Chapter 3

Natsu and Levy strolled down the empty hallway with the cafeteria door in sight. "Wish you told me about this yesterday. Really put me on the spot Natsu…" Levy seemed agitated. Natsu patted her head. "Lucy is real cool, you two will get along just fine." Levy was silent.

Approaching the doors, the two could hear the loud ramblings of the school on the other side. Natsu unconsciously reached out for Levy's hand as they both pushed the doors outward. Natsu blushes and let's go, noticing his awkward hand placement.

In the back of the room, Natsu spotted an exuberant blonde girl waving to them. He could spot another girl with scarlet-like hair and also Gray.

"Gray?" Natsu thought to himself. The pair walked over to the trio that sat at the table. "Hey Natsu! Levy! Glad you came!" Lucy squealed. Erza smiled at the blonde's excited greeting, Gray just let out an amused sigh at the irony of the circumstance. "I'm Erza, nice to meet you." She waved and the two waved back. "I'm Gray." Natsu smirked and Levy giggled. "What's so funny?" Lucy said clueless. "I saw the two on the roof about to get it on yesterday." Gray nonchalantly explained.

"What?!" Lucy blushed, as did Levy. "We were not." Natsu sighed. "You better not have, the roof is private, and you're not supposed to be up there." Erza informed. "How do you know?" Levy asked. Erza looked at the petite girl. "Well I'm the student body president. Class prez if you will." Erza claimed with pride. "So. You two aren't-"

"No!" Levy shouted, drawing attention to the table.

After school, Lucy invited Levy to go to a bookstore close by with her and Erza which she accepted. Natsu and Gray hung out at their apartment.

"And this is Levy's room." Gray nodded. "I bet some fun things have happened in here huh?" Gray laughed.

"Nice place though, who pays for all of this since you two don't have jobs?" Gray asked. "My father is a doctor outside of Magnolia, he's paying for this place until I move onto college, unless I decide not to." Natsu responded.

"Are you?" Gray leaned in, awaiting his response. "I don't know what I want to do yet is the thing. But I'd like to go." Gray nodded at his solid response.

"I feel ya. I don't know what I want to do either, my grades haven't really indicated that I have a choice to go anyway." Gray looked down at his twiddling thumbs.

Natsu didn't know what to say so he kept quiet.

"I really can't believe you two haven't gone at it yet." Gray stated breaking the ice.

"Well…" Natsu stopped.

"I was right about the buddy thing huh?"

Natsu shook his head. "More like a quarter right."

"What?"

"Over the summer, Levy and I kissed." Natsu looked at Gray for a response. "Was it awkward?" Gray asked. "Not exactly, we were hugging each other good night after a fun day down at that summer festival and I pulled her in for a kiss."

Gray's eyes were wide. "Sounds like a poorly written erotic novel."

"Shut up." Natsu retorted

"We got a little handsy and after a few minutes I fell asleep in her bed."

Gray clapped his hands repeatedly and paused. "Wait that's not just a little kiss. What happened after that?"

"In the morning she kicked me out. We never talk about it."

Gray stared at the teen. "Nothing changed?"

"I don't know…We seem a lot more closer but I don't know if that's just from living together longer." Natsu twiddled his thumbs during the moment of silence. "Well, the question is do you love her?" Gray leaned back on the couch, as if to relax in the tense conversation.

"She's my best friend! Of course I do!" Natsu stated happily. Gray shook his head. "You know what I mean man. Talk to her about it or something."

There was another moment of silence in the room before Natsu lifted himself from the couch and entered the kitchen.

"Want anything to eat?" Natsu inquired.

"Whatcha got?"

"We had a great time with you Levy! Let's do this again soon!" Lucy squealed. "Come on Gray let's go." Gray lifted himself off the couch and met the two at the door. "Let's go. And by the way..." Gray looked back at Natsu. "Talk about it." Lucy and Erza looked at each other and shrugged. "See you guys."

As the door closed, Levy hugged Natsu from behind. "So how was your day with Gray, Natsu?"

Natsu turned toward her and looked down. "We talked about all sorts of things and just relaxed. It was fine." He replied.

Levy and Natsu sat on the couch with her hands on his knee. "Like what?" Levy asked. "We talked about school, college, girls and just random world events and stuff I guess." Natsu laid back on the couch and closed his eyes.

"Wait-wait-wait. Girls? Do you like that one girl Lucy?" Natsu opened his eyes and looked back at his friend's mischievous expression. "No! She's cute but I don't know her enough." Levy giggled. "I'd rather date you to be honest with you." Natsu thought to himself grinning. "What?" Levy asked.

He had though aloud. "What did you say Natsu?" Levy asked again. "I was joking Levy, chill." Natsu's heart skipped a beat. There was a moment of silence, similar to the silence in Gray and Natsu's conversation earlier that day, but more intense.

"I'd date you Natsu, you're a nice guy." Levy said. Natsu looked at her, watching for any sign of sarcasm on her face. "Don't look at me like that! There isn't anything particularly wrong with you, that's all I'm say-"

"Oh my god you love me." Natsu interrupted, breaking the ice. "Oh my god shut up!" Levy laughed. Natsu tickled her stomach and they wrestled on the couch for a minute with Natsu teasing Levy as they harmlessly fought. "Levy loves Natsu! Levy loves Natsu." Levy was screaming hysterically at this point and tried pushing off her roommate but failed to overpower his outburst of energy.

"Okay Natsu knock it off!" Levy pushed him off. Natsu finished his chuckles and looked down at his roommate who was still giggling. Natsu and Levy met eyes after the laughter subdued. Without breaking eye contact, Natsu slowly leaned down as Levy reluctantly closed her eyes when the two met lips. A quick lip lock but no tongue.

Natsu lifted himself off of Levy and walked to his room, his head spinning from what had just transpired that night.

Levy sat on the couch touching her lips, blushing and smiling at the same time.

Chapter was really short for such a long wait. No excuses, I'm getting my shit together.