[Note from the Author: Hey there! Thanks for reading chapter three of my little tale. It means a lot to me. Also, thanks for the 15 reviews I've gotten. They all made me smile =D

For those of you who don't read my other story, guess what? I have a Beta now! The one and only zamizu-me has taken the time to read over my other horribly grammar-filled story and fixed it because he is just that awesome. Thanks Zamizu! But, he was really busy with his own fanfic today and I didn't wanna interrupt him, so I kinda sorta submitted this without him looking over it (^.^;) So, please excuse any grammatical/spelling errors. The next chapter will go through him first. Hehehe.

Alright, onward with the story!

I don't own D. Gray-Man, 'cause if I did, Allen and Lavi would be inseparable ^w^

Happy Readings!

~animeobsessed001]

Chapter Three: Bipolar Much?

When I reached the Dinning Hall, I was grinning like a fool. I looked around for Allen, but the task proved to be challenging seeing as I was so short. I was quickly lost in a sea of legs. I puffed my cheeks in frustration, a childhood habit of mine.

"Lavi! Where are you?" I heard Allen's voice call for me. I shoved my way through all the tall people around me as I continued to search for my pal.

"Lavi? Is that you?" a familiar female voice asked. I turned around to see my good friend Lenalee Lee staring at me with wide eyes.

"Yup!" I said, giving her my cutest smile. She blinked at me, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. I didn't blame her. "See, this is what happens when I try to help your brother," I said. Realization spread across her face and she nodded, her short black pigtails bouncing as she did.

"Lavi!" Allen called again.

"Sorry, Lena, gotta go," I said as I turned to dash away. Before I could, Lenalee leaned down and wrapped her thin arms around me.

"You're so cuute~!" she squealed, hugging me tightly. Maybe it was because I was so small, but the sixteen year old's hug was more like a death grip.

"Lena.. Can't breathe!" I choked.

"Oh, sorry, Lavi. You're just so cute I couldn't help it." She released me and I sighed with relief when I was able to suck oxygen into my poor lungs.

"There you are, Lavi!" I didn't even turn my head around before I was wrapped into another hug of death, making me squeak.

"Can't.. breathe.. gonna.. die.." I said with great difficulty.

"Sorry."

Once I was released, I spun around to glare at the culprit. Allen knelt down so he was at my eye level, making me feel extra short. To add insult to injury, his shoulders were shaking from laughter.

"What are ya laughin' at?" I demanded.

"You squeaked! It was adorable!" Allen burst into full out laughter and was joined by Lenalee who had been stifling giggles behind me.

"It was not adorable! It was a very manly squeak," I grumbled, shooting daggers at my friends.

"Whatever you say.. Shortstack," Allen said with a smirk.

My jaw dropped to the floor. Oh HELL no! He did NOT just use my nickname for him against me! I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted. "Not nice."

Allen grinned and ruffled my hair. "I know, I'm sorry. I just couldn't help it."

"I miss being six-one," I whined.

"I know, I know," Allen said in mock comfort.

"You're soo not helping here."

"Sorry. Well, let's go get some lunch." Before I could reply, Allen placed his hands on my sides beneath my arms and lifted me up.

"I can walk by myself, ya'know!" I yelled, a blush growing on my face.

"You could, but you're so small, I'd hate to lose you in the crowd." He pressed me against his chest just like he had earlier.

"I'm not that short," I grumbled as I wrapped my legs around him and hooked my arms around his neck.

"Whatever you say," Allen chuckled. He took us over to Jerry's booth where we would order our food.

Jerry, our violet haired chef, smiled brightly at Allen, his best customer. "Why hello there~!" he exclaimed, eyes gleaming behind his dark glasses.

"Hey Jerry, I'll have my usual order," Allen said with a smile. Allen ate so much, it took five minutes just to place his order. Finally, Jerry had memorized the long order and made it for Allen everyday.

"Alright. Then what about that cutie-patootie in your arms?" Jerry asked.

"What do you want to eat, Lavi?" Allen asked me.

"That's Lavi?" Jerry gasped. "That's my favorite sexy red-head? Ooh, let me take a closer look!"

For some reason, my chest tightened at the sound of Jerry's voice. I shook my head furiously and clung to Allen when he tried to turn me around to face the flamboyant chef. I clenched my fists into Allen's shirt and buried my face into his chest.

"Aww, he's a shy little guy," Jerry cooed.

"Lavi? What's wrong? You know Jerry," Allen said.

"I.. I know.." I mumbled, mentally kicking myself for the way I was acting. What is wrong with me? Why can't I look at Jerry? Why am I feeling.. so.. shy?

"That's okay; I'll give him a hug later. So what would you like to eat?" he asked me.

"Just get him a cheese sandwich," Allen ordered for me.

"Of course. Your food will be ready soon."

With our food ordered, Allen walked us to our table in the back of the room. He set me down on the bench before taking a seat across from me. "What was that about? Why did you get shy all of a sudden?" he asked me, leaning his face on his gloved hand.

"I don't know! I mean, I used to be shy when I was little, but I grew out of it!" For the first year or so after Gramps took me in, I was painfully shy. I couldn't look at anyone in the eye, let alone make verbal contact. He practically forced me out of my little shell on order to train me as a Bookman apprentice.

Being a Bookman, a recorder of history, meant more than the job. It meant to not have a name, a past, or a future other than to record. It meant to dedicate your very existence to the task of infiltrating different groups on different sides of a war, no matter how many personas you must fake and discard in the process. Had Bookman not done what he did, I would not be 'Lavi'. I would not have been 'Deak' either. All forty nine aliases I had taken on would have never been. Had Gramps not helped me, I would have never become the Bookman I am now.

The failure of a Bookman anyway.

Poor Gramps. What a waste. For thirteen years he pounded the ways of the Bookman Clan into my head, only for me to break the most important rule. To grow attachments to those I should be studying. Allen Walker is my best friend. In Bookman standards, he should only be known as the Destroyer of Time, the boy destined to end the Holy War, as well as the host of the Fourteenth Noah, Neah. Instead of striking a conversation with Allen, I should be watching and memorizing all his habits and ways of speaking. Instead of coming to his aid in battle, I should be learning his fighting style and weaknesses, as well as committing every attack Crown Clown can perform to memory. Instead of calling him my best friend, he should only be a subject of interest to me as a Bookman.

I really am a failure.

"Lavi? Lavi?" Allen's voice shook me out of my deep thoughts.

"Eh, wha?" I asked.

"Your lunch is here. You've been staring at the salt and pepper shakers for the past fifteen minutes. Are you alright?" his voice held genuine concern.

I gave Allen one of my fake smiles. "Yeah, I'm alright." My voice didn't sound convincing, even in its kid-like state.

Allen knew that I was lying, he always did. He must have known that it was something that I couldn't share with him because instead of pressing the subject, he sighed. "If you say so." That said, he picked up one of his many dango sticks and dug in.

I tried to follow his example and lifted my cheese sandwich to my lips. I took a nibble, the food tasted like dust in my mouth. It wasn't that Jerry's sandwich was crap, but I was in such a bad mood that I couldn't enjoy the deliciousness. I continued to take little bites out of my sandwich, when something heavenly caught my eye.

The world around me faded out as I stared intently at the object of my desire. A thin, paper cup hugged the sides of the treat. Its transparency revealed the golden brown perfection of the dessert. Swirled vanilla icing topped the miniature cake and was completed with small colored sprinkles. It was the most delicious looking cupcake I had seen in my life.

"Lavi? Are you alright? You're drooling," Allen said. I made no response and continued to stare at the confection before me. Allen followed my gaze and picked up the tiny cake and held it out to me. "Do you want this?"

"OH MY GOD YES!" I shouted, snatching the cupcake from him. I held the holy item in my hand and smiled. With my tiny tongue, I lapped up the icing, sighing at the sweet taste. Once the cake was bare, I ripped off the paper and shoved the entire thing into my mouth. Although my mouth was small, I was still able to manage it. As I chewed the remains of my treat, I looked back at Allen who was staring at me with eyes so wide, it was almost comical.

"Hmm?" I asked, my cheeks filled with cupcake deliciousness.

"You just devoured that thing like your life depended on it. Where did that energy come from? You were depressed less than two minutes ago."

I swallowed the remains of my cupcake before I replied. "I dunno. It looked tasty, so I ate it. Is that a bad thing?"

"No?"

"Good. Ooh! We should go play tag or something! Please, Allen?" I don't know why, but I had the uncontrollable urge to run around. I was even bouncing in my seat.

"Um, Lavi? Did you ever eat sugar when you were smaller?"

"Huh? No, not really. Gramps always said it was bad for me. Why do you ask?" I said in one breath. "Look! Shiny!" I jumped onto the table and pointed my fingers at a small glimmer of an unknown shiny object on the far side of the room.

"Lavi, I'm worried for you," Allen said.

"Don't be! I feel awesome! Now hurry up and eat so we can play tag! Hurry, hurry, hurry!" I jumped up and down, making the table shake under me. Energy was coursing through my body, making it impossible to stand still.

"Okay, that's about enough of that," Allen said as he picked me up and pressed me to his chest. "You and I are going to go burn off that sugar you just had."

"So we're gonna play tag?" I asked hopefully.

"Yup. But first we're going to go talk to Komui about your bipolar behavior."

"What? Why?"

"Because it's honestly freaking me out. First, you were really shy, something I've never seen before, then you were so depressed there were storm clouds circling your head, and now you're hyper. I'm worried and I'm hoping Komui can help."

"But Allllen!" I whined.

"No buts. After we get you checked out, we'll play tag. Deal?"

I sighed. "Okay, fine."

Allen hugged me gently. "Don't worry, I just want to make sure that the only thing that potion changed was your age."

I hugged him back and nodded as he walked us to Komui's office.

[Note from the Author: Hey. I'm really sorry that this chapter was lame. I only had an hour and a half to finish it. *sigh* I feel like I failed you all. The next chapter will be better. Not only will Allen and Lavi play an epic game of tag, but Komui reveals something interesting about the potion. Stay tuned!

Until Next Time!

~animeobsessed001