Author's note: Hello again, my lovelies! Here we are, with a new chapter.
deathflower42 , it's always lovely to see new names here, I hope you like my works, and thank you!
RikaAltraz , thank you for the loyalty, my dear, you'll just have to wait for the next chapter to see *evil laugh*
Lexie , hmmm, might be, why not mwhahahahahha. yes, that very awkward moment... the only two times i've worn a dress was at my wedding and when we baptized our son.
Guest, believe me, I'd drool all over it. Hubby had a Honda Civic sport at the time.
Sketcher1994 , hubby did that to me on our first family lunch. his brother with his wife and his parents were present too, I've never felt so embarrassed in my life when he pulled me in his lap IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. and the couch was pretty big, so I failed to see why would he do that to me. he just looked innocent and said 'what? they're all romantically involved, so i see no problem". I wanted to murder that innocent look. and the best man thing, this is what best friends so, they don't decide to come, but you just know they'll be there.
In my case, it wasn't a wedding. One of his neighbors had a trip to the mountain side, and she needed a driver. They were to stay over the weekend, so hubby calls me and asks me if I had plans for the weekend. Naturally, I didn't, so I answered him honestly. 'Good, then you can come with me, I have a neighbor that has a party this weekend, we'll be staying over the whole weekend.' I froze. I started babbling, saying I had to ask my mom, and he's all calm, saying: 'Oh, no worries, I just talked to her, she said Why the heck are you asking me? She's your girlfriend, not me!. So she's fine with it.' Figures, it's actually something mom would say… So I accepted after a few seconds of thinking. Mom told me about his reaction after she came home from work. She said hubby was almost jumping for joy after I accepted his invitation, and he had a wide smile plastered on his face the rest of the day.
The shoe size is real. I'm a big foot XD It's a real adventure to go shopping for shoes, since they don't make my size. I can buy men sneakers pretty easily, but sandals and high heels and stuff like that… It's a pain in the ass… and I've had people saying they don't make shoes my size.
All in all, thank you for all the patience and love and reviews and reading my fics... And everything! By the way, I'd love to see a review/comment in your native language! (Of course, please consider the writer, as well, since I only know 4 languages: Romanian, English, Spanish and Japanese, so add a translation, as well, if you guys happen to not be a speaker of those 4 languages)
Thank you for the infinite patience, my Misty~es! Lots of love from yours truly, MistyQue!
CHAPTER 15: Preparations
Levy woke up Wednesday morning with loud knocking on her door. She glanced at her phone, it was 7:30 A.M. She got up with a small curse, dragging her feet to the door.
"Alright, hold your horses! Sheesh!" She yelled after some more frantic knocking. She looked through her visor, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Wha…"
"Good morning!" Two bright smiles greeted her, Wendy and Lucy pushing past the confused bluenette. "We came to help you pack, obviously." Lucy rolled her eyes once she noticed Levy's questioning gaze.
"Oh… Right… The wedding…" Levy closed her door, following the two girls to her bedroom. "Do you know what time it is? Seriously, Luce, you could've dropped by after 9…"
"Wendy has classes and I have work to do, so quit yappin' and give me a backpack or something." Levy rummaged through her drawer, throwing the pack on her bed after she found it. She let the two girls go through her stuff as she went to the kitchen to prepare some tea.
"Did you guys eat yet?" She yelled after them after glancing in her fridge.
"Yeah." Wendy was the first to answer.
"Me too, don't worry about us!" Lucy was clearly concentrated on her stuff, Levy sighing heavily. She made herself some breakfast and served the two girls tea.
"Thanks, love. You can pack under garments yourself, I've got the rest covered." Levy noticed her only pair of high heel sandals laying on the unmade bed.
"I'm not taking those!"
"Oh, yes you are!"
"Lucy, I can't walk on those! Seriously!"
"Show me."
"Seriously?"
"Just hurry up, I gotta be at the office in an hour." Levy sighed after seeing Lucy's serious look, putting her sandals on.
"Oh, wow, she looks lovely!" Wendy made Levy blush as she stood up.
"Now take a few steps." Levy wobbled awkwardly to the door, Wendy and Lucy sighing. "You weren't kidding when you said you can't walk on those… Come on, really? Those aren't even high heels!"
"Well, I don't need high heels in the first place, I'm taller than the two of you, thank you very much!"
"It's true… But Gajeel's a head taller than you, so you'll be needing high heels."
"Half a head taller. I won't be able to do anything on these, so there's no point taking them."
"That's it. Emergency shopping trip. Get dressed." Wendy nodded in agreement.
"What? But… the office! And your classes!" Levy looked horrified at the two girls.
"They can live without me a couple of hours. We have till 1 p.m., so why are we still talking? Go change!"
"I can skip today, no worries. Shoo!" Levy was ushered by the two girls, getting ready for their 'emergency shopping trip'.
Half an hour later, Lucy was driving the three girls to the shopping district, Levy pouting all the way.
"Stop pouting, this will be fun!" The blonde woman dragged Levy by the arm to a shoe shop, a bright young lady greeting the three girls.
"Hello! What can I help you with?"
"Some shoes for a special occasion for this shy lady over here."
"Lucy!" Levy blushed as Wendy and Lucy dragged her after the lady.
"Size?" The lady asked the bluenette, who merely answered in a low voice.
"42 Euro, 9 UK, 11 US…"
"Oh my! I'm afraid our manufacturers don't make sizes that big for women…" The lady said on an apologetical tone, Lucy thanking her politely and taking her leave.
They spent the next few hours looking for shops that had fitting shoe sizes for Levy, plopping down on a couple of chairs at a café with a big sigh.
"That was fun!" Lucy said with a wide smile, Wendy nodding in agreement. Levy sighed heavily.
"Yeah… Let's NOT do that again."
"Don't be such a spoiled sport! We managed to find you something to wear, right?"
"True, but I hate going shopping, it's pure torture…."
"It's strange to hear that from a girl, must be because she's foreign." Wendy addressed Lucy, when Levy waved her hand off.
"Nope, girls are pretty much the same in my country, as well. The tomboy in me is to blame. I mean, I have no idea what I'll even wear at the wedding! I hate wearing dresses, so…" Levy shrugged, ordering some water after a cheery waitress made her appearance.
"At least your taste in skirts makes up for the lack of femininity." Lucy giggled, Levy slapping her arms playfully. Half an hour later, all three girls were on their way to their own business, continuing their normal day. Levy could breathe easily, knowing her pack was done, so, out of boredom, she rechecked the contents briefly, nodding to herself after about five minutes, adding what was missing. Thursday was going to be a drag, Levy wishing the time flew faster.
She was starting to feel down, knowing she had one more day to wait till she saw him again, so Levy sighed heavily after she got dressed and headed for the main door to close the salon. She plucked one headphone on and took her phone out of her pocket after hearing a brief honk. I'm not gonna turn and check your ride, asshole… Levy thought bitterly, starting to walk away from the car that honked again, louder this time. She ignored it and played Over the hills and far away, letting herself drown in music as she strode down the street.
"Hey, beautiful!" A familiar voice shouted after her, Levy pulling her headphones off her ears, spinning around confused. Crimson eyes and a wide grin greeted her, her own lips tugging at the corners.
"Gajeel!" She almost ran to him, but pulled herself together, walking slowly to his blue Mustang.
"I honked, but you didn't turn around."
"Yeah, sorry, I don't answer to honks or whistling, I'm not a dog, so…"
"Clever!" He got out of his car, walking to the passenger's seat and opening the door for her with a smile. "Hey, you…" He wrapped her arms around her waist when she was next to him and pulled Levy to his face, covering her mouth with his for a long moment before releasing a foggy eyed bluenette.
"Hey, you…" She got inside, a silly smile plastered on her face. "What's the occasion?" She asked sheepishly after Gajeel motioned to buckle up.
"Does it need to be a special occasion to drive my girl home from work?" He started the car, driving her away from the salon.
"…Not really… I just don't wanna impose…"
"Now you're just plain silly. I wanted to come and surprise ya. Obviously I did." Gajeel grinned proudly, turning into the parking lot of a small diner. Seeing her confused look, he answered simply. "Dinner." He got out of the car, hurrying to open her own door, walking Levy to the diner. Two loud voices greeted them after seeing their twined fingers.
"You owe me 500 bucks!" The blonde young man yelled happily, making Levy blush and Gajeel glare at the two men.
"You… made a bet with them?"
"…Not really… Raios actually started it… sayin' we look great together, then that fucking idiot said I bet they're gonna be a thing in the near future. I just disagreed, sayin' there's no way in hell you'd look at me considering your age, the next thing I know… this happens…" Sting hurried to Levy, giving her a spinning hug. "Hey! Keep your damn hands off my woman!" Gajeel snarled, Sting ducking from a playful slap sent his way and raising her fists to block any other potential attack from Gajeel. Levy punched him in the arm when he was busy looking at Sting bouncing on his toes, earning three surprised stares.
"I'm not property! So stop it with the whole 'hands off my woman' thing, I'm perfectly capable of fending for myself, thank you very much!" Sting slapped Gajeel's arm, bringing him back from his reverie.
"I think I'm gonna fall in love! You lucky bastard!" Gajeel glared to a grinning Sting, Rogue silently coming behind the blonde man to congratulate the new couple.
"Sorry, but I'm taken, and I dedicate myself completely, so try your luck with someone else." She placed her hand in Gajeel's, activating a proud grin on his face.
"Apparently dinner's on us tonight." Rogue said calmly, Gajeel leading the way to an empty table.
"Where's Yukino?" Levy pondered out loud, looking around the almost empty diner.
"She's an exchange student, but she prefers to pay for her own expenses, so she's working during the day and goes to classes at night." Sting answered her as Rogue headed to the kitchen to prepare something for the two new customers.
"I see…" The bluenette said with a hint of disappointment, Sting hurrying to take her mind off Yukino.
"What will it be?" Levy looked confused at the blonde man. "Your order, silly."
"Oh. Something vegetarian and a beer." Sting raised an eyebrow, sizing the bluenette up, when Gajeel's annoyed voice could be heard on his left.
"Stop starin' and bring the girl a beer!" The raven haired man slapped the back of Sting's head, earning an annoyed snicker from the blonde.
"All right, all right, hold your damn horses! HOOOAAAA!" Sting faked a Bruce Lee voice, mimicking a kung fu move before Gajeel sending him a glare that made the blonde run inside the kitchen with a shrilling laughter.
"Idiots…" He muttered, Levy laughing out loud from the strange display of men affection.
"Still, I can see they're very fond of you."
"Here I was thinking to spend some quiet quality time with my girlfriend, and the genius in me drives us here, of all places…"
"They're adorable and you know it, tough guy." Levy giggled, chatting away with Gajeel for a while before dinner was served. Half an hour later, the few remaining clients took their leave, leaving the four alone to chat away late into the night. A few hours later, Gajeel excused himself and Levy, knowing she had work in the morning.
"Oh, right, we'll be leaving early, Laxus wants us there before everyone else. Call me when you land, 'kay?" Gajeel said before parting, Levy looking confused at him as he waved a bored hand to the men.
"Are they coming, too?"
"Yeah, they're my cousins. Plus Laxus hired them for the wedding buffet." He drove Levy home next, stopping the car in front of her apartment building and walking the bluenette to the door. "Oh, right, I almost forgot, Wendy suggested I'd take your pack so you won't have to worry about it in the morning."
"Oh… Okay, come on up then." Gajeel followed Levy up the stairs and into her rented place, flipping the lights on. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back." Gajeel placed his keys on the coffee table in her living after taking a seat on the couch. A moment later, Levy returned with her pack, placing it next to the door. "That's that. Can I get you anything?" She walked to him, a surprised yelp escaping her lips after Gajeel snatched her hand and pulled her to his lap, Levy instantly tensing when his arms wrapped around her cuddled form.
"Just a few more minutes with you…" He sighed in her hair, inhaling deeply as Levy relaxed, placing her head under his head and a hand on his chest, smiling contently. Gajeel snapped his eyes open when her hand fell easily from his pectoral, glancing over her way. "Shrimp? Did you fall asleep?" Only the soft answer of her steady breathing could be heard. He smiled warmly and shook her awake. "Hey, wake up, this is my cue to leave." He shifted her slightly, Levy fluttering her eyes open.
"Mmm, wha…?"
"I gotta go."
"Do you have to?" Gajeel snorted.
"Well… Not really, but it's inappropriate…"
"Stay…" Levy pleaded, holding onto him as he gazed in her sleepy eyes. He sighed before answering.
"Okay…" The bluenette got off from his lap to secure the door and lead Gajeel to her bedroom. She rummaged in a drawer for some clothes and headed for the bathroom to change. Gajeel stood in the middle of the room awkwardly just as Levy came back with a sleepy face. She got into bed without noticing Gajeel standing, patting the bed. He looked at her for a moment, then took his jeans off and placing them on a chair after silencing his phone. Gajeel turned the lights off before making himself comfortable next to a sleeping Levy. He smiled warmly after watching her face for a long moment, then wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest, sighing contently in her hair. Before he knew it, Gajeel was already asleep.
TBC
How about it? Did you liked it? Loved it? Hated it? Please review, your opinion matters to me as a writer.