a horrible line was about to hit her square in the face. "Are you a holding a huge-ass orange soda bottle big enough to go to Mars and back, 'cuz it looks like you've got a crush and you know it." "Are you sure you're allowed to say that, given your…situation?"
"At least I'm not the one drooling over a guy I've yet to talk to."
"I'm working on it!"
"Sweetheart, you've been working on it. For three months now."
"Says the girl on a date with a guy she liked for a two whole years before asking him out."

Lucy simply stuck out her tongue in response, to which Levy began laughing uncontrollably. So much so that she didn't even notice the long-haired man approaching her till he tapped her on the shoulder.

Lucy glanced at him before smiling at Levy rather knowingly and excusing herself. Levy turned around, wondering who it was, and nearly dropped dead when she saw who it was.

Gajeel, right before her. Up this close, she could see everything about him. The metal piercings, the curls in his hair, the tiny scar underneath his chin, the crooked smile…
"Hey! Uh, I've seen you hanging around here a couple of times, and I was maybe wondering if you wanted to…"

Levy tried hard, and failed miserably, to hide her smile as his gaze darted from her face to the corners of the room to the bar to back to her face to -
"I'd love to."

Maybe it really was as easy as that.