I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.

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Gajeel ran his fingers across the bindings of the books in search of the title his book report was supposed to be on. He groaned as he had reached the end of another shelf. Where the hell was this damn book? It was due next period and he didn't feel like going to another one of Ms. Scarlet's detentions. He would have continued on his impossible quest, but his ears caught onto a sound he couldn't identify at first.

He felt compelled to follow the small noise. It was almost like some unknown force was pushing him toward it. When he realized what it was, it was too late. It was the sound of someone chocking back their tears and pain. Oh, how he regretted following the noise now.

He was not the one to comfort people, especially, not the small girl in front of him. It was too late to turn back, even though he wanted to break for it, she would notice his presence soon. How could she not? He was a freaking giant with a shadow that loomed over people. What was he supposed to say?

Gajeel had a deep, meaningful, caring thought cross his mind that was sure to cheer her up, but what came out of his mouth was, "Do you know where I can find 1984 by George Orwell?"

The small girl looked up at him. Gajeel froze. She was…extraordinarily cute. He found himself admiring her facial features from her brown eyes that looked like a glass of whiskey that was being hit by a ray of sunshine to her bright blue hair that looked like it belonged on the feathers of a blue jay. However, he mostly froze due to the fact that the tears were still rolling down her cheek and her brown eyes looked like a deer caught in head lights.

Kinda Bambi lookin' really. Gajeel thought.

"Two shelves over to the left under the big olive green book." She replied automatically.

He stood there for a couple moments longer before walking away. Only to promptly walk right back. His mother had raised him with better manners than to leave a crying girl alone, and Juvia would have his head when he told her.

"Why are yeh cryin'?" Gajeel spat out. He meant for it to come off as gentle and concerned, but it flew out a little winded and demanding.

She looked up at him in surprise again. "Oh, um, my favorite character just died."

"What?" Gajeel's eyebrows furrowed.

"My favorite character, Max, just died in a sword fight in order to save his sister." The blunette explained. "Sorry, if I worried you."

Gajeel felt relief wash over him, but he scuffed in reply to the girl. He walked away, glancing at her through the side of his eye. She was smiling at him. Ugh, what the hell did his heart just do?

In the end, Gajeel spent the rest of his free period thinking about the petite girl crying over the fictional character instead of reading the stupid book which, in return, led him to detention with Ms. Scarlet, again. He sighed. Not even Salamander, the idiot class clown of the class, had failed to read the damn thing.

"Gajeel," Ms. Scarlet said. Gajeel sat up from his slouching position. "I know you are a smart kid with a lot of potential. I don't know what you need though. Is it a motivational push? Or perhaps you'd prefer another teacher?"

"No, yer great Ms. Scarlett," Gajeel admitted, "I understand the most in yer class than any other."

"Then what is it?"

"It just slipped my mind, I guess." Gajeel shrugged.

Erza sighed at being told a blatant lie. "If you need help with anything, anything at all, just say so. I could even get you a tutor if you don't feel like staying behind with me."

"I'd prefer if ya just gave me a little extra time with reading the damn book." Gajeel whispered under his breath.

"I can compromise to that." Erza almost laughed at his horrified look, "So long as you are in the library reading them before and after school, I'll give you a two week extension on the essay that is due next class for everyone else."

Gajeel thought for a moment. "How will ya know if I'm stayin' after or comin' before?"

She laughed, "I have eyes and ears everywhere. A blue bird is at my side in the library."

It didn't cross his mind at that moment that she was referring to the blunette he had met not even a couple hours before.

XXX

Gajeel peered through the edge of the shelf to see if the petite girl from the other day was there. He was greeted with one of the most angelic laughs he had ever heard. It wasn't directed at him, but at an old torn apart book held gently by the odd girl. He smiled for a moment before realizing that the book in her hand yesterday was different from the book she held today. Had she read that big block of a book in less than a day? What an impressive nerd.

Satisfied with his findings, Gajeel walked to an empty table to open the burden of his life. He gazed at the book intensely. He wanted to enjoy it…no feel it the way that she did. However, as the clock ticked by he became less and less interested with book, and more intrigued in listening to her. She was so expressive in what she felt. She would gasp one moment only to sigh in another. His favorite was when she mumbled the character's name as she laughed, but he had to hold in a chuckle ever time she groaned in annoyance at a character's actions.

She was so pleased with her book that she hadn't even acknowledged his presence as she left the library. He tried to reassure himself that he wasn't disappointed that she hadn't noticed him the way he had noticed her. In her defense, he wasn't gasping or groaning or anything like she was, really. However, he hoped to be soon. No sexual innuendo intended. After all, he wasn't like his foster sister, Juvia, who seemed to have an oddly….creative mind.

He stood from his seat to find the book she had been reading. Again, he ran his finders across the bindings of the book in an attempt to find the title, but this time he was genuinely interested in finding it.

"Can I help you find something?"

Gajeel felt his whole body grow cold. He whipped his head toward the direction of the voice in terror. "I thought ya had left?!" Gajeel chocked out. "Do ya wanna give me a heart attack?"

The bookworm's eyes widen in surprise and then became apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I wasn't scared." Gajeel said defensively.

"But you said-" She attempted to reason before she was interrupted.

"What did ya come back for, Shrimp?" It came off cold, but he had honestly meant it to sound nonchalant.

Her cheeks suddenly reminded him of a puffer fish and the color of her face resembled Ms. Scarlet's hair. Height must have been a touchy topic. Short people problems he presumed.

"My name is Levy!" She glared, "I came back for my library card that I was using as a bookmark."

She pulled out the book she had been reading from the shelf, and gently took out her library card. She gave him one last glare before turning away from him.

"Wait!" Gajeel commanded. Apologize. Apologize. Apologize. "If yer done with the book, I want it."

Her features had changed from anger to curiosity in a split second, and Gajeel watched the shift in amazement. She looked at the book and then back at him. She blinked a couple of times as if trying to reason something in her head before handing it over to him. Their fingertips grazed against each other as the book was handed off, and Gajeel was sure she was using some type of sorcery because his insides felt like they were electrocuted.

"Take care of it." She almost whispered.

Gajeel nodded, "I'll be gentle."

He felt his face get hot as she looked at him intently; almost as if she was analyzing him like the characters in her books.

"Levy, come on!" A girl called out. Gajeel was half certain it was Salamander's, not really but basically, girlfriend.

XXX