As we entered the school building, Gajeel's arm slung lazily over my shoulders, I could swear people were staring. Me, Levy McGarden, the bookworm, straight-A, good girl with Gajeel Redfox, who was six-foot-one, covered in piercings, and had that "look" about him. We weren't a couple one would expect to see.

Jet and Droy met us at the door and Jet looked at me quizzically, but just shrugged and walked with us to homeroom. We parted ways and Jet and Droy headed to their own class, with a goodbye and a "see you in English," as Gajeel and I made our way to our seats.

"Shoulda let me carry yer bag, Shorty. Yer gonna have back problems," he teased, noticing the amount of books and binders that were stuffed in my bag.

"It's not that heavy," I retorted, sticking my tongue out at him.

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes, chewing on a paperclip.

'Where does he keep getting them? It's like magic,' a voice in the back of my head said.

"Isn't that the kinda thing boyfriends do?" he asked casually. I nearly fell out of my chair.

"Wh-what? Boyfriend?!"

"Gi-hee." He opened one eye to look at me. "Don't be embarrassed. You've been all over me all weekend."

"Sh-shut up!" I was bright red and just wanted to disappear. "Stupid Gajeel!"

The warning bell rang and our classmates started filing into the room. I noticed a few still hadn't recovered from Cana's party on Friday night.

Lucy walked in and took her seat behind me. I turned around to greet her but she had her earbuds in. I sighed and turned back around, taking a book out of my bag to read. Gajeel frowned.

"Hey!" he all but shouted at Lucy, causing her to jump and take her earbuds out. "What's yer deal? Levy doesn't have to check with you before she goes out with other friends, cheerleader."

My stomach flipped when he said my name.

Lucy huffed. "She usually has better taste in men."

My blood boiled when I heard that and I stood up, slamming my hands on my desk. "What exactly is bad about him, Lucy? Cuz he's an orphan? So is Gray. He went to Phantom? So did Juvia. He's a little rough around the edges? So is Laxus. So WHAT is your problem?" I whirled to face her, tears in my eyes. "You're supposed to be my friend, Lucy. If you have an actual problem with who I'm dating, talk to me about it instead of being childish and petty when I hang out with someone who isn't you. I had a movie night with Jet and Droy last night. Wanna give me shit for that, too?"

Lucy just stared at me, in shock I think. "Levy," she said quietly.

The bell rang.

"Forget it," I mumbled, sitting back down before the teacher came in.

"Listen up, you little brats!" she shouted, slamming a ruler against her desk. "I had a terrible weekend so I really don't want any of your drama today. My boyfriend-"

The class collectively groaned. Ms. Aquaria was dating one of the coaches, whom we affectionately called "The Scorpion", and they had relationship drama just about every week. Homeroom was only thirty minutes long, but her stories made it drag on.

Finally, the bell rang, and we all gratefully left the classroom. Even Mr. Caprico would be better than that.

At my locker, I put all my afternoon class books in and kept my English and History books.

"Meet me for lunch?" Gajeel asked, ruffling my hair.

I frowned and smoothed my hair down. "Sure," I said, "but stop treating me like a child."

"Gi-hee," he grinned. "Can't help it, Shorty. Yer too cute."

I blushed. "J-just pick me up outside my class."

He winked at me and left me alone at my locker so he could make it to his welding class.

"Li'l Leeev!" Cana called out from down the hall, running toward my locker.

"What's up, Cana? You know, I have class and really can't be late-"

"Lu-lu tells me you've been a bit scandalous this weekend," she teased, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

I scoffed. "She's spreading rumors about me now?" Anger heated my face.

"No, nothing like that," she waved dismissively. "She said after you left, you went out with Stone Cold Redfox."

"How many nicknames do you have for him?" I inquired, closing my locker and turning to head to class.

Cana followed closely behind me. "Don't change the subject. What did you dooo?"

"I went to see his band play, that's it. Kinana and Laki were there and we ended up hanging out. It was a good time." I shrugged as we reached my classroom. "I really have to go," I said.

"We'll talk later! Text me!" she called after me, rushing back down the hallway to her own class.

I barely made it into my seat before the bell rang.

Jet leaned over as Mr. Caprico began taking up our assignments and whispered, "Did Cana corner you?"

I looked at him, confused. "Yeah, why?"

"Natsu gave me the third degree in homeroom," he explained. "Said you and Lucy had a fight and he wanted to know why."

I sighed. "You know why. What did you tell him?"

"I told him it was between you and Lucy and not to get involved."

I gave him a small smile as Mr. Caprico passed between our desks to gather our papers.

The class droned on, saved only by the chips Droy had snuck in to share with us. It was almost like middle school again. I took notes and wrote down our assignment and stifled a laugh at the barbecue chip colored smudges on my notebook page.

"Ya seem different, Levy," Jet said as the three of us walked to our next classes. Jet and Droy had their math class in the same hallway as my History class.

"Different how?" I asked him.

"Well," he hesitated, "look, we love Lucy but-"

"You're acting more like you did before she moved here," Droy offered up.

"You haven't invited us over for movie night in months," Jet added, "so what's up?"

I beamed up at him. "We're a team, silly." We had reached my classroom, so I waved my goodbye to them and headed in, bracing myself for what was sure to be a long, boring lecture.

Mr. Crux talked until the bell, but thankfully didn't assign any homework. Gajeel was leaning against the wall across the hall from my class. I smiled at him and walked over to join him. Immediately, he pushed himself off the wall and slung an arm over my shoulders.

"What're ya thinkin' fer lunch, Shortstack?" he asked me as we walked down the hall.

I looked up at him, perplexed. "Aren't we just gonna get food in the cafeteria?"

"Boring," he said, "but alright. Gives me more money to treat you to a real date."

We stood in line for food in the cafeteria. I wondered what they were serving today. Gajeel removed his arm from around my shoulders and took my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine.

I looked up at him. "What are you doing?"

"Gi-hee," he gave a toothy grin. "I just like to see ya squirm."

Blushing, I turned my attention to the line in front of me, but didn't let go of his hand.

We finally reached the lunch station. Today they were serving burgers, chips, a fruit cup, and salad. I let go of Gajeel's hand to grab a tray, then grabbed a bottle of water, and paid for my food. I stared out at the tables, trying to decide where to sit.

"Library," he said, then led the way out of the cafeteria.

We sat in the same secluded corner, on the same couch. His guitar and song book were missing this time. It was just us and our food. I sat on the opposite end of the couch from him and started eating.

He ate faster than anyone I knew, even Droy. When he finished, he laid down with his head in my lap.

I balanced my tray on the arm of the couch and continued eating, using all of my willpower not to run my fingers through his hair.

He was watching me intently and I felt a blush creeping along my cheeks.

When I finished eating, I pulled my poetry book from English and a highlighter out of my bag to get a head start on my assignment. Reading was something I always excelled at. I loved words and languages and the way authors put them to work.

I highlighted the relevant poems for the assignment, making a mental note to go back and make notes in the margins when I got home.

When I finished, he was still watching me.

"Did you even blink?" I asked.

"Yer amazing, Lev. You know that?"

I glanced away and clutched the book to my chest. "Sh-shut up, you big dummy."

The warning bell rang and I shoved my book back into my bag. "Are you going to let me up?"

"No way I can convince you to skip Biology with me?"

"Gajeel!" I gasped, shoving his shoulder.

"I get the message, Shrimp," he grinned, sitting up. "Next time."