After we all showered and got dressed, we piled into Cana's car and drove downtown. We peeked into a few shops, stopped at a cafe for coffee and muffins, then headed to the salon.

We picked out our colors- bright red for Erza, pink for Lucy, blue for Cana, and a metallic dark gray for me- and sat in the pedicure chairs.

I was in heaven. I hadn't had a pedicure since the summer.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the large, comfortable chair, relaxing, until Cana sang out next to me.

"So," she trilled, "what's going on between you and Redfox?"

I blushed and opened my eyes. "Nothing. We've just been texting."

"Laxus says he saw you two sneak off together last night," she pressed.

"We didn't sneak off, we went out back to talk."

She huffed. "Boring. I want all the dirty details!"

"There aren't any dirty details to tell," I said, pulling out my phone as it dinged.

Cana snatched the phone out of my hands. "I don't believe you," she said, scrolling through the messages. She got bored fast.

"I told you, nothing dirty," I snapped as I took my phone back and responded to Gajeel's text. He'd asked what I was doing today. I told him I was out getting my nails done with the girls. I snapped a quick selfie of myself with Cana, Lucy, and Erza in the background and attached it to the text.

He teased me about being so much smaller than my friends and practically sinking into the chair. I quipped back with a joke about his piercings and how he ever got through metal detectors.

He told me there were more where those came from, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

When our pedicures were done, we moved to the manicure stations. I was just going to have my nails shaped and painted, but Cana convinced me to be daring and get acrylics. Since it was my first time, I got short, almond-shaped nails.

The girls wanted to do some more shopping but I really needed to get my homework done. I parted ways with them and walked back to Cana's house to retrieve my things. It wasn't a far walk and Magnolia was a safe enough city.

I fished the spare key out of the potted plant by the door and let myself in. All of my things were already packed in my bag, so I just grabbed it and left.

Back at Fairy Hills, I turned my phone on Do Not Disturb and seriously got started on my assignments.

It was six in the evening when I finally finished, but at least I'd have a Sunday free. I stood up and stretched, and turned my phone notifications back on. I had a few texts from my friends and a missed call from... Gajeel.

My stomach flipped as I opened his voicemail.

"Hey shorty. Me 'n' my friends are doin' a gig t'night and I'd love it if ya came," his low voice growled through my phone.

I quickly grabbed a pen and scribbled down the details on a spare piece of paper.

I knew the place and, thankfully, I wouldn't need to dress up the way I had for the party. I changed into a simple black dress and some rose patterned tights and slipped on some boots.

I put on some light foundation, eyeliner, and mascara, and a touch of red lip gloss and when I was satisfied, I pulled on his jacket, grabbed my purse, phone, and key to the dorm, and set off back downtown, to the all ages club where he'd be playing.

There was already a line when I got there and the show didn't start for another thirty minutes. Minors were marked with X's on their hands so the bartender didn't serve them alcohol. I was sure I'd miss Gajeel's band until a familiar metallic smell clouded my senses and his voice I'd come to know so well told me "My girl doesn't have to wait in line."

I waited for his laugh and "I'm playin' with ya, Shrimp," but it didn't come.

I looked down so he wouldn't see my red face as he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the venue. I plopped down on the stage as he and his band mates- Erik from school and Orga and Rufus from the Sabertooth Academy- did a last soundcheck.

The band was called Steel Lightning. Gajeel was main vocals and lead guitar, Erik was on drums, Orga was backup vocals and bass, and Rufus was on keyboard. Rufus didn't really fit the style of the other band members, but he had a photographic memory, and that was a huge bonus. It didn't hurt that he was dating Orga.

When the crowd started spilling into the venue, I noticed Kinana and Laki in the front of the crowd and waved them over. Kinana looked terrified to see me.

"What's wrong?"

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she whispered.

"Gajeel invited me. Why?"

Behind Kinana, Laki snickered, and fluttered off toward the bar for a mocktail.

"I, uh-" she blushed furiously, and grabbed me by the wrist to drag me into the bathroom.

"My boyfriend is in the band," she finally blurted out.

"Wh- Erik?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"How did you-"

I stared at her. "Kinana, two of them are gay and one of them is my-," I paused. "Gajeel."

"Point taken," she mumbled.

I thought for a minute. Our friends could be pretty judgmental. I understood why she kept it a secret. "I won't tell if you won't," I extended a pinky to her.

"C'mon, Lev. Pinky promises?"

"Don't disrespect. It's sacred."

She stared at me. "Fine," she finally said, linking her pinky around mine.

Kinana convinced me to scrub the X off my hand with her and then we went back out to rejoin the crowd. Gajeel insisted we stay close to the stage. Laki was there, too, with three actual cocktails. I guess being best friends with the drummer's girlfriend had perks.

I took one from her and reached around her to take the band's set list. I recognized a few of the songs from Gajeel's book and smiled.

When they started playing, Laki, Kinana, and I hyped them up like we were their groupies. I guess, at that point, we kind of were.

We weren't the only ones. Some of Rufus and Orga's friends had shown up, too. They pulled them into the crowd as the next band went up. We ended up hanging out with them during the show and exchanged numbers. Sting, his boyfriend Rogue, and their friends Minerva and Yukino all went to Sabertooth Academy.

Gajeel kept me close the whole time, like he was afraid if he wasn't touching me, I'd disappear. If we weren't dancing, he had his arm around my shoulders.

At some point, we all ended up in a booth in the corner of the venue, chatting, laughing, and poking fun at each other.

As the night went on, I found myself really letting loose and letting myself be comfortable in Gajeel's presence. Somehow, I felt more at home with him and this group of misfits than I did with Lucy and the others.

I think I fell asleep in his lap at one point. He was comforting.

We danced so much, I thought my feet might fall off. I lost my shoes at some point, but Gajeel found them under a table. Future me would probably be embarrassed about that, but current, tipsy me didn't care. I was having fun.

"See ya at the game," Sting said, waving as they left after the show. The upcoming football game next week was against them. I didn't usually go to games but with friends, it might be fun.

Kinana and I stayed behind while the bands packed up. Laki was flirting with the bartender trying to get one last free drink before the bar closed. When the lights started shutting off, we decided it was time to leave.

I was going to walk home but Gajeel insisted on driving me. I was tipsy and it was after midnight. As safe as Magnolia was during the day, it had its fair share of creeps after dark.

When he pulled into the driveway at Fairy Hills, he handed me the crumpled and torn set list.

"In commemoration of our third date," he winked.

"See you at school, Gajeel," I said, beaming at him.

"See ya at school, Shrimp. Sleep well."

I did.

The next morning came with a pounding headache that matched the pounding on my door.

I groaned as I tumbled out of bed and stumbled to the door. It was ten on a Sunday, who was at my door?

I was still in my dress and tights. Gajeel's jacket and my boots were on the floor between my door and my bed.

Rubbing my eyes, I pulled the door open and Lucy was there.

"Where have you been?!" she snapped.

"Right here, what do you mean?" I said stupidly, shielding my eyes from the hall light.

Her eyes scanned me. "You never sleep in your clothes."

"I was out late with Kinana and Laki," I told her, choosing not to go into any more detail.

"Kinana and Laki?" she repeated.

"Yes. Is that so weird? You're not my only friend, Lucy," I hissed. It came out meaner than I intended.

"Jeez. Touchy. I was gonna see if you wanted to catch a movie with me and Natsu but-"

"I'm really not in the mood to be a third wheel."

She huffed and headed down the hall. I closed the door behind her and locked it. There was no way I was going to get back to sleep now. Lucy and I had never really fought before.

I decided to take a bath to relax.

I filled the tub with hot water and lavender scented bubbles and peeled my clothes off to toss them in my hamper. I plugged my phone in since I hadn't done that before I passed out and turned on some calming music before I slid into the bath. I dipped my head under the water and lathered up with my signature scents.

I lost track of time while I lay there in complete bliss before someone else started knocking on the door, bringing me out of my dream bubble.

I sighed, and pulled the plug on my bath, wrapping my hair in a towel and pulling on a robe.

This time, much friendlier faces greeted me when I opened the door.

Kinana and Laki were there with coffee and pain medicine.

"You've never really partied like that," Laki said. "Cana's 'shindigs' can't even compare."

"Care to join us in the laundry room?" Kinana asked, noticing my overflowing hamper.

I took the coffee and pills gratefully. "Yeah, I'll meet you down there. Let me get dressed."