"I'm in a bookshop and I really need that book can you get it for me? Wait you've read that book? let's have an in depth conversation about it."
Life was set against her, Levy was convinced.
Why else would something she so desired be set so far out of reach?
It was a lovely day, the type of day that demanded a story to accompany it and a simple trip to the quaint bookstore at the corner of the street to fix it.
It was one of her personal favourites to be honest, no matter the time of day it was always peaceful with the books standing orderly on worn shelves and packed together so tightly some had to make do and stand on the very top of the bookcases or even join ever-growing stacks in corners.
It made the place cramped and the closeness had the scent of books -young and old- near cloying but she loved it. It gave the store an air of mystery that she simply couldn't get enough of.
Like most of her other trips, she floated through the shelves, her eyes scouring them for a suitable title but none of them seemed to jump out at her. In fact the only thing that jumped at her was the guard cat Pantherlily, who'd occasionally slip between her legs then disappear with a wave of his black tail.
That was, until her eyes settled on it.
The words on it's spine,worn with age and almost faded, shone brightly in her eyes. Memories were sparked of a time years ago where the very same book was held in her grasp, carrying her to wondrous lands before disappearing without a trace.
And now it was here. She couldn't let such an opportunity miss her. But it seemed fate had decided otherwise.
Levy cursed her small stature when the tips of her fingers were nowhere close to what she wanted and made a few furious (and fruitless) jumps hoping that maybe then she could get it.
Her fingers brushed the spine. Not the result she wanted.
Help was needed in this particular situation so she had to make a call.
"Gajeel!" no response, so she tried again. "Gajeel!"
Given how small the shop was there were few possibilities as to why he didn't respond. He could've stepped out, fallen asleep or gone to the bathroom. But she figured another option was more probable.
Peeking out from the shelves her suspicions were proven right as she spotted the owner of the store (well he insisted he wasn't but since he was the only employee she saw, Levy decided otherwise) with his feet propped up on the front desk aimlessly stroking a purring Lily with eyes closed, lost to another world.
It was a sight she was used to seeing, and one that she sometimes had to disturb by making her way closer in order to bring him back to reality with a sharp clap.
The first few times he'd almost fallen out of his chair but now he just opened a single eye and fixed it on her.
"Levy? Yer still here?"
"Hello to you too Gajeel."
He yawned and sat properly in the chair, shifting Lily from his lap to the counter, ready to work.
"So how many books are ya buying today? Or are ya finally gonna buy the whole store today?" He joked.
"It's just one today."
He raised a brow in obvious shock. "Really now. That's not like you, must be a damn good book for you to ignore the rest of them."
Gajeel's eyes dropped to her empty hands. "So where is it?"
"Well that's the thing," she said sheepishly, " I can't…..reach it."
That's when she saw it. That change in his eyes, the wicked smile growing on his lips as he readied for a barrage of height jokes.
She quickly slapped a hand across his mouth, effectively keeping those little quips where they belonged.
"Not today Gajeel," She admonished, "What I need from you now is to put that goliath height of yours to good use."
He said nothing but she could easily see the laughter in his eyes as he got up to follow her. It was almost assured that she would get a double dose of short jokes next time.
The task (which she already knew) proved to hold no difficulties for Gajeel as he simply reached up and pulled it free, dust fluttered at the disturbance. He turned with that grin still stuck on his face and held it out for her to take with greedy hands.
"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, reaching out to take her prize. Her fingers skimmed the cover of the old book but it didn't drop into her palms as she expected. Instead it was quickly snatched back by the one giving it to her.
Gajeel examined the title with curiosity and snorted, handing it to her.
"This is what you were so hopped up about?" he questioned, "I honestly thought it was something good."
Levy cradled the book to her chest, as if to shield it from his criticism and sent him an indignant look.
"This is a good book!" she shot back, "the plot's fascinating, it has amazing and realistic characters, doesn't throw in some unnecessary romantic subplot and-" She stopped suddenly and looked at him, rather confused.
"Wait. You've read this book?"
"Sadly, and really it ain't as great as you think it is. There's a couple good stuff in there but nothing amazing."
His eyes narrowed at the book in question clutched tightly in her arms. "And the characters?' he scoffed, "None of them come even close to what you say about 'em. Like that main character, she's as slimy as they come."
"Since when are you an expert on these things?" Levy teased, 'And I beg to differ. She was cunning, not 'slimy'."
"Call it what you like but she was slimy, no doubt."
She set the book down on one of the lower shelves and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Are you really going to argue with me about one of my favourite books?"
"I ain't arguing, i'm trying to save your money."
"My money is fine but you on the other hand, need a reality check on what a good book actually is."
Propping himself up on the bookcase, he looked down at her with a lazy smirk. "And what, yer gonna school me? Sorry to disappoint shrimp but I think you'll end up seeing things my way by the time we're done."
"Is that a challenge Gajeel? Because i think otherwise."
Levy sank to the floor, bringing the book with her and beckoned Gajeel to take a seat next to her with a confident grin.
"Trust me, when this discussion is over you will love this book as much as I do.