Levy was in a daze. On cloud nine.
She floated around her shop, chatting happily to everyone she came across. Leftover Valentines decorations were still hung up in corners, though she continued to ignore them. She'd closed the shop on that morning, and Gajeel had come over as per her request. She made him a huge assortment of cookies and cupcakes, probably enough to last him the remainder of February. He returned the romantic gesture by arriving with a bouquet of red roses, and a miniscule black cat plush toy that resembled his beloved Lily. She couldn't close for the entire day, unfortunately, and Gajeel had classes in the afternoon anyway, so the pair had shared a quick and unhealthy breakfast of cupcakes and kisses, before returning back to their regular schedules.
In the last month or so, Gajeel and several members of the Dragon Club had found her on her social media account, Facebook. Even Lucy had a friend request from the ever persistent Natsu. Now Levy could see all the shenanigans the group got up to in their little corner of the college library, and it pleased her to no end when a new image of Gajeel popped up, messing about with his friends.
Of course, it wasn't all one-sided. Levy was often tagged in things too. People who regularly visited her shop often found her on Facebook, and would tag her in their status updates and photos of their latest books, often adding a review of the book and shop itself, all positive of course. There was an occasional photo of herself popping up too; thanks to Lucy or MiraJane. Cana attempted to take her photo once before when she'd visited the brunette's bar, but thankfully that was hidden.
She was clearing away some empty cups from a table when she turned and almost knocked into someone, who thankfully managed to steady her before she dropped anything.
"Ah! Oh my gosh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, startled.
The young teenager before her didn't smile nor frown, just shrugged. "It's as much my fault as yours, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Do you need some help?" he added politely.
"Ah, no, thank you though." She grinned back sheepishly, then made her way behind the counter and into the back room to wash up. The teen had messy dark hair, covering one eye. He looked familiar, but Levy couldn't place it. He had red eyes, too, but she wasn't sure if that was the fashion with young teens nowadays or if it was natural.
She wanted to say he looked like Gajeel, but maybe that's too far. Lots of people had dark hair after all.
She returned into the main room as the teenager approached the counter, a book in hand. As she took the hardback from him, Stephen King's Cujo, she asked him the usual question, for rent or for purchase.
It seemed to surprise him, but he replied quickly. "Purchase, please."
She rang it up, scanned the book's barcode, and opened up the till. "That'll be five pounds and eighty-four pence please."
To her delight, the customer had the exact change in his wallet, something that always pleased Levy for some reason. She liked exact change; she didn't know why. As she closed the till and handed over the receipt, the teen brushed her fingers slightly with his own for a moment, pausing.
"It's was nice to meet you, Miss Levy," he murmured, almost a little awkwardly. He took the receipt and book and quickly left, leaving Levy curious about where he learned her name.
She saw him a couple more times, passing by the shop or stopping in to look around; and now again a couple weeks later, with a blonde friend walking beside him.
Levy was reclined in her swivel chair at the counter, a purring Pantherlily in her lap. Gajeel was slumped against the desk drawers at her feet, reading a book on engine parts for one of his classes.
The two young teenagers crossed the street, the blonde pushing the darker-haired boy in the arm playfully, and they entered the shop.
"Afternoon M'lady!" the blonde called playfully in a stiff fake accent.
Levy grinned. "Afternoon my good sirs. Welcome to my humble abode."
Gajeel's eyes flickered away from his book briefly, and at her reassuring smile he relaxed again.
The teen laughed happily and dragged his friend around with him into the shelving.
There was a few minutes of peace, with laughter and loud talking occasionally drifting over, before Levy noticed their return, the blonde carrying manga and the black haired teen carrying another Stephen King. She sat up, careful not to disturb Lily.
At his protesting meow, the teen's eyes flickered with recognition briefly.
"Oh, a cat!" the blonde beamed, leaning forward to rub fingers at the kitten. Lily, in slight interest, jumped from her lap and onto the desk. "What's its name?"
"Pantherlily," she giggled. The other teen's eyes widened a fraction again. "Strange name, right?"
"Oi, it's a great name." Muttered Gajeel, startling the two younger teens. The blonde leaned further over the desk and spotted Gajeel.
"Oh shit! Rogue, your bro's like, right there!" He glanced up at Levy again. "So that must mean you're Levy McGarden!"
"Yes?" she blinked in confusion.
Gajeel sighed, not even looking up from his book. "The blonde Natsu-like guy is Sting, and I'm gonna guess Raios is with him."
"Oh! As in your brother?" Levy glanced between the two of them. So it wasn't a coincidence.
"Yeah these two are bros! I call him Rogue though," he gestures with a thumb over his shoulder to the other teen. "Cause if I'm not with him he wanders around by himself, like a rogue. I'm Sting by the way!"
"How kind of you to always keep me company," Raios deadpanned monotonously in reply.
"Yeah, well you were the who wanted to check up on your bro's girlfriend and didn't want to go alone every time!" Sting snapped in return, surprising Levy, Raios and Gajeel at once.
"You idiot." Raios muttered.
"What the hell," Gajeel muttered, standing up. "You've been stalkin' Levy? What the fuck, dude."
"I wasn't stalking her!" Raios protested, looking a little scared. "I came by a couple weeks ago and bought a book. And Sting and I walk past here to go to the skatepark."
"You were checkin' up on my private business." Gajeel stated matter-of-factly. Under his intense stare, Raios seemed to wilt and gave a little nod.
"S'not his fault!" Sting butted in. "You always go on about her but you never actually tell us about her! We wanted to know what kind of person she was." he crossed his arms defiantly.
"It's nothin' to do with you! I was gonna introduce her when I was ready!"
"Um, hello? Person in question sitting right here."
Levy was met with three slightly guilty looks.
"I'm fine you guys wanting to meet me. It's not like I have anything to hide." She glanced at Gajeel. "And be nice to your brother! You're scaring him over something so inconsequential as meeting your girlfriend?"
Gajeel seemed to flush at that at looked away.
"I.. uh.." he muttered. "I was gonna wait until we were official.. So uh.. I wasn't aware we were 'boyfriend and girlfriend' yet.. Uh.." he scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck, refusing to meet any of their eyes.
At his brother's blushing face, Raios seemed just as flustered, as if he'd never seem him that way before. Sting looked gobsmacked. He perked up and grabbed the book from Raios' hand.
"WELL THEN, UH, WE GOTTA GO, BUT UH - RESERVE THESE BOOKS FOR US PLEASE AND WE'LL COME BACK A DIFFERENT DAY OKAY SEE YOU BYE!"
He slammed them down on the counter and quickly pulled Raios with him out of the shop, waving and giving a thumbs up at the remaining pair enthusiastically.
There was a few moments of silence, a little awkwardly hanging in the air between them, before Levy let out a breathy little laugh.
"So… that was interesting."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, your brother seems to care about you a lot."
"Well, I did look after him a lot when we were younger. He's only just gone 15. Sting is still 14, even if he doesn't look or act it."
"He's a mini Natsu, like you said."
"Yeah."
"So uh, the 'official' thing you were saying?"
"Ah," Gajeel grumbled, nibbling his lip. "I uh… thought we were still just 'dating'."
"I mean, yeah I guess you're right?" Levy shrugged, "but you're not 'dating' me for the first time, since we've had a few dates already now. So I would say that it would be called 'taking your girlfriend on dates' kind of dating now."
"So does this mean we are boyfriend and girlfriend?" Gajeel asked quietly, a bit timidly for his stature.
Levy smiled up at him from her seat. "If you want?" she shrugged innocently, teasingly. He was so fun to mess with when he was all nervous and cute like this.
"Hell yeah, because that means I can do this," he swooped down at her, hands on either armrest, and kissed her full on the mouth, which produced a small squeak from her. He pulled back with a smirk, "whenever I want."
Levy's brain flusteredly saved that moment to memory.
Hey y'all. It's been a while. How you guys doin'?
Anyway, hope you like this little update.
