9. Blame It on Me
Levy had not come to school the next day, and Gajeel was looking unexpectedly very angry at school. For the whole day, no one really dared to talk to him except for Natsu and Lucy, but even Lucy didn't want to bring up Levy's name around him, fearing that something had happened between them that caused his anger.
Lucy tried calling Levy a number of times but she never picked up, and Lucy was starting to get worried. She searched for Gajeel during lunch, and managed to find him on the rooftop because she remembered Levy saying something along the lines of how Gajeel always liked to stay on the rooftop during lunch. "Gajeel," Lucy called out, making him open his eyes from a nap he could barely get. He looked at her expectantly, and she continued. "I was, um, wondering if something happened between you and Levy?"
Gajeel would have yelled at her partly in taking out his anger on her, but he wasn't about to let his anger get the better of him. "Tch, ask her." He said, turning away from her.
"I would if she was here, Gajeel." Lucy said sternly. "She hasn't even been picking up my calls and no one knows anything about her current situation. What I do know is that yesterday, you two got into an argument, if what the rest of the boys from your dorm was right. I'm worried about her." She sighed. Maybe Gajeel isn't going to be cooperative after all.
And then her phone rang.
Levy groaned. She woke up groggily, with a splitting headache and feeling very hot. She sat up on her bed, taking her phone that was on her bedside table. She looked at her clock and gasped. "It's 12 o'clock?" She jumped out of bed only to feel weak and lethargic. She just didn't feel well.
She flipped open her phone and realized she had a number of missed calls from Lucy. She walked back to her bed and crawled under her covers while dialing Lucy's number.
The blonde girl picked up immediately. "Levy? I was so worried. Are you at home? Are you okay?" She asked, worry evident in her voice.
Levy made a small sound that meant she was okay. "I'm at home. I think I have a fever," She paused, and thought that even if she didn't have a fever, she didn't want to go to school knowing that she'd meet Gajeel. "I'm going to stay at home." She said softly.
Lucy faltered, hearing Levy's sad and disappointed tone. "Oh…okay. That's fine, just get some rest! I'll come by later, okay?" She said reassuringly.
Levy had a small smile on her face. "Okay."
Lucy kept her phone back into her pocket and glared at Gajeel's back, imagining that she was burning holes into his back. And he knew she was trying. "She's ill." Lucy said.
"Well now you know her situation." Gajeel said, sounding indifferent.
Lucy clenched her fists. "You don't even care?" She asked in irritation.
"Someone cares about her more than I do." He mumbled.
Lucy looked at him quizzically. "And who's that you have in mind?" She didn't hear anything about Levy having someone special. And it would be strange that she didn't, when she was Levy's close friend.
"That green haired guy. Freed." Gajeel spat. Thinking about Freed just annoyed the heck out of him already. He's just a guy with green hair and looks like a gentleman. So what? Gajeel could probably beat his ass. What did Levy ever see in him?
Gajeel turned to face Lucy when she burst out into fits of laughter. He scowled at her. "What's so funny?" He hissed.
Still laughing, she held her palm up to him as a signal for him to wait until she settled down. "Oh Gajeel," She said, a wide smile on her face. "You're jealous!"
He shot up. "What?" He stared at her incredulously. He stood still, thinking for a second. "I'll admit she's a good friend, so I guess—"
Lucy laughed again. "No, Gajeel. You like her. You know, like how Natsu and I are going out because we like each other." She explained.
"What?" He said once again, staring at her incredulously. "You and Salamander are dating?" He asked.
Lucy sighed. "I think you're asking me the wrong question." She shook her head hopelessly at him.
Gajeel scoffed, looking away with his arms placed across his chest. "You're wrong. She's a good friend, that's all." But Lucy could see through him. And he could see her unwavering smile that showed she didn't believe him.
"Think about it really carefully, Gajeel." She said as she stood up, leaving the area and a frustrated Gajeel. She didn't clear up the misunderstanding about Freed and Levy for her own silly reason. She snickered mentally. Adds more drama, she thought slyly.
Levy groaned as she woke up, hearing her door being knocked. It should be Lucy, she thought as she got out of bed slowly, walking towards the door and opening it. And there was Lucy and Mirajane, looking pleasant and supportive. "Hi." Levy said weakly as she let them in.
Mirajane placed her hand on Levy's forehead. "You definitely have a fever." She said. "And I'm sure you haven't eaten all day."
Levy shrugged. "I'm not really hungry." She mumbled as she walked back to her bed and crawled under the covers, the other two girls following.
Mirajane smiled. "I'll cook some soup for you, and I've brought some medicine for you to take." She said as she headed to the kitchen.
Lucy looked at Levy's tired figure and remembered her earlier conversation with Gajeel. She giggled, making Levy look at her curiously. "Why are you laughing?" The blue haired girl asked her friend.
Lucy shook her head. "I just remembered something funny." She said. "It was, um, Natsu and his silly antics." She lied with a smile.
Levy smiled. "It's great that you're dating Natsu now, Lucy. You look so happy." She said. "And Natsu's finally in control." She added sarcastically.
Lucy laughed, giving a small smile. "I am happy. But Levy, you need to tell Gajeel what's been happening for those past few days. If anyone, he would effectively be able to stop his fan girls from bullying you."
Levy covered the bottom half of her face and shook her head. "I won't. I won't care about him anymore, and I'll deal with them myself." She said, averting her eyes from Lucy's own concerned eyes.
"Why don't you tell me what happened?" Lucy asked gently. She knew she was the only person who knew that they both have feelings for each other, but she wasn't going to tell them their feelings towards each other. She'll support them, but she won't let their secrets out until they do it themselves.
Levy looked at Lucy again, the blue haired girl's eyes evidently upset. And so Levy told Lucy everything that happened yesterday, from the bullies to Gajeel's rudeness. Lucy sighed inwardly. These two were completely opposites. Then again, so were Natsu and herself. Gajeel and Levy were just too stubborn and Gajeel is still unsure of his own feelings.
Mirajane appeared with a bowl of soup and a glass of water. Levy took her time eating it as Mirajane kept saying dreamy things about Gajeel and Levy, much to Levy's discomfort. "Mira, what about you? Don't you have anyone in mind?" Levy asked.
The reason why Levy asked Mirajane this question is because of Freed. Now, we all anticipated what Freed whispered into Levy's ear that fateful day. The sweet answer is that Freed has always been interested in Mirajane. He knew her for a very long time. She's sweet and gentle, but frightening when angry, and he was once a victim of her demon side. Despite that, he couldn't forget her.
And knowing that Levy and Lucy are close friends of Mirajane's, he asked them for help. Naturally, the two girls would love to do so, because they always thought Mirajane and Freed adorable together. They also thought that Mirajane does have feelings for Freed, even though she never mentioned it once.
Mirajane said nothing, although she kept a sweet smile on her face. Lucy and Levy knew that she wasn't about to let them know anything much about herself, and they gave up immediately. Besides, if she became agitated from their pestering, it wouldn't look pretty.
Levy finished her bowl of soup and took her medicine. Not long after, she crawled back into her bed, and Lucy and Mirajane left her alone for her to sleep. When they were ready to leave the house, a light knock was heard on Levy's door. Lucy went to open it. There stood Gajeel, who looked sullen and maybe even a little guilty. Lucy smiled. "I didn't expect you to knock so lightly." She joked, to Gajeel's irritation.
He stepped in, Lucy gladly letting him inside. She placed a finger over her lips. "Levy's already asleep, don't wake her up. She…" Lucy sighed. "She doesn't seem like she really wants to see you."
Lucy's words definitely had an impact on Gajeel, and he frowned. "Fine." He muttered, walking past her to Levy's room, his feet silent and ghostly. Levy was curled under her covers, only her sleeping face and her hands placed beside either side of her face. She looked just like a sleeping baby, although her face was a little paler than usual. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stood there, looking down at her silently.
He turned to walk out the same way he entered. Lucy placed her arms across her chest and looked at him expectantly. "What's on your mind?" She asked. "If you don't mind telling me."
Gajeel grunted. "Nothing." He said, averting his gaze from hers. "How I feel doesn't make a difference in the situation." He mumbled, much to Lucy's amusement.
"My, Gajeel likes Levy?" Mirajane asked in mock surprise. Gajeel and Lucy looked at Mirajane. Gajeel was not amused while Lucy was laughing lightly at the blatant act.
Gajeel sighed. "What does it matter, she's got that green haired 'gentleman'." He sulked, when Mirajane twitched. Her reaction was not unnoticed by Lucy and Gajeel, who looked at her curiously.
"Is that so?" Mirajane said, a smile plastered on her face. "Perhaps we should ask him, hm?" She said, her voice becoming strangely scary.
Lucy gave a small shriek, frightened. Gajeel grimaced. Mirajane walked towards the door, looking back at the two. "Gajeel, you will be following." She ordered him, and he seemed to have obeyed her wordlessly. "Lucy, you may follow us if you'd like to." She added gently before going out of the house with Gajeel following her reluctantly. The door slammed shut and the sound reverberated in the now silent house, Lucy standing still.
"…Lucy…?" The blonde girl heard her friend groggily call out her name. Lucy turned around to see Levy, who rubbed her eyes groggily and looked at her curiously. "What happened? Where's Mirajane?"
Lucy gave a nervous laugh. "Nothing happened. Mirajane had some sudden matter to take care of so she went ahead. You should go back to sleep." Lucy said hastily, bringing Levy back to her bed, much to Levy's suspicion.
"C-Calm down, Mirajane!" The green haired man said with his hands raised defensively in front of him when he saw Mirajane's frighteningly sweet demeanor. Gajeel stood behind them, looking awkward and longingly at the door. But he could not move, thinking that if he made a move which is highly likely a mistake, Mirajane could breathe fire upon him.
"I am pleasantly and perfectly calm, Freed Justine." She said, emphasizing his name. He flinched. "I have heard from Gajeel that you have asked Levy to become your girlfriend. Is that true?" She asked, her sweet voice still the same.
Gajeel looked away. Freed stared in surprise. All he could answer at the moment was "What?" Mirajane stepped forward, moving closer to Freed. He cringed, moving back until he hit the wall. "Wait, Mirajane. That's a misunderstanding. Gajeel, I think you've been mistaken." Freed said hastily, as if his life was going to end soon.
Mirajane's smile was fading, and Freed grimaced. "I asked her for help!" He said.
"Help?" Mirajane repeated questioningly.
"I asked her to help me…" He blushed. "Help me get closer to you."
Gajeel looked at Freed at first when hearing the truth. Then he looked at Mirajane, who took a step back and became beet red.
And then Gajeel felt like a complete idiot for jumping to conclusions. I need to apologize again, he thought as he sighed inwardly.
Notes:
Gajeel keeps messing up, doesn't he? Poor guy. But Levy still has to deal with Gajeel's silly fan girls. Will she gain victory, or be beaten to a pulp? Heh.
Chapter title is Blame it on me by Parachute.
