—Levy didn't know what to think of it: he just sat there the entire time. Of course he might be enjoying with his friends, but what she couldn't get was that why was he always staring at her. How was she supposed to get over her crush with him now? [College!AU] Lighthearted (Slow!Dev GaLe (GajEvy) )

I hold no ownership or whatsoever of Fairy Tail and the characters used in this work of fiction. The Cover Art is made by me inspired by the covert of the book Paths of the Minor Planets by Andrew Sean Greer.

Additional Notes: Lighthearted (Slow!Dev GaLe ); GaLe (GajEvy) multi chapter fic, coming right up! College!AU (Jock!Gajeel; Scholar!Levy) But then again, this is a College AU as mentioned earlier in my summary. Expect that there might be mentions of sex, college horror, or worse drugs.

This is part of a series I'm working on currently: Before Midnight Confessions. This one is the first [Counting Stars] starting with Levy's point of view, which may or may not be followed by Gajeel's point of view. Next is a BixAnna (BixlowxLisanna): Never Been Alive. Stay tuned, and enjoy!

"So, since the Football team is here, what do you say?" Lucy said her brows wriggling in suggestion. Levy should have laughed but she didn't, too focused on the counter. There wasn't any new customer, but maybe is she focused on it more it would make Lucy's question go away.

Unfortunately so the blonde just repeated the obnoxious question and stood beside her. She had this lousy grin plastered on her face.

"Lu, maybe Mirajane has been rubbing too much on you," Levy replied sighing. Her friend giggled and gave her a friendly pat on the back. It had been Lucy's mission to get someone to get into her pants since the first semester. She wasn't one to think ill of it, but she couldn't help it. Maybe Lucy felt like she couldn't get it done even if her life hangs on it.

Though it's not like she's interested at all. She hardly noticed boys due to her studies.

"Come on, just choose one," Lucy insisted pulling up her infamous puppy dog eyes. And Levy couldn't say 'no'. So she looked around trying to spot the Football team. Then there they were; loud boys who were obviously too big for their age.

Lucy started ranting who's who and all the fancies. No one caught Levy's eyes. To be honest, she wasn't into them. They were the kind of guys she didn't really like. She wasn't gaga over boys, and this bunch was no different (even worse if she was allowed to say). But Lucy kept going, going, and going.

"Oh, and that one in black is Gajeel," Lucy continued. And Levy swore she should staple her friend's mouth every now and then because, the said-Gajeel turned at the mention of his name. Levy bit her lips and looked away trying to find anything to keep her busy. "He's also a good eye candy, but hey I'm not sure you'll want him, Lev," Lucy continued. "He's the brooding type you don't know what goes in his mind."

"And that blonde is Laxus, but I know you know him at least."

At that moment, she wanted the earth to swallow her whole as Laxus turned to them and winked at their direction.

-/-

"Perhaps you should tell Lucy it makes you uncomfortable," Justine Freed suddenly said as he handed her a book for their project. She blinked a few times, and just stared at him confused.

"Laxus said something about the cashier girl crushing on one of the guys," he said as if it explained everything. But perhaps it did; because Levy twisted into a stammering box.

"I-I—It was—you know—Lucy wasn't—I didn't mean— I'm not—I don't even—crushing," she started her thoughts stumbling on her words. She could feel her cheeks heat up. She must look had horrible.

Then a light pat was placed on her head. Freed gave her an awkward smile as if he wasn't really comfortable as well. She bit her lips and looked down on her feet embarrassed.

"No, it's alright. He didn't say it was a bad thing. Though he got in—"he paused, as if deciding against what he was about to spill, and then continued. "But you should tell your friend you're not very comfortable with her pimping you to the guys," he said again trying to bring comfort in his voice.

"I know she means well," she said when she finally found her voice to speak. She looked up to him trying to even her expression. "But thank you for understanding."

"Shall we work on the assignment?"

"Of course."

-/-

She was pleased: everything in the University was working out pretty well. But of course, Lucy insists she should get a boyfriend even once in her life. The blonde was a horrible mess after learning that she hasn't had a boyfriend at all.

Freed was a very charming companion although she doesn't really see anything romantic on their relationship; platonic maybe. And yet, since meeting Laxus on one occasion, she's been dubbed as Freed's girlfriend. And it wasn't like she could do anything with that. The Football player would just laugh at her every time—every single time— she tries to tell him they are not.

Aside from that, Laxus was pretty much a cool guy. He wasn't as much of a jerk as she initially thought. Maybe not as much but still a jerk, perhaps his charm just didn't work on her. It seemed though they had met before. Perhaps, she had met a jerk before which she had buried in the back of her head as a terrible memory. Now that she thought of it, Laxus has been coming over the café almost in a routine.

Of course, it also led the Football players to come every so often (since Laxus was their 'star player'). And that meant that man named Gajeel also comes.

She wasn't looking forward for it. But she did catch herself staring at him more than the necessary. And he did so too in return. There were times she'd catch him staring, and times she'd be caught staring by him. Lucy had stopped pestering her after hearing Laxus and his stupid deduction.

"Ah, Luce," she wasn't sure what spirit came over to her that moment.

"Yes, Lev?"

"You know you asked me about which of them I liked?" she could hear herself say, but there was no way to stop her big mouth.

"In the Football team?"

"Yeah," she answered. Her mouth wasn't following her mind. "It's Gajeel, that guy who's always in black."

"Oh. My. God."

A/N: The fic is going to start off casually and drift off casually.

For the complete credits of the cover art: The Cover Art is made by me inspired by the covert of the book Paths of the Minor Planets (by Andrew Sean Greer) which was made by the cover design of Henry Sene Yee & Emily Mahon; Illustration by Philip Pascuzzo; Author photograph by David Ross. It's a beautiful book, but I have yet to finish it.

SECOND FAN FICTION ACCOMPLISED \(^w^)/~(hurohuro)

FIRST MULTI-CHAPTER FAN FICTION ACCOMPLISED \(^w^)/~(hurohuro)