Lucy was smiling to herself anticipating the return of her blue haired friend. She couldn't wait to hear what Lily had told her. She was just as curious about why Gajeel was there last night as she was. Lucy had a hunch as to why, but didn't want to let her imagination get away from her. As she was lost deep in thought about what could have been happening at the freight entrance she heard a familiar voice coming from the front doors of the guild.
"So Lucy is going to buy us lunch, huh? That is great! Moving those tables around really got my appetite worked up." Nutsu stated enthusiastically.
"Aye, sir! She said all I had to do was tell Panther Lily to meet Levy at the back door." Happy responded without a second thought.
"Damn it cat! I told you to be sneaky. Not to blab that to the whole guild!" Lucy had snapped out of her day dreams and was fuming. "And I never said I would buy you lunch, I said I would get you one big fish."
"Well Natsu and I want lunch. We have been decorating all morning. What have you been doing? Maybe I should tell Mira that you and Levy aren't looking for dresses."
"Shut it, cat!" Lucy was pondering for a moment. She was a little low on jewels; she spent a good chunk of change on her dress for the festival. Lucy and Levy spent weeks finding the perfect dresses, both were secretly trying to impress some of the densest dragon slayers they knew. And she still needed enough left for next month's rent.
"Ooh Mira!" Happy called.
"Fine. Fine! Just don't call Mira. I will buy you two idiots lunch. I am not sure how I'll be able to afford next month's rent since you two could eat everything in Magnolia and still be hungry, but fine. I just have to meet up with Levy first. How about you two go ahead and I will meet you at that new place a few blocks down."
"Aye, sir!" Both Natsu and Happy cheered simultaneously. Just as the two boys were turning to leave the guild Gajeel walked out the front door. The scowl on his face was a bit more predominant, the three standing outside could tell he was aggravated.
"Hey, Bunny Girl? Hot Head? Have you seen Lily?"
"Who are you calling Hot Head, Metal Breath?" Lucy looked up at Gajeel, panic stricken. What should she say? She couldn't tell Gajeel Lily was meeting with Levy, that would seem suspicious.
"Yeah! Levy needed to talk with Lily in private. She asked to meet him out back by the freight entrance." Happy divulged without thinking. Gajeel gave the cat a concerned look, and hustled around to the back of the building without saying a word.
"Now you've done it cat!" Lucy yelled ferociously.
"What do you mean Gajeel came to see me last night? He never told me he needed to meet with me." Levy said frantically.
"Well – uh – I have already said too much. I'm sorry Levy but you are just going to just have to ask him yourself." Lily tried to regain his composure. Levy's thoughts were running rampant. The blush across her cheeks was slowly spreading to the rest of her face as she was trying to put all of the pieces together. Was Gajeel really there to see me last night? Why? Does he like me, in that way? No don't be stupid Levy. This isn't like one of your stupid romance books. Gajeel couldn't like me. At least, not more than friends anyway. Ah! You are being so stupid. I should have just left this matter alone. Serves me right, poking around in things that don't concern me. But that still doesn't help the fact that Lily had said Gajeel wished he were seeing someone form Fairy Hills... Oh Levy! Forget it. It isn't you, just go find Lucy. Levy snapped out of her inner monologue once she processed what Lily had said.
"Lily, I can't ask Gajeel about it! That is why I came to you!" She let out a frustrated huff.
"Can't ask Gajeel what, exactly?" A gruff voice sounded from behind the solid script mage. Levy's face drained of all color and her eyes widened at the familiar voice. Her body grew ridged and she slowly turned to face the looming iron dragon slayer.
"Uh – Gajeel… Hi!" Levy tried to sound relaxed, but her racing heart and uneven voice gave her away. Lily froze in his spot. If Gajeel finds out I what I told Levy I am dead.
"Happy told me where I could find you, but why are you back here?" Gajeel asked amused.
Levy's brain frantically searched for an excuse. She didn't have the courage to confront the devilishly handsome man in front of her. As she was racking her mind for an explanation she got lost in his wine-red eyes. All of the thoughts in her head seemed to flit away but one. Gajeel likes me. Levy stared at the studded features of the man standing in front of her; his defined jaw, shaggy black hair, and sinister smirk. She couldn't help but be drawn in by him. Gajeel cleared his throat, noticing that the small woman in front of him didn't seem to be paying attention.
"Hey Shrimp." Gajeel prodded. "Where'd you go?" Levy's thoughts snapped back into her mind.
"Oh! Gajeel, um, I have to go find Lucy. It was good seeing you!" She excused herself as quickly as she could and darted past the large man in front of her and out of sight around the corner of the enormous building, all the while dodging his previous question. Gajeel scratched his head and directed his gaze back to the guilty looking exceed in front of him.
"What were you two talking about, Lily?" Gajeel asked sternly.
"What? Oh, uh, nothing. She just needed to ask me something." The cat was starting to sweat profusely and his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest. "Hey, do you hear Mira calling? Better go see what she needs!" Panther Lily jumped in the air and tried to fly away, hoping to escape the questions he knew he would be berated with if he stuck around.
"I don't hear anyone calling you, fuzz ball." Gajeel said as he reached up to grab the cats tail just before he had flown out of reach. "Now, what were you two talking about, Lily?" The small black cat gulped.
"Okay, don't be mad." Panther Lily said defensively. "Levy, kind of, saw you at her house last night." The exceed winced, trying to save himself from the eventual outburst from the dragon slayer that held him.
"She. Saw. Me. At her house. Last night." Gajeel paused on every word trying to understand exactly what Lily had said. "And what did you tell?"
"Nothing really. Just that you had your reasons for being there..." Lily trailed off hoping he wouldn't be pressed any further. He had had enough confrontation for the day.
"I highly doubt that is all. But if you aren't going to tell me than maybe I will just have to talk to her at the festival tomorrow." Gajeel tried to sound calm but was having a nervous breakdown in his head. Shit! Okay, it isn't like she could have figured out I am in love with her or anything. Lily would never tell her that. Okay, you just need to remain calm, don't overreact. Just go home smash a few trees and try to get a good night sleep. Shit.