—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, the song in this chapter, and the characters used in this work of fiction. The Cover Art is made by me (acrylic on paper), 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.


"The same?" she asked as her eyes met his. Freed gave her his usual smile nodding. Then his eyes turned to look around the café. It was like a secret understanding between the two. Levy doesn't mind. She knows he's looking for Mirajane. With a sly smile she took his order and scribbled down something on the tissue before handing it to him.

He smiled yet again, but it didn't reach his eyes.

She knew he didn't spot her because Mirajane wasn't in morning shift today.

Seeing the tissue he held back a gasp and walked off immediately. She smiled at herself knowing that the man would show up later in the evening to hear Mirajane's performance.

"One Latte and one Espresso," a soft voice said, catching her attention effectively. She smiled at the woman in front of her. "For Juvia," she said. "And for Gajeel."

She was Gajeel's friend/girlfriend/ex-girlfriend. She wasn't sure. But she was also quite popular. She was pretty, and all. Everything a guy would actually like. She thought envy gnawing her guts.

Quickly she got the order, trying not to be too stiff with it. There were times, only the two of them would come there. They would stay for a while just to disappear later unnoticed. Levy would find herself disappointed at times. The other girl stared at her for a moment, her expression quite blank. Then she looked at the tissue issued to them as if inspecting it of anything. Then she looked back at Levy.

Perhaps, she was expecting Levy to scribble her number there. Because not less than a second her eyes darted on Gajeel who had seated himself off. Then she looked back at the cashier. This almost got Levy flustered. She wasn't sure what she did wrong.

"T—the earlier was for a friend," she choked out. "We're partners so—I couldn't chat with him—and it was the project we're," the look on Juvia's eyes caught her off guard though. It was relief. Then Juvia thanked her politely and walked towards Gajeel's table.

Levy hit herself. Why did she even try explaining?

-/-

Remember me, remember me when you are down.

Float me on air, and lift me up from off the ground.

She didn't know he was part of a band. She didn't know they would play that time; and most importantly here in Fairy Tail. And thankfully she wasn't on duty. It would have been embarrassing to stare at him while trying to serve up the people; not that she wasn't clumsy enough already. She tried to still her heart but later gave up on it. Gajeel was very talented. Well, she wasn't knowledgeable but she knew he was good at what he was doing. But she did remember Droy playing a bass guitar for her before, and it surely hadn't look that easy. But Gajeel came out almost effortless.

Oh baby, I feel lazy so lie here in my arms tonight.

Would you deny a poor man's cry, a poor man's cry?

Some blonde guy had been their vocalist. She sure knew that man hadn't been from the University. His face was quite startling like how Gray managed to stand out in a sea of people. And neither was the one on the drums, organ, and the other guitar. They were all so foreign looking; but oddly Gajeel fit in right into them like some visual kei band. And she found herself more engrossed with the scene on the stage, as her attention turned boldly to his lips.

Just when I'm finding it hard to breathe,

You lift the weight inside of me.

Her lips fell quite ajar, as he mouthed the lyrics. Her curiosity of how his voice sounded when singing growing exponentially, but it was impossible with the café buzzing with people the vocalist's voice on the mic, and the other instruments melding in.

Oh baby I see the light that's burning bright, and we're the stars.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

Then his eyes snapped towards hers. It wasn't the first time they've stared at each other like this. She couldn't even remember the first time; the first time her breath caught on her throat; the first time she'd been so mesmerized; the first time everything stopped and it was just the two of them. She didn't know how long she had stared at him during his whole performance; or stared at him at all. Because all those times they'd ended up staring at each other in the café, or just the football field but it was always Levy who cut it off.

My head's alive, my head's alive, can't get no peace.

You're my escape from this heartache, I need relief.

This time she looked away as she felt someone tap her shoulder. It was Elfman. His tan arms extending towards her from a less crowded spot, how was it possible to have such long limbs? He had a grin plastered on his face as he said something she barely understood. But she followed him off into the crowd.

Oh baby, this world's crazy, so lie here in my arms tonight.

You can't deny a poor man's cry, a poor man's cry.

She looked back towards him, only to find him staring at her amused. She wondered what goes in his mind when they stared at each other like this. She wondered if she had been so obvious. His lips still mouthing the lyrics that were unknown to her, she might as well ask the song from Mirajane or Lucy. The song was going to hunt her before she realized it. Before she could get too interested in just staring at him, she turned to her heel hoping Elfman was still visible.

Just when I'm finding it hard to breathe,

You lift the weight inside of me.

"Levy!" she heard Mirajane exclaimed. They were together. All of them; everyone she'd known in the University was here having a good time. She couldn't help but join in as well. And grinned even wider when she noticed the proximity of Freed and Mirajane. They were like idiots both oblivious of the other's reciprocated affections.

Oh baby I see the light that's burning bright, and we're the stars.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

It turned out that the café gave a buzzing night life to students from the Uni. She didn't know Fairy Tail was this popular. However, Mirajane insisted out of modesty that it was the band there for the night. Then her eyes were drawn back towards the stage. She had fought the urge to do so, yet failed miserably. But even if it had been a fine proximity from the stage, she still couldn't see much. With a defeated sigh she leaned to Elfman who sat himself beside her. "Hey, Elfman," she greeted with an ever resent smile. The other turned to her with a grin ready for any inquiry. "What's that band? Ah—I like that song."

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

"Dunno, though Gajeel's in it," he shrugged attentively. At the mention of the name she tried not to look too absorbed. The crowd had broken in a round of applause but her attention was all to Elfman. "But the song's 'Annie You Save Me'," the crowd was too noisy but right now she had discovered her hidden talent of reading lips. She giggled when Elfmann tried to add something about manliness to it and masculinity.

I say, stars, please shine for me tonight.

Stars, please shine for me tonight.

She didn't stay too long. Especially because Freed had finished his part of the project; she knew she had to finish hers. She excused herself. She could see Elfman pout like a big Doberman. She laughed and set off. Although, the guys had volunteered to walk her home with a, "You sure, Levy?" from Gray, Freed, or Elfman. She nodded and headed off before any argument could start. And it wasn't like she was comfortable with someone still not well acquainted with her to walk her home.

You lift the weight now baby, from inside

Just when I'm finding it hard to breathe,

She passed by him. Sparks flew almost instantly as his glance graced on her too. She knew that she was kind of slow about things like this; because it was just today she fully realized she had a full bloom crush on him. She looked down quickly and set off. At least she discovered something new about him: he was part of a band popular to college kids and quite a capable bass player.

You lift the weight inside of me.

Oh baby I see the light that's burning bright, and we're the stars.

Just when I'm finding it hard to breathe,

And that made her happy; awfully happy. She was turning into some stalker. She heard a couple of thuds behind her. (Presumably, Elfman thought it wasn't manly to let her walk alone. Sheesh, that man was always too obsessed with machismo.)

You lift the weight inside of me.

Oh baby I see the light that's burning bright, and we're the stars

She turned around, just to find Gajeel putting his duffel bag in place with his guitar in the other hand. If the street wasn't so dark, she would have been as bright as a tomato. Then he looked at her. Her expression could have been priceless, because there was a hint of a smile on his always scowling lips. Well, she hadn't expected the person behind her to be him anyway. Surely it caught her off guard. Plus he was definitely smiling at her. It made her heart skip a beat. He was certainly staring back at her smiling, as if he had known her since.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

Then she froze in place as he took off, and stood by the post waiting for a cab. Or what was it he was waiting for. She stood there for a couple of minutes, and then Levy felt herself too embarrassed that she hurried off back into the café pretending to look into her back all the while. She was too much of a coward to stay alone with him there and pretend to be waiting for a cab since; she'd more likely be paying a terrible attention to him instead. She might even miss the cab. She didn't say anything but they figured something good happened to her. Though blushing so hard, she was quite hyped.

Oh Annie, you save me from the world.

Even though returning late in their dorm with Lucy, she finished the project. She was still so hyped and inspired.

-/-

"Levy," Freed started as he pointed something on the book they were discussing. She looked at it for a moment or so then looked back at him with a curious expression. Tapping her pencil on her lips, she smiled almost slyly. In the days she had been with him, she had officially figured out how much of a dork the MVP's best friend was. Who would have known the popular brainy would be a dork after all his almighty act?

Not that she had any problems with popular people. Or perhaps she was bullied before in her high school days that she eventually had this prejudice about them. Yet she might have, theoretically, buried in the furthest part of her brain.

"Freed?" she asked ever so softly. "Did you actually come here to study?" she asked. Bixlow who had sat himself with them made a choking sound. While the addressed man looked shock before blushing furiously, trying to device an excuse; but panic had been like paint on his face. With a thumbs up from Bixlow, Levy proceeded asking, "If we are really studying, why aren't we in the library?"

"Sometimes, I don't know if I'll hate you or like you. Do you know that, Levy?" he replied brashly.

"He's such a dork!" Bixlow exclaimed. As obnoxious as Bixlow was, he was a great accomplice in teasing Freed. And, well, she enjoyed seeing the other flustered. Why doesn't he just confess? It was quite obvious that Mirajane liked him too. If the brighter smiles of Mirajane; the huge attention she gives Freed; the way she turned down any guy who would try to woo her; or any of that sort isn't a big giveaway she wasn't sure what else would be.

"Hey, they're here," Bixlow said in a hushed tone, after his laugh subsided. His eyes gave a pointed look, and Levy turned to see who's there. Much to her delight, it was Mirajane, Lisanna, and Elfmann; talk of the devil Strausses.

And then there was Gajeel sitting alone in a table a little far from them. She hadn't noticed him there. But sure, it was one of the reasons why she had agreed to study with Freed outside. Perhaps, she was a big dork too. Gajeel would sometimes sit here every now and then to talk with Juvia or something. But this time he was alone. With a smile, she turned to them, "So, I'll invite 'em!"

"Don't you dare," Freed's tone held a menacing tone or so he hoped. But it had failed. Bixlow stood up and had abandoned them as soon as the Strauss came to their table.

Levy glanced at Gajeel's direction to where Bixlow had gone to. Oh, of course, they were friends. Duh, Levy, Fotoball team.

"May I sit here?" Lisanna chirped. She smiled at Levy whose attention immediately turned to her friend. She nodded fervently. The youngest Strauss giggled and sat beside her. Levy stared at the girl for a while before deciding to put her attention back to the unattended books on their table. But for a moment she caught a sad expression behind the younger Strauss's face.

"Lisanna?" she asked.

Lisanna turned with a new beaming smile. Though there was something more to it that Levy didn't know. "Bixlow left just when we arrived, right?"

"Lisanna," Freed said softly and he glanced warily to Mirajane who too had frowned. And of course Levy took notice. Was there something she was missing?


A/N:

So, so, I have nothing to say really. But you know, feel free to drop by my profile. I finally made it. And I worked hard for it. So you know, dropping by won't hurt.

Would it be nice if I make a inpisredbyGameofThrones!AU?

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Credits:

The song is 'Annie You Save Me' by Graffiti6.

For the complete credits of the cover art: The Cover Art is made by me (acrylic on paper) 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.

Adiossss~

m(_ _)m~(hurohuro)