Crédit Supplémentaire

Levy grabbed her last book and and put it on top of the pile in her arms. She took one last look to make sure she had everything and grabbed the locker door. She closed it and as it locked shut she saw someone out of the corner of her eye and looked over. She jumped and squeaked as she dropped all her books. She quickly got down to start collecting them.

Evergreen just laughed, "Good one, stupid. Now come on. I'm going to be late to class and we need to talk."

She started to move and Levy grabbed anything else she didn't already have and tried to catch up with the much taller cheerleader.

Levy looked down and stayed quiet as Evergreen talked, "So I hear you and Laxus are in the same French class?"

Levy made to reply, but Evergreen held up her hand, "Don't speak. I already know you are. But what I need from you is to help Laxus. He needs better grades or his grandfather will make him quit the football team. And that can't happen. So first, you need to make sure that Laxus gets that extra credit."

Her head snapped up, "Bu-but it's due tomorrow," she responded.

"I know, dumbass. I'm in the other period," she rolled her eyes and flicked her hair over her shoulder, "I need you to write another paper for Laxus. I would, but essays bore me. And I hate reading French. So, that leaves out an essay on a French book, even if it is worth 20 points."

Levy thought for a second, then realized that she didn't have time. She would have to pick a new theme of the book and then get new evidence for it, then actually write the paper. All the sign ups she talked about with Lucy were today. She had a student council meeting, a Halloween Trail meeting, and signups for mock trial. She had no time.

"Evergreen, I can't I-" Levy began, then looked up at the girl in glasses. Behind the plastic frames was nothing but a stony glare of hatred.

"I mean, I'll try my best, even if I have to give him my essay," which is what she might have to do.

"Great! See you later, hon!" Evergreen said as she turned into her classroom. Levy walked faster to Physics. There was no way she could do it all.

There were a few more days where Levy and Lucy tried out the different sports. They were becoming fast friends. But one day, they were split up.

"Levy, can I see you to the side," her teacher asked just before she was up for bat in wiffle ball. Levy nodded and let herself be pulled to the side.

"I've noticed you haven't been… comfortable with these drills and sports," the teacher began.

"I haven't minded them. I mean, they do tire me out, but that's what sports are suppose to do, right?"

"Not to this extent. You've been sweating and out of breathe every day at the end of the period. We grade you on preparedness as well as performance and ability."

"I know. But I thought I was doing fine. What are you saying?"

"If you don't shape up, I'll have to fail you for not doing well enough in class. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I know you're shaping up to be valedictorian. If I do this it will bring you down in rank and will put a blemish on your record that I don't want, and neither do you. I've talked to Coach Gildarts and we have come up with a solution," Levy looked at her teacher skeptically, but let her continue, "We found a pair that would fit nicely."

"So… what? If I do this it will keep me with a good grade?"

"Yes! But not only that, you will help this other young man in the same way. He is on the football team and kept breaking into the weightlifting room during class. So, he'll be helping you get in shape in the lifting room, while also getting his workouts in for football and getting credit for it."

"This seems more sybiotic than mutualistic," Levy replied.

"It'll keep you in NHS, as valedictorian, and keep you on track to… what college did you want to go to?"

"MIT."

"Yeah, I don't think they accept a failing grade in gym," the teacher turned and walked away. When she glanced over her shoulder and realized Levy wasn't following her she yelled, "Come on, McGarden!" and kept walking. Levy followed after. She caught Lucy's glance from second base and mouthed "I'll tell you later."

They met up with Coach Gildarts and a tall boy with black hair and piercings. He was nearly as tall as Gildarts, and Levy had never seen anyone as big as him.

Gildarts Clive leaned down and spoke to her quietly, "Hi, Levy. Sorry about this. Cana told me you didn't mind gym and tried to get me to talk to Coach Tracy, but you know her. She's very intense when it comes to fitness. I couldn't really talk her out of it."

"It's alright. I don't want special treatment just because my friend's dad is the head gym teacher."

"Well, this already is special treatment, so get used to it," Coach Tracy said to break up their conversation, "This is Gajeel Redfox. He'll be the one bulking you up." Gajeel scowled down at her, so she frowned back, even though she wanted to cry inside. This would be terrible.

The next week, I had to teach Natsu how to do the lab again, but this time it wasn't as bad. He just didn't understand a few processes. Mr. Conbolt was easy on our grades. Or, on mine anyway. I don't know about Natsu, though.

Not until a few labs later, when Mr. Conbolt cornered me. He complimented my grades and how hard it must be, switching to a school in my senior year.

He quickly got to the point, "I just wish everyone in the class was doing as well as you. I see you're helping Natsu on lab days. Which is good, but he needs a full time tutor. Do you think you'd be okay with that?"

Lucy blushed, "Mr. Conbolt, I really can't. I have too much going on. I'm in the debate club, I'm looking for a job, and I'm trying to get into the writer's club here. With the writing itself on top of that, I'm not sure I'll have enough time to breath let alone tutor Natsu."

Mr. Conbolt looked a bit defeated, and sighed, "Alright. Well, I'll see what I can do on my own. Thanks for considering, Lucy."

"No problem, Mr. Conbolt. See you tomorrow."

"Okay, classe. Today we will be starting un nouveau projet," Monsieur Jonah said as he wrote "New Project" on the board. He outlined the parts of the project and gave out worksheets. The class had to create a dialogue about some aspect of France. They were going to be working with one partner that Monsieur Jonah chose. Levy listened intently and hoped she wouldn't hear the words "crédit supplémentaire". She knew if she did, she would get a visit from Evergreen.

"Et le projet avec le plus de créativité, la précision et le projet le plus bien fait obtiendrez un," Levy held her breath, "crédit supplémentaire."

"Shit," Levy huffed under her breath as her head slumped down on the desk.

"So, best project in the class gets extra credit, huh?" Evergreen snuck up behind Levy at her locker again. This time, she made herself known immediately.

"You're getting Laxus those points," she said. This wasn't a request, it was a demand.

"I got him the essay last time, I can't do this too." Levy had stayed up all night that night, writing Laxus a new essay. There was no way she was giving him her's.

"Yes, you can."

"No, I-" she was met with those eyes again and looked at the floor, "What I mean to say is, we don't pick groups. We get assigned our partners."

"Then you better find a way to make sure Laxus and you get paired together, or you and your partner don't get a better grade than him."

Levy looked around as she stepped into class. She sat in her seat and saw similar notes on the board as yesterday. The pairs for the dialogue were being picked today. Levy hoped she would be paired with Laxus. Actually, she didn't. She would rather take the lower grade if she didn't have to carry that jock's IQ all the way to the top to that extra credit. She looked around and found a few people she would rather partner with. Aries was pleasant and afraid to public speak. She knew they would get a decent grade, but not a winning one.

So, she waited. Monsieur Jonah came into the room and had a list. He started writing names on the board. He got to Laxus and paired him with…

"Damn," Levy whispered under her breath. It was Aries. Not only were her two partner choices taken- they took each other. Next ones down was "Levy - Gajeel". She looked a row over and back where the giant sat. He was currently sleeping and Levy was again wondering why he had taken the class. She guessed she would get the chance to ask now, instead of always talking about gym.

When the class broke to get in their groups, she walked up to him. He was asleep and his seat partner had vacated the vicinity as soon as his name was on the board. Levy poked him on the shoulder. And when he wouldn't wake up, she sat down next to him. She got out her phone and her notebook. She wrote the header down and started to look things up for the project. She crosses her legs and accidentally nudged Gajeel. Not thinking, she automatically apologized.

Finally, he woke up, "Fuckin- what the hell are you doin' here?"

"We got our partners? We're paired."

"Again? Tsch. Hell, I can't get away from you."

"What you don't want the smartest girl in the class as your partner?"

"Not if she's you."

"That's rude!"

"Eh. So what's the project?"

"We have to write about some aspect of France."

"French fries. French toast. French kissing," Levy blushed, "What's our pick, shortstop?"

"I was thinking food. France is big with their food. Like Champagne, Escargot, and Eclairs. They're all from France. I could make some mousse."

"I have a recipe for Steak Frit-ez."

"It's Steak Frites. And you don't have to."

"It's no big deal. My mom used to make the stuff all the time. I know it like the back of my hand."

"Is that why you take French?" Levy blushed again and realized what she was saying. She shouldn't be asking such a personal question when they didn't really know each other, and Gajeel seemed to agree. He shut down on her immediately.

"Not your business."

"Uh. Okay. I just was wondering if she wanted you to take the recipe."

"Doesn't matter. She doesn't really have much of say right now. Are we done here?"

"Well, there's a written component."

"I'll handle the food, you handle the writing."

Levy's face felt hot, "Okay." Her head snapped down to the paper and Gajeel took out his phone. She wondered why she had asked so many questions. While this wasn't unusual for her, it was when it came to pierced, probably tattooed, delinquent young men that try to torture her in gym class.

Levy took a deep breath and concentrated on the essay at hand. She weighed her options. She could do one of a few things, but she wanted to ask Gajeel something first. And to do that, she needed to become more acquainted with him, or he'd clench up like a clam.