I'M SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN LIKE A MONTH!

Here is the long awaited chapter 17, please review, they will motivate me!

Thank you to all the people who followed, favorited, reviewed and read this story!

Chapter 17

They were working late at the local library trying to find clues on where Zeref could have been. Gajeel thought he might have been hiding at Evangeline's summer house, but Levy didn't think so. It apparently 'just didn't make sense' to her. Annoying shrimp.

"I'm almost certain he would go there, shorty, so I'm going." He said gruffly.

She sighed, "Fine, but I'm coming too."

Great, for all he knew she could backstab him, he wouldn't put it pass her. She might not look it but she was devious. Like the devil himself.

"We will leave tomorrow at dawn, got that?"

She nodded before standing up and gathering the letters that she had stolen from Evangeline back in the bag she had brought them in. "By the bookstore, right?"

"Yeah."

They started walking out of the library with Levy pausing to say bye to the librarian and then returning a book she had checked out. Once she was done, she hurried back towards him, who was still holding the door open for her. He couldn't have her saying that he wasn't a gentleman.

"Thanks," she whispered, before saying, "I guess you do have some redeeming qualities."

He stiffened, how dare she…

"Just kidding." She smirked as he scowled, "You don't have any."

"Hey?!" He yelled fed up with her teasing, "Take that back!" In his rage, he had grabbed her dress's collar and pressed her against the nearest wall. It was only till he felt her hot breath brush against his nose that he realized how close he was to her, and by the sight of her red cheeks, he wasn't the only one to have noticed.

Their eyes connected and Gajeel was struck by how pretty her brown, doe eyes were, it was enchanting. They were so full of energy and brightness, they seemed to shine. Little did he know that the person he was staring at was having the same thoughts.

She didn't want to stop gazing at his crimson orbs, they were just so vivid that she wanted to stay looking at them forever but she tore her gaze away only to find herself staring at his lips. They looked rough, and in her daze, her arms were raised of their own accord to touch them. But she snapped out of it to save herself from her embarrassment. Just what was she doing? He was a guard for Mavis's sake! She could feel her cheeks heat up as she realized what she had just been thinking and what she had been about to do.

Meanwhile, Gajeel, who had seen her arm raise but then lower out of the corner of his eyes, was caught up in the sight of her flaming red cheeks. The voice inside his head voiced something that he refused to accept, she looked cute.

And somewhere in all this young love, they realized the awkwardness of the situation and of their position.

"Uh- Sorry." Gajeel blurted out to try and relieve the awkwardness only for it to increase by tenfold as he let go of his steel grip on her collar.

Levy titled her head away so that he couldn't see her blush, "Its fine."

Gajeel, however, took it as a sign that it wasn't fine and tried to find words to convey his heartfelt apology only to find that his words were failing him. Dammit!

She glanced at him and thought he was still mad at her because he was scowling. Why had she teased him? Oh, right because she had an ego to please.

The next morning.

Levy got ready to storm the enemy's lair.

First, she tied up her hair in a tight bun which she rarely did, she just put it in a sloppy bun or a ponytail. Second, she brought a small dagger that she had always left untouched in a drawer. And thirdly, she packed her bag.

They were going halfway by carriage because it would only take them so far. As a result, she had to pack a bag as they were most likely going to spend a night outside. Of course, when she had heard this, she had argued tooth and nail about how she wasn't going to stay a night with him, especially alone. Now she felt bad about some of the things she had called him.

Of just two days trying to find clues in the library, she had grown to like him more than she had. Not that it meant that she was falling for him, she had just grown accustom to him. It was a weird feeling for her.

She had never found the time to go dates or meet guys other than the ones at the guild, unlike Lucy, who had always made time for guys only to end up with Natsu, but now she wished she had. She didn't know how to act in his presence, she felt so self-conscious.

"Argh!" She yelled in annoyance, just what was wrong with her?

He was waiting outside for her with a bag slung over one shoulder, "You ready?"

She nodded, trying not to think about how he was probably judging her attire. She was wearing a dress because she felt more comfortable in the clothes she was wearing than in itchy jeans and a loose T-shirt.

They walked down the street to where the carriage was left for them not talking to each other, too stuck in their thoughts.

Finally, Levy decided to voice a question about something that had been bothering her.

"What happened to the blue haired lady?" Levy asked curious, but regretted her question when his face closed and his eyes flashed angrily.

"She was killed by that bastard, Zeref." Gajeel said while gritting his teeth.

"Oh!" She said while her hand flew up to cover up her mouth, surprised, she hadn't thought he would attack a fellow guard. "I'm sorry, I know that may not make it better but I am sorry."

Gajeel was shocked that he felt grateful at the sincere apology. Several people had said 'I'm sorry for your loss' but they never made him feel like this. What was so special about her? He asked himself before he realized what he was asking.

Levy looked at him concerned, he was bright red.

"Are you ok?"

Gajeel turned even brighter when she leaned in to see better. "I-I'm..." He licked his dry lips and tried to regain control of his thoughts, "I'm fine."

He tried to back away but she just followed him.

"Are you sure? You seem a bit sick."Levy said craning her neck upward to stare at him.

He looked downwards to meet her gaze and once again his eyes got caught in her soft, brown orbs. They usually seemed to sparkle with joy with a certain degree of wariness but now they were tinted with concern over him.

Why was she worried about his well-being? He had almost gotten her killed by catching her. While he was thinking, she was trying to get his attention.

"Gajeel!" She shouted for the fifth time. "Did you become deaf?"

"Huh, what?" Gajeel said shaking out of his stupor.

She went on her tip toes and playfully smack the top of his head. "Play attention."

"Whatever." Gajeel said trying to play it cool, it wasn't like he had just been starring at her beautiful, shini- nope not at all. And it wasn't as if he had thought almost the same thing last night.

Review, Follow, and Favorite, please!