Steam floated from the large bathtub and circled playfully around the two women relaxing quietly in the tranquil water. Lucy and Levy were sitting on the far side of the tub. Their arms were splayed out over the edge of the tub, heads lolled back against fluffy white towels, and eyes set heavily closed. The two women relaxed for as long as possible before they had to start getting ready for the fall festival. Drowsily Levy reached over for the sponge and soap she had set next to the tub. She submerged the sponge in the water and started to lather the soap into it. Puffy white suds Began to form and Levy gently started to wash her arms. She caressed her creamy white skin with the loofa. A little trail of suds formed as she moved the loofa from her arms to her neck, across her chest, under her perky breasts, and down her flat stomach. Levy slowly stood up and propped her leg up on the ledge of the massive tub. She bent sown slowly and started washing her ankle. Another trail of suds formed over her short but toned legs as she made her way up to her knee and over her thigh. She did the same to the other leg.
"I bet Gajeel is wishing he was that loofa." Lucy said playfully as she started washing her own body.
"Lu!" Levy gasped at her well-endowed friend; a slight blush forming over her cheeks.
"Or maybe you are the one wishing he was the loofa." Another gasp escaped Levy's lips.
"Cut it out Lu. I could say the same thing about you and Natsu." The bluenette said jokingly while sticking her tongue out at the celestial mage.
"Yeah right, Natsu is too dense to even consider being my sponge." Lucy retorted, wishing her team mate might one day feel the same way she did. "So, Levy, I never got a chance to hear what happened with Lily. I am sorry again about that, Happy blackmailed me into buying lunch for him and Natsu."
"It's okay Lucy. I guess, I don't know, it was such a quick conversation. Lily said Gajeel came to see me the other night. He didn't tell me why he came to see me, though." Levy said timidly.
"Well, duh! I mean, isn't it obvious? He has a crush on you."
"I just can't see that being the reason. I mean yeah we've been hanging more, but I'm still not convinced. Lily told me that Gajeel wished that he was seeing someone and he implied that someone was me. I guess I am just having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Gajeel might actually like me."
"I think the real question is whether you like him?" Levy carefully sat back into the tub, the suds leaving the places on her body they had once clung. She sunk down into the water so her whole body was covered. She tried shying away from the question by dunking her head under water and pretending not to hear her blonde friend. "Levy, you can't hide from your feelings forever. Do you like him or not?" With a small huff Levy got out of the tub and started to towel off, still ignoring Lucy. "Oh come on! You have to tell me. We are best friends aren't we?" Lucy was growing impatient and knew the small bluenette needed to admit to herself that she liked the iron dragon slayer.
"Fine fine fine! Yes, okay, yes. I like Gajeel. I think I might be in love with Gajeel; stupid, hopeless, irrevocable, crazy love. Every time he looks at me my knees feel like they are going to give out and I lose all the thoughts in my head! It is driving me crazy Lucy! I am even starting to do stupid things hoping he will notice me." The little bluenette sank down to sit on the warm tile floor, shocked by her sudden admission.
"What kind of stupid things have you done, Levy?" Lucy inquired devilishly. Her small friend had peaked her curiosity.
"Oh no – did I say that? No – I – uh –haha." Levy stuttered nervously.
"Spill."
"Ah, Lucy! You are going to think I am crazy!" Levy said embarrassed.
"Probably, but I need to know. You have to tell me, what if I could help you think of the perfect stupid thing to do to get his attention?" Lucy stated, trying to hold in her excitement.
"Gah! Fine. Last night, when I was getting ready for bed I sort of – changed in front of the window… And it wasn't just your regular getting dressed for bed type of changing; I kind of did a little strip tease…" Levy was blushing furiously; her hands were covering her face. She didn't want to see the look on Lucy's face.
"Oh. My. God." Lucy stated in disbelief. "I didn't think you had it in you. Did Gajeel see? What happened after?"
"Nothing happened. I just did my little tease and then went to bed. I don't even know if he was out there watching. I am such an idiot. What am I doing Lucy?"
"I have no idea! But if you are willing to do that, then I think you should confront him tonight at the party and tell him how you are feeling."
"I couldn't do that! What if he doesn't feel the same?"
"Then he's an idiot. I am sure he will feel the same."
The two women, now wrapped in their towels, made their way back to the changing room, both deep in thought. They needed to start getting ready for the party. The girls grabbed their clothes and started to put them on when they heard someone coming into the women's changing room. Levy and Lucy looked up and saw Erza, Wendy, Juvia, Evergreen, Mirajane, Cana, Lisanna, and Carla. The small parade of women was giggling and talking about their outfits for the party. Each one looked toward Lucy and Levy and smiled.
"Hi guys!" Wendy said brightly.
"Hey." Levy and Lucy said together.
"Are you two already done with the tub? Too bad, we all could have bathed together and caught up." Erza stated firmly.
"Did you ladies find your dresses?" Mira asked cautioning.
"Yeah, we did. I really am sorry Mira." Levy apologized again.
"It's okay, as long as you are all set for tonight I am happy! I cannot wait. This will be the best festival yet!" The takeover mage said excitedly.
"Well, we better get going. See you all at the party!" Lucy chimed.
"See ya' later!" The girls all said together before they started stripping down and getting into the tub.
Jet and Droy sat in the men's tub along with Laxus, Freed, and Bickslow. They had heard everything the two women above them said. Jet and Droy sat there in shock. Levy, their Levy was in love with that monster? How could she? And she stripped for him? Why would she do that? If only they had stuck around her place that night, maybe they could have caught the show. The boys couldn't stop the thoughts that flowed effortlessly into their minds. Panic started to consume them. What are they going to do? How can they stoop this from happening? They had to do something. And as if on cue, both men jumped up from the tub and shot into the changing room to grab their clothes, neither one bothering to dry off.
"Tsk, pathetic." Laxus noted flatly. "Figured those two would end up screwing sooner or later. It's not like either did a very good job of hiding their feelings."
"Yeah, you'd think those guys would have seen this coming with how much Gajeel and Levy have been hanging out with one another." Freed added intently. Bickslow just laughed, trying to picture what those two idiots could possibly do to try and stop their friend from boning Black Steel Gajeel.