Jet and Droy knew something was up when Levy came in the next day for work. She was happy.
Too happy.
Sure, Levy loved working in the library and was always smiling as she assisted patrons. But now, she was bouncing around and continued looking at the main entrance doors. As if she was waiting for someone to arrive.
Jet and Droy had both fallen in love with Levy the minute they'd seen the petite girl roaming the school corridors in search of the library. They'd quickly befriended her and became known around the school as an inseparable trio. Whilst Levy saw the two boys as brothers, Jet and Droy continued to crush on the girl. In fact, they'd even made a pact that the loser (aka the one who didn't end up marrying Levy) would not get mad at the other and would support Levy's choice.
So they were a little scared in this sudden change in behaviour. After a while, Droy couldn't handle the suspense.
"So what's got you so happy, Levy?" Droy exclaimed, causing Levy to jump in surprise. The girl had been in her own little world, sorting books out.
"Droy!" Jet scowled, slapping him across the head," Don't scare her!"
"It's fine!" Levy insisted, regaining her composure," I actually have someone I'd like you to meet. They'll be here in about 30 minutes."
Jet and Droy exchanged glances but decided not to comment. Maybe they were overreacting. Maybe it wasn't a guy. Maybe it was a friend who was also female. Yeah! It was probably just a friend… who was a girl.
However, that dream was crushed when Gajeel arrived.
Droy nearly dropped the books he was shelving when he saw the intimidating gym trainer. The man was tall and a brute, with piercings and scary red eyes. Not the female friend they'd envisioned skipping in.
"Gajeel!" Levy squealed, pushing past the two frozen library assistants. If they weren't horrified before, they were now. This was the person Levy was waiting for?! Gajeel chuckled as he picked Levy up and spun her around, causing her to blush.
"Put me down, you big stupid idiot!" Levy grumbled as several patrons giggled at the scene. Gajeel complied but not before giving her a tender kiss. Jet and Droy felt like statues being smashed into dust. They felt broken.
Seeing Levy be kissed by another man was too much for Jet and Droy to bear.
"Who is this guy?!" Jet cried out, causing the couple to break apart. Gajeel frowned, but Levy remained oblivious to her friend's tones.
"This is my boyfriend, Gajeel," Levy blushed, gesturing to the tall man. Gajeel grunted in response, giving the two men a curt nod.
"B-boyfriend!" Droy stuttered, his heart breaking in half.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a surprise!" Levy chuckled, looking up at Gajeel with a dreamy expression.
"So why's he here?" Jet asked, his tone harsh. Gajeel glared in response.
"I'm actually tutoring him," Levy explained before turning to Gajeel," Are you ready? I've got everything ready."
"Actually," Gajeel began, nervously scratching the back of his head," I can't make it today."
"What?" Levy exclaimed," Why?"
"Elfman pulled a muscle the other day and he can't teach his classes for a few weeks," Gajeel explained," Since I'm the only other bodybuilding coach, I have to step up and take on his classes."
"Oh," Levy sighed," Why are you here then?"
"I wanted to let you know in person," Gajeel explained, before smirking," Plus, I wanted to see my sexy little librarian. Isn't that good enough?"
Levy's face began to burn. He was giving her bedroom eyes and she'd gladly have let him throw her onto the librarian's desk, if they weren't surrounded by patrons and her friends.
"We can reschedule then," Levy decided, calming herself," How about tomorrow? We can go after we visit the psychiatrist."
"Psychiatrist?"
"You don't remember, do you?" Levy sighed. Gajeel furrowed his brow in confusion, answering her question," We have an appointment with Dr. Meredy who's going to be helping deal with your… issues."
"Fine," Gajeel grumbled, giving her a quick peck on the forehead," See ya tomorrow, Shrimp!"
"It's Levy!" Levy exclaimed as he walked out the door, chuckling. But she couldn't help but grin at the silly little nickname.
"So what do you guys think of him?" Levy chirped as she turned around before her voice dropped off. To her surprise, Jet and Droy were glaring at the door.
"What's wrong, guys?" Levy asked, confusion setting in.
"Really, Levy?" Jet scoffed, rolling his eyes," Him?"
"What do you mean by "him"?" Levy snapped, her eyes hardening.
"You deserve better than that guy, Levy," Droy complained," I mean, really? A gym trainer that needs tutoring. I thought you were into smart guys."
"I am!" Levy yelled, causing some patrons to look up from their books in surprise," Gajeel is smart! He has learning difficulties, that's all."
"He clearly has issues Levy!" Jet growled, getting frustrated. How could Levy not understand?
"You don't even know what he's been through!" Levy exclaimed, her voice growing shrill.
"I mean, is he even safe to be around?!" Jet laughed cruelly," He looks like he'd rip you apart."
Slap.
The library went quiet as they all stared at their normally peaceful librarian's angry face and the assistant touching his quickly swelling cheek.
"Gajeel is the best thing that has ever happened to me," Levy whispered softly," He saved me from a robber, has helped me make new friends and has treated me with nothing but kindness. He is a good man with a rocky background."
"But Levy!" Droy interrupted, but one cold look from Levy silenced him.
"I am however disgusted by both of your behaviours," Levy continued coldly," I expected better from my best friends. I wanted you to be happy for me, but instead…"
The whole library could hear a pin drop as Levy began to sob quietly.
"Instead… you've hurt me…" Levy cried, tears running down her cheeks," I truly thought you'd support me."
"Levy," Jet murmured, his eyes tearing up as well," I'm sorry."
"Are you really though?" Levy replied, wiping away her tears," I've always forgiven the both of you rather quickly, but right now, I need some time. You're going to have to earn my trust again, understand?"
Both men nodded slowly, their eyes widened.
"Good," Levy sniffled, before calming herself," Now I'm almost done with my shift, so I'm going to go now. I expect both of you to think about what you've done."
Again, both the boys nodded numbly, still in shock. Levy quickly grabbed her bag and ran out to her car. Once she'd locked herself in, the tears came back stronger.
…
Lucy sighed as she waved out the last of the young girls. Her youngest ballet class was fun to teach but also exhausting. No, her favorite class was her advanced students. There she could truly teach rather than saying a few praises for a sloppy pirouette.
Going up to the staff room, she quickly went to the fridge. She was hungry, in particular for the cheese scones she'd made the night before. But to her horror, her lunch was gone. No surprise who the culprit was. Furious, she went down to the front desk where Lisanna sat, working on some documents.
"Where is he?" she whispered cooly. Lisanna looked up in surprise to see the normally sweet Lucy in a livid state.
"Who is "he"?" Lisanna asked, nervously.
"Natsu."
"I think he went to Cana's bar..."
Lucy left quickly, heading over to the bar. When she entered, she saw Natsu sitting at one of the tables, getting ready to tuck into her lunch. Just as he lifted the scone to his mouth, she yelled out at him.
"NATSU!" she shrieked, causing him to drop the scone onto the table," Step away from my lunch."
"Aw man!" Natsu whined, leaning back in the chair," I was looking forward to that!"
"It's my lunch!" Lucy yelled back, before groaning," God, I am so sick of this Natsu. You keep stealing my lunch even though I've told you a million times not to. What do I have to do to keep you away from my food?"
"How about a contest?" Natsu grinned.
"A contest?"
"Yeah," Natsu exclaimed," I mean, I don't know what exactly we'd do for a contest, but we could get Mira to help!"
"One condition," Lucy said, her mind processing the deal. If she won, Natsu would stop eating her lunch. But that was a bit boring. No, he needed to truly pay.
"Sure!"
"Loser has to cook the winner lunch for a month," Lucy smirked.
"You're on!" Natsu cheered.
…
Mira sighed as she watched the green haired accountant work out on the treadmill. Freed had his hair pulled back into a ponytail and had been running for well over an hour, the sweat proving it. The eldest Strauss couldn't help but admire his lean, yet firm muscles as he kept a steady pace.
"Admiring the view?" a sweet voice whispered into Mira's ear. Mira squealed, turning around to be greeted by her younger sister.
"L-lisanna!" Mira stuttered, laughing awkwardly," What's up?"
"Your heart rate apparently," Lisanna replied, smirking at her big sister," When are you gonna ask him out?"
"Who?"
"Freed, Mira. The man you've been watching for quite some time now," Lisanna sighed," I seriously don't get why you've not popped the question yet. There's no way he'd say no to you."
"Lisanna, I-" Mira began, ready to chastise her sister when suddenly she heard someone cough behind her. Spinning round, she was greeted by Freed, waiting politely.
"F-freed!" Mira exclaimed, her face growing even more red," What can I do for you?"
" I was hoping for another towel," Freed answered kindly," They've run out in the normal area."
"Oh sure," Mira chirped, grabbing one of the towels from behind the desk," I'll make sure to refill the area."
"Thank you, Mira," Freed replied, taking the towel from her," I heard that Natsu and Lucy were fighting again."
"Yeah," Mira sighed," Apparently, Natsu was stealing her food again. They asked me to organize a contest to settle the matter."
"Any ideas yet?" Freed asked.
"Well, I was thinking we could do something for the public as well," Mira answered," We could use some more funds, so I thought about a costume party."
"A costume party?" Freed repeated.
"Yeah, I thought we could all dress up and the visitors could vote for the best costume," Mira grinned," We could even have a couple's costume contest!"
"Ah, your grand matchmaking schemes again," Freed chuckled. Mira was well known for her interest in romantic relationships and was often found behind many a plot.
"Tell me, Mira, have you found anyone yet?"
"Eh?" Mira exclaimed, caught off guard by the question.
"Are you currently in a relationship?"
"N-no," Mira stammered, her face turning red.
"Ah, I see," Freed nodded, before turning to leave," Well good day then."
"Wait, Freed!" Mira cried out, causing Freed to turn around," W-would you like to get a drink sometime?"
Freed slowly smiled.
"I'd love that."