1

I stood outside the big grey building feeling very annoyed. I wondered how many times I would be forced to go through this before my social worker got the picture. I just didn't care about school. It meant nothing to me. You would think being kicked out of five schools before would make that clear, but apparently sending me to a new school for the sixth time seemed like the solution to what others saw as a problem. I just didn't like school. It was a waste of my time filled with punks who were even more of a waste of my time. So really this was all the punks' fault. I couldn't help it that I got into countless fights at my previous schools. They needed to be taught a lesson and it was my job...no my responsibility to society to teach them that lesson. I guess my previous headmasters didn't agree with my kind of thinking. I doubted my new headmaster would agree.

Ring! That would be the school bell. I hated that sound. It meant the start of another boring long day at school and I didn't care too much to make my appointment with the headmaster, but it was either that or just stand here all day. The later seemed more exciting and I'm sure my social worker's head would explode if I missed my first day at my new school. That was an amusing thought. I laughed out loud.

'Is something amusing?' a voice echoed around me and I looked in its direction to see a short, elderly man standing in front of me. I eyed him up and down like he was of no importance to me. He wasn't. But my glare at him didn't take him by surprise or seem to upset him in anyway. In fact, it looked like he was smiling. This was annoying.

'None of your business old man,' I responded with my arms folded. He had no right to bother me. He was wasting my time. I turned to walk away with a determined step to never set foot in that grey building. I guess the old man had different plans for me.

'You can't intimidate me Mr Redfox,' his voice spoke, surprising me to hear my last name and I glanced back at him curiously. Then it hit me. He was my new headmaster.

'You're Principal Dreyar,' I muttered with rolled eyes and the old man smiled.

'Yes and you're late for our meeting Mr Redfox,' Principal Dreyar responded and I gritted my teeth. I hated that name.

'It's just Gajeel,' I mumbled, 'I don't use my last name.'

'Very well,' the old man simply shrugged after a long stare at me.

'Either way you're still late Gajeel. When you didn't show up, I decided to come look for you. I was warned you might try to skip today,' he continued as he signalled for me to come closer and I looked at him oddly. He wasn't just an old man. He was a crazy old man. Did he really think I would listen to him? He was in for a rude awakening. I wasn't one to take orders.

'I believe my finger is signalling for you to come closer,' Principal Dreyar said calmly and I shook my head stubbornly. He sighed without reacting like my past headmasters and instead took the few steps towards me. Suddenly I felt a pull on my ear as the old man forced me down to his level before pulling me towards the school's doors by my ear. Just who did this guy think he was?

'What are you doing?' I demanded as I tried to pull away from him, expecting it to be easy, but he was stronger than he looked.

'You can't do this!' I shouted, but the old man just laughed and forced me up the few steps. This was ridiculous. He had no right to treat me like this.

'You asked for it!' I warned him and I swung a punch at him, waiting for it to hit the old man's face, but it never did. He blocked my punch with his free hand and made it look like he used no effort to do so. This was no ordinary weak old man. I was shocked.

'Now are you going to stop this childish game and walk into your class with some dignity or would you rather the old man force you into your class. I'm sure your classmates would enjoy a good laugh,' Principal Dreyar said as he let go of my fist and ear while I glared at him. He waited patiently for me to respond as I pushed my empty school bag further up my shoulder with no intention to answer him.

'Very well then. We'll do it the hard, embarrassing way,' he told me as he stepped forward and I stepped back. I wasn't about to be dragged into class by my ear.

'Fine!' I spat as I stormed passed him with my hands in fists. I hated this guy already.

'Wise choice,' Principal Dreyar told me and he followed me through the school's open doors. I stopped when I was inside for two reasons. One: I didn't know where my class was and two: the inside of the school was nothing like the boring grey outside. It was painted a vibrant red with posters of upcoming school events and numerous school clubs. All the posters were so bright and colourful. There were so many colours. Too many. Yuck! I already hated everything about it.

'It's quite amazing isn't it,' Principal Dreyar said proudly next to me as I looked at him and rolled my eyes. Typical. Just typical. I was stuck in high school happy of hell. This was going to drive me crazy, and fast.

'You can judge it all you want to Gajeel, but I believe you will find this school to be different from others,' the old man told me as if he could read my thoughts and I looked doubtful, but this didn't seem to bother him. He was a cheerful old man. An annoyingly cheerful old man.

'Anyway, your class is just over here. You're in Mrs Dreyar's class...' he began as the name screamed inside my head.

'Your wife!' I cried. This day just kept on getting worse.

'My granddaughter-in-law,' Principal Dreyar corrected and my tense shoulders relaxed, not that it made it any better. 'Although she prefers to go by her name of Mirajane and is a very sweet teacher. Everyone loves being in her class.'

'But just a warning Gajeel, don't upset her. She might be small and sweet, but she can be very scary when upset,' Principal Dreyar warned me as if I cared. I didn't. I stuffed my hands into my pockets without responding and waited for the old man to show the way. Still my hostile behaviour did not affect him in any way and he walked to a nearby door as happy as ever. I groaned. He wasn't going to be as easy to break as my past headmasters. This was going to be hard work.

'Sorry to interrupt Mirajane,' Principal Dreyar said with a small knock on the door as he opened it and walked in. The quiet voices inside the classroom fell silent as the teacher at the front of the room turned her attention to the headmaster and I poked my head in. The beautiful face of the teacher took me by surprise. She looked so...so...so young! I had never seen a teacher look like her. And I have had my fair share of teachers.

'Hello Principal Dreyar,' Mirajane responded to his presence with a voice that was either adorably sweet or annoyingly sweet. I was still deciding on which one.

'Hello Mirajane. I'm terribly sorry for the disruption, but I have some exciting news. You have a new student,' the old man announced and voices erupted throughout the classroom as the purple haired teacher's eyes lit up. She was a happy-go-getter just like the old man. I sighed. What an irritating situation I was in.

'So I hope that we will all help make him feel welcomed,' the old man continued as a few students nodded in response to his words and I hung my head back with displeasure. Why me. I looked forward again when I heard a soft cough and saw the old man signalling for me to come in. I immediately tensed up. This part never got easier.

I took an unpleasant step forward and folded my arms as I stood next to the Principal, towering over him. I still couldn't believe he was stronger than me. I'd never admit it though. I felt many eyes stare at me as everyone in the rather large room turned their attention on me. I hated this. I REALLY hated this. I looked at my new teacher to try to distract myself and saw her entire face light up. That couldn't be good. She looked like I was about to become some sort of project to her. This place was so weird.

'Class this is Gajeel Re...' Principal Dreyar began, but paused when I glared at him and he stopped before he could finish my last name, 'Just Gajeel.'

'He's transferred from Phantom high and I've been telling him that I'm sure he will enjoy his time here so don't prove me wrong,' the old man finished with his introduction of me and it sounded more of a warning than a suggestion. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. I don't think transferred was the right word and I doubted my time here would be anything but enjoyable. And I was determined to assure that my time here would be as short as possible.

'Welcome Gajeel!' Mirajane said enthusiastically and she suddenly grabbed my hands, bringing them close to her. I tried to pull away, but the sweet expression stopped me for a moment. I couldn't find the will to disappoint her. She was only being kind and doing her job. And she was doing it a lot better than any teacher I had known. Wait a minute! What was going through my head! Since when did I become weak minded! This school was missing with my head.

I quickly pulled away from Mirajane without looking at her. Her puppy dog eyes was something I didn't want stuck in my mind. The old man next to me smiled and I felt my face go red. Either because I was embarrassed or because I was furious.

'I hope that you will be very happy in my class. Now let's find you a seat,' Mirajane continued as if she had not noticed my antagonistic behaviour and I watched her look over the class.

'Aw yes, there is a seat next to Juvia,' She spoke as she pointed to an empty table at the back, next to a girl with blue hair. Our eyes met for a second and the schoolgirl stared at me, emotionless. I took a step forward, but stopped when I felt a touch on my arm and looked back at the smiling old man. I rolled my eyes.

'Enjoy your stay at Fairy High,' he imparted his final words for that day to me as he left the classroom and I walked to my assigned seat without a glance at anyone while they watched me flop down onto the wooden chair that was to be my spot from now on.

'Good then...' Mirajane started as she smiled at me before she continued with her lesson on a subject I didn't bother to know about. I immediately switched her off, only becoming aware to laughter every now and then. I leaned forward as I rested my chin dully in my hand and scanned the many faces in front of me. I saw a girl with long scarlet hair glancing a few times at a boy with blue hair who would smile at her before she looked away with a blush. It seemed like young love. I found it annoying and moved my attention away from them, feeling that I would lose my mind if I watched them any longer. In front of the lovebirds was a boy with black hair and a boy with pink hair. Their hands rushed quickly over the pages before them and I focused on them more to try to see what they were doing as they kept looking at each other, each with a smug grin. They were competing with each other. They were actually competing to see who could write the fastest. That's what I called a sad life. I looked away to a huge boy with purple hair like the teacher, sitting between a girl with the same coloured hair and a girl with long brown hair wearing glasses. The big boy seemed embarrassed and happy about something and I looked around for the reason. I quickly saw him holding hands under the table with the girl who wore glasses. What the heck! Was I stuck in some lovers' class!

'Annoying,' I muttered under my breath as I turned away from them feeling more frustrated by each passing second. I looked at the clock above Mirajane and groaned. There was still 20 minutes left of this class. 20 unbearable minutes. I turned my attention to the other side of the class and almost burst out laughing. A green haired boy was basically drooling over a girl with dark brown hair who didn't seem to notice that he existed. At the front of the class, next to the two competing boys, a girl with blonde hair and a girl with blue hair were both quickly taking notes from what Mirajane was saying. There was only one word for them. Nerds. But pretty ones. Even I had to admit that. There was no denying that the girls in the class were all very pretty in their own ways. I was hostile, but I was still a guy.

'Psss, Juvia,' I heard a voice whisper as I turned to a guy with long blonde hair at the back of the classroom. I saw him hand a note to the girl next to me and I noticed her face form into a frown as she read the note's words. The blonde guy next to her laughed with his black eyed companion. Juvia tore up the note and looked down at her desk, trying to ignore the two laughing boys.

'Is something funny Rufus?' Mirajane asked as her eyes moved from the blonde boy named Rufus to Juvia whose emotionless expression did not hide her cheerless eyes.

'No ma'am,' Rufus answered with a smug grin that I just wanted to punch off his face. I expected Mirajane to move on, but her unconvinced eyes remained on Juvia and I noticed the black haired boy in the front watching Juvia curiously.

'No ma'am,' Juvia responded softly as she shook her head and Rufus's grin widened with triumph. I felt my blood boil. Mirajane still didn't believe the situation to be innocent, but there was nothing she could do if Juvia didn't want to speak out and the purple haired teacher returned to the book she was reading. She didn't seem as enthusiastic as before. I couldn't blame her. I felt really irritated myself. I didn't get why Juvia didn't stand up for herself. If it was me, that Rufus guy would be face down on the tiled floor. Punks like him deserved to stay lying on the floor where they belonged.

'Shut up!' I screamed inside my head as I could still hear Rufus snickering at his enjoyment of upsetting Juvia. I looked to the blue haired girl staring at her desk and suddenly gasped. She looked so familiar. I knew her. I was surprised it took me this long to recognize her, but we were childhood friends in elementary school. She was my only friend. She moved away when I was eight and I never saw her again. But here she was. An older version of the little, awkward girl I remembered so well. She had been teased back then a lot. People saw her as different because she spoke in the third person and because her parents had abandoned her at a young age. The other kids saw her as weird, but really she was only ever shy and misunderstood.

'Juvia,' I whispered. It was so strange to say her name again. She turned her head towards me and a small smile spread on her familiar face.

'You remember,' she whispered back and I nodded. I only ever cared for one person and she was staring back at me. Her smile reminded me so much of our childhood together. A childhood shared between two kids who were seen as outcasts, but who understood each other. An understanding that went deeper than friendship. I had loved her. Not that kind of love that was romantic, but the kind of love that made two people family even though they shared no blood relation. She was my sister. And she was sad.

I saw her smile disappear when Rufus called her name again and I pulled my hands into fists. When I was young, I always stood up for Juvia and now was no different. I didn't care when my chair scrapped loudly against the floor as I stood up and Mirajane looked up from her book. But there was nothing she could do. Before she was even able to say anything, my fist had connected with Rufus's face and he was forced off his seat as his companion jumped to his feet. He looked angry. I smirked.

'You'll pay for that!' The boy shouted as he swung a punch at me, but I stopped it and pulled him forward.

'Stop!' Mirajane called out at me as everyone turned their attention to the fight and I punched the other boy to the floor, next to Rufus.

'Try laughing now,' I said sarcastically to them as Rufus tried to stand up and I put my foot on his chest, shaking my head.

'What's happening?' a voice demanded as the door swung open and a guy stepped inside the room with blonde hair and a lightning bolt scar over his one eye. He stopped when he saw the two boys on the floor and me standing over them. It looked like he wanted to smirk, but he forced a straight face and looked over at me knowingly.

'You must be Gajeel,' he guessed as he turned to Mirajane.

'What happened here?' he asked her as he pointed over at me and I watched my teacher glance my way.

'I don't know,' she lied, surprising me, 'I was reading to the class before I heard noises and when I looked up, this scene is what I saw Mr Dreyar,'

'Mr Dreyar...' I thought curiously and the tall blonde man seemed to understand her lie. The two stared at each other as if having a private conversation and suddenly I understood. They were married! That was her husband and the Principal's son. I was in so much trouble.

'Very well,' Mr Dreyar finally spoke after an unspoken decision was made and he looked at me with a sigh.

'All right Gajeel. Let's go,' he told me and I didn't hesitate to walk to him. I knew where I was going. I looked back at Juvia who was watching me and I shrugged. It was what I used to do to assure her I didn't mind getting into trouble. And by now I was used to it.

'I'll send Nurse Sherry to check on the two boys,' Mr Dreyar added as he directed his attention to Mirajane who nodded with appreciation before she looked at me. I met her eyes, expecting to see the same disapproval and distaste I had seen in my teachers before, but I was surprised to see none. She looked almost concerned for me. Maybe even a little pleased with what I had done. I quickly shook off this thought. It was obviously a state of mind. No teacher was ever pleased with a fight. I knew that from experience. I turned my attention away from Mirajane, my eyes meeting the eyes of the blue haired nerd for a second before I followed Mr Dreyar out of the classroom.

I walked casually behind Mr Dreyar as he escorted me to the one place I always found myself in all the schools I had been to. This walk was no surprise to me. It was only a matter of time before it happened. This was expected, but I didn't expect it so soon. I smiled. I was sure it was some kind of new record. I stopped outside a dark wooden door that opened after Mr Dreyar had knocked on it and had been invited in by the voice behind the door. I saw a word printed in big bold letters on the door as I entered the office after Mr Dreyar and the word was one I knew well. Principal.

'Well Gajeel that didn't take long at all,' Principal Dreyar spoke from where he sat at his desk, looking over some paperwork. I kept quiet as Mr Dreyar walked over to his grandfather and whispered something in the old man's ear. He seemed amused by whatever his grandson had said and looked at me with raised eyebrows before whispering something back to the blonde haired man.

'Thanks Laxus,' Principal Dreyar said out loud as Laxus nodded and left without another word, glancing at me with a smirk. He probably was happy I was getting into trouble. I was used to that.

'Please take a seat Gajeel,' Principal Dreyar added as he pointed at one of the chairs in front of his desk and I watched him suspiciously. He was oddly calm. I slowly sat down, expecting this all to be some kind of trick when he smiled kindly at me and leaned forward with no displeasure in his eyes.

'So you punched Rufus and Aria,' he said and I shrugged. I was gearing up to defend myself.

'So what,' I muttered, 'what kind of school system allows bullies to get away with being idiots? I was just giving them what they deserved.'

'I see,' the old man whispered after staring at me for a long minute and his facial expression hardened, 'I agree with you.'

'I don't care if you think what I did was wrong...' I started to argue, but stopped when his words registered inside my head and I looked at him shocked, 'you what?'

'I agree with you,' He repeated and I felt my mouth drop slightly. I never expected that.

'Rufus and Aria are bullies and it was only a matter of time before they got what was coming to them. I assure you that you're not the first who has wanted to punch them so I understand why you did. They deserved it. However...' Principal Dreyar spoke and I rolled my eyes. There it was. The objection. I knew it was too good to be true. Of course he didn't agree with what I did.

'...I don't believe violence was the answer,' he finished off and I looked away from him with folded arm. This room was a vibrant red just like the rest of the inside of the school. How annoying!

'Of course you don't,' I mumbled under my breath and the old man either didn't hear me or chose to ignore what I said.

'I know your kind Gajeel and when I say your kind, I'm not trying to be rude. You're tough and don't take any nonsense. You stand up for what you believe in, but you do it in an aggressive, hostile way. My grandson was very much like you. He ended up in prison,' Principal Dreyar informed me and I looked at him uninterested.

'Am I supposed to be scared by that?' I asked sarcastically and the old man laughed.

'No. It's just meant to remind you that there's a chance for change. My grandson did so and now he's happy...' the old man started to answer, but stopped when I burst out laughing. I had never gotten a lecture like this before. This man was a joke!

'He's no longer alone,' he added and my laughter immediately stopped. I looked at him wide eyed.

'I like being alone okay!' I shouted, furious that he had said that, as if suggesting I was unhappy. He knew nothing! Nothing!

'I never said you didn't Gajeel,' Principal Dreyar corrected me with an air of surprise.

'There are people in this world that enjoy being alone, but there isn't a single person who can bear solitude,' he added patiently as his words hit me hard and I stared at him shocked. I tried to remind myself to act tough, but my act seemed so pointless now that someone saw through it.

'I'm not like your past headmasters. They kicked you out and gave up on you. That isn't me. You can burn down my school Gajeel, but still I will keep you here until you realise that there is someone who won't give up on you,' the old man continued and my fists started to tremble. I wanted him to stop. I wanted him to shut up and he did, but it was worse than him speaking. His stare at me spoke a thousand words of promises and determination. There was no lie to what he had said. He meant every word and that scared me. I had never been scared before. But he was someone who wasn't just going to let me be this. To be what I had been for so long. He was making a mistake. I had to believe that he was making a mistake and would eventually give up, but his eyes disagreed with my belief. I watched him, still shocked before I forced myself to come to my senses and glared at him. He seemed amused by this and this only strengthened his words.

'What you did was for the right reasons. Maybe not in the right way, but I never find it fair punishing someone for good intentions. However, the fighting must be corrected and by public law I'm meant to punish you. I don't believe in detention or added homework. It doesn't teach you anything. So I have a different punishment in store for you. You'll probably see it as cruel, I see it as a reward more than a reprimand. I think you might come to thank me for it one day,' he spoke when I made no intention to do so. I watched his face light up with each word and something told me I would be begging for suspicion instead.

'We have a school play coming up and the director, who is also the writer of the play, needs help. You will be the director's assistant. Yes, I believe that will serve you quite well,' Principal Dreyar told me as I shot forward.

'What!' I spat, 'No! Rather just suspend me! I don't want to assist some drama nerd! I won't do it! I refuse!'

'I thought you might so believe me when I tell you Gajeel that I will come find you personally and drag you to play rehearsals and wherever else the director needs you to go. I will assure that you will be the best assistant ever because the director has put a lot of hard work into this play and I won't see it go to waste because of you. And I won't see you let this opportunity go to waste,' the old man warned me as I glared at him. I wasn't scared of him. He wouldn't really put that much effort and time in for me, 'You doubt me. That's fine, you can doubt all you want, but I will prove you wrong.'

'Just try me,' he added as his hard stare reminded me of his determination and a terrible realisation hit me. He wasn't lying. He would force me. I was going to HAVE to do this. I HATE this place!

'How long?' I demanded as Principal Dreyar smiled. He obviously never lost an argument.

'It's only two weeks. Two weeks and it's all over,' he answered as I groaned. Two weeks of my life I would never get back. Two weeks the old man was forcing on me. He was my least favourite person right now.

'Do we have a deal?' He asked as he held his hand out to me and I stared at it hesitantly. I REALLY didn't want to do this. I leaned forward, more annoyed than I had ever been and paused before reluctantly shaking his hand. I quickly pulled my hand away in response to a soft knock on the door and Principal Dreyar smiled as the door creaked open behind me.

'Just in time. Gajeel I would like you to meet the director of the school play...' he started to say enthusiastically as I turned around. Her! I was shocked to see the blue haired nerd from the front row staring back at me with a surprised expression.

'...Levy McGarden,'