I desperately wanted to deny the food, but the intoxicating smell of it made my mouth water with anticipation. My stubbornness was being outweighed by the sudden emptiness of my stomach, so I took a bite enjoying the pleasant burst of spices and textures that made my taste buds happy.
"You're a really good cook, Gajeel." I commented in almost a whisper my energy still drained from thinking so much earlier.
He grunted in acknowledgment of my compliment as he devoured his own huge bowl of food. We ate in silence our own thoughts consuming us as well as reveling the taste, until he finally broke the silence.
He huffed out a breath dropping his head saying, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" I asked confused as to what he did wrong.
"Pissing you off earlier. I just get so worried that you'll get hurt again or worse that I became…I don't know, over protective I guess."
"Over protective is an understatement." I giggled at his frown. "I'll be ok, I'm ok." I said placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He glanced at my hand before quickly looking down at his empty bowl, hiding the hint of pink that dusted his cheeks.
"That's still not going to stop me from hovering."
Slumping my shoulders, I knew he was right. Nothing I'm going to say will stop him from being so protective over me like a big brother or something.
Wait…maybe that's why he was watching me! Everyone see me as this small little girl that needs to be shielded from the world, so maybe, just maybe he loves me in that way. The way a brother loves his little sister. He may have been watching me to make sure I don't get hurt or something. That could be it!
Leaning my head against his shoulder, my energy slowly started to drain even more as I continued to overthink the situation. But maybe him watching over me, wouldn't be such a bad thing and since I know I can't stop him, I can at least try not to cause friction between us. Being upset over him being overprotective when he's just trying to help, isn't going to help anyone.
"Alright, do what you want. I know I won't be able to stop you, so I guess I have no choice but to go along with it." I sighed feeling his arm wrap around my waist pulling me closer to him.
"Nope, you never had a choice."
"Don't make me change my mind." I said smacking his chest.
"Whatever, shrimp." He chuckled ignoring my pitiful attempt of a hit, sliding my almost empty container of food closer to him. He kept his arm around me while he used his other hand to eat my leftovers.
"I'm sorry too, by the way."
"Don't worry about that, you're pretty cute when you're upset. You puff your cheeks out and you look like a small puffer fish." He said puffing his cheeks out as much as possible.
I laughed at the face he made causing me to double over at the pain that surge in my abdomen, but that didn't stop me from laughing. "I really hope I don't look that stupid."
"I don't look stupid and stop laughing before you hurt yourself even more!" he demanded frowning at me as my laughter died down.
Nodding my head, I smiled as I said, "You looked so funny! Make the face again, please!" I pleaded some more before he reluctantly did it again making me scream out in laughter.
His cheeks were puffed out as far as possible causing them to turn red, with his eyes squinted and eyebrows turned down and his nose wrinkled up. The sight of him was so funny I ignored the pain in my middle.
"I missed your laugh," he breathed, causing me to freeze in place. My eyes locked with his, my face gradually turning red at his comment.
"What?"
"Being in that hospital made it hard for me to stay positive while you were knocked out. I desperately wanted to hear your laugh, it makes everything better. I'm glad I finally got to hear it." He said with a cocky grin trying to hide the nervousness of his words.
It must've taken him a lot to admit that. I can tell by the tight grip he has on my waist. I swallowed the lump in my throat, weakly smiling at the blushing Gajeel.
"You're cute." I giggled leaning against him again.
"What? No, I'm not! That's like comparing a shark and a puppy."
Nodding my head, I rebutted with, "You are the shark but on the inside you're the puppy. You can't deny your tsundere ways." I smiled hearing him huff and puff at my words.
"I am definitely not a tsundere!"
"I can't do anything about your overprotectiveness and you can't do anything about me thinking you're a tsundere." Earning a disagreeing groan returning his attention back to my food.
Nothing he can say or do can make me think otherwise and I'm pretty sure Lucy and Juvia would gladly agree with me on this one, but I won't tell him that.
After he finished eating my leftovers, he made me go to the bathroom to change into pajamas so he could clean up even though I told him I wasn't too tired to help him. He threatened to strip me out of my clothes and put them on for me if I didn't do it myself, so you see, I had no other choice but to agree. I doubt he would really do that, I'm pretty sure it was just a ploy to do what he said, even though it worked.
I think it was a ploy.
"Well, you've been quiet today." I smiled siting on my bed, rubbing behind Lily's ear as he lay relaxed on my pillow. I guess he was giving Gajeel and me our space to talk things out.
"You take your medicine?" Gajeel asked resurfacing from the bathroom. I nodded my head and he said, "Good, now get some rest. I'll come pick you up in the morning to take you to class."
"Thanks, dad." I smiled wide, trying to hold in the laugh that started to bubble up at the deep disproval look he gave me.
"Just lay down, shrimp." He huffed nudging my shoulder, making me lay down.
It was easy for me to do as he said due to my medication quickly taking affect. I wrapped myself in my blanket, laying my head on my pillow next to Lily. He crawled closer to me nuzzling my hair with his small nose before resting his head next to mine. Even though my eyes were starting to close, I could see a smile curling Gajeel lips.
"Now, that's cute." Was all I heard before sleep engulfed me, pulling me within its grips.
For the next two and half weeks, Gajeel has been completely open with his hovering to the fact that pretty much the entire school knows and calls him my personal body guard. He's driven me to class even though it's an easy walk now that I've gotten accustomed to my crutches and he even sent me texts to make sure I took my medication.
I can't say that I haven't enjoyed his hovering, because it was nice having his attention but my thoughts would automatically go back to Lucy's words. I can't shake them and I have no idea what to do with them.
"…that the route for it didn't lead to our dorm. It wasn't even close to it actually…"
Why did he purposely go out of his way to scare me? Was it some kind of prank? Couldn't have been if he knew were my classes were and what time. Now that in its self is really weird. Or is just what I thought a couple weeks ago? Maybe he is trying to be a like a big brother, but for some reason I highly doubt that.
I have so many questions, and yet, I haven't confronted him about it. Lucy asked if I did and looked sad that I haven't yet, knowing that I'm basically eating myself up on the inside over this but I promised her I would soon.
And soon was my last doctor's appointment to get my cast off. I was so excited and couldn't wait to finally be able to scratch my leg without a ruler or anything I could get my hands on. I was even happier when I finished the last few pills last week, I was prescribed and was ready to get back to my old life.
So, that's why I was fidgety in my seat, waiting for my doctor to come and get this thing off of my leg.
"Excited, huh?" Gajeel chuckled sitting across of me with his arms crossed, leaning back in his seat.
Before I could say anything, Dr. Porylusica walked in with an assistant close behind her.
"Alright, Ms. McGarden. Ready to get that pesky cast off?" she asked letting her assistant take the lead. "Well, I have your X-rays and you healed faster than I expected, but you'll have to wear your brace for another week." She said showing me the black brace that seemed easy to take off and put on.
The sound of the small saw starting up tore my attention away from the doctor, towards the assistant that hovered over my cast. "Please be as still as possible." The man said, taking my nod as a means to start sawing away.
I was slightly nervous as my cast started to crack and break open feeling the vibration of the saw surround my leg.
"And that's it!" the assistant smiled as he trashed my cast. I let out a deep sigh, wiggling and stretching my toes with delight.
After the doc and the assistant talked to me, about how to put on and take of the brace and at home stretches to build up my muscles again, I was discharged and able to walk, well limp a little without crutches. Gajeel, of course made me wear my brace out of the hospital.
"Celebratory dinner?" he asked taking off into traffic away from the school.
I was too happy to understand the meaning of his words that I readily agreed. "Yea! That sounds like fun! Where are we-oh! Hold on!" I spoke, feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket. Lucy's face showed on the screen and I instantly answered.
"Hey!" I beamed into the phone showing my excitement.
She giggled on the other end before speaking, "I can tell you're happy the cast is off. How are you feeling?"
"Better, I'm just glad I'm finally able to walk without my crutches. Gajeel is taking me to a celebratory dinner, but I don't know where yet."
"Ooooohh! Sounds like a date to me, did he give you flowers?" she teased with smile.
"No, it's not! Stop it!"
"Mmhmm, but I don't want to ruin your wonderful soon to be date, but I called to check on you."
"Thanks, Lucy."
"Don't forget. Proceed with caution and wait for the right time." She said speaking of the conversation I've been pushing off for almost three weeks now.
I know I'll have to talk to him but maybe after the dinner we could talk. Put him in a good enough mood that'll he won't be too difficult to get information out of. I just hope he'll comply and won't make this difficult.
"I won't forget and I'll keep you posted."
"Good. See ya later." She said before hanging up. This is going to be a long night and it barely even started yet.
My thoughts were so wrapped up in how to start the conversation that I didn't realize we pulled up at an old fashioned diner. His words tore me away from my thoughts making me jump.
"You ok?" he asked opening my door to help me out of his truck.
"Yea, Lucy was lecturing me and I was just thinking about what she said." I asked accepting his hand.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing, too important. Just about making sure I listen to the doctor's instructions and what not." I lied as we walked side by side into the diner.
The outside contradicted with the inside. The old rusted paint and old sign decorated the outside, while on the inside was kept pristine condition and looking like it was still brand new. The yellow paint looked fresh and the metal rounded square tables were shiny and clean. A jukebox in the corner played some cheesy 70's song I couldn't remember where I heard it from.
We took a seat across from each other in one of the booths, greeting our server that chirped with a high pitched voice and a wide grin. She handed us our menus then took our drink orders then left us to look over the menu.
"How did you find this place?" I asked looking around at the quaint place I hoped to like.
He just shrugged his shoulders saying, "I found it over the summer. I was stressed out so I went for a drive and ended up here. I was starving of course, 'cause I've been driving for a few hours and didn't want to get fast food, so I wandered into this place. I fell in love with a steak sandwich and root beer float. Mmh!" he said forming an ok sign with his fingers.
"Sounds delicious! Think I should try it?"
"I think that'll be a little too big for ya shrimp, how about something smaller like a burger or a uumm…some wings or something." He said scanning the menu for options.
"I think a burger would be fine." I smiled watching the waitress approach us with our drinks.
She sat them down as we thanked her, then took our orders and said it'll be out in a few minutes.
We talked about school and Pantherlily until our food came out and I was so excited to try one of Gajeel's favorite places. Another one is a jazz bar that's deeper into the city with really cool music and poetry. Even though I can't really picture Gajeel reciting some romantic poem, I can seem him playing his guitar for someone who is going to though. I bet that's quite the sight.
Our 'date' went by smoothly with me getting distracted by thinking about how to approach him, but he seemed not to notice. I guess he thought I was so wrapped up in my food that I would have to ask him to repeat himself.
He paid for our dinner and drove us back to the school with me still in a daze of how to start this conversation. Should I just come out and say it or should I hint about the matter? No, that won't work. He's a straight forward type of guy and beating around the bush will just makes matters worse.
"Hey, you ok?" Gajeel asked pulling me out of my thoughts as we pulled up at the school.
Clearing my throat, I nodded my head saying, "Yea, I'm ok. Why?"
"You had this look on your face like you're constipated or somethin'."
"I'm not!" I sputtered, sliding out of his truck. "Just have a lot on my mind."
We walked together to my dorm building, stopping short of the door. He cocked his head to the side, watching me closely as I fidgeted under his gaze.
"Wanna talk about it?" he asked.
"Yes, but let's talk in my room instead of out here." I said opening the door and leading him to my room.
Lily greeted us with a meow and I immediately scooped him up in my arms to snuggle his face. He let out a delighted purr as I held him closely to me, giggly as he went lax in my grip when I scratched behind his ears.
"So, what's up? What had you distracted during dinner?" he asked quirking an eyebrow as he crossed his arms.
"You noticed that?"
"Yep, now spill it shrimp before I make you." He smiled leaning against my desk as I stood in front of him nervously.
My hands became clammy and my stomach started to bubble like I ate something bad, even though the food was pretty good. Stomach acid started to rise up in my throat, burning it raw but I swallowed it down trying to collect my thoughts and words. Can't speak when you might have puke rising up.
