Sitting in our final class for the day, I couldn't help but look over at Lucy and give her a big smile. She groaned lightly, lowering her head at my new knowledge. Covering my mouth, I tried to hold in the snicker that tried to escape my lips.
"It's not that funny," She whispered as she took down notes in her notebook.
"I think it is, and Gajeel would kill both of ua, if he found out."
"That's why I said, don't mention it in front of him."
"I promise I won't, but I somehow want to bring up to hear his side of the story."
"Levyy." she whined softly frowning at me. I giggled waving my hand dismissing the conversation. I won't really bring it up, I don't want to get Lucy in trouble, but it's really tempting. I wonder what he would look if he ever found out.
Once class was over, Lucy and I sat outside on one of the benches to enjoy the cool autumn air, and bright sun.
"Please, tell me the story again and in full detail!" I begged, taking a sip of water.
"Do I have to?"
"I promise I won't ask Gajeel."
"Ugh, fine." she huffed, looking around to make sure no one was within earshot. I turned my body to face hers, and scooted in closer to listen to her hushed story.
"Ok. Gajeel is actually Natsu's roommate, but I didn't meet him in their room. Cana had been begging me to come to one of her parties for the longest time, so I gave in and went, dragging Natsu with me. Just about everyone was there, Elfman, Lisanna, Juvia, Loke, Max and his broom, etc. So I basically met him at the party, but it started to get crazy. Cana spiked the punch of course, and was handing out drinks left and right. I and a few other people were the only ones sober. It was ok, until Gray, Natsu, and Gajeel got together. They were daring and betting each other, they can't drink as much booze as the other. Then they got completely wasted and started copying each other to piss each other off. Gajeel was copying Gray, Gray was copying Natsu, and Natsu was copying Gajeel. Natsu tried to imitate Gajeel's singing and his laugh, Gray was trying to eat anything in sight and Gajeel took his freaking clothes off! It was ridiculous levy! He was walking around with his boxers on! It was horrible!" She sighed covering her eyes at the memory of the giant walking around half naked.
"Then what?" I asked with a smile on my face, knowing what's next.
"Erza broke up the fight between Natsu and Gray and I didn't see Gajeel after that. The next morning, I had to get up early to print a paper out for class. On my way to the library, I saw someone in the bushes, so I went over to see if they were ok. I couldn't really see who or what was stuck in the bush, so I tried calling out to them and they just moaned and groaned in pain. So I called campus police, because I thought, hey! They're not dead, so I don't have to call the ambulance. After I hung up the phone with security, I told whoever was in the bushes, that help was coming and not to move so much."
"And you left, after that?"
"Yea, I had a few minutes left to print my paper out before I had to run to class. But…..I didn't know….it was Gajeel!" she said lowering her head in shame.
A big smile spread across my face, as laughter bubbled up in my chest. I couldn't stop the laughter that erupted from my mouth. This was just to funny, not to laugh.
"I-I can't believe-that Gajeel-was-was the naked drunk guy in the bushes that day!" I stuttered between laughs.
"I can't believe you saw him too!"
"I'm pretty sure, I wasn't far behind you, when I found him. And I was there when security escorted him away with a towel wrapped around him. You should've seen those old ladies faces!" I giggled at the memory. I really can't believe that was him! So that's where I've seen him before; in some bushes stark naked! Some first meeting.
"I'm scared he'll try to get some payback if he found out, I was the one that called security on him!"
"It's ok, Lu-chan. You didn't know it was him…and naked at that. So don't feel bad. You were trying to do the right thing."
"You think so?" She asked with hopeful eyes.
"Of course, I do! And I pinky promise not to say a word.' I said holding out my little pinky finger. She smiled, wrapping hers around mine.
I couldn't help but erupt in another fit of giggles, at the story.
"So, Max and his broom, huh?"
"Please, don't get me started on that." she laughed shaking her head.
I have no idea, how I'm going to face Gajeel now without laughing. This is going to be some night.
After we were done, soaking in a little sun, we headed back to our dorm room to put up our bags, and get ready to leave to get books and smoothies. Lucy agreed to drive this time, if I drive the next. I checked my appearance in the bathroom mirror, straightening my headband and fussing with the blue wavy locks that always seemed to do its own thing.
"Should I put on an actual shirt?" I debated biting lip, holding my arms out to look at the hoodie fully. Wait? Why am I doing this again? I don't need to change because I'm going out with a few friends.
"Why am I acting like this?" I huffed, shaking my head.
"Levy! You ready?" Lucy called out, knocking on the door interrupting my thoughts.
"Yes! I'm coming!" I said running to the door.
"I already text the guys, they said it might be a while,"
"What? Why?"
"I don't know, Natsu didn't elaborate, but we can go to the book store to speed up time." she said as we exited the dorm building, walking towards her little Fiat.
"Yay! There's this new, well old book, I've been dying to read."
"Is it one of the books Professor Freed mentioned?"
"Yep!" I smiled with confidence as she drove out of the parking lot to our destination. Professor Freed, is one of my favorite teachers at our school. He teaches, a few English and literature class. He's really smart, with some weird obsession with Professor Laxus. I guess they're best friends, because I've seen them together a bunch of times before but Prof. Laxus just has this nonchalant but sparky aura about him. Everyone calls him the lightening master or even a lightening dragon, whatever that means, because he teaches meteorology and geology. There are two more professors who I've seen him with, but I can't quite remember their names. Is it…Evelyn and Bi….Bidtoe? No that doesn't even sound right? Who would have a name like Bidtoe? Well….I've heard of weirder names.
"We're here!" Lucy announced snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh! Yay!" I cheered, jumping out of her car.
"You seemed lost for a second. What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing important. I was just trying to remember the names of two professors that Prof. Laxus and Freed hang out with."
"Are you talking about Evergreen and Bixslow?"
"Yes! That's it!" I shouted making Lucy jump as we walked into the book store. "Sorry, Lu-chan."
"It's ok," she giggled, walking ahead of me.
I took a moment to inhale the scent of old and new paper with a mix of dust and wood. This is one of my favorite book stores near the school, because even though it's small with its one story layout, it has books, I've never read before. Once, you walk in, you see two couches facing each other in the middle of the walk away with a little coffee table between them. A little further back you see a receptionist desk, where the owner sits and waits for you to approach. But my all-time favorite thing about this place is that the walls are the book shelves. There are a few book shelves placed neatly throughout in groups but not as high as the floor to ceiling ones that surround the entire place.
"Levy, stop smiling like that," Lucy smiled playfully, holding a book in her hands.
"S-sorry." I smiled back returning back to reality.
I walked around, looking for my reading of choice, before settling on one of the sofas. Snuggling myself into the nook of the couch, I rested my right arm, on the arm of the couch, opening the book with a smile. I engulfed myself in the mythical tales of powerful Greeks and Romans. Gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures alike. The pages, turned into a movie screen in my head as the words came to life.
I don't know how long, I was sitting there but, it took a big hand to snatch the book right out of my hands to get me back to reality.
"HEY!" I shouted looking up to see crimson red eyes staring down at me.
"We were callin' you shrimp. Didn't you hear us?"
"No, I was reading. Now give me my book back." I said standing up to snatch the book out of Gajeel's hand, but he lifted his arm above his head holding the book at a height I could not reach.
"Try to catch it," he smirked with confidence at his trick.
That asshole! He knows, I can't reach it! Unless….
Quickly, I stepped onto the couch, jumped as high as I could, snatching the book right from his grip. I shot him a confident grin, as I waved the book, taunting him of his failure to trick me.
"Told you she's smarter than you," Natsu spoke up.
"Shut it!"
"Just sayin'" he said holding his hands up in defense, shrugging his shoulders.
"Can we just go already?" Lucy said, placing her hand on her hip impatiently.
"Yea! I'm starving!"
"You're always starving, maybe you should just carry a cooler of food around."
"Listen to bunny girl, Natsu." Gajeel said as we walked out of the book store, but not without me returning the book to its rightful place.
"Do you really have to call me that?"
"Yep. Just like shrimp here."
"We do have names, you know?" I huffed as we walked next door to the smoothie shack.
He just gave me his famous gihi laugh and smile, making my stomach churn and tingles run up my spine. What the hell was that feeling? Raising my hand to my forehead, I checked my temperature to make sure I'm not getting sick. No fever….so? What was that?